Eurovison Song Contest 2012 Semifinal 2
(In case you want to watch the songs, I can recommend this playlist)
Serbia: Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar
Everyone is comparing this to Lane Moje, of course. I think it's better. The verse is a little bit dull, but the refrain is just beautiful, and well, I'd listen to Zeljko sing just about anything. I'm so happy some Balkan countries still provide these wonderful songs.
FYR Macedonia: Kaliopi - Crno i belo
This seems like such a waste, because there is a really great song somewhere in there, but it drowns in horrible guitar solos and other icky things. I like Kaliopi, though, she's an intriguing mix of hot and scary. And plus points for not singing in English.
Netherlands: Joan Franka - You and Me
What? I'm supposed to listen to the song? Not just stare in horror? How the fuck do you expect me to do that? She's wearing a Native American headdress. Why? I have no idea, but based on the way she and the choir girls are dressed, I'd say the reasoning was “Oooh, cool costume!” which is incredibly tasteless, and I would wish this 0 points for everybody, even if I liked the song, which I don't.
Malta: Kurt Calleja - This is the Night
This is our night! Fly! To the top, baby! Oh, it's not Sakis 2009? Damn. It should have been Sakis. This song desperately needs more camp. The song sort of wants to be pink disco, but Kurt is way too proper for this. (Another one written by Swedes, by the way.)
Belarus: Litesound - We Are the Heroes
I can't make up my mind on this one. I don't really like it, but then I find myself humming it, and they're wearing shiny space outfits, which can only be a positive, and... I don't know.
Portugal: Filipa Sousa - Vida minha
Welcome to the Eurovison Song Contest 1976! Oh, Portugal, what are you doing? This is so incredibly dated. Filipa looks quite mean, and does a lot of intense faces, but her voice is nothing more than fine. And if I see a choir of middle aged people in suits, who just stand around, I expect them to sound phenomenal, which they don't. The best thing about this number was the male dancers shocked face when he turned his female partner upside down and was suddenly facing her underwear. (Lena Philipson said this reminded her of Molitva. I wanted to reach through the tv screen and strangle her. Molitva! *splutters*)
Ukraine: Gaitana - Be My Guest
I guess it's smart to advertise the football European championships in the ESC. I hate this soooo much! So not my thing at all, and it's so repetitive and annoying, and I just want it to stop. I'm sure it's going to work really well, though, because Ukraine is always good on stage.
Bulgaria: Sofi Marinova - Love Unlimited
If you're going to sing techno, why dress up as a Disney princess? There is something very weird about this. Her voice is good, but nothing happens in this song, it's just the same thing all over again, except for the very beginning, which is so much better than the rest.
Slovenia: Eva Boto - Verjamem
Oh, this hits all my buttons! It's dramatic, and interesting, and pretty, and Eva is amazing! Also, there's a choir of brides, and one of them is clearly the ghost of Eva's future, lamenting the choices she made when she was young, trying to warn her of the dangers of getting married with a bath scrub on your head. This is what Eurovision is all about!
Croatia: Nina Badrić - Nebo
I keep waiting for this to lift, and get interesting, but it just never does. It always makes me a bit sad when Croatia isn't awesome, because they have produced so many fantastic songs, and they can do so much better than this.
Sweden: Loreen - Euphoria
Those of you who have read my ESC thoughts earlier years (all two of you) will know that I can not be accused of being biased towards Sweden. I haven't been fond of the Swedish entry in years. But this, I love. It's definitely my favourite song this year, I very much want it to win, and I actually think it can win. Loreen is fabulous, the song is gorgeous and I love absolutely everything about it.
Georgia: Anri Jokhadze - I'm a Joker
I hate the entries that are just incredibly bad without even having the decency to be entertaining.
Turkey: Can Bonomo - Love Me Back
“Hop onto my ship, baby, I'll make you fly.” I don't think he knows quite how ships work. This is kind of insane, but very charming, and I can't help but fall for it.
Estonia: Ott Lepland - Kuula
Oh, I love it! It's all deep, dark pain and angst and it's gorgeous, and Ott has the most captivating voice. So beautiful! I want to listen to it over and over and over again. Best ballad of the year. It's so simple, but so good!
Slovakia: Max Jason Mai - Don't Close Your Eyes
This is very competent, I'm sure, but the video is giving me nightmares, and I don't want to watch it anymore.
Norway: Tooji - Stay
It's quite a bit Eric Saade this, which is a Bad Thing. The song is shit, which makes me sad, because I love Norway, and I wish them all the best, but this is just not good. And Tooji's voice is rather shaky at times.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: MayaSar - Korake ti znam
Bored now. Fine, it's pretty, but so very dull.
Lithuania: Donny Montell - Love is Blind
See what he did there? He's singing about love being blind, and he's wearing a blindfold! How clever is that? But then he takes off the blindfold, and doesn't change the lyrics to Love is Suddenly Not Blind Anymore, and loses all credibility. If it hadn't been for the tiny little detail, this would clearly have won the entire thing...
Serbia: Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar
Everyone is comparing this to Lane Moje, of course. I think it's better. The verse is a little bit dull, but the refrain is just beautiful, and well, I'd listen to Zeljko sing just about anything. I'm so happy some Balkan countries still provide these wonderful songs.
FYR Macedonia: Kaliopi - Crno i belo
This seems like such a waste, because there is a really great song somewhere in there, but it drowns in horrible guitar solos and other icky things. I like Kaliopi, though, she's an intriguing mix of hot and scary. And plus points for not singing in English.
Netherlands: Joan Franka - You and Me
What? I'm supposed to listen to the song? Not just stare in horror? How the fuck do you expect me to do that? She's wearing a Native American headdress. Why? I have no idea, but based on the way she and the choir girls are dressed, I'd say the reasoning was “Oooh, cool costume!” which is incredibly tasteless, and I would wish this 0 points for everybody, even if I liked the song, which I don't.
Malta: Kurt Calleja - This is the Night
This is our night! Fly! To the top, baby! Oh, it's not Sakis 2009? Damn. It should have been Sakis. This song desperately needs more camp. The song sort of wants to be pink disco, but Kurt is way too proper for this. (Another one written by Swedes, by the way.)
Belarus: Litesound - We Are the Heroes
I can't make up my mind on this one. I don't really like it, but then I find myself humming it, and they're wearing shiny space outfits, which can only be a positive, and... I don't know.
Portugal: Filipa Sousa - Vida minha
Welcome to the Eurovison Song Contest 1976! Oh, Portugal, what are you doing? This is so incredibly dated. Filipa looks quite mean, and does a lot of intense faces, but her voice is nothing more than fine. And if I see a choir of middle aged people in suits, who just stand around, I expect them to sound phenomenal, which they don't. The best thing about this number was the male dancers shocked face when he turned his female partner upside down and was suddenly facing her underwear. (Lena Philipson said this reminded her of Molitva. I wanted to reach through the tv screen and strangle her. Molitva! *splutters*)
Ukraine: Gaitana - Be My Guest
I guess it's smart to advertise the football European championships in the ESC. I hate this soooo much! So not my thing at all, and it's so repetitive and annoying, and I just want it to stop. I'm sure it's going to work really well, though, because Ukraine is always good on stage.
Bulgaria: Sofi Marinova - Love Unlimited
If you're going to sing techno, why dress up as a Disney princess? There is something very weird about this. Her voice is good, but nothing happens in this song, it's just the same thing all over again, except for the very beginning, which is so much better than the rest.
Slovenia: Eva Boto - Verjamem
Oh, this hits all my buttons! It's dramatic, and interesting, and pretty, and Eva is amazing! Also, there's a choir of brides, and one of them is clearly the ghost of Eva's future, lamenting the choices she made when she was young, trying to warn her of the dangers of getting married with a bath scrub on your head. This is what Eurovision is all about!
Croatia: Nina Badrić - Nebo
I keep waiting for this to lift, and get interesting, but it just never does. It always makes me a bit sad when Croatia isn't awesome, because they have produced so many fantastic songs, and they can do so much better than this.
Sweden: Loreen - Euphoria
Those of you who have read my ESC thoughts earlier years (all two of you) will know that I can not be accused of being biased towards Sweden. I haven't been fond of the Swedish entry in years. But this, I love. It's definitely my favourite song this year, I very much want it to win, and I actually think it can win. Loreen is fabulous, the song is gorgeous and I love absolutely everything about it.
Georgia: Anri Jokhadze - I'm a Joker
I hate the entries that are just incredibly bad without even having the decency to be entertaining.
Turkey: Can Bonomo - Love Me Back
“Hop onto my ship, baby, I'll make you fly.” I don't think he knows quite how ships work. This is kind of insane, but very charming, and I can't help but fall for it.
Estonia: Ott Lepland - Kuula
Oh, I love it! It's all deep, dark pain and angst and it's gorgeous, and Ott has the most captivating voice. So beautiful! I want to listen to it over and over and over again. Best ballad of the year. It's so simple, but so good!
Slovakia: Max Jason Mai - Don't Close Your Eyes
This is very competent, I'm sure, but the video is giving me nightmares, and I don't want to watch it anymore.
Norway: Tooji - Stay
It's quite a bit Eric Saade this, which is a Bad Thing. The song is shit, which makes me sad, because I love Norway, and I wish them all the best, but this is just not good. And Tooji's voice is rather shaky at times.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: MayaSar - Korake ti znam
Bored now. Fine, it's pretty, but so very dull.
Lithuania: Donny Montell - Love is Blind
See what he did there? He's singing about love being blind, and he's wearing a blindfold! How clever is that? But then he takes off the blindfold, and doesn't change the lyrics to Love is Suddenly Not Blind Anymore, and loses all credibility. If it hadn't been for the tiny little detail, this would clearly have won the entire thing...