EUROVISION! On the home straight - the countdown is on!
Cutting it close here, so here's to hoping that you still get this before the big show tonight (not that it would matter, seeing as you probably won't watch it anyway. Ah well. *shrugs*). I know I promised to post this yesterday, but I had to choose between Eurovision and Wincesty Co-dependent!Brother's Feelings of SPN Nostalgia and let's be brutally honest here, the choice was both easy and obvious.
But here we are, all geared up and in the mood for EUROVISION - my favourites, let me show you them!
To start us off, I'll give us once again gorgeous Albania! Because it's still my favourite, and because I think it's better than many of the songs that were voted through to the Grand Final, and because I damn well can!
Holy cow, this video is mindbogglingly bad. I mean, kudos to them that they put all of their money in the writing of the song, because that money was well spent, but what were they thinking when they made this video? Were they thinking? Is it maybe a cultural thing? Does the Albanian symbolism simply escape me? Is there a deeper meaning behind the motor-propelled paraglider?
What I am taking taking from this video is that I quite enjoy the Albanian coastline and admire the crew for putting safety before aestheticism (unlike Captain America who insists driving around on his motorcycle without a helmet. Which, while gifting us with a delightful view of his patriotic jawline and windswept hair, sets a really bad example for children and impressionable pubescents.).
But now, on to my favourites. I've decided to use the clips from actual live performances at the semi-finals instead of the offical videos with the studio versions, because that's what's going to count at the contest. Everything stands or falls with the performance (whoever said Eurovision was a musical contest was either lying or delusional), the artist's skill, mood, experience. Even a mediocre song can win points when the artist gives a smashing performance, just as a brilliant song can suffer if the artist doesn't manage to translate it onto the stage and grip the audience. Yay for competence!
Malta: Firelight "Coming home"
Such a feel-good song! And they all seem so nice! (I don't especially care for the woman's voice, which is alright for the backing vocals but entirely unremarkable in her solo. *shrugs* Just saying.)
There had been rumours that Malta was involved in some sort of bribery, seeing as they are quite keen on getting the ESC to Malta, but honestly, I don't think this song actually needs any help in winning at all.
12 points!
Norway: Carl Espen "Silent storm"
And another 12 points form me - strong guy opening up about his inner pain* via vulnerable ballad will never not move me! Also, it's bloody well written and executed. However, I had the feeling he did come on a bit too strong in the second half of the song. Too much belting it out, I prefered the restraint in his studio version, it made everything more fragile.
(Also: totally a song for Dean) (*sniffles*)
*From what the German commentator said at the semi-final, Carl's sister, a writer, wrote this song especially for him, to help him get back into singing (and his life) after he returned from his military service and tours of duty. He now works as a carpenter, and also used to work as a bouncer.
Switzerland: Sebalter "Hunter of stars"
I am so glad the Swiss finally, eventually send a good song! Now I can cheer them on without feeling bad and doomed from the start! I like how he makes use of the stage and interacts with the audience, how he dramatically whips out his fiddle (it's might be a bit cycnical, but including a violin is also always a clever move at Eurovision. The audience eats live, on-stage fiddling up with spoon, Sweden, Russia, and Norway even won with violin centric numbers! The rhythmic clapping doesn't hurt either.)
Again, 12 points!
And last, but not at all least:
Germany: Elaiza "Is it right"
And it's not that bad either, is it? o.O
I just love that they won over "Unheilig" (their songs all sound the same, don't they? It's bizarre. How are they still in business?), as the wildcard no less, the girls never expected to get that far, and even if they don't get many points (wouldn't be surprised if they did, though. *knocks quickly on wood*) or even win, i reckon they're gonna have blast in Copenhagen. I just hope they pass on that pantomime they have in their official video. Pantomime, urgh. And seeing as I've become thoroughly brainwashed with this song, after hearing it several times in the Clubkonzert and then again several times at the Voraussscheid and then several times since, I'll just go ahead and say: Germany, douze points!
And my prognosis for tonight? Well, obviously I hope that the Netherlands, Switzerland, Malta, Germany, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Austria, and Montenegro (dude, totally forgot about Montenegro and their classical Balkan ballad! My bad, here it is:
Montenegro: Sergej Cetkovic "Moj Svijet"
I really like his enthusiastic "Hey!" in the middle of the song! *grins* No idea, what he is singing about, then again do we really to? It ends a bit to abruptly for my taste, but I enjoy the increasing intensity and drama. The figure-skater is a bit bewildering and random, but nice to look at - and let's not kid ourselves: that'll secure some points.
- as I was saying, I hope that those nine countries get in the top ten, and I hope that the Molly and Teo remain in the single digits (because the UK's song just rubs me the wrong way, and some better song *coughs*Albania*coughs* instead of "Cheesecake" could have been in the Final) (while I didn't want them in the Final as well, I find it hard to say anything against the Russian girls, they are just so young and unlike with the UK's entry and the Belarus' one I'm not actively revolted by it.).
I think, though, that Hungary and Armenia will score highly, just as my guilty pleasure Romania, and possibly San Marino as well, maybe also Denmark. Oh, and Poland, because boobs.
I'll probably end up swearing at the telly.
Over and out. *grins*
But here we are, all geared up and in the mood for EUROVISION - my favourites, let me show you them!
To start us off, I'll give us once again gorgeous Albania! Because it's still my favourite, and because I think it's better than many of the songs that were voted through to the Grand Final, and because I damn well can!
Click to viewHoly cow, this video is mindbogglingly bad. I mean, kudos to them that they put all of their money in the writing of the song, because that money was well spent, but what were they thinking when they made this video? Were they thinking? Is it maybe a cultural thing? Does the Albanian symbolism simply escape me? Is there a deeper meaning behind the motor-propelled paraglider?
What I am taking taking from this video is that I quite enjoy the Albanian coastline and admire the crew for putting safety before aestheticism (unlike Captain America who insists driving around on his motorcycle without a helmet. Which, while gifting us with a delightful view of his patriotic jawline and windswept hair, sets a really bad example for children and impressionable pubescents.).
But now, on to my favourites. I've decided to use the clips from actual live performances at the semi-finals instead of the offical videos with the studio versions, because that's what's going to count at the contest. Everything stands or falls with the performance (whoever said Eurovision was a musical contest was either lying or delusional), the artist's skill, mood, experience. Even a mediocre song can win points when the artist gives a smashing performance, just as a brilliant song can suffer if the artist doesn't manage to translate it onto the stage and grip the audience. Yay for competence!
Malta: Firelight "Coming home"
Such a feel-good song! And they all seem so nice! (I don't especially care for the woman's voice, which is alright for the backing vocals but entirely unremarkable in her solo. *shrugs* Just saying.)
There had been rumours that Malta was involved in some sort of bribery, seeing as they are quite keen on getting the ESC to Malta, but honestly, I don't think this song actually needs any help in winning at all.
12 points!
Norway: Carl Espen "Silent storm"
And another 12 points form me - strong guy opening up about his inner pain* via vulnerable ballad will never not move me! Also, it's bloody well written and executed. However, I had the feeling he did come on a bit too strong in the second half of the song. Too much belting it out, I prefered the restraint in his studio version, it made everything more fragile.
(Also: totally a song for Dean) (*sniffles*)
*From what the German commentator said at the semi-final, Carl's sister, a writer, wrote this song especially for him, to help him get back into singing (and his life) after he returned from his military service and tours of duty. He now works as a carpenter, and also used to work as a bouncer.
Switzerland: Sebalter "Hunter of stars"
I am so glad the Swiss finally, eventually send a good song! Now I can cheer them on without feeling bad and doomed from the start! I like how he makes use of the stage and interacts with the audience, how he dramatically whips out his fiddle (it's might be a bit cycnical, but including a violin is also always a clever move at Eurovision. The audience eats live, on-stage fiddling up with spoon, Sweden, Russia, and Norway even won with violin centric numbers! The rhythmic clapping doesn't hurt either.)
Again, 12 points!
And last, but not at all least:
Germany: Elaiza "Is it right"
And it's not that bad either, is it? o.O
I just love that they won over "Unheilig" (their songs all sound the same, don't they? It's bizarre. How are they still in business?), as the wildcard no less, the girls never expected to get that far, and even if they don't get many points (wouldn't be surprised if they did, though. *knocks quickly on wood*) or even win, i reckon they're gonna have blast in Copenhagen. I just hope they pass on that pantomime they have in their official video. Pantomime, urgh. And seeing as I've become thoroughly brainwashed with this song, after hearing it several times in the Clubkonzert and then again several times at the Voraussscheid and then several times since, I'll just go ahead and say: Germany, douze points!
And my prognosis for tonight? Well, obviously I hope that the Netherlands, Switzerland, Malta, Germany, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Austria, and Montenegro (dude, totally forgot about Montenegro and their classical Balkan ballad! My bad, here it is:
Montenegro: Sergej Cetkovic "Moj Svijet"
I really like his enthusiastic "Hey!" in the middle of the song! *grins* No idea, what he is singing about, then again do we really to? It ends a bit to abruptly for my taste, but I enjoy the increasing intensity and drama. The figure-skater is a bit bewildering and random, but nice to look at - and let's not kid ourselves: that'll secure some points.
- as I was saying, I hope that those nine countries get in the top ten, and I hope that the Molly and Teo remain in the single digits (because the UK's song just rubs me the wrong way, and some better song *coughs*Albania*coughs* instead of "Cheesecake" could have been in the Final) (while I didn't want them in the Final as well, I find it hard to say anything against the Russian girls, they are just so young and unlike with the UK's entry and the Belarus' one I'm not actively revolted by it.).
I think, though, that Hungary and Armenia will score highly, just as my guilty pleasure Romania, and possibly San Marino as well, maybe also Denmark. Oh, and Poland, because boobs.
I'll probably end up swearing at the telly.
Over and out. *grins*