'Tis the season
When I do my annual Eurovision review - of the good and the bad - to the non-amazement and indifference of everyone.
No, no - I'm not bitter. Really.
This year I haven't been listening as intently to the songs as previous years - and the ones I do like are mostly just ok. But like before I tend to not care for the front runners (and eventual winners) and instead throw all my energy toward the more quirkier entries.
Iceland almost fills up the quirky quota all by itself. Our entry this year is pretty much designed to mock and insult and doesn't have a prayer of winning. The song itself is a decent pop song - and among the better ones the competition has to offer IM(hardly unbiased)O. No, it's all down the performer. She calls herself Silvia Night and believes herself to be a superstar. She's quick to put down anyone she meets; she's stupid, rude and self-centered. And 9 times out of 10 the joke's on her. The bastard love child of Ali G and Paris Hilton, Silvia Night doesn't actually exist outside her own media hype and is portrayed convincingly and rather incessantly by one Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir who is nothing like her alter ego in real life. I.e. it's all an act. Just so that's clear. Fittingly, her song is a celebration of herself and how lucky Iceland is to have chosen her as their representative.
Listen to Congratulations - or watch the video.
So onto the rest.
My top three favorite songs this year are as follows:
1. Hard Rock Hallelujah - Lordi (Finland)
- Yes the costumes are outrageous and apparently they've never performed without them so not even the people of Finland know what they look like. But the song is actually very good - and I rarely go for the heavy metal.
2. Sense tu - Jennifer (Andorra)
- Strong voice, good song and a non-traditional performer (i.e. she's not a size -3 and looks like she has a permanent hangover.) Plus she smokes in the video (!) What's not to love?
3. No no never - Texas Lightning (Germany)
- There's something so delightfully wrong about a German country song that it becomes right in my head. The song is quite catchy.
This year's favorite is, like last year, Greece. Anna Vissi's power ballad Everything will almost certainly do very well in the competition - it might even win. Naturally I can't stand it. I can hear that it's a decent song - and in many ways not that different from Andorra's song - but it does absolutely nothing for me.
Another favorite this year is Russia. Dima Bilan with Never let you go. Actually a pretty solid pop song - and the guy is cute (provided he cuts off the mullet.) I wouldn't be too distraught if this song won.
Germany isn't the only country heavily influenced by American music - Denmark offers up a '60 throwback about a "girl called Johnnie" called Twist of Love. I guess it's supposed to be fun and irreverent. It's so cute it makes my teeth ache.
Spain - probably feeling unduly mocked for last year's Ketchup copycats - actually produces the originals this year. Las Ketchup with Bloody Mary. Ok song - that's about it.
One of the most original arrangements comes from Latvia. Cosmos's I hear your heart is a pretty ordinary song, however, apart from some minimal drums, it is sung completely a capella.
Lithuania goes the literal route this year with LT United's We are the winners. More of a football anthem than a Eurovision song their message is essentially the same as Silvia Night's but a bit sloppy all around. A trace of originality would've helped.
Finally - voted most likely to make your ears bleed is Bulgaria's Mariana Popova with Let my cry.
No, please, let me.
Ukraine's Tina Karoll with I am your queen is a close runner up (gets a few sympathy votes since the poor woman is clearly delusional.) Listen at your own risk.
No, no - I'm not bitter. Really.
This year I haven't been listening as intently to the songs as previous years - and the ones I do like are mostly just ok. But like before I tend to not care for the front runners (and eventual winners) and instead throw all my energy toward the more quirkier entries.
Iceland almost fills up the quirky quota all by itself. Our entry this year is pretty much designed to mock and insult and doesn't have a prayer of winning. The song itself is a decent pop song - and among the better ones the competition has to offer IM(hardly unbiased)O. No, it's all down the performer. She calls herself Silvia Night and believes herself to be a superstar. She's quick to put down anyone she meets; she's stupid, rude and self-centered. And 9 times out of 10 the joke's on her. The bastard love child of Ali G and Paris Hilton, Silvia Night doesn't actually exist outside her own media hype and is portrayed convincingly and rather incessantly by one Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir who is nothing like her alter ego in real life. I.e. it's all an act. Just so that's clear. Fittingly, her song is a celebration of herself and how lucky Iceland is to have chosen her as their representative.
Listen to Congratulations - or watch the video.
So onto the rest.
My top three favorite songs this year are as follows:
1. Hard Rock Hallelujah - Lordi (Finland)
- Yes the costumes are outrageous and apparently they've never performed without them so not even the people of Finland know what they look like. But the song is actually very good - and I rarely go for the heavy metal.
2. Sense tu - Jennifer (Andorra)
- Strong voice, good song and a non-traditional performer (i.e. she's not a size -3 and looks like she has a permanent hangover.) Plus she smokes in the video (!) What's not to love?
3. No no never - Texas Lightning (Germany)
- There's something so delightfully wrong about a German country song that it becomes right in my head. The song is quite catchy.
This year's favorite is, like last year, Greece. Anna Vissi's power ballad Everything will almost certainly do very well in the competition - it might even win. Naturally I can't stand it. I can hear that it's a decent song - and in many ways not that different from Andorra's song - but it does absolutely nothing for me.
Another favorite this year is Russia. Dima Bilan with Never let you go. Actually a pretty solid pop song - and the guy is cute (provided he cuts off the mullet.) I wouldn't be too distraught if this song won.
Germany isn't the only country heavily influenced by American music - Denmark offers up a '60 throwback about a "girl called Johnnie" called Twist of Love. I guess it's supposed to be fun and irreverent. It's so cute it makes my teeth ache.
Spain - probably feeling unduly mocked for last year's Ketchup copycats - actually produces the originals this year. Las Ketchup with Bloody Mary. Ok song - that's about it.
One of the most original arrangements comes from Latvia. Cosmos's I hear your heart is a pretty ordinary song, however, apart from some minimal drums, it is sung completely a capella.
Lithuania goes the literal route this year with LT United's We are the winners. More of a football anthem than a Eurovision song their message is essentially the same as Silvia Night's but a bit sloppy all around. A trace of originality would've helped.
Finally - voted most likely to make your ears bleed is Bulgaria's Mariana Popova with Let my cry.
No, please, let me.
Ukraine's Tina Karoll with I am your queen is a close runner up (gets a few sympathy votes since the poor woman is clearly delusional.) Listen at your own risk.