Eurovision Chat

More are coming, so that by the end of the month we’ll have all the winners of the local ‘Eurovisions’ across Europe. Here’s some of the winners worth noting.

1. Albania: Olta Boka – Zemrën E Lamë Peng

Albania will compete with a nice ballad in Albanian. It’s a pity I can’t get a word, but there’s no need to: the female vocal is resolute yet mild. Could be better in terms of composition, but I reckon many people will like it.

2. Andorra: Gisela – Casanova

Wonder if this is the present state of the Eurovision Song Contest?! Andorra seems to be a million years away from Eurovision. This year’s representative of the small principality is Gisela – a cheerful girl – and I guess she’ll offer a “fairy-tale” show in Belgrade telling us about romance and the historical lover Casanova. But haven’t we heard this type of song many times already…

3. Azerbaijan: Elnur Guseynov and Samir Javadzadeh – Day After Day

There’s been a huge support for Azerbaijan’s debut in Eurovision: Eurovision stars, like Ukrainian diva Ruslana and Serbian winner Maria Serifovic, from across Europe joined in to say “Welcome” to one of three new-comers this year. In Belgrade we’ll see a male duet who, with heavy odds against them on part of the other two competitors, managed to grab the trophy. As for the song – pop-rock supported by high vocals, correct me if I’m wrong, influenced to a degree by the Russian school.

4. Belarus: Ruslan Alenho – Hasta La Vista

Does he stand a chance to win this-year’s ESC? Who knows, but Belarus has always been capable of surprising the audience. Yes, it’s good. Yes, he sings like a god, and yes – there are people in Minsk who can write good songs.

5. Cyprus: Evdokia Kadi – Femme Fatale

Cyprus can’s stop experimenting. Not even after a series of losses for one of the countries who’ve invested so much in Eurovision. Evdokia Kadi sings in Greek, for a change, what’s really notable having in mind what we’ve heard from Aphrodite’s island recently (in 2006, Annet Artani performed a typically American song, which sounded truly out of place, at least to me. Last year, Evridiki with her experiment in French – Comme ci comme ca did not even qualify to the Final). The traditional music that Evdokia has to offer seems to be much less annoying.

6. Czech Republic: Tereza Kerndlová – Have Some Fun

Prague sends to Belgrade a lift-me-up song. It does sounds like Nellie Furtado, doesn’t it? It strikes me as one of the few songs selected so far that can become a European hit, if nothing else. Keep it going, Tereza!

7. Denmark: Simon Mathew – All Night Long

Purely European sound, party atmosphere, cool looks, a naughty cheeky band – the recipe for good mood, if not for anything else. For me, this song embodies the spirit of Eurovision. Sing along:
“The sun is up
I’m feeling great
I’m just enjoying life
Right here in the shade…”

8. Estonia: Kreisiraadio – Leto Svet

Verka Serduchka in a mock pop-jazz-seventies-ridicule version, multiplied by three. Okay, it can be fun, it can be a show, but where’s the music gone? It packed and embarked on a long journey? Of course many people will vote for them, and why not But it’s not surprising in its goal to shock us with its “craziness”. Have a look at the British entries recently for inspiration, and you’ll get what I mean.

9. Hungary: Csézy – Szívverés

This is an ultimate romantic song. I can’t keep looking at Csézy’s dress though, it’s so distracting. I do hope she’ll make up to put on something simpler during the show Well done on the language front!

10. Lithuania: Jerominas Milius – Nomads In The Night

One thing is for sure – Lithuania keep surprising us.

11. Malta: Morena – Vodka

Well, if there is anyone who can help Malta out of trouble and bring it to the Final, that’s Vodka. Cheers

12. Norway: Maria Haukaas Storeng – Hold on be strong

Scandinavia again offers a little piece of valuable music. Miss Storeng knows what and how to sing it – a track that appeals to all tastes. It can make you picture the Aurora Borealis though it’s not terribly romantic.

13. Slovenia: Rebeka Dremelj – Vrag Naj Vzame

Rebeka won Ema 2008 and here she is, representing Slovenia. She did it thanks to a pop song, a couple of backing vocals and.. good (to some) looks. Yet another song in a native language. Great!

14. Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi – Deli

A melodic rock track won the Turkish national selection and is eventually going to Serbia. What more can we want after years of typically traditional music mixed with modern elements that Turkey had to offer to the Eurovision audiences in recent years? A nice sensual male vocal supported by an energetic band – it can turn out to be a nice show.

On 23 February, Warsaw will dance in the rhythms of its Eurovision Song Contest selection. Three wild cards, and a bunch of other popular names fill in the picture. Here is the final list advised by the local organisers from TVP:

1. Zywiolak – the first wildcard in the show.
2. Kasia Nova’s The Devil is a typical dance track, but not particularly special. Let me go on with the rest of the songs.
3. Edi Ann’s song LOVEn’U is a tender and delicate, very much in the style of Mariah Carey, especially as Ms. Ann is very good at the high tones. Not bad indeed.
4. Izabela Kopec – wildcard
5. Starnawski & Urban Noiz – It’s not a Game one of the few men in the Polish Eurovision. Smacks of the States again, but with a good ballet on stage it could do quite well. I fancy the guy’s voice.
6. Queens – I Say My Body
7. Isis Gee – For Life: listening to a third soft ballad in Poland’s selection makes me wonder how the director of the show will deal with so many slow songs. But Gee’s song is so much worth listening to again and again as it’s extremely powerful and balanced. The white-dominated video enhances the effect as well. For me – the best, and very promising in Belgrade.
8. Man Meadow – Viva la Musica is lacking in imagination and everything else..
9. Afromental – Thing we’ve got – sounds so much like Justin Timberlake that I can’t stop listening to him. A soft melodic song that reminds one of the American tradition, especially combined with the reggae-like backing vocals. I’m sure if this is a winning combination at Eurovision, but it’s definitely worth noting.
10. Plastic – Do something. Always look on the bright side of life, Plastic seem to be telling us. An upbeat merry and light track. Could go well with a curious choreography, though it’s not terribly potential.
11. Sandra Oxenryd – Superhero that makes me think of the Scandinavian tradition in Eurovision. A bit like Carola, a bit like everything we’ve already heard. But give it an ear if you’ve got the chance. People might well like it.
12. Natasza Urbanska – wildcard
13. Margo – Dlatego walcz. A nice surprise in Polish, a song about love, strong and cheerful. Well, why not?