The 2011 review, part Nine

I have made my way through all thirty-eight semifinalists, and only the big five, already in the final, remian to be examined.

11. FRANCE



Amaury Vassili - Sognu (France 2011)

This is not the first time opera has been tried out at Eurovision, but it was a long time ago that we had such a pure piece of aria. Usually, the high notes have been baked into a more eurotypical pop cake before being served to the audience. Already from the opening notes, you understand what awaits: grandness, emotion, passion and some really impressive use of the old vocal chords.

Young Amaury really does his best, and he is rather easy on the eye as well, but for me this never takes off. It just isn't as passionate as it pretends to be. This isn't Carmen, it is rather an old backdrop left in the attic of the Opera house.

It is likely to impress a large part of the audience and could very well be the winner in the end. That would be great for France, but not so fantastic for the contest. A winner without chart potential isn't quite what Eurovision needs.

My grade: 3/5

12. ITALY



Raphael Gualazzi - Madness Of Love (Italy 2011)

If France had a typical attempt of breaking the ESC stereotype, then the Italian is almost violently atypical. Elegant jazz with more than a light hint of, well he said it himself, madness.

Raphael is a fantastic performer with a great presence and a great integrity, and he is certainly a dark horse in the running. This could also be a possible winner, but I don't think any person alive could appreciate the panic that would spread at RAI if that prospect came true.

My grade: 4/5

14. UNITED KINGDOM



Blue - I Can (UK 2011)

And here we go - at number 14 we find the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. At least if I have to select a winner beforehand, before having seen any rehearsals. This is the one song that will be obvious and understandable for most people after just one listening. It is perhaps not the best song, but the most instant.

And it comes in a very nice package with a modern arrangement and sung by an act many in the audience will remember.

It will be a tight race, of course, as there are somewhere around ten songs or so that stand a realistic chance of winning. Incredibly enough, four of them come from the big five countries.

My grade: 4/5

16. GERMANY



Lena - Taken By A Stranger (Germany 2011)

While the UK is my anticipated winner, then Germany is, for the second year running, my dream winner. Had Lena offered a Satellite-clone, I would have sighed an found the whole project completely pointless. Now this is something completely different.

The German song is more of a statement than a song. They know they have our full attention, so they put in a song that would normally stand no chance at all at the ESC. And what a fantastic song it is. Minimalist, sophisticated, clean-cut, artistic.

Not everybody's cup of tea at all, but many people will fall as madly in love with this as I have. And the people who understand nothing can't award it any minus points. It is not likely, but more than possible, that Germany takes a double this year. And I would really love them to.

My grade: 5/5

22. SPAIN



Lucia Perez - Que me quiten lo bailao (Spain 2011)

Had this been Andorra's entry I could have showed some indulgence and just been happy about their presence. As for Spain, with a fantastic pop environment and a large number of outrageously talented singers and songwriters, there is no excuse in the world to send in something as toothless and pointless as this.

A serious contender of becoming the first nul-pointer in a final since Jemini back in 2003.

In a year where all the other biggies defend their right to a free spot in the final, Spanish television only demonstrates their own grand disinterest in the whole thing.

Send them to the semis next year. Goodbye!

My grade: 0/5