It has been years since the Greeks last sent in a really strong song. But they certainly know how to make their stuff work.
Eleftheria Eleftheriou - Aphrodisiac (Greece 2012)
This song isn't much to start with, it sounds like the rather washed-out melodifestivalen-reject that it probably is, and most countries would have failed miserably when entering something as unoriginal as this.
But Greece is not just any old country, they know their stuff. Their sound is distinctly modern pop with a local flavour and their dance routines are wacko enough to raise a certain interest around the song in question.
This year's stage show - where Eleftheria and her dancers recreates "The Birth of Venus", the famous painting by Botticelli - is also more elaborate and sophisticated than most.
Had all of this been accompanied by an equally ambitious song, then this could have resulted in another Greek spot in top three. Now it was to be the first Greek entry in nine years not to place among the ten best instead.
And maybe rightly so. This is a song contest, after all. And then the song should matter as well.
My grade: 3/5
Eleftheria may have looked like Venus, but I'd rather they had sent someone who can carry the tune, she could not.
ReplyDeleteTo make matters worse her singing was doubled all the way by a background singer who could sing in tune. The result is a sound that makes at least my head ache.