Tobson in Euroland

Slovenia 2012: another big ballad

2012-02-27T00:02:00.002+02:00

The new selection format in Slovenia was a battle between sister duet Eva & Nika Pursnik and solo singer Eva Boto, who performed three songs each.

I didn't follow the selection, but the people in my twitter feed seemed more pleased with the show itself than the participating songs.

The winner, however, seems to be quite popular all around. Composed by 2007 eurovision winner Vladimir Graic, it seems to remind some people a tiny bit too much of his former entry "Molitva".

Personally, I don't think the link between the songs is so obvious. Eva Boto sings it very well and is nicely complimented by her four backing singers.

My problem with this song is that I find it slightly un-catchy. Pleasant throughout, but it didn't stay in my mind after one listening. But I needed a few listenings to grasp "Molitva" as well, in all fairness. It took me a month after Düsseldorf before I say the greatness of last year's Slovenian entry.

As my first impression, I still think Eva's voice will impress the juries far more than the song will hit home with televoters but a spot in final should not be out of reach at all.

Eva Boto - Verjamem (Slovenia 2012)

Netherlands 2012: the squaw and the guitar

2012-02-26T23:42:00.001+02:00

The Netherlands finished selecting their entry for Baku and the outcome is, ehm, a little bit surprising.

Try to picture a woman looking a little bit like Cher's younger sister who always longed for a role in "Dances With Wolves" and occasionally dresses up like a sqaw and playing the guitar. At the same time.

Dress her up with a song straight out of the summer of love, a Joan Baez goes Both Sides Now-kind of song that has always, secretly, wished to be a singalong schlager.

Trying to fit all these pieces together? Failing miserably?

Joan Franka does not have an easy task to pull this song off and secure the first Dutch spot in a final since 2004, but I would not count her out just yet. This song is catchy in its own little way and will stand out soundwise as well as visually among the other entries.

If the audience will like that or not is too big a question at the moment, but is by no means the weakest entry the Dutch sent in lately. Sometimes it pays off to be brave.

Joan Franka - You And Me (Netherlands 2012)

Netherlands: wish it was like it used to be

2012-02-26T23:19:00.000+02:00

Most of the time, when people cling to the past, I try to disencourage them to do so. You know, the past is the past. Let it go. There will be no orchestra. French ballads will never dominate again. Most people are completely satisfied with the broadcast being in colour. And so on.

But then there is this thing about the Dutch.

Throughout history, the Dutch seldom reached the placings they aspired for - in spite of winning no less than four times - but at least they used to be good. Entertaining. Quality.

For the last ten years or so, they lost their grip completely and have, in my humble opinion, not sent in a song worthy of their grand past a single time since 2000.

I have only heard short snippets of the songs on offer in this year's Nationaal Songfestival, so I'm not qualified to have an opinion, but judging from what little I heard there is no "Hemel en aarde" or "Amsterdam" hidden in there.

I hope I misjudged the situation and for the Dutch to knock out a terrific little number tonight. And while waiting to be proven wrong, I choose to celebrate the past.

Thérèse Steinmetz - Ringe dinge (Netherlands 1967)

Sandra Reemer - The Party's Over Now (Netherlands 1976)

Frizzle Sizzle - Alles heeft een ritme (Netherlands 1986)

Finland 2012: a worthy winner on many levels

2012-02-26T00:39:00.000+02:00

The winner of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2012 - and subsequently Finland's entry for Baku - is Pernilla Karlsson, a 21-year old handball player who sent in her song as a bit of a joke. Out of three superfinalists, the Finnish televoters went for the soft ballad in Swedish.

This is a good choice on so many levels.

Pernilla was the strongest vocalist in the line-up and she managed to fill her song with emotion and a depth that surpassed the linguistic border in Finland.

Six percent of Finland's population speak Swedish as mother tongue and - to speak frankly and bring some politics into this competition - have not always had a smooth ride in the public eye or been universally popular.

The big thing isn't really that the winner is performed in Swedish - the overwhelming thing is that one of the best songs is not chanceless just because it is sung in Swedish. You see the difference, right?

It is also quite priceless that when we finally get to hear Swedish sung at Eurovision after an absence of fourteen years, the song comes from Finland and not Sweden.

Win or lose in Baku, who knows? And tonight that doesn't matter. Tonight everything is just beautiful, tolerant and på svenska.

Pernilla Karlsson - När jag blundar (Finland 2012)

Sweden 2012: where did the heart go?

2012-02-25T13:47:00.001+02:00

Since 2009, SVT changed the melodifestivalen rulebook and threw out a few paragraphs from the ESC. You were allowed to have eight people on stage and your backing vocals could be prerecorded to open up for more of a show element.

In many ways it has worked wonders - most participants do the best they can to set up impressive show numbers, which help making melodifestivalen a spectacular tv-show. It looks better than ever and is Sweden's most popular event on television.

And yet, I have a little tingling feeling that something is missing.

Found myself at lunch with colleagues that had watched Melodifestivalen without liking it much. They (Swedish speaking finlanders) couldn't connect neither to the songs nor the show. They found the humour too much of an inside joke, and thought the average presentations were plastic.

Spoke to my mother, who thought there was too much unnecessary dancing distracting from the songs.

Spoke to a fellow long-time melodifestivalen fan who thought the show looked good, but he didn't feel that the songs reached out to touch him anymore. Breathtaking surface and nothing underneath. And that is where I tend to agree.

The entries are still, on average, way beyond a level most national finals could dare dream of and the songs are impeccably produced as well as perfectly packaged. But I miss a bit of a beating heart. A bit of soul. Everything looks splendid but I don't feel much when listening to the songs.

Most participants seem more concerned about the visual presentation than the songwriting, to be honest.

I think SVT is clearly on the right track, producing spectacular Saturday night entertainment for the masses, this is not criticism as such. But maybe it would be time to put a little more emphasis on songs rather than technology?

In the end, this is a song contest and without great songs the audience will not stay put. And I refuse to believe that really great songs and a really great show are incompatible species.

Song of the Day: Sweden 1998

2012-02-25T13:06:00.000+02:00

Sweden sent off relatively unknown Jill Johnson to Birmingham to defend the national honour with the song "Kärleken är". Jill as well as the song impressed the greater public, but the singer recieved a lot of bad press concerning her styling, hair and clothing.

In Birmingham several different looks and styles were tried out, which probably distracted Jill from her main focus and on the night she didn't perform quite as well as in the national final.

Jill Johnson - Kärleken är (Sweden 1998 national final)

The song ended in tenth place and Jill moved on to greater fame and fortune with a more country-based repertoire, leaving "Kärleken är" a little bit in the shade.

But it is left with one important distinction - it is the last time to date that anyone has sung in Swedish at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Maybe it would be time for another song in Swedish soon?

Finland 2012: six finalists will fight it out

2012-02-25T12:00:00.001+02:00

Tonight, at the Helsinki Ice Hall (actually next door to where I live), it will be decided who will be the first ever winner of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (or, as most would have it, what song Finland will send to Eurovision).

The change of selection modus has neither been universally popular nor undisputed in Finland - suddenly both press and viewers seem to miss the old national final that they never seemed to care so much for in the last few years.

However, the new modus has led us up to rather a strong final with songs that quite well represent what kind of music is being made in Finland at the moment.

Last night, one final song was excluded from the running by the jury, which leaves us with the follow six songs in the final (reviewed in alphabetical order since the running order seems to be kept secret for some reason.)

ICONCRASH - We Are The Night
A pale imitation of what The Rasmus looked and sounded like ten years ago, equipped with a hook and a catchy chorus but perhaps not quite the geist needed to break through to the audience. Not helped by the fact that The Real Rasmus will be guesting the show with their new single.

KAISA VALA - Habits Of Human Beings
One of my favourite choruses (the hook sticks like glue in my head) could get a hard time tonight, as it was one of two songs up for elimination last night. Kaisa could very well be a pop star in the making, but when she gets carried away some of the notes go all over the place. Hopefully she will be able to keep the lid on her vocals tonight.

MICA IKONEN - Antaa mennä
By far the most relaxed of the participants, Mica Ikonen is very pleasant to look at and listen to and would have been a good choice for Finland if it wasn't for the song, that has been plastered together by bits and pieces from some of Robbie Willams' greatest hits (most notably "Something Beautiful"). Good performer, disappointing song.

PERNILLA KARLSSON - När jag blundar
The first song in Swedish in a Finnish national final since 1994 is an atmoshperic ballad that seems to be growing into something of a favourite. The choice of language makes it stand out from the others, and this young handball player could go really far tonight, especially if she dares to sing out properly.

STIG - Laululeija
Here it comes - the song nobody outside of Finland would understand. Stig, who cut a name for himself as a local gangsta rap parody, is an odd sight but is equipped with a tender and likeable little song, flavoured with very catchy whistelings. Nobody seems to know if he is serious or not, which quite adds to the entertainment value. I very much doubt that the average Finlandera would want an act like this to represent them, but the song sounds like a domestic hit to me.

VILLE EETVARTTI - Lasikaupunki
Alongside Pernilla, this is my personal favourite tonight. A suggestive rock ballad dressed up in a Coldplay-esque arrangement, and where the Finnish lyrics sound crisp and appealing. The only question mark here is how the performance will come across and what the audience will make of Ville's somewhat peculiar voice.

The jury has been given the boot and tonight's result will be decided by televoting only. Three songs will go on to a super final before the eventual winner is chosen. The final starts at 20:00 CET and will be streamed live here .

My guess, then? It is hard to predict what the audience will like since all judging has been done by the jury so far. It is also hard to tell how many people will watch and how many people will vote.

My gut feeling says that Pernilla Karlsson could be the one to make an impression, the one people will remember in a positive light at the end of the presentation. She is also certain to attract the votes of Swedish speakers (unless they opt to follow Melodifestivalen instead) and she is likeable and down to earth in a way that often appeals to Finns.

If I have to name one probable winner, then it is Pernilla. But there could be many surprises before this night is over.

Ireland 2012: Jedward goes again

2012-02-25T10:36:00.002+02:00

The Irish national final ended, not really surprisingly, in the victory of John and Edward. What is more surprising is that RTÉ bothered to have a national final at all.

Jedward was the first Irish act to get a positive buzz at Eurovision since... ehm... since Marc Roberts or so. Since then, the twins have turned into a record-selling phenomenon on the continent and will attract attention aplenty in Baku.

It is not necessarily unproblematic to go to Eurovision twice in a row. Ask Lena. Ask Family Four. Ask Hot Eyes. What works once does not necessarily work twice.

Last year, Jedward had so much surprise factor and their song was obnoxious and packed with punk attitude. This year, nothing new has been added to the mix but the song is harder to sing and require more straight singing which, in all fairness, is not Jedward's forte.

On the other hand, the twins have built themselves a strong fanbase that would vote for them if they read the phonebook out loud.

It will be most interesting to see how far this will carry in 2012, but I wouldn't book The Point Theatre just yet.

Jedward - Waterline (Ireland 2012)

Belarus 2012: exit the winner, in with the winners

2012-02-25T00:50:00.000+02:00

I'm not going to pretend to be even the slightest bit surprised as Belarusian television announced today that they changed their entry for Baku.

But of course. Why should you send a song to the ESC just because it won a national final?

The new choice is boyband Litesound - probably with their Eurofest entry. But who knows? Maybe they will get another song? Maybe all members of the band will be replaced? Maybe the television heads will have another change of heart before the deadline?

Litesound - We Are The Heros (Belarus 2012 perhaps)

I don't weep for the rejected winner as this new song is a lot stronger, but the problem still remains. Why bother to stage a national final when you know you will disagree with the voice of the viewers? Why not select internally and save everyone involved a lot of time, money and effort?

Besides, on a first listening I found the Litesound chorus a tad too similar to the song below. Will the choice of song be modified too, or is this the final decision?

Who can say?

Amanda Fondell - All This Way

Austria 2012: aiming for controversy

2012-02-25T00:31:00.001+02:00

In tonight's Austrian final, the tractor gangsters (this is Austria, after all) narrowly beat bearded she-male Conchita Wurst in the super final. Trackshittaz got the Baku ticket as well as revenge after losing out to Nadine Beiler last year.

Trackshittaz - Woki mit deim Popo (Austria 2012)

The song in itself is rather amusing and has already climbed the charts back home. It is catchy and has a very recognisable hook, but it is not necessarily plain sailing ahead for the Austrians.

Last year the Trackshittaz came across as juvenile but cute, but something in that package got a bit lost in their new attempt. Writing a song about having your butt work on the dance floor could be amusing as well as outright embarrassing and the stage show (not yet available on YouTube) makes it tip over in the wrong direction.

I think the girl dancers are meant to be funny and not sexy, but many people will get a sour taste in their mouths when watching this. I believe there is humour in this, but I also believe most people will fail to pick up on it.

If I was in charge at ORF, at the record label, at the duo's management - frankly, anywhere - I would rip everything out and re-design the entire number and pump in a lot more positive energy in it. At the moment, I think their entry from last year would have made far more of a splash at eurovision than this one.

Trackshittaz - Oida Taunz (Austria 2011 national final)

Turkey 2012: who wouldn't love this guy back?

2012-02-22T23:14:00.002+02:00

Turkey has revealed their entry for Baku and hopes were high after last year's surprising flop and subsequent lack of a spot in the final.

We already knew that Can Bonomo, a young Sephardic Jew from Izmir, had been internally selected for the task and that deserves a special applause, I think. How brave of TRT, in these tense times, to have themselves represented by a member of a minority community.

I can't help thinking that TRT is doing more good for the image of Turkey internationally than anyone else at the moment.

The chosen song might strike you as slightly peculiar at first, but it possesses a chorus that will eat its way inside your mind and stay there, forcing you to hum along.

And Can himself is an adorable, most loveable, appearance. A true artist who really believes in his thing and who has dared sprinkle his entry with both Turkish and Jewish folklore.

A most welcome return to force for Turkey and I dare predict rather a good result already at this early stage. How good? Let's see the final presentation first.

But with a song like this, who wouldn't love a guy like Can Bonomo back?

Can Bonomo - Love Me Back (Turkey 2012)

Ukraine 2012: Gaïtana blows the horn

2012-02-21T20:17:00.003+02:00

After a long, almost neverending, national final procedure, Ukraine has chosen Gaïtana as their representative for Baku with her self-penned song "Be My Guest".

Gaïtana - Be My Guest (Ukraine 2012)

At least it won the big national final, but in Ukraine that sort of thing means nothing. The last two years both saw great flaws in the selection formats, resulting in huge scandals. Let's see if the result remains unquestioned this time around.

Gaïtana herself is a clever choice, she is a star with a big voice (slightly reminiscent of my favourite Jamala from last year's final) and her song contains a fair share of musical handles.

The gimmick with the dancing trumpetists is clever as it gives the song a distinctive sound as well as a very visual hook. And we can safely depend on Ukraine to polish this performance even further.

The song is also a dance track with certain potential in its own right, and somehow it makes my mind drift towards another successful chart record. Not bad at all.

David Guetta feat Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over

Israel 2012: did Izabo's song leak before Time?

2012-02-21T19:33:00.000+02:00

A modern problem is that songs with an embargo keep leaking out before they are due to be heard. No less than three entries have leaked for this week's Swedish semi and a couple of days ago a song, claimed to be the 2012 Israeli entry, was made available on YouTube.

It seems to be the right group, it seems to be the right title, but there has been no statement from Israeli television - none that I am aware of anyway.

So, if it is the right song, it sounds like this.

Izabo - Time (Israel 2012)

I, for one, hope this is the right one. Funky, funny, bold and daring. Like the illigimate love child of Kaveret/Poogy and Ping Pong.

Kaveret (Poogy) - Natati la khaiai (Israel 1974)

Ping Pong - Sameach (Israel 2000)

Israel is often at its best when being a bit controversial. Izabo clearly seems to be a good way to go. I won't promise it is a sure qualifyer, but it is an entry to be proud of.

Georgia 2012: a non-song with a stolen hook

2012-02-19T22:27:00.000+02:00

Georgia's first ever entry is a true classic and my favourite entry of all last decade. This year's entry? Not so hot.

Winner Anri Jokhadze seems to possess a fair amount of charisma and has a good voice (if it carries as well live as in this playback performance). But the song. To quote Baccara: I don't know where to start.

Anri Jokhadze - I'm A Joker (Georgia 2012)

First an important rule. If you want to write a song in English - learn English first. Look at the graphics and you find this song is still called "I'm A Jocker". Whatever a jocker might be.

Another rule. If you want to steal things, you have to do it with a certain sense of style. You can not clumsily lift the hook out of one of the most famous and wide-spread songs in rock history and pretend like nothing happened.

Steve Miller Band - The Joker

Last rule for the time being. If you can't help but clumsily stealing the hook from one of the most famous songs in rock history and make your own broken-english version of it - then you better make it good. Make it stand out. Make it rock.

Georgia's entry this year is a complete non-song. There are no extenuating circumstances.

Brothers and sisters of Georgia, you can do so much better than this. Bring back Sopho and pronto.

Update:
Well, here is one more rule for you. Admit when you are wrong. "Jocker" actually does mean something. Thanks to Roy Delaney and the Urban Dictionary I now know that there is such a word.

And it quite well describes the song. Maybe I just misjudged Anri. He's sharper than I thought at first.

That doesn't change much, though. This song is still horrid and, by quite some margin, the weakest selected for Baku so far. Bring back Sopho and pronto.

Latvia 2012: Anmary and a beautiful song

2012-02-19T12:58:00.002+02:00

Do you remember a time when Latvia were often seen as contenders in this grand competition? It does seem like a very, very, very long time ago.

Last night they selected their entry for Baku, and again they managed to go for something that will be plain shark feed in the semi final.

First of all, I am beyond description fed up with eurovision songs that reference the Eurovision Song Contest itself. It is pointless, it is silly and it makes the song commercially stone dead and hopeless outside the competition.

To add insult to injury, this song wouldn't have been a hit even with a rewrite of the lyrics. Pleasant by all means, but also very basic and instantly forgettable, with no handle or hook or any development to make you remember it.

The real asset is Anmary herself and her singular presence. She sings well, she nails the camera and she leaves me wishing she had something meaningful to perform instead.

Anmary - Beautiful Song (Latvia 2012)

Italy 2012: Nina Zilli forever

2012-02-19T12:41:00.001+02:00

It seems the Sanremo festival confused quite a few international fans last night, who mistook this prestigious event for a simple national final.

As if the Italians cared the least for Eurovision.

The real competition went its own way and in the middle of it, as a sidedish or a consolation prize, one of the songs was appointed as Italy's entry for the ESC. In fact, more of an internal selection rather than a national final.

Probably the choice was partially an attempt to find something suitable for international exposure, but just as much a result of negocation with record labels and performers. Who was willing to go, at all?

Nina Zilli was willing, and I am very happy about that. She is a most uplifting new acquaintance with her personable voice and intriguing prescence, oozing with star quality.

For the second year running, the Italian entry has roots digging deep into a musical soil that hasn't been too well represented at eurovision through the years. It will be very interesting to see what Europe makes of it.

Nina Zilli is also the first female solo performer to represent Italy since Mia Martini did her thing in Malmö twenty years ago. Maybe that is a good omen, too. Not that she needs one, but anyway.

Nina Zilli - Per sempre (Italy 2012)

Croatia 2012: Nina to sing "Nebo"

2012-02-19T12:26:00.001+02:00

Croatia has revealed their entry for Baku, as Nina Badrić presented the finalised shortened version of the song "Nebo", which is also the title track of her latest album, released late last year.

I must admit to being a tiny bit disappointed that Nina and her team did not go for any kind of supersized solar plexus megasmash of a pop hit, which would have been refreshing from Croatia at this point, but once the initial reaction wore off, "Nebo" stands out as a sensible choice.

It is a dignified ballad, performed with grace and soul, and the added touch of the glockenspiel makes it feel slightly more instant than it really is.

The Balkan votes will rain down over this entry, making it rather a sure qualifier. But in the final, Nina Badrić will have to depend more on luck and a good draw than I thought she would have to.

Nina Badrić - Nebo (Croatia 2012)

Sweden, semi 3: it's all about Ranelid

2012-02-18T18:57:00.001+02:00

I must admit that I only heard the short rehearsal clips of this week's entries, as I have a prominent state visit from Sweden (Mommie Dearest and noone else). But I can still predict a few things pretty safely.

1 ) This week is all about Björn Ranelid. This intellectual hotshot - a high-profile author and media personality - decided to take a leap into Melodifestivalen with an entry consisting of typical eurodisco and him reciting poetry.

2 ) Nobody in Sweden will be able to take their eyes off this entry. Nobody will quite believe their eyes. And regardless of the outcome, this will be the only song people will remember after seeing tonight's semi.

3 ) Nobody outside Sweden will understand anything of this. Jaws will drop and speculation will have it that Swedish televoters have, once and for all, lost their marbles big time.

4 ) Oh yeah, and someone will make it to Globen. Quite probably Molly Sandén. And someone else. Quite probably the poetic eurodisco.

5) When this week is over, Loreen will still not have a real contender against her and "Euphoria" will still be sky-high favourite to represent Sweden in Baku.

Full review after the show, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow. But what do you think?

Germany 2012: Roman Lob is standing still

2012-02-17T09:42:00.000+02:00

After a one year break (where Lena was internally selected to defend her title), Germany reverted to the same selection formula that resulted in their second ever eurovision win in 2010.

"Unser Star für Baku" has been a talent show with the aim of finding more original and personable singers than your average casting show, and - again - it worked really well two years ago.

I haven't really followed this season, but media reports suggest that the formula hasn't worked quite as well this time around. Fewer viewers, less media interest. And no "Satellite".

The winner, Roman Lob, was very popular with the studio audience and will be sent to defend the German colours with the song "Standing Still". It can be seen and heard here on the official website, but hardly anywhere else due to copyright restrictions.

"Standing Still" is unfortunately also rather a suitable description of the song that builds and builds without ever leading up to a real climax. It is the kind of song that the German music industry likes and that is bound to do well in the local charts, but that is less likely to set the ESC scoreboard on fire.

Somehow, it reminds me of Germany's 2005 effort - it hit the charts, but scored a grand total of four points in Kyiv. Not bad, but without a clear handle to make it stand out in a competition.

Let's see how Roman will fare in Baku. I dare say this is not a third German victory in the making.

Gracia - Run And Hide (Germany 2005)

Belarus 2012: Alena Lanskaya wins Eurofest

2012-02-14T22:19:00.002+02:00

For a split second, I was about to write a headline like "Alena Lanskaya to represent Belarus" before remembering that this is, after all, Belarus - the country where bending the rules as we go along is more rule than exception.

More than once have we had a change of entry, sometimes even more than one change per year.

So what we know is that Alena Lanskaya won the televised final of Eurofest with a rather insignificant ballad named "All My Life".

My guess is that if anything gets replaced this time around, it will be the song that just keeps going and going without ever reaching any climax, chorus or anything else to write home about. Dull rather than bad, but it has "non-qualifyer" written all over it.

Alena Lanskaya - All My Life (Belarus 2012)

Iceland 2012: a bombastic ballad

2012-02-14T21:45:00.002+02:00

The outcome of the Icelandic national final Saturday night was the most anticipated prospect of them all. No surprises in sight as Greta Salomé and Jónsi shot to the top, the former of the two also being the composer and lyricist of the winning entry.

It is an impeccably packaged and performed, slightly pompous, ballad with some ethnic undertones in the arrangement. There is the ever-so-popular violin à la Rybak matched with two strong vocalists. How could this go wrong?

Well, with a little bit of bad luck, this could get drawn into a block of ballads and maybe come across as less inspired than it really is. Also, Jónsi's nerves also got the better of him back in 2004, delivering flawlessly during rehearsals only to give his weakest performance of all week during the live show.

But it does look very promising for Iceland, at least for a fifth consecutive qualification.

Specifically, it looks a while lot better than it would had that horrid boy band disaster of an entry that ended in second place been selected instead.

Greta Salomé & Jónsi - Mundu eftir mér (Iceland 2012)

Sweden 2012: Aldrig Aldrig - the clip

2012-02-14T19:23:00.001+02:00

Andreas Lundstedt's 2012 melodifestivalen ride ended Saturday with a pale seventh place in the second semi final held in Gothenburg (in the same venue as the 1985 ESC, by the way).

Despite being my favourite song, I can see why the performance failed to win over the televoters. A bit too polished, a tad too cold, a pinch too self-righteous.

Now the single is out, accompanied by a simple but pleasant clip that, perhaps, is no cinematographic masterpiece but that oozes with the emotion I would have longed for in the live version.

Some heartbreak, some pain. Not the biggest smile in town, it won't compliment a lyric like this.

Andreas Lundstedt - Aldrig aldrig (Sweden 2012 national final)

Norway 2012: Tooji borrowed a thing or two

2012-02-13T21:00:00.001+02:00

Norway selected Saturday night and I can heave a sigh of relief as my nightmare scenario of Plumbo did not materialise and the televoters gave in to their craving for modern pop.

It is very positive that Norway still wants to feel international after last year's failed attempt.

It is also understandable if you, the year after a non-qualification, wants to be popular. But there should be limits to everything.

Singer Tooji has just borrowed a few too many of Eric Saade's attributes. They look fairly similar to start with, then it is not a good idea to copy his wardrobe also.

Then again, the songs are not as similar as one might be fooled to think. A fairly modern little pop ditty with some rather becoming oriental details in the arrangement.

The boy can sing and the boy can dance, and this could grow into quite a credible entry, depending a bit on how many pop-flavoured songs we get in Baku. But the Eric Saade comparison is not to Tooji's advantage.

The more he can tone the connection down before Eurovision, the better his chances will be.

Tooji - Stay (Norway 2012)

Hungary 2012: Compact Disco to Baku

2012-02-13T00:29:00.000+02:00

In my short overview on Friday, I completely overlooked the fact that also Hungary selected their entry this weekend.

How could I? I have always had a soft spot for Hungary and their entries, and always keep some fingers crossed for them at some point.

The winners Compact Disco is a handsome bunch who, by the sound and look of it, probably listened to Hurts "Happiness" album until the CD turned to dust.

Compact Disco - Sound Of Our Hearts (Hungary 2012)

You can have worse sources of inspiration, of course, and this song is the kind of grower that starts showing potential on the second listening or so.

A little bit of work here and there, a bit of a tighter production and, perhaps, some vocal coaching, and this could, with a bit of luck, at least make it out of the semis without too much effort.

On a first listening, my impression was that it would have sounded better in Hungarian and that the lead singer didn't always come across as understanding what he was singing. But there is plenty of time to work on that, too.

Sweden, semi 2: anyone can be a finalist

2012-02-13T00:00:00.003+02:00

Just arrived back home in Helsinki and had a very quick look through the eight performances of this week's melodifestivalen semi final. No show, no sketches, no excitement, just the performances.

I already knew the outcome anyway, so I wouldn't have been as surprised as I gather quite a few people must have been after the live show. Or as surprised is I surely would have been.

One of the disadvantages of melodifestivalen is the average Swedish televoter and the eternal inability to think outside the box and only go for predictable choices. And at first, the result was pretty predictable indeed. In other words, my two favourite entries crashed and burned and ended last and second last.

Mimi Oh was a bit too sweet and inexperienced and too heavily influenced by Swedish starlet Veronica Maggio to really stand a chance.

Andreas Lundstedt was equipped with a lovely song with a bit of a too frosty feel to win through with the larger audience, further encumbered by the fact that the glossy performance distracted rather than enhanced the whole package.

When singing about heartbreak, longing and hatred it is never a great idea to wear the widest smile in town.

But then the results took a sharp turn away from the expected. Thomas di Leva, loved by the masses for many years already, missed out completely and left the field open for almost anyone to go to Globen.

Ulrik Munther wasn't really a surprise, given his fanbase and status as something of a Swedish Justin Bieber, but I know my jaw would have dropped had I seen the qualification of David Lindgren on live television.

I hear that he can sing, I see that he can dance. But I don't get this. At all.

Maybe the (pretty monotonous) song will grow on me in time for the final, but I find this tailormade for any token entertainment show on Swedish tv where they love people with bubbly personalities who sing well and dance well and who can do a tiny bit of breakdance without being in any way edgy or dangerous.

David Lindgren will have a great future on television and in musicals. Good for him. But if the Swedes send him to Baku, I'm afraid it is bad news week come May.

But if this song can qualify, anyone can. And that makes melodifestivalen more exciting again.

Finland: Kaisa Vala is in la-la-la-la-love

2012-02-11T18:21:00.001+02:00

Isn't it typical that a good idea seldom is hatched in one mind at the time? There is a slight risk this year that Cyprus and Finland will be represented by the same hook in Baku.

Which is about as awkward as two ladies coming to a party wearing the same dress.

Kaisa Vala, one of the remaining acts in UMK - the Finnish national final - is in la-la-love, very much like Ivi Adamou of Cyprus.

Even though UMK is quite some distance from making a real splash with the audience so far it seems quite a few people have found themselves with Kaisa's simple but effective chorus hammering in their heads. It is very catchy indeed, but I would still like to tamper with it a bit.

All the songs have been worked on by professional producers, but I would still like to re-arrange "Habits Of Human Beings" quite a lot. Make it rougher, give it more edge. As it is now, Kaisa sounds a bit like a Finnish Kylie on a rye bread diet and a synthesizer she inherited from some older cousin who wanted to make music in the 80's.

I'd like a more heavy factory sound, more industrial, more new wave. Less Kylie and more Kraftwerk.

With those enhancements under the belt, Kaisa Vala could prove a proud choice and make several viewers fall in la-la-love with Finland.

Missing out this week...

2012-02-10T16:55:00.001+02:00

If you people only knew how hard it is to blog on an iPad... This is my third attempt to publish this blog post. Soon I will know it by heart. And it grows shorter and shorter for each attempt...

This week, I will miss out on all the eurovision action as I am spending my weekend in Berlin - the best city there is. So I am not complaining, but I will be a bit short on the blogging and commenting.

But these are my short thoughts about the national finals coming up (and that I have in some way followed).

FINLAND

The third week of UMK will look like the second one - six acts will sing up for the jury, two acts will get eliminated. I keep my fingers crossed for my three big favourites Kaisa Vala, Leola and - above all - Ville Eetvartti to join obvious jury favourite Freeman for the next stage of the competition.

ICELAND

The Icelandic final seems rather likely to end up as a two horse race between two previous participants. If Regina Ósk and Jónsi really do fight it out in the end, I believe the latter one will win due to a more bombastic entry and performance. But even though five out of seven participants are good and have some sort of international potential, the unpredictable local televoters could just as soon favour the dead end folktune or the dismal boy band. And then it is Goodnight Iceland.

NORWAY

My guess is that dull "provocative" rock act Plumbo, who made complete fools at themselves commenting Madcon (and their skin colour) during the Norweigan Grammies, will win and secure Norway a second consecutive non-qualification in Baku. Therefore I have not paid too much attention to the line-up. Hopefully there is something really good there to enthuse the voters in another direction. Like the heart-throb singing Hanne Sorvaag's entry, even if he is better than the actual song.

SWEDEN

I have found myself firm favourites in the two slick, low-key, tastefully retro-tainted dance entries by Andreas Lundstedt and Mimi Oh, although I realise they are most unlikely to win through with the audience. Televoters will probably go in a spin over Ulrik Munther and Sonja Aldén and I can deal with that. But if they send Thomas di Leva (on old merits alone) and the rockabilly youth into the final, I have to question my relationship with Sweden and ask myself what we ever saw in each other.

ANYONE ELSE?

Is anyone else selecting this weekend? What kind of eurovision blogger am I? I will catch up as soon as I can once I am back from Berlin, so expect updates early next week.

Malta 2012: Kurt could have potential

2012-02-05T19:34:00.000+02:00

Last night, Malta selected their entrant for Baku out of sixteen hopeful contestants in the national final. After the televoting results had been added to the opinions of an international panel of judges, Kurt Calleja beat Claudia Faniello into second place.

There was a tiny uproar among the international hardcore fans (readily angered by the fact that the long final was designed to entertain the local audience and not them) who would have preferred the polite little runner-up ballad to win instead.

I think Kurt was quite a sensible choice after all. There is potential in the package, but there is work to be done.

The song needs to be re-arranged and given a much more powerful, slick and energetic sound. Right now it sounds like something plastered together in a hurry in a low budget home studio. That will not do. Send it to professionals and make it sound convincing.

The stage perfomance needs severe work. Call a good choreographer, make sure there is a routine to back the whole thing up. Right now the people on stage look like a happy bunch singing spontaneously at a village party. That will not do.

Kurt himself needs some major vocal coaching, not only to avoid losing his breath but also to make sure he avoids falling into the "How's it going", "How 'ya all doing", "Come on Baku"-routine. You should perform for the audience, not shout at them. This is ever so important. They are not your friends, they expect you to do your work. The performance from last night won't do.

But given that the proper amount of knowledge and talent is invested into this package, Malta could end up the happy clappy song that scrapes into the final on basis of its pure energy.

It is certainly worth a try.

Kurt Calleja - This Is The Night (Malta 2012)

Sweden, semi 1: A touch of class

2012-02-05T00:45:00.001+02:00

The first semi of Melodifestivalen 2012 is over and resulted in what I did not dare hope for: Loreen, with her elaborate stage show and sophisticated dance track, went straight into the final. Sweden never embraced an entry like this in the past and this was a very welcome surprise given the more likely scenarios.

I predicted Sean Banan would do Dead for April company bang into the final, but I'm not quite unhappy about Banana Boy going into the Second Chance round instead. You never know what competition he will face there, but I think the fun is over for him.

I thought The Moniker would reach Andra Chansen, but he was left in last place. That was the only thing in my prediction that went completely wrong, but I guess the dramatic change of musical direction backfired on him. In no way was his song the weakest in this line-up.

As a show, this was Melodifestivalen by the numbers: a glossy, luxurious package where most things looked good and lavish (apart from the surprisingly cheap and uninspired artist presentations before each song) and not much effort had been spared to make a good show.

And yet... I can't shake the feeling that the whole thing has turned a tad too predictable. If you watched it for the last couple of years, you know very much to expect. The kind of "intellectual" humour in the scripts, the pre-recorded sketches, the interval acts. Everything is top crop but I wasn't surprised once.

Maybe for 2013 it would a good idea to really shake the whole thing up, throw all the pieces in the air and try to really give the audience something they truly did not expect.

But these discussions can wait for later, right now I will just sit back and be very pleased about the Swedish televoters accepting Loreen the way she is.

Fingers crossed for Malta tonight!

2012-02-04T18:45:00.000+02:00

While Sweden is kick-starting their season with the first of six weeks of Melodifestivalen mania, Malta is about to select their 25th entry for Eurovision.

It has to be said: for a country their size, Malta has been mindblowingly successful at the ESC. Twice runner-up, twice heartbreakingly close to winning the whole shebang.

Lately, perhaps, the Maltese have not been quite up to standard. Since Chiara's second place in Kyiv 2005, the island nation has only twice been present in the final, on both occasions ending among the last.

There is a reason to this, however. Maltese composers have not been really careful about their craft and often settled for unpolished and under-developed song constructions, relying on simple hooks or gimmicks.

In the 90's, when Malta often belonged to the group of favourites, they often entered strong songs with insufficient performances. Lately it has been the reverse: good performers have been sent to the European stage with dismal songs and weak choruses.

So far, I am yet to hear a single entry in this year's Maltese line-up, but I hope they will run with a quality song rather than a cheerful performance or a fun gimmick.

We'd all love to spend a week in the sun in May 2013, so gives us your best shot. Fingers crossed.

Helen & Joseph - L-Imhabba (Malta 1972)

Sweden, semi 1: Tobson predicts

2012-02-04T17:14:00.000+02:00

It is the time of the year when the biggest circus in Euroland starts, apart from the grand final itself come May, the extravaganza known as Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national final.

A total of 32 songs will fight it out, in four semis and one Second Chance round, for ten place in the big final in Globen in March.

The first eight go into battle tonight and SVT has released both minute-long video clips from early rehearsals as well as full length audio clips on their webpage and this is how I find them.

1. SEAN BANAN - Sean den förste banan
I used to have an acute allergy towards humour entries in the Eurovision, but the adorable Verka Serduchka from Ukraine shook that out of me once and for all back in 2007. So that is not the problem here. I hear how catchy this is and how the hook plasters itself all over the place in my brain's musical centre, and yet I'm not particularly impressed. I just thought there would be more to it than this rather internal joke. A good opener, and most possibly a finalist, but not a wise choice for Baku.

2. ABALONE DOTS - På väg
Soft and competent country-scented and low-key, like a whisper sung in close to perfect key. A lovely little song of the kind that Sweden never votes for. As chanceless now as it ever was before.

3. THE MONIKER - I Want To Be Chris Isaak (This Is Just The Beginning)
The complete anti-thesis of his multicoloured effort from last year - an understated little tune that leans against a shy little violin in the verse and then starts dancing around more happily in the chorus. It could be just the title and all, but it gets me thinking of the (slightly catchier) "I Want To Meet Bob Dylan" from last year's Estonian final. I like it, but ten minutes later I can't remember a single note of it. Not a good sign.

4. AFRO-DITE - The Boy Can Dance
Ten years ago, Afro-Dite were commercially successful and highly anticipated winners of the first melodifestival sporting the current format. After the flop in Tallinn (hey - everything is relative, back in the day Sweden counted anything outside top three as a failure) their success came to nothing and time has not been very kind to "Never Let It Go". What was intense and fabulous back then now leaves a taste of dust in your mouth. And there lies their problem this time around - this is nicely tailored and energetic, but nowhere near as engaging as it would need to be. There are other comebacks the audience would long more for than this one.

5. DEAD BY APRIL - Mystery
Metal with sharp edges in Melodifestivalen? Not a bad idea, really, as Sweden - just like Finland - is never completely averse to a piece of rock with attitude. It is just surprising that the metal never turns particularly spiky in the end. The gargling (a grawl, I think is the scientific term) has promise in this domain, but the rest of the package is surprisingly void of attitude. Instead of a tiger's roar we get a kitten's hiss. Oh dear. Not too scary if you ask me.

6. MARIE SERNEHOLT - Salt And Pepper
Let me state two things at once: I think "The Boy Does Nothing" is an enchanting little track that makes me want to dance and I absolutely adore the entire being of Marie Serneholt. Blend these and you should have an entry to knock me over, but eurovision algebra is never quite as easy as that. It takes more than mambo to move me, and something is missing to make this upbeat little number memorable. Marie sings she is looking for spice - here is salt and pepper aplenty but not beef. Too bad.

7. THORSTEN FLINCK & REVOLUTIONSORKESTERN - Jag reser mig igen
My father was always a big fan of Swedish troubadour Fred Åkerström, who never entered Melodifestivalen (and who would probably have preferred being eaten alive than do anything of the kind). The vocals of this entry are surprisingly similar to Fred Åkerström's, but while he would invest himself in a song, actor Flinck plays the part of a singer. Too much acting but not enough of a plot. And self-pitying lyrics about how hard it is to be famous do very little for me.

8. LOREEN - Euphoria
The sky-high favourite among bookies, journalists and fans as well as with the audience poll after last night's dress rehearsal, Loreen is set to take revenge for missing out on the final last year. With it's exquisite arrangement and tasteful production it also stands out as my clear favourite of the week. But there are still clouds blocking the sun. Loreen's biggest disadvantage last year was her inability to go through the screen - will she manage this year? Will the Swedes embrace this kind of slick dance track despite never really doing so in the past? I would love to see this in the final, but the flashing lights in the back of my mind tell me not to be too sure.

Knowing that Sweden will throw itself over its first semi like mad and vote until their telephones bleed, I get a feeling the two finalists will be songs that hit home with the masses rather than with me, songs that will work better in the local charts than in Eurovision.

To the final I predict Sean Banan and Dead By April. I wouldn't choose either of them, but I have a nagging feeling that humour and some metal will attract votes tonight. Loreen and The Moniker will find themselves in Andra Chansen.

As for the fifith place, the awkward spot where you almost made it, it could be anyone of the others but I think the notority of Marie Serneholt could help her mambo this far.

Personally, I would gladly reverse the whole thing and send Loreen and The Moniker to the final (and Marie to Andra Chansen) but I have my doubts.

This is my truth, now show me yours. What do you think?

Song of the Day: Austria 1982

2012-02-01T22:26:00.001+02:00

Where do I begin? Where do I begin? I guess I could say that we have a complicated relationship, this song and I.

It behaves a little bit like a dear old friend that you are genuinely happy to see again.

Until this dear old friend stars acting out in bizarre ways; hopping and clapping and dancing in public, knocking over glasses and tables, raising disapproval from everyone around, making you wish you were somewhere else.

Or, at least, that you dear old friend could behave and not make you look like a fool when other people are around.

This is, really, an infectuous little number with a very distinct and easily retainable chorus. The recorded version has a typically early 80's freshness over it, and the prominent piano sound gives the whole package a very nice touch.

Mess - Sonntag (Austria 1982)

And then comes the live version. Where the piano is replaced with a horrid organ. Where the duo is almost frighteningly cheerful and upbeat. Where the dancing would knock down glasses and tables had there been any around.

You silently wish for the whole thing to end and you find yourself pinching your arm, desperately trying to remind yourself why you liked this friend in the first place.

Mess - Sonntag (Austria 1982)

Almost identical entries!

2012-02-01T21:30:00.001+02:00

Now that I mentioned Monia and "Nu idag" from 1997, I will have to air a little thing that has been on my mind for many years already. This is what Monia sounded and looked like:

Monia - Nu idag (Sweden 1997 national final)

Then fast forward two years until 1999, when Klenoinki "Cleo" Nilsson entered the stage with her entry "Natten är min vän", written by her boyfriend at the time, a certain Thomas G:son who would go on to becoming one of the most successful songwriters in Melodifestivalen.

Cleo, who normally sang in the band Cleo & Grabbarna, really attacks her song with more energy and zeal than most dance vocalists could procure. She impressed the juries but scored zero points in the televote.

The fact still remains - her song is incredibly similar to Monia's entry two years before. The structure, the sound, the arrangement, the choreographed backing singers... Even the melody lines are pretty similar.

One evil little suspicion might pop up in your head but then again... Why steal a song that already flopped once?

Cleo - Natten är min vän (Sweden 1999 national final)

The relative failure did little harm to Cleo's career as one of the most acclaimed dance orchestra vocalists at the time, but a dramatic road accident a few years back put an end to her career.

According to this article, Cleo still sings - for the well-being of the soul - but is in no condition to tour or give concerts. A sad development for a really talented vocalist.

Melodifestivalen gem: Monia singing her heart out

2012-01-31T23:18:00.002+02:00

Melodifestivalen 1997 was going to be the real start of something new, according to host SVT Göteborg. After a few lean years with few hits and fewer viewers, it was time to wipe out the old and bring in the new.

Songs were especially commissioned by the likes of Jonas Berggren of Ace of Base and the still rather fresh pop discovery Robyn (who was later set for international stardom and quite a lot of it too), backing tracks were allowed and the whole production should have a scent of fresh air.

What an anticlimax then, that the first song in the running was as stereotypical for 80's and 90's Melodifestivalen entries as could be.

Dance orchestra vocalist Monia Sjöström gave it a brave effort vocally, but "Nu idag" didn't stand a chance against the supposedly more modern competition and ended second last.

In retrospect, it would be more anticlimactic that a song just as dated and with just as distinct a taste of dust went on to win the whole thing, only to bomb a few weeks later in Dublin.

Unlike blond, at least Monia had some sparkle in her eyes and a fair share of charm and her song has stood the test of time better than most of the more modern ones.

Monia - Nu idag (Sweden 1997 national final)

Song of the Day: Switzerland 1985

2012-01-31T22:42:00.003+02:00

Back in the 80's, when Eurovision was still commercially successful in the Nordic countries (before the big comedown of the 90's), we had ESC cover versions released on tape.

For many years, these cover versions were my truth and my originals.

And in the 1985 cover cassette, I was always fond of the Swiss entry. I found it catchy and easy to sing along to. In short, a very fun song.

In 1992, I found a sampler album with all the songs in original versions and got to hear the real singers for the first time in seven years. A very happy event in my life, but the Swiss disappointed me.

Later that same year, I got a video copy of the 1985 contest and was even more disappointed with the Swiss. What I always thought would be a quick-paced, snappy entry turned out to be a slack little duet, lacking the forza and attack it had on my cover tape.

Given that it was composed and conducted by a real musical legend, in the shape of Anita Kerr, makes it even more disappointing.

But Pino and Mariella look cute together, and the chorus is still catchy. At least that is something. And good enough for a 12th place.

Pino Gasparini & Mariella Farré - Piano Piano (Switzerland 1985)

France 2012: Anggun adds a bit of temper

2012-01-29T19:09:00.000+02:00

I have had a bubbly gut feeling ever since France revealed they had convinced Indonesian star Anggun to go to Eurovision to represent them.

Anggun is a dignified and worthy representative, having had her international break thanks to French producers and songwriters back in the late 90's.

Today, her entry for Baku was made official, and with such great expectations hanging over you it is hard not to disappoint.

Anggun - Echo (You and I) (France 2012)

On a first listening, I must admit to feeling a bit confused. It wasn't crystal clear where this song was heading, what tempo it would settle for and what part of it really constituted the chorus.

That slight criticism aside, I did hear the nifty production, the warm timbre of Anggun's lovely voice as well as the energetically persistent whistle hook that comes and goes all through the song.

Also, what must be remembered is that Anggun possesses an impressive stage persona with a strong presence and gravity. If the song needs an extra push at first, Anggun is the right performer to provide it.

Given an effective stage show (and a bit of luck in the draw), France could turn out to be the contender they were expected to be for the last few years but never quite lived up to.

Very well done!

Cyprus 2012: La La Love

2012-01-29T12:01:00.000+02:00

Cypriot broadcaster RIK announced already early in the season that they would have themselves represented by X-Factor starlet Ivi Adamou in Baku, discontinuing the not too successful talent show set-up used for selecting their entrant in 2011.

Ivi found herself three songs for a national final, none of which written by local songwriters.

Repeating myself like an old vinyl record with a big scratch in it, I still find it disappointing when countries won't use local talent at Eurovision. Anyone could buy good songs from a publisher, but an ESC final where half the songs are written by Diane Warren and the other half by RedOne would not be a happy prospect in my book.

However, songwriting is turning more international, and the main focus at Eurovision since many years back are the singers anyway. End of rant.

On a first listening, I found all three songs pretty dull and disinteresting, but I must admit that the winner is growing on me.

Ivi Adamou - La La Love (Cyprus 2012)

Not entirely my cup of tea, but I'm beginning to see the potential of a simple but hooky piece of beach party disco that everyone can sing along to from the word go.

It reminds me quite a lot of Turkey's 2009 entry by Hadise with its slightly oriental-flavoured arrangement and steady rhythm.

And there has been worse hooks than a lot of la-la-la's in a row. Don't you agree, Massiel?

Massiel - La La La (Spain 1968)

Denmark 2012: Soluna Samay to Baku

2012-01-29T11:34:00.000+02:00

In the 1980's, Denmark found a real formula for what their eurovision entries should sound like. Year after year, they sent in songs clearly baked in the same cake tin, easily recognisable as Danish eurosongs, and they did pretty well.

For the last couple of years, there has been a bit of a new Danish formula: solid singalongs in a pseudo-modern arrangement, yet with clear retro references to make them more appealing to as many people as possible.

It has worked very well again, with Denmark not missing a final since 2008 and top five placings in both 2010 and 2011. (Although I must admit I haven't quite shared the televoters' enthuasiam on every occasion.)

This year, the Danes have - surprisingly - taken a step away from the formula.

The winning entry is nowhere near as evident as Danish entries tend to be. More simplistic, less eager to be loved, performed by a Danish Anna Rossinelli in a big hat. Intriguing drums and a melody line that owes more than a little to Seal's "Crazy" makes for the most interesting Danish entry in many years.

On a first listening I wasn't convinced, but this entry is slowly unfolding in a very attractive way.

Possibly not a third consecutive placing in the top five, but I'm very pleased with Denmark thinking outside the box.

Soluna Samay - Should Have Known Better (Denmark 2012)

Song of the Day: Russia 1997

2012-01-16T21:36:00.001+02:00

Under many years, the ESC attracted mainly young, fairly unknown performers who often got to shine for one night and then disappeared into obscurity again once the spotlight was turned off.

But then - now and again, a real superstar tread out into the light and the whole atmosphere changed.

Alla Pugacheva wasn't just any old star either - she was the biggest Diva of the Soviet Union, so loved by the audience that she could afford being more outspoken than most, who unlike many others had survived the transition into the new realities of the Russian Federation without losing her popularity.

Her good friend, the late Swedish tv presenter Jacob Dahlin, had always talked to her about Eurovision, how grand it was and how she should be there. She told the Swedish press that she finally went there as a gesture to him.

And quite possibly as a bit of an ego rub.

For a few years, during the mid 80's when perestroika was the new big thing, Alla travelled Europe and was a welcome guest on several high-profile tv shows and song festivals and had quite a nice little career going for her.

Eurovision was a new chance for her to mingle in the international limelight and show the world she could still perform. She squeezed every single drop of emotion out of her bombastic chanson-esque entry and had the audience eat from her hand.

For some reason, the juries remain unimpressed (apart from the jury in Slovenia awarding her top points) and The Queen landed on a bleak 15th place.

Not that it in any way affected her career, but that is no way to treat royalty.

Alla Pugacheva - Prima Donna (Russia 1997)

We won't be going to Riga in 2013...

2012-01-16T21:07:00.000+02:00

Latvia has completed both of its semifinals and boiled the twenty hopefuls down to ten finalists, battling it out for the final ticket to Baku.

The Latvian performances have been a bit erratic for the last few years. First they sent three entries in a row that did reasonably well but all had a distinct taste of novelty acts (2006 - 2008), and the three entries since then have all failed to make it out of the semis.

After listening once to all the songs in the running, I wouldn't bet my last penny on an improved showing this year.

Most of the songs in the lineup are surprisingly dull and indistinct, which is surprising given how vital the music scene is in Latvia. At some point, most of the local professionals seem to have given up the whole idea of Eurovision.

Given the chance that I have missed some song that will grow strong and effective on a second listen, I dare say none of these entries will stand a chance internationally in its own right.

The Disco Superfly entry could come across as a bit fresh but starts annoying you well before its three minutes are over. Trianas Parks enter with a solid entry that sounds good but lacks that certain something to make you remember it.

And then there is the novelty act. Again. Packed with eurovision references as well as a whole bunch of fairly amusing things snooped from here and there in the universe of Pop, the Mad Show Boys are at least a bit of fun. At least for one listening.

It is with a heavy heart that I state that we most probably won't be going to Riga in 2013 either. What a shame on a beautiful city.

Mad Show Boys - Music Thief (Latvia national final 2012)

ESC 2012: worthy women from the Balkans

2012-01-14T15:22:00.000+02:00

With the exception of Slovenia (who always used to walk their own ways anyway), all of Former Yugoslavia has opted for internal selections for Baku.

Three of them have opted for strong female performers with strong personalities:

Bosnia and Herzegovina has apponted Maya Sar to sing for them in Baku. She was in Düsseldorf as part of Dino Merlin's cheerful backing group, but will now perform as a solo singer.

She is an accomplished musician who worked as a backing singer for many of her country's top stars. Her first solo single was a big success and she is currently working on her first album.

Maya Sar - Nespretno

Croatia has decided not to select their ESC entry through the Dora festival this time, and Nina Badrić for the job. She used to work in a bank before becoming a top name in the 90's dance music scene. Gradually, she left the dance music behind and has grown into a mature pop star.

She participated four times at the Dora without success, now she will finally get to represent her country at the ESC.

Nina Badrić - Dat ce nam Bog

FYR Macedonia selected its first eurovision entry in 1996, but found themselves rejected at the odd, non-public semi final organised that year. Their entrant Kaliopi has since grown into a steadily established name in the domestic showbiz.

She has developed a very strong presence and popularity and has, finally, been appointed to represent her country again. This time she has been given pretty much free hands to do whatever she wants when it comes down to writing, recording and producing her entry. Will it pay off in the end?

Kaliopi - Ti

Personally, I am very pleased with all three choices that could, given the right decisions are made concerning songs and performances, result in all three countries going very far in the voting.

Sending experienced and personable performers could, and should, result in plenty of points. Fingers crossed.

ESC 2012: may we have the participants, please?

2012-01-14T14:48:00.001+02:00

We are quite some time into January, and yet there is no officially confirmed list of participants for the 2012 Eurovision in Baku.

The situation is quite similar to Moscow 2009, when it took a long time to establish that very list. 2008 had been a harsh year for many broadcasters, Latvia and Lithuania wanted to pull out for financial reasons, Georgia wanted to pull out for political reasons. It was very much a mess for quite a long time.

The EBU negociated with all three and kept them in the running (even if Georgia would eventually give the whole event a miss anyway).

According to Eurovision Times, similar things go on right now behind the scenes. Seemingly, the big project at hand is "Save Poland" - an attempt to reverse the Polish withdrawal from the contest. There were also rumours about Romania possibly pulling out, later denied by TVR officials.

There have also been rumours about Moroccan broadcaster 2M seeking EBU membership, bringing Morocco back to the contest. According to Wikipedia, sources have quoted Morocco as "very likely" to return, while the EBU website says nothing about 2M being discussed as a potential member.

And Armenia, then? What has the EBU done to ensure Armenian participation? Is it acceptable if one paying member of the EBU has to refrain from participation on political grounds.

An official list of participants would be most welcome at this point, to end all this speculation.

Song of the Day: FYR Macedonia 2002

2012-01-14T14:19:00.001+02:00

Apologies for the slight inactivity that has ruled this blog lately. Sorry for that, but I hope your new year has started well.

And we start off with a new Song of the Day, and this is a big favourite of mine. In fact, I think this is the best entry ever presented by the country in question.

Karolina - Od nas zavisi (FYR Macedonia 2002)

I could just as well have posted this under another old headline of mine: Songs only I like. It seems eurofans and the general audience alike have a hard time getting their head around this one.

I find it spellbinding, almost hypnotic, and very well delivered by Karolina. From the word go with the suggestive drum beat, to the chanting backing singers, I find this pure class.

Karolina has since blossomed into an even better performer and one of her country's top stars, and she came back to Eurovision five years later to better her scoring considerably with the admittedly more user-friendly "Mojot svet".

But for me, her 2002 effort stands out as a shining pearl in a line-up that felt fresh back then, but somehow failed to stand the test of time.

Karolina - Od nas zavisi (FYR Macedonia 2002 preview)

Song of the Day: Albania 2008

2011-12-30T12:32:00.001+02:00

Despite Festivali i Këngës not quite being the right vehicle for finding the right song for Eurovision, the FiK jury got it right more times than they got it wrong.

This is an excellent example of when things go right and the winner both has a distinctly national flavour (or at least I think it is) as well as a really graspable chorus.

Olta Boka was very young when she won the national final, and perhaps her nerves got the better of her in the Belgrade final (this clip is from the semi final), but she compliments her song very well.

Olta Boka - Zemrën e lamë peng (Albania 2008)

Olta's song was also one of the songs that needed the least amount of revamping after the Festivali i Këngës. A slightly more crisp arrangement and the removal of the rather heavy choir parts was all it took.

A very good entry, in my book. Albania usually delivers, you know.

Olta Boka - Zemrën e lamë peng (Albania 2008 national final)

ESC 2012: "Suus" for Albania

2011-12-30T11:12:00.002+02:00

Albania's national final was held over four nights in Tirana and resulted in a very clear victory for "Suus" performed and co-written by Rona Nishliu, a 25 year old singer from Kosovo.

The jurors were rather unanimous in their decision, and the audience in the hall audibly agreed that the right song won.

The right song for Festivali i Këngës, that is. This is a prestigious old festival with a history very much of its own, designed for very different purposes than to find a three-minute pop piece to knock the socks off European competition.

Eurovision demands different things from what a contest like FiK would, could or should produce. Most of the FiK winners have lent themselves quite well to the ESC format, but that is more a co-incidence than anything else.

I dare suggest that Rona Nishliu might get a hard time trying to sell "Suus" to the European audience it wasn't designed for.

Maybe it would be time for Albania to let the Festivali i Këngës be what it is and flourish in its own right and find another modus to select their Eurovision entries?

Rona Nishliu - Suus from ESC 2012 on Vimeo.

Rona Nishliu - Suus (Albania 2012)

Preview clip: Spain 1973

2011-12-18T22:21:00.000+02:00

Arguably one of the best songs ever to grace the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest, Spain's 1973 effort was not only a strong entry but it also came in nice packaging.

Particularly in the preview shows. The previews were a relatively new and fresh approach still, and TVE made a certain effort to make their entry look good.

Easy tricks for sure - mirrors on both sides of the studio and a nice panorama shot - but the result is very nice. Had I been around in 1973, I'm pretty sure I would have been ready to bet everything I owned an more on Spanish victory.

Mocedades - Eres tú (Spain 1973 preview clip)

In the end, Mocedades didn't quite deliver. Lead singer Amaya Uranga got a bit too tense in the end while Anne-Marie David, representing host nation Luxembourg, stormed in and nailed cameras as well as every single note and won the whole thing by a margin of four points.

Mocedades - Eres tú (Spain 1973)

Shape it up like Albania

2011-12-18T21:48:00.000+02:00

The prestigious Albanian Song Contest that since 2003 has served as national final for Eurovision is usually held sometime around Christmas. I hope Santa brings them a whole lot of luck in a package.

The Albanian selection modus is a bit risky indeed. The time limit for songs in Festivali i Këngës, if there is one, does not correspond to the three minute rule in Eurovision and some years there has been a lot of repackaging to be done once there is a winner.

It worked well with the 2004 entry, which became more modern and snappy in its shorter version, and it seemed to work wonders with the tune for Kyiv as well.

Ledina Çelo - Nesër shkoj (Albania 2005 national final)

The four minutes of Nesër shkoj were efficiently boiled down to a rather perfect ESC version in English, and quite a few people were convinced Albania was about to land another top ten finish.

Ledina Çelo - Tomorrow I Go (Albania 2005 preview clip)

But as rehearsals progressed in Kyiv, all Albania fans woke up to a new reality. Ledina, who had started rehearsals brilliantly, started to grow more and more nervous, she started losing her camera angles and - worst of all - she started to sing badly.

The last rehearsal, the one the backup-juries listened to, was outright terrible.

It all went a bit better on the big night, but completely without the security, gravity and finesse there was to start with. Albania finished in 16th place on the night.

Whoever wins the upcoming Festivali i Këngës, I wish them the opposite experience to Ledina's. It would be awfully nice to see Albania back in top ten again.

Ledina Çelo - Tomorrow I Go (Albania 2005)

Song Of The Day: Yugoslavia 1984

2011-12-18T10:46:00.001+02:00

To celebrate the return of Montenegro, my song of the day highlights one of their finest moments. Depending on how you see it.

Reliable sources claim that TV Titograd won the 1984 Yugoslav final due to extensive cheating (including lots of online whispering), and the song hasn't even got a very strong montenegrin connection at all.

Vlado Kalember was the former singer of Srebrna Krila from Zagreb. Izolda Barudžija had been a member of Aska (representing TV Beograd) in 1982, and in 1983 she provided backing vocals for Yugoslavia together with her sister Eleonora.

Their duet had apparently been turned down by TV Zagreb for the 1984 national final, possibly even with the same song. "Ciao amore" was credited to Montenegrin songwriters (as the rules stipulated this), but the rest of the duo's subsequent album was mainly written by Sarajevo-born Đorđe Novković.

In Luxembourg, Izolda and Vlado (credited as Ida & Vlado) bombed completely and ended second last out of nineteen participants. I never understood why the judges had to be so harsh (or how they could prefer drivel like that song from Switzerland) but those are the rules of the game.

Izolda & Vlado - Ciao amore (Yugoslavia 1984)

The fun doesn't end there, though. You should also check out the duo's hot and revealing video clip - a bit too much so for mainstream taste. Turkish television deemed it improper and refused to broadcast it during their preview show.

What do you say, is this too much skin for your liking?

Izolda & Vlado - Ciao amore (Yugoslavia 1984 preview clip)

Montenegro is back!

2011-12-18T10:18:00.001+02:00

After two years of absence (and, seemingly, a change of heads in the entertainment department) TVCG has decided to join the fun again and send an entrant to Baku.

A smart move, really.

A small and relatively new country like Montenegro, with a heavy tourism sector, couldn't really afford staying away from such relatively cheap advertisement as taking part in the ESC.

Not that any of their entries as independent country so far has had a lot of impact. Montenegro is yet to make it out of the semi finals, and with entries like "Ajde kroči" it is not a real surprise either.

An internal selection has appointed Rambo Amadeus to represent his country in Baku and a man with a name like that certainly deserves some attention. He is the stage persona of Belgrade-based poet Antonije Pušić and sounds quite a bit like a local Serge Gainsbourg.

Being quirky in an oddball way could be a good idea in Eurovision (think Laka of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2008) but also disastrous (think Gipsy.cz).

Equipped with a good song and a graspable chorus, Rambo Amadeus could hopefully provide us with three rather interesting minutes in Baku.

Rambo Amadeus - Urbano, samo urbano

Melodifestivalen gem: Copycat Hadar 1975

2011-12-17T11:06:00.001+02:00

Recently, I posted Glenmarks' 1974 melodifestivalen entry, a lovely little song that stood out as very different in their standard repertoire.

One year later, they would be back again, but this time mainly as a backing group for young Hadar Kronberg - a fresh talent recently signed by Bruno Glenmark's record company.

The question here is how obviously you can steal someone else's idea without decomposing with shame.

This song is a catchy little number by singers in extravagant outfits and a pseudo-historical effective title gimmick with a vaguely French connection. I wonder what Abba were thinking when they saw this.

Abba's conductor had the Napoleon outfit, Bruno Glenmark conducts with toy guns in his hands. This links in with the lyrics about two men duelling about this woman they both love. Duel or possibly Russian roulette, the lyrics are a bit vague on which method is chosen in the end.

All in all, a rather dubious package from a copyright perspective. But it is a very jolly and upbeat schlager. Surprisingly much so for a song that deals with imminent death.

Hadar & Glenmarks -Lady Antoinette (Sweden 1975 national final)

ESC 2012: Poland stays at home?

2011-12-17T10:32:00.000+02:00

It seems Poland will not be present at the next Eurovision Song Contest, according to unofficial messages made by broadcaster TVP.

The demanding task of co-hosting the European Football Championships in combination with a disappointing run of results is, seemingly, what lead up to this decision.

I do think that Eurovision should be one big, great European party and the more participants, the merrier. I would really like for each and every European country to be represented and every country that drops out is a shame.

And there was a time where a Polish withdrawal would stand out like a disaster to me. Back in the day, Poland was one of my favourite countries that kept providing artistic entries with style, class and grace.

But ever since their first relegation in 1999, it felt like Polish television struggled. The average Polish entry was no longer particularly original or exciting. Other countries filled that space and Poland fell behind.

Maybe it is a good thing for them to pause and figure out what they really want. With a music industry like the Polish, winning the ESC would be piece of cake. If only you wanted to.

So Poland, speaking as your friend - take a year, take two, and get your act together. Then come back with something as brilliant as you used to send in. You will be most welcome.

Anna Maria Jopek - Ale jestem (Poland 1997 preview clip)

Romania 1998: Goodbye Mălina

2011-12-12T21:36:00.001+02:00

Sad news reached the world of Eurovision today as it was reported that the 1998 Romanian representative Mălina Olinesu is no longer with us.

Reports suggesting that Mălina would have committed suicide, aged 37, makes the story even more sad.

Mălina was the second performer to represent Romania in Eurovision and holds the less flattering record of achieving the country's lowest score to date. Six points and a twenty-second place did not help her career back home, and she faded from the brightests spotlights.

Mălina Olinescu - Eu cred (Romania 1998 preview)

I always found the preview version of this song understated in an attractive way, while the final version in Birmingham felt a bit overblown in comparison. Maybe it showcases Mălina's voice but takes away quite a lot of the song's discrete charm.

Mălina Olinescu - Eu cred (Romania 1998)

ESC rejects: Israel 1989

2011-12-11T23:51:00.001+02:00

At the time, being 13, the Israeli entry for Lausanne hit me like a brick on the head.

The sweet tune and the appealing set-up made it my firm favourite for many years to come and I identified very strongly with little Gili, facing the huge responsibility of representing his country.

(To be honest, he could very well be my first eurovision crush ever. But I wouldn't have understood to phrase it like that back then. Enough about me.)

Gili & Galit - Derech ha'melech (Israel 1989)

Nowadays, I find it a tad too sugary for my liking, even if I still recognise good handicraft when I see it.

I would have preferred to look into that wonderful magical parallel universe to find out what perky girl trio Mango could have done to the scoreboard. The song is catchy and the sound far too modern to sound good with the Swiss orchestra.

But could the girls have bettered the very disappointing 12th place of the boy soprano?

Mango - Yedidai (Israel 1989 national final)

ESC reject: Norway 2010

2011-12-11T11:53:00.001+02:00

We hear so many of these stories at Eurovision; a relationship on the rocks but I promise to change so give me another chance and please stop looking like you're actually leaving. This is yet another one, but with a few more twists in the tale than most.

This girl really has a problem, doesn't she? She's not just a tad jealous, this one. She goes berserk as soon as something slightly female approaches and it is a mystery she can go through three minutes on stage without attacking her attractive backing singers.

Venke Knutse's sweet baby voice delivery goes very nicely together with the Mad Glenn Close-attitude (neat reference to "Fatal Attraction" in the lyrics), even if I might have wanted a little more of Lena's "maybe I'm cute but I'm also lethal so beware"-approch, used in Germany's 2011 entry.

You sort of understand the bloke and can't really blame him for leaving. Until the bridge, that is, when the lyrics suddenly reveal that this jealousy is rather well founded and triggered by the man himself.

What is left is the feeling that this couple probably deserves each other. That, and a miraculously sweet, fluffy and appealing little pop creation.

How Norway could select that pompous and sopophoric mega ballad instead is beyond me.

Venke Knutson - Jealous 'Cause I Love You (Norway 2010 national final)

ESC 2012: the Swiss are Unbreakable

2011-12-11T00:25:00.001+02:00

The first entry for Baku has been decided upon, as Switzerland selected their representative out of a line-up consisting of fourteen songs.

The winner had been sent in by the Italian-languaged branch of Swiss television, and it must be underlined how much it adds credibility to the Swiss choice that a representative from the smallest of the three major communities can win through.

The shocker for many fans was, of course, that Dame Lys Assia - winner of the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 - failed to even reach top three on the evening. I say it is better like that. Not only was her song aggressively dated (and somehow lacking in melody), but Eurovision has changed a lot since Lys last took part in 1958.

I get exhausted by two weeks of Eurovision. I'm 35. Lys is 87. She is far better off like this. And so is Eurovision.

The winning act are Ivan and Gabriel, two brothers from Losone, making up the duo Sinplus. They now have five months to polish and improve their act and my best advice would be to brush up on the stage output as well as the pronounciation.

Their song is a good one - a slightly repetitive (or, if you prefer, catchy) soft rocker, reminiscent of Switzerland's 2009 entry by the Lovebugs who failed to qualify largely due to bad pronounciation and a lack of stage output.

If the boys get their act together, Switzerland could very well make the final for the second time in a row. I guess it would please Schweizer Fernsehen quite a bit if they pulled that trick off.

Sinplus - Unbreakable (Switzerland 2012)

ESC reject: Norway 1984

2011-11-27T21:14:00.001+02:00

In 1983, pop/rock/ska duo Monroes hit the Norweigan pop scene in a big way and sold more than 130,000 copies of their debut album before grabbing a Spellemann Award as best act. It was a real scoop for NRK to announce that this successful act would enter the 1984 Norweigan final for Eurovision.

Maybe it spoiled the fun a bit that they only agreed to write a song, not to perform it themselves, but several hopeful young talents auditioned to sing it. As a media stunt, it was a very successful one.

As young Beate Jacobsen entered the stage her inexperience shone through, but at least she nailed the cameras and her voice grew stronger throughout the song.

Unfortunately, "Strand Hotel" didn't sound like an immortal masterpiece on night. It is a somewhat shaky construction that sounds more diffuse than it would need to, given the orchestral arrangement.

Beate Jacobsen - Strand Hotel (Norway 1984 national final)

It is much easier to get a hang of the song in its recorded version. A snappier production and clearer arrangement clarifies the chorus that suddenly gets a lot easier to grasp.

It would have needed only three points to win - chances are that it would, had it sounded like this.

Beate Jacobsen - Strand Hotel (English studio version)

Monroes continued their career successfully for many years to come, while Beate recorded one album before slipping back into anonymity again.

Song Of The Day: Portugal 1973

2011-11-27T20:30:00.001+02:00

When Portugal made its Eurovision debut, the country was still under harsh dictatorship and its first ten entries were all products of the totalitarian regime and its cultural rules.

Since you were not allowed to speak your mind, the domestic poets tried to sneak their lyrics past the strict censorship of the national broadcaster and win a place in the national song contest.

Ary Dos Santos played this game very well, he wrote the lyrics for no less than four winning songs, some of which had critical messages between the lines. "Tourada" being a very fine example of this.

The song is not exactly your typical pop hit, but it has a very persistent chorus that is catchy in its own little way.

Fernando Tordo - Tourada (Portugal 1973)

This lyric doesn't stand out as particularly dangerous to me but apparently it contains blistering criticism of the country's leadership as well as the double standards of a society that puts up with being controlled.

And somehow you can hear how scornful it is. It sounds really cheeky, obnoxious and arrogant in a refreshing way. Hearing it today, I'm sure it would still annoy the life out of somebody. Fernando Tordo is also a very likeable performer, almost as cheeky as the song itself.

It was also given quite an amusing preview clip, I must say.

Fernando Tordo - Tourada (Portugal 1973 preview clip)

Not only did it result (surprisingly) in one of Portugal's better placings, it is also (less surprisingly) a real evergreen on home ground. When covered by another of my favourite Portuguese ESC performers of recent years, it recieved a very enthusiastic response from the audience.

Rui Drumond - Tourada

Melodifestivalen gem: Glenmarks 1974

2011-11-27T19:49:00.001+02:00

Ann-Louise Hanson has the record number of songs performed at Swedish national final Melodifestivalen - nobody sang as many times as she did.

After being a tremendously successful solo singer throughout the 60's, she joined the vocal ensemble Glenmarks in the early 70's. The group was assembled by her husband Bruno Glenmark and, apart from them, included his nephews Anders and Karin.

Most of their material was pretty middle-of-the-road, clean-cut schlager for the masses, with the odd piece of fine singing in between.

Therefore, their 1974 MF entry is a bit of a shocker.

It is an experiemental piece, a slow verse that turns headlong into a soulful outburst of a chorus in a surprisingly heavy arrangement, with matching, rather abstract, lyrics. Far too demanding for the juries, who were about to select a Very Commercial Winner for the first time ever, and who could not be bothered with ambitious pieces like this one.

Of course it wouldn't have stood a chance in Brighton, but it is a very good song once you get into it.

It also shows a glimpse from a parallel universe that could have been, if Ann-Louise Hanson had decided to drift from schlager into more progressive material. Judging from this, she might have pulled it off really well.

Glenmarks - I annorlunda land (Sweden 1974 national final)

Song Of The Day: Slovenia 1995

2011-11-21T22:00:00.001+02:00

Slovenia had flopped rather a lot at their debut as independent country in 1993. Nine points was all they got and they had to stay out for one year as punishment.

In 1995, they were determined to do a lot better and sent in one of their biggest voices equipped with a warm, breezy, impressive song.

Darja Švajger - Prisluhni mi (Slovenia 1995 preview)

Just the kind of song that would sound fantastic with an orchestra, right? Think again. The RTÉ orchestra managed to take every ounce of punch out of the arrangement, so instead of bombastic it sounded a bit flat.

Darja still sang it beautifully enough to end in seventh place, still the best showing for independent Slovenia at the ESC.

Darja Švajger - Prisluhni mi (Slovenia 1995)

This song has stood the test of time really well and aged more gracefully than most of its competitors in Dublin. This became really clear when one of the contestants of Misija Eurovizija sung it the other night. Darja can be proud, and so can all of Slovenia.

Eva Boto - Prisluhni mi

Sweden 2012: fingers crossed for Ulrik

2011-11-21T21:08:00.001+02:00

One thing that has surprised me is that no singer has ever progressed from the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (or its Nordic equivalent MGP Nordic) to the Real Big Thing of a contest.

Quite a few of the participants have popped up in national finals, but nobody has ever been to the ESC. (If I'm wrong here please correct me, but I can't think of anyone.)

Ulrik Munther from Sweden could have the potential of being the first to do the trick. When he won the 2009 MGP Nordic (the last edition to date), I was doing Finland's commentary and was pretty sure from the word go that Ulrik was a winner.

He was cute, charming, had a strong presence and a very good voice, confidence and that certain something that is so hard to put your finger on. Many singers in that final were impressive but Ulrik stood out.

Ulrik - En vanlig dag (MGP Nordic 2009)

Sure thing, the heart-throb from Gothenburg won hands down but then he also managed to cut himself a neat little career in Sweden.

Maybe the nickname "Sweden's Justin Bieber" isn't pure flattery in the business, but at least he has assembled himself an impressive fanbase in short time. The single "Boys Don't Cry" is a success and now he will take the MF stage in February.

Win or lose, it is a brave thing to enter Melodifestivalen at this early stage of his career. On a good day he can gain several new fans, and on a bad day he can lose it all.

But I keep my fingers crossed. He is a good kid, and I hope his song will be good also this time around.

Ulrik Munther - Boys Don't Cry

Tobson's Wish List: Donkeyboy for Norway

2011-11-20T20:34:00.001+02:00

They made quite a splash with their single "Ambitions", but I somehow managed to miss the whole Donkeyboy phenomenon until I went to see them in concert in Helsinki about a year ago.

And I was pretty much blown away.

Great stage presence, great songs, great songs and I had to get their really fine album as well. I found on the net that it had recieved some catty reviews, pointing out that the final album could not live up to the promise of the fantastic single, but don't be fooled. Donkeyboy are a most impressive pop act.

Of course I want most impressive pop acts to go to Eurovision, and as Norway went face first into the ground in 2011 (when "Haba Haba" only ended third last in its semi) they could be eager to make an impression in Baku.

I'm not sure this band would see themselves on a Eurovision stage, but here's hoping.

Donkeyboy - Ambitions

Song Of The Day: Switzerland 1974

2011-11-14T22:32:00.001+02:00

Maybe I have already posted this once or even twice, but for me this remains as massive a chorus as the Swiss Alpine Massive and I cannot quite grasp that it ended in shared last place with Germany, Norway and Portugal.

Piera Martell was said to be a construction worker who had decided to slip into showbiz, citing the likes of Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand as her biggest sources of inspiration.

Despite a spirited performance, this Swiss Streisand failed to impress the juries. Probably had she scored better with the current points system, introduced the year after in Stockholm.

Win or lose, Piera went home and cut herself a neat little career that lasted until 1981, when she decided to retire from the business altogether.

Piera Martell - Mein Ruf nach dir (Switzerland 1974)

Melodifestivalen gem: Lena Ericsson 1982

2011-11-09T22:44:00.001+02:00

Today, the whole list of songs for Melodifestivalen was published. Thirty-two songs that will be wildly discussed throughout spring and who are already focus for an awful lot of speculation.

It would be nice if Sweden kept its positive trend after Eric Saade's third place. Sweden needed a couple of slaps across the face, but I believe the message - you can't keep sending in the some old thing over and over again - has sunken in.

Of course it will be interesting to see who wins and all, but I am more looking forward to finding a new set of personal favourites, those tiny little pearls that the masses may forget about but that will stay with you forever.

Like the runner-up in the 1982 Melodifestival from Gothenburg. A complete commercial failure, totally forgotten outside the eurovision circuit. But to me, it is a precious little gem that lives very close to my heart.

Lena Ericsson sings it very well and the adorable lyrics, carefully crafted by Britt Lindeborg, makes me go all bubbly and happy inside.

Lena Ericsson - Någonting har hänt (Sweden 1982 national final)

Song Of The Day: Cyprus 1999

2011-11-08T23:12:00.002+02:00

It seemed to be written in the stars that an island nation was going to win the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest held in Jerusalem.

Most media predictions seemed to favour Iceland's Selma to win hands down (possibly facing some stiff competition from Marlayne of the Netherlands) while the loudest group of fans on the still rather new internet forums had their mind set on Cyprus.

Seldom has the voice of the fans spoken so unanimously about one specific song, and in quite an unpleasant way too. There was no room for speculation, no room for opinion. As soon as anyone articulated anything less than praise for the Cypriot song, that somebody was quickly taken down and ripped to shreds.

The Cypriot song seemed to be in with a chance, in all fairness. It did had a slightly confusing structure, starting out as a ballad before turning into a dance anthem, but once it got down to its real self it had a solid chorus and sounded modern enough. But not modern in a way to scare older viewers off.

Unfortunately, this was a battle lost in advance. Marlain proved to be over-styled, over-choreographed and severly over-excited, giving an almost frantic impression while trying to keep her song together. When she started to skid across the higher notes, it left the track in ruins.

In the end, Cyprus scored a mere two points and ended second last. A not too graceful exit for one of the top favourites.

And all the loud fans fell silent for a while...

Marlain - Tha'ne erotas (Cyprus 1999)

Song Of The Day: Greece 1980

2011-11-07T23:04:00.001+02:00

Anna Vissi was still a promising girl from Cyprus, yet to morph into the superstar of song she was destined to become, when she represented Greece at the 1980 ESC in The Hague.

She had almost represented Greece already two years earlier in Paris, as she sang both the winner and the runner-up in the internal jury vote to determine the national entry. However, both songs were deemed ineligible and Tania Tsanaclidou got the Paris ticket instead.

When winning the Greek final in 1980, Anna narrowly beat trio Epikouri and it was subsequently decided for them to act as backing group at Eurovision.

The song, a light-hearted ode to the joys of hitch-hiking, is perhaps a bagatelle but you can tell Anna Vissi is a star in the making. She fills the little song with energy, passion and a certain sense of gravity. Together with Epikouri, she puts on a splendid little show that impressed several journalists and commentators on location.

However, reports suggest the Greek delegation had severe sound problems during the dress rehearsal that the juries listened to and voted on. That could explain the surprisingly low 13th place.

But Anna would be back with a vengeance. Not only at the ESC, but at the world of Greek pop at large. She wasn't going to win at eurovision, but at least she is Number One in Greece. That must count for something.

Anna Vissi & Epikouri - Autostop (Greece 1980)

ESC reject: Gina de Wit

2011-11-07T22:35:00.000+02:00

Gina de Wit had her first real break when she won the 1986 Soundmixshow - the Dutch tv format where people try to sing like famous performers. Gina sang like Linda Ronstadt and convinced the juries she was the best in the running.

She then had a stab at establishing herself in her own right, she took part in several Dutch national finals for Eurovision and also wrote one of the songs for Ruth Jacott's private national final in 1993.

In 1996, she was one of five acts in the (not too star-packed) Dutch final and this time she managed to get really close to victory. In the end Maxine & Franklin Brown were stronger, but I have a tingling little feeling that Gina's song could have been quite a good choice as well.

Gina de Wit - De wereld is van jou (Netherlands 1996 national final)

She tried again four years later and would, for certain, have made a lousier choice for Stockholm. That year turned out to be a very strong, contemporary and dynamic line-up where this kind of old-fashioned ballad had been bound for the bottom placings.

But at least she was the first person to ever sing a song in Frisian language in a Dutch final and that must be worth something as well.

Gina de Wit - Hjir is it begin (Netherlands 2000 national final)

Turkey 1979: I love (but I won't go to Jerusalem)

2011-11-06T21:16:00.001+02:00

Turkey selected its third eurovision entry in a national final held on February 24th in Istanbul. Seventeen juries voted and gave a very close victory (by one point only) to Maria Rita Epik & 21. Peron performing "Seviyorum" (I love).

This is what we know for sure before things begin to get a bit fuzzy. Sometime from this time until the distribution of the preview clips, Turkish television decided to withdraw from the contest.

Swedish and Finnish press at this time appear a bit confused as to why Turkey has decided to stay at home. Speculation then, and now, suggests that Turkey, as a muslim nation, was put under pressure from the Arab world not to take part in a contest hosted in Israel.

Turkey would have performed as eleventh in Jerusalem, sandwiched between the Israeli winner and French Anne-Marie David, ending in third place.

It is an educated guess that "Seviyorum" wouldn't have made a huge difference to the final result. Jaunty and upbeat, but possibly a tiny bit bland, it would probably have ended up where Turkey used to end up back in the day.

Far far back.

Maria Rita Epik & 21. Peron - Seviyorum (Turkey 1979, never took part)

PS. Twenty years later, the ESC was again held in Jerusalem. This time Turkey proudly took part in the competition, ending in 16th place with Tuba Önal.

Song Of The Day: Lebanon 2005

2011-11-06T20:55:00.000+02:00

I was very pleasantly surprised when Lebanon registered for the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest. Through the history of the contest, only one Arab country had taken part before and it seemed about time to have another one in the running.

Tunisia intended to enter in 1977 but pulled out after the running order was established (and would have performed as fourth in London, between the Netherlands and Austria had they stayed in), so Morocco remains the only Arab nation to have taken part.

Morocco ended second last at their only attempt, and it is my firm belief that Lebanon would have done better hadn't politics gotten in the way.

Aline Lahoud was internally selected to sing "Quand tout s'enfuit" in Kyiv, but the lebanese pulled out only hours before the drawing of lots in March 2005.

When pressured by the EBU, Télé-Liban admitted they had no intent of showing the Israeli entry during their broadcast, claiming promotion of Israel would clash with Lebanese law.

So Aline had to stay home and we will never know how her dramatic, slightly oriental-flavoured ballad would have fared.

Hopefully, in the future, one or several Arab nations would decide to enter the ESC and participate alongside Israel. Showing themselves, and the world, that singing together is a pretty harmless activity and nothing to be afraid of.

Aline Lahoud - Quand tout s'enfuit (Lebanon 2005, did not participate)

Iceland 1997: What a shocker!

2011-11-06T13:09:00.000+02:00

This could be hard to believe these days when almost nobody goes to Eurovision without an elaborate stage show or pyros or dancers, but the 1997 entry from Iceland hit the ESC in a most dramatic way.

The audience was still used to singers coming on stage, performing their songs just like that. Paul Oscar demanded a white leather sofa and brought dancers dressed in latex.

He was also the first openly gay performer to take to the ESC stage and he made quite a big deal out of it. His song is a melodrama about the depraved diva who lived a hard life, burnt out and is now about to dance her last dance, sing her swan song and make her grand exit.

These days, this would not be shocking at all, but in many ways Paul Oscar triggered a new development. He challenged the formula - what a eurovision entry could and should look and sound like.

Also, as the juries made thumbs down but the televoters made thumbs up, it was yet another factor in favour of abandoning the jury system and have televoting instead.

I just wonder what an entry would have to do today to become as influential as this performance has turned out to be?

See Paul Oscar's performance from Dublin here .

Song Of The Day: Switzerland 1992

2011-11-05T17:33:00.002+02:00

Switzerland decided to disqualify the winner of its 1992 national final and sent the runner-up to Malmö instead. Daisy Auvray did her best to convince Europe that a little bit of blues would do us all good on a Saturday night.

In the preview, host Lydia Capolicchio called it "a pleasant number for all of you who enjoy taking your clothes off in a rhytmical manner" while Swedish commentator Björn Kjellman declared it by far the worst song in the running.

A Swedish tabloid wondered why the originally chosen song had been disqualified, "hopefully not because it was inferior to this one".

It can be questioned how much a song like this added to a pop contest in 1992, but it did sound better with the orchestra than most of the others.

Daisy Auvray - Mister Music Man (Switzerland 1992)

The song that won the national final was disqualified because it had already been rejected by the French languaged selection jury before being translated into German and accepted by the German branch of the broadcaster.

Apparently, this was against the Swiss rule book and Géraldine Olivier had to stay home.

If it is inferior or not, I leave for you to decide. (But my money is actually on Daisy.)

Géraldine Olivier - Soleil Soleil (Switzerland 1992 disqualified)

Veronika Fischer didn't stand a chance

2011-11-05T17:00:00.000+02:00

"East German stars come up in the East and go down in the West." That was a catch phrase with quite a bit of truth to it among musicians in the German Democratic Republic.

No matter how popular and acclaimed you were in East, very few of the musicians who fled to the West maintained any kind of star status there.

When the Wall had fallen, top singer Tamara Danz stated that the GDR had no freedom of speech, but in the West, instead, there was the dictatorship of commercialism. There was no room for creating art unless nobody was willing to buy.

Veronika Fischer already knew this. After four top-selling albums to her name, she left for the West in 1981 and tried to maintain the same level of artistry in her new country. It proved to be not too easy.

She had always been a wild child - humourous and whimsical at one moment, deeply sincere the next, then experimental, then jazzy. Far too irregular to be a perfect record label product, in other words.

In 1983, she entered the German selection for Eurovision (to be held on home ground in Munich) with a song rather reminiscent of some of the ballads on her albums back East.

Veronika Fischer - Unendlich weit (Germany 1983 national final)

Slow, demanding and better suited to be an almost six minutes long album track, this song was strongly applauded in the studio but stood no chance in the voting and ended second last.

Veronika Fischer - Unendlich weit (album version)

Oddly enough, when released as a single (in its pre-selection format), its B-side was Veronika's version if "Wir beide gegen den Wind", the song Wenche Myhre performed at the same national final.

Veronika's material turned more schlager and less experimental, and she managed to keep her career alive and is still an active and loved performer today.

I think Veronika is a unique talent and can't help but wonder how different the outcome might have been, had she been able to bring some of her older material to Eurovision instead. Would the West have understood?

Veronika Fischer und Band - He, wir fahr'n mit dem Zug

Veronika Fischer und Band - Hans im Glück

Veronika Fischer und Band - Blues von den letzte Gelegenheit

Tobson's Wish List: Antti Tuisku for Finland

2011-11-03T22:58:00.000+02:00

This would be one of my biggest wishes on the list, actually. You see, I think the Eurovision Song Contest is the best pop contest there is and every country should send their best names in pop into competition.

Antti Tuisku is indeed one of the biggest names in pop in Finland. He is the biggest success to come out of the Pop Idols format domestically and after winning Tanssi tähtien kanssa (Finland's Strictly Come Dancing) he has crossed over from youth icon to a real household name.

He has a distinct look, a distinct sound and he largely divides opinions. Just like any Pop Star should. Few other Finnish pop acts could dance the rumba one week, then make a Christmas album, then go on tour for full crowds.

In many ways, he is Finland's own Kylie Minogue. And he sure knows how to work a song.

Antti Tuisku - Ei aikaa

Antti Tuiski - Juuret

Antti Tuisku - En kiellä

Since the list of contenders for next year's Finnish final is already official, I know for a fact this wish won't come true. Not for 2012, at least.

But here's hoping for the future.

Song Of The Day: Lithuania 2010

2011-11-03T21:03:00.001+02:00

How about going a little bit crazy? Offer Europe some funk, some kazoo, some rather gorgeous legs? No?

Lithuania's best placing to date came with another humourous effort, a joking protest song, in 2006, so nobody can blame them for trying the concept again.

And in all fairness, InCulto had remembered to pack a far better song in their suitcase when leaving for Oslo than LT United had in Athens. And compared to the other bunch, who were unhappy about the fact nobody ever votes for Lithuania at eurovision, InCulto had a little bit of a message in their entry.

Lithuania and its brothers in the East feel like second class countries in Europe, and when they go west it is only to end up as second class citizens who clean other people's homes and then wash other people's dishes. And who's going to tell them they are wrong?

Right or wrong, the voters remain relatively unmoved and this anthem for anyone who ever felt a bit outside in the Europan family did not make it to the final.

InCulto - East European Funk (Lithuania 2010)

I think they should, though. It is a rare thing at Eurovision to come across humour songs that actually are a bit funny. And InCulto amuse me very much.

They already did back in 2006, when their entry "Welcome To Lithuania" ended second in the national final.

InCulto - Welcome To Lithuania (Lithuania 2006 national final)

Greece 1974: everybody freeze!

2011-11-03T20:03:00.000+02:00

Greece made its debut at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, and when I first heard this song, from a not too scratchy vinyl single record, I could not believe how it could fail to score better. I found it happy, clappy, dancy and bouncy.

And the studio version, also used for the preview clip, really is infectuous and bouncy.

Marinella - Krassi, thalassa ke t'agori mou (Greece 1974 preview)

The live version, however, is not. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this performance for the first time. I'm not sure I ever saw a eurosong performed with such a lack of zeal, passion and attack.

Marinella is of course the Greek goddess statue personified, she is excused. And she does pick up a tambourine by the end, in a vain attempt to save the day.

But what are those backing singers up to? How can you perform such a happy song without transpiring the slightest hint of happiness? Sing such a swinging entry without moving a muscle? Suddenly the verdict of the judges started making more sense, I must give them that.

Marinella - Krassi, thalassa ke t'agori mou (Greece 1974)

Finland 2012: 40 songs are online

2011-11-01T21:39:00.001+02:00

Finland is re-inventing its national selection for Eurovision, trying to wash as much of the ESC out of the mix as only possible.

The classic name "Euroviisut" has been ditched for the new "UMK" (The Competition for New Music), which is supposed to be an independent hit song contest in its own right.

The winner will also be Finland's entrant for Baku, but focus will be put exclusively on finding hit songs that could storm the domestic hit charts. Eurovision is just a bonus, the icing on the cake for the winner.

Out of 540 submitted entries, a professional jury has whittled the number of songs down to forty hopefuls that were published online this week for everyone to hear and see.

The audience can vote for the songs online, but that is just a fun feature. In the end the jury will select the twelve finalists as they please, not necessarily paying any attention to what the audience has liked.

The hottest names of contemporary Finnish music are keeping as firm a distance from this new competition as they have done with Euroviisut for the last few years, but among the forty contenders there are quite a few songs that could turn out quite nicely with some work.

There are bit too many hastily produced electropop entries and the old Finnish lack of decent choruses persists. But here and there, you can find some pretty good pop songs. Finland surely has a chance for 2012.

And there is a song in Swedish - for the first time since 1994. I keep my fingers crossed for Pernilla Karlsson to make it far in the competition and for her not to change the language during the competition.

For the time being, you can find the forty songs here. Which one would you like to see in Baku?

ESC reject: Yugoslavia 1987

2011-11-01T20:40:00.003+02:00

Josipa Lisac was still in her teens when she first entered a Yugoslav national final for Eurovision. She never won, but manage to turn into a megastar - a monument of pop art with a very special place in domestic showbiz.

She is not only a singer, but also an actress and a style icon with her very own sense of fashion.

When she returned to the Yugoslav final in 1987, Josipa was the sensation of the evening with her modern sound, great presence and a most flamboyant hairdo (that would be outright dangerous if worn in public during rush hour).

This didn't matter much as the juries remained unmoved and left her in ninth place, sending super bouncy Novi Fosili off to Brussels instead, where they equalled the best Yugoslav placing until then.

Since then, Josipa the Great has not bothered to enter any national selections again, but her 1987 selection entry has turned into an evergreen, also covered by Slovenian singer Nuša Derenda.

Josipa Lisac - Gdje Dunav ljubi nebo (Yugoslavia 1987 national final)

Song Of The Day: Netherlands 1993

2011-10-31T22:57:00.002+02:00

Many moons ago, the world looked mighty different in many ways. Imagine the Netherlands being a progressive, exciting and interesting competitor - a competitor that would send in progressive, exciting and interesting songs, sung by impressive performers.

Hard to picture after some ten years of Treble, Re-Union, Sieneke and Toppers.

But once upon a time, the Dutch were determined to make a difference and decided to enter a splendid artist like Ruth Jacott. Not only, they also dressed her up with a song like "Vrede".

Maybe it didn't age all that well, but back in 1993 it was shockingly modern for Eurovision. The song incorporated modern elements and Ruth wrapped it up in a warm and sensual air of sparkle and sexiness, back in the day when sexy didn't necessarily mean "minimal outfit".

I would be so happy if the Dutch would find that sparkle again, burst through to the final and achieve their best placing since 1993. So happy. Not to mention so surprised.

Ruth Jacott - Vrede (Netherlands 1993)

Song Of The Day: Yugoslavia 1991

2011-10-30T23:37:00.000+02:00

We didn't know it at the time, but this would be the last entry ever entered by Former Yugoslavia as a united nation. Whoever expected a tasteful and dignified last kiss had something complete different coming.

While Yugoslavia was falling apart politically, the country had finally started doing really well at Eurovision and I for one expected this outburst of Serbian samba to score quite heavily as well.

At least the preview looked very promising (apart from the dodgy lip-sync).

Baby Doll - Brazil (Yugoslavia 1991 preview clip)

In Rome, apparently, Baby Doll spent her week being unfriendly to staff, singing out of key and telling journalists she was not willing to reveal her exact date of birth but insisting on being in her early twenties (uh, yeah, right).

Despite being the first song in the running and being one of very few uptempo songs in the line-up, Yugoslavia recieved only one poor little point (from Malta) and made its worst showing since 1984.

The year after, Yugoslavia would still be on the scoreboard, even though the country represented had ceased to exist.

Baby Doll - Brazil (Yugoslavia 1991)

Baby Doll, or Bebi Dol as she spells it way back home, was a big, established star at home (she still is) and had already come close to representing Yugoslavia on several occasions.

Her 1991 victory had very little to do with music, as the entire voting is tainted with politics. TV Belgrade had decided to win at any cost, but why they decided to promote themselves with "Brazil" of all songs remains a mystery.

The version performed at the national final in Sarajevo was also radically different to the one used in Rome. Had this heavier beat attracted more points or would even the Maltese have made thumbs down?

Bebi Dol - Brazil (Yugoslavia 1991 national final)

Germany 1980: Beware of apples!

2011-10-29T16:31:00.001+03:00

If I keep on like this, I'm afraid the German embassy will soon call me in for a serious discussion on the picture I paint of German music, but I can't resist sharing this masterpiece.

A good friend reminded me about this via Twitter , so here you all get to enjoy Adam & Eve from the 1980 German final. You'll never forget them.

Adam & Eve - Hallo Adam! Hallo Eva! (Germany 1980 national final)

Of course, one's mind fills up with questions after seeing this. How would this song have fared in The Hague? Is that giant apple a real apple? Who decided that the fabric of her dress would pass as skin-coloured? And who are these people?

Adam & Eve were actually a successful schlager act for many years, created by Eva "Eve" Bartova who came to Germany from her native Czechoslovakia in the early 60's. She formed her own band, then set up the duo Adam & Eve.

After a few years, she had the original Adam replaced with Harry Schairer and then the duo really took off. The couple got married and had a number of hit singles, most notably perhaps "Ungarische Nächte" which made it to the no 1 spot of the ZDF-hitparade.

When success ebbed away, the couple split up and Eve again emigrated, this time to the US, where she died of cancer in 1989.

Adam & Eve - Ungarische Nächte

Germany 1996: Surfen surfen, Tag und Nacht!

2011-10-29T13:17:00.001+03:00

I gave you "Can Can", so there is no reason why I should not share "Surfen Multimedia" from the 1996 German final.

Germans always had a strong fascination for new technology and more than once stated this fascination in song. So, when the internet came into our lives, why not make a Beach Boys-esque song to celebrate it?

The link is obvious, right? Beach Boys - surfing! Internet - surfing! You're with me, right?

These girls are impossibly happy and cheerful, while something tells me they were yet to see a single webpage.

What the EU-flag tops and the flag skirts has to do with anything is a subject far too deep for my shallow analysis, but click the link. I know you want to. And the EuroCats know it too!

EuroCats - Surfen Multimedia (Germany 1996 national final)

ESC reject: Finland 1991

2011-10-29T12:50:00.000+03:00

The first Finnish final I ever saw was Euroviisut 1991 - a relative in Stockholm recieved Finnish television on cable, so she recorded it on a VHS videotape and sent it to me in an large envelope. (Oh gosh, this really was back in the day, wasn't it?)

Out of the ten finalists, my instant favourite was Arja Koriseva's "Enkelin silmin". Very direct, very catchy, maybe a tiny bit old-fashioned, delivered in a very cheerful manner by a likeable singer, written by the same successful team that wrote "La dolce vita" in 1989.

The expert jury left "Enkelin silmin" only in fifth place, and opted for Kaija Kärkinen's "Hullu yö" instead.

Kaija Kärkinen - Hullu yö (Finland 1991)

These days, Kaija is a personal favourite of mine as well as another of the songs I can't believe the juries didn't vote for. In Rome, it recieved a grand total of six points and a 20th place.

"Enkelin silmin" became a big hit in Finland and is still seen as an evergreen and is one of Arja's most well-known and loved songs.

I can't help wondering how it would have scored in Rome, also given it would have granted some bouncy sing-along clap-along qualities in a line-up full of ballads.

Arja Koriseva - Enkelin silmin (Finland 1991 national final)

Germany 2006: Vicky should be grateful

2011-10-29T12:22:00.002+03:00

The 2006 Eurovision could have seen not just one but two previous winners battling it out for a second victory. Sweden gave Carola renewed confidence while Germany rejected Vicky Leandros in their national final.

Surely Vicky, who sang twice for Luxembourg and who is still a solid name within German showbiz, must have felt a bit deflated when defeated by hobby project Texas Lightning. But in retrospect, maybe she would be grateful rather than anything else.

First of all, her self-composed song may be clean-cut and robust but is, above all, fantastically dull. There is not a single element of surprise during these three minutes, and when the song is so undynamic in itself, Vicky's emotional delivery almost turns comical.

I am a big fan of Vicky and her singing style, so I am quite pleased that she never got to expose herself like this Europe-wide. Now she is left with her dignity in tact.

Also, while Carola's fifth place was not a fiasco it wasn't really a success either. Not a single country had her in their top spot, and no comeback winners have fared well ever since.

Charlotte Perrelli flopped in Belgrade, Niamh Kavanagh crashed and burned in the Oslo final and Dana International didn't even make it out of the semi finals in Düsseldorf. You will not be automatically loved by the audience just because you won the whole thing once.

Vicky Leandros should be very grateful, indeed.

Vicky Leandros - Don't Break My Heart (Germany 2006 national final)

Germany 1998: Everybody Can Can!

2011-10-28T18:50:00.000+03:00

I could say a lot of things about this clip.

For instance, I could say that the 1998 German national final in many ways sounded like a musical madhouse and looked like a freakshow but, in retrospect, was the first serious attempt of bringing Eurovision back to its former glory in Germany.

I heard that the blond girl dancer (who gives the impression of not being able to carry a tune in a bucket) later teamed up with DJ Bobo and was the female vocalist in the 2007 Swiss entry. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

I could point out that the presenter is indeed Nena, one of Germany's top stars, who should clearly be taking part instead of hosting.

I could also say that this was the first really scary proof of things falling apart for Ralph Siegel. First you write Dschingis Khan, Theater and Johnny Blue, only to put your name on something as dubious as this?

But I will content myself with stating that this is so wrong on so many levels, but yet so fantastically entertaining. For all the wrong reasons, sure, but entertainment is never out of place.

Ballhaus - Can Can (Germany 1998 national final)

Runner-up: United Kingdom 1992

2011-10-28T18:30:00.002+03:00

In the early 90's, BBC really tried turning things around, getting their national Song for Europe-final back on track after being reduced to something of a talent show for some years.

Getting Michael Ball, a hot star from the world of musicals, to do the job was a real scoop. Having a powerful and convincing performer does a lot for a song in the ESC. Michael Ball would get to show just how true this is.

Out of the eight songs he performed, the British audience decided that "One Step Out Of Time", a truly square, old-fashioned and predictable up-tempo belter, was the suitable number to send off to Malmö. Michael Ball put on a brave face, but it was easy to tell he was not all smiles about the outcome.

Michael Ball - One Step Out Of Time (United Kingdom 1992 preview)

In Malmö, he managed to kick enough life and sparkle into his dull little ditty to land in second place out of twenty-three countries.

If Michael Ball was enough for a second place, how heavily wouldn't he have scored had he had something decent to sing? Like the song ending in second place, co-written by Andy Hill - the man behind all of Bucks Fizz' hit singles as well as Céline Dion's "Think Twice".

Could "As Dreams Go By" have beaten Ireland's Linda Martin in Malmö? I'm pretty sure it could.

If so, would Ireland have won as many times during the 90's anyway? I'm not so sure at all.

Michael Ball - As Dreams Go By (United Kingdom 1992 national final)

Song Of The Day: Andorra 2004

2011-10-26T23:11:00.001+03:00

2004 was an exciting year with no less than four debutant countries in the line-up (well, Serbia-Montenegro had been in it before under Yugoslav flag, but still), including tiny Andorra.

Most people would have expected the small state to be in it just for a laugh, but when the preview clip landed by our feet quite a few people started thinking the Andorrans could be able to pull off something special.

Their selected song sounded modern, radio friendly, catchy and fresh, performed by Marta Roure who oozed with star quality in the clip. This seemed very promising indeed.

Marta Roure - Jugarem a estimar-nos (Andorra 2004 preview clip)

Unfortunately, Andorra's best discipline in the ESC turned out to be over-choreographed busy little numbers that would try to squeeze too many things into the short space of three minutes, leaving very little room for the audience to pay attention to the song in question.

Marta's performance was possibly a bit too out of breath for comfort, but certainly not the least inspired on the night. The non-qualification came as at least half a surprise, but the fact that Andorra had scored in one country alone (neighbour Spain, awarding maximum twelve points) was a real shocker.

After this, Andorra never really got their act going and never reached the final in its six participations despite some good efforts (getting really close only once, in 2007).

I keep my fingers crossed that they will come back one day to achieve the heavy scoring that Marta Roure and the others never got.

Marta Roure - Jugarem a estimar-nos (Andorra 2004)

Song Of The Day: Germany 1977

2011-10-25T20:32:00.000+03:00

In a parallel universe, had everything gone according to plan, Germany would have won the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest with its very contemporary disco sound, effective chorus and flawless performance. Then the BBC technicians went on strike and ruined the whole thing.

It had never happened before and it has not happened again that the ESC was postponed, but the initially scheduled London final had to be pushed back five weeks from April 2 to May 7.

In the world of disco, five weeks equalled half a dozen light years. Silver Convention's hit was timed perfectly to co-incide with the final and to sound as fresh and exciting as only possibly, but was already growing off people when the juries finally sat down to vote.

The world had moved on to other disco songs (and there were plenty of them around at this time) so the glitzy trio had to content themselves with a pale and disappointing eight place.

Unlike most of the disco songs of the era, however, "Telegram" was not going to vanish. It has eaten its way into the eurovision history books as possibly the best disco track ever ignored by the juries, complete with a choreography that anyone can have a stab at on any old dance floor.

Silver Convention - Telegram (Germany 1977)

Would Paola have done the trick for Germany?

2011-10-22T15:31:00.002+03:00

Swiss star Paola Felix-del Medico did better at Eurovision than most of her compatriots: both times she represented her mountainous homeland she landed top five placings.

Paola - Bonjour, bonjour (Switzerland 1969)

Paola - Cinéma (Switzerland 1980)

She was also a notable figure in German showbiz, both as entertainer and television presenter, and twice she tried to represent Germany at Eurovision.

In 1979, she ended in third place with the atmospheric "Vogel der Nacht" and three years later she was the only one to give Nicole a run for her money with Ralph Siegel-penned "Peter Pan".

It is never a bad idea to employ anyone as stylish, glamourous and radiant as Paola to sing for you at Eurovision, but Germany did really well with their choices both these years.

Could "Vogel der Nacht" have topped the 4th place achieved by Dschingis Khan in Jerusalem? And would "Peter Pan" have given Germany its first victory in Harrogate, like Nicole did?

Paola - Vogel der Nacht (Germany 1979 national final)

Paola - Peter Pan (Germany 1982 national final)

Song Of The Day: Switzerland 1970

2011-10-22T13:56:00.002+03:00

A most original and slightly bizarre little love song about a man leaving his loved one behind for some time. He will go out and have a good time with other girls elsewhere, but she need not worry as he is sure to return.

And when he does, he will tell her everything he has done - how, where, when and who with. Not a very catholic thing to do.

Surely, all this is to inject some passion and sparkle into this relationship with a most forgiving, understanding and (if you read the lyrics properly) somewhat cold girl.

Henri Dès gave up on trying to make pop music for adults, but cut himself a very successful career writing songs and performing for children. Not a huge surprise, really, when you hear this song.

Love it or hate it, but try getting this chorus out of your head if you can.

Henri Dès - Retour (Switzerland 1970)

You would hardly recognise the Turks

2011-10-22T12:40:00.002+03:00

It is hardly an understatement to say that Turkey struggled during their first twenty-five years in Euroland. Whatever star performers or hit choruses they sent in kept coming back home largely ignored and with a minimum of points to their names.

In the 80's, Turkish television started to look for qualified help in order to make their own entries more appealing. The song that won the national final was sent off to some music company (often in Germany) that would add a helping touch here and there.

Some years, they did far more than just the odd fine tuning. Some years they added long segments, cut whole verses out and - in severe cases - added a hook or a whole chorus.

Watch and compare for yourself. How would the original versions have fared at Eurovision?

1984 - Luxembourg

Bes yil once, on yil sonra - Halay (Turkey 1984 national final)

Most of this song is fully recognisable from the national final, but recieved a somewhat softer arrangement and a less busy choreography. And - a chorus, including a handle for the juries to hold on to. Result - a 12th place, which was the best Turkish showing until then.

Bes yil once, on yil sonra - Halay (Turkey 1984 eurovision version)

1986 - Bergen

Klips ve Onlar - Halley (Turkey 1986 national final)

For some reason, I can only find a very short clip of the national final version of this one but I think you will get the big picture. This entry is, in short, a complete mess. A heap of good ideas thrown together with no structure and nothing in particular going for it.

The musical helpers slowed down the pace considerably and added a very contemporary sound to the final arrangement, which resulted in Turkey's first ever top ten showing.

Klips ve Onlar - Halley (Turkey 1986 eurovision version)

1988 - Dublin

MFÖ - Sufi (Turkey 1988 national final)

This is a schoolbook example of how little it takes to turn something promising into something really good. These two versions are not so far apart, really. What is added is - again - a more modern touch to the sound as well as a distinctly oriental flavour and an instrumental hook most europeans would understand as typically Turkish.

The final version also has a better flow and sounds more melodic and catchy. It was quite rightly mentioned as a dark horse and possible outside at Eurovision, before finishing in a most disappointing 15th place.

MFÖ - Sufi (Turkey 1988 eurovision version)

1990 - Zagreb

Kayahan - Gözlerinin hapsindeyim (Turkey 1990 national final)

The first minute is almost the same, only the arrangement is different - more pompous and old-fashioned than the final version - but then the original throws itself head first into a difficult, un-catchy chorus. The production company would have nothing of it and cut it all out, replacing it with a much simpler singalong, still with a slightly oriental feel.

This was not a huge success and ended in 17th place in Zagreb, but I suspect the original version would have fought it out in a battle for the very last places.

Not bad, but in no way user friendly.

Kayahan - Gözlerinin hapsindeyim (Turkey 1990 eurovision version)

Song Of The Day: Belgium 1969

2011-10-16T18:50:00.003+03:00

There has been quite a lot of Belgium in this blog lately, so why not keep on going with that trend?

I don't have an awful lot to say about this song, only that it is a most contemporary and gentle song with a quality melody line of a kind that was very present in the late 60's, complete with a lyric about one of these enigmatic and multi-faceted women who also populated pop culture at this time.

Everything about this entry is pure elegance (apart from the choreography spasm that occurs at the beginning of the first verse) and is maybe the single entry of 1969 that best represents the musical trends at the time.

Louis Neefs was an institution of Flemish showbiz, and his untimely death in a car crash late 1980 left the entire country saddened. Since 2007, there is a bust of him in his home town Gierle - an honour not bestowed upon just any old singer.

Louis Neefs - Jennifer Jennings (Belgium 1969)

Tobson's Wish List: Jelena Rozga for Croatia

2011-10-16T14:27:00.000+03:00

She had a hard act to follow - when the elegant, sophisticated and highly appreciated Danijela Martinović wanted to leave Magazin shortly after their 1995 Eurovision adventure in Dublin, young Jelena was taken in to fill her shoes.

Danijela went on to have quite a successful solo career, perhaps peaking when representing Croatia again in Birmingham in 1998.

Jelena was first entered into the Croatian national final as a solo singer in 1996, and this first try was perhaps not completely convincing. She danced sweetly but struggled to hit the higher notes and seemed not too confident on stage.

Almost ten years with Magazin turned the tables completely, and since going solo in 2006 she is leading a remarkable career in Croatia. She has won the Grand Prix of the important Split festival every year since 2008 and was the first female performer in her country to sell out a concert hall of 12,000 seats.

Given how low interest is for the once so glorious Dora - the Croatian national final - and how popular Jelena is, it wouldn't be a bad idea to select her internally to represent her country in Baku.

After two flops in succession (and not a single top ten finish since 2001) it would be about time for Croatia to make an impression again.

Jelena Rozga - Bižuterija

Israel 1979: Shake it like Sherry

2011-10-16T12:20:00.000+03:00

In 1978, the Israeli Song Festival was also used to select the national entry for Eurovision, resulting in instant victory and Jerusalem welcoming all Europe to friendly competition.

No wonder that a great deal of zeal and enthusiasm went into organising the 1979 Israeli Song Festival. The enthusiasm would only be topped a couple of weeks later, when it turned out that also this year's winner would go on to win Eurovision.

The Israeli Song Festival has an incredible track record in other words: twice it was used to select the Israeli entry, twice it produced a Eurovision winner. In 1981, the special Kdam Erovizion contest was created to act as national final, and it is yet to produce a single ESC winner.

The festival did more than finding a future world smash winner, it also produced a real sleeper hit. More than fifteen years later, the entry of Sherry hit the domestic charts and became a real evergreen.

I'm more surprised to find it wasn't a real hit back then. This is a fine track with a very convincing chorus as well as a very lively performance. What wouldn't I do to be able to shake it like Sherry's backing group? Those clever moves and those wonderful outfits leave me with a slight sense of regret that we never got to see Sherry on the Eurovision stage.

Could this song have done the same thing that Hallelujah did? Could it have been a second consecutive victory for Israel?

Sherry - Leolam be'ikvot hashemesh (Israel 1979 national final)

Belgium 1979: what if Micha Marah had it her way?

2011-10-15T23:11:00.001+03:00

A number of countries have a tendency of getting it wrong at their national finals and end up sending weaker acts off to Eurovision, leaving stronger songs behind. Finland, Slovenia, Latvia and many others do this on a regular basis.

However, few national heats create the kind of chaos that has ensured after a number of Flemish finals.

Like in 1979, when Micha Marah sang all the songs in competition and was sent to Jerusalem with a song she truly hated (ending in shared last place with Austria once all points were cast).

Micha Marah - Hey Nanah! (Belgium 1979)

The song Micha had been backing all the way was a not too different number called "Comment ça va", and I can't help wondering how this song would have fared in the voting.

It is a bit of a loud monster of a song, maybe not quite as catchy and easily accessible as Micha herself seems to think. But just look at the conviction she puts into the performance. She transforms from a somewhat coldish chanteuse into a wild-eyed powerhouse.

Look at those eyes! Look at those hand movements! Look at her complete attack and dedication! And this is just the national final. Imagine how much energy she could have worked up on stage in Jerusalem.

All you people out there who have seen film noir classic "Sunset Boulevard" - don't you also almost expect Micha Marah to end this performance by saying "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up"?

Micha Marah - Comment ça va (Belgium 1979 national final)

Finland 1980: Goodbye, night (and goodbye, points)

2011-10-15T20:30:00.000+03:00

Just like Yugoslavia, Finland was a country somewhere in between East and West during the days of the cold war. While looking west culturally, there was a large neighbour in the east that should be kept happy at any cost.

One of the things this resulted in was Finland taking part not only in Eurovision of the West, but also in the socialist equivalent - the Intervision Song Contest in Poland.

For some years, Yle decided to devote equal time to both contests and organised a national final split in two: during the same show, seven songs competed for a Eurovision ticket, seven songs competed to go to Intervision.

Intervision never gained any real popularity in Finland, though. There was little, if any, interest for the songs from the other countries, Intervision was never broadcast live and it lacked in excitement as there was no voting sequence during the show.

In an attempt to make Intervision more appealing, Yle asked Marion Rung (who sang for Finland at Eurovision in 1962 and 1973 and was, until the victory of Lordi, the best place Finlander ever at the ESC) to sing all seven entries for Intervision. The winning song, "Hyvästi yö" (Goodbye, night), didn't only turn into a big hit and a real evergreen, it also went on to win first prize (in one of the many categories) of Intervision.

Marion - Hyvästi yö (Finland 1980 Intervision)

At the same time, the national final for Eurovision held a remarkably low standard, offering a line-up of surpringly un-catchy songs, resulting in victory for actor Vesa-Matti Loiri equipped with a song that was not bad but complete shark feed in a commercial pop contest. At the final in the Hague, "Huilumies" (Flute man) ended on nineteenth and last place.

The big question remains why Yle threw away a brilliant song with big hit potential to a song contest nobody cared for while sending a no-hoper to the most watched and loved song contest of the year.

Vesa-Matti Loiri - Huilumies (Finland 1980)

Song Of The Day: Spain 1986

2011-10-15T19:39:00.000+03:00

In a moment of rare clarity, Terry Wogan stated that Spain had been drifting away from the European mainstream in Eurovision, sending entries that stood out in a different light compared to most others.

Indeed, Spain had been doing this and would keep on bending the rules concerning what an ESC entry could/should look like and sound like.

In 1986, Cadillac sported a very contemporary sound and offered a song that was far more laidback and slick, far less depending on any typical formula and with not even the shadow of a proper key change in it. Instead it relies on it's hook, the very instant "Valentino"-singalong in the chorus.

Cadillac - Valentino (Spain 1986)

It managed to sneak into the top ten but not more. Perhaps the juries wanted something more easily digested (the victory of Belgium could suggest this), perhaps the visual presentation was not as exciting as it could have been. The preview, for instance, is more dynamic and suggestive.

But a good little 80's pop song it is, and a welcome reminder of the good old days when Spain made a difference at Eurovision.

Cadillac - Valentino (Spain 1986 preview)

Tobson's Wish List: Mika for France

2011-10-14T16:56:00.001+03:00

Five years ago, Mika was an international pop smash with his very own mixture of styles and sounds. At some point, around hit singles as "Relax (Take It Easy" and "Grace Kelly", he was quoted as saying he'd love to go to Eurovision at some point. For his country of birth, Lebanon.

Maybe it was a joke. Maybe he thought it was safe saying so as Lebanon is quite unlikely to enter. I can't even remember what magazine asked the question, whether it is the least bit reliable.

But I think Mika would be great for Eurovision - an established pop act, whose runner-up album didn't quite affect the charts the way it was intended to.

Especially as he recently released his first ever French-languaged single, and French television has made it a thing of their own to walk their own original ways, he would be an excellent representative for France.

He is just as international and multi-cultured as French society in itself, and despite being renowned for heavy ballads, the French have always had a soft spot for bubbly pop à la chewing-gum.

The presence of Mika would surely make Baku a livelier place come May. I say go for it. I say danse! danse! danse! (And if he would bring Fanny Ardant - leading lady in this clip - to Baku, I would promise him my personal 12 points on the spot.)

Mika - Elle me dit

Everybody wanted to be Abba

2011-10-10T20:31:00.001+03:00

At some point in life, all children just want to close their eyes, make a wish and transform into something else. At some point, every little girl would want to be a princess and every little boy an astronaut.

In the late 70's, quite a few groups entering Eurovision really wanted to be Abba.

Not surprising, given Abba's remarkable success at the ESC itself and even more so afterwards, when conquering the world.

But being Abba takes a little bit more than just being two girls and two guys singing together. As the juries cast their votes, it was time for these acts to wake up and face the music.

(At some point, maybe Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Frida watched the ESC, looked at each other with puzzled facial expressions, thinking to themselves: "is this really what these people think we sound like?")

The Swarbriggs Plus Two - It's Nice To Be In Love Again (Ireland 1977)

Gemini - Dai-li-dou (Portugal 1978)

Nazar - Sevince (Turkey 1978)

R.I.P. Ingvar Wixell

2011-10-10T19:59:00.003+03:00

The internationally renowned opera singer Ingvar Wixell has passed away, at the age of 80.

In 1965, he was selected internally to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in Naples. His graceful appearance and smooth voice was meant to make the judges focus on melodic qualities instead of voting for the young lasses performing the songs.

The winning song of the national contest caused a bit of a stir on home ground, as it beat the slightly more commercial bossa nova "Stilla och tyst" and was considered a bit too sophisticated to go down well. A musical gourmet meal thrown at an audience that usually prefers hamburgers.

Ingvar Wixell - Annorstädes vals (Sweden 1965)

In Naples, the Swedish delegation deemed themselves chanceless but, in an attempt to increase the possibilities of anyone understanding, it was decided for Ingvar to perform the song in English. This was not against the rules, but the EBU officials were not amused and added a clause about everyone having to sing in (one of) their native languages from 1966 and on.

For me, this stands out as a most enchanting and appealing little song with a superb delicacy and finesse, especially the original Swedish lyrics were written with a very light and poetical touch.

And again, the great masses understood nothing. Apart from the three Swedish entries never recorded by the original performer (1958, 1960 and 1966), this one possibly has the distinction of being the least selling Swedish eurosong ever (in a tight battle with the 1994 entry).

Ingvar Wixell - Absent Friend (Sweden 1965)

Song Of The Day: FYR Macedonia 1996

2011-10-08T23:55:00.003+03:00

During all the years Former Yugoslavia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, TV Skopje did not manage to run off with victory even once. In 1996, they wanted to enter under their own flag for the first time, but it wasn't to be.

Kalopi Grill impress the jurors of the Skopje festival with her self-penned number "Samo ti", but in the odd, non-public, pre-selection for Oslo - where 29 candidates were cut down to 22 - the juries made thumbs down.

It's not that I don't see why. I can sort of understand why this passes over the heads of the masses.

But Kaliopi sings wonderfully and this song is an unusual, demanding and intriguing little soul number that could have made more than a tiny difference in Oslo.

Kaliopi Grill - Samo ti (FYR Macedonia 1996 - rejected in the pre-selection)

Song Of The Day: Austria 1987

2011-10-07T22:47:00.003+03:00

Gary Lux is a real eurovision trooper who sang solo twice, sang in a group once and acted as backing singer no less than three times. He should have a medal for his devotion and endurance.

Not that he ever came home with a real success under his arm. In 1983 and 1985 he was tipped to do a lot better than he did in the end, and in 1987 he only scored a humble eight points.

Rightly so, most people would say. They would use words like "tedious", "insignificant" or "hopeless" to describe this soft little pop ballad. And I have to admit it is no real blockbuster. But I like it anyway. It has a certain something, a touch of je-ne-sais-quoi, that makes me really fond of it.

I like the vague and soft intro, and I like the tone of Gerhard's voice. There is something about the bridge and the saxophone break. And how it finally falls back into the same vague but pleasant little part that keeps running like a red thread through the entire song.

I wouldn't give it twelve points, certainly not. But I would never push fast forward either.

Gary Lux - Nur noch Gefühl (Austria 1987)