tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24018505181884929522024-03-05T21:22:31.425+02:00Tobson in EurolandTobSonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901219097013459250noreply@blogger.comBlogger1108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-57501236643688886222023-05-14T20:16:00.005+03:002023-05-14T20:18:29.447+03:00Time to do something about the juries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrM07y54LSQzaRCo0zz_imrG82Mgs5R-LfVbnoldvvUc9evfVT-9x3cHcjN3Oo1oMQHug1mHgMIArdJWVaCHJfMUe8k9dDR4tmhw_rLH5j9CAl5rLtCTFC9JwDw_ApxUT-R6PhqjdW9e9P3S3EpGSgBeSsEq-iCDsp_g0Io7VLvcejQnwYsr44KrZ/s560/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrM07y54LSQzaRCo0zz_imrG82Mgs5R-LfVbnoldvvUc9evfVT-9x3cHcjN3Oo1oMQHug1mHgMIArdJWVaCHJfMUe8k9dDR4tmhw_rLH5j9CAl5rLtCTFC9JwDw_ApxUT-R6PhqjdW9e9P3S3EpGSgBeSsEq-iCDsp_g0Io7VLvcejQnwYsr44KrZ/w200-h200/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Last night I tweeted how disappointing it was to see the juries do Finland dirty. Some people interpreted that as me being a bad loser (the eurovision online fans were always easy to rub the wrong way) but this goes back to something I have been saying for many years: the jury system needs to be reformed.<div><br /></div><div>I repeat myself - just to be very clear - that this is not a case about Loreen. She was a well deserved winner if you ask me, even if the viewers at home largely disagreed.<br /><br />To be perfectly clear: I don't want the juries gone. I am a big fan of juries and I support the idea that juries should reward things the televoting crowds could overlook on a first listen. But that's not what the juries are doing.<br /><br />In recent years, time and time again the juries have punished edgy and creative entries and instead rewarded safer efforts instead. This problem is however far from new.<div><br /></div><div>Ever since the current points system was introduced in 1975, the way the juries vote has one big flaw. When a group of people decide their points together, the winner will be a compromise. Instead of rewarding the most relevant och interesting songs, a jury is going to reward the songs that most people can agree upon and like at least a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everything that displeases one or several jurors - maybe for being too contemporary, for being too experimental, for being too commercial or even for not being "a suitable ESC entry" - will get punished in a jury system like this.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have also seen many times how being part of a jury really can put people on the highest of horses: suddenly they refuse anything fun or lightweight or hit friendly in favour of more serious and "sophisticated" things. That's when a worldwide hit single like Gina G's "Ooh Aah Just A Little Bit" ends up with a disappointing 8th place.</div><div><br /></div><div>The current formula of jurors ranking all the songs from first to last is not helping things. A full ranking of all the songs will inevitably become a bit arbitrary in the middle. Most people can easily identify their top favourites and the songs clearly placed at the bottom of their list. But the entries in between?</div><div><br /></div><div>Say that a juror doesn't care for a specific song, it can still make a world of difference if they randomly place it 9th or if they randomly place it 21st.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would like to see two major changes made to the jury system:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. How the jurors are selected. </div><div>These people impact the result in a big way, why are they the right people to do it? The jurors should be real professionals that don't just know music - they should also be able to read the room, pick up on what feels exciting and vibrant and also judge entries on the correct merits. (Not all entries should be judged on pitch perfect vocals, for instance, unless perfect vocals are the selling point of the entry.) I want to see less "friends of the delegations" and more people from outside the ESC bubble do the job.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. How the jurors vote. </div><div>I would like to remove - as far as possible - the chance for individual jurors to vote down anything they don't like. I want the jurors to vote FOR songs they like, not AGAINST things they don't get. I even have an idea how that could be possible but let's save that for another day. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also want full transparency of how individual jurors voted, I find that essential in order to maintain the good name of the contest.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I think the current split 50/50 between jury and televote makes for great television, so I wouldn't want to change that. I just think we have the right to expect more bravery from the jurors. If not, what is the point in having them?</div><div><br /></div><div>Last night, the entry that won the televote in eighteen countries got nul points from no less than fourteen juries. That really isn't a feather in the hat for the current system. It needs a change and it needs it now.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XefFYI91zGCjASIxSk-7r4aqYnEjsOuJHbBzkZ1XQeeuNi5hnjgCfGzhFs2yuGPbajAaGJEzOLf1wdBY8wOf9uYQjrrKitXI4dNSL2VSzu-82WPpdgSm3ycaXjycdUx6HMBhXU4OtTvhljLdz6XpSlD2DhTVWLR-ptO8ttezT26_SJcDIisgUo55/s990/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202023-05-14%20kl.%2011.55.50.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="990" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XefFYI91zGCjASIxSk-7r4aqYnEjsOuJHbBzkZ1XQeeuNi5hnjgCfGzhFs2yuGPbajAaGJEzOLf1wdBY8wOf9uYQjrrKitXI4dNSL2VSzu-82WPpdgSm3ycaXjycdUx6HMBhXU4OtTvhljLdz6XpSlD2DhTVWLR-ptO8ttezT26_SJcDIisgUo55/w400-h216/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202023-05-14%20kl.%2011.55.50.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot from Wikipedia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-56831865796212910242023-05-14T04:05:00.002+03:002023-05-14T04:05:12.946+03:00ESC 2023: a few quick thoughts about the result<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LMF4X-Y5YeyBaYoLeuY4Qu8mO-1tHOD3dAO0gwBudNowX5A8hAu304LSXqrKaibQsptatSKiRnXSOeLvQ6OxfwA68eL52tm4vVSpqwyGfq1qnNE2uR-hB6KiN_ieOnpvNiXf9txF6G50QR0apsGMMm4HKHiR6Ib5g4F34_mj_S0XckDI3ZQmDyUt/s2880/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202023-05-14%20kl.%2003.42.30.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2880" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LMF4X-Y5YeyBaYoLeuY4Qu8mO-1tHOD3dAO0gwBudNowX5A8hAu304LSXqrKaibQsptatSKiRnXSOeLvQ6OxfwA68eL52tm4vVSpqwyGfq1qnNE2uR-hB6KiN_ieOnpvNiXf9txF6G50QR0apsGMMm4HKHiR6Ib5g4F34_mj_S0XckDI3ZQmDyUt/w400-h250/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202023-05-14%20kl.%2003.42.30.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The final is over and the big favourite Loreen won. It's a sensational victory in many ways: Loreen is only the second main performer ever to win twice and Sweden now equals Ireland's record of seven victories.</div><br />Make no mistake: Loreen is a very deserved winner. Winning once is very hard, winning twice is as good as impossible. To be The Thing twice is really out of this world.<br /><br />We know for sure that SVT will give us a terrific final next year. We know they can do it. They have done it many times before.<div><br /></div><div>Finland ended in an equally sensational second place. To think that a weird and experimental song in Finnish - performed by a rapper, not a singer - could get so close to winning the ESC is really wild and extraordinary.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, it is hard not to feel just a bit disappointed. Not because Finland didn't win but because of the way Finland didn't win. The juries really did Käärijä dirty. Fourteen juries giving nul points to "Cha Cha Cha" really feels like a slap on the face.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some day soon - maybe already tomorrow - I will write a post on why the current jury system is long past its expiry date and needs a complete overhaul.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the last place - I know I predicted Poland but also wrote a comment on Facebook how it would make more sense to predict the UK or Germany. Oh dear.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi__9P6twdxXOUtfPbnq4YdDBBv7c9fTHGs2y_eOzfsbaU_2rUzijOhdcE8xORZFj8BvGO2KfOtVyuRC-wB1FGWVk4mzMhiLCjCkfS4G-0ms3Di8opTfG9bBVEmpG68MJJTQnMbEoU-C7Q8Kzyz-IWYjJn4n1TjruKXhcQZ-GqJpHHu8RJSqKVVtJ/s932/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202023-05-14%20kl.%2003.57.10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="932" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi__9P6twdxXOUtfPbnq4YdDBBv7c9fTHGs2y_eOzfsbaU_2rUzijOhdcE8xORZFj8BvGO2KfOtVyuRC-wB1FGWVk4mzMhiLCjCkfS4G-0ms3Di8opTfG9bBVEmpG68MJJTQnMbEoU-C7Q8Kzyz-IWYjJn4n1TjruKXhcQZ-GqJpHHu8RJSqKVVtJ/s320/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202023-05-14%20kl.%2003.57.10.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Anyway, congratulations to Queen Loreen. And in almost every way Finland won too. So congratulations to us all!</div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-26746500866532461202023-05-13T18:45:00.001+03:002023-05-13T18:45:14.515+03:00ESC 2023: Tobson takes a final guess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYtNHytraRrFiVbFSi7poVnDVTU8h0WFFA-OIFm6pfgEc3bQsukD2mnWzQoEMe6F1_D6DwYAtTI197KlZZYWfUTqDFl00XUPBa7HzqRYgQbFVi7isXgsJGwp--FB8kCCU8zyvPtW440LJsVnc9d0ZTIU_igdp7-c1Ud4Jjy9a-ln47iYmeAoohXq2/s1000/esc2023-2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYtNHytraRrFiVbFSi7poVnDVTU8h0WFFA-OIFm6pfgEc3bQsukD2mnWzQoEMe6F1_D6DwYAtTI197KlZZYWfUTqDFl00XUPBa7HzqRYgQbFVi7isXgsJGwp--FB8kCCU8zyvPtW440LJsVnc9d0ZTIU_igdp7-c1Ud4Jjy9a-ln47iYmeAoohXq2/s320/esc2023-2.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br />Usually it is so hard to write this final prediction for the final but this year it feels really easy.<br /><br />You see, I have dual citizenship so I am going to win tonight. Finland vs Sweden. I honestly can't see any other ending to this year than a battle between those two.<br /><br />In one corner we have Sweden, making a bold move by entering not only a former winner but an ESC monument in the shape of Loreen. An artist who shaped the idea of what an ESC entry could be like for years after her victory.<div><br /></div><div>"Tattoo" is nowhere near as groundbreaking as "Euphoria" was but is still a devastatingly well written pop gem with an excellent hook and a terrific soundscape. Loreen would be a well deserved double winner.</div><div><br /></div><div>My only problem with Sweden winning is that Melodifestivalen isn't really in brilliant shape at the moment. "Tattoo" was very much alone in the line-up, surrounded by pretty basic songs written by a small pool of people seemingly determined to write many songs instead of shaping a few songs into perfection.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the other corner, there is Finland. The incredible story of a complete underdog that miraculously found a liberal dose of self-confidence and turned its depressing national final into a bubbly hit factory full of great ideas and new talent.</div><div><br /></div><div>But can we be so sure it will only be about those two? Isn't there anyone else who could emerge a surprise winner? France could. Italy could. </div><div><br /></div><div>If the old world order breaks down, even Spain could possibly win and take revenge for all locally flavoured songs that were ignored through the years. </div><div><br /></div><div>But seriously. No. It's Finland or Sweden. Maybe there could be a surprise jury winner - think North Macedonia 2019 - but in the end Finland or Sweden will battle it out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Who will it be, then? I do think Loreen has the upper hand and is the more likely winner. But I would never forgive myself if Finland won and I hadn't predicted it. So my final bet is Finland.</div><div><br /></div><div>My attempt att predicting the top 26 looks like this: <b>01. Finland, 02. Sweden, 03. Italy, 04. France, 05. Belgium, 06. Slovenia, 07. Ukraine, 08. Australia, 09. Lithuania, 10. Spain, 11. Norway, 12. Portugal, 13. Czechia, 14. Austria, 15. Israel, 16. Estonia, 17. Armenia, 18. Moldova, 19. Serbia, 20. United Kingdom, 21. Croatia, 22. Albania, 23. Cyprus, 24. Germany, 25. Switzerland, 26. Poland.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is such a shot a dark, most of this prediction is happy guessing. Most it apart from the top two. (Note how my prediction would also give Flanders and Slovenia their best results ever.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Have a fun night and see you on the other side. Or on Twitter, feel free to join the fun also there.</div><div><br /></div><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/TobsonHelsinki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Follow @TobsonHelsinki</a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-46210496069956253632023-05-12T23:50:00.002+03:002023-05-13T00:05:59.273+03:00ESC 2023: what the final looks like from here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZKEtaiLvS75Fua8NGmUGVLvEoO3noDLUYXhVEeHb7fOIaRWdmx37N01W1IUvk4MRiNqpH9TAbEmlRasmWZiOnqSVVojLQsqsmVyamD9Z1qqiaCk181Yjf_T1QHS6BAO5tZ78Ijvk7BQYXXFRK1pYJ92gfh9-O7pBuEqMWyPWtZ2gF2P7Z5N9xVwI/s1740/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202023-05-12%20kl.%2020.51.55.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1740" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZKEtaiLvS75Fua8NGmUGVLvEoO3noDLUYXhVEeHb7fOIaRWdmx37N01W1IUvk4MRiNqpH9TAbEmlRasmWZiOnqSVVojLQsqsmVyamD9Z1qqiaCk181Yjf_T1QHS6BAO5tZ78Ijvk7BQYXXFRK1pYJ92gfh9-O7pBuEqMWyPWtZ2gF2P7Z5N9xVwI/s320/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202023-05-12%20kl.%2020.51.55.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />As every year, the ESC week is really intense. Suddenly we find ourselves with 26 finalists and a correct running order and even though we lived with these songs all season it suddenly feels like everything is suddenly thrown in the air and exciting and new.<br /><br />At least to a limit. All season we had two songs that are clearly the universal favourites to win and that has not changed during the week. <br /><br />This is my quick guide to the final with modified grades after seeing all songs in action on stage.<div><br /></div><div><b>01. AUSTRIA</b></div><div>In theory a logical opener but this fan favourite had a difficult transition onto stage where it became surprisingly static. Also a victim of a bad trend in recent year where directors pack as many camera cuts as possible into their three minutes but forget to establish any sort of contact between the performers and their audience.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>02. PORTUGAL</b></div><div>In a largely functioning running order, this stands out as a huge question mark. Portugal is warm and vibrant and could easily have inserted some temper into the show, so why dump it in the number two spot? Between two other songs that are also very red? Mimicat seemed a little bit tired in the semi final but still showed a professionalism that reminded me of Monika Liu. I still think this could do reasonably well in the end.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>03. SWITZERLAND</b></div><div>A weak song remarkably elevated by a talented singer and a clever staging. It worked so far but now the competition is way more difficult and this first ballad of the night will struggle.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>04. POLAND</b></div><div>Little more than a dumb beach ditty but that is not necessarily something to be sniffed at. Doesn't take itself as seriously as some others in this lineup but should not expect any jury love.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>05. SERBIA</b></div><div>For the second consecutive year, Serbia is the arthouse of the final. Experimental and interesting but also dark and messy. Would need an extra gear to improve on stage.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>06. FRANCE</b></div><div>Sophisticated and well performed, with more than a touch of class. Could easily turn stiff but could also become the song the jury suddenly throws it highest marks at. </div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>07. CYPRUS</b></div><div>Same as Switzerland: interesting singer meets flat and uninspired song that is also a tiny bit too demanding for said performer to fully pull off. Then the best arms in the line-up won't help.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>08. SPAIN</b></div><div>The big divide of the year. Is this fantastic or horrific, a hit or a miss? Or a bit of both? I really like what they attempt to do, Blanca Paloma is great and the staging is impressive but the song never goes anywhere. Instead it tries to compensate with intensity and volume and in the end listening to it feels like standing under a waterfall. Will get high points from some juries but I doubt very much this will be a big favourite with the average televoter, especially given what comes right after.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>09. SWEDEN</b></div><div>Loreen still knows how to put on a remarkable show. Even if "Tattoo" is nowhere near as groundbreaking as "Euphoria" was, it is still a quality song through and through. The most likely jury winner.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>10. ALBANIA</b></div><div>The biggest surprise among the semi final qualifiers in my book. Well sung, well staged and with an abundance of pathos. Will end up where Albanian entries tend to end up in the final.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>11. ITALY</b></div><div>The best singer in the lineup, performing a devastatingly captivating and well-crafted song with a rare presence and emotion. Must have a chance of being in the top five but inexplicably juries tend to be surprisingly cold towards Italian quality.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>12. ESTONIA</b></div><div>One of the strongest female vocalists of the year comes right after Marco Mengoni and it is puzzling how they put these two songs neck to neck, almost like the producer wanted them to steal points off each other. </div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>13. FINLAND</b></div><div>The best staging of the year, genius from beginning to end. Käärijä delivers (even when he gets a bit out of breath by the end) and so do his brilliant dancers. Catchy and bonkers in equal measure. The most likely televote winner.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>14. CZECHIA</b></div><div>Time to take a little moment to breathe after Finland. Czechia does a good job - even if the identical outfits and general church vibe can get a bit much - but doesn't feel at all like a contender anymore. Also visibly relies heavily on pre-recorded vocals in a way that could annoy jury members and viewers alike.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>15. AUSTRALIA</b></div><div>80's rock with everything on it. It is a bit much but also totally shameless in a pretty liberating way. An extra gold star for the remarkable guitar solo played by Simone Dow.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>16. BELGIUM</b></div><div>A real happy pill and one of the most urgent messages of the year as lgbtiq-people again find themselves under attack, not least in this year's host country, the UK. Excellent vocals and a fitting tribute to club culture. A dark horse and possible surprise in the making.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>17. ARMENIA</b></div><div>A very pretty song but unfortunately another stage show where more attention have been paid to special effects and special lighting than to create any sort of camera contact. That could cost Brunette a top ten placing in the end, but at least she has the most graceful dance break of the evening.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>18. MOLDOVA</b></div><div>Folksy and fun. Pasha is still a terrific presence and this will have its fans, but the whole thing does get a bit too repetitive by the end. Could have needed some sort of breakdown at some point.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>19. UKRAINE</b></div><div>Many high expectations are placed on this entry - of course since you can almost never count Ukraine out - but is it just me or does it never fully take off? Will get a solid placing in the end but nowhere near a top three finish.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>20. NORWAY</b></div><div>This hot favourite suddenly feels surprisingly cold. It has not turned bad since Tuesday but suddenly there is no buzz around Alessandra anymore. I still think this one is headed for a generous score from the viewers in the end.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>21. GERMANY</b></div><div>For a long time, I thought Germany got it right and would have a shot at the top ten at least. But something about this song never clicks into place. Impeccably produced but the chorus falls flat. </div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>22. LITHUANIA</b></div><div>With so many pre-recorded backing vocals it is a relief to finally see some backing vocalists in action on stage (even if also their singing has been enhanced on the tape) and Monika really elevates this several levels live on stage. Could be a surprise top ten finish if she's lucky.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>23. ISRAEL</b></div><div>Wants to be bubbly and youthful but ends up cold and calculating. Not even that hyped-up dance break is particularly impressive. Will have fans and receive some solid scores from here and there, but not a fave in this household.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>24. SLOVENIA</b></div><div>The last really warm-rather-than-slick entry in this lineup. Catchy and extremely easy to like. Slovenia has every chance in the world of getting their best placing ever this year.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>25. CROATIA</b></div><div>I honestly have no idea what to expect. Terribly out of sync on Tuesday and could well be on zero points after the jury vote. What will the viewers make of this?</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>26. UNITED KINGDOM</b></div><div>A really fun album track that - similarly to Austria that opened the line-up - had problems translating itself onto stage. Mae Muller is a bit too insecure on stage. Juries can forgive an uneasy appearance or wobbly vocals but rarely they forgive both. But there will also be a thunderous reception to this in the arena.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I save my final prediction for a bit later but I can promise you it will be worth the effort to sit through this final. With a bit of luck it will also end up a big thriller before we can crown out winner.</div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-15226973051243533282023-05-12T14:36:00.002+03:002023-05-12T14:37:25.865+03:00ESC 2024: Hello there, Lëtzebuerg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKr0HhDw7vMbqJBzJtRQUJfmph6QZK9TtGkSQq7yW6LD-plQ3qwyBg-wvClZIG5zYYxe_7BQxkTtFPF-bTQPz5CVGXAfc-gWQRKYtmoR1L9-jbON0ZjCXYLB5a_2ef2cY5eiBKYmuGiNrPi1x-fkHtrPXeFSx7y70y8rb7lweYnDkJrvtPZ2PAkWWk/s256/luxembourg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="256" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKr0HhDw7vMbqJBzJtRQUJfmph6QZK9TtGkSQq7yW6LD-plQ3qwyBg-wvClZIG5zYYxe_7BQxkTtFPF-bTQPz5CVGXAfc-gWQRKYtmoR1L9-jbON0ZjCXYLB5a_2ef2cY5eiBKYmuGiNrPi1x-fkHtrPXeFSx7y70y8rb7lweYnDkJrvtPZ2PAkWWk/s1600/luxembourg.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>Today we were greeted by the news I never thought would drop but now it is official. Luxembourg is making a big comeback to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024.<div><br /></div><div>This is clearly the ESC equivalent of Abba revealing they would release a new album after 40 years.<br /><br />Five-time winners Luxembourg made their last appearance to date in Millstreet 1993 and have not been seen or heard since. For many years, they were a consistently interesting participant that heavily employed talent from other countries but before their departure they had a string of lackluster placings, usually with local performers instead.<br /><br />1993 was a very different world so what kind of Luxembourg can we look forward to next year? I see three possible scenarios.<div><br /></div><div><b>1. Local Luxembourg</b></div><div>This would mean acting like a showcase for singers and songwriters from the Grand Duchy itself. Not a huge talent pool to choose from but in today's media climate, Luxembourgish acts would be better prepared for the international heat then they were back in the early 90's. With a good home studio, your songs can sound as good and impressive regardless where in the world you are from.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2. Luxembourg and Surroundings</b></div><div>Being a small country, Luxembourg automatically gets a lot of influence from their neighbour countries. They could establish themselves as a platform also for artists from Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France that would like to be seen on the ESC stage but for some reason do not want to enter (or do not fit into) their own country's selection process. This wouldn't rule out the occasional home-grown entry whenever something strong enough would be on offer.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. RTL Group Luxembourg</b></div><div>RTL Group - with its head quarters in Luxembourg - is one of Europe's largest and most successful broadcasters and in their own words "a leading entertainment company". Why not let all the international branches of RTL look for potential talent in their territories to find a joint candidate to be promoted across their enormous platform? Also this modus would in no way rule out the odd Luxembourgois act going to the ESC now and then.</div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless of the path they will chose, I hope Luxembourg will be in it to win it with a determination to launch great hit songs like they used to do back in the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also hope Monaco's new public service broadcaster TV Monaco will be up and running according to schedule as they have a budget allocated for re-joining the ESC as well. The thought of possibly having Luxembourg and Monaco back the same year is making my tired old heart sing.</div></div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-88209594100270697132023-05-12T01:04:00.004+03:002023-05-12T01:05:26.668+03:00ESC 2023, semi 2: what about the songs that left us?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFeMlFlYxLTW5Mgh2efwfvXV0Tb6BIfmt-LCtzk2qQhOCQjzKzg5Uj2ZA4Ha2lILstHe3bMXkvOTqcT4b1DKuGqCqf9Tyn909hY1wv35Nk9X-FldLaxYUdystQ31g4LyvmxK7sdIdl86WshVqFyaeW_txUk6sc7DWXdyrI0HcIT_tdRMaG9siT6Dk/s560/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFeMlFlYxLTW5Mgh2efwfvXV0Tb6BIfmt-LCtzk2qQhOCQjzKzg5Uj2ZA4Ha2lILstHe3bMXkvOTqcT4b1DKuGqCqf9Tyn909hY1wv35Nk9X-FldLaxYUdystQ31g4LyvmxK7sdIdl86WshVqFyaeW_txUk6sc7DWXdyrI0HcIT_tdRMaG9siT6Dk/w200-h200/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>All the envelopes have been opened and the line-up for the 2023 Eurovision final is complete. We'll get back to the finalists, but let's spend a moment contemplating the songs that were voted off the island tonight.<br /><br />I did a terrible job <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2023/05/esc-2023-semi-2-tobson-takes-guess.html">predicting the finalists</a> - I only got seven correct out of ten - but maybe it's not all my fault. It was an even field and the outcome was destined to be a bit arbitrary. Plus Europe made some odd choices. It's not me, it's you.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, the entries gone with the wind are:</div><div><br /></div><div>ROMANIA. I have no idea what they thought they were doing but they sure worked hard to achieve it. The visuals were better than in the national final but nothing else was. Mystifying. Maybe Romania should give internal selection a go next year?</div><div><br /></div><div>SAN MARINO is a little gem of sorts, a clunky schlager rocker with a shouty finish. Doomed from the word go but also entertaining in a way you wouldn't want to miss out on. I hope they don't give up on their national final for next year, all they need are better jurors.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many spent the whole season thinking GEORGIA had it in the bag but when it mattered all the wild drama turned static and not particularly engaging. Only a minor surprise to see it drop out in the end.</div><div><br /></div><div>ICELAND had showed great energy and a fresh approach to performing but the song never spoke to me. Few things jive less than a performer super excited about a song that is meh at best.</div><div><br /></div><div>DENMARK went for an unusually contemporary sound for being them, a shame that didn't pay off. But while Reiley is an adorable personality he doesn't have the voice or the stage presence needed to carry a song by himself.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally my heart is bleeding a bit for Victor Vernicos from GREECE, who is really gifted but had the misfortune of getting chosen too soon. Had he been given two or three more years to grow and develop he could have been a Greek Paradise Oskar. I hope somebody gives him a hug and reminds him what a talent he is and that there's still a future in music for him. There must be.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn't really surprised by Cyprus qualifying but Albania made my face grow long. Not to mention Poland. But more about them in time for the final where we could be heading for an epic battle of Sweden vs Finland. </div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-65438167251146531092023-05-11T18:31:00.001+03:002023-05-11T18:31:30.245+03:00ESC 2023, semi 2: Tobson takes a guess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4L07h8iIvMNbDwzQ3JH-B-A4uHb9Dco_8QsoTtWuF4hLS9-8Bu_LHEIn3L-LK-iOm4M_I5T_jwEWrR9bgVuFvPQjztDDJH0JCSoVLqPOMdnTLqq0ClrO4IdN4wxvSmLezdEIQrwJmGdXC8aH1V_pOmpjSIshQRkheca_a30QNE9X97F5jjIEc4lA/s1000/esc2023-2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4L07h8iIvMNbDwzQ3JH-B-A4uHb9Dco_8QsoTtWuF4hLS9-8Bu_LHEIn3L-LK-iOm4M_I5T_jwEWrR9bgVuFvPQjztDDJH0JCSoVLqPOMdnTLqq0ClrO4IdN4wxvSmLezdEIQrwJmGdXC8aH1V_pOmpjSIshQRkheca_a30QNE9X97F5jjIEc4lA/s320/esc2023-2.webp" width="320" /></a></div>Let's be frank and not beat around the bush: Tuesday's semi was an awful lot stronger than the one we are offered today. Indisputable fact. <br /><br />Isn't it a shame that the two semi finals turn out so uneven in quality? It really is. <div><br /></div><div>Is there something that could be done about that? That's a hard no.<div><br /></div><div>The producers already have so much power in sequencing the running order. If they were also to divide the contestants into semi finals - based on such fluid criteria as what is a good song or not - then we would find ourselves on thin ice. Leave at least a few things to chance also in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not like you won't be entertained tonight. There will be good songs and stuff to enjoy, but there is no potential Saturday night winner in sight. </div><div><br /></div><div>The biggest problem trying to predict these songs are that they are in many cases very similar in quality and therefore interchangeable. What people at home will vote for in the end is anybody's guess. What you are reading right now is my guess and it reads as follows:</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd say AUSTRIA, AUSTRALIA and SLOVENIA are certain qualifiers. I think I dare count BELGIUM into this group since it is very distinct in regards to both sound and vision. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then there are the girls with ballads. LITHUANIA should sail through easily. It is maybe a bit square in its studio recording but lives and breathes on stage. Having a backing group obviously singing live is also an advantage in this year of extensively used pre-recorded backing vocals. ESTONIA should go through on vocal talent and intensity but you can never be totally sure.</div><div><br /></div><div>ARMENIA and GEORGIA both have a somewhat artsy approach. Quality entries but are they accessible enough on a first listen? ALBANIA is basically Family Feud interpreted through song but will there be too much pathos at once?</div><div><br /></div><div>DENMARK has a radio friendly song that sounds great in your headphones but will they manage to keep it interesting for three minutes on stage? CYPRUS raises similar questions as he is more interesting than the song he's been set up with. GREECE has a talented teenager whose future should be bright but who was possibly sent into the international limelight a bit too soon. I hope fate is kind to Victor Vernicos tonight.</div><div><br /></div><div>ICELAND has great energy but unfortunately has a pretty weak composition. So does POLAND but this kind of dumb summer staple has an annoying habit of hitting home sometimes.</div><div><br /></div><div>SAN MARINO and ROMANIA both give us some sort of rock vibe, but to no avail. Both songs feel unfinished (for want of a better word) and should pass the voters by.</div><div><br /></div><div>Based on this, my guess is that the following ten songs will qualify tonight: Denmark, Armenia, Estonia, Belgium, Greece, Slovenia, Georgia, Austria, Lithuania and Australia. </div><div><br /></div><div>Out: Romania, Cyprus, Iceland, Poland, San Marino and Albania.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Tuesday, I predicted eight out of ten qualifiers which is in no way extraordinary. I could get even less tonight: suddenly Cyprus hits a nerve (never underestimate eyes as pretty as his), Albania breaks through (never mess with an emotional Albanian family) or Poland finds the right key (unlikely but still) and then I stand there corrected.</div><div><br /></div><div>As always I will hang out on Twitter, feel free to call me out on my prediction shortcomings over there.</div><div><br /></div><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/TobsonHelsinki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Follow @TobsonHelsinki</a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-72549729656525153292023-05-10T22:58:00.002+03:002023-05-10T22:58:47.873+03:00Cha Cha Cha in a nutshell<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggXiMDZLKY6wAyhIXqiyYkYXASNQNnoXY1bUgBpmgWVTaYG7kJIslpm5BQ89AAaL9uCFRtruWf8zpItpIYuI-R7WN7MrddGWjsKN75kphwkz4AJIrBZEvajj6_t87qnX8H5qvoTKDTmFHHtykPVyzZsfGTTcgOj0G8Bd30nVGc_Ob_mO0Jeq7wRXc/s1000/Kaarija-cha-cha-cha-mixtape.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggXiMDZLKY6wAyhIXqiyYkYXASNQNnoXY1bUgBpmgWVTaYG7kJIslpm5BQ89AAaL9uCFRtruWf8zpItpIYuI-R7WN7MrddGWjsKN75kphwkz4AJIrBZEvajj6_t87qnX8H5qvoTKDTmFHHtykPVyzZsfGTTcgOj0G8Bd30nVGc_Ob_mO0Jeq7wRXc/s320/Kaarija-cha-cha-cha-mixtape.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Record artwork copyright belongs to Warner Music Finland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div>"Finland's entry is about how great it is to drink a lot of alcohol." I've seen quite a few comments like this already and I suppose it's not entirely wrong. But it's also a really shallow reading of the lyrics.<br /><br />In case you don't know the story, this is the setup: a typical Finnish man walks into a bar after a long, heavy, stressful week. He is really rather aggressive and just wants to drink and forget. The dance floor is calling out for him but he stays on his chair, drinking heavily.<div><br /></div><div>And then suddenly something snaps. All the rage melts away, he feels liberated and happy, showering himself in champagne he storms the floor and brings the ugliest moves possible, no longer afraid of the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>"On a regular day this is not who I am. But today I am that man and I'm going dancing."</div><div><br /></div><div>Traditionally, Finnish culture has not really allowed a space for men to show emotion or do things like dancing. A real man is strong and quiet and aggressive.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Cha Cha Cha" is less about drinking yourself to oblivion and more a critique of a society that makes us feel angry and aggressive and forces us to drink before we can express who we really are. A song about toxic masculinity and repressive stereotypical expectations.</div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, this guy's true colours shine through at once. Piña colada is hardly the drink of choice of the manliest of men, is it?</div><div><br /></div><div>Just like some people just refused to believe there was a deeper meaning behind Verka Serduchka back in 2007, there is a similar feeling here. That you couldn't enjoy Käärijä fully if there was more to it than a fun party vibe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course it is a fun party vibe, too. Above all it is a really fun and extraordinary song. Having a deeper meaning just elevates it further.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the same time in Finland, everyone is going bananas over Käärija, Cha Cha Cha and Eurovision. Regardless of the result on Saturday, we have already won. This is a week the Finnish audience will never forget.</div></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ferYXj9vAA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-80879606001496969632023-05-10T00:51:00.003+03:002023-05-10T00:51:39.111+03:00ESC 2023, semi 1: what about the songs that left us?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFeMlFlYxLTW5Mgh2efwfvXV0Tb6BIfmt-LCtzk2qQhOCQjzKzg5Uj2ZA4Ha2lILstHe3bMXkvOTqcT4b1DKuGqCqf9Tyn909hY1wv35Nk9X-FldLaxYUdystQ31g4LyvmxK7sdIdl86WshVqFyaeW_txUk6sc7DWXdyrI0HcIT_tdRMaG9siT6Dk/s560/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFeMlFlYxLTW5Mgh2efwfvXV0Tb6BIfmt-LCtzk2qQhOCQjzKzg5Uj2ZA4Ha2lILstHe3bMXkvOTqcT4b1DKuGqCqf9Tyn909hY1wv35Nk9X-FldLaxYUdystQ31g4LyvmxK7sdIdl86WshVqFyaeW_txUk6sc7DWXdyrI0HcIT_tdRMaG9siT6Dk/w200-h200/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The first semi final is over, we have ten new songs for Saturday and much more of an idea what this year's final could shape up to be. A few surprises because there had to be: there were more than ten songs tonight that would have deserved to qualify.<br /><br />In <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2023/05/esc-2023-semi-1-tobson-takes-guess.html">my own prediction</a> I got 8 out of 10 finalists correct and I have to be pleased with that. There were a bunch of songs that felt like they were drawing lots for who would proceed and who would flunk.<div><br /></div><div>MALTA is my biggest disappointment. The band put up great energy and I find that saxophone hook really catchy. What a shame it didn't pay off to go for a song written by domestic songwriters, I really hope they won't go back to buying C-level Melodifestivalen rejects in coming years. Maltese songwriters deserve this chance to show off their craft abroad.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm equally sad about LATVIA. This was a quality entry performed in good voice and - at least by the end - pretty decent camera contact. I'm not really sure why Latvia keeps getting it wrong or what they should try for next year. Would it be time to do an internal selection and see if that would pay off better.</div><div><br /></div><div>IRELAND deserved every inch of their NQ, I'm afraid. A very square and formulaic tune performed with zero conviction by a singer who couldn't even be bothered to pretend to sing the high notes.</div><div><br /></div><div>AZERBAIJAN fills me with very conflicting feelings. Again I would have wanted to like it when they finally went for a local product again at long last. But while the boys were charming, their song was nowhere near strong enough. Every time it threatened to go somewhere it would stop and start over.</div><div><br /></div><div>The NETHERLANDS had a very pretty song but already during the performance I know it was Game Over. While the duo hit their notes better than they had in the lead-up to the contest, they still seemed deeply insecure and it was anything but pleasant to watch and listen. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for the show, the BBC put on a really good show where great attention had been paid to graphics, inserts, interval acts and postcards. It all looked fantastic on my tv. However - and I will have to watch again before using too big words here - I'm not sure the directing of the entries was always the best possible. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also pleased how present Ukraine was in every heartbeat during the show, that was very well executed all throughout.</div><div><br /></div><div>Time for bed - on Thursday we find ourselves another ten finalists.</div><br />TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-16270078986538082872023-05-09T19:07:00.002+03:002023-05-09T19:07:34.356+03:00ESC 2023, semi 1: Tobson takes a guess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdZMqCxGzd4gpIwAt0voH_d8-VPUgdgHObd4qQfzdmdIQFhVKIx-20NYI-6fC8Kzi1PzzKFB4UrMxzO2BwFGGn58Ky0WWM8wvMZHfY9pLrRS79jUh4MZvWI4dhWRkRlUbFMhsS_9jVRECY_iKtJ_4YnTfYzOFYbP5_7A4ffAGZZUr0K2VJaDw47f0/s1000/esc2023-2.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdZMqCxGzd4gpIwAt0voH_d8-VPUgdgHObd4qQfzdmdIQFhVKIx-20NYI-6fC8Kzi1PzzKFB4UrMxzO2BwFGGn58Ky0WWM8wvMZHfY9pLrRS79jUh4MZvWI4dhWRkRlUbFMhsS_9jVRECY_iKtJ_4YnTfYzOFYbP5_7A4ffAGZZUr0K2VJaDw47f0/s320/esc2023-2.webp" width="320" /></a></div>It never gets easier, does it? You'd think that watching five-hundred years of Eurovision would at some point turn prediction into a piece of cake but that's where you are wrong. You can never fully know how the winds will blow at that final, crucial moment when everything is decided.<br /><br />This year, there are also two major factors there to make prediction even harder (even though nobody needed it to be harder than it already was).<div><br /></div><div>First thing: the juries are gone and will not be back until the final. Tonight the viewers are completely in charge of who gets the ticket for the final or not. It is easy to think that would favour simple songs with instant appeal but in recent years, the viewers often gravitated towards more demanding entries - far more so than the juries.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second thing: it is always harder to predict a semi final with fewer songs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Every year there is always one or two songs that turns out to have placed a lot better than anyone expected - maybe 12th in the semi instead of second last. When you only have fifteen entries, that unexpected support could suddenly mean a tenth place and a spot in the final. Tiny marginal coincidences could decide more than a few finalists tonight.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight there is also a third thing, really. This is a very strong semi final and more than ten songs would deserve to qualify. It's unfortunate we will lose something good tonight and instead get a few fillers on Thursday.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, who will it be? I am totally convinced that NORWAY, PORTUGAL, SWEDEN and FINLAND are in. ISRAEL is more of a show than a good song but will surely make the cut too. Then we head into question mark territory.</div><div><br /></div><div>AZERBAIJAN has a breezy, Beatles-esque feel to it but remains the country's weakest effort to date. IRELAND suddenly has fans but the song must be too formulaic and tired in the end. SWITZERLAND is weak but has a polished performance and a good vocalist. I would leave all three out but am no longer as sure as I was.</div><div><br /></div><div>The NETHERLANDS has a great song but dubious vocals, if they get it wrong tonight they're out. CZECHIA sounds great in studio but could turn into just another entry if they have bad luck. MOLDOVA is very much doing their own thing, I think they are in but the whole thing gets a bit repetitive before it is over.</div><div><br /></div><div>CROATIA is the mad one, the one you'd think a viewing audience would swallow whole. But is it too messy? And will lovers of the weird find themselves rooting for Finland in the end?</div><div><br /></div><div>Then it is my darlings MALTA, SERBIA and LATVIA. I want them all in the final but can see them all fail. Latvia is an excellent but demanding piece of music but I fear they will be the best song left in the semi (again). I thought Serbia were safe but it seems to pass over a lot of heads I thought would love it. But I can't be the only one hooked on Malta's sunny and playful saxophone beat?</div><div><br /></div><div>Given all these circumstances, the ten finalists will be: Norway, Malta, Portugal, Croatia, Israel, Moldova, Sweden, Czechia, Netherlands and Finland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Out: Serbia, Latvia, Ireland, Switzerland, Azerbaijan.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is all impossible anyway, isn't it? I wish you could all see my face melt tonight when Ireland is the first qualifier they call out. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope I am wrong about Serbia and Latvia (but not at any cost, mind you). I will tweet my way through the whole thing, so maybe I see you there.</div><div><br /></div><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/TobsonHelsinki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Follow @TobsonHelsinki</a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-34277365812564800502023-05-06T17:16:00.006+03:002023-05-06T17:21:05.065+03:00Tearing up the rulebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQIa_0oCn_8UBNlyQr6iwNmIeSCtWHcNYprJlWVZ7vLRXNyxR5uuhhlnU0tE7ftmo9i--SgkwwFuRU_kycPkEIFEZqlDM6ixZn_TsZZ1jGYD2ZsXoh8yvlujKBFL18F7zmuqCNW46-kM4XXoxW5HKlugM_f6ptW-d5g-5pHnSoDW84n9tiZ3mqwMN/s234/ebu.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="234" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQIa_0oCn_8UBNlyQr6iwNmIeSCtWHcNYprJlWVZ7vLRXNyxR5uuhhlnU0tE7ftmo9i--SgkwwFuRU_kycPkEIFEZqlDM6ixZn_TsZZ1jGYD2ZsXoh8yvlujKBFL18F7zmuqCNW46-kM4XXoxW5HKlugM_f6ptW-d5g-5pHnSoDW84n9tiZ3mqwMN/s1600/ebu.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>I can't remember the year anymore and I haven't found any trustworthy source on when it happened and it is annoying the life out of me, but anyway. Sometime in the mid 00's, the EBU added a new rule that said no entries in the ESC could include political or commercial messages. The same text also stated how no entry was allowed to bring the contest into disrepute.<div><br /></div><div>A very vague paragraph indeed - written like that on purpose - so that it could be applied whenever it seemed proper and ignored whenever there was a reason to do so.</div><div><br /></div><div>For instance, Australia were allowed to mention the FaceTime app once in 2016 while San Marino was not allowed to repeat "Facebook" thirty times back in 2012. I'm onboard with that.</div><div><br /></div><div>The "no politics"-rule came in handy in 2009, as the EBU suspected Georgia's entry - the funky disco stomper "We Don't Wanna Put In" - might hold some level of political messaging. (They were not wrong, you know.)</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0khUB1MMVzM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow, the EBU did not want this entry performed in Moscow and told Georgia they could either change the lyrics or stay home. The Georgian broadcaster opted for the latter alternative.</div><div><br /></div><div>After that one occasion, the EBU has been very reluctant to play the politics card and for instance let "1944" pass - easily one of the most political entries ever. </div><div><br /></div><div>"No political messages" had turned into a rubber paragraph: very flexible and more of a subtle threat than anything else. Then came the 2022 war in Ukraine, Russia was thrown out of the EBU and for the 2023 edition we stand here with a number of songs containing references to this war (or war in general).</div><div><br /></div><div>Croatia is easily the entry pushing the envelope the furthest. It's not even a question of interpretation, the band themselves have stated how the song is about dictators and more precisely about Lukashenko buying Putin a tractor as a birthday gift. The lyrics also calls said dictators "psychopaths". </div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AyKj8jA0Qoc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>This is very clearly a case of a highly political message. If you paid attention to the beginning of this blog post, you will know that the EBU has a rule that prohibits all kinds of political messages in the Eurovision Song Contest. But the Croatian entry was still given the green light.</div><div><br /></div><div>Personally, I think the Croatian dad punk rockers give us a refreshing moment but they also lampshade how toothless this "no politics"-rule really is. Why wasn't it applied here? </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe because other countries have similar messages, presented in subtler ways. Czechia obviously sing about the same thing, Switzerland does too (in an annoyingly general way, but still). Latvia is possibly alluding to it as well between the lines. If the EBU employed its famous rule, then they would have to police what expression is acceptable and what isn't. I see why that would be problematic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it is because the bottom line of protesting the war in Ukraine (as well as violent regimes) is not a controversial stance to take. But if the rule reads "no political messages unless it is one we can agree with or doesn't create inconvenience for us", then that is even more problematic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Who should be the judge of what political message is acceptable or not? That sounds like a very slippery slope to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>My suggestion would be to revise the rule for upcoming contests. Cut everything about forbidden messages out but keep that one central thing: "No entry may bring the contest into disrepute and the reference group alone will decide for each individual case what that means." That would be more honest at least. Different years and different circumstances could demand different levels of scrutiny. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is absolutely no point in keeping a rule that obviously means nothing and that nobody has to pay attention to anyway.</div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-54171120591949177112023-04-29T23:57:00.001+03:002023-04-29T23:59:24.172+03:00Tobson speaks up: ESC 2023, the finalists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDSL-I1k0Oq8AsPOzDbsOwMr_IjambzdmJf0YR2wDcuRY8aREZzKLReb5oTIdIrJOrtmbnjT3gG-rTis6LB9ZuaJX4iJHuml_AUJGzUgv7tjP79zgnLyUVraz7Vj94Gweleasq-Z8sLlT9od4eDpUvwFMhsYAqS5RpWrPvHUQ5gRlh01lwSjhLtXn/s1000/esc2023-2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDSL-I1k0Oq8AsPOzDbsOwMr_IjambzdmJf0YR2wDcuRY8aREZzKLReb5oTIdIrJOrtmbnjT3gG-rTis6LB9ZuaJX4iJHuml_AUJGzUgv7tjP79zgnLyUVraz7Vj94Gweleasq-Z8sLlT9od4eDpUvwFMhsYAqS5RpWrPvHUQ5gRlh01lwSjhLtXn/w400-h225/esc2023-2.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br />More than a few times since 2008 - when the semi final formula changed and the pre-qualified finalists consisted solely of the host nation and the Big Four/Five - writing the last part of your Eurovision reviews was a bit painful. <br /><br />For many years, most of the Bigs made absolutely zero effort and would come up with entries destined to crash and burn and the very bottom of the result. Almost all interesting songs would appear in the semi finals and leave the chapter on the finalists dull and dry.<div><br /></div><div>Luckily, in later years things have improved. Last year, Italy was the host country while the UK and Spain both ended up in the top three. France was a bit of a surprise flop and only Germany was a truly predictable failure.</div><div><br /></div><div>So - how do the six pre-qualified songs measure up this year? Well... like this.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>FRANCE La Zarra / Évidemment</b></div><div>For the second time in only six years, France scrapped its national final format in favour of an internal selection and gave the ticket directly to La Zarra. She cooked up a number that starts out like a dramatic chanson before developing a beat, turning into more of a pop entry with some very French touches to it. Sounds fresh but also works better on repeat listenings, which could be a bit of a problem in a televote. Possibly a jury darling and if so, a top five finish could be within reach.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>GERMANY Lord of the Lost / Blood & Glitter</b></div><div>Finally Germany has left the dull concept of streamlined, inoffensive "radio friendly" songs that nobody votes for behind in favour of some good old metal. Rock often hits home pretty well with ESC audiences and while this doesn't really bring anything new or innovate to the table, there is personality, temper and a hooky chorus on offer. </div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>ITALY Marco Mengoni / Due vite</b></div><div>Every year there is at least one song that should count as a big favourite but that somehow seems to fly under everybody's radar. This year, that song is obviously Italy's massive pop ballad, masterfully performed by the remarkable stage presence of Marco Mengoni. This absolutely should and must score well but has seemingly no buzz in the predictions. Maybe people have an appetite for something other than Italian craft this time around.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>SPAIN Blanca Paloma / Eaea</b></div><div>This is obviously the part where my comments section could explode but I have to be honest and honestly this entry is not my cup of tea at all. Blanca Paloma is an excellent singer and I have found her live executions interesting to watch, but when the single starts to play in my headphones I find it exhausting to listen to. Songs can do well at the ESC even when I don't fancy them - it happens regularly - but while I expect a fair share of jury points as a reward for good vocals, I doubt this entry will exercise any major mass appeal on your average viewer. If this places better than 10th or so, it will come as a real surprise to me. </div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>19. UKRAINE Tvorchi / Heart of Steel</b></div><div>Last year's winner enters something musically totally different and - as always - served up in a slick and professional fashion. A less obvious points magnet this time around but still very likely to do really well, not least because people will look out for Ukraine and pay attention to whatever they have on offer.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>26. UNITED KINGDOM Mae Muller / I Wrote A Song</b></div><div>Last year's second place clearly gave the UK a large chunk of their old confidence back and it is not unlikely that the audience reaction to Mae Muller will blow the roof off the arena in Liverpool. That could definitely be an advantage - remember Denmark 2001 - not least since various reports from various fan events suggest that the UK entrant hasn't hit all her notes brilliantly so far. That is a problem for later - as a single, I find this captivating, contemporary, fun and catchy. </div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There is nothing to predict here as all of these songs are already in the final, but if I ranked them in my personal order of preference in their current pre-live show versions it would be: Italy, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ukraine and Spain. </div><div><br /></div><div>Feel free to check out my views on <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2023/04/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2023-semi-1.html">semi one</a> and <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2023/04/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2023-semi-2.html">semi two</a> as well. </div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-90560567460227003102023-04-24T23:40:00.004+03:002023-04-24T23:41:06.150+03:00Tobson speaks up: ESC 2023, semi 2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiouq5nyiR6G5qQloFAipq2L3wRqnWTVM-ahjddeU0O_P64OXPbn8fRnX_7ju9DEZR88wXAgJX4w-MVNJ59xOgU5KWCkx_ayGjwxjbyTUcRATxsXob0Vm-I_CYfSvOCYr8W6pvR8yARj4rvlY3hqXHl8zRZKqB6UUU8C0imK5kQLuEuf2fhFrGY5oA/s1000/esc2023-2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiouq5nyiR6G5qQloFAipq2L3wRqnWTVM-ahjddeU0O_P64OXPbn8fRnX_7ju9DEZR88wXAgJX4w-MVNJ59xOgU5KWCkx_ayGjwxjbyTUcRATxsXob0Vm-I_CYfSvOCYr8W6pvR8yARj4rvlY3hqXHl8zRZKqB6UUU8C0imK5kQLuEuf2fhFrGY5oA/w400-h225/esc2023-2.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />After dipping my nose into <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2023/04/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2023-semi-1.html">the first semi</a> it is time to move on and see what the sixteen songs of the second semi are like. Will it be an equally hard battle to conquer one of the ten available spots in the final on a Thursday night?<br /><br />These are my personal opinions as well as my highly personal pick of ten finalists.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>01. DENMARK Reiley / Breaking My Heart</b><br />A logical choice to open the second semi. Almost shockingly contemporary and chart-friendly for being a Danish entry, it will possibly suffer from being designed for radio and streaming and subsequently not really including a lot of build-up or dynamic - it goes on and then it ends. Another question mark is if Reiley - who is otherwise charming and likeable - will be able to keep this interesting for three minutes.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>02. ARMENIA Brunette / Future Lover</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Starts in a quirky and almost absent-minded way, almost as if the performer was talking to herself rather than singing on a stage, before turning into a full-blown orchestral drama ending in an intense chorus in Armenian. A peculiar choice for the number two slot but an original, high-quality song that maybe wants to be a bit more special than it really is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>03. ROMANIA Theodor Andrei / D.G.T (Off And On)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Where do I begin? This songs has a few little hooky things going on but altogether it doesn't feel complete or fully finished. Someone would have needed to clean this track up and give it some overall polish. Also don't get me started on the visual choices made for the national final. I'm thinking maybe Romania should try internal selection for a year or two and see if they could come up with something better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>04. ESTONIA Alika / Bridges</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another very dramatic ballad by another skilled performer: just what you'd expect from a modern day Big Eurosong but with a certain freshness. Perhaps not unforgettable but should easily impress enough viewers to make it through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>05. BELGIUM Gustaph / Because Of You</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I must admit I got this entirely wrong on a first listen and discarded it as a bit of jokey nonsense when it's in fact a rather fabulous throwback to 90's club culture. Pure joy and excellent vocals. Given Gustaph is also the first really happy pill of the evening, I doubt very much the viewers would make the same mistake as I did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>06. CYPRUS Andrew Lambrou / Break A Broken Heart</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In a really puzzling move, Cyprus hired a singer/songwriter all the way from Australia to do the job for them. But they wouldn't let him write his own song and set him up with one of those typical anonymous "written-for-Eurovision" kind of ditties. Not bad but oddly forgettable. Will need a firestorm of a performance in order to hit home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>07. ICELAND Diljá / Power</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I like a lot of things here: I like Diljá, I like her raw energy on stage and her attitude towards performing, I like some of the ideas in this arrangement. And yet - oddly enough - the final package does very little for me. I feel nothing when listening to it and often forget it exists. Strange.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>08. GREECE Victor Vernicos / What They Say</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A really talented teen who wrote, recorded and produced his own entry. Very impressive but I can't help thinking it would have been better to let Victor wait a year or two before getting shipped off to the big time. The song is a bit clunky but in a charming way and seeing this youngster in action is touching but will it be enough?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>09. POLAND Blanka / Solo</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This reminds me of any of the Real Housewives installments where one of the participants gets bored and thinks you can do a pop career as a hobby on the side without really making any sort of effort. "Solo" is your average fun and stupid beach ditty - nothing wrong with that - but Blanka's performance was almost breathtakingly lazy with zero investment. Will be a classic for years to come but if there's any justice in the world, this will crash and burn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>10. SLOVENIA Joker Out / Carpe Diem</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After a number of wobblier efforts, Slovenia's boy band will have Europe eating out of their hands. This is funny, catchy and engaging and again we get proof how singing in your own language is an easy way of making your song stand out as more personable. Slovenia's best chance of a top ten finish in many years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>11. GEORGIA Iru / Echo</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This year's art installation is bursting full of eccentric ideas and an abundance of oddities, all performed in fine voice and with a great deal of conviction. Is it good? Hard to say, but I think it is. Does it stand out? Indeed it does. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>12. SAN MARINO Piqued Jacks / Like An Animal</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Last year they gave us an Italian star, this time they settled for a local Italian rock band that has received a lot of beating from the certain demographic of fans who seem to enjoy giving things a beating a way lot more than actually liking anything. There is a trashy charm to this but it never really goes anywhere and unfortunately ends up in an unnecessarily shouty finish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>13. AUSTRIA Teya & Salena / Who The Hell Is Edgar?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The winner of the second semi in a number of ways. What could have been "only" a bit of comic relief suddenly finds itself standing out in many ways as a - yes, funny - uptempo stomper that is also clever and catchy. If they can only build a stage show to match the energy of the track, this is bound to do very well. Especially as almost all of the major favourites have been drawn to sing in the first semi.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>14. ALBANIA Albina & Familija Kelmendi / Duje</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Could you do the ESC without having a dramatic family stand on stage, giving a rousing ode to avoiding divorce at any cost? Yes, you certainly could. While the message feels oddly conservative on a show like this, the song in itself is quite okay. "Scenes From A Marriage" if Bergman had been a pop composer from Tirana instead. Hardly a points magnet but enjoyable in its own way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>15. LITHUANIA Monika Linkytė / Stay</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is that one song that could seem a bit basic and plain when you just hear the studio version but live Monika and her backing vocalists turn this into a living, breathing thing that keeps growing and pulling you in. Not a potential winner or anything but could certainly end up doing a lot better than people expect it to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>16. AUSTRALIA Voyager / Promise</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My first impression was that they had crammed too many things into one song and wanted to much, in a Saara Aalto meets Montaigne sort of way, but then I warmed to the whole thing. Engaging and entertaining. Should qualify with ease even though it will find itself wrestling with Germany for the rock vote in the final.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So, if I was the only juror who could pick ten finalists all by myself based only on the studio versions and preview presentations, my choices would be (in order of appearance): Denmark, Armenia, Estonia, Belgium, Greece, Slovenia, Georgia, Austria, Lithuania and Australia. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My preferences can still change before the live shows - as history has shown - but what ten songs would you pick and what six would you leave in the semi?</div><p></p>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-69609021057160001372023-04-23T17:04:00.001+03:002023-04-23T17:05:10.588+03:00Tobson speaks up: ESC 2023, semi 1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiouq5nyiR6G5qQloFAipq2L3wRqnWTVM-ahjddeU0O_P64OXPbn8fRnX_7ju9DEZR88wXAgJX4w-MVNJ59xOgU5KWCkx_ayGjwxjbyTUcRATxsXob0Vm-I_CYfSvOCYr8W6pvR8yARj4rvlY3hqXHl8zRZKqB6UUU8C0imK5kQLuEuf2fhFrGY5oA/s1000/esc2023-2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiouq5nyiR6G5qQloFAipq2L3wRqnWTVM-ahjddeU0O_P64OXPbn8fRnX_7ju9DEZR88wXAgJX4w-MVNJ59xOgU5KWCkx_ayGjwxjbyTUcRATxsXob0Vm-I_CYfSvOCYr8W6pvR8yARj4rvlY3hqXHl8zRZKqB6UUU8C0imK5kQLuEuf2fhFrGY5oA/w400-h225/esc2023-2.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>It's almost upon us, the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. This year hosted jointly by last year's winner and last year's runner-up: Ukraine gets to add flavour while the UK takes care of the actual hosting.<br /><br />The contest has shrunk a bit and the number of entries is the lowest since Copenhagen 2014, but the countries that did show up have given us a pretty diverse and updated lineup. <br /><br />Soon the rehearsals will start in Liverpool and distort our first impressions with footage and clips and soundbites of varying quality, so before that: here are my reviews of the songs as they are in their preview versions as well as the ten songs I would pick for the final if I got it my way.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>01. NORWAY Alessandra / Queen of the Kings</b><br />This is a pretty great opener but also an odd choice by the producer. This is clearly one of the favourites and it is unusual to throw one of those out there already at the start of the show. For me, this is a catchy little number that easily gets stuck in your head but it is more of a cool beat than a really good song. Something about it makes me think of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYQUsp-jxDQ">"Boten Anna"</a> but maybe that's just me. Solid but maybe not the winner candidate many consider it to be.<br /><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>02. MALTA The Busker / Dance (Our Own Party)</b><br />Malta ditched the international songwriters and went for a local tune at long last. Clearly the right decision and in my opinion this is Malta's best entry in a very long time. Best since Claudette Pace? It has a cool groove and a joyful relative of the Epic Sax Guy. The only warning sign here is the disastrously low energy shown by the lead singer in the national final. Get that sorted and this could be a pleasant surprise.<br /><b>Grade: 3/5</b><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>03. SERBIA Luke Black / Samo mi se spava</b></div><div>The first semi opens in style with several really strong entries and Serbia stays on the same track as last year: avantgarde and pushing limits of what a eurosong could sound and look like. Luke himself is very easy to like and the song is oddly captivating and hypnotic. The warning sign here is the slightly dark, messy and unfocused national final performance. Luke Black coming after Konstrakta is very similar to Justs coming after Aminata: not less enjoyable but less likely to score heavily.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>04. LATVIA Sudden Lights / Aijā</b></div><div>Latvia hasn't been in the final since 2016 but here we we find ourselves with the Latvia entry being a real dark horse: intense, claustrophobic, almost intrusive and with a clever climax as the soft-rocker turns into a lullaby by the end. Would need more camera contact in Liverpool and is far from a sure fire finalist, but it's very much a personal favourite of mine and I'd love for it to make it through.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>05. PORTUGAL Mimicat / Ai coração</b></div><div>This semi final is not slowing down and this is another firm favourite of mine: explosive, sexy and funny with a very vibrant performer being in complete control of her own show. Doesn't look or sound like anyone else in this semi and I'm here for every last drop of it. Exquisite.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>06. IRELAND Wild Youth / We Are One</b></div><div>Wild? Pedestrian, rather. After five really strong entries in a row I suppose we should all be very thankful to Ireland giving us a moment to breathe and refill our snacks and drinks. But seriously, when will the Irish get their act together again? Is this really the best they can come up with? Not bad as in terrible but bad as in genuinely disinteresting from the first note to the last.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>07. CROATIA Let 3 / Mama ŠČ!</b></div><div>Perhaps Ireland isn't terrible but Croatia has every intention to be and are really rolling out their heavy guns. This punk rocker about dictators buying tractors for each other is about as subtle as a horde of elephants in a glass shop. If it is good or not is beside the point: the Croatians are here to get noticed and remembered. Mission accomplished.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>08. SWITZERLAND Remo Forrer / Watergun</b></div><div>My first impression of this: nice young man with a nice ballad. Repeated listenings unfortunately made the song grow off me surprisingly quickly, not least thanks to the meek lyrics. My best advice to all songwriters: if you want to write a song about where when there is a war going on really nearby, maybe you should articulate an opinion stronger than "war is kinda bad I suppose". </div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>09. ISRAEL Noa Kirel / Unicorn</b></div><div>Not so much a song, more like various bits and pieces thrown together in order to make space for a nice stage performance. Mind you, I like a few of the individual bits and bobs but it doesn't fully gel for me. In the end, I prefer solid songs to slick performances (if I can't have both). Chanel has a lot to answer for.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>10. MOLDOVA Pasha Parfeni / Soarele și luna</b></div><div>Pasha is back with a piece of folklore in Romanian, complete with the flute of last year's winner. Easy to enjoy for the moment with a few effective hooks but then it begins to wear thing surprisingly fast. Would have need something by the end to elevate it a bit further.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>11. SWEDEN Loreen / Tattoo </b></div><div>It has been a risky business for winners to return to the ESC in the last two decades or so but Loreen is hardly taking any chances. This is beautifully crafted to remind the viewer of "Euphoria" without running the risk of feeling like a copycat. Highly engaging but would benefit from a slightly stripped down performance, allowing Loreen to focus a bit more on her actual singing, but that is a mere detail as this is one of the obvious potential winners this year.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>12. AZERBAIJAN TuralTuranX / Tell Me More</b></div><div>For the first time since their debut in 2008, Azerbaijan enters a fully local product instead of buying something from abroad. About time, so I really wish I could like this more. On the plus side, it's a breezy and careful little number with the clearest Beatles-vibe of all songs on their way to Liverpool but unfortunately nothing much happens for three minutes. Every time the song almost goes somewhere it instantly loses its way again. I also have to deduct points for that really annoying "quack quack" sound in the arrangement. Sorry, lads.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>13. CZECHIA Vesna / My Sister's Crown</b></div><div>The third entry of the night with clear political undertones (the fourth if you count Latvia) is an engaging song that sounds excellent in its studio cut but less convincing in its national final form. If they can improve the overall impression, this could be one of the better Czech showings to date.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>14. NETHERLANDS Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper / Burning Daylight</b></div><div>The real thriller of the first semi will be this moment when a well-crafted but demanding song will meet a couple of not so fine-tuned vocal chords to perform it. The selection of Mia and Dion has created quite a stir back home but all that matters is what it sounds like on the night. Heaven help the Dutch because this song would always need luck to break through in a competition that is televote only.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>15. FINLAND Käärijä / Cha Cha Cha</b></div><div>"Finland being one of the top contenders of winning the ESC with a song in Finnish" was not on my bingo card when the season begun but here we are. Finland's pop scene is full of brilliantly creative madcaps and finally that is fully on display also in this contest. A wild blend of rock and techno that descends into a solid schlager chorus, complete with a mesmerising performance you just can't look away from. Hard Bop Hallelujah.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Completely disregarding who sang badly in their national finals or in various fan events, the ten songs I would personally pick for the final out of this bunch are (in order of appearence): Norway, Malta, Serbia, Latvia, Portugal, Moldova, Sweden, Czechia, Netherlands and Finland. These are all songs I genuinely enjoy listening to but I would not mind if Croatia made the cut either.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is, however, my personal taste and not a prediction. What ten songs would you select?</div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-3297537589413130082022-05-15T03:06:00.003+03:002022-05-15T03:17:23.942+03:00ESC 2022: Ukraine did it againYou know the feeling when Eurovision is over and your head is boiling and you should go to bed but you really feel the need to blog a bit in order for your thoughts not to get too filtered through sleep?<br /><br />So. Team Ukraine won. Big style. Like the bookmakers had thought they would ever since March. I had expected them to end in a dignified second place but the support from the televote was deafening.<div><br /></div><div>In the end, the pop entries from the UK, Spain and Sweden had nothing on the etno-flute-rap served up by Kalush Orchestra. A strong entry that could have won any old year but that turned invincible by the emotional twist of cruel reality.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhD66Vx3ZT4J5yk_1DU9N302VPSX7UkhQDaupGwwMVWljRbe4HzZZhsXCJmrOTIwJV9ta6v-wbcoTBgzk88stre14EwA_WdwAICbLLTX09DMQ36_ShuOF-I3RN_0q0cGs8iTkp2yDNipSgMY7NKhoqgv3joF24VZbrli5aVdaz5fWO5R9VTtwMt4_/s1994/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202022-05-15%20kl.%2001.53.35.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1994" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhD66Vx3ZT4J5yk_1DU9N302VPSX7UkhQDaupGwwMVWljRbe4HzZZhsXCJmrOTIwJV9ta6v-wbcoTBgzk88stre14EwA_WdwAICbLLTX09DMQ36_ShuOF-I3RN_0q0cGs8iTkp2yDNipSgMY7NKhoqgv3joF24VZbrli5aVdaz5fWO5R9VTtwMt4_/w400-h225/Ska%CC%88rmavbild%202022-05-15%20kl.%2001.53.35.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>In case you know me, you know I am a pop kid who would want the most likely commercial hit to win the ESC. Even the slightest suspicion that something won because of anything else than hit factor is usually a big no in my book. But this is not our average year. This is a very unusual and very disturbing time. How can we expect any corner of our lives and cultures to be untouched by that?</div><div><br /></div><div>The voting turned out to be very exciting although a bit shaky. Why was Laura Pausini absent for most of it? What happened to the countries that could not be contacted? Why did the hosts have to win time at deeply illogical places? </div><div><br /></div><div>A very large number of voting irregularities had been spotted in the semi finals. Would it be time to shrink the voting window down (and maybe get the voting started some ten-fifteen minutes after the last song) and see if that makes it harder to try and manipulate things? Or was it juries that behaved badly?</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of irregularities but somebody has to mention Azerbaijan. The votes they received from the juries were odd to put it gently and the fact they qualified on jury vote alone while getting zero points from the viewers is astounding. For how much longer do we have to put up with their games?</div><div><br /></div><div>Some things surprised me but I will content myself with saying how deeply sorry I am about the French fiasco. Going from a hot favourite to second last in a matter of days without really doing anything wrong is brutal. I hope the team doesn't give up - hang in there, la France. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then the big question... where will we go to next year? There is no way Ukraine can undertake an event like the ESC in 2023, even if the war was over tomorrow. The logical thing would be to ask the UK or Spain if they want to host, but would they want to without winning? Would they rather try to win it next year instead of hosting as a consolation prize?</div><div><br /></div><div>Next year's contest is likely to be hosted by some EBU member broadcaster that could take it on without their budget taking too much of a hit while remaining relatively invisible and make room for a large input from Ukrainian television. I'd say the obvious choice would be Germany but what would that look like, now that they scored their third last place in ten years?</div><div><br /></div><div>So many question and so little sleep ahead. Sweet dreams and may many of the entries live long and prosper in the charts.</div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-6190209754349682902022-05-14T20:22:00.003+03:002022-05-14T20:23:39.108+03:00ESC 2022: Tobson takes a final guess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHagczX9LPSkUcTTYgD3eQ1iUBNs5xfRtavjb0BVmdQTlhkawI8602RsGTmGrFnrcIKoQ7eYNEJolf7soYoXdh-iqvlzdatYyDdoJUVLQskpGaGp6SkuG9qVG0yAMEhtsZlRlWIsbuNLiVmiBpym4pXX34yv9ve-vOoK3JpcKre3Zf_34yACYdvtZ/s1500/eurovision-2022-turin.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1500" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHagczX9LPSkUcTTYgD3eQ1iUBNs5xfRtavjb0BVmdQTlhkawI8602RsGTmGrFnrcIKoQ7eYNEJolf7soYoXdh-iqvlzdatYyDdoJUVLQskpGaGp6SkuG9qVG0yAMEhtsZlRlWIsbuNLiVmiBpym4pXX34yv9ve-vOoK3JpcKre3Zf_34yACYdvtZ/s320/eurovision-2022-turin.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The time has come to put my money where my mouth is and take my final and ultimate guess at how the final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest will end. The whole season everything felt completely wide open - between a number of strong candidates it seemed wide open - and two hours before the final the feeling remains the same.</div><br />Maybe not AS open as a few of the songs that formerly seemed like contenders have lost their momentum or ended up in the shade. Some because of disappointing performance, some because the competition proved too hard, some because they got a bad spot in the running order. <div><br /></div><div>But there are still four or five songs that could easily take the victory. I genuinely think the United Kingdom and Spain will both go far but not all the way, but maybe they will surprise me. Italy could turn on all power gears and take an unusual double. Ukraine could capture enough emotion to get to the top.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since the running order takes a few unexpected twist and turns, we also have a real chance to see a real surprise winner emerge out of the blue. Maybe France still has a chance? Maybe Norway is the fun break we all didn't know we needed?</div><div><br /></div><div>But no - all roads lead back to the same answer for me. I think Sweden will grab its seventh victory tonight. Cornelia Jakobs and her intense performance is likely to sway jurors and viewers alike and run away with the trophy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Poor Germany will end in another disappointing last place unless Romania or Switzerland manages to break their fall. Maybe they could get a glow up for 2023 like the UK and Spain had this time?</div><div><br /></div><div>My attempt at predicting the top 25 looks like this: <b>01. Sweden, 02. Ukraine, 03. Italy, 04. United Kingdom, 05. Spain, 06. Netherlands, 07. Estonia, 08. France, 09. Greece, 10. Norway, 11. Moldova, 12. Lithuania, 13. Portugal, 14. Poland, 15. Serbia, 16. Australia, 17. Finland, 18. Czech republic, 19. Armenia, 20. Belgium, 21. Iceland, 22. Azerbaijan, 23. Switzerland, 24. Romania, 25. Germany.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Please hang with me and tell me how wrong I am over at Twitter. Let's hope for a very entertaining evening and maybe for a surprise or two?</div><div><br /></div><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/TobsonHelsinki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Follow @TobsonHelsinki</a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-20638447397441081932022-05-14T15:15:00.001+03:002022-05-14T15:15:07.111+03:00ESC 2022: what the final looks like from here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PH91d3rXLO_tfccf_V_KcPQAq7_AbeJcwscQAFcxUX3041T_NE1JvCqMXDMaO1Y4WmTAc_ngq_UD068JI2I5yx6s01-7ZShK_UK50TEGhf11-ZcVF95Ms1v9jNIs45qX-hAHtEmjzNl16_Y-7Y9ZYrB2ECXTsd1WMsZ86sgw-1aFGiEEjUmzC_mQ/s1680/esc2022-the-sound-of-beauty.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1680" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PH91d3rXLO_tfccf_V_KcPQAq7_AbeJcwscQAFcxUX3041T_NE1JvCqMXDMaO1Y4WmTAc_ngq_UD068JI2I5yx6s01-7ZShK_UK50TEGhf11-ZcVF95Ms1v9jNIs45qX-hAHtEmjzNl16_Y-7Y9ZYrB2ECXTsd1WMsZ86sgw-1aFGiEEjUmzC_mQ/s320/esc2022-the-sound-of-beauty.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The final lineup is completed and as every year it feels like everything went through a major earthquake. Everything looks different and everything you believed all through the season has been turned upside down. <br /><br />Loads of the songs who looked like contenders still in the semi final have been put in the shade - some because of the new mix, some because of their spot in the running order - and some new favourites may have emerged.<div><br /></div><div>This is not my final prediction - you'll get that later today - but this is what the twenty-five songs in the final feel like with the new running order.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>01. CZECH REPUBLIC</b></div><div>A good and energetic opener that has a retro electronica beat that I am very fond of. This was never in the running for victory in any way but opening the ball could possibly make it stand out in a better light than it would have at, say, spot 12. </div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>02. ROMANIA</b></div><div>The finalist where I really totally and completely fail to see what the rest of you see and enjoy and judging from its spot in the running order, host broadcaster Rai is with me here. Regardless, I am genuinely happy for Romanian tv to be back in the final. Hopefully this will inspire them to send more solid entries again.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>03. PORTUGAL</b></div><div>Wonderful singing but maybe not enough action to convince the audience this early on in the running. The average viewer isn't yearning for an oasis just yet but this is a high quality entry and further proof what good shape the Portuguese national final is in right now.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>04. FINLAND</b></div><div>Energetic commercial radio rock with a nerve, presented with experience and a certain amount of gravity. A bit too much of a shout out to what was hot in the charts two decades ago to be a real contender but it is always a victory of sorts for Finland to be in the final.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>05. SWITZERLAND</b></div><div>Sometimes it's nice to be surprised and I honestly never thought Marius Bear would surprise us like he did in the semi final. However, I can't see this very gentle little song and its slightly clumsy performance break through the same way on a Saturday night. </div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>06. FRANCE</b></div><div>Sometimes you look too closely at the running order in itself and forget how a strong song can break through on its own, regardless of where it comes during the night. Having said that, it feels like the producers failed this French piece of etno rave, dropping it very early without having anything properly building up to it. </div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>07. NORWAY</b></div><div>The fun novelty song of the year, featuring anonymous wolves and dancing bananas, that would probably have landed a bit better some other year when the state of the world had a bit less gloom and doom about it. Will it be the relief the audience is longing for or just ultimately too lightweight? I have a good time but still lean towards the latter of the two.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>08. ARMENIA</b></div><div>A sweet little moment but the video clip feel of the performance came across as more alienating than impressive in the semi final. Maybe we just want singers to seem more close, accessible and present after the pandemic? A right hand finish in the final.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>09. ITALY</b></div><div>The best song in the final performed by two singers with a presence that can burn through a camera lense. Whenever they decide to turn it on. If everything comes together like it should, Italy could be the first host country to win since Ireland 1994. Maybe not the most probable outcome but far from impossible.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>10. SPAIN</b></div><div>Has emerged as one of the biggest favourites to win during rehearsals and this could be the point when I stand correct but I fail to see this one running away with the jury vote. Professional and a beat you can dance to but if the jurors do their job - they are explicitly told to favour originality - there should be other, stronger candidates. Top five is definitely within reach, though.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>11. NETHERLANDS</b></div><div>Intense and sincere but runs the risk of coming across as the quiet moment that lowers the tempo once we got the party started. Definitely not helped out by the running order.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>12. UKRAINE</b></div><div>A good song is a good song but Ukraine obviously has an emotional edge few others can compete with. Not everyone seems to get their head around this the way I had expected but in televote that won't matter much. One of the most likely winners.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>13. GERMANY</b></div><div>I thought the producers might flog poor Malik in the second slot - the disaster position - but maybe this is even worse. After four favourites in a row it will be blindingly obvious what a bleak effort this is, in spite of its spirited performance. </div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>14. LITHUANIA</b></div><div>A very personable and original cabaret ditty in a national language making it to the final in a year when a lot of polite little numbers in English lost out is a very encouraging thing. Could get quite a bit of jury love but most importantly its presence makes the final better.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>15. AZERBAIJAN</b></div><div>Perfectly polished as always but also anonymous and surprisingly screamy in the semi final. Will probably pick up the odd vote from here and there but is hardly top ten material.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>16. BELGIUM</b></div><div>One of the best voices this year sang his way to the final and rightly so. Very impressive singing, and while the song maybe doesn't rise to the same level it's good to see Belgium getting rewarded for sending in young talent.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>17. GREECE</b></div><div>A well staged and well sung piece of drama that maybe lost a bit of its momentum with this running order. Four slow songs in a row was an ill-advised idea and Amanda is probably the one losing the most from it. </div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>18. ICELAND</b></div><div>Too bad for Iceland but by now the viewers will have run out of snacks while waiting for the tempo to pick up again. </div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>19. MOLDOVA</b></div><div>This seems like a golden (train) ticket: finally something fun and crazy and upbeat that will make everyone sit up in their armchairs. Nowhere strong enough to be a surprise winner but could maybe have chance at a top ten finish.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>20. SWEDEN</b></div><div>Maybe not an ideal spot right after wacko Moldova but Cornelia has an intensity and a presence forcing people to pay attention. One of tonight's most probable winners.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>21. AUSTRALIA</b></div><div>Another really good voice but a performer that doesn't always know when to hold back rather than to give full gas. This is a bit too much for my taste but will probably tickle the senses of more than one juror.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>22. UNITED KINGDOM</b></div><div>The winner? Has the UK desert walk come to an end? Yes and no. This running order wrecks its momentum a bit - coming after Sweden and the emotional storm that is Australia - and I have not been a huge fan of Sam Ryders performance style and wish also he knew how to hold back a bit. This will be by far the best UK placing in over a decade but I would be very surprised if it was enough to go all the way.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>23. POLAND</b></div><div>And a third consecutive entry with a male vocalist giving his vocal chords a wild ride. What were the producers thinking? A very good voice in a song that maybe resembles a few other songs just a bit too much for comfort.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>24. SERBIA</b></div><div>Known by the whole continent as the hand wash song, it now finds itself sandwiched in between a lot of boys at the end of the final. Probably not as good a spot as it looks on paper but just like Lithuania its main purpose is to make the final a better and more diverse place.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>25. ESTONIA</b></div><div>Hunky Stefan gets to close the presentation of entries with his country-flavoured little song that is solid but never really rises beyond being nice. A wide smile and good energy could prove to go a long way as Estonia has a lighter touch than the five songs proceeding it. Just how far will be very interesting to see in the end.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-55312406553293336992022-05-13T01:03:00.002+03:002022-05-13T01:03:36.024+03:00ESC 2022, semi 2: what about the songs that left us?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZHCDyJLED9AI2Z8Hn_ivuXL80UdJOrZ1Pd1q_t69RYItW8Yd-bcXwEpx4xAGkIwY-0lIOB8IQ1I8OWFPoCQNb6yVWN0lGjTBaKhALFPC84C_kOuc24PGKAxhfk2I-E8Qr5ZeKza8Dkzan3_9oZSvYfKdT6J9FTq03lO2VVMhgUqjG1x-PvPIj2Nr/s560/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZHCDyJLED9AI2Z8Hn_ivuXL80UdJOrZ1Pd1q_t69RYItW8Yd-bcXwEpx4xAGkIwY-0lIOB8IQ1I8OWFPoCQNb6yVWN0lGjTBaKhALFPC84C_kOuc24PGKAxhfk2I-E8Qr5ZeKza8Dkzan3_9oZSvYfKdT6J9FTq03lO2VVMhgUqjG1x-PvPIj2Nr/w200-h200/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The two semi finals are done and the lineup for Saturday's final is complete. The second semi final saw an unfortunate amount of awkward pauses where the hosts had to improvise like there was no tomorrow and ended with a few surprises.<div><br /></div><div>Eight entries lost out and in my prediction I got eight out of ten finalists right. I should feel pleased but some things surprised me as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's get back to the finalists before the final but who lost out and why? </div><div><br /></div><div>The saddest thing for me is that the force of nature that is Achille Lauro didn't take <b>San Marino</b> to the final. Admittedly "Stripper" was not the strongest number in his catalogue - far from it - and he should have entered something stronger. But still. Having one more Italian stage in the final would have been nice for Rai.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other familiar face for the home audience that lost out was <b>Malta</b>'s Emma, which was less surprising. Not an exactly spotless performance of a very anonymous song. I was way more disappointed to see <b>Cyprus</b> go but Andromache had very low energy and didn't break through the cameras. What a pity.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>North Macedonia</b> and <b>Montenegro</b> both performed well. The former had a weak entry and the latter just missed the beat on what the audience wanted. The Big Balkan Ballad's comeback moment isn't just yet.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ireland</b> had a trashy 80's energy that would have been welcome in the final but it came across as a tiny bit tame and disorganised. On a similar note, what could have been a piece of splendid and explosive madness from <b>Georgia</b> just turned surprisingly static. </div><div><br /></div><div>The one exit I must admit to being very pleased with - proving myself really petty at the same time - is <b>Israel</b>. Not only was the song a thin soup with few nutritious elements, his performance in the green room was one of the cringiest things I have seen in a long time. You do not disturb the hosts during a live show and that is the first rule in the book. Unbearable.</div><div><br /></div><div>So. Let's recharge some batteries (and do some other things in between) and then it's time to pick a winner.</div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-77056191949954662332022-05-12T07:56:00.001+03:002022-05-12T07:56:00.196+03:00ESC 2022, semi 2: Tobson takes a guess<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCobDaOgXHGmLA1Z0NbIms_leBMeHcYDXMo2eUHqlu7BzsWnK7O3ILojsbBjtl1TNx1WGTtz2EMXPf-dcrgPOs5KmrqWb5cPIb8CWp-3Halso-iqn2EPudti3rdbV-875zhgxIS1fPTQDY5mjBZNSma5J71NgUVA9OUyAqOiaUdyttpsuFBTKNO_1/s387/euro22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="387" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCobDaOgXHGmLA1Z0NbIms_leBMeHcYDXMo2eUHqlu7BzsWnK7O3ILojsbBjtl1TNx1WGTtz2EMXPf-dcrgPOs5KmrqWb5cPIb8CWp-3Halso-iqn2EPudti3rdbV-875zhgxIS1fPTQDY5mjBZNSma5J71NgUVA9OUyAqOiaUdyttpsuFBTKNO_1/s320/euro22.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>It is time to complete the Saturday lineup with the final ten songs and the question is always if predicting the second semi is easier than the first. Can you look at what worked on Tuesday night and make some waterproof conclusions on what works or not this specific year?</p><p>No. You can't. Sorry.</p><p>Thursday night has different jurors. Different viewers. And a completely new set of coicidences.</p><p>We have for instance no idea what songs advanced because the viewers loved them or the juries loved them and who just scraped by in a lucky accident because of a solid average. </p><p>Worth noticing is however that the mid-tempo songs didn't eat each other's points the way I would have thought and if there's anything the final is beginning to lack a bit, then it is tempo and beats. But the people voting tonight won't necessarily know that and even if they knew I'm not sure they'd care.</p><p>Eight acts will leave the show tonight and I think it will be the following:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>ISRAEL</b></p><p>Loud and without a melody, pretty much what was Albania's downfall on Tuesday. Michael does what he can but no. The Israeli qualification streak ends here.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>MALTA</b></p><p>Emma is well known in the host country and it is sad she won't make it to the final. But if Maltese tv felt the need to go shopping for an entry elsewhere, why did they settle for this very bleak ditty? Who would stand up and cheer for this?</p><p><br /></p><p><b>NORTH MACEDONIA</b></p><p>Another good singer with very little to work with. The song is competent but never takes off and goes nowhere.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>ROMANIA</b></p><p>Very much like Latvia, this has caught the attention and liking of many a Eurovision fan. It has a pretty nice instrumental thingy and a compellingly gay atmosphere but it never rises beyond being endearingly rubbish. This year's Slavko (or was that Albania?).</p><p><br /></p><p><b>IRELAND</b></p><p>This is where I'd hope to be wrong. I'd love a piece of slightly trashy 80's pop in the final but Ireland rarely knows how to row this sort of boat into the harbour. Strong "Et Cetera" vibes here. The Austria of this semi final.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>MONTENEGRO</b></p><p>I thought this would be a qualifier and with a solid performance it still has its chances - the juries are never averse to a strong voice - but I put my finger in the air and feel the time for the big updated comeback of the Balkan ballad isn't here yet.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>GEORGIA</b></p><p>An early fave of mine that I still ugly dance to in my kitchen but it has grown off me ever so slightly and I doubt the visual choices of the band will convince the average voter. I'd love to be wrong but I don't think I will be.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>ESTONIA</b></p><p>Look, I don't want to have to do this. If it was up to me I'd leave out impeccably produced but anonymous Azerbaijan or overly theatrical Australia. It could just as well be Finland missing the mark, leaning too much on routine instead of connecting with the audience. It could be Belgium sounding slightly too aggressive. Stefan is a great singer but Estonia going all "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" comes very much out of the blue. I think people will enjoy it but not vote for it enough.</p><p><br /></p><p>This would mean my final ten qualifiers are: Finland, Serbia, Azerbaijan, San Marino, Australia, Cyprus, Poland, Belgium, Sweden and Czech republic. (Personally, I'd gladly swap Azerbaijan and Australia for Georgia and Ireland but I don't see that happening.)</p><p>You agree? You disagree? I'll spend the semi final on Twitter, feel free to join the conversation there.</p><p><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/TobsonHelsinki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Follow @TobsonHelsinki</a></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-77490319830328499622022-05-11T00:48:00.001+03:002022-05-11T00:48:13.072+03:00ESC 2022, semi 1: what about the songs that left us?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwqBOL8GMKahiUc7EiqEnK9LIKplrJ3b02nOIyWEDRtbMizKBpKkWKXRYgJAPzS6f3GzY92z53EkcmQUKH_BR-Ak3ptOad9BnLxSLmXq1iJEfcI1zZAVTpU6LCwlvNiA0lxulY9z9EE6-PoVjcK4LMvr-jKxTIdF8ZRktmZqfvtZUe2lizn8HrhGI/s560/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwqBOL8GMKahiUc7EiqEnK9LIKplrJ3b02nOIyWEDRtbMizKBpKkWKXRYgJAPzS6f3GzY92z53EkcmQUKH_BR-Ak3ptOad9BnLxSLmXq1iJEfcI1zZAVTpU6LCwlvNiA0lxulY9z9EE6-PoVjcK4LMvr-jKxTIdF8ZRktmZqfvtZUe2lizn8HrhGI/w200-h200/eurovision-new-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The first semi came to an end and here we stand with ten finalists. I am pretty pleased with having <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2022/05/esc-2022-semi-1-tobson-takes-guess.html">predicted</a> nine of them correctly and at one point I admit I let out a tiny happy yahoo during the revelation segment.</p><p>I had already resigned to the fact that we'd lose <b>Lithuania</b> - one of my big personal favourites this year, but one I feared was too demanding to hit home on a first listen. I'll focus more on the tremendous Monika Liu and the other finalists later in the week, but what went wrong for the seven songs that left us?</p><p><b>Albania</b> and <b>Latvia</b> - the two first to take to the stage - both wanted a lot but were visually all over the place. Frenetic while lacking a certain focus at the same time, difficult to pick up on if you heard the for the first time. Probably no jury favourites and left to the mercy of the viewers.</p><p><b>Bulgaria</b> and <b>Denmark</b> both tried to rock the house down but both were let down by very basic songs. The Bulgarian rock uncles were doing the same poses that Denmark made with more conviction but both entries were surprisingly un-heavy in the end.</p><p><b>Slovenia</b>'s lads were awfully sweet but never stood any sort of chance and the same goes for <b>Croatia</b>. I can't even put my finger on what didn't work for Croatia - there was a polished song in a polished performance by a likeable singer - but probably the whole thing got a bit anonymous. I would not be surprised if Croatia ended in 11th place again.</p><p>The one I got wrong was <b>Austria</b> and I was a bit surprised to see it go. Maybe Pia Maria is not the most precise vocalist we have ever heard but the whole thing had energy and joy - Lumix is possibly the happiest DJ I have ever seen - and a sense of 90's nostalgia I thought would overcome the cascade of sick notes.</p><p>I'm especially surprised to see <b>Switzerland</b> being the one taking the spot I thought was Austria's. I like the song but thought the performance was stiff and a bit awkward. I can only suppose the jurors saw qualities in Marius Bear while tanking Austria completely. But I don't want to take the happiness away from Switzerland that now qualified for the third consecutive edition. Well done.</p><p>More drama coming up on Thursday with ten new finalists to predict in what I find the weaker of the two semis this year.</p>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-5781672874863891402022-05-10T08:30:00.001+03:002022-05-10T08:30:00.191+03:00ESC 2022, semi 1: Tobson takes a guess<p>So, here we are. Loads of rehearsals have lead up to the big moment when we are about to start losing some of this year's entries. Time for the first of two semi finals.</p><p>Following rehearsals - or rather following people's reactions to the rehearsals as I try to save myself some surprises for the live shows and avoid rehearsal footage - what unfortunately stands out this year is the very negative vibe surrounding the whole event this year.</p><p>It is fine to be vocal about things that don't work or when things don't live up the acceptable standards - boy, am I getting flashbacks to Baku or what - but there are different ways to voice your opinions. Until now it feels like Rai can't do anything right and that this goes down as the worst edition on record.</p><p>My big hope is that we will get served an okay semi final that is entertaining and engaging and fun to watch. Also I hope my prediction won't be completely disastrous.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBU89KdJ3vyxQZz97WwLqCtDIrTzxbn-pF6NBf1GEIeaRB8PrW3xMb8KfERGJT5NL7TMBO_GjjlpxayTEVCfsAWnhPnUS8kPqkSav3Ym4IA8qnL8NK2BS-Os7Mnhkpd4YrxD2B2HydSfk-sYY0t9efRx2F0aLfG2S4Qt0LpaXdLU5_W6uUI5G5bj-/s387/euro22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="387" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBU89KdJ3vyxQZz97WwLqCtDIrTzxbn-pF6NBf1GEIeaRB8PrW3xMb8KfERGJT5NL7TMBO_GjjlpxayTEVCfsAWnhPnUS8kPqkSav3Ym4IA8qnL8NK2BS-Os7Mnhkpd4YrxD2B2HydSfk-sYY0t9efRx2F0aLfG2S4Qt0LpaXdLU5_W6uUI5G5bj-/w400-h134/euro22.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Since there have been so many opinions flying about - many of which are VERY sure about how things are going to go - and I feel seriously confused by most of them, I am going to go with my gut feeling and also my initial emotion. Remember, to the crushing majority of the people voting these songs will be spanking new and will get judged on their three minute impression only.</p><p>So. In the first semi final we will unfortunately have to say goodbye to the following seven countries:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>SLOVENIA</b></p><p>The lads are really doing their best and they look very sweet and feel very likeable but even though I enjoy this, I admit the song feels beige and overly complicated on a first listen. Simply too tame with no real hooks, this will probably fail to bring in serious points from any direction.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>SWITZERLAND</b></p><p>Another one I personally enjoy but that I can't see collecting enough points to go through. Mainly because competition is fierce in among the emotional ballads in this semi. It's not possible that they all qualify and some of them will fall short. Switzerland is the easiest one to pick out of that lot.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>CROATIA</b></p><p>A bit of a personal favourite with its gentle touch and light feel. Mia is very good but I don't know how Croatia keeps sending in these songs that lacks that final little something to make them qualify. I'll be sad seeing this one go.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>DENMARK</b></p><p>Denmark has a way of sneaking into the final somehow ahead of songs that would deserve it better but can it really happen this time? This song comes across as trying to artificially connect two songs of different genres and end up being something I can't see anyone having as their favourite. Too constructed and not engaging enough. Surely?</p><p><br /></p><p><b>LATVIA</b></p><p>It's a fun song that is dearly loved by many fans who love to shout that word the lead singer isn't allowed to pronounce, but for all the people seeing and hearing it for the first time I think it will appear to be your typical lightweight Latvian ditty that is nice for as long as it goes on and then too lightweight to be remembered once the phone lines open. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>ALBANIA</b></p><p>This is possibly where my prediction turns horribly wrong but ever since I first heard this, my thought was that it's mainly a fun rhythm track without a lot of melody to support it. It's fun and danceable but not very easy to get a hold of on one listen. Ronela seems lovely so I wouldn't mind being wrong for her sake.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>BULGARIA</b></p><p>The only rock lads in the semi could appeal to a rather large demographic that listen to radio stations where anemic standard formula rock is the largest staple but do these people vote? Flawless production but not an outstanding song. How far can you go with cool pyro, aren't those days long gone?</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a very tight race where many songs are pretty similar and fighting for the same pool of points while the standard is generally high. If my prediction is right, our ten finalists will be: Lithuania, Ukraine, Netherlands, Moldova, Portugal, Austria, Iceland, Greece, Norway and Armenia. </p><p>Out of these ten, the one I worry for the most is my personal darling Monika Liu from Lithuania but I keep telling myself a good song and a strong personality must break through. </p><p>I'll spend the semi final tweeting away so feel free to give me your hottest takes.</p><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/TobsonHelsinki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Follow @TobsonHelsinki</a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-77696404287246505562022-05-07T16:38:00.000+03:002022-05-07T16:38:00.149+03:00ESC 2022: Winning isn't easy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDndkbyCAxdS8DE5mpmgHVWMtxvGBc1wg6wD0vA4XJaVnM4sdxba3yArFtksHDhvhD36hGNUBMyXZU6wrx5B4iGjnoM3jE_XIXLg-bfvUxNJtAJF2gkjQUEMgzItFo2eJshv-Lj191HtllmVmXmvfMF9drG5DyQOI6q1RYAAaAPMC8TfoEuHHpXzn/s1280/trophy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDndkbyCAxdS8DE5mpmgHVWMtxvGBc1wg6wD0vA4XJaVnM4sdxba3yArFtksHDhvhD36hGNUBMyXZU6wrx5B4iGjnoM3jE_XIXLg-bfvUxNJtAJF2gkjQUEMgzItFo2eJshv-Lj191HtllmVmXmvfMF9drG5DyQOI6q1RYAAaAPMC8TfoEuHHpXzn/s320/trophy.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This image belongs to the EBU</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>One week to go until the big final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin and I've been keeping an eye on what's going on over there. In a way.</p><p>Since I am not on location, I am avoiding rehearsal footage. I don't have to report for anyone, so I prefer getting surprised on the night. I don't want to know every camera angle in advance. So I already reviewed all participating songs based on their preview versions, you can read that <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2022/04/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2022-semi-1.html">here</a>, <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2022/04/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2022-semi-2.html">here</a> and <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2022/05/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2022-finalists.html">here</a>. </p><p>Instead I've been following people's reactions to the rehearsals on social media. That is always quite the ride but this year has been unusually intense and not necessarily in a good way. The general tone has been fairly negative and sometimes even hostile towards the EBU in general and host broadcaster Rai in particular. </p><p>Alright, having one large stage prop not work out like it was supposed to is of course a big miscalculation but I can't help but asking myself how all this vitriol might influence the EBU:s desire to keep rehearsals open at all in the future.</p><p>When it comes to the performances themselves, views have been as varied as always. If someone has given an energetic performance they have often been labelled a sure qualifier, if someone holds back or hesitates their chances are "gone".</p><p>Which makes me think of Blanche from Belgium who was more or less unanimously hailed as the fallen favourite bound to lose out in the semi and then finally ended 4th in the final. This is a guessing game and it's not easy getting it right.</p><p>Today's second rehearsal of the Big Five countries was also intense as most of them made quite an impression on most people watching. Will one of them win for a second year running?</p><p>I find myself thinking of Christer Björkman, a divisive figure in Eurovision World but nevertheless someone with a great deal of insight into this game. He once talked about the chances of winning two years in a row and he said it was as good as impossible. The competition these days is much more difficult and way more unpredictable compared to what it used to be.</p><p>The key thing - according to Christer Björkman - is how being good isn't enough. You need to be good on all levels but you also need a lot of luck. You can never know in advance what is That Thing that will work in any particular year. An impeccable entry and an impeccable performance will get you far but in order to go all the way, you need to be That Thing.</p><p>2022 has quite a few strong contenders and many songs have a lot of supporters that are convinced their favourite is the one that will win. However, only one team can win. I hope the others - the ones that will go far or maybe not even all that far - won't be too disappointed.</p><p>In a week from now, we will know what is That Thing in 2022 and I look forward to getting surprised. </p><p>If you want to talk Eurovision with me, I'll be hanging on Twitter as usual.</p><p><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/TobsonHelsinki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Follow @TobsonHelsinki</a></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-81328119337261704492022-05-01T00:30:00.002+03:002022-05-01T00:34:58.802+03:00Tobson speaks up: ESC 2022, the finalists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrPqRmaUQKWCdLZAQ-VgeUgmsLj8TSV6I3w3OL9S8IBi6ObbQFaEvs_xZcUhk66kQIZfPBCjodXf34k-YVe125JxgHYJixTI6lT_kSAgv5NcOuKwPISBu4IR0oAuAyT6aPmutRgLG_eagmvsiNmHUQKm50T_qICAuP_o8BY7YDlxATgRdCBP7QKDN/s1680/esc2022-the-sound-of-beauty.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1680" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrPqRmaUQKWCdLZAQ-VgeUgmsLj8TSV6I3w3OL9S8IBi6ObbQFaEvs_xZcUhk66kQIZfPBCjodXf34k-YVe125JxgHYJixTI6lT_kSAgv5NcOuKwPISBu4IR0oAuAyT6aPmutRgLG_eagmvsiNmHUQKm50T_qICAuP_o8BY7YDlxATgRdCBP7QKDN/s320/esc2022-the-sound-of-beauty.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The best thing about the ESC being hosted by one of the big five countries is that we will have twenty-five songs in the final, which is a pretty ideal number.<div><br /></div><div>I don't know why that one song makes such a difference but it does. It's as if there was some sort of invisible line between twenty-five and twenty-six, where many become too many. Maybe it won't be as much of a negative singing last in the final this time?</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, it's not impossible also next year's final will have twenty-five entries since the Big Five have overall made big efforts (most of them) and it's not entirely unthinkable that one of them would run away with the trophy again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are my (slightly longer) opinions on the songs already in the final.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>ITALY</b></div><div><b>Mahmood & Blanco / Brividi</b></div><div>The burning question ever since Måneskin won last year has been if Italy would now be the first county to secure a home victory since Ireland in 1994. Sanremo has been in good shape as of late - thoroughly updated but still firmly focusing on songs and singing over visual gimmicks - something that seems to have slowly trickled back to the ESC as well. So, will there be a double? It is definitely not out of reach. "Brividi" is an outstanding song, superbly performed, and especially Mahmood has an incredible way of working the cameras. At least it will be the first host country act to place top five since Frans and if it isn't I will have to ask to talk to the manager.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>FRANCE</b></div><div><b>Alvan & Ahez / Fulenn</b></div><div>Pretty wild to go from French having its best showing in the contest for many a good day to the first year ever without a single song in the language of Voltaire. Instead we get a mashup between a rave party and a fest-noz in Breton and I'm very happy with that too. Musically, this is top crop with a lot of catchy elements and a really convincing backing track. If it hadn't been for the rather poor visuals and messy camera work we've seen so far, this could be a potential winner too. If we are given a tighter production, this could be a dark horse.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>GERMANY</b></div><div><b>Malik Harris / Rockstars</b></div><div>The last decade has lead me to think that the people in charge of the German participation has no idea what the ESC is, how it works and what you need to be successful there. Given what it looked like from the outset, Germany somehow got it surprisingly right this time. Malik isn't bad and the song has its inspired moments and has won a number of fans in the lead-up to the contest. Seriously, though. Germany has the potential to go top five every year and with that in mind, this just isn't good enough.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>SPAIN</b></div><div><b>Chanel / SloMo</b></div><div>What a lift the Benidorm Fest turned out to be for the Eurovision brand in Spain. It gave the audience high production values, loads of entertainment, a high rate of engagement and loads of media coverage. The one thing they have to improve for coming years is the lineup: while most songs were good, few felt like potential contenders at the ESC. Chanel is working hard and "SloMo" has a hit single kind of air to it, but is also fairly linear and lacking in climax. It will do better than Spanish entries have done of late but probably nowhere near as good as many fans expect.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UNITED KINGDOM</b></div><div><b>Sam Ryder / Space Man</b></div><div>Seeing the UK enter a song that could potentially score points and end up on the left side of the scoreboard is such a seismic event these days that it made many people lose their heads a bit. It is a compelling piece of songwriting, very competently performed, put together from some very familiar bits and pieces (a pinch of Bowie, some late-60's psychedelia, and I swear that bridge is Something that The Beatles recorded at some point). But then there is one fact that applies also to the UK: you don't always get a good score just because you made an effort, you also need luck. In other words, this could place anywhere between 5th and 15th in the final. Unless Sam hits a bulls eye and knocks it out of the park on that Saturday night, then anything is possible. Best UK entry since Imaani either way. </div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Feel free to check out my reviews of the songs in <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2022/04/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2022-semi-1.html">semi one</a> and <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2022/04/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2022-semi-2.html">semi two</a> as well. </div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-37075017059444966132022-04-28T23:25:00.002+03:002022-04-28T23:25:36.541+03:00Tobson speaks up: ESC 2022, semi 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYwe33mc0nTVLfS0KIN11e60m5laZ8k2YQ4lhMaGouT2xG44Z4fGAuuINqVpUUDBUoDjpwlCcl_5I5nUFT0E6wYfwJOKw0wK9aDIqbVJIfl319eLp2PixpbNZH0eLGim0YHRn8aToojDOQaBHElonShmfoJjdh6f-LLI_PT0wP_OcNud9WxYHU2q3/s1680/esc2022-the-sound-of-beauty.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1680" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYwe33mc0nTVLfS0KIN11e60m5laZ8k2YQ4lhMaGouT2xG44Z4fGAuuINqVpUUDBUoDjpwlCcl_5I5nUFT0E6wYfwJOKw0wK9aDIqbVJIfl319eLp2PixpbNZH0eLGim0YHRn8aToojDOQaBHElonShmfoJjdh6f-LLI_PT0wP_OcNud9WxYHU2q3/s320/esc2022-the-sound-of-beauty.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>After I published part one I realised I am doing it all wrong. In this review I should of course have listed the ten songs I myself would have wanted to make it to the final, not the ones I predict.<div><br /></div><div>You see, these two things are not the same. When making predictions you should try to avoid wishful thinking as much as only possible, while some wishful thinking can be amusing to read too.<div><br /></div><div>Hey ho, it doesn't matter all that much, it's just a blog after all and we have eighteen songs of the second semi to take a closer look at.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>01. FINLAND<br />The Rasmus / Jezebel</b></div><div>One of the biggest names in this years line-up even if their biggest hit happened almost twenty years ago. It's no "In The Shadows" but an explosive opener all the same and very recognisable for the band's fans as well as for the people who had forgotten they were Rasmus fans as well.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>02. ISRAEL</b></div><div><b>Michael Ben David / I.M</b></div><div>Being gay and proud in the public eye always took a certain amount of audacity, not least now the way things have turned out lately. I would love to fully support this but while the performance has a shameless over-the-top-quality to it, this is one of my least favourite songs of the year. Three minutes of nothing, basically.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>03. SERBIA</b></div><div><b>Konstrakta / In corpore sano</b></div><div>The sharpest teeth in the contest come in the shape of a woman constantly washing her hands in a subversive piece of satire that refuses to be cute or whimsical. Catchy and almost hypnotic but possibly a hard sell to a mainstream audience. I hope everyone will see the brilliance but I could be hoping for too much.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>04. AZERBAIJAN</b></div><div><b>Nadir Rustamli / Fade To Black</b></div><div>Azerbaijan does what always worked for them: they opened up their large wallet and bought an impeccably produced song with no connection what-so-ever to anything local. Maybe this time the strategy came back to bite their own behinds: in a year where so many acts try to do their own thing, this song is so polished it is hard to remember in the end. Surprise non-qualifyer? Not impossible.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>05. GEORGIA</b></div><div><b>Circus Mircus / Lock Me In</b></div><div>Spaced out psychedelia not unlike the last song Georgia qualified with back in 2016. Just like that one, this will be saved or crushed by what the audience can see on their screens. Reports suggest this band isn't all that live on stage but maybe that could be sorted with nifty camera work. Let's hope so since the actual tune, while not as clever as it thinks it is, is a gem.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>06. MALTA</b></div><div><b>Emma Muscat / I Am What I Am</b></div><div>Why do they keep doing this to their singers (and to their songwriters)? Is this the best song they could come up with? While technically not a melodifestivalen reject, it sure sounds like one and will score like one.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>07. SAN MARINO</b></div><div><b>Achille Lauro / Stripper</b></div><div>One of my biggest questions marks of the year. I have enjoyed Achille a great deal in Sanremo over the years and he has an intensity that can melt tv cameras from quite a distance, but the song he settled for here is way more album filler than hit single and the star himself comes across as a tad uncommitted to the whole thing. Will this light up when it needs to or are we looking at the shock NQ of the year?</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>08. AUSTRALIA</b></div><div><b>Sheldon Riley / Not The Same</b></div><div>Sheldon pours his heart out in front of us and while I'd like to respond to that, this entry does nothing for me. Just like last year, the theatrics get in the way and this just ends up being a lot of voice with no real chorus to work with. All things on display here are obviously the artist's own choices, but while I respect that I can only state that for me the package never comes together.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>09. CYPRUS</b></div><div><b>Andromache / Ela</b></div><div>Let's ignore that fact that a ridiculous ten people are listed as having written this song and just listen on the actual song. Cyprus let go of the party vibe and settled for a song that sounds international and very Greek at the same time, impeccably performed by a good voice. I'm smitten and I'm sure more people will be come Eurovision week.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>10. IRELAND</b></div><div><b>Brooke / That's Rich</b></div><div>Ireland goes pop and usually when they do it does not bode well for a great result. I find myself thoroughly amused by both the song and the performance but predict this will go down a bit like "Et Cetera" did. Unless being the first uptempo pop stomper in a while makes it catch the audiences attention, that is.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>11. NORTH MACEDONIA</b></div><div><b>Andrea / Circles</b></div><div>They do nothing wrong. The singing is good and the songwriting is technically fine. But nothing happens and this entry stands still for a solid three minutes. Nobody can afford doing that at this point in this semi.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>12. ESTONIA</b></div><div><b>Stefan / Hope</b></div><div>"The Good, The Bad And The Ugly" performed by The Handsome from Viljandi. It's a bit of an odd choice coming from Estonia but it is perfectly pleasant and lives very highly on Stefan's charm. A real borderline qualifier, like so many others in this semi. Maybe we are in for some big surprises?</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>13. ROMANIA</b></div><div><b>WRS / Llámame</b></div><div>I have really tried - I mean really really tried - to get into the vibe of this one. I like that little instrumental thingy, you see. But the rest of it is very basic and uninspired and amateurish and unworthy of anyone's attention. Romania used to be so good at this game, where did they go wrong? Fourth NQ in a row, for sure.</div><div><b>Grade: 1/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>14. POLAND</b></div><div><b>Ochman / River</b></div><div>Clearly the best Polish entry in quite some time but I'm not quite as sold as many others. Ochman has a good voice but never really connected with the cameras in the national final. The song is also a patchwork of bits and pieces from songs that already exist, which is fine in itself until it becomes too obvious and takes your attention away from the actual performance.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>15. MONTENEGRO</b></div><div><b>Vladana / Breathe</b></div><div>Montenegro making quite the comeback with a catchy midtempo ballad that is not without chances, an updated take on the big so-called Balkan Ballad that used to create havoc in this contest in the previous decades. The big question is if people have missed this style or find it a leftover from times gone by? If Vladana nails her vocals, my guess is the first alternative.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>16. BELGIUM</b></div><div><b>Jérémie Makiese / Miss You</b></div><div>Every year there is at least one entry that you intellectually recognise as a quality entry that will go down well even when it doesn't really do much for you personally. For me, that is Belgium this year. Jérémie is clearly very talented and there are hooks aplenty in here. Not my cup of tea but I don't think that will constitute any major problem at this stage.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>17. SWEDEN</b></div><div><b>Cornelia Jakobs / Hold Me Closer</b></div><div>After years of impeccably polished if not terribly exciting entries, Sweden finally got it right. Cornelia offers drama, intensity and a beating heart, showing how you can be both polished and engaging at the same time. Easily Sweden's best attempt since Loreen and a very possible winner in the end.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>18. CZECH REPUBLIC</b></div><div><b>We Are Domi / Lights Out</b></div><div>The second semi ends on a tricky note for me. This moody electro pop is just the kind of thing that makes my heart beat to its very BPM but I still suspect this style could prove to be a bit too unspectacular to hit home at this stage. Fingers crossed this isn't a disappointing 11th place in the making.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div>In conclusion, this semi feels much more open and a lot less easy to predict. I think Finland, Serbia, Cyprus, Poland, Montenegro, Belgium and Sweden can sleep easy but the rest will have to do their best to impress. In the end I say Georgia, San Marino and Czech republic will steal the final tickets to the final which would leave Israel, Azerbaijan, Malta, Australia, Estonia, North Macedonia and Romania out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please check out my predictions for semi one <a href="https://tobsonineuroland.blogspot.com/2022/04/tobson-speaks-up-esc-2022-semi-1.html">here</a> and feel free to leave a comment or two.</div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401850518188492952.post-32600149290230653812022-04-25T00:10:00.008+03:002022-04-25T00:10:53.052+03:00Tobson speaks up: ESC 2022, semi 1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNvqOUvSrCAvPRrnVIDCo-TWWlFr5QYheHxlf7Vz_5DN7sBybwi0qcPXGyWGCFEaGVetDGMnUIRe7vCJqGagvzQSMVYCUEsqSWZIEwGw6pnG8IpcjOySccum8Sot0PaKve3_EtHW2TJNnMCmKLqhzTer7LdtjccTHD8d4Kndo6YRGcb3uG2ZGynC-/s1680/esc2022-the-sound-of-beauty.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1680" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNvqOUvSrCAvPRrnVIDCo-TWWlFr5QYheHxlf7Vz_5DN7sBybwi0qcPXGyWGCFEaGVetDGMnUIRe7vCJqGagvzQSMVYCUEsqSWZIEwGw6pnG8IpcjOySccum8Sot0PaKve3_EtHW2TJNnMCmKLqhzTer7LdtjccTHD8d4Kndo6YRGcb3uG2ZGynC-/s320/esc2022-the-sound-of-beauty.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>It is the time of year when I shake some life into this old blog of mine - usually I blog my way through the Eurovision history in Swedish <a href="https://allaeurovisionsbidrag.blogspot.com/">here</a> - to focus on the upcoming contest in Turin.<div><br /></div><div>In this first blog post I will write my personal opinion about the songs in the first semi and then predict the top ten qualifiers based on the preview versions alone.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not a bad year we have ahead of us: if it is one lesson people seem to have learned from last year, then it is how being personable and having a song that sounds like it means something to the people performing it is a clever trick.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>01. ALBANIA</b></div><div><b>Ronela Hajati / Sekret</b></div><div>A fine opener with ambitions to blend dance music and traditional lore together. Perhaps it ends up being more of a rhythm track than a functioning song and maybe people will find other songs they will like more before the semi final is over, but we will surely have a good time together with Ronela during these three minutes.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>02. LATVIA</b></div><b>Citi Zēni / Eat Your Salad</b><div>For a while it felt like Latvia really had a buzz going and would be the viral wonder of the year, but now the temperature has gone down considerably. A fun track that will have its fans, but ultimately the whole thing is probably too silly to stand a real chance.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>03. LITHUANIA</b></div><div><b>Monika Liu / Sentimentai</b></div><div>The first of my personal favourites to take the stage this year. France 2021 meets a very sensual and totally bonkers cabaret performer and magic happens. Not sure at all Europe will embrace this on a Tuesday night but I love it.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>04. SWITZERLAND</b></div><div><b>Marius Bear / Boys Do Cry</b></div><div>A sweet song about comforting your inner child (I guess), sensitively performed by a likeable singer, but a most unfavourable spot in the running is likely to keep Switzerland in the semis after two strong showings. Unless Marius really works the cameras, then this could be a surprise in the making.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>05. SLOVENIA</b></div><div><b>LPS / Disko</b></div><div>If this was the talent night at the local high school, LPS would charm everyone and have us eating out of their hands. A charming little effort but the lack of experience becomes too evident in the end.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>06. UKRAINE</b></div><div><b>Kalush Orchestra / Stefania</b></div><div>Of course the entry of Ukraine was bound to be brilliant. They often are and this year it actually means an awful lot for them to be represented in the best possible light. And they are, reaching musical and emotional heights few others can compete with. The most obvious qualifier in this semi and not at all an unlikely eventual winner.</div><div><b>Grade: 5/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>07. BULGARIA</b></div><div><b>Intelligent Music Project / Intention</b></div><div>Not as bad as some people want to make out. An okay slice of a very beige version of rock that some people like a lot. Måneskin it is not and a qualifier it is not, but it is technically competent.</div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>08. NETHERLANDS</b></div><div><b>S10 / De diepte</b></div><div>This one ticks a lot of boxes in my list: an emotional song that seems to mean a lot to its performer with the added bonus of being sung in the local language. There are other strong contenders with a similar approach in this semi, but S10 has the big advantage of being the first of them. </div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>09. MOLDOVA</b></div><b>Zdob și Zdub feat Frații Advahov / Trenulețul</b><div>If one act really got so lucky with the running order, then it is this happy rock/folk mashup that balances skillfully on that thin line between adorable and ridiculous. The ESC version is arguably less effective than the original mix but little does that matter at this point. Moldova will choo choo their way straight into the final with ease.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>10. PORTUGAL</b></div><div><b>Maro / Saudade, saudade</b></div><div>Lucky break for the next female emotional ballad to have Moldova between herself and the Netherlands. This is full of harmony and is pretty much balm for the soul. A wonderful little oasis with its very radio friendly take on traditional music.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>11. CROATIA</b></div><b>Mia Dimšić / Guilty Pleasure</b><div>Another radio friendly song with a solid performance. Competent but I'm afraid Croatia could again find themselves south of the relegation line, only by a couple of millimeters. Competent but definitely running the risk of not being striking enough on a first listen.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>12. DENMARK</b></div><div><b>Reddi / The Show</b></div><div>I see what is happening here, Denmark think they are going out on a limb and doing something daring and unexpected. Not a bad song but the whole package feels so constructed and calculated and not a bit like the punk pop they themselves think it is. </div><div><b>Grade: 2/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>13. AUSTRIA</b></div><div><b>Lumix feat Pia Maria / Halo</b></div><div>Bang! Suddenly Austria came out of nowhere and hit me over the head with their entry and made me feel nostalgia for a genre I never in a zillion years thought I'd feel nostalgia about. Very catchy indeed and unless they make a complete mess of this live, then this should be a very safe qualifier.</div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>14. ICELAND</b></div><div><b>Systur / Með hækkandi sól</b></div><div>Musically very appealing, very First Aid Kit and very easy to enjoy. Not really a visual feast, perhaps. Will have to fight it out with Armenia over the same points. Borderline qualifier.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>15. GREECE</b></div><div><b>Amanda Tenfjord / Die Together</b></div><div>A very slick studio production and its biggest problem is exactly that - how super studio produced it is. What is this going to sound like live? I'm very fond of Greece sending entries that sound like real pop singles - I absolutely LOVED the studio version of "Better Love" - but it will be a challenge to make this one flow effortlessly on stage.</div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>16. NORWAY</b></div><div><b>Subwoolfer / Give That Wolf A Banana</b></div><div>Amusing, silly, catchy and the song that will end all hope Latvia ever had of qualifying. Almost as amusing as this song is watching all those eurofans hate is (mainly because it is amusing). </div><div><b>Grade: 4/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>17. ARMENIA</b></div><div><b>Rosa Linn / Snap</b></div><div>Contemporary country vibe by another likeable singer - there are many of them in this lineup - and this could very well be the song that causes Iceland to miss the final. </div><div><b>Grade: 3/5</b></div><div><br /></div><div>My prediction at this point is that Ukraine, Netherlands, Moldova, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Norway, Armenia, Lithuania and Iceland will make the cut and that Albania, Latvia, Switzerland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Denmark will leave us. But what do I know? And how many times will I change my mind before the semi actually takes place?</div><div><br /></div><div>Semi 2 review coming up soon.</div>TobsonHelsinkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064793414035776105noreply@blogger.com0