Finland 2018: Saara Aalto is the one

In a bit of a surprise move, Yle has decided to internally select Saara Aalto to represent Finland at the ESC in Lisbon in May. It was only partially a surprise - after three years of non-qualification and last year's very weak line-up in the national final - something had to be done.

I have been a big friend of this chosen concept for years already. As it has been hard to get big names to join in, why not have one big name do the job instead? Scrap the national final nobody wants to be a part of and find a star to send off to Eurovision.

The surprise here was more the fact that UMK 2018 seems to have been abandoned mid-season. There was already a call for songs and detailed information as how to send in entries. The call for entries opened and closed. What about the songs entered? Were they too few? Were the quality too low? Isn't it quite arrogant towards the people who actually bothered sending in their songs to Yle in the first place?

Saara Aalto was not a big surprise. People have been very fond of her - at the Yle and elsewhere - for years already and the buzz around her participation in the UK X Factor was enormous. She was the most googled person in Finland in 2016.

But is she a too obvious choice? She has a good voice and an impressive CV in many ways, but she is yet to have a commercial hit single. She hasn't released any material at all since her X Factor run and who remembers the runner-up of yesteryear anyway.

She also has an unfortunate track record of wanting too much. "No Fear" was a contender until a frantic and overloaded performance left the whole thing in ruins.

If there is somebody with a clear vision involved here, somebody knowing what a winning package could look like, then Finland could possibly go very far in Lisbon. I want to stay positive and believe the people in charge know what they are doing and that Saara can shine when needed.

What really should be done now is to drop the UMK brand. There is not a drop left of what UMK was originally intended to be and nothing in the 2018 selection process fits the description of previous editions. Retire the name and put the focus back onto Eurovision. No more blushing about it.

ESC 2016: No Naidoo after all

Image borrowed from eurovision.de

Oh, Germany. So many people were longing for proper news about next year's ESC and now there seems to be something coming up every day.

When Xavier Naidoo was announced as the German representative the other day, reactions were mixed to say the least. Some were euphoric, some outright hostile. I figured that NDR wanted the added publicity that controversy brings and that they knew what they were doing.

Apparently not. Today we had another big announcement: there had been a change of heart and Xavier Naidoo would not represent anyone in Stockholm. The performer himself stated that NDR approached him to represent Germany and that also this new decision came from them and not from him.

If I was puzzled when Naidoo was selected, then it is nothing compared to what I feel now. It seems the strong reactions came as a big surprise for the broadcaster and that someone got cold feet.

How this reaction could come as a surprise to anyone is beyond me. The people selecting him in the first place must have known how divisive he is. It took me less than 45 seconds to understand the full scale of how divisive he is when reading his article on Wikipedia. What had they expected?

If this is what really happened, that a broadcaster talks a big name into doing the ESC only to change their minds and reject him in public as soon as there is criticism, it shows an incredible lack of backbone and I suppose NDR will have a bit of a hard time convincing anyone else to take the bait. Who would run the risk of getting dropped this way? Not everyone could walk away from it as unharmed as Xavier Naidoo.

So. What next? Will NDR try to convince another star to do the job for them? Or will they throw together a national final at short notice? To be continued...

ESC 2016: Xavier Naidoo for Germany

After a few years of large national finals - as well as a big fat nul pointer in Vienna - German television has announced that they are going for an internal choice for 2016.

The singer they appointed is Xavier Naidoo, arguably one of the biggest names on the German market and a highly successful performer with a string of big hits - solo as well as in group projects.

His song for Stockholm will be selected in a special show where the tv audience will get to choose their favourite out of six potential entries.

I'm not surprised that ARD went for a change in their selection modus. Their national finals in 2014 and 2015 didn't quite work and the entries selected failed to enthuse an international audience.

If I was in charge of shaking up a national final, I would do the same. I would convince one strong candidate with experience and a large following and let this singer perform all songs in a national final. That plan is a good one.

But as I read up on Xavier Naidoo himself, my enthusiasm fades. His political activities has lead to him being labeled as a "Christian fundamentalist" one day, as an antisemite the next. He believes today's Federal Republic to be illegitimate, he advocated conspiracy theories surrounding the 9/11 attacks and was widely accused of spreading homophobia with a hidden track on one of his albums.

Why would you want to provide an international platform for anyone with this track record? If ARD wanted a performer with personality, integrity and a large following there are plenty to choose from. Why him?

If they want controversy as a part of their publicity plan, I think they are about to have a lot of it.



Xavier Naidoo (Germany 2016)

The BBC can't win

What happened last night really was as predictable as a Helsinki snowstorm in early March: the UK revealed its internally selected entry for Vienna and the Eurovision fans went absolutely ballistic. And not in a good way.

There had been rumours flying around social media: first somebody knew it would be Alexandra Burke singing for the UK, then somebody else knew the chosen act to be from Scotland - perhaps Amy MacDonald.

And so the act is announced to be Electro Velvet. Electro Who, the audience asked. And then the chosen entry started to play.

I think the amount of public outrage during and after the song presentation is a bit harsh. The ditty in question is at least an attempt at being personable and quirky, even if the the song itself never quite lives up to the promise set by the clip and the soundscape presented. Had it been the entry of Iceland or Hungary or Georgia we would all find it quite enjoyable.

For Vienna it would need a very polished, energetic and convincing performance of the kind that Ukraine could hammer out in their sleep. Not too sure about these people pulling it off.

The big problem for the BBC is that they find themselves in a position where the audience will be negative by default to any song proposed to them. Had it been Alexandra Burke or Amy MacDonald, people would still have found things to be upset about. The BBC can't win. United Kingdom turned into Finland when it comes to ESC expectations.

Mind you, it's a position they've worked hard to achieve in these last few years.

I would often advise countries with dodgy national finals that consistently fail to find suitable entries to scrap the whole thing and select internally. The BBC did just that but didn't make much of it. The point of internal selections must be to do your best to manage to pull out something remarkable and professional from somebody who'd never enter a national final. Electro Velvet just can't live up to that expectation.

If it really is impossible to stage a decent televised national final, the BBC really should try harder. Is there - in the entire country - not a single established, reasonably relevant performer willing to do Eurovision for them? Really?



Electro Velvet - Still In Love (United Kingdom 2015)

What if Finland sent Anna Abreu?

Finland launched a new selection format for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in order to attract new talent and launch hit songs onto the domestic market rather than find any typical eurosongs.

Not a bad idea, that is one way to go when the old selection format feels a bit tired.

The other way to go would be what most of the former Yugoslav republics have been doing this year: scrap the national final altogether and call a firmly established star to do the job for you.

The Call A Star-formula also has its flaws. It is not sure that an established act will take any advice on what kind of song to enter and then you end up with something artistic but not too hit-friendly.

I just play with the idea what might happen if Yle would make use of this very idea, maybe by calling the interval act of the 2012 Finnish selection Anna Abreu? Anna was discovered through the local Idols-competition but has grown into a full-fledged star with her very own expression and temper, in addition to be one of very few singers that get away with singing in English in Finland.

Her regular output would be modern and yet catchy enough to work well at Eurovision and given her back catalogue, she could easily embark on an international career using the ESC as spring board.

At this point, the UMK (Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu) is very likely to be used again for 2013 but I still feel the Abreu prospect could be most interesting in many ways.




Anna Abreu - Stereo



Anna Abreu - Ivory Tower



Anna Abreu - Vinegar

San Marino 2012: surely against the rules

I wasn't exactly thrilled when I heard the rumours that Ralph Siegel had written the Sammarinese entry for Baku, as his recent attempts in various national finals have been, frankly, well below standard.

I thought I was prepared for the worst, but I could not never have imagined the kind of atrocity they had in store for us.

The song in itself is a bland, repetitive piece of nothingness that usually would not have qualified for a national semi final anywhere. It is performed with unbearably fake enthusiasm that would make the most plastic of performers seem sincere in comparison.

And then the lyrics. Full of embarrassing "sexual" innuendo, but basically some kind of advert for a new, exciting thing called... Facebook.

The whole thing is so foolish and soft-headed that I can't believe my eyes or my ears. It is allowed to be bad. It is allowed to be horrifically bad. But it is not allowed to go against the rule book.

No song is allowed to carry any political or commercial message, and this is nothing but a failed advert that probably not even Facebook would like to touch with a long stick.

My guess is that the EBU will not be pleased at all with this choice. And in the unlikely event that the EBU would give their green light, I think Siegel & co might hear from an armada of lawyers from the Facebook office.

What saddens me the most is that nobody involved - Sammarinese television, the chick that performs this cheesy number, nor Ralph Siegel himself - seems to have the tiniest drop of dignity anywhere in them.

How could anyone let this mockery of a song get as far as this?



Valentina Monetta - Facebook Uh Oh Oh (San Marino 2012)

San Marino 2012: Ralph to the rescue

Today San Marino revealed that local girl Valentina Monetta will fly their flag in Baku on their third attempt at reaching a Eurovision final. She has released a number of records, provided backing vocals for other singers and has lately turned to modern jazz as a way to express herself.

The girl seems sweet enough and can hopefully keep her act together on a big stage.

The big collective sigh of disappointment was, however, released at the mention of the selected songwriter. The Sammarinese entry will be written by none other than Ralph Siegel, who has provided more eurosongs than anyone else.

Ralph Siegel has signed many really good songs, and he should be recognised for that. Unfortunately, he has been unable to draw the line and realise when it is time to retire.

His last entry to date, for Montenegro in 2009, wasn't even an original song but a tired re-write of a lucklustre song he had submitted to the Maltese pre-selection that very same year (and where it was rejected - and very rightly so).

I hope, for the sake of the Sammarinese television and the money they will spend on their eurovision adventure, that dear Ralphie has made more of an effort this time.

The entry of San Marino will be officially presented on Friday. Maybe Ralph Siegel will surprise us all with an excellent song. But until, I am taking the liberty of frowning a bit upon this choice.

Italy 2012: a new song for Nina Zilli

Not long ago, RAI confirmed that Nina Zilli would perform her Sanremo entry in Baku and what we learn from all this is that Italian tv has a very relaxed approach to what the word "confirmation" means.

Today, it was announced that "Per sempre" goes out the window, getting replaced by "L'amore è femmina" instead.



Nina Zilli - L'amore è femmina (Italy 2012)

There are surely many reasons behind this. The obvious one could be that the new song is three minutes sharp and needs no changes in order to comply with the EBU rulebook. It is also the title track of Nina's new album and, perhaps, the record label thinks the "Per sempre" single gets enough attention from Sanremo alone, preferring to push another of Nina's songs instead.

It leaves me heartbroken, as "Per sempre" was, by quite some margin, my favourite song selected for Baku as yet.

The new one is not bad at all, and perhaps catchier on a first listening. Perhaps it is a better choice for a televoting audience. I still think the Italians are bound for some heavy scoring come May. I just like their entry a tiny bit less than before.



Nina Zilli - Per sempre (Italy 2012 rejected entry)

Serbia 2012: Željko rides again

After a second place performing his own song in 2004, as well as a third and sixth place as composer (from Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2006 and Serbia in 2008), Željko Joksimović again slips into his shining armour to defend the big Balkan ballad at Eurovision.


His vehicle is, again, a very classy number with a soft introduction that develops into a powerful finish, incorporating some exotic-flavoured ethnic instruments along the way.


To be honest, all of his songs to date needed a number of listenings before they clicked into place for me, and there is not doubt in my mind that I will find this one just as splendid as his previous attempts in good time before the final.


Yet I have this tiny nagging feeling that dear Željko will get a little bit disappointed come May. We have heard this kind of song a number of time now, the sense of news is gone, some of the intensity of "Lane moje" is missing, and maybe the scoring will be a tiny bit lower than he has gotten used to.

Top ten, surely. But maybe eight place rather than second.



Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar (Serbia 2012)

Slovakia 2012: Hard Rock Hallelujah

After some hesitation back and forward as whether to participate at all and, if so, who should represent the nation, Slovakia presented their entrant during the week.

Max Jason Mai is an inspired choice and his song is the heaviest metal we have heard at Eurovision since Czech Kabàt made their (unsuccessful) attempt in Helsinki.

Maybe this kind of rock is not what I generally listen to, but I liked Kabàt and I like this. It is refreshing to have some sharp edges and attitude instead of the often so eurofied and competition-adapted rock we get used to at the ESC.

Given how most of the other selected songs sound, Slovakia is likely to stand out by a mile and, if the rock audience is alert, Max Jason Mai could assure his country its first appearance in a final since 1998.



Max Jason Mai - Don't Close Your Eyes (Slovakia 2012)

UK 2012: Engelbert to the rescue

Last night, the BBC revealed who they will have representing them at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest and I must admit that the perfomer in question had my jaw drop.

I did not see Engelbert Humperdinck coming, so to speak.

But he has all the advantages the BBC were looking for: a long career, a well established name, an element of surprise and a large following. The list of people lined up to make his song brilliant is also long and impressive.

With a bit of luck, this could be an entry that will truly stand out in Baku, hopefully in a most positive light. It will also bear the added feature of Engelbert being the oldest performer ever on the eurovision stage.



Engelbert Humperdinck - Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

The age issue is, however, always a sensitive one and there has been a real outburst of negativity on the net since the announcement was made.

I think most people reason it would have been more appropriate to offer somebody in the beginning of their careers the chance of exposing themselves europe-wide instead. But let me remind you how un-willing most British acts have been to go to Eurovision. Why would they, all of a sudden, have lined up to do it this time around?

Then again, many just carry a phobia against older people. When you pass a certain age, you expire. You have nothing more to contribute. You should just sit somewhere and gracefully wait for the end.

That brings the 2008 Croatian entry to mind, featuring the oldest ever main performer pre-Engelbert - 75 year-old rapper 75 Cents, and a set of lyrics dealing with this very problem.

"Nowadays I'm told I'm to no use anymore. I'm technological waste, like a monkey on a branch. But I was the first ever Internet, I connected the world with my songs."

Engelbert Humperdinck is perhaps not the first Internet of the world, but he is a legend in music. I'd very much like to hear his song before I declare him chanceless.



Kraljeci ulice & 75 Cents - Romanca (Croatia 2008 preview)

FYR Macedonia 2012: Kaliopi presented her song

Last night, Kaliopi presented her entry for Baku in a show very much revolving around herself and her artistry. During ninety minutes, she sang a number of songs and had prominent guests talk about her and her ability of lending herself to very different styles and songs.

Of course! What would a diva otherwise do with precious television time like this?

In the end of the show, Kaliopi sang "Crno i belo", composed by her ex-husband and long-standing collaborator, recieving thunderous applause from the studio audience.

I can't blame the audience for being in love with her - I am perfectly smitten as well. She possesses an impressive ability of communicating with the camera and her voice is really something else.

Unfortunately, the song could prove a tiny bit too difficult to embrace on a first listening. I think it is a very good composition, but will it break through to the televoting audience?

I really hope for Kaliopi to perform on Saturday night, bringing her country back to the final for the first time since 2007, but I'm not willing to bet big money on it just yet.



Kaliopi - Crno i belo (FYR Macedonia 2012)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Can Bonomo - Love Me Back (Turkey 2012)

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

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

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

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



Izabo - Time (Israel 2012)

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



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



Ping Pong - Sameach (Israel 2000)

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

Italy 2012: Nina Zilli forever

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

As if the Italians cared the least for Eurovision.

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

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

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

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

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



Nina Zilli - Per sempre (Italy 2012)

Croatia 2012: Nina to sing "Nebo"

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

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

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

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



Nina Badrić - Nebo (Croatia 2012)

France 2012: Anggun adds a bit of temper

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

Very well done!

ESC 2012: worthy women from the Balkans

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

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

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

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



Maya Sar - Nespretno

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


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





Nina Badrić - Dat ce nam Bog

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

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



Kaliopi - Ti

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

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

Belarus changed their entry

When Belarus presented their first entry, I was amazed by how much bad taste you could assemble in a mere three minutes. Then, as the original song proved to be a year too old to be eligible and had to be replaced, they came up with something even worse.



Anastasiya Vinnikova - I Love Belarus (Belarus 2011)

Subtle, eh? The mere thought of the aggressive regime in Minsk getting three minutes of global air time to celebrate themselves and their "free" nation is nothing short of appalling.

I don't want Belarus out of the ESC - au contraire, I think it is important that they get to see at least one show per year that has not passed through the local censorship.

Of course you can disregard the political aspect and just see it as a fun piece of trash, but this song is laughing in the face of basic human rights and democratic values. It laughs in the face of the people thrown in jail for no other reason that entering the presidential elections.

Like it if you want to. I can keep from laughing.

Running Scared for Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has official presented its entry for Düsseldorf and now we have heard all entries but one. As I listen to the Azeri duet I feel plenty of frustration bubbling under the surface, to be perfectly honest.

When Eldar and Nigar were selected, I was wondering how on earth anyone would make these two look credible as a duo. I found Eldar sweet and likeable while I thought Nigar was overenergetic and slightly annoying.

Now, in the new fashion, this is what they look and sound like:



Ell & Nikki - Running Scared (Azerbaijan 2011)

What I find awfully frustrating about this entry is that Azerbaijan, again, clearly is trying to secure success and hopefully victory and in this quest they pay no attention neither to domestic song writers nor local flavours.

They just take their big purse and go out and shop the best song they can find and have someone dress it up to look international.

It's frustrating that they made Ell & Nikki wipe out most of their personalities in order to suit the song the tv company bought for them.

And most frustrating of all: I really, really like it. I think it is a great song that could very well score well in the final.

What can't life ever be just black or white? A little more easy, please?