A Swede who lives in Finland and who is lost in Euroland - the wonderful world of Eurovision
There is always some matter to discuss or just a song I want to share
Very welcome - I hope you'll like it here!
Tonight Austria will select their entry for Stockholm. Funnily they retain the same selection modus that gave them a big fat zero on home ground last year - the first time in the history of the contest that the host country fails to score.
But then again, everyone can have a bit of bad luck. Last year's Austrian selection was fun to follow. Interesting artists, quite good songs. It is better to evaluate the actual show rather than the ensuing ESC result.
However, few countries have had so much bad luck through Eurovision history as Austria has. When selecting internally, ORF often came up with odd choices that were not in line with what people wanted to vote for. And most of the years they organised national finals, they also failed to pick the best candidate on offer.
Conchita Wurst was the rare bulls eye that broke through to people all over the continent and spoke to large audiences everywhere. Not sure a similar pearl in the making is hiding in tonight's final - I only heard the songs very quickly some time ago so I can't say for sure - but hopefully there will be a good enough winner for Austria to get through to the final and keep the national interest that suddenly seems to be there alive.
Personally I keep my fingers crossed for the lovely Zoë who had an excellent song last year (and should have won then) and who hopefully will get her revenge this time around.
That was it - in both Finland and Sweden the eurovision season started with a bang last night, and we have our first finalists in both countries. I watched Melodifestivalen live and then UMK delayed and here are my first impressions.
UMK seems to have maintained the ambition to be a more exciting and entertaining tv show it aspired to be last year. At least at first. Unfortunately, after a promising start the show fell apart a bit. Started lacking in tempo. Started lacking in contempt. Hopefully that was just a temporary glitch.
Another thing I was missing in this first semi was the strong determined voice of a producer. Someone who can tell people in advance when their ideas won't work. Mikko Herranen's failed hoverboard stunt must be one of the most cringeworthy moments on Finnish live television ever.
But also someone that could remind inexperienced singers where the cameras are and what they are good for and why you should throw them a look every now and then.
Having said this, the right songs qualified for the final even if all of them have work to do for the final. Saara Aalto must learn how to cool down and not come across as so frantic on tv. Eini needs to hit the notes better and Stella Christine really must get rid of that guitar she's hiding behind. But all in all, a promising start.
Tobson's current top 3 in the final:
1) Saara Aalto / No fear
2) Eini / Draamaa
3) Stella Christine / Ain't Got Time For Boys
Sweden kicked off their celebration year as the modern melodifestival with semi finals on tour turns 15 this year. With Gina Dirawi, Petra Mede and loads of nostalgia, nothing could go wrong here.
Or could it? The show was slick and entertaining - you can tell Edward af Sillén is back in charge - but sometimes it felt like the energy was a bit low. Was I expecting too much or did anyone else sense the same thing?
Also, the big Anna Book disqualification thing took a lot of space in the show. A bit too much, perhaps. Anna got to sing her entry outside of competition and is doing a whole lot better in the charts than she probably would have, had she not been disqualified. Let that be enough of a reward.
The general level of songs was OK but not overwhelming. It doesn't have to be in a first semi, the audience will enjoy themselves anyway. But next week I'd long for a slightly stronger selection.
The two songs that made it straight to Globen were clearly in a league of their own. And yet I thought Robin Bengtsson's entry would be too slick and elegant for Swedish voters. I haven't forgotten the shock non-qualification of Josef Johansson's "Hela natten" two years ago and was very happy to see that the general taste of the general public has improved since.
Ace Wilder is a temple of coolness. Perhaps there isn't much of a traditional chorus in her song, but I love how she makes it work anyway.
The only thing I would have changed? Mimi to Andra Chansen instead of Samir & Viktor. But I won't let that ruin the mood.
Tobson's current top 2 in the final:
1) Ace Wilder / Don't Worry
2) Robin Bengtsson / Constellation Prize
It's been almost a week since the Spanish final was held so maybe my reaction is a bit slow. But I have finally decided that the broadcast was a success and a good step to take.
I have understood that the national broadcaster RTVE is not exactly at the height of its glory right now. Seldom a ratings winner, seen by many as a mouthpiece for local politicians rather than an objective news provider, not seldom getting suspected of having some sort of agenda.
These are not my theories, these are things I picked up from here and there across the social media and other internet hangouts. But maybe they would need some quality flagship programming that could bring in viewers and help rebuild the brand.
Having a popular national final for Eurovision is not a bad weapon at all. And for a first step in that direction, the Spanish final was not bad at all. I'd just like to point out a few ways of making it even better for years to come.
Make it bigger.
In a record industry like the Spanish it couldn't be hard to find ten or twelve entries that were good enough. This way, you can have a more quick-paced show with a more intense tempo and make better use of the broadcast time.
Make it local.
There is loads of songwriting talent in Spain. You really don't need tired rewrites like "Victorious".
Make it better.
Use more time to rehearse. Help the artists out with choreographers and stylists. Try to make every entry look as good on-screen as is only possible. Performing on a top notch tv show with high ratings is something many singers will want to do.
As for the winner, I say it was the only possibility that made sense. "Say Yay!" is a happy, contemporary and catchy track, balancing on the fine line between being infectious and being terribly annoying. Which is not a bad thing if you want to have a hit single.
What it needs now is a complete makeover. It needs better backing vocalists, it needs better styling, it desperately needs a choreographer with an idea of what looks good on television. All of this without removing the strong personality of Barei.
Do this badly and we will be looking at a Spanish version of Ann Sophie. Do it well and we could be looking at a contender, possibly Spain's best chance of success since Beth.
2015 was a really good year for UMK. It really was. There was a huge boost concerning production values and content, the new presenting style and absence of more or less irrelevant "experts made for a much better tv show. The lineup was also an interesting mix of very different kinds of Finnish contemporary music.
Then there was the tiny drawback that the eventual winner represented very little of all this and ended last in its semi final in Vienna. You can't get everything right at once, I suppose.
Another problem is that very few of the songs managed to find commercial success of any kind after the contest. It would be better for a hit contest to actually produce hits, but this year's lineup seems even stronger. Maybe this is the year things turn for the better?
Like last year, it seems Yle won't reveal the running order until the broadcast starts so here are my reviews in the order the songs are presented on the official UMK website.
Saara Aalto / No Fear
Nobody wants this like Saara Aalto does. She really wants to break through and become a star and be loved by the masses. She was the runner-up to Paradise Oskar back in 2011 but this is clearly her best shot to date. Her song is bold and effective and sounds a bit as if Kate Bush had written the soundtrack to Disney's Frozen. Not the most instant song ever but most rewarding and not a bad gamble for Eurovision. Grade: 4/5
Mikko Herranen / Evil Tone
Some sort of rock ballad. That's how I would describe it. I think. Every time I try to remember what it sounds like, it escapes me. That can never be a good sign. Grade: 1/5
Stella Christine / Ain't Got Time For Boys
A good voice and a very pleasant style but another song that just isn't strong enough. It sounds good for as long as it goes on and then it fades, but if Stella Christine sings as well live as on the studio recording this could be a surprise in the making. Grade: 2/5
Eini / Draamaa
Given Eini's omnipresence in Finnish showbiz since the late 1970's - where she landed a big hit with the local version of Baccara's Yes Sir, I Can Boogie - it is surprising this is only her second attempt to make it to the ESC. She found herself a more than decent contemporary pop schlager in a stylish arrangement and while the chorus could have been stronger it would be deeply unfair if she didn't make it into this week's top three. Grade: 3/5
ClemSO / Thief
This former member of a Nigerian boy band has a very pleasant voice I'd love to hear more of. His entry is well produced but again lacking that final handle or push or surprise needed to stand out. Grade: 2/5
Pää-Äijät / Samppanjataivas
Song-wise this one has it all: an infectious rhythm, a hit sound and a most effective hook. Personally I have had it up to here with this kind of male performer that is "weird" and "funny" and "crazy" but even I must admit this is a functioning package. Grade: 3/5
Tobson predicts:
It is always hard predicting when the only thing you have to go on are the studio versions and video clips provided by Yle. Who will be able to pull their performance off once the cameras are on?
Having said this, I think the top trio of this semi final will be Saara Aalto, Eini and Pää-Äijät. Saara can sing, Eini is very experienced and Pää-Äijät's song sounds like a hit single.
However - if ClemSO or Stella Christine manage to burn through the screen and make their songs work, either one could potentially steal Eini's spot in the final. Which would really be a shame.
A few years ago, I stopped listening to the (almost) full-length clips of the Melodifestivalen entries that appear on the SVT website and content myself with the 30-second snippets presented each Thursday.
It does make it harder to predict, but who said things should be easy in the first place?
Most of the songs this week are about to get eclipsed anyway as one of the entires got disqualified two days prior to the semi. Anna Book's "Himmel för två" had already been published online when entered for the 2014 Moldovan final and was found ineligible to compete now.
All songwriters entering Melodifestivalen must sign a contract where they guarantee that their songs comply with the rules. This team claim they had no idea the song was made official back then and maybe that is true. However, a new rule paragraph stating that no song can be entered into Melodifestivalen if it has been entered to (and rejected from) another country's final could possibly come in handy.
It was in no way a major favourite that was pulled out of the running, but its absence could very well upset the balance between the other songs. Not least since it will be performed on the show and get compared to the others, only having the audience sympathy on its side.
01. Samir & Viktor / Bada nakna
Their entry last year was no big favourite of mine and I don't think this one will be either. Of course it is instant, catchy, easy to grab on to and a hit in the making. To me it just sounds like Basshunter kept evolving in the shadows, waiting for a chance to destroy us all.
02. Pernilla Andersson / Mitt guld
Proper and clean-cut singer/songwriter-material in Swedish. Very pleasant but hardly the song that will have the audience reach for the voting app.
03. Mimi Werner / Ain't No Good
A brave attempt to bring in some country music that wouldn't sound as polished and polite as the genre usually does in MF. The intention is good but this sounded very messy in the short clip.
04. Albin & Mattias / Rik
Sounds like a song that would be a hit on Swedish radio. Unfortunately that is probably its biggest problem: it sounds more like a radio song than something that would grab the viewers during a Saturday night tv show.
05. Anna Book / Himmel för två - Disqualified
A pretty average and very old-fashioned schlager that went from underdog to many people's favourite. Will be performed during the show but not until all other songs were heard.
06. Robin Bengtsson / Constellation Prize
Another stylish, likeable and radio friendly song with a not too distant kinship with Måns Zelmerlöw's recent output. Could suffer badly from coming directly after song 04 with no bouncy schlager in between them.
07. Ace Wilder / Don't Worry
Ace is going for gold with a spectacular stage show and a song that is likely to open up more when you hear it in full. Most likely the hit of the week but it is impossible to tell from this short snippet.
I decided to believe everyone who says Ace Wilder is in a league of her own this week, not least because I adored her entry two years ago. Apart from that - and the sad fact Pernilla is likely to grab that last place - I have no idea how to guess. Nothing really punched me in the face so far, so to speak.
My guess is that the charm of Samir & Viktor will work again and that the unfortunate new running order will make it a whole lot harder for the two radio songs to make an impression.
Tobson predicts:
Final: Ace Wilder and Samir & Viktor
Andra chansen: Mimi Werner and Albin & Mattias
5th: Robin Bengtsson
Out: Pernilla Andersson
During Saturday afternoon, the longer clips will be available at the official SVT website.
Following up Eurovision success was never particularly easy. It always took conviction and determination to be able to score well several times in a row.
And it was always extra hard for Belgium, where Flanders and Wallonia took turns to represent the country. A practise that made any kind of continuity in the selection process more or less impossible.
If RTBF for instance felt they had found a winning formula, they never had a second year to continue working on it as it was the turn of Flanders instead.
When listening through the songs that will fight it out in the Flemish final tonight on Één, I get a feeling the Flemish are trying to reproduce the same thing that RTBF got right with Roberto Bellarosa and - above all - Loïc Nottet: unleash new talent that will feel inspired and fresh in an international competition.
Unfortunately none of the five contenders remind me of Loïc at all. Instead they make me think of poor Iris who was sent off to Baku to crash and burn in the semi final there. I doubt any of tonight's hopefuls will do a whole lot better. But at least I had a listen and this is my ranking.
5. Astrid / Everybody Aches
A heartbreakingly bland song given a far too complicated arrangement. Possibly on purpose, to confuse the viewers into thinking this is modern and/or artistic. Highly forgettable. Grade: 1/5
4. Laura / What's The Pressure
An attempt at funk that is totally void of any personality what-so-ever. Would have needed a real powerhouse performance to save it but poor Laura doesn't have a lot to offer. Grade: 1/5
3. Tom / I'm Not Lost
For three minutes, Tom keeps insisting he's not lost but I'm not sure the vocal coaches of Europe would agree. The song is OK but I can't focus on it as I keep feeling too scared for Tom Boy to totally lose his key. Grade: 2/5
2. Amaryllis / Kick The Habit
Somewhere in Belgium, Lena Philipsson made an impression on a local choreographer. Twelve years later he would tell poor Amaryllis to dance with her microphone stand without really being able to repeat the same effect. The song has its moments, but never really takes off. Every time it almost goes somewhere it soon falls apart again. Grade: 2/5
1. Adil / In Our Nature
Adil has been studying Loïc's performance closely. A bit too closely, perhaps. Lying on the floor at the start and the end feels a bit contrived and silly, but in between that he turns out to be the best performer of this lot. The song is no masterpiece but saved by a warmth that is lacking in the other entries. Grade: 2/5
Conclusion:
A really poor lineup. These performers are not ready for an occasion as big as Eurovision and have all been given pretty sub-standard songs to work with. No idea what the Één tried to achieve but I think we can safely say they didn't quite pull it off. Belgium is most likely to stay in its semi this year.
Question:
Why can't Belgium just get their act together and organise a pan-Belgian national selection instead? Find six good songs from the north, six good songs from the south, and have one big final for the whole country? How hard could it be?
Happy new year to everyone and let's be blunt and get straight to the point: 2015 wasn't a very good year. It had its moments but globally and politically it has been nothing short of dreadful.
The same goes for Eurovision 2015. It had its moments but will hardly stand out as one of the more memorable editions, despite the grand anniversary and all.
Austrian television tried to make a stylish show and gave us a grand stage set, very pleasant postcards and an adorable Conchita in the green room. Unfortunately there were also shaky cameras, a highly anonymous host trio with weak scripts and an appalling lack of substance whenever there was time to be filled, for instance in the interval acts.
Having a comfortable distance to last year's entries, here is my final top 40. Some songs grew on me, some songs collapsed and some remained in their original places.
40. SAN MARINO
I remember watching the 1998 German final where Ralph Siegel had written three terrible entries and wondering how a legend could sink so low. Little did I know what the future and herr Siegel had in store. Poor kids. Let's hope Michele gets another chance with some decent material instead. Grade: 0/5
39. ARMENIA
A musical meltdown filled with good intentions but lacking as good as everything else. Grade: 1/5
38. SWITZERLAND
Under-developed and shouty. Would have needed some serious re-writing, and when the electric guitar comes crashing in at the end all hope is lost. Grade: 1/5
37. MALTA
Almost as shouty as Switzerland. Slightly more developed but not enough to capture my interest. Grade: 1/5
36. FRANCE
Old-fashioned and dull. Also pretending to be a peace song despite harbouring some potentially unpleasant messages between the lines. Grade: 1/5
35. FYR MACEDONIA
Again FYR Macedonia manages to take a perfectly pleasant entry and ruin it on the way to the final. The revamp took most of the punch out of the chorus and the stage presentation was the last nail in the coffin. Grade: 1/5
34. BELARUS
There is quite an ok hook in here, but you can't build an entire entry on the repetition of one little hook over and over again. A song as simple as this one would also need a much stronger performance. Grade: 1/5
33. ICELAND
Anemic pop, remarkably void of any flavour or scent or temper. It's nice while it goes on but instantly forgotten. Grade: 1/5
32. ALBANIA
A song that wants to be contemporary, impressive, complicated but catchy. Could have worked had the singer managed to control her voice better. Grade: 1/5
31. DENMARK
Same as Iceland but with more of a beat. Grade: 1/5
30. HUNGARY
Another well-intended anthem for peace. Cute in a way but also too slow and the lyrics are way too obvious and literal for it too work. Grade: 1/5
29. FINLAND
Punk is not dead. (Or is it?) At least it stands out from the rest. Grade: 1/5
28. UNITED KINGDOM
Potentially this could have worked. Potentially this could have been the goofy, off-beat, happy entry this final needed so badly. But no performance as weak as this ever attracted any larger amount of points. Grade: 1/5
27. GEORGIA
Some temper, some power. Very welcome elements in this lineup full of ballads. But like so many others, this one soon feels very thin and lacking in dynamics. Insufficient. Grade: 2/5
26. CYPRUS
A cute song and cute performance. Likeable but not sensational. And a shame they didn't dare keep it as downscaled live as in the preview. Grade: 2/5
25. AUSTRIA
Unfair that this one should go down in ESC history as the first time ever the entry of the host country fails to score. Unfair but understandable. Competent but nobody's favourite. Grade: 2/5
24. POLAND
Pleasant and breezy, but ultimately yet another slow entry that would have needed a more dynamic build-up. Grade: 2/5
23. MOLDOVA
Sexist and loud and stupid. But at least it brings the tempo up. And it is catchy enough. Grade: 2/5
22. NETHERLANDS
Surprising that a song that was revealed so early in the season went through no development and that this really experienced performer fell through so totally. The stage show is an almost epic failure, one you could analyse for years. The song is a bit repetitive and simple but would have deserved a better fate. Grade: 2/5
21.SPAIN
Another interesting failure. An overloaded performance - bordering on parody - of a song that wants to be original but that really is little more than a re-write. Grade: 2/5
20. GREECE
Another pretty dull ballad, totally saved by a strong vocal delivery and a charismatic singer. Would possibly have worked even better had she sung it in Greek. Grade: 2/5
19. LITHUANIA
Silly but colourful and happy. And extra points for the same sex kissing. In a country like Lithuania, where things like these are frowned upon, this is more than an empty gesture. Well done. Grade: 2/5
18. AZERBAIJAN
A complicated but interesting entry, ruined by a messy stage show and a some really violent over-performing. Grade: 2/5
17. CZECH REPUBLIC
Clearly the best Czech entry of all time - the competition isn't too hard in that discipline - is a bit too complicated to work but is very well performed. Grade: 2/5
16. MONTENEGRO
A budget item from the Joksimović shop is still a good piece. It builds nicely and is well arranged without ever turning into a masterpiece. Would also have needed a more interesting performer to fully work. Grade: 2/5
15. SERBIA
Bojana is a real star but the song doesn't really know where it is going. The English lyrics are also a bit simple and too much in-your-face for my liking. Grade: 2/5
14. PORTUGAL
My biggest disappointment of the year. I always thought this one had something, and that a bit of hard work could bring it out. It never happened and I'm still one of the very few to appreciate it at all. Grade: 2/5
13. ROMANIA
A very nice song that unfortunately turned a bit dull on the live stage. However, this is the first Romanian entry I really like in years. Quality. Grade: 3/5
12. GERMANY
A most undeserved nul-pointer song-wise, but it is easy to see why this one failed to enthuse the masses. The performance is awkward with the long butt shot in the beginning and poor Ann Sophie never really connected with the cameras. Grade: 3/5
11. AUSTRALIA
A good and bouncy debut entry. Well sung but the performance was surprisingly static. Grade: 3/5
10. IRELAND
One of my favourite songs of the year, but Molly wasn't ready for the big stage. A very nervous performance paired with a most unfortunate starting position left this ballad chanceless in its semi. Grade: 3/5
09. ISRAEL
I really disliked this one to start with as I found it completely silly in a bad way. But it some point it ate through my defences, being one of the few really happy songs in the competition. Grade: 3/5
08. RUSSIA
I'm really no fan of cheesy peace ballads like this one, but I can't resist anyone selling their entry as well as the magnificent Polina did. A terrific singer that would have deserved a lot more love from the live audience. Grade: 3/5
07. SLOVENIA
Headphones and an energetic chorus - I thought it would carry further than it did but it still stands out as one of the best pop songs of ESC 2015. Grade: 3/5
06. NORWAY
Norway seemed to find themselves very much a niche of their own, sending in unusual and classy pop songs and for the third consecutive year it worked. Grade: 4/5
05. LATVIA
After many lean years, Latvia is back among the top contenders with this divisive but glorious pop anthem. Not everyone's cup of tea but a well deserved success. Grade: 4/5
04. ESTONIA
Two Baltic states in my yearly top five - it has been a while since that happened last. Atmospheric, sensual, suggestive and when Elina Born sheds a tear at the end I'm totally blown away. Grade: 4/5
03. ITALY
Powerful and dramatic just the way I like it, but I can't help wondering if it would have been even better had they kept it entirely in the pop register instead of doing the popera thing. Grade: 4/5
02. BELGIUM
Totally impressed with Loïc Nottet and his skills: songwriting, design, choreography. Now I am just waiting for his pop career to take off for real. Who knows what the boy could pull off? Grade: 5/5
01. SWEDEN
My favourite from the word go. An intriguing verse, a catchy chorus and a perfect performance from Måns (even if it was slightly stronger in the semi compared to the final). A worthy winner in every way. Grade: 5/5
All in all a pretty weak year with way too many mediocre filler songs. For next year I wish for more quality songs with hit potential. And for a couple that are at least bad in an amusing way.
