In my last post I concluded that Eurovision (or Eurovision juries, rather) were not ready for pop and youthful sounds in 1964, explaining why the excellent Dutch entry was left with only two points far back in the results.
Of course, you can never know for sure about these things. Maybe it was just another case of "the curse of number two", as Anneke was drawn to sing as the second act on the night (and no song ever won being performed second on the night)? Maybe the juries just didn't think "Jij bent mijn leven" to be all that?
I wonder what they would have made of Wenche Myhre, had she won the 1964 Norweigan final with the almost violently up-to-date "La meg være ung".
Wenche Myhre - La meg være ung (Norway 1964 national final)
Composer Arne Bendiksen (who happened to sing the winning song of that selection) blames the failure on NRK - every song was performed twice by different performers and the second version, by a male pop band, was (according to Bendiksen) impossible to recognise and only confused the juries.
Anyhow, this song was the start of Wenche's long career in Germany (where she spelt her name Wencke Myhre to facilitate pronounciation) where she, among many other things, sang the 1968 German entry to a sixth place in London.
Wencke Myhre - Ein Hoch der Liebe (Germany 1968)
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Song of the Day: Netherlands 1964
I went through my blog statistics and noted that I have faithful readers both here and there.
One of the countries I had not expected to see on top ten when it comes to number of pageviews is Indonesia, but it is wonderful to see that you keep coming back.
I think that deserves some recognition, so my hommage to the readers in Indonesia is this song - the first Eurovision entry ever performed by an Indonesian-born singer.
Anneke Grönloh was (and is) a huge star in the Netherlands and sang a modern pop song one year too early. The juries were not ready and only awarded a grand total of two points for this fantastically catchy little ditty. One year later, France Gall was to go all the way to victory with another really modern entry.
So here's to lovely Anneke, and here's to Indonesia! Tobson bows to you!
Anneke Grönloh - Jij bent mijn leven (Netherlands 1964)
(As most of you are aware, there is no known video copy of Eurovision 1964 in existence. But the studio version is smashing too.)
One of the countries I had not expected to see on top ten when it comes to number of pageviews is Indonesia, but it is wonderful to see that you keep coming back.
I think that deserves some recognition, so my hommage to the readers in Indonesia is this song - the first Eurovision entry ever performed by an Indonesian-born singer.
Anneke Grönloh was (and is) a huge star in the Netherlands and sang a modern pop song one year too early. The juries were not ready and only awarded a grand total of two points for this fantastically catchy little ditty. One year later, France Gall was to go all the way to victory with another really modern entry.
So here's to lovely Anneke, and here's to Indonesia! Tobson bows to you!
Anneke Grönloh - Jij bent mijn leven (Netherlands 1964)
(As most of you are aware, there is no known video copy of Eurovision 1964 in existence. But the studio version is smashing too.)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Song of the Day: Norway 1992
Some songs just have everything against themselves, and one of them fell over poor sympathetic Merethe Trøan in the 1992 Norweigan final.
It really is a strange creation of a song, and it had the indecency of beating the two red hot favourites in the national heat, supposed to be a two horse race between Tor Endresen and Wenche Myhre.
It is really badly constructed, it has a clumsly verse that just goes on and on and on forever before the chorus comes into the picture.
It also has a really lamentable set of lyrics that are not only cliché-ridden on the verge of self-destruction but also dances in an off-beat fashion that gets in the way of the melody.
All of this delivered in such a good mood and with the widest smiles around.
It all should be unbearable, horrible and detestable, but somehow Merethe makes the whole thing work. I don't know how she does it, but she does and she deserves some kind of medal for it. All of these flaws and yet I am not bored once throughout three minutes. Well done.
Merethe Trøan - Visjoner (Norway 1992)
It really is a strange creation of a song, and it had the indecency of beating the two red hot favourites in the national heat, supposed to be a two horse race between Tor Endresen and Wenche Myhre.
It is really badly constructed, it has a clumsly verse that just goes on and on and on forever before the chorus comes into the picture.
It also has a really lamentable set of lyrics that are not only cliché-ridden on the verge of self-destruction but also dances in an off-beat fashion that gets in the way of the melody.
All of this delivered in such a good mood and with the widest smiles around.
It all should be unbearable, horrible and detestable, but somehow Merethe makes the whole thing work. I don't know how she does it, but she does and she deserves some kind of medal for it. All of these flaws and yet I am not bored once throughout three minutes. Well done.
Merethe Trøan - Visjoner (Norway 1992)
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The 2012 review: part eight
I'm almost through all the entries for Baku, this post will deal with the four last songs to go through the semi finals, closing the Thursday night run-through.
15. SLOVAKIA
Max Jason Mai - Don't Close Your Eyes
Eurovision has perhaps never provided the perfect stage for real rock music. "Hard Rock Hallelujah" was - in all honesty - a typical eurosong disguised as a rocker with some guitars and, well, monsters. The Slovakian entry is by far the heaviest piece of metal since their Czech neighbours tired their luck with Kabàt in 2007.
This could be a turning point for rock, though. This might be sharp and noisy, but also melodic and easy to get a grip on. Max Jason Mai is a likeable performer and this song stands very alone - nobody is trying to steal their points and they will stand out by a mile from the other entries in this semi.
Qualifyer:
Yes. This is the year when Slovakia will get something back for all the effort they invested during the last few years. I am not sure how high a placing they might get in the end, but it would be a big negative surprise if they don't qualify this time around.
My grade: 3/5
16. NORWAY
Tooji - Stay
You know what? We need to talk about Tooji.
He is a real personality, he looks good and he has something deeply interesting about him, something enigmatic and mysterious. He is quite a good singer and has a good way with the camera. He really is a strong asset for Norway.
The big question is why he has opted to perform a song as weak as this one. It has a lot of promise and good ideas and good little hooky things, but it doesn't help much as there is no melody line and no structure. This song would need to grab me by the hand and lead me through this musical landscape and explain what is going on. As a listener, I feel very much left on my own as the whole package dances on without me.
Qualifyer:
Probably. Confidence comes a long way in a competition like this, and Tooji has plenty of that. But it is surprising that Norway, for the third year in a row, enters with a good singer and a song that is nowhere near as good.
My grade: 2/5
17. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Maya Sar - Korake ti znam
Bosnia has really proven themselves as one of the strongest countries in the ESC, contributing quality entries year after year - well-crafted songs, elaborate performances and very good artists. Maya Sar has been part of the Bosnian team twice before, behind Deen in 2004 and as part of Dino Merlin's cheerful gang last year. This time around, she is going with a far more laid back effort.
The song, written by Maya Sar herself, is a tender and delicious little ballad where every syllable feels like a gentle touch, sung in a most delightful and sensual way. A real gem, but perhaps slightly too ethereal to work wonders in a televote.
Qualifyer:
Hopefully. It contains so many good ingredients, but is anything but instant. Should hit home with the juries, if they aspire to be of any use to the contest.
My grade: 4/5
18. LITHUANIA
Donny Montell - Love Is Blind
It's a hard life when your song is ready and you can't shake the feeling that it just isn't interesting enough. At that point, it is easy to start adding extra things, special effects, that might seem like a good idea at first but that don't really contribute anything in the end.
It could be a complicated bridge between the verse and a chorus. It could consist of adding some long notes that just distract from the actual melody. It could involve putting a blindfold on to underline the words you are singing. And in the end, you'll find yourself with a whole lot of superfluous rubbish and not so much of a song.
That is exactly what has happened in Lithuania, where the composer and the performer have joined forces to make it impossible for the audience to find the somewhat decent melody line they have hidden under several layers of over-production and stage antics.
Qualifyer:
No. This song would need some serious cleaning up, but not even that would help. The chorus, when Donny finally gets there, is OK but not original enough to make a difference.
My grade: 1/5
15. SLOVAKIA
Max Jason Mai - Don't Close Your Eyes
Eurovision has perhaps never provided the perfect stage for real rock music. "Hard Rock Hallelujah" was - in all honesty - a typical eurosong disguised as a rocker with some guitars and, well, monsters. The Slovakian entry is by far the heaviest piece of metal since their Czech neighbours tired their luck with Kabàt in 2007.
This could be a turning point for rock, though. This might be sharp and noisy, but also melodic and easy to get a grip on. Max Jason Mai is a likeable performer and this song stands very alone - nobody is trying to steal their points and they will stand out by a mile from the other entries in this semi.
Qualifyer:
Yes. This is the year when Slovakia will get something back for all the effort they invested during the last few years. I am not sure how high a placing they might get in the end, but it would be a big negative surprise if they don't qualify this time around.
My grade: 3/5
16. NORWAY
Tooji - Stay
You know what? We need to talk about Tooji.
He is a real personality, he looks good and he has something deeply interesting about him, something enigmatic and mysterious. He is quite a good singer and has a good way with the camera. He really is a strong asset for Norway.
The big question is why he has opted to perform a song as weak as this one. It has a lot of promise and good ideas and good little hooky things, but it doesn't help much as there is no melody line and no structure. This song would need to grab me by the hand and lead me through this musical landscape and explain what is going on. As a listener, I feel very much left on my own as the whole package dances on without me.
Qualifyer:
Probably. Confidence comes a long way in a competition like this, and Tooji has plenty of that. But it is surprising that Norway, for the third year in a row, enters with a good singer and a song that is nowhere near as good.
My grade: 2/5
17. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Maya Sar - Korake ti znam
Bosnia has really proven themselves as one of the strongest countries in the ESC, contributing quality entries year after year - well-crafted songs, elaborate performances and very good artists. Maya Sar has been part of the Bosnian team twice before, behind Deen in 2004 and as part of Dino Merlin's cheerful gang last year. This time around, she is going with a far more laid back effort.
The song, written by Maya Sar herself, is a tender and delicious little ballad where every syllable feels like a gentle touch, sung in a most delightful and sensual way. A real gem, but perhaps slightly too ethereal to work wonders in a televote.
Qualifyer:
Hopefully. It contains so many good ingredients, but is anything but instant. Should hit home with the juries, if they aspire to be of any use to the contest.
My grade: 4/5
18. LITHUANIA
Donny Montell - Love Is Blind
It's a hard life when your song is ready and you can't shake the feeling that it just isn't interesting enough. At that point, it is easy to start adding extra things, special effects, that might seem like a good idea at first but that don't really contribute anything in the end.
It could be a complicated bridge between the verse and a chorus. It could consist of adding some long notes that just distract from the actual melody. It could involve putting a blindfold on to underline the words you are singing. And in the end, you'll find yourself with a whole lot of superfluous rubbish and not so much of a song.
That is exactly what has happened in Lithuania, where the composer and the performer have joined forces to make it impossible for the audience to find the somewhat decent melody line they have hidden under several layers of over-production and stage antics.
Qualifyer:
No. This song would need some serious cleaning up, but not even that would help. The chorus, when Donny finally gets there, is OK but not original enough to make a difference.
My grade: 1/5
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Song of the Day: Belgium 1971
I could be wrong here - please correct me if I am - but I think there is only one case in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest where the performer of a song had to be replaced at such short notice that there are different singers in the preview clip than live on stage.
Nicole and Hugo had won the 1971 Belgian national final and made a breathtakingly charming video clip, when Nicole fell ill and found herself unable to go to Dublin.
Nicole & Hugo - Goeiemorgen morgen (Belgium 1971 preview)
Instead old-timers Lily Castel and Jacques Raymond stepped in at short notice, famously rehearsing their choreography on the plane for Ireland. When arriving at the Gaiety Theatre, they realised the stage was too small for their act anyway, resulting in a somewhat drier, stiffer version of the song. Despite having many supporters beforehand, the Belgian song found itself in a lucklustre fourteenth place.
Jacques Raymond & Lily Castel - Goeiemorgen morgen (Belgium 1971)
In all fairness, the stage would have been too small also for the flamboyant steps of the original couple but maybe Nicole and Hugo had been able to add that final punch and extra bite that the performance would have needed to convince the juries. It is a very fine song, in a brilliant arrangement, and a shame that it is somewhat forgotten in the eurovision archives.
Nicole & Hugo would get a second chance at Eurovision - two years later they represented their country with the true evergreen "Baby Baby", landing in a highly undeserved last place. I think these two were pioneers within Eurovision showbiz - talented, funny, good-looking and daring - and they would deserve so much more respect for their craft.
Hats off for both of them!
Nicole & Hugo - Baby Baby (Belgium 1973)
Nicole and Hugo had won the 1971 Belgian national final and made a breathtakingly charming video clip, when Nicole fell ill and found herself unable to go to Dublin.
Nicole & Hugo - Goeiemorgen morgen (Belgium 1971 preview)
Instead old-timers Lily Castel and Jacques Raymond stepped in at short notice, famously rehearsing their choreography on the plane for Ireland. When arriving at the Gaiety Theatre, they realised the stage was too small for their act anyway, resulting in a somewhat drier, stiffer version of the song. Despite having many supporters beforehand, the Belgian song found itself in a lucklustre fourteenth place.
Jacques Raymond & Lily Castel - Goeiemorgen morgen (Belgium 1971)
In all fairness, the stage would have been too small also for the flamboyant steps of the original couple but maybe Nicole and Hugo had been able to add that final punch and extra bite that the performance would have needed to convince the juries. It is a very fine song, in a brilliant arrangement, and a shame that it is somewhat forgotten in the eurovision archives.
Nicole & Hugo would get a second chance at Eurovision - two years later they represented their country with the true evergreen "Baby Baby", landing in a highly undeserved last place. I think these two were pioneers within Eurovision showbiz - talented, funny, good-looking and daring - and they would deserve so much more respect for their craft.
Hats off for both of them!
Nicole & Hugo - Baby Baby (Belgium 1973)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Song of the Day: Netherlands 1997
I would really like to continue my review tonight, but I have had a very long day at work and will have an equally long day tomorrow, so I don't really have the time for lenghty updates.
Luckily, there is a eurovision entry that speaks about this problem, that nobody finds the time for important matters anymore.
Back in the day, I thought for a long time that this could be a contender. I thought the mix-up with the "Live And Let Die"-theme was funny and I thought Mrs Einstein to be an entertaining bunch of ladies straight out of Cougar Town.
Europe did not agree with me the slightest, and this catchy number and its jolly performers had to content themselves with five points and only the shared nul-pointer of Norway and Portugal behind them.
Mrs Einstein - Niemand heeft nog tijd (Netherlands 1997)
Luckily, there is a eurovision entry that speaks about this problem, that nobody finds the time for important matters anymore.
Back in the day, I thought for a long time that this could be a contender. I thought the mix-up with the "Live And Let Die"-theme was funny and I thought Mrs Einstein to be an entertaining bunch of ladies straight out of Cougar Town.
Europe did not agree with me the slightest, and this catchy number and its jolly performers had to content themselves with five points and only the shared nul-pointer of Norway and Portugal behind them.
Mrs Einstein - Niemand heeft nog tijd (Netherlands 1997)
Monday, April 23, 2012
Song of the Day: Portugal 1967
In my 2012 review, I ask myself why Portugal keeps sending in songs in a style that Europe keeps rejecting time after time. But in all fairness, the Portuguese have tried very different sounds and styles through the years.
The fourth Portuguese entry was really something extravagant at Eurovision back in 1967 - a very deep, rough and interesting soul vibe that felt raw and unpolished in comparison to what other r'n'b reached the charts back in the day.
They have managed to beat quite some life and attack into the Austrian orchestra and Eduardo himself sings his heart out, investing all he's got into this song.
The earned him three little points in the end, but this is a musical eruption of a kind I wish Portugal would give us more often.
Eduardo Nascimento - O vento mudou (Portugal 1967)
The fourth Portuguese entry was really something extravagant at Eurovision back in 1967 - a very deep, rough and interesting soul vibe that felt raw and unpolished in comparison to what other r'n'b reached the charts back in the day.
They have managed to beat quite some life and attack into the Austrian orchestra and Eduardo himself sings his heart out, investing all he's got into this song.
The earned him three little points in the end, but this is a musical eruption of a kind I wish Portugal would give us more often.
Eduardo Nascimento - O vento mudou (Portugal 1967)
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