Here are my first impressions on this year's competitors in the Eurovision Song Contest. These songs will be the first nine to perform in the Second Semi Final on Thursday 27th May.
Lithuania 83/100
Lithuania has a great recent history of catchy quirky entries. Their last SKA-esque entry came in the Top 5 behind Lordi. I am not sure how Europe is going to react to 5 guys playing the kazoo at the start. As soon as the song moves onto the eye candy singing about how he likes it kind of rough, many people in the pub where I'll be watching will phone in to support I am sure.
Armenia 87/100
I was sure that the rivalry between Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan would see them throwing everything into claiming the bragging rights of being the first to take the European Crown. Does a pop tune about growing Armenian Apricots from a stone given to you by grandma over an 'Kiss Kiss' vibe really cut it? Well maybe. This is a grower. 300million of the viewers won't understand what the hell she is saying anyway and what you are left with is a powerfully delivered and catchy tune. Yerevan 2011? It will all come down to the performance. Think Greece and Ukraine 2008, two dull pop tunes which exploded into life when performed with energy wit and verve. And she has a lot of potential for some hair-ograophy.
Israel 35/100
Apparently the favourite with the bookies... I don't get it. This is just so boring.
Denmark 78/100
Did someone prank email Denmark and tell them they had to choose a Mariah Carey lookalikee and an Art Garfunkel lookalikee? They have entered a perky duet. Meat and drink to Eurovision, and may well finish top 5. It may also get nul points in the Semi Final. With perky duets it can go either way. I did wake up this morning singing this song, which is odd because previously, I only listened to half of it a month ago.
Switzerland 41/100
Does this song translate as 'Golden showers' because it's piss poor? Does the singer find himself as alluring as the video suggests he does? Is 200/1 outsider wildly optimistic?
Sweden 51/100
Pretty blond woman sings pretty ballad. Might that be the Swedish entry? Sweden has never gone so long without a win as it has since 1999. It suffered two devastating defeats in recent years when they sent former ESC winners with huge power ballads who they felt certain would win and who did not. This year a simpler and quieter song, but from the audience in the arena for their selection final, you can tell what a big deal taking the Eurovision Crown is to them. I can take or leave this.
Azerbaijan 54/100
After last year's Eurovision show, the Azerbaijani police tracked down the 42 people who had phoned in to vote for the Armenian entry. That is the level of intensity there is in the Caucusus region over winning this Contest. It might also give us a hint about why the kitchen sink has been thrown into this confused entry. Part ballad, part homage to Rihanna, this seems like a montage rather than a song.
Ukraine 43/100
Ukraine's first attempt to find a song saw Ming the Merciless singing the World's most obvious lyrics. Internet reaction was so poor that with one week to go until the submission deadline of entries, Ming was told he had only won a semi-final for the right to have his song pitched against 19 others! Alyosha was chosen with a song. It quickly emerged that the song Aloysha was due to sing had been released in 2008 and was itself a plagiarised version of another tune anyway. So third time lucky, Ukraine stuck with Alyosha and chose this tune for her. The outcome is as messy as the process.
Holland 63/100
The thing to remember is she claims to be 17. Yes, seriously, 17. I think the Final would be a poorer place without this track... Dreadful though it is.
Comments
Post a Comment