Finnish Entries Online

Have spent today working my way through the Finnish pre-selection entries just released online.  It was hard work as they are all much-of-a-muchness this year.  Managed to listen to most of them all the way through, only a couple were so bad I was forced to abandon them before the end.


Slight preference for a couple of the Finnish language efforts - Johanna Iivanainen, Milana Misic and Sami Hintsanen (I suspect the winner will be one of those), however if the Finnish voters prefer boy-bands then expect Automatic Eye or Father McKenzie to figure (I didn't like either for what it's worth).


Listen to them all here: Finnish Pre-Selection

Ukraine - Last Semi Final

The last of the Ukrainian semi finals was every bit as enjoyable as other weeks, that is of course if you ignored the comedy-outfits/headgear sported by three of todays finalists.  Congratulations to Tatyana Vorjeva, whose song "Vse Resheno" I thought was outstanding, Denis Povalyj and his effort "Aces High"(this song was good enough on it's own and did not warrant the daft looking pilots outfit complete with inflatable life jacket), and Jamala with her shout-fest "Smile", (or "SMIIIIIIILLLLLLLLE!" more accurately, see above).


The other qualifiers courtesy of the also-ran-televote will be announced next Sunday.


*****


Early notice, no EuroNite this week due to a late work finish.

I just added a couple of links to the sidebar, and if you are a lover of all things EuroSong then I strongly recommend visiting both sites.  Both offer Eurovision related albums/songs for download, and since I first discovered www.eurovisionalbums.blogspot.com at the beginning of the year my IPod has been abused heavily make no mistake! Three cheers for Jason Ray (aka "JR") for all his hard work!

EuroNite - This Week 1992

Despite a slight panic in the last week, I will be able to partake in EuroNite 1992.  Missing DVD turned up on Sunday (yes, really) afternoon.  Such is the shocking state of Royal Mail in Crewe they are having to send posties out 7 days a week (our post regularly turns up after 3pm in an afternoon which is disgraceful).


At the time of the 1992 contest I was somewhat of a Michael Ball fan, so more than a bit happy that the BBC had seen fit to revert to their old ways of internally selecting the performer.  However, his statement after the event when asked if he would do it all again "...I would rather stick needles in my eyes.." infuriated me.  I don't care how many times he claims he said it only in jest I will never believe him, never.  I heard him make the comment, and he meant every word. As for "One Step Out Of Time", well I did televote for it (despite MB not liking it much as I recall) and I genuinely thought we had a great chance of winning in Malmö. 


The contest itself (oh how I cringed when Harald Treutiger described Eurovision as the "..biggest gameshow in the world...") was a vintage musically.  Great show, including probably my most expensive EuroSong purchase ever.  From the preview videos I picked out "Nei eda Ja" by Heart 2Heart for Iceland as my winner, and when I tracked down a copy of the CD single on Ebay several years ago I was convinced I would get it cheaply on the premise that no-one else could possible want it. How wrong was I, and instead of the £5 I thought it would cost me I had to go to £18 to secure my purchase (I have no idea if it is worth that, but I haven't seen another since so assume it is fairly rare).  The UK gave Iceland their 12 points, proving my hearing wasn't on the wane - pity no other country could be persuaded to part with their top mark similarly.

I was gutted, naturally, when Ireland walked off with the Grand Prix.  Mind you with the King Midas of Eurovision, one J Logan, behind it maybe I shouldn't have been too surprised.  Not one of my favourite winners if I'm honest.

Good news.  My DVD has finally turned up.  Only took 10 days to arrive first class from Barnsley....


Means Wednesdays EuroNite is sorted thankfully.

Ukraine Qualifier - Week 4

Another excellent show, ruined by the so-called experts putting through the three of the more moderate entries.  One that was overlooked is the one above, a stunning performance by Dash who should have been a certainty with her entry (would go close in their NF as well).  Both the song and the delivery were out of the top drawer and one has to wonder whether there is a slight, erm, fixed element to the selection process so far....


I understand that some of the non-qualifiers will be put through courtesy of a Ukrainian televote, so it may not be the last we hear of "No One Knows".  Fine, fine song.

Enjoyed last nights EuroNite, musically speaking of course.  It is hard to disagree with Terry Wogans priceless remark "It was a sorry day for us all when this man won last year", but I am right about one thing - a few glasses of Dry White really does numb the pain of the most excruciating voting sequence in the contests history.  Luckily my husband was spared the sight of me drunkingly rambling "..shut the *** up you Italian ***...", as he came back from the pub just as Carolas wind machine was being cranked up for the reprise.


I am no fan of either of the tied winners, then or now.  The best songs (in my opinion anyway) were also rans (as ever).  Dulce Pointes is my favourite Portuguese entry ever by some distance, and I also liked Maltas effort "Could It Be" (still sounds to me as if it was written for a Disney movie).  Pity that the broadcast was spoilt by Toto Cutugno and a set cobbled together with rusty girders.


******


A slight panic ahead of next Wednesday.  Every January I do a quick audit of all my Eurovision DVDs, making sure they are all in their correct boxes and arranged in order.  Last time I did this there were three missing (I occasionally am too tired (or drunk possibly...) to remove the disc from the player), and although two were quickly located the other one, 1992, was nowhere to be found.  I remember last time that one came around my hubby had the manflu and didn't go out, so I was banished to the bedroom to get my weekly Euro-fix.


I used an old DVD player we had in the spare room instead of carting our main one upstairs, and I'm sure I must have forgotten to take the disc out.  Said DVD player is now missing (I am told it was believed broken and taken to the tip - didn't anyone check what was in it first?), and so I am one disc down.  Ordered a replacement 2 weeks ago, and although I am told it is on it's way it has still not arrived (I wont bore with the shocking state of Royal Mail in my part of Cheshire).  Fingers crossed it appears before next Wednesday.....

EuroNite - This Week: 1991

After last weeks hiatus we are back to normal with a Wednesday EuroNite.  Following on chronologically we arrive at 1991.  Both "Song For Europe" and the contest proper live long in the memory - for the wrong reasons though.  If I was after Paul Curtis's blood after "Give A Little Love Back...." the previous year, I wanted his head on a plate after he managed to perform the same trick for a second year - that is, somehow triumph with one of the worst efforts the UK has had the nerve to enter (and I include Jemini and Kenneth McKellar in that), leaving two far more worthy efforts with runners-up spots only.  Hell, how I despise "Listen To Your Heart" by a rather tuneless, to put it politely, Samantha Janus.  Utter rubbish, and for me the lowpoint of any UK entry ever.

The better songs that finished 2nd and 3rd were, "Lover Come In" by Brendan Faye, and "Little Bit Of Heaven" by Lorraine Craig (below, and receiver of my 5 penceworth).  I'm not suggesting that either would have brought the UK victory in Rome, but both were a cut above the piece of rubbish (and lets face it, it is utter rubbish) the televoters decided on.

Do not let me get started on the contest proper...... I have mentioned previously of my loathing of T Cutugno, and it is due in the main down to his "antics" throughout this broadcast.  From gatecrashing Gigliola Cinquettis reprise of "Non Ho L'Eta" at the start, to his utter incapability to speak any language other than Italian (did he not understand the job description for crying out loud) by the end, he remains to this day my most hated host by a zillion miles.   Thank god for Blossom Hill I say!!!!!  Hopefully I wont be feeling quite as much pain by the end of the night.

I have also been made aware only this week that I should keep an ear out for an unguarded remark made by Scrutineer Frank Naef after declaring Sweden had won one of the most contreversial votes ever.........

Ukraine Qualifier - Week 3

I have to admit that I really, really enjoyed all 7 of this weeks songs, it was a great show.  Considering the previous weeks were all of fairly modest fare, this presentation would have been worthy of their National Final.  There is a strong chance that the Ukrainian representative in Dusseldorf will come from either Shanis, Matias or, my favourite Jemchug (below).  I absolutely loved their song "Hero", and feel it must have a great chance (it becomes the 3rd pre-selection song to make it onto my IPod).  Matias, on the other hand, appears to be some sort of Ukrainian teen-idol, and although I felt his song was possibly the weakest of the selection, you just knew he was a certain qualifier.  If the Ukrainian tele-voters are all teenage girls, then he would be a stonewall certainty in the final.

Romania & Ukraine

Spending my Sunday morning listening to all 13 Romanian selections, and I am very pleased to report that the standard is surprisingly high (except for one - a wretched entry called "My Facebook Girl" which was absolutely torturous - avoid at all costs).  After a third placing in Oslo undoubtedly the Romanian confidence will be sky high.  I've narrowed it down to three selections:


Direcția 5 - "Cinema Love"

Hotel FM - "Change"

Claudia Pavel - "I Want U to Want Me"

The link to hear all of the songs is here:  Romanian Selections  The final is on New Years Eve.


Also, got the third instalment of the Ukrainian qualifiers to look forward to this afternoon.  Hopefully the standard will be slightly improved on the previous two weeks, and for the first time I will get to see all 7 entries, not just the 3 songs going forward to their NF. It can be seen here Ukrainian TV

No EuroNite Tonight

On only about a dozen times a year does a late work finish proclude me from have ing one of my Wednesday EuroNites.  Today is such a day.  If I went ahead and watched 1991 along with A Song For Europe, I probably wouldn't be in bed until well into the early hours!!!  Normal service will be resumed one week from now.

Webjoker - The Winners, And Other MF News

Well, I didn't manage to pick either of the two Swedish Webjoker qualifiers, and short of a complete miracle, I would think it unlikely that either Julia Alvgard (above) or Jonas Mattson will be seriously involved at the business end of Melodifestivalen.  Well done to both artists regardless, beating over 300 others is no mean feat.


In other MF news, I was delighted to hear the Elizabeth Andreasson has received a wild-card entry.  I am a massive Bettan fan of many years, and cannot wait to hear her new song.  It wil be a true highlight for me this season.  I'm confident it must have been a very decent song for her to be persuaded to perform, and as I said I cannot wait to hear it.

3 More Qualify in Ukraine

I was rather hoping the quality would improve from last weeks offering, how wrong was I.  Cannot find anything to like about Bahroma (a Radiohead-wannabe performance, frightful), Ivan Berezovskiys or Eduard Romanyutas tuneless efforts.  I cannot imagine for one minute one of them would be good enough to represent the Ukraine in Dusseldorf (unless they are hellbent on not winning).


Fingers crossed next weeks qualifier is a little more inspiring.

Webjoker - The Final 5

Spent this morning having another listen to the final 5 left at the end of the Swedish "Webjoker" pre-selection process.  This is where unsigned artisits / writers entered songs by the thousand in an attempt to gain two golden-wildcard-tickets to Melodifestivalen 2011.  I'm glad I haven't a chance to vote, because none of them strike me as particularly outstanding, let alone anywhere near good enough to win (even after a second listen).


If I have to narrow it down to 2 I will go for "Don't Stop" by Engla and "Tusen Natta" by Swedish boy-band Billy.  The Swedish televoters will probably have a different opinion I daresay.


If I rush home from work on Monday night I should be home in time to catch the streamed telecast which is avaialable here:   svt.se/melodifestivalen   (after clicking the link scroll down to see/hear the final 5).

Why Do We Sometimes Get It Wrong...

Had a great nights entertainment last night, EuroNite 1990 (my husband returned from our local social club just in time to catch me sticking two fingers up at the unseen Finnish Jury spokesperson giving Italy victory).  However, in common with other countries the UK have an uncanny knack of leaving their best chance of winning at home, and 1990 was no exception.  Where I had no problems with the sentiments expressed in Emma Booths ozone-friendly effort, it was essentially a rubbish song.  And for a Song Contest that is a problem I'd say.  The right and proper representative was the runner-up, the one below, John Miles "Where I Belong".  In melody, structure and performance it is light years ahead of "Give A Little Love Back To The World", yet got less than half the votes (including 5p worth from yours truly I clearly recall). I always suspected though, that the outcome would have been the same even if the decision had been left to juries and not televoters.  Big shame, this song is one that got away for certain, and would have been a major player in Zagreb.

 

...and after much searching, here is Euro-Cat!

A bit remiss of me yesterday that when mentioning the Swiss Webvote I didn't supply the link.  This is it:  Swiss Webvote - it only takes few moments to sign up, and a email link to activate.  Each person gets 4 votes only to distribute to either 1 entry (like I did) or a maximum of 4 entries.

Wednesday Night Is EuroNite - 1990

Wednesday nights mean only one thing in my house - EuroNite - the one night a week I spend reminiscing in front of a contest past (and the odd UK Song For Europe as well).  I have copies of all contests from 1965-2010, and watch them chronologically throughout the year.  Hubby is booted out of the house (doesn't need much persuading) so I can have the lights off, a solitary candle lit, and a glass or 7 of dry white while wallowing in glorious nostalgia.

I am currently at 1990 (been scouring the net for a piccy of Euro-Cat to no avail), meaning one of my most loathed winners (and performer come to that).  The insufferable Toto Cutegno.  Why is it, when Italy had so many fantastic entries in other years they win with a big-headed egotist.

My idea of the winner that year was this one - Iceland. Call it Eurovision-by-Numbers, or formulaic Euro-pap if you must, but I absolutely loved it then.  I have a great nights entertainment to look forward to (ignoring the one that won of course).

A Swiss Struggle....

Signed up to participate in the Swiss pre-selection process - I almost wish I hadn't as it turns out that their web-selection contains in the region of 300 (yes 300) entries.  Talk about being over-faced, I barely knew where to start.  Thought the easiest way would be to disregard anyone I hadn't heard of (roughly 95% of the performers) and work backwards.  Listened to efforts from DQ, Todomondo and (bizarrely) multi-Irish NF participant Maggie Toal (who has two entries would you believe) - my patience was finally rewarded when discovering that an old favourite Swiss-Euro-Songstress of years past, Mariella Farre has also entered.  I thought that as long as she retained a shred of her undoubted ability from back then my search would stop here - and stop here it did.  My 4 votes have all gone her way, whether in vain or not remains to be seen.

It's never too early.....

It may only be the beginning of November, but pre-selection processes are already underway in a number of  countries.  Announcements have been already made by many other countries as well (I understand the current count of countries intending to be in Dusseldorf currently stands at 31). The first of 5 pre-qualifiers for the Ukraine NF took place on the 31st October, and although the standard was not particularly mind-blowing, I did pick one of the three qualifiers out, and this song has the dubious honour of being the first pre-selection effort to find its way onto my IPod this season.  This is Kristina Kim with "Victim Of Love"

Welcome!

Hi, this is my new blog all about my love of the Eurovision Song Contest.  Been an obsessive follower since 1976, when as a 3 year old got totally carried away by Brotherhood of Mans victory in The Hague (I'm not the 3 year old they sing to in the song by the way, if only, what a story that would make!).


From the early pre-selection to the main event itself I will be posting my comments all the way to Dusseldorf and beyond! Enjoy!!