Netherlands NF - Result

The Dutch representative, internally selected band 3Js, will perform the song "Je vecht nooit alleen"  in the second semi-final on the 12th May.  A half-jury / half televote selection process gave this song the nod ahead of 4 others.  It's an ok song, but not particularly outstanding, and I fear this will join the long, long list of Netherlands-Non-Qualifiers of recent years, indeed it was 2004 that they last figured on finals night.

All Rise - It's A Blue UK!

The BBC have finally announced their plans for this years Song Contest. It has been long rumoured that the performer would be internally selected for the first time for 17 years, but we also understand that the song has also been internally selected, in line with the last two NFs, so the British viewers will have no say in what is performed in Düsseldorf (I cannot be alone in feeling cheated slightly).


The act in question are re-formed early 2000s boyband Blue, meaning that Anthony Costa finally makes a contest proper after coming in 2nd behind Daz Sampson in 2006.


The news appears to be going down better with our European neighbours, who appear to be quietly impressed, than the UK EuroSong fraternity who are distinctly underwhelmed in the main.  My opinion?  It could have been worse, although only Simon Webbe has really had any solo success since they split.  I would rather wait until the song is released before passing proper judgement. 

Martins Freimanis 1977 - 2011

Unfortunately I'm reporting another yet more tragic news.  Martins Freimanis, who I recall as one 1/3rd of F.L.Y who represented Latvia in 2003 with the much under-appreciated "Hello From Mars"  (my favourite Latvian entry by some distance), and writer of "The World Is Not Over" a couple of years later, has passed away after complications following a bout of Infulenza.


In a sad co-incidence with Sigurjon Brinks recent passing, Martins also has an songwriting entry in his own countrys NF this season,  "Hop" by Blitze (and of course Lauris Reiniks also of F.L.Y  is represented in his own right with "Banjo Laura").


It's all terribly sad, RIP.

Ukraine To Pull Out????

I hope that this rumour doesn't turn out to be true.  Gossip doing the ESC rounds is indicating that Ukraine are so scared of winning in Düsseldorf that they would rather pay a fine to the EBU by pulling out after the cut-off point instead of appearing.  Please tell me this wont happen.


I did enjoy my Sunday afternoons before Christmas watching their qualifiers, including Jemchug (above), and am looking forward to their NF immensely.  It would be awful  if this was all for nothing.

More Qualifiers....

More pre-selection qualifiers have taken place over the last weekend again in Finland, Norway and Iceland.  The winners this week are:


Finland


Paradise Oskar (nothing special), Milana Misic (a clear winner for me, nothing will beat her surely), Father Mckenzie (average boy-band nonsense).




Norway


Hanne Sorvag (run of the mill NF fare, unoriginal and not sure about the guitar-as-a-prop), BabelFish (could see this winning, although not to my taste)




Iceland


Yohanna (see below), Matthias Matthiasson & Erla Bjorg Karadottir (EMO comes to Eurovision - this will not win).


***


Feel a little sorry for Yohanna, because in any other year (nothing to do with her previous ESC appearance) her entry would be more than good enough to secure the Icelandic nod.  However, this is no ordinary year in their pre-selection, with news arriving that the late Sigurjon Brinks entry will still be performed in the third Semi Final this weekend as planned by a group calling themselves "Sjonnis Friends". If "Aftur Heim" is moderately decent, then the sentiment factor should see it over the line (it would in any other country).  It would be a nice tribute, it remains to be seen whether the Icelandic televoters are swayed by such things.

EuroNite - Last Week 1997

Last Wednesdays offering took us to Dublin in 1997, although on this occasion my night was totally destroyed by my DVD skipping and freezing throughout the broadcast.  I have no recollection of this occuring last time I viewed this particular year, and as it is my favoutite contest of the 1990s I know for a fact I would have remembered.


I had to abandon "The Great British Song Contest" fairly hastily as it kept freezing and skipping all the way through Sam Blue, and then jumping forward to Katrina before freezing completely.  The wretched DVD then proceeded to continue its worst all through the contest proper.  Despite removing and inspecting said disc for fingerprints/damage, and only locating two barely-there surface marks that I thought I had polished away, the whole night was fragmented.  I did manage to get it to play for a large part of the contest uninterrupted, but as we got to the later stages of the contest (VIP for Hungary, see above) the freezing recommenced. I was tearing my hair out at this point.


Obviously apart from it being my favourite contest of the 1990s  it was all the more disappointing as I missed Katrina (including the reprise), Boyzone in the interval and the whole of the vote as Carrie Crowley remained completely frozen on my screen.  I had no choice but to bring the curtain down early. 


I have set about the faulty disc with one of my husbands hammers, and a replacement will be sought in good time before this year comes round again.

Sigurjón Brink 1974 - 2011

At the risk of this blog becoming one long obituary, I hate to have to being news of another tragedy to hit the ESC community.  Icelnadic NF entrant of last year, and of this years as well (he would have appeared in the Third Semi Final a week on Saturday) Sigurjón Brink has passed away from a heart attack at the age of 36.  This is awful news, and our prayers go to his wfe and his 4 children.


His entry in last years Icelandic NF was "Waterslide" (see below), and it was one of my most favourite non-qualifiers.


RIP.

Semi Final Draw News

The draw for the two semi finals, plus which of the "Big Five" get to vote in which one has been made in Düsseldorf. In a strange move no telecast was made available, with updates available via dedicated Twitter feed. The running orders are as follows:

Semi Final One 10th May Albania, Finland, Armenia, Switzerland, Norway, Georgia, Turkey, Serbia, Russia, Poland, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, San Marino, Iceland, Greece, Portugal (voting rights - UK, Spain)


Semi Final two 12th May: The Netherlands, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ukraine, Cyprus, Austria, Sweden, Moldova, Belgium, Slovakia, Israel, FYR Macedonia, Denmark, Belarus, Bulgaria, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Slovenia, Ireland (voting rights - Germany, France, Italy)


The one thing that struck me straightaway was the face that yet again the UK will be unable to vote for Ireland  - lets hope their entry is strong enough to qulaify without our neighbourly help!

Augusto Algueró 1934 - 2011

More sad news reaches us with the death of the well known ESC Conductor of the  1960s/early 70s Augusto Algueró.  He conducted on a number of  occasions, including one of the joint-winners in 1969 "Viva Cantando", and he also composed the first Spanish entry "Estando Conigo" in 1961 and wrote the music for Jaime Morrey and "Amanece" in 1972 (see below) - this is one song I have always though would have made a great Bond Theme!

History

Spain 1961: Estando contigo (composer)

Luxembourg 1969: Catherine (conductor)

Spain 1969: Vivo Cantando (conductor)

Spain 1970: Gwendolyne (conductor)

Spain 1972: Amanece (Composer/Conductor)

Recent Qualifiers

3 countries have recently held pre-NF qualifiers, and the lucky participants are as follows:


Finland


Johanna Livinainen (I'm thrilled, her song is exquisite), Cardiant and Marko Maunuksela.


Iceland


Haraldur Reynisson (song reminds me of "Fly On The Wings of Love", except not as good) and Erna Hrónn Ólafsdóttir (whose song is lovely and must have every chance of winning).


Norway


Helene Bøksle (song was nothing special, there will be something to beat it) and  Åste & Rikke (cannot see what the fuss is with this one,  it's very modern but again nothing special (in my opinion).

Tonight - Finnish SF 1

The first of 3 semi-finals of the Finnish selection is broadcast this evening - watch it here from 8pm GMT (9pm CET):  Finnish TV


Automatic Eye, Jonna, Johanna Livanainen, Marko Maunuksela and Cardiant are up for the vote, with any 3 from the 5 going through to the NF.


I hope Johanna makes it through, it was one of the very few I thought stood out from the entries on offer.

EuroNite - This Week 1996

After a weeks gap, last Wednesday night saw our EuroTrip head to Oslo for the 1996 contest.  It was presented by Morten Harket (despite being of-age to appreciate A-Ha at their peak, was never a fan) and Ingvild Bryn (who comes third on my Most Annoying Female Presenters list, behind a certain German lady from 1983).  I wish I had written the line that contained the words "...vast amounts of money, thousands of man hours and many sleepless nights...".


The United Kingdom were in the graveyard Number Two slot.  Our NF took on a slightly different format that year, with the final 8 whittled down to 4 by listeners of Radio 2 before the qualifiers were put to the Televote.  It was a poor year, with not one entry outstanding.  It was fairly obvious that Gina Gs Euro-Disco song was going to win, and there are many who believe this effort was the UKs finest hour - not me (can tolerate it if played full blast in a club when I am the worse for drink) - it was a bit formulaic and lyrically challenged for me, certainly wasn't helped by a tuneless rendition on the night (don't start me on that dress, and Gina not having the legs to carry it off). We deservedly finished amongst the also-rans.


The winner that year was Ireland, for the 4th time in 5 years.  Eimear Quinn with "The Voice" for me capitalised on the popularity of Celtic music, fuelled by the phenomena of Riverdance,  I thought at the time (and still do) that it was quite exquisite, and felt it had a big chance.  That said, my 12 points that year would have gone to Estonia (above).  I simply loved Maarja Liis & Ivo Linna with "Kaaleke Haal", but suspect that many jury members may have been creeped out by a middle-aged man singing with a girl young enough too be his daughter, and handed there votes elsewhere.  Pity, as the song is light-years better than the one they eventually won the contest with several years later.


Two other performances of note - Elisabeth Andreassen for Norway (the host country could not be accused of not trying to retain the crown), and Maja Blagden for Croatia (if you ignore the high pitched screech mid-song).


All in all, an entertaining show!

Flemming Jorgensen 1947 - 2010

Flemming Jorgensen 1947 - 2010

Some very sad news to start the year with my ESC friends, with the death of Flemming Jorgensen, lead singer with Bamses Venner who represented Denmark at The Hague in 1980 with the delightful "Tænker altid på dig".  He passed away on New Years Eve following a heart attack.

A much underrated Danish entry in my opinion, but I always felt that the song itself would have fared a lot better had the language-rule not been in force back then, as the English language version "Miss You" is a proper heart-breaker.  That, and had he been a little more soberly dressed of course,  we are talking top 5 had that been the case.  To me the performance was always overshadowed by the choice of outfit, and the language barrier (unless you speak Danish I guess).

RIP Bamses.

Hotel FM Win In Romania

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

The year has got off to a great start for Hotel FM as their song "Change" is the Romanian representative in Dusseldorf.  I'm delighted, this was the only one of the Romanian Pre-Selection to make it on my IPod, the only one I wanted to listen to more than once.  I'm confident they will qualify, but feel there will be something better that will beat it on finals night. 

EuroNite - This Week 1995

Back to normality with the final EuroNite of the year, we arrive at 1995.


The UK Song For Europe lives long in the memory!  No-one was more astonished than me at the easy win enjoyed by Love City Groove with the imaginatively titled "Love City Groove".  If the UK were to send such an act in 2011, then it would be N-Dubz!  My televote went to the entry above, Samantha Fox with the equally imaginatively named group Sox and "Go For The Heart".  Not because I thought it would win, but it was the best song out of a rather average selection.


Love City Groove scored a landslide victory, but if there is one thing the UK doesn't do well, and that is "trendy".  Presumably the voters who gave their fivepenceworth to them thought "this is modern, this is trendy, this will do well!",  whereas I thought "this is rubbish, we've got no hope, what sort of a name is Beanz?".  I wasn't wrong as we trailed in 10th when we got to Dublin.


After 3 successive Irish victories they made sure it wasn't going to be a 4th as Eddie Friels "Dreamin'" was one of the most ordinary entries in their history.  The triumphant country on this occasion was Norway, although calling their entry "Nocturne" a song was almost contravening the Trades Description Act, as it was little more than a tune with a few words thrown in for good measure.  One of my least favourite winners, and thankfully the EBU saw fit to change the rules in it's wake.

Aurela Gaçe Wins In Albania

Managed to find a live stream courtesy of Kosovan Television, as the TVSH links were dead again.....

As NFs go it was of fairly standard quality, so I was quite surprised at how easily Aurela Gaçe won.  Receiving the 12 points from 5 of the 6 jury members (no televote remember) it was pretty much a one horse race from the start.  Alban & Miriam trailled in a rather distant second place, which was a shame as I felt they had the stronger entry,  Aurela being a bit shouty.  Wont qualify in any case, not a hope.

Albanian Final Tonight

Merry Christmas Everyone!!


Technical faults permitting - blast you TVSH for blocking the webcasts of both semi-finals, as the working properly links all mysteriously went dead prior to both broadcasts - I hope to be tuning into the Albanian NF this evening.  Looking forward to it, from the qualifiers I've heard so far I would expect the winner to be Alban Skenderaj & Miriam Cani with "Ende Ka Shprese" and nothing else.  As it is all jury and no televoting, any other outcome would be unlikely.  I will post the winner on here either later on tonight or tomorrow.

Latvia - Entries Online

Having listened to the Latvian entries (all 20 of them) I was rather stunned at what I considered to be the high quality of most of them.  Imagine my dismay when scouring the various Eurovision forums where very few shared my opinion.  Now, I'm not suggesting  I heard any potential winners here, far from it, but I felt the standard was very high and I'm not impressed with the general concencus of opinion "Boring" "Snoozefest" "Ordinary".  I have heard a hell of a lot worse over the years!!  I do agree with one thing, there could have been a couple of Lavian language efforts to vary the content.


The only entry that seems to gaining any favour is one of the very few I ditched before the 3 minutes were up, so poor did I consider it.  Lauris Reiniks, who I remember as one member of F.L.Y., has returned as a soloist with a song entitled "Banjo Laura".  I hate it.  I can only think that it is his popularity in Latvia that is carrying him on, because the song is awful.  If it should get the Latvian nod then it is a certain non-qualifier (surely Latvian TV aren't still paying for Marie Ns win of years ago....).  I would wager good money that the winner will be found elsewhere. 


Narrowed it down to three I like:


"Live On!" - Oksana Lepska
"Cinderella" - Ivo Grisnins-Grislis
"Summer Night" - The Secretz






The songs are all here: Latvian Pre Selection


****


No EuroNite this week due to a late work finish, back to normal on Wednesday 29th December.

EuroNite - This Week 1994

EuroNite once more, and we are back in Dublin.  This weeks flashback however is tinged with great sadness as this will be the first time I have watched the show since the brilliant Gerry Ryans sad passing back in April.  I was a huge fan of the great man and his death upset me greatly.


Another high quality concert, and one that Ireland were certainly not expected to win!  Having already triumphed 2 years in a row, it was likely that the head of RTE had already sold anything he could get his hands on to stage the concert for a second time - heaven knows what was going through his mind when Paul & Charlie carted off the prize with "Rock n Roll Kids".  On the face of it the Irish had sent a reasonable not-supposed-to-win effort, and I will be honest here that at the time I didn't much like it - but over the years it is one winner that has grown and grown on me, and I'm rather fond of it now!


There was decent opposition in the form of Elisabeth Andreasson & the late Jan Werner Danielson with "Duett" for Norway, which was my idea of the winner and remains one of my all time favourites.


Of course, the biggest hit to emerge from 1994 wasn't even in the contest - Riverdance.  Surely there has never been a better interval act than Michael Flatley and company.  Simply amazing, and no surprise it is as popular now as ever.

Switzerland - Anna Rossinelli Wins

The result of the Swiss National Final is now known, and it is congratulations to Anna Rossinelli who has triumphed with "In Love For A While".  On the downside It does appear that the Swiss Televoters and experts have plumped for a rather "safe" and Lena-Like option (suspect the contest will be full of Lena-a-Likes next year, you heard it here first).  What cannot be disputed of course is that it is a vast improvement on Michael van der Heides effort of 12 months ago.

I did think that all the pre-final favourites were nothing special, and looks like the televoters agreed.

Probable qualifier, but not a winner in my opinion.  I'll stand by my earlier assertion that we shall not be in Lausanne in 2012.

***

First UK rumour to surface seems to indicate that we may finally be returning to ways of old by internally selecting a well-known performer.  Last time we did this was with Frances Ruffelle in 1994 (of who more on Wednesday).

Names in the frame appear to be all female - Charlotte Church, Pixie Lott and Katherine Jenkins.  At least we know they can all sing!!  Although Charlottes reputation often proceeds her, she would be my choice of the three.  Pixie would secure the youth-vote and little else (not many grannies would have heard of her) and I haven't heard Katherine do anything but classical, which doesn't particularly inspire.

I am told to expect an announcement shortly, but knowing the BBC I am not holding my breath. 

EuroNite 1993 Part 2

A much enjoyable contest, with many high quality songs.  My hubby returned from his night out as I was was having a tuneless Sing-Along-A-Niamh moment as she belted out the reprise.  It was the correct winner, make no mistake.  The fact that Sonia came close to winning (another year when it went down to the last vote) took me, and I suspect many others watching, by complete but pleasant surprise.


At the other end of the scale, the song that ended up with the wooden spoon is curiously one of my all time favourites.  Poor Barbara Dex from Belgium has had a lot to put up with since 1993 (the joke about her outfit is wearing a tad thin), but I thought her song was fabulous and far more worthy than the 3 points gained.

EuroNite - This Week 1993 (and other news)

After a blank Wednesday last week, back to normal this week.  Our Euro-journey has reached 1993.  At the time I well remember being a little disappointed that Sonia had been internally selected to represent the UK as I was no fan of Stock-Aitken-Waterman-type music, and thought that all the pre-selection entries would be of similar fare.  I wasn't wrong, as 6 of the 8 songs were in that style, including the one above which was my second choice "Gonna Put A Spell On You".

I did televote for the winner (in line with 150,000 others), admittedly, however thought the standard of entries in our NF that year was distinctly average.  The fact that we almost won the whole thing with "Better The Devil You Know" (another year when it went to the final vote) took me by complete surprise.

*****

When is a semi-final not a semi final? Just when you all thought you had heard the last of the Ukrainian selections until the New Year (or a least until the televote selections had been revealed), it seems NTU changed the rules.


Do keep up with the next bit, it will be worth it...........


The semi finals were actually quarter finals it would now seem.  The 15 qualifiers as of right, along with the 5 televoted also-rans and, bizarrely, 4 others who didn't qualify either on the day or by the subsequent televote (including a timely reprieve for A.R.M.I.Y.A. I am pleased to hear) have been split into 3 groups of 8, of which 5 so far have qualified for, I assume, the NF (although who knows, maybe there will be even more qualifying rounds).  


Are you still with me?? 


(By the way, Jemchug, who caught the ear in week 3 with "Hero" have made it safely through.)

Switzerland NF

One week tomorrow sees the first National Final of the season, in Switzerland.  Having heard all the entries a number of times now, I still cannot find a single one that would be good enough to qualify for the contest proper, no matter what the Swiss televoters select.  The only one I thought was half decent was Sarah Burgess with "Just Me".  The other selections are moderate at best, and am at a loss why anyone would think "Come What May" by The Glue, or "Home" by The Colours & Ilia are even remotely good enough to represent Switzerland in Dusseldorf. And as for an act by the name of Polly Duster, one word - avoid.


I think that the main problem here was the web selection.  How many of the better entries of the 300+ songs may have been a) eliminated by a few votes or b) not even heard.  There were far too many songs for anyone to reasonably listen to properly, and it would have served far more purpose if they had got some music professionals to whittle it down to say 50 maybe before releasing the selections online.  


In conclusion it is safe to say we will not be in Lausanne in 2012.

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.