The Dutch final was held in Hilversum on 30th January. 3JS (pronounced three-jays) were internally selected by the Dutch Broadcasters. The song was to be chosen using a 50% jury and 50% televote system. All 5 songs had been produced by the band themselves.
The 3JS, to be frank, look like the Jonas Brothers Dad’s band. They have been in the business a fair while now and seem quite tight. I guess TROS will be hoping that this experience will pay some dividends on the night. Another note to be made is that the stage seems quite small and sparse. Whatever the band does tonight will need to be highly magnified and thought out before getting it to the Eurovision stage. But I am getting ahead of myself- Lets get on with the show…
The show starts with a compilation of old Eurovision hits. Then the jury is introduced. The band is introduced with a short video including pictures of when they were young.
Ga Dan Neit (Don't go then) This is a slightly country based song with a very floaty quality. The chorus is not very strong for Eurovision. Might be a great record for the radio, but not Eurovision. I am also not quite sure if Dutch suits this style of song. Very strange ending too. The audience also does not look that impressed.
De Stroom (The stream) The guys are joined by male and female backing singer .This song starts much more upbeat. The audience starts clapping immediately. The bridge before the chorus rally builds up the tension and anticipation for the next part. The chorus is very catchy, especially with the oh-oh-oh bit at the end. Sounds like Stargirl by McFly. Quite a lot.
Toen ik jou vergat (When I forgot you) The band now revert back to the slow numbers. This is a very slow tempo number with a quite rocky guitar, a bit like “Days of our lives” by Queen. The tune of the chorus is actually clever but the tune seems to be too low for the singer although he seems to be gesticulating quite passionately throughout. The audience are motionless.
Weelderig Waardeloos (Luxuriously worthless) This is more a folk tune on acoustic guitar. They are all sat on stools and the whole performance is very gentle and quiet. The song is actually reminiscent of a children’s lullaby. I actually think that this song is stunningly beautiful however I am unsure if this would be too quiet for Eurovision or stand out because of it.
Je Vecht Nooit Allen (You will never fight alone) The backing singers once again appear on stage. The song starts off quite quiet however the audience are clapping. The bridge kicks in and the audience start really get into it The chorus grows even more in the music and the repetitive lyrics make it quite memorable. I think this may be the audience favourite!
After another compilations tape including some faves in the studio (Marscha and Marlayne to name just two) The jury reveal their rankings -
1st "Je vecht nooit alleen”
2nd "De stroom"
3rd "Ga dan niet"
4th "Toen ik jou vergat"
5th "Weelderig waardeloos"
Then the televote results are announced
"Ga dan niet" 5th (1%)
"De stroom" 2nd (25.5%)
"Toen ik jou vergat" 4th (3.9%)
"Weelderig waardeloos" 3rd (5.8%)
"Je vecht nooit alleen" 1st (63.8%)
This means that “Je Vecht Nooit Alleen” will be the song 3JS sing in Dusseldorf.
SINGER – 3JS
SONG – Je Vecht Nooit Alleen (You will never fight alone)
MUSIC - Jaap Schilder, Jan Keuken, Jaap Kwakman
WORDS – Jaap Schilder, Jan Keuken, Jaap Kwakman
Monday, 31 January 2011
NETHERLANDS
Labels:
2011,
3JS,
Eurovision,
Je Vecht Nooit Alleen,
Netherlands
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
ROMANIA
New Years Eve saw Romania choose their entry for Dusseldorf in the TVR Studios inBucharest. This also doubled up as their New Year's Day celebrations. Luckily, I have TV Romania on my satellite dish so this was the first final was able to see this year :o)
Opening dance sequence. The dancers seem to be wearing Doce’s cast outs from 1982.
Ovi and Paula Selling present the show. They came second last year with their catchy tune “Playing with fire”. Shame they have not put forward another collaboration again this year.
1) Adi Cristianu- One by One
The stage is covered with a horrid green sheet (whatever for!)
Ado is joined by one backing singer and 4 dancers who seem to be dressed as funny coloured bushes. The song is a bit strange although not unpleasant. The chorus uses his falsetto range quite a lot, which he seem unconfident with, and this part of his voice certainly isn’t strong. No punch to this song at all
2) Dalma – Song for Him
Dalma seems to wearing a short wedding dress and is sitting underneath an abandoned piece of garden furniture. Oh dear. The song starts out sweet and innocent and suddenly she proclaims “Who am I kidding?” The song has a kind of Meredith Brooks “Bitch” twinge to it. Dalma’s voice is not strong and the ending is just plain, plain weird.
3) Leticia – Dreaming of you
Another a country style record. Leticia is standing on a pedestal surrounded by dry ice. The beginning of the song sounds hopeful. The background music is quite bassy and guitary and has a dream like feel to it, however a chorus consisting of “I’m dreaming of you” repeated 4 times is plain lazy. Very disappointing after an interesting start.
4) Silvia Stefanescu – I can’t breathe without you
First ballad of the night, with a bit of a rock edge. Silvia is sporting the Morticia Addams look tonight, although she actually gets away with it! The song itself is actually a bit of a grower and Silvia obviously has confidence in her song and herself and it shows. Best performance up to now, but that really isn’t that difficult.
5) Blaxy Girls – It’s so fine
Oh dear. And I thought Vanilla Ninja were annoying. These girls take it to a new level. You can also tell the singer is trying very hard to ‘do a Lena’ and talk with a funny cockney accent. Another boring chorus “It’s so fine” repeated 9 times in each chorus *yawn* This is exactly the kind of thing I’d expect at Junior Eurovision NOT normal Eurovision.
Ovi and Paula now sing a selection of their songs.
What followed this looked like the Romanian version of Mini-pops doing Eurovision classics (this is so wrong I cannot tell you…) Starting to think if I have accidentally started watching re-runs of 3,2,1…
6) Claudia Pavel – I want U to want me
This song definitely has a touch of “Bleeding Love” about it. The Backing track is quite bassy but also have a lot of fast microbeats in the background. Gets off to a bad start as Claudia shows us here vocal dexterity... out of tune. She continues the theme by screeching out the top notes in the chorus. Would be a fantastic song…. For someone who could sing it properly.
7) Laurentiu Cazan – We can change the world
A slightly more ‘mature’ performer singing a very eighties styled rock song. He seems very comfortable about the song but something isn’t quite right. The staging needs far more action as it is all very static. Furthermore he doesn’t seem very loud and it isn’t always clear as to what he is singing. The strange ending also doesn’t help matters.
8) Dan Helciug – My Facebook girl
Aside Dan are a boy and girl playing away on their PCs, as well as doing some backing singing... The song is a very strange one. With such a modern title I was expecting something electronic and funky and quirky but it is actually just one guy and his guitar (pardon the pun) with a bluesy style song. The lyrics are actually quite twee and it seems to go on forever…
9) Distincto, Ianna and Anthony Icuagu – Open your eyes
This is a more ethereal type song with operatic overtones. Although it starts off well, I find the choruses a little bit grating. When they all sing together is seems like they are fighting against each other, rather than blending or complementing each other - especially Ianna- whose voice is a little shrill at times. In Eurovision terms this would definitely stand out
Another break A Romanian folk trio are doing a folk version of “Playing with fire” The woman in the band plays the guitar in the most bizarre way, with it under her arm, like a set of bagpipes with the arm of the guitar pointing out. Strange.
Then another (pointless) dance montage.
10) Directia 5- Cinema Love
Another case of ‘good song but wrong singers’. The look and movement of the band just doesn’t suit the song. The backing track has lots of interesting riffs and beats which are ignored by this performance. The song is also full of clichéd filmic references which are also ignored in the production of the song. I like it but something about it is mis-matched.
11) Rallsa - Take me Down
OMG Aska from Yugoslavia has comeback from1982. This so wants to be “We no speak Americano” or “Why don’t you” by Gramophonedzie. I have to give the writers and singers of the song for producing something so original and interesting. Unfortunately the girls’ English is very poor as are their singing voices and their co-ordination. Could have been AMAZING.
12) Hotel FM – Change
OMG Arvingarna are back from1993 ! The band are joined by 2 dancers who use different styles to mirror the music styles. They also play the trumpets XD The singer is very confident and sings with conviction. The song is a bit ‘stereotypical Eurovision’ with obligatory key change! Could do with more interaction between all the people on stage.
13) Mihai Alexandru, B-Body and Soul – Bang Bang
Another interesting song where lots of styles of song and dance are played around with and mixed together. Like previous participants Rallsa, it plays with the sounds of old style songs and movies. I could imagine with wild styling that this song would be very interesting to watch. Although the two main male singers are definitely singing live, I am not so sure about the girls…
Johnny Logan now appears singing “What’s another year” and “Hold me now”.
Eventually we get to the voting. Distincto, Ianna and Anthony Icuagu win the jury vote but only scored 5 with the telvote. However Hotel FM's 10 points from the jury and first place with the viewers give them the ticket to Germany in May.
SINGER - Hotel FM
SONG - Change
MUSIC- Gabriel Băruţă
WORDS - Gabriel Băruţă, Alexandra Ivan
Opening dance sequence. The dancers seem to be wearing Doce’s cast outs from 1982.
Ovi and Paula Selling present the show. They came second last year with their catchy tune “Playing with fire”. Shame they have not put forward another collaboration again this year.
1) Adi Cristianu- One by One
The stage is covered with a horrid green sheet (whatever for!)
Ado is joined by one backing singer and 4 dancers who seem to be dressed as funny coloured bushes. The song is a bit strange although not unpleasant. The chorus uses his falsetto range quite a lot, which he seem unconfident with, and this part of his voice certainly isn’t strong. No punch to this song at all
2) Dalma – Song for Him
Dalma seems to wearing a short wedding dress and is sitting underneath an abandoned piece of garden furniture. Oh dear. The song starts out sweet and innocent and suddenly she proclaims “Who am I kidding?” The song has a kind of Meredith Brooks “Bitch” twinge to it. Dalma’s voice is not strong and the ending is just plain, plain weird.
3) Leticia – Dreaming of you
Another a country style record. Leticia is standing on a pedestal surrounded by dry ice. The beginning of the song sounds hopeful. The background music is quite bassy and guitary and has a dream like feel to it, however a chorus consisting of “I’m dreaming of you” repeated 4 times is plain lazy. Very disappointing after an interesting start.
4) Silvia Stefanescu – I can’t breathe without you
First ballad of the night, with a bit of a rock edge. Silvia is sporting the Morticia Addams look tonight, although she actually gets away with it! The song itself is actually a bit of a grower and Silvia obviously has confidence in her song and herself and it shows. Best performance up to now, but that really isn’t that difficult.
5) Blaxy Girls – It’s so fine
Oh dear. And I thought Vanilla Ninja were annoying. These girls take it to a new level. You can also tell the singer is trying very hard to ‘do a Lena’ and talk with a funny cockney accent. Another boring chorus “It’s so fine” repeated 9 times in each chorus *yawn* This is exactly the kind of thing I’d expect at Junior Eurovision NOT normal Eurovision.
Ovi and Paula now sing a selection of their songs.
What followed this looked like the Romanian version of Mini-pops doing Eurovision classics (this is so wrong I cannot tell you…) Starting to think if I have accidentally started watching re-runs of 3,2,1…
6) Claudia Pavel – I want U to want me
This song definitely has a touch of “Bleeding Love” about it. The Backing track is quite bassy but also have a lot of fast microbeats in the background. Gets off to a bad start as Claudia shows us here vocal dexterity... out of tune. She continues the theme by screeching out the top notes in the chorus. Would be a fantastic song…. For someone who could sing it properly.
7) Laurentiu Cazan – We can change the world
A slightly more ‘mature’ performer singing a very eighties styled rock song. He seems very comfortable about the song but something isn’t quite right. The staging needs far more action as it is all very static. Furthermore he doesn’t seem very loud and it isn’t always clear as to what he is singing. The strange ending also doesn’t help matters.
8) Dan Helciug – My Facebook girl
Aside Dan are a boy and girl playing away on their PCs, as well as doing some backing singing... The song is a very strange one. With such a modern title I was expecting something electronic and funky and quirky but it is actually just one guy and his guitar (pardon the pun) with a bluesy style song. The lyrics are actually quite twee and it seems to go on forever…
9) Distincto, Ianna and Anthony Icuagu – Open your eyes
This is a more ethereal type song with operatic overtones. Although it starts off well, I find the choruses a little bit grating. When they all sing together is seems like they are fighting against each other, rather than blending or complementing each other - especially Ianna- whose voice is a little shrill at times. In Eurovision terms this would definitely stand out
Another break A Romanian folk trio are doing a folk version of “Playing with fire” The woman in the band plays the guitar in the most bizarre way, with it under her arm, like a set of bagpipes with the arm of the guitar pointing out. Strange.
Then another (pointless) dance montage.
10) Directia 5- Cinema Love
Another case of ‘good song but wrong singers’. The look and movement of the band just doesn’t suit the song. The backing track has lots of interesting riffs and beats which are ignored by this performance. The song is also full of clichéd filmic references which are also ignored in the production of the song. I like it but something about it is mis-matched.
11) Rallsa - Take me Down
OMG Aska from Yugoslavia has comeback from1982. This so wants to be “We no speak Americano” or “Why don’t you” by Gramophonedzie. I have to give the writers and singers of the song for producing something so original and interesting. Unfortunately the girls’ English is very poor as are their singing voices and their co-ordination. Could have been AMAZING.
12) Hotel FM – Change
OMG Arvingarna are back from1993 ! The band are joined by 2 dancers who use different styles to mirror the music styles. They also play the trumpets XD The singer is very confident and sings with conviction. The song is a bit ‘stereotypical Eurovision’ with obligatory key change! Could do with more interaction between all the people on stage.
13) Mihai Alexandru, B-Body and Soul – Bang Bang
Another interesting song where lots of styles of song and dance are played around with and mixed together. Like previous participants Rallsa, it plays with the sounds of old style songs and movies. I could imagine with wild styling that this song would be very interesting to watch. Although the two main male singers are definitely singing live, I am not so sure about the girls…
Johnny Logan now appears singing “What’s another year” and “Hold me now”.
Eventually we get to the voting. Distincto, Ianna and Anthony Icuagu win the jury vote but only scored 5 with the telvote. However Hotel FM's 10 points from the jury and first place with the viewers give them the ticket to Germany in May.
SINGER - Hotel FM
SONG - Change
MUSIC- Gabriel Băruţă
WORDS - Gabriel Băruţă, Alexandra Ivan
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