1997 Italy : Jalisse – Fiumi di parole (Rivers of words)
Another simple choice, although was closely followed by Alice and Battiato’s “Treni Di Tozeur”
I always find this song slightly ironic.
Italy had been in and out of the conest throught the 80's and then RAI did not submit an entry in 94, 95 and 96 citing lack of support for the contest in the country. They then returned with this song but then withdrew again. RAI withdrew from the competition completely until 2011, when they came 2nd. This decision always seems a strange one considering that the song did so well (4/25)
Friday, 19 August 2011
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Day 18 - your favourite German entry
1996 Germany : Leon – Blauer Planet/Planet of Blue
Ooooooooooooooooooh, controversial!!!
1996 was a sad year for German Eurovision. After appearing in every Eurovision since 1956, this was the first year there was to be no German presence. The German public had chosen a song that they thought would be on the stage in Oslo, but for the one (and only) time ever the EBU had a ‘pre-selection’ contest.
Due to the influx of Eastern European countries wanting to enter, as well as the separate states that were once Yugoslavia, 30 countries had applied to be in the contest. So in the March the EBU had a pre-selection 8 jurors of each country were sent audio of the 29 songs (Norway were hosts and so automatically gained a place in the final) wanting the 22 tickets to the final. The bottom 7 would be out.
Hungary, Germany, Denmark, FYROM, Russia, Israel and Romania were out. Their songs never to be heard on the Eurovision stage.
So, Leon and his Blue Planet never made it. Shame, as the song was very contemporary for it’s time and probably the most relevant song that year. I mean, German music in 1996 was full of this dance style. It could have been big. We will never know.
The next year, the German preselection show was called “Der countdown laeuft” in honour of Leon’s failed song. Ironically Leon came back that year with another stomper of an entry, with another electronic song but with roots in Schlager and line dancing…. And came second.
I guess it was never meant to be…
Ooooooooooooooooooh, controversial!!!
1996 was a sad year for German Eurovision. After appearing in every Eurovision since 1956, this was the first year there was to be no German presence. The German public had chosen a song that they thought would be on the stage in Oslo, but for the one (and only) time ever the EBU had a ‘pre-selection’ contest.
Due to the influx of Eastern European countries wanting to enter, as well as the separate states that were once Yugoslavia, 30 countries had applied to be in the contest. So in the March the EBU had a pre-selection 8 jurors of each country were sent audio of the 29 songs (Norway were hosts and so automatically gained a place in the final) wanting the 22 tickets to the final. The bottom 7 would be out.
Hungary, Germany, Denmark, FYROM, Russia, Israel and Romania were out. Their songs never to be heard on the Eurovision stage.
So, Leon and his Blue Planet never made it. Shame, as the song was very contemporary for it’s time and probably the most relevant song that year. I mean, German music in 1996 was full of this dance style. It could have been big. We will never know.
The next year, the German preselection show was called “Der countdown laeuft” in honour of Leon’s failed song. Ironically Leon came back that year with another stomper of an entry, with another electronic song but with roots in Schlager and line dancing…. And came second.
I guess it was never meant to be…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Day 17 - your favourite French entry
2003 France : Louisa Baïleche - Monts et merveilles (The moon and the stars)
This category was actually pretty tough. I could have easily chosen “La Source”, “Black and white blues”, “L'amour à la française” or ”Divine” but I felt that this song need a bit of love.
The song is undeniably French, I mean in a rhythmical sense rather than linguistically, but not a typical French balladeer type number. Like many Eurovision songs that I like, I love the different tempos and rhythms of the song, especially the way the chorus seems like one long breathless line of words. I also like the “na-na-na” part in the middle which not only provides aural relief from the tune but also builds up more tension towards the very last chorus.
Also like many Eurovision sings I like, this was very much overlooked on the night, coming a disappointing 18/26. The staging of the song didn’t really work, particularly on such a large stage and could have done with less band and more movement.
This category was actually pretty tough. I could have easily chosen “La Source”, “Black and white blues”, “L'amour à la française” or ”Divine” but I felt that this song need a bit of love.
The song is undeniably French, I mean in a rhythmical sense rather than linguistically, but not a typical French balladeer type number. Like many Eurovision songs that I like, I love the different tempos and rhythms of the song, especially the way the chorus seems like one long breathless line of words. I also like the “na-na-na” part in the middle which not only provides aural relief from the tune but also builds up more tension towards the very last chorus.
Also like many Eurovision sings I like, this was very much overlooked on the night, coming a disappointing 18/26. The staging of the song didn’t really work, particularly on such a large stage and could have done with less band and more movement.
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Day 16 - your favourite Spanish entry
1990 Spain: Azúcar Moreno – Bandido (Bandit)
This one was an easy one for me.
Mainly remembered for the ‘false start’ where to the two Salazar sisters entered the stage at the wrong point in the music due to the backing track not working. The footage of the ladies storming off stage and then the backing instrumentalists not sure wether they should mime along or stay static, is quite hilarious and always used on those ‘isn’t Eurovision mad and sad?!?!?!’ compilation shows…
The song itself is amazing. This kind of dance influenced-flamenco sound has been totally under utilised in Eurovision even though, as you can see in this case, it does work !
This one was an easy one for me.
Mainly remembered for the ‘false start’ where to the two Salazar sisters entered the stage at the wrong point in the music due to the backing track not working. The footage of the ladies storming off stage and then the backing instrumentalists not sure wether they should mime along or stay static, is quite hilarious and always used on those ‘isn’t Eurovision mad and sad?!?!?!’ compilation shows…
The song itself is amazing. This kind of dance influenced-flamenco sound has been totally under utilised in Eurovision even though, as you can see in this case, it does work !
Monday, 15 August 2011
Day 15 - your favourite UK entry
1987 UK : Rikki – Only the light
This was a really hard ne to choose because there have been so many memorable songs and so many unmemorable ones too!
I finally decided on this one, which I think will be quite an unusual choice.
The song came a dismal 13th, which was our worst result ever to that point (and was still the worst until 1999) This song is a cracking one to sing along too and I also know the backing singers dance almost off by heart XD
This was a really hard ne to choose because there have been so many memorable songs and so many unmemorable ones too!
I finally decided on this one, which I think will be quite an unusual choice.
The song came a dismal 13th, which was our worst result ever to that point (and was still the worst until 1999) This song is a cracking one to sing along too and I also know the backing singers dance almost off by heart XD
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Day 14 - your favourite Irish entry
1978 Ireland : Colm C T Wilkinson - Born to sing
A tough category but a simple choice in the end.
Colm has gone on to much greater things since (and before ESC) and this showmanship really does come out in his performance. His diction of the song is perfect and he really seems to sing the song and make it meaningful. Also in this sing is a good example of tempo changes between the verses and the choruses.
Like most great ESC songs, the live perofmance is much better than the studio version.
Am also loving the curtains nicely worn by the backing singers...
A tough category but a simple choice in the end.
Colm has gone on to much greater things since (and before ESC) and this showmanship really does come out in his performance. His diction of the song is perfect and he really seems to sing the song and make it meaningful. Also in this sing is a good example of tempo changes between the verses and the choruses.
Like most great ESC songs, the live perofmance is much better than the studio version.
Am also loving the curtains nicely worn by the backing singers...
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Day 13 - your least favourite entry of all time
2004 Switzerland : Piero and the music stars – Celebrate
Oh dear.
Everything about this is just wrong. WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG !!!!
Basically it’s like the very bad prequel to Glee with some very badly dressed adults, doing their best to imitate children. In fact it’s like a very bad parody of an excruciatingly bad Junior Eurovision performance. It’s boringly repetitive lyrics are infantile and most of all the song really doesn’t mean a thing.
Piero’s voice really doesn’t suit this kind of song. Piero himself actually won the premiere edition of the Swiss reality talent show ‘Music Star’ in 2003 and the 4 backing singers were also participants in the show. It was literally the biggest thing ever. No wonder then that this piss poor bag o’shite won…
Not content with one key change they have two – in the wrong place. By the end of the song everybody looks and sounds absolutely knackered and sounds more like an aerobics video than a singing competition by the end of it all.
However the best bit is when he hits himself with the microphone #epicfail
This song was in the very first semi-final ever created in 2004 and as justification for this pile of tripe, it scored NIL POINTS. The only entry ever to have scored 0 in a semi-final and I know you will agree with that score…
Oh dear.
Everything about this is just wrong. WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG !!!!
Basically it’s like the very bad prequel to Glee with some very badly dressed adults, doing their best to imitate children. In fact it’s like a very bad parody of an excruciatingly bad Junior Eurovision performance. It’s boringly repetitive lyrics are infantile and most of all the song really doesn’t mean a thing.
Piero’s voice really doesn’t suit this kind of song. Piero himself actually won the premiere edition of the Swiss reality talent show ‘Music Star’ in 2003 and the 4 backing singers were also participants in the show. It was literally the biggest thing ever. No wonder then that this piss poor bag o’shite won…
Not content with one key change they have two – in the wrong place. By the end of the song everybody looks and sounds absolutely knackered and sounds more like an aerobics video than a singing competition by the end of it all.
However the best bit is when he hits himself with the microphone #epicfail
This song was in the very first semi-final ever created in 2004 and as justification for this pile of tripe, it scored NIL POINTS. The only entry ever to have scored 0 in a semi-final and I know you will agree with that score…
Friday, 12 August 2011
Day 12 - your favourite entry of all time
1988 Netherlands : Gerard Joling - Shangri-La
I just love this song (even though it didn’t do too well coming 9/21)
I love the way the song incorporates as many tempo and beat changes as possible.
It starts off by punching away with the chorus and then gets into the first verse. I then love the way after the first full chorus it goes into a slow bridge and chorus part, then after a brief interlude the bridge is repeated again but at a much faster pace. The song is full of standard and syncopated beats and although it chops and changes, it never feels disjointed.
This is such a strong that sounds much better on the ESC stage than it did on any recording.
I think this was the first song I properly learnt to sing in Dutch and I think I fell in love with this language and the sentries in this language. It is a song I just cannot get bored of listening to and singing along to :o) If only it was available on UK karaoke…
I just love this song (even though it didn’t do too well coming 9/21)
I love the way the song incorporates as many tempo and beat changes as possible.
It starts off by punching away with the chorus and then gets into the first verse. I then love the way after the first full chorus it goes into a slow bridge and chorus part, then after a brief interlude the bridge is repeated again but at a much faster pace. The song is full of standard and syncopated beats and although it chops and changes, it never feels disjointed.
This is such a strong that sounds much better on the ESC stage than it did on any recording.
I think this was the first song I properly learnt to sing in Dutch and I think I fell in love with this language and the sentries in this language. It is a song I just cannot get bored of listening to and singing along to :o) If only it was available on UK karaoke…
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Day 11 - an entry, in a language you don't know, that you can sing along to
1994 Hungary : Friderika Bayer - Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet (Whom can I tell my sins?)
The 1994 contest was a class year and contained a lot of diverse entries, possibly due to the enlargement of the Eurovision pool that year and the previous year. This particular year saw the first entry from Hungary, a vey simplistic entry very well sung by Friderika. Probably still the best Hungarian entry ever entered.
The 1994 contest was a class year and contained a lot of diverse entries, possibly due to the enlargement of the Eurovision pool that year and the previous year. This particular year saw the first entry from Hungary, a vey simplistic entry very well sung by Friderika. Probably still the best Hungarian entry ever entered.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Day 10 - an entry that you liked at first but are now bored of
2005 Greece : Helena Paparizou - My Number One
Shame really.
Looking back, this was one of those years where everything else was really of such piss poor quality that this one stood out a mile. As a concequence of this win, Greece (like Turkey, the winner 2 years previously) now seem to think they now have a God-given right to win the contest every year... even though almost all of their entries are complete pants, and mainly get through due to diaspora voting. Maybe they need a kick up the backside like Turkey and Armenia got this year...
I mean Sakis Rouvas... who *does* he think he is....?
I wouldn't mind Helena coming back for a third bite of the cherry, maybe for Sweden..?
Shame really.
Looking back, this was one of those years where everything else was really of such piss poor quality that this one stood out a mile. As a concequence of this win, Greece (like Turkey, the winner 2 years previously) now seem to think they now have a God-given right to win the contest every year... even though almost all of their entries are complete pants, and mainly get through due to diaspora voting. Maybe they need a kick up the backside like Turkey and Armenia got this year...
I mean Sakis Rouvas... who *does* he think he is....?
I wouldn't mind Helena coming back for a third bite of the cherry, maybe for Sweden..?
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