I take your points on both Greece and Romania but alas still cannot like the songs. I understand both fit perfectly into the Eurovision aesthetic and vibe and as such I should be revering them. While I can almost handle Greece – I did acknowledge the positives in my post – it wasn’t about how they fit into the overall pop industry. My musical tastes range widely and I don’t mind ska or folk and after all my research understand how big a deal Agathon is. Still all that considered, and your beautifully articulated position taken into consideration, I still think it is too much of a novelty song to be anything more than a novelty song. My housemate’s Greek boyfriend doesn’t even really like it although many Greeks must if it got to #3 in the Greek charts

Douze points to Romania for theatricality absolutely. He nailed that! The falsetto though was cringe-worthy. I listened to a number of times telling myself where he was educated, how revered he was etc but sorry it just grates on me and pretty everyone I know. Clearly though not Europe LOL

Thanks so much for commenting and your fabulous insights! You should guest post for me next year

I have to say, I really loved all the hot drummers this year. Ireland’s drummer boys were even hotter than the Danes (skin tight leather and tats! Hoo boy!) – although their song would have been better if it was just drumming. His song was pretty boring and I don’t think the singing matched the music – maybe they just needed to put his voice a little louder over everything so it stood out more? The song was meh but he got bonus points for the hot drummers.

Romania was amazing and hot and glittery. His falsetto was just… wow! I probably wouldn’t have liked this song if it had been sung by a woman, because it was too Celine Dionish (my 13 year old self would have wept for joy!). The impressiveness of his singing falsetto for most of the song really set it out from the crowd for me. I also wanted to steal his jacket. And him. And his male dancers.

Greece just did everything perfectly! And the band members were all hot. Like, beyond hot! And their music was fabulous! I’m looking them up online to check out their other stuff. I put their lyrics up on my page. It is even funnier when you know what they are saying! I think having the catchphrase in English was a great idea because it gave the non-Hellanics something to grab onto. They kind of remind me of a Greek Dropkick Murphys (a Boston punk group which has a lot of Irish nationalistic influence). I know you said that you weren’t impressed with Greece, but I think you are making your impressions about it based on the pop industry which is pretty fickle. I think it has potential to stick around in the rock and folk scene for years – and if the enthusiasm of my Greek friends is anything to go by, it will. The old guy in that performance is like Greek folk music royalty, so even for that I think the song would stick around. I had a friend gushing because he met him when he was a kid. People like that will buy just for that factor. And it will definitely get Youtube hits. I played it 10 times last night, and added it to play lists so I can find again.

We had a mini Eurovision last night so I could catch up. We skimmed the songs I thought were boring. Overall, I just didn’t find the music to be very interesting this year. Most songs were too much alike.

Anyway, let’s look at the Big 6.

Sweden – A hard gig to follow up Euphoria last year. I’m heartened dancers are employed for the Swedish entry – dancers employment chances at Eurovision this year have dived just like the austerity measures; not many of them around if you notice. Earnest singing by Robin but not much else. Pyrotechnics can’t even save the effort. I don’t make too many guarantees with Eurovision selections but I can promise you, Sweden won’t be hosting the song contest next year.

Germany – Solo female singing a half Euro drama song with a pulsing beat. On second listening, I quite like it. Won’t win but should do well.

UK – 2 years running the UK have picked some of their elder pop stars to perform. Gracious, are they trying to tell us something? The song, shock horror a ballad, doesn’t do anything for me but does have aspirational lyrics. Wouldn’t write home about nor would I be booking a ticket to UK next year for the contest. (Thought bubble: possible that countries have selected dreary ballads for their ESC entries this year, limiting the risk of them hosting the contest next year. Meantime, the audience need to ensure they have sufficient supplies of No Doze in order to stay awake during the proceedings. What a contest!)

France – I give this song one of my two accolades for this year’s competition – Contender. A bluesy/nightclubby number which deservedly should score well. Strong emotive singing, lyrics and presence. Amandine just needs to deliver on the contest night.

Italy – Marco Mengoni. Not bad, usual Italian style. The European economies are drowning and so is Marco in the clip.

Spain – Initially thinking that the start of the song was going to be sending me to my usual sleep with ballads but the song has a reasonable change up of tempo so points for that. On second listen, it is quite a pretty song but I don’t know if it will rise in the rankings beyond middle, which is where the real contest is this year.

So that’s it for me. May the song contest start – does tonight Australian time with the SBS telecast. Only too aware one semi final has taken place at time of writing and the other would be underway now (reality and time zone reasons) but for our purposes, a news feed ban takes hold at this stage in the contest cycle so that all is revealed anew when watching the telecasts the next three nights, allowing us the excitement of cheering on one of our picks getting through or the outrage that a stellar song is left out. The usual scenario of winners and losers in the Eurovision Song Contest. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Norway – Stand out song. Driving beat, captures your attention, stunning blond. Sure fire finalist.

Albania – Novel backdrops this year with the videos. Albania using the shell of a building. Pop rock sort of beat, can’t stay/fall asleep with this one. Doesn’t set my world on fire, base level rock. Wouldn’t think it will get through but I’m glad the band are happy with their effort.

Georgia – Death by ballad but I expect this will make the final with a duo. Apt the guy’s name is Nodi.

Switzerland – You and me … heartwarming song, making harmonies in a red car driving around the countryside. Could be cousins of the Wiggles. Points for warmth and the multi lingual chorus … Aaaaahhhhhh Aaaaahhhhhh Aaaaaahhhhhhh

Romania – Gets points for employing dancers (falling on hard times this year with not so many dancers being involved with videos or artists). Uber tenor, very distinctive. Similar to Bulgarian ‘Miro’ in 2010 with Angel si ti. Very dramatic. Half expect the Europeans will buy this one similar to last year with Albania’s [my term] ‘screaming song’ Suus by Rona Nishliu scoring 5th place. You never know. It is Eurovision.

See you for the Big 6 wrap.

Bulgaria – Bulgarian waling – got to love it. Nothing resembling a ballad … hoorah! Funky, folksy, percussion-driven fun song. Same team as was the Bulgarian entry in 2007. I’m all for this song because it’s upbeat, different and NOT a ballad. Go forth Bulgaria to the finals.

Iceland – For having lived in Iceland, don’t let the wool be pulled over your eyes with the scenery from the filmclip. It’s not to say Iceland doesn’t look like that on a clear day but reality is it’s generally windy, dark and freezing cold! I’m ready to christen this year’s Eurovision ‘Earnest Eurovision’ because there are so many earnest ballads in the mix. Nearly makes you want to yawn! Still, Iceland’s effort is earnest, lovely and would think it will go through to the finals.

Greece – Oopah! No sleeping zone with this song. Very out there in terms of Eurovision; alcohol is free is a novel slant on things. This wouldn’t want to be a reality in Greece at the moment with such a high unemployment rate; the nation would be blotto. Don’t believe the general European audience will warm to this song. Not expecting it to get through to the finals (though stranger things have happened with Eurovision).

Israel – Shock, horror! Another earnest ballad. I’ll be surprised if this doesn’t get through to the finals. There’s something quite compelling about singing in Hebrew.

Armenia – A group trying real hard. Earnest yet again and forgetable for me. I’ve read the lyrics and the group ask too many questions. Should score with the greenie vote because they’re promoting saving the planet. The only ones who screwed the planet up are us; we’re the only ones who can fix it.

Hungary – Laid back, believe it’s memorable enough because of the cartoon video to get through. Love song about she’s the one for me … original!

Will get back to you soon for Week 6′s responses.

Latvia – I reckon we could call this the ‘wake me up’ song it’s bouncy enough. The main lyrics are ‘here we go’ … off to Latvia and the trio of guys in glittery suits promote all things Latvian with the stage backdrop. If Europe is wanting to focus on happy-style things this year, this entry will romp in. Won’t win, but it will go through to the finals.

San Marino – San Marino’s entry, Valentina, is an excellent example of if at first you don’t succeed, try try again. The difference a year makes: last year she sang in English a frothy pop song with changed lyrics (because the first lot breached Eurovision rules – just NOT ON I say!) about social networking. She didn’t make the final with that one. She must have gone home shattered because she’s back this year singing in Italian in a serious manner, includes a key change and a wind machine. Different sort of Eurovision. Valentina has way more chance of making the final with this song.

FYR Macedonia – A duo – the guy singing in a dramatic/operatic style, the lady in red wailing, Macedonian folksy style. It would not be surprising that some people will watch this entry and think to themselves, ‘’you must be pulling my leg with this song, you cannot be serious’, but you would be wrong. This is CLASSIC Eurovision; an absolute mish mash of a song which cannot be taken seriously HOWEVER, it is possible it will grow on you plus duos have a pretty good track record for getting through to the finals. I’d say we’ll be seeing the lady with the smoking red hair again.

Azerbaijan – A formulaic song from Azerbaijan. I expect it will get through because Azerbaijan has an amazing track record for getting through to the finals since they started competing in 2008, ie every time!!!!! Not much to say about this song because it’s so run of the mill.

Finland – Go Finland! Relative to most countries in the world, Finland is off of this planet for being situated in the far north of the globe. Finland’s song lives up to the notion of being off this planet, particularly relative to other Eurovision songs this year. ‘Marry Me’ is over the top, no holding back, you wouldn’t know anything about austerity from this video. Finland have to be smashing down the door for the finals with this song (unless Europe’s voting mood is more about depression and we’ll see some slow ballad sneek over the winner’s line). Let’s pray for happy people in Europa!

Malta – Malta’s offering, ‘Tomorrow’ is proof that no lyrics are off limits in Eurovision; this is about a computer geek and a girl. If the happy people we should be praying for watch the song contest and vote, this song is a shoe in! Happy, happy, bouncy but once you’ve listened to it a few times, could be considered quite innocuous.

That’s me for Week 4. My sense so far for Semi-Final 2 is that it’s a happier place than Semi-Final 1 but I’ll have to wait until I find out what’s around the corner with the next week’s offerings.

See you soon.

Off and running with the Week 3 reviews.

Moldova – Solo girl running around in an orchard in the official video and getting caught sideways in a wind tunnel for the stage version. Tries a bit of Euro drama (mandatory)… I’d give you my love but it wasn’t enough … says it all. First obvious key change song. There are going to be a lot of the mediocre ballads from this year’s crop (yawn) which are going to get lost amongst the trees in this orchard. At best the orchard will be able to afford people camouflage opportunities. Wouldn’t surprise me if this songs gets lost in the woods.

Ireland – This song will get through to the finals. The singer, Ryan, has good tone in his voice, sounds a little like John Farnham, sings a good tempo song (hallelujah) and has a positive message. I’m sure a lot of the Irish are happier about Ryan being the face of the Irish people rather than Jedward, 2011 and 2012 Irish entry, who sang incredibly bouncy songs, bounced around as if they’d drunk 10 litres of red cordial before the gig and their hair was vertical. I loved their happiness factor but Ryan’s style of positivity has more chance of spreading beyond the Irish border.

Cyprus – Sad song sung by Despina in some woods (remember, nature is a theme this year) and would have been decided on before the bank crisis. Tries to finish with some drama at the end of the song but I’m really a bit over the ballads. I think the song is about ‘an me thimasai??????? (she sings it a few times you might notice). She might score some points from the greenies for getting back to nature.

Belgium – Eurovision this year will be a fantastic case study in bipolar disorder – so many of the entries go for depressed/sad/melancholy lyrics, reflecting the state of most of their economies, or opt for positive/we’re trying to be cheery type of lyrics. It will be fascinating to see what mood Europe wishes to choose this year in the competition … reality or delusion.

Roberto is pretty good by Belgian standards. Expect the song will get through if only for the faster than a ballad tempo. Roberto has quite captivating looks; the background dancers have idiot moves. Won’t get the greenie vote because it’s all about bright lights in this clip.

Serbia – Serbia’s entry deserves to go through. It’s a girl trio with sass with a bit of oomph to the song and some Euro dance moves too. I’d like it to go through to the finals so I don’t fall asleep with all the solo girl ballads. From the tempo of the song, you’d never know lyrically the song is all about the girls warning the new girlfriend of the traitor boyfriend that he’ll cheat on her just as he has cheated on them. Nothing like a woman scorned. My favourite lyric is “When he cheats on you, then your heart will be just fish food”. You can quote that!

That wraps up Semi-Final 1, will see you for Semi-Final 2 soon.