Draw: Semi 2 (9)
Slovenia announced early on they were holding a show called 'Mission Slovenia' and the intension of the program was to find a successor to Maja Keuc last year. There were eleven shows leading to a final of two competitors and six songs. The winner was Eva Boto and the song Verjamem (I believe). Let's get the good/bad news out of the way early; it sounds like Molitba, winner of ESC 2007, and thats because the man who wrote the music for both.
Personally, I didn't give this a second glance when it was selected and remembered it only as the song with the Lena look alike and the backing singer with the fairy floss on her head and the badly buttoned cardigan (look closely and you'll see). Then I loaded it onto my iPod and couldn't stop listening to it repeatedly.
Will it make the final? It all depends on the presentation they choose and the fact that is dominated by Balkan ballads. She is only 16, and I think that if that presentation is spot on, Eva Boto could potentially be the most successful Slovene in ESC history.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
2012 entry - ICELAND: Greta Salóme & Jónsi - Never Forget
Draw: 1st Semi final (2)
Iceland did what they do every year: chose 15 songs for three semi finals and brought that down to a dozen or so songs to complete a final. That final was conducted on Feb 11 and the winner was Mundu eftir mér. As with all Icelandic songs, they were then translated into english and the song ever forgetis the song for Iceland in 2012.
This song was an early favorite with the fans. There is drama, it is well sung and Greta and Jonsi are so in the moment when they sing it. Expect that we will see it in the final, but it landed a terrible draw. We have seen decent songs be 2nd in a final and then make the final - not worried.
Iceland did what they do every year: chose 15 songs for three semi finals and brought that down to a dozen or so songs to complete a final. That final was conducted on Feb 11 and the winner was Mundu eftir mér. As with all Icelandic songs, they were then translated into english and the song ever forgetis the song for Iceland in 2012.
This song was an early favorite with the fans. There is drama, it is well sung and Greta and Jonsi are so in the moment when they sing it. Expect that we will see it in the final, but it landed a terrible draw. We have seen decent songs be 2nd in a final and then make the final - not worried.
2012 entry - FINLAND: Pernilla Karlsson - Nar jag blundar
Draw: Semi 1 (09)
Finland announced the format for the national final in August 2011 with a new name but somewhat the same format. Semi finals, eliminations and a final and we have a song sung in Swedish for Finland.
The song is very pleasant sung in a lovely, quiet way by Pernilla. I'm troubled about it being in Swedish and not Finnish; minor point though. I wonder seeing as it is in the middle of the draw will it be forgotten by the televoters and final does see a final for a third year in a row.
Finland announced the format for the national final in August 2011 with a new name but somewhat the same format. Semi finals, eliminations and a final and we have a song sung in Swedish for Finland.
The song is very pleasant sung in a lovely, quiet way by Pernilla. I'm troubled about it being in Swedish and not Finnish; minor point though. I wonder seeing as it is in the middle of the draw will it be forgotten by the televoters and final does see a final for a third year in a row.
2012 entry - TURKEY: Can Bonomo - Love Me Back
Draw: 2nd Semi (13)
The Turks have traditionally chosen their entries internally. The last time TRT held a national final they chose the hysterical Gulseren and the entry Rimi Rimi Ley. It came thirteenth which is the worst Turkey has come in the final in this last decade.
January 9th was the date that Turkey announced their singer to be Can Bonomo and this was followed closely (Feb 22) with the actual song. Can is a quirky fellow and he has a style of his own. It may be an outfit to go with the seafaring theme of the song, maybe he likes it, maybe he is deranged. The last time a gentleman wore a fisherman's cap upon an ESC stage they finished second from last.
As you may have guessed, I'm not liking this and it pains me to say this as I love the Turkish entries. I don't like the man, I don't like the words, I don't really like the music nor the na ni na ni words. I may be wrong, but I see another year with no Turkish song in the finals.
The Turks have traditionally chosen their entries internally. The last time TRT held a national final they chose the hysterical Gulseren and the entry Rimi Rimi Ley. It came thirteenth which is the worst Turkey has come in the final in this last decade.
January 9th was the date that Turkey announced their singer to be Can Bonomo and this was followed closely (Feb 22) with the actual song. Can is a quirky fellow and he has a style of his own. It may be an outfit to go with the seafaring theme of the song, maybe he likes it, maybe he is deranged. The last time a gentleman wore a fisherman's cap upon an ESC stage they finished second from last.
As you may have guessed, I'm not liking this and it pains me to say this as I love the Turkish entries. I don't like the man, I don't like the words, I don't really like the music nor the na ni na ni words. I may be wrong, but I see another year with no Turkish song in the finals.
Monday, 2 April 2012
2012 entry - BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Korake Ti Znam - Maya Sar
Draw: Semi 2 (17)
The selection of the artist for Bosnia & Herzegovina was made in December 2011. The name of the artist is Maya Sar. This was followed by a silent period of three months before we were advised of the entry itself.
Korake Ti Znam (English: Everything I love) is one of a series of ballads in the contest and most of them are coming from the Balkans/former Yugoslav states. This song has a timeless beauty and Maya has a lovely tone to her voice. The problem I see is that I haven't heard her sing it live and while i can locate other songs were she is singing, it is always reassuring to hear the song itself.
Regardless, it'll make the final without a sweat.
The selection of the artist for Bosnia & Herzegovina was made in December 2011. The name of the artist is Maya Sar. This was followed by a silent period of three months before we were advised of the entry itself.
Korake Ti Znam (English: Everything I love) is one of a series of ballads in the contest and most of them are coming from the Balkans/former Yugoslav states. This song has a timeless beauty and Maya has a lovely tone to her voice. The problem I see is that I haven't heard her sing it live and while i can locate other songs were she is singing, it is always reassuring to hear the song itself.
Regardless, it'll make the final without a sweat.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
2012 entry - GEORGIA: Anri Jokhadze - I'm A Joker
Draw: Semi 2 (12)
Georgia selected their entry February 19 and there were 9 songs in the national final. The song that was selected is 'I'm a jocker' with a dark haired Anri gyrating about aimlessly. Once it was selected, the title changed from 'jocker' to 'joker'.
The song has now morphed as most songs do - Georgia took it one step further and Anri is now a blonde. It opens with a dramatic opening maybe to show that our bloke can actually song and then the rhyming begins; joker rocker shocker poker. They have worked on this song quite a lot and it better than the horror we had in Tbilisi.
Let me assure you though even with these changes I still believe this is the worst entry of the year; I expect some sort of gimmick (it's Georgia after all - long sheets, goths, heavy choreography and impromptu sword fights expected) and it'll tumble into the final like they deserve it.
Georgia selected their entry February 19 and there were 9 songs in the national final. The song that was selected is 'I'm a jocker' with a dark haired Anri gyrating about aimlessly. Once it was selected, the title changed from 'jocker' to 'joker'.
The song has now morphed as most songs do - Georgia took it one step further and Anri is now a blonde. It opens with a dramatic opening maybe to show that our bloke can actually song and then the rhyming begins; joker rocker shocker poker. They have worked on this song quite a lot and it better than the horror we had in Tbilisi.
Let me assure you though even with these changes I still believe this is the worst entry of the year; I expect some sort of gimmick (it's Georgia after all - long sheets, goths, heavy choreography and impromptu sword fights expected) and it'll tumble into the final like they deserve it.
2012 entry - ALBANIA: Rona Nishliu - Suus
Draw - First Semi final (5)
Albania chose their song second of all the countries in this years Eurovision way back in the last days of December 2011 (Switzerland got in first). They held their annual song contest Festivali i Këngës and the winner of course would represent their country.
Rona Nishliu is not the type of person you anticipate representing Albania with a fantastic head of dreadlocks. Let me assure you though, her hair and her appearance in Tirana last December did not dissuade the jury or the televoters of Albania in choosing a great song to represent them.
The song that is representing Albania has been cut down from a 4:30 minutes to 3 minutes to fit into the Eurovision standard. While the original version was rambling and repetitive, the new version is an outstanding, dramatic, stylish and powerful entry. Rona looks stylish, almost like an Audrey Hepburn clone, and the music of the new version appears to be using the full orchestra.
I am really looking forward to Albania at the final and hopefully the magic of the song captures everyone.
Albania chose their song second of all the countries in this years Eurovision way back in the last days of December 2011 (Switzerland got in first). They held their annual song contest Festivali i Këngës and the winner of course would represent their country.
Rona Nishliu is not the type of person you anticipate representing Albania with a fantastic head of dreadlocks. Let me assure you though, her hair and her appearance in Tirana last December did not dissuade the jury or the televoters of Albania in choosing a great song to represent them.
The song that is representing Albania has been cut down from a 4:30 minutes to 3 minutes to fit into the Eurovision standard. While the original version was rambling and repetitive, the new version is an outstanding, dramatic, stylish and powerful entry. Rona looks stylish, almost like an Audrey Hepburn clone, and the music of the new version appears to be using the full orchestra.
I am really looking forward to Albania at the final and hopefully the magic of the song captures everyone.
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