Its all about the clothes... part I

Today the Barbara Dex Award for the worse dressed singers of the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest was annouced and the winner was: Nonstop, dressed by the portuguese fashion designer Dino Alves. Its about time we won something related to the ESC.

To commemorate this happy event I decided to look back at some of the most original clothes worned in the Eurovision.

In the 1957 contest the Danish duo Birthe Wilke & Gustav Winckler sang the romantic Skibet skal sejle i nat, which means The ship is leaving tonight. The performance was very simple but very very romantic. Gustav was dressed like a sailer and Birthe was is girlfriend.

In 1958 German singer Margot Hielscher seemed like she had just arrived from the Miss World contest. She wore a litle crown and a matching ribbon saying "Miss something", while holding a record on her hands. The first true ESC diva... In the same year the Danish singer brought her diary to the stage and the Swedish one dressed in traditional clothes.

In 1960 the contest made its first visit to the U.K.. Katy Bødtger represented Denmark and sang her song like she walking in a park, with and umbrela and a hat.

Spain debuted in the ESC in 1961 with the song Estando Contigo by Conchita Bautista. She wore a traditional Spanish dress and gave a performance full of salero. She would return to the contest in 1965 with another dramatic interpretation of the song Qué bueno, qué bueno.

1966 is in my opinion one of the great Eurovision years. All the singers looked very innocent, all in pretty, virginal, dresses. All except the amazing Milly Scoot who went completly crazy on stage with her two musicians dressed in mexican clothes... Oh and the U.K. singer Kenneth McKellar didn't had any trousers, he choose to wear kilt instead.

1968 was the first time when the contest was broadcasted in colour. Massiel won for Spain and I heard somewhere her dressed endend up in a museum. Yugoslavia traveled back in time with group Dubrovački Trubaduri, who dressed like ... troubadours.

1970 saw the debut of the mini-skirt in the Eurovision. The pioner was Katja Ebstein who sang for Germany.

More soon...

Song of the week: Hard Rock Hallelujah

The Song of the week post returns today with the song that we are all talking about: Hard Rock Hallelujah.

From the 92 people that voted so far in our mini pool, 43 gave Lordi's song 12 points, while 27 rated it with only 1 point. In other ESC related forums the reactions of the fans are also divided between those who supported it and those who totally hate it... It doens't seem to be much of a half way solution for this, but in the future I think that Hard Rock Hallelujah will be a reference song in the Eurovision Song Contest.

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Hard Rock Hallelujah

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Hard rock hallelujah

Hard rock hallelujah

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The saints are crippled on this sinners' night

Lost are the lambs with no guiding light

The walls come down like thunder, the rocks about to roll

It's the Arockalypse, now bare your soul

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All we need is lightning with power and might

Striking down the prophets of false

As the moon is rising, give us the sign

Now let us rise up in awe

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Rock 'n' roll angels, bring thine hard rock hallelujah

Demons and angels all in one have arrived

Rock 'n' roll angels, bring thine hard rock hallelujah

In God's creation, supernatural high

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The true believers, thou shall be saved

Brothers and sisters, keep strong in the faith

On the Day of Rockoning, it's who dares, wins

You will see the jokers soon'll be the new kings

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All we need is lightning with power and might
Striking down the prophets of false
As the moon is rising, give us the sign
Now let us rise up in awe
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Rock 'n' roll angels, bring thine hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock 'n' roll angels, bring thine hard rock hallelujah
In God's creation, supernatural high

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Wings on my back, I got horns on my head
My fangs are sharp and my eyes are red
Not quite an angel or the one that fell
Now choose to join us or go straight to hell

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Hard rock hallelujah
Hard rock hallelujah
Hard rock hallelujah
Hard rock, yeah

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Rock 'n' roll angels, bring thine hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock 'n' roll angels, bring thine hard rock hallelujah
In God's creation, supernatural high

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Hard rock, hallelujah

Amazing... part II - The 2006 final

Well 2006 will definetly stay in the Eurovision history has the year Finland won with a group of monsters...

Hard rock halleluja was one of my favourites entries this year. I didn't find Lordi's performance extraordinary, but with those costumes they really didn't have the need for muth more did they!?! I must confess that I dont remember ever being so happy with the winning song/country.

Finland deserved to win and we should congratulate YLE for their courage to invite Lordi to participate in the ESC, and also for having the initiative of introducing a new type of music in the Eurovision. So next year we will all go to Helsinki and our comentator, Mr. Eládio Climaco will go to Reikejavik... he tolerated a transexual winning but monsters is just to mutch for him!

But, enough of Finland, there were other songs in the final.

I dont remember much of the first 9 songs. Switzerland was nice, Norway was 100% ice and Germany was cute. Them came Dima Bilan and the real ESC began...

10 - Russia gave another good performance and showed that a ballad doens't always needs to be borring. Never let you go would also have been a great winning song. Maybe next year...

11 - F.Y.R. Macedonia was also nice and I expected them to score higher. Elena looked very latina...

12 - Romania was one of my surprises of the night. I hated the new remix of Torneró with all those screams and opera but Mihai was excelent and the whole act looked very powerfull on Tv. I guess it is a matter of years until Romania wins the grand prix...

13 - Bosnia & Herzegovina had one of the best songs and one of the most professional acts. They got their first top 5 result (3rd place) and gave the ESC another evergreen.

14 - Lithuania was perhaps the biggest suprise of the year. I still think that We are the winners is a silly song, but its catchy and the gentlements performed it well. They also deserve my congratulations.

15 - U.K. had another "different" song/ performance. I think it couldn't have been better so the 19th place feels a bit unfare.

16 - Greece putted its biggest star on stage and Anna Vissi showed everybody that she is a great lady. Good performance, dramatic q.b.. I just dont understand why her clothes were so expensive...

18 - Ukraine was better them in the semi-final. Tina was still beautifull and got our 12 points and gave her country its second best result: 7th place.

19 - France was simple and very nervous.

20 - Croatia was fun fun fun... Moja stikla was a difficult song and I think that it got a bit lost in the meadle of all the other songs... I would love to see them win in the upcoming years.

21 - Ireland was nice. They stiked to their old formula and endend in10th place. They will probably send another ballad next year and flopp...

22 - Sweden had Carola and she had her wind machine. Good performance but they need to rethink they participations because they dont seem to be able to reach higher them 5th with this kind of songs.

23 - Turkey had a borring song and a great singer. They got 93 points and just missed out a place in next year final. Maybe Sibel will return someday with a better song.

24 - Armenia was much more confident them in the semi-final. They are this year Albania, now lets wait and see what they send us next year!

The opening act was again very good, all flying all singing extravaganza. Amazing...

The hosts were amazing. Maria was amazing and Sakis was amazing, and he can really shake Eládio said...

For the interval act I had to switch over to BBC Prime because RTP has a big financial hole and the ESC still gives them good ratings... It was not Riverdance but it wasn't bad either.

The voting system was quicker but still exciting. With 38 countries voting it was indeed less borring...

In the semi-final the songs were better, but overall I think that the 51th Eurovision Song Contest was a good show.

Now all we can do is wait for the next Eurovision season to begin and see what the Finns have to offer us...

E como Portugal passou a ser o pior país na Eurovisão!

Com a vitória da Finlândia esta noite, dos países “históricos”, Portugal passou a ser o que tem o pior ranking neste concurso.
Esta noite fomos não só ultrapassados pela Finlândia, como também pela Bósnia & Herzegovina (que tinha como melhor classificação um sétimo lugar, em 1999) e a Lituânia (que nunca tinha alcançado um lugar no top 10).
Que mensagem mais directa precisará a RTP? Que a Bielo-Rússia venha a ganhar também? Ou que Andorra, que apenas consegue votos de Espanha, consiga um lugar na final?
É também de notar que os cinco primeiros lugares foram directos para artistas consagrados nos seus países. Cantores ou grupos que vendem muitos discos, que ganham discos de ouro, que fazem espectáculos ao vivo e que os esgotam, que têm grandes manageres e grandes editoras discográficas a apoia-los… Mesmo os LT United, ainda novatos como grupo, são a sensação do momento na Lituânia, o que os fez ganhar o seu passaporte Eurovisivo.
Não acredito que a RTP não tenha aprendido nada desde 1964, também não acredito que a RTP goste de ser humilhada continuamente neste certame… Será necessário parar um ano para pensar? Ou será necessário alguém com eles no sentido, que diga o que deve ou não representar o nosso país e, se preciso for, desclassificar uma canção quando esta não tem a qualidade necessária?
Será que é preciso irmos fazer uma bandeira para o estádio nacional para a RTP começar a ver a importância internacional deste concurso e escolher alguém que nos represente dignamente em termos vocais (como a Rita Guerra), em termos cénicos e em termos de guarda-roupa (por favor, a RTP que peça ao Dino Alves para lhes devolver o dinheiro que gastou com ele… aquilo há na feira de Carcavelos e ninguém compra!)?

Vamos lá a apostar na nossa participação e criar uma canção com C grande para nos representar na Eurovisão!

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Este texto não é da minha autoria, foi escrito pelo meu Amigo Vasco, mas eu subscrevo-o totalmente.

Só gostaria de acrescentar que ficamos em 19.º lugar na semi-final com 26 pontos, 12 de Andorra, 7 de França e 7 da Suiça...

Ou seja, na realidade tivemos zero (tal como no ano passado), porque em todos estes países existem extensas comunidades de emigrantes portugueses e ninguém dúvida que estes votos nos tenham sido dados exclusivamente por eles...

Amazing... Congratulations Finland!

The semi-final...

Wow. The semi-final of the 51th Eurovision Song Contest as just taken place in the AOKA Stadium in Greece and it was trully an exciting show.

Congratulations to the EBU and to the ERT for a great show. The opening act was, in my opinion, one of the best ever. A nice mix between History, Eurovision and comedy. Very fan friendly. 12 points for that. The intervall act as always wasnt broadcasted in Portugal.

The hosts, Maria and Sakis, were relaxed and very professional. The Portuguese comentator, Eládio Climaco, did is usually job, without any silly mistakes this time so 10 points for the 3 of them.

The stage was/is also very nice, simple but very effective. Much better on tv them on photos. 8 points for the stage. And now lets talk about the songs...

Disappointments:

Armenia - very nervous performance. The voice was not so strong. The clothes were awfull and the choregraphy doesn't came across on tv. Still, i'm happy they qualified.

Andorra - what was their costume designer thinking... Jennifer didn't dress like a porn actress but... The singing wasn't nothing much either, she seemed to have troubles breathing.

Belgium - I didn't like Cate's voice and the choreography was too messy. The song sounded very weak on tv.

Monaco - this was probably my biggets dissapointment. The song was fresh and cheery but unfortunatly Severine cant sing very well. The choreography was ok, but nothing much and it didn't help to sell the song at all. Why was the black dancer doing those robot movements???

Portugal - I gave Nonstop the benefit of the doubt and waited to see what they could do in the semi-final. Unfortunatly I'm forced to say that we had probably the worse song of the evening. The chothes were nothing special and the vocals were also very, very weak. I'm curious to know our final place, wouldn't be surprise if we ended up in the last 3 places...

Surprises:

Cyprus - Against all odds Annete gave a powerfull performance.

Poland - This was the last place off my personal chart but tonight they had a nice performance.

Lithuania - They defeated Iceland and are in the final. Silly song but nice performance. Anything can happen in the final, even a top 10 score.

The Netherlands - The girls seemed happy on stage and performed their song very well. Pitty the song was so repetitive.

Sweden - We all know Carola can sing, but today she was really Invincible. This is my sister's favourite song.

Bosnia & Herzegovina - We also knew this was gonna be something special. Their act was pure class. Sophisticated, simple, romantic... I hope to see this in the top 3 in the final.

And finally congratulations to:

Slovenia - terrific performance. Anzej can really sing. Didn't make it to the final but for me its still one of the best songs of the year.

Ireland - Brian will sing in the final and deservingly so. The song is a bit old-fashioned but Brian sang it perfectly.

FYR Macedonia - Elena has a very nice song. The choreography was simple but it suited the song perfectly. Watch out Macedonia in the final...

Russia - definatly one of my favourite song this year. Good performance.

Ukraine - Strong voice, strong choreography and Tina is just GOURGEOUS...

Finland - for bringing a new style to the Eurovision. The performance was ok, just ok, but I still love Lordi.

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The other songs form Bulgaria, Belarus, Albania, Turkey, Estonia and Iceland were ok. Iceland is also a bit of a disapointment.

Overall it was a good show, mucht better them I anticipated. Now let's wait and see what happens on Saturday.

The Eurovision goes Moulin Rouge style!

Today the first dress rehearsel took place in Athens. Or should I say the un-dressed rehearsel! I really dont know what to say about all this fashion statements!!!

I guess they are all auditioning for the Greek version of the Moulin Rouge.

Someone should tell Miss Jennifer that she looks like a porn version Miss Piggy!!

U.K.: Teenage life

The United Kingdom is one of the most sucesfull countries in the Eurovision. They have won the contest 5 times: 1967; 1969; 1976; 1981 and 1997 and become second 15 times.

They were also responsible for some of the contest biggest hits and are one of the countries with the biggets number of consecutive presences. They debuted in 1957, skipped 1958 and since 1959 they have been presente in every single contest.

This long tradition however hasn't stopped them from making a big joke of the ESC, partly because of their long time comentator Mr. Terry Wogan, a classic figure of the contest.

This year their song is called Teenage life. The lyrics and the music were composed by sing, Daz Simpson, in colaboration with John Matthews.

Its a small rap number, with a backing group of women pretending to be schoolgirls!!!

If it came in any other year I might not like this at all, but this year I'm all for different and crazy performances so I like this one too. I even gave it 1 point at the Ogae Portugal Convention, I think that it is a very refreshing song.

Points for the song: 12 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 1 (from 1 to 5)

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Welcoming this song in the Eurovision are Love City Groove with the song Love City Groove.

Ukraine: Show me you love

Ukraine is participating in the Eurovision Song Contest for the 4th time this year. They won the contest at their 2nd attempt in Istanbull with Ruslana and the song Wild dances and hosted a very professional show last year in Kiev.

This year they will be represented by the stunning Tina Karol and the song Show me you love, previously called I'm your queen. There is no doubt that the first title was much more diva-ish, and consequently Eurovisionesque, but the truth is that Show me you love is, in my opinion, a great song.

The song was composed by Tina, in colaboration with Mikhail Nekrasov and the lyrics were writen by Pavel Shilko.

Show me your love follows the recent winning Eurovision tradition of mixing pop music with more traditional/ ethnic elements. I just love the break in the midle of the song.

Tina Karol has a powerfull voice and judging by the promotional clip and from some videos of the rehaarsals she is also a good liver performer.

This song has been climming constantly in my personal chart and if all goes well on the semi final I wouldnt mind if Ukraine won the ESC again.

Points for the song: 12 (from 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 5 (from 1 to 5)

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Welcoming Tina in this year's contest is Ruslana and Wild dances.

Eurovision 2006 in a Portuguese radio.

Following an experience initiated in 2003 a Portuguese radio station, in colaboration with eurovision fan Vasco da Câmara Pereira, is broadcasting during this Eurovision week a series of small programs dedicated to that popular event.

According to Vasco, who is responsible for the choice of the songs, they want to show people that the Eurovision Song Contest is much more them just ABBA songs. Their goal is to show the audience the diversity of types of music present in the ESC.

This year the first song played was Finland's Hard Rock Hallelujah by monster rock band Lordi. The response from the audience of the show was positive, although some people were surprised that such a song is competing in the Eurovision. Other listeners called the radio to express their sadness over the fact that Portugal is not participating in the event anymore!!

In the next days we will be able to listen to the songs from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Norway, Latvia, Greece and Croatia. The presence of the Greek song is justified with the fact that Anna Vissi is a huge star in her native Greece and was still available to participate in the ESC, showing the vitality of the contest in some countries.

Turkey: Superstar

Tukey is my biggest dissapointment of this year. They were one of the first competing nations to announce their singer: Sibel Tuzun, one the leading Turkish stars.

When I visited her website I was really excited and happy because Sibel seemed to be a great singer with very interessanting songs. It was therefore with great anxiaty that I waited the day when the Turkish song was announced.

Superstar was written and composed by Sibel herself and its a very, very, very, very, very borring and irritating song.

It reminds a bit Sertab, it has some good Turkish sounds but the lyrics are just awfull.

Sibel is a very good singer, the video is great and the stage act will be unforgetable but I hope they dont qualify, unless they have a very good remix for the semi-final.

Points for the song: 4 (from 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 4 (from 1 to 5)

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Welcoming this song in the Eurovision is Sebnem Paker and Dinle, one of the best Turkish songs ever.

Ralph's song: If we all give a little

There are some people without whom the Eurovision Song Contest would not be the same big event has it is today. Mr. Ralph Siegel is one of those persons. He is shurely the author with most participations in the ESC, with and impressive number of 18 songs to is credits, including my all time Eurovision favourite song Dschingis Khan (1979) and the 1982 winning song Ein bisschen Frieden.
His songs have represented Germany, Luxemburg and this year for the first time Switzerland, with the international group Six4one and the song If we all give a little, for wich he composed the music and Bernd Meinunger made the lyrrics. It's fair to say that Mr. Meinunger was the lyricist of 12 of Mr. Siegel songs.

Now, in my opinion this song is not his best song ever. It's very professional, the singers are very talented people and its has a very strong peace & friendship message. But, has I have said before the Eurovision is just a music contest, its not like its going to save the World from all its troubles and in musical terms this song is somewhat of a deja vu.

Off course this hasn't stopped it from scorring very good results in several OGAE votings and high odd's in a couple of betting agencies. I guess we will have to wait until the weekend comes and see what happens.

Points for the song: 6 (from 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 2 (from 1 to 5)

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Welcoming this song in the competition is Emma and the song Give a little love back to the world.

Spain: Un bloody Mary

Spain was the first country to win the Eurovision Song Contest two years in a row: 1968 with Massiel and the song La la la (wich was later sang by the immortal portuguese singer Amália Rodrigues) and 1969 with Salomé and Vivo Cantando (this year there were 4 winners: Spain, France, Netherlands and U.K.).
In the late 80's and 90's Spain lost interest in the contest, in spite of their surprising 2nd place in the 1995 edition with Anabel Conde and the powerfull ballad Vuelve Comigo. I

In more recent years TVE managed to revitalize the interest in the ESC throw the sucesfull talent show Operacion Triunfo. Their wish to win the contest was visible in 2002 with Rosa and the song Europe's living a celebration and again in 2003 with Beth and Dime.

In Athens they will be represented by the group Las Ketchup with the song Un bloody Mary (music and lyrics by Queco).

I must confess that this was not what I was expecting from Spain when I heard that the Assereje girls would be representing them. This song is fine but that's the best thing we can say about it. In reallity its very borring and flat. I like the bit when they say, in a sexy voice, un bloody Mary por favor! but the rest of the song is totally innocuous.

Its a shame they dont send a stronger song because I would really like to see them win again. It would be so cheap to go to Madrid for the Eurovision...

Points for the song: 4 (from 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 4 (from 1 to 5)

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Welcoming this song in the Eurovision is another cocktail group Bucks Fizz and the song Making you mind up.

Sweden: Invincible

Sweden is always one of the hot favorites to win the Eurovision Song Contest no matter what song they send.
It was obvious after last year disaster that they would be sending a strong entry to Athens. We know that Swedes take the ESC seriously, so they are sending no other them schalger queen Carola with the song Invincible. Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren and Henrik Wikstrom made the music and Carola made the lyrics together with Thomas.

There isnt mutch to be said about this song. Its a typicall Swedish song, very Abba, very nordic Eurovision. The question is to know if Carola will indeed be invincible or if the European audience has had enought of this type of songs.

I will play it save and say that this will probably be in the final top 5. If it iwins it wont be a great winner, but hey we will have a great show next year live from Stockholm.

Points for the song: 8 (In 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 1 (from 1 to 5)

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Welcoming this song in the Eurovision is Charlotte Nilson with Take me to you heaven.

Slovenia: Mr. Nobody

Slovenia debuted in the Eurovision in 1993 with the song Tih dezeven dan by the group 1xband, wich ended with only 9 points. Their next participation happened in 1995 with Darja Svajger and Prisluhni me, but this time the result was far better, 84 points and a respectable 7th place. The following years their entries got mixed results, a 10th place in 1997 followed by a 18th place in Birmingham and another 7th place in 2001 with Energy, wich is prehaps their best entry so far. In the last couple of years they preformed in the semis and didnt managed to reach the final in both occasions.

This year, has always, their national final - EMA - gave us another surprising result and a small scandel with the victory of Anzej Dejan and the song Plan B, beating heavy favourite Sasa Lendero. The composers of Plan B, wich will be preformed in english in the Eurovision under the new title of Mr. Nobody, are Matjaz Vlasic (music) and Ursa Vlasic (lyrics), the same that made Energy.

The two songs do look alike and I think that if Mr. Nobody was sang by Nusa Derenda it would be one of the top favourite songs among fans.

Well, with Nusa or no Nusa I love this song. Its so melodramatic, so Eurovisionesque, so disco, so ABBA, so Slovenia, so GREAT.

The rehearsels started today and from what I read the Slovenian one went very well. I hope they show us a good, professional performance and hopefully they will be in the final, fighting for the top positions.

Points for the song 12 (from 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 5 (from 1 to 5)

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Welcoming this song in the Eurovision is Nusa Derenda with her powerfull Energy.

Russia: Never let you go

Russia is one of my favourite countries in the Eurovision Song Contest. Youddiph with her wonder dress and Vyechnie stranik; male diva Philip Kirkorov with is dramatic performane of Kolibelnaya dlya vulkana and his Primadonna wife Alla Pugacheva are true Eurovision classics and are among my all time favourite songs.

In the more recent years they have send some big names to the contest, with modern pop/ pop-rock songs, including the infamous t.A.t.U with and awfull song that got has mutch boos from the audience in Riga has votes from the European audience.

This year they will be represented by Dima Bilan and the song Never let you go. Music by Alexandr Lunyov and lyrics by Karen Kavaleryan and Irina Antonyan.

In my modest opinion Russia stands a pretty good chance with this song. Its modern for younger audiences but, at the same time its a ballad that can also get the atention of the housewifes and the more mature viewers. And of course it will also get many, many points from the former U.S.S.R. countries and from fans with a good taste, like me.

I confess this is one of my favourite songs, I like everything about it. I now hope Dima wont ruinned is chances with a crappy performance, like Julia Savicheva in 2004.

Points for the song: 12 (from 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 5 (from 1 to 5)

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Welcoming this song in the Eurovision is Also and her song Solo.

Romenia: Tornero

The Italian language returns to the Eurovision this year by the voice of singer Mihai Traistariu and the talents of Cristian Hriscu, Mihaela Deac (lyrics) and Eduard Cîrcotã (music) composers of the song Tornero, that represents Romania in this year ESC.
In the last couple of years Romania has become one of the favourite Eurovision countries among fans. In 2002 their song Tell me why, sang by Monica Anghel & Marcel Pavel, achieved a surprising 9th place, starting a series of good results. In my opinion this was also one of the best songs of that contest and one of the best from Romania.
Last year they reach 3rd place with Luminita Anghel & Sistem and their powerfull interpretation of the song Let me try. This year they continue on the same path with Tornero.
This year's song was one of my favourite entries until I heard the revamped version of it. Its a nice discotheque song, with a 90's feeling, performed by an original male voice. The new version however is full of screamings and, for me, it has lost all its original charm. Its not on my top 10 anymore.
In Athens however this is one song we should pay atention to. Its has some real chances of winning and take the contest to Bucarest for the first time.
Points for the song: 7 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)
And for the video: 3 (in 1 to 5)

Welcoming this song in the Eurovision is, or would be, Leon and his Planet of blue, that failed to qualify for the 1996 contest.

Poland: Follow my heart

Poland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. Their first entry, To nie ja sang by Edyta Górniak, is also their best result ever: 2nd place.
In 1995, 1996 and 1997 the Polish entries were all of extreme originality and musical quality. However has the years went by their results got worse and worse, culminating with a first relegation in 2000.
In the 2003 contest held in Riga the Polish entry was sang in 3 different languages. This song, Keine Grenzen, was a very powerful peace ballad enhanced by the original voice of the male lead singer of the group Ich Troje.
This year Ich Troje are back and with the help of the rapper Real McCoy they will defend the Polish colours in Athens. The song is will again be performed in 3 languages, Polish, English and Spanish and its called Follow my heart. The composer was André Franke and the lyrics were made by Michal Wisniewski, William Lennox and Real McCoy.
In 2003 Ich Troje was one of my favourite acts of that year, but this time they are on the rock bottom of my chart. The lyrics are very silly, the mix with all the languages is not so good, the act is very messy, with too many singers on stage and the mix of rap with that weird voice looks rather strange.
The song is modern but nothing much so I don’t expect them to go to the final.
Points for the song: 2 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)
And for the video: 1 (from 1 to 5)

Norway: Alvedansen

Norway has the honour of being the country with most last places in Eurovision history. This reputation however didn’t stop them for wining the contest in 2 occasions: 1985 with the eurovisionesque La det swinge, and in 1995 with the original Nocturne. Like the unforgettable Lill Lindfords said “its so nice that Norway won because they so often lose”!
This year they had, in my opinion, one of the best national finals, many good songs, many different styles and not a clear favourite. After some talks about the presence of too many Swedish composers in the competition the outcome of the final was not very surprise, Christine Guldbransen won with the soft celtic ballad Alvedansen. The only song in the Norwegian language and one of the few composed by Norwegian, in this case, Kjetil Fluge and Atle Halstensen.
Alvedansen was immediately considered one of the hot favourites for this years contest. I confess it took me a while to get used to it and to like it.
I think it will indeed score well in Athens. Win is a different thing because the time for celtic ballads in the Eurovision was a few years ago. But anything can happen.
The stage performance in the Norwegian national final was ok, nothing much. I would only advice a chance of dress, because it looked like she was wearing a post-it skirt.
Points for the song: 12 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 1 (in 1 to 5)

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Welcoming Christine in the Eurovision is Eimear Quinn and her winning song The Voice.

The Netherlands: Amambanda

After a disappointing result last year with Glennis Grace and the song My impossible dream, the Netherlands are going to Athens 2006 with the group Treble and a song they composed themselves called Amambanda.
The Netherlands won the contest in 4 occasions: in 1957, 1959, 1969 (with the beautiful De Troubadour) and the last time in 1975. In more recent years they best result is a 4th place in 1998 with Edsilia and Hemel en aarda, almost 10 years ago.
I have mixed feelings about this Amambanda. I like it, its fresh, it has rhythm and a nice Spanish feeling. But on the other hand, this song is not from Spain, the maginary language gets a bit repetitive and boring and the girls, sitting on their little drums, look a bit silly singing it. Very hippie and I'm a son of the 80's.
On the semi-final I fear that it can also be completely overshadowed by the Lordi monster act and the LTUnited gentlemens. Therefore I don’t predict it to be in the final, moreover I don’t want it to be, there are better, more trashy songs them this that should qualify.
Points for the song: 6 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)
And for the video: 1 (in 1 to 5)

Belgium calling… The start of the song is quite promising, but after 1 minute i've had it.
Nothing more than jungle sound and childlanguage. They try to save the song using the drums, but it's just not working
The last 30 seconds I think, oh dear when is this song gonna end!
I give it 8 points in 20.

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Welcoming Amambanda is the group Urban Trad and his imaginary language song Sanomi. I have heard that Treble used the imaginary language long before Urban trad but in the ESC they came first.

Monaco: La coco-dance

The Principality of Monaco returned to the contest in 2004 after 2 decades of absence. In the 60’s and 70’s they gave us many Eurovision evergreens like Un banc, un abre, une rue (ESC winner of 1971); Boum-badaboum (1967); Toi, la musique et moi (1976) and Les jardins de Monaco (1978) to name just a few.
Since their return they haven’t been so successful, having failed to qualify both in 2004 and 2005. But this year might be the year for them with the cheerful and exotic La coco-dance, sang by the charming Severine. The authors of the song are J. Woodfeel and Iren Bo.
This song has the ability to put us in a good mood. Its original and different from all the other songs. It makes us wanna dance to it and dream about the next summer vacations, that will hopefully be in some exotic Tahitian island.
I expect Monaco to give us a nice stage act in Athens and, if all goes well, they will qualify for Saturday final. This is one of my favourite songs of this year.
Points for the song: 10 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)
And for the video: 5 (in 1 to 5)

Belgium calling… Very nice start, its an exotic summer tune.
Nice chorus, simple song but very cheerful
Interesting how they keep on adding instruments, the break in the middle is not so good though. It can do well in Athens.
I give 13 points in 20.

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Welcoming this song in the Eurovision is Joelle Ursull, with the 1990 runner-up song White and black blues.

Moldova: Loca

Arsenium and Natalia Gordienko have a hard task on their hands. They were chosen has Moldova second representatives to the Eurovision Song Contest and are already in the final, thanks to the smash hit of the group Zdob si zdub with Boonika bate doba, which was an immediate Eurovision evergreen.

I was very surprise last year by the modernity of the Moldavian song and even more amazed when I saw their granny beating the drums on the Kiev stage.

This year the song Loca, written and composed by Arsenium, is equally modern, with a touch a rap and a reggae feeling, but unfortunately is not as good last year’s song.

The lyrics don’t make much sense and the performance, at least in the national final, was a bit chaotic. The mix between rap and reggae isn’t also one of my favourite things.

So I guess they will be in the semi-final next year but I hope they continue sending such modern and refreshing songs to the contest.

Points for the song: 6 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)

And for the video: 1 (in 1 to 5)

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Belgium calling… What a stupid text! Every night I need my loca, he loca gimme your boca, he loco I give you my choco…

This is PORNO !!!!!

Stupid song, and they still have to find an end to it.

I give it 5 points in 20 possible.

Welcoming this song is Riki Sorsa and is song Reggae OK.

Malta: I do

Malta is another successful country in the Eurovision Song Contest. They have participated 18 times, having reached the top 10 in twelve different occasions.
They were close to winning the contest in 1992 with Mary Spiteri and the song Little child (3rd place); in 1998 with Chiara and The one that I love (another 3rd place); in 2002 with Ira Losco’s Seventh Wonder (2nd place) and again last year with Chiara and the song Angle (2nd position).
Their national finals usually last for hours and hours and some artists compete in them every single year, Olivia Lewis, the eternal 2nd place has competed more them 10 times. This clearly shows the importance of the contest in that country, which is also one of the most visited by ESC artists on their promotion tours. I’m shure that the year Malta hosts the Eurovision it will be a very big party.
This year, they will be represented by Fabrizio Fanniello, one of Malta most famous singers and that had previously sang for them in 2001. The song is called I do and was written and composed by Fabrizio himself and Aldo Spiteri.
The song is a very catchy tune, very Eurovision, with a touch of Abba and a bit of disco beat. And I do, I do, I do, I do love it.
Because of Chiara’s good result last year they are already in the final and I think that they everything to get another top 10 result this year. I would even dare say that this might be a dark horse and possible winner of ESC 2006.
Points for the song: 12 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)
And for the video: 3- (in 1 to 5)

Belgium calling… Give me your love, Sweden 2003, oh no it’s Malta.
They tried to modernise the song a bit adding some piano, but the result is not very fabulous.
Not a very original song, like 13 in a dozen.
I give it 12 points in 20.

Welcoming this song is the 1968 winner Massiel with her song La, la, la.

Lithuania: We are the winners

What can we really say about Lithuania?!! Well, since 1994 they have participated 6 times in the ESC. In the last two years they didn’t reach the final and before that their best result was a 13th place in Copenhagen. The other 3 songs that competed in a Eurovision final all score bellow 20th place.
This doesn’t mean that all the songs they have sent are bad. Strazdas was a very good song, in my opinion it was one of the best in the 1999 contest, and Little by little was also a very nice song.
In Athens Lithuania will be represented by the song We are the winners, with music by Andrius Mamontovas, Saulius “Samas” Ubronavicius and lyrics by Andrius Mamontovas and Viktoras Diawara. The song will be performed by the group LT United and they are pretty confident that they will win the Eurovision. Throughout the song they constantly shout that they are the winners and ask for the Europeans to vote for them.
Is this another comic act or just a very silly, wanna be modern, song??? I really don’t know, what I do know is that I don’t like this at all. And yes, I do like Iceland.
LT United are a group of old and unattractive men, trying to be funny and very funky but end up being one of the most stupid acts ever in the Eurovision history. The ultimate example of Lithuanian national finals, that look like rave parties.
Off course this doesn’t mean that they will end up last with null points, because like someone told me recently they are silly but their message is easy to understand.
Cheap humour, unlike Silvia, that has a more refined humour and performance.
Points for the song: 1 (in 1 to 8, 10 and 12)
And for the video: 1 (in 1 to 5)

Belgium calling… Oh boy more crap! But at least it has rhythm.
But it is such a cheap song, it is a joke.
Very repetitive song
I give it 8 points in a scale of 1 to 20.

Welcoming this to the Eurovision is Alf Poier and Weil der Mensh zahlt, another stupid act and song, but with a surprising final result.