Tuesday 30 April 2013

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 27 - MONTENEGRO Igranka by Who See



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And so it appears that after all these years of power ballads, outlandish costumes and busy dance routines what Eurovision was really lacking was some hip-hop and dub-step. Yeah, get me, so down with the kids I can even bander these terms around as if I know what they mean. What I do know though, is that Montenegro has such an astute sense of just how poorly they’re likely to fare in Eurovision that they’re completely unbound by any sense of reason and can freely submit whatever they like. Last year we had Podgorica’s answer to Frank Zappa, Rambo Amadeus, and his spin on corpocracy, whilst this year we have Who See with this unlikely call to party. It’s difficult to ascertain quite what is going on in the video. We see two chaps resplendent in yellow safety overalls whilst two Balkan chicks (I imagine that’s how they’ll be referred to, at least that’s the polite version) have a sort of booty-off with a further two ladies going all-out in a cat-fight. They’re cheered along by some masqueraded revellers and a troupe of majorettes. This is some party! Musically we have some rapping and some other sub-genres I won’t trouble you with; it’s all a bit much for a man of my age to take in. And yet, I really quite like it. It’s a genuinely new style for Eurovision, and you have to give credit for that. It’s not, though, a style which is likely to benefit from a 6-person limit on the staging, nor a live setting, and though I’m reliably informed this kind of thing is all the rage in the locale, unless the televoting demographic has considerably widened I imagine the market for this on a Tuesday evening is probably somewhat limited. I doubt they’ll get a second airing on the Saturday, but you get the impression they know this, and it’s actually all part of the deal.

My score: 6 points

Monty x

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 26 - MOLDOVA O Mie by Aliona Moone



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It’s an environmentally friendly entry for Moldova this year as they’re recycling so much from Baku. Aliona was one of the backing singers for lovely Pasha Parforthecourse and she’s taking centre stage this time. But look, who’s that at the piano? Why, it’s Pasha himself, and he’s even written the song. But that’s not all, as they’ve also recycled Azerbaijan’s gimmick by projecting gobos and other imagery onto Aliona’s frock, just like during Sabina Babayeva’s performance. Aliona has something strange going on with her hair: it’s highly fashioned but all pulled over onto one side and lacquered to within an inch of its life. It makes her look like she’s modelled the right hand side of herself on Crystal Tips from the popular children’s cartoon and not known what to do with the left. The song is a big ballad, moody and effective and Aliona is flanked by three chaps I’d like a closer look at, but whose faces are shrouded by silken hoodies. I’ll see if I can pull their hoods back in Malmö and admire the delights that surely hide within. I do like this, but it’s slap in the middle of so many other moody and effective female ballads something is going to have to give. We might be as well advised to either draw lots for which of them will qualify, or perhaps just let them have a catfight. Aliona could have an edge there; that hair looks like a weapon of mass destruction.

My score: 7 points

Monty x

Monday 29 April 2013

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 25 - MALTA Tomorrow by Gianluca



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Last year lovely Kurt Calleja’s charisma carried a fairly plain song to the final for Malta. This year they’re trying the opposite with this jaunty toe-tapper that oozes charm, but with a singer who might be a little bit too eager. Ginaluca sings of Jeremy (working in I.T.), a man of routine and caution who falls headlong for a flighty piece of a girl, carefree and adventurous. Jeremy’s friends are worried for him as she jerks him off his humdrum treadmill in his attempt to pin her down, but just like tomorrow she seems to always be a step ahead of him. It’s a comedy of errors played out in the video in a string of near-miss would-be encounters as Jeremy tries to get his girl. The song is very engaging, and it’s hard not to like it, but I’m not convinced that Gianluca, bouncy thing that he is, quite matches; in fact he might be a little too enthusiastic as he skips around the stage. Some have this as the dark horse though I’m not convinced, unless Gianluca can reign it in a bit, but it’s a simple pleasure and one which could well garner a lot of support on the night through its unabashed happiness.

My score: 7 points

Monty x

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 24 - MACEDONIA (FYR of) Pred Da Se Razdeni by Esma and Lozano



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My interest was piqued when I heard Esma’s name in connection with Eurovision. She’s known as the Queen of Gypsy Music and her participation promised much. She’s paired with Lozano, a young Macedonian upstart in an unlikely inter-generational coupling. When their song Imperija was announced it was met with largely positive reviews, but within just a few days we were hearing that it hadn’t gone down too well with some power that is and it was to be changed. This is what we got. Outside of Macedonia it’s been more or less judged to be worse than their original choice, although it does appear to showcase Esma somewhat more, making you wonder where the original dissatisfaction lay. It now feels like they’re both singing different songs clumsily welded together, but the lyrics reveal a call-and-response from Lazano to Esma, he longing for the old days, she soothing him and bidding him stay until the dawn. The disjointedness of the verse to chorus, musically, detracts from the overall cohesion and ultimately from the enjoyment and really you feel they’ve wasted Esma’s talents to a large degree as the thoughts of what she could have delivered solo tantalise you throughout, but she still manages to shine, albeit having diminished their opportunity for a really good placing. Based on her local notoriety alone this should sail into the final, but we’re looking at a mid-table result at best once it gets there.

My score: 7 points

Monty x

Sunday 28 April 2013

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 23 - LITHUANIA Something by Andrius Pojavis



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OK, call me fickle. Having just dissed Latvia for being a bit ordinary I’m about to praise their neighbours Lithuania despite being decidedly ordinary too. It’s a bit of a confessional from Andrius: “if you don’t know, I’m in love with you” he tells us. It’s been on his mind so long he just has to tell us. You have to feel it’s unreciprocated because he’s falling apart seeing us here, so we’re clearly not helping his nerves.  But you know, I DO love Andrius a little bit. I can’t quite put my finger on why, as the song is a bit naff, and his eyebrows are clearly out of control, but there’s something in the way our boy flirts with the camera and is so overwhelmed by his emotions that’s terrifically endearing. He’s crying out for a crash-course in stage-presence between now and May but he’s seems very genuine and it’s difficult to dislike him for that. I don’t think he’s going far though, there’s just not enough mileage in the song to get him anywhere, but I’m going to make the most of my three minute journey with him.

My score: 5 points

Monty x

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 22 - LATVIA Here We Go by PeR



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“When Eurovision comes, the voters should stop thinking in the category ‘Is this suitable for Eurovision?’ and start thinking in the category ‘Is this good music?’” So say the members of PeR, a Latvian beatbox and vocal combo. Well, quite; the latter is the very question that was on my mind too, and I have to admit I was also just wondering whether this song is suitable for Eurovision as I watched the video. PeR have a bit of interest to them; a couple of years ago they performed the slightly creepy Like A Mouse in the Latvian final in which the boy from next door appears to break into his pretty neighbour’s home and sit and stare at her whilst remaining as quiet as the titular rodent. Strangely, it wasn’t a bad little song, and they even had a second (and more striking) song in this year’s selection which makes this as their Eurovision entry the more disappointing for being so, well, ordinary. It’s a rather plain pop song with some rapping that’s not that well executed and with some especially trite lyrics as a chorus. It’s not bad, but doesn’t seem to fit with the band’s pedigree. I can’t really see it gaining any special support in Malmö, there’s just not really anything to get behind.

My score: 4 points

Monty x

T Minus 7 days

In just a mere 170 Hours the OnEurope Xarabank (see what I did there?) will be taking on via "easy" jet and landing in the city of Baku, Dusseldorf - Malmeeer (yes, that's the one) for 2 weeks of Eurovision!

Now, dear reader, you remember that *I* haven't been accredited for the last 2 years - but this time, oh yes, this time it's all different as I have my little laminated badge so you can have the coverage you deserve.................. which is different to that you actually want!

Rehearsals start at 10am CET on Monday 5th but, remember, don't expect any Videos!! - The delegations want closed rehearsals for the first 4 days so, like the old days, you'll have to make do with written descriptions only......  I know how you like them, so comment at will cos, after all, you'll have to take my word for what happens.  Other menu's are available of course

http://www.esckaz.com,
http://www.escxtra.com, where Luke and his gang will be hanging out,
http://www.eurovisionary.com
http://www.escnation.com  Where the messageboard will be lively
http://www.esctoday.com - Where you will find their usual version of events.
http://www.eurovisionireland.net - Where Garrett Mulhall has taken over from Keith Mills, and he's sharing our apartment in Malmerr!

And many many more! - Remember my word is not law, or indeed right most of the time - it's the OPINIONS that you come for, possibly the abuse, maybe even the cheese....

Which reminds me....















Start as we mean to go on *I* say! - I dont know what kind of cheese this is - but it certainly looks a lil bit yellow....... lets hope its tasty!

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Monty: Greetings from the London Eurovision Party!


Sunday saw yet another hugely successful London Eurovision Party with several of this year’s acts, and other special guests, performing to a packed crowd in the Shadow Lounge, showcasing their Eurovision entries and other songs in an intimate setting. As has become traditional I popped down to Access All Areas and shunt on-stage equipment for the artistes. Well, how else am I going to get my hands on that Greek drummer’s bongos?

As well as escorting some of the artists between the venue and the press room round the corner in homosexualist hostelry The Yard (where they were treated to some lovely images of bare arses lining the staircase – heaven only knows what some of those young ladies made of it all, although it probably gave the Greek boys a taste of what was to come...) I also managed to catch the sound check during the afternoon where John Allison from the UK 1961 seemed to go through the entirety of his repertoire before snapping his g-string. Everyone else was in fine form as they practised and got used to the venue.

Opening the show the ever-lovely Nicki French treated us to her own version of the song our Bonnie took to the top of the hit-parade, Total Eclipse of the Heart. I’ll be waiting in Malmö for some wise-cracking DJ to slip it on instead of Bonnie’s own backing track. Nicki introduced Mr Allison who regaled us of his extensive (and hitherto un-supposed) career highlights before cracking on with his tune. Then it was onto this year’s line up with Austria’s Natalia Kelly. She knew her crowd and opened with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi before singing Molitva in the original language as a special treat. I’m not keen on her entry but I warmed to her personally very much. Cezar from Romania showed off his impressive vocals and laid an early claim to be this year’s Ott Lepland in some particularly snug denims. Lovely Gianluca from Malta brought his infectious smile and humour to the stage and generally charmed everybody.  Closing the first half was a lively performance by Finland’s Krista who had brought three backing dancers to fill out her Team Ding Dong and who spent all day in a wedding frock. She’s keen!

I was all a flutter during the interval as it was time for my big starring role. I had to get that drum kit into position for Koza Mostra. Would I get that high-hat in just the right place to create the perfect tinkle? Thankfully I did, and then waited backstage with several burly bearded men all pent up before their performance. I wonder how they were feeling at the time? The Greek boys burst onto the stage in a riot of Balkan ska and brought the house down. I stayed close by the lovely drummer, just in case in case he was suddenly all come over and needing of succour. Then it was time to whip that drum kit away as the boys retired from the stage to enjoy the free alcohol (something I’m pleased to report I was able to also enjoy as a thank-you from the organisers). Cheers boys, stalk – oops, sorry – SEE you in Malmö!

I was just steadying myself and having a cooling waft down the cleavage with the Thessaloniki Gazette backstage, meaning I missed the apparently giddy delights of 2007’s Sarbel mincing into the crowd with his Yassou Maria, and I also managed to miss the nice Latvian boys, resplendent in pink and blue suits with winkle-pickers as I escorted the Greek boys back round to the main entrance to ensure they gained unimpeded access having mislaid their artist passes. I got back in time for Denmark’s Emilie to deliver a cracking acoustic version of her song which is a big favourite this year. Special guest Nikki Jamal from Azerbaijan, North London, took to the stage next with a solo version of Running Scared along with two other new tracks from her forthcoming album. Just before the other Nicki rounded off the show by playing that song again the reinvented Valentina Monetta treated us to both the English and Italian versions of her Sammarinese song, though not to Facebook, much to the disappointment of the crowd.  She still went down a storm though, and channelled Sandie Shaw performing in bare feet.

All of this year’s acts were presented by one of the fab Ben Morris’s Minipop Icons of themselves, and the night also acted as a plug for the forthcoming Make A Difference Trust's annual charity West End Eurovision night in May. Despite the schedule slipping a bit and the acts finishing at almost midnight it was a truly great night, and I’m pleased to have been a part of helping it to run on the day. Now, what to wear for my second date with that Greek drummer...?

You can see video performances of the artists here on escXtra.com.

Monty x

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 21 - ITALY L’Essenziale by Marco Mengoni


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Marco is a former Italian X Factor winner who, in the same vein as the UK’s talent show star Will Young, seems to have a lot more about him that your average search-for-a-star contestant. He was the winner of the Italian San Remo festival this year with this song, giving it an early boost in the European music market. It’s the first time since Jalisse’s Fiumi Di Parole in 1997 that the San Remo winning act and song has gone on to be the Italian entry, although admittedly since 1997 they’ve only been back for the last two years. See what we might have missed! This is a big building ballad and Marco gives a confident and passionate performance. In the video we see him at the piano before, like Eyþór in Iceland, he’s underwater, still singing like a trooper. There’s something about his quiff and nonchalance that I find quite becoming, and the song just oozes class and competence. It was the last entry this year to be confirmed, the Italians as ever reserving the right to select whichever of his songs they saw fit after confirming him as the nominated artist, and we only found out it was this track on the morning of final submission to the EBU. Personally I think the Italians have pulled a blinder and this has a very good chance of winning, and it’s snuck in as one of my favourites, hugely lifting a year that largely disappoints. It’s also been a long time since I was in Italy and I know a few choice phrases I could be brushing up for a week there next May.

My score: douze points!

Monty x 

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 20 - ISRAEL Rak Bishvilo by Moran Mazor



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Israel deployed a very roundabout way to select a right old duffer for Eurovision this year, and in that I mean the song, although you could extend it to the poor singer. Three semi finals featured 30 songs and this is what they ended up with. It’s not that it’s terrible, but it is non-descript. Moran has earned the early nickname Ugly Betty. Personally I find that a bit harsh, but she does look like the frumpy girl at school who’s tried to sex herself up a bit for the end of year dance and hasn’t known where to start. The frock is entirely ill-advised; it clings snugly to her hour-and-a-half-glass figure whilst her neckline plunges to reveal a not un-proud bosom but the overall effect is that she’s forgotten to zip up her cardigan. It puts me in mind of the time Judy Finnegan’s boobs fell out in a TV award show. And the specs! Honey, men don’t make passes at girls who wear (those) glasses! Given her song, translating as Only For Him, is about her attempt to win over a man it’s time she considered contact lenses, or at least something less associated with Su Pollard. She’s got a voice, but frankly, the rest of it is a mess, and I can’t see her going anywhere but home for an early bath.

My score: 3 points

Monty x

Thursday 18 April 2013

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 19 - IRELAND Only Love Survives by Ryan Dolan



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After two years of Jedward the terrible twosome have hung up their sneakers and sent their warm-up act to fill in for them. Actually, whilst your man Ryan has indeed opened for them that description alone does him an unfair disservice, for this is very good indeed. Ireland is of course the clear leader in the Eurovision medal table, with a total of seven victories, three of which Johnny Logan had a hand in, with the others coming from a couple of old codgers who won it by accident, a bit of diddly-dlddly at the height of the Celtic Tiger’s roar, a homophobic MEP and a woman who used to work in a bank. Will Ryan make it eight? He might. The Irish selection had a great little line up this year, but once again the choice to hold it in the corner of the Late Late Show’s studio bedevilled most of the acts’ opportunity. They really have to sort this out, it’s shockingly bad. Ryan though shone through with his up-tempo dance song and its message of love. It’s a message that walks a fine line to avoid plunging into a full counter of Irish cheddar, especially with its motif in the video of happy people the world over (mainly ex-pats, one presumes) making the shape of a heart out of their hands to hammer the theme home. But it’s not cheesy at all, it’s actually rather endearing. The song has just enough uplift to create a great atmosphere in the big hall and I can envisage a frenzied light show as it reaches its crescendo, which is going to have us all shrieking like wild banshees as we thrust our arms in the air and revel in the beats. This is in with a hell of a chance. And you know what? It’s been too long since I was last in Dublin, I’d feckin’ love to go back for my first Eurovision there.

My score: douze points!

Monty x 

In the words of Linda Bengzing....


Jag ljuger så bra! My my, I do indeed lie so well...

"Going to take it easy in Amsterdam, not going to have a late one on the Saturday as I have to take an early flight, not going to go to the Eurovision In Concert after party, no, no, no...." 

Lies all lies dear readers! Just five hours sleep on both nights in Amsterdam, not packing a ruddy coat for the weekend (those red light canal corners ain't half windy in mid April) and three very early starts at work has left me with a stinker of a cold that has me matching Bonnie Tyler on the raspy voice leader board. We are both only one chorus away from coughing up blood I'll tell you....

Hence, I've been a little slow to get onto semi two but I will, even from my sick bed I will...

Monty has given us a great review of the EiC, it was a thoroughly enjoyable show and well done to the organisers for putting it all together. Wonderful!

Of course, we all know each year we try to glean something from the performances we see at EiC, who can't really sing it, who can, who has charisma, who doesn't....

Of course the EiC performances will differ incredibly from the ones we will see in Malmo and we perhaps shouldn't get carried away trying to analyse qualification chances from a stage performance at a preview concert. But we like analysing it all to death don't we....?

After viewing the concert, I wouldn't change my semi one predictions massively but Rosé's Qualification Agency would put a couple of countries on negative qualification watch after Saturday, Estonia and Slovenia...

Birgit sang well enough and, though I love this, It didn't have much impact in the hall and I think this has slipped back into the borderline qualification zone. 

Hannah from Slovenia could indeed sing and she promised us hot dancers in Malmo, yay! My only concern is her voice seemed a little shouty and I think this has potential to be a big old mess in Malmo. I hope I'm wrong. 

I already had Slovenia in the borderline zone and there she'll stay for now.

I wouldn't move anyone up to 'positive qualification watch' except to say that the Moldovan girl sang bloody well even though I think the song is still not strong enough. The Lithuanian boy has controlled his eyebrows better, though in concentrating so hard on this he really hasn't got energy to give any kind of engaging performance. 

Belarus stays in the borderline zone after a messy routine though its uptempo-ness and neighbours may help it. 

Cementing their place in my dead certs zone Ireland, Serbia, Croatia and Belgium. The Irish song went very big in the hall, the Serbian girls sang it very well (though there's a chance they may over flounce this a la Feminem), the Croatian boys sounded great and the Belgian boy belted Love Kills out despite an ear piece issue at the start. 

Semi Two coming soon everyone. We got a good idea of the second semi after Saturday.  Possibly the full, camp ESC Finnish performance, the static and dull Swiss one, the train smash that WILL be Romania, the Barbra Dex award may go Israel and that Gianluca from Malta oozes charm and this song stood out a mile. 

Now, where did I put those lemsips? 

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 18 - ICELAND Eg A Lif by Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson



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Eyþór is alive! Or at least that what he’s keeps telling us all through his song: eg a lif! It’s a close shave though as he almost drowns in the video. We see him as a fisherman (maybe singing’s just a sideline?) out in his little boat, slicing up his catch of the day until he nicks his finger on his filleting knife. This unleashes untold agony and although he manages to bandage it up the unbearable pain soon sees him tossing himself overboard into the icy seas (although this being the magic of film-making it might only be the same municipal swimming pool that we saw Hera Bjork parading herself around in the other year). It seems a bit over dramatic for a common household injury if you ask me but we all deal with life’s hardships in our own way. The song itself is a spirited Celtic-hued ballad, the kind you suspect something about God might be lurking within at any given lyric. It’s not without its appeal, but it’s an acquired taste genre-wise. Astonishingly Eyþór is only 23; those long Icelandic winters must take their toll as he looks, politely, considerably more mature. If you can get past the ridiculous hairdo he’s actually quite rugged-looking in his chunky pullover. I might change my name to Delilah and see if I can snip the locks off in Malmö, he’d be much improved with a crew cut. He’s only really got Norway as a natural ally in his semi-final which might hamper his chance of qualifying. I think he’s borderline, and although I do quite like it, it will be neither a stunning addition nor much missed in the final if he doesn’t make it.

My score: 7 points

Monty x

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 17 - HUNGARY Kedvesem by Bye Alex



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After the brash pop of Wulf Kati’s What About My Dreams and the rousing chant of Compact Disco’s Sound Of Our Hearts Hungary has wound the pace back a heck of a lot this year with this understated song by a hipster called Bye Alex, also known as Alex Marta, a journalist by day with a Masters in philosophy. His song Kedvesem, or She’s The One For Me (all that in one word, really the Magyar grammar structures must be so unforgiving) is a gently lilting song of satisfaction that was quite a surprise winner from a 30-strong field and three national semi-finals. Somehow this seemed to find momentum and strike a chord with the voting public, perhaps because of its sweet lyrics, which feature prominently in the animated video. This may be its undoing though as Alex is sticking to Magyar, a language with only around 15 million native speakers, mostly in the one country that won’t be able to vote for him. (Originally it was reported he’d sing part of the song in Swedish in a nod to the host nation, but that’s now been ditched, possibly after calculating there are even fewer native Swedish speakers than there are Magyar.) It’s a brave move, and will delight the purists who bemoan the dominance of often badly-intoned English, but you can’t help feel it will scupper what little chance he has. I like this, now I’ve warmed to it, but it’s got no real instant appeal other than being “nice”, and amid the power ballads, the rock, and the downright bizarre in his semi final he’ll struggle to be appreciated. As they’re opening up the qualifiers’ envelopes his stage name will never have seemed so apt.

My score: 7 points

Monty x

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Monty: I just can't get enough

Blimey, I've only gone and changed my flight to Malmo. I'm going two days earlier on the Thursday As if my liver won't be pickled enough...

Monty x

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 16 - GREECE Alcohol is Free by Koza Mostra and Agathon Iakovidis



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Brace yourselves, this is a lively one! It’s a Balkan ska number performed by the Band Koza Mostra with rebetiko singer Agathon Iakovidis. The title has already spawned a million lame jokes and will spawn a million more quips about the complimentary nature – or otherwise – of the beverages around the Malmö parties before the week is through. The untypical nature of the song for Eurovision has confounded some fans who see this as a no-hoper, but I think otherwise. It’s a properly jolly knees-up, the likes of which we’re in dire need of this year, and really, who can say no to a free bar? To their enormous benefit Koza Mostra’s lead singer (and indeed several members of his band) is not unpleasing on the eye, and I’ll be hoping to whisk a few free ones down his neck and help him relax in Sweden. In the video they work their way round a market, a barber’s shop, a fishing pier and the flicks, pursued by Agathon like some kind of moustachioed Mr Magoo. They keep trying to give him the slip although it’s never entirely clear why. Perhaps he smells? I’ll see how close I can get in Malmö shielded only with a Kleenex three-ply and report back. The Greeks will need a stiff drink if this starts to reign in the points and they look like they might have to host the thing next year. It could well be the dark horse.

My score: 8 points

Monty x

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 15 - GERMANY Glorious by Cascada



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Ever since it was first announced that Europoppers Cascada would compete in the German final one camp of fans squealed they were the perfect Eurovision choice. Indeed their style is probably that most stereotypically associated with the Contest and a genre that has either made fans the diehard breed they are, or given the whole shebang a bad name, depending on your bent (and most of the bent ones are in the former camp). It’s certainly the song that wins the “sounds-most-like-last-year’s-winner” award hands down. In fact, some claimed it sounds so much like last year’s winner that it was a copy and cried foul. Others meanwhile claimed it sounded like a copy of any one of several others songs, neatly illustrating the point that it was, in fact, merely very generic. The storm was of truly teacup-sized proportions – dance song in sounds-like-dance-music-shocker! – and quickly resolved, permitting the tune to bask in its own marginally-original gloriousness. (Anyway, isn’t the point of Cascada to sound a bit like lots of other songs in the first place?).  It does sound a bit similar to Euphoria and may indeed be judged against it, in which case it’s going to be found wanting. Singer Natalie can’t help looking, well, a bit cheap in comparison, to be brutally frank, but Loreen’s pull wasn’t just her song, but also its staging, and Natalie just doesn’t have the gravitas to match. It’s not bad by any means, and it will have us all jumping in the dancehalls, but I think it’s going to be lucky to scrape the top 10 unless it has a serious presentational makeover.

My score: 7 points

Monty x

Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2013 Part 14 - GEORGIA Waterfall by Nodi Tatishvilli & Sophie Gelovani



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Georgia sent a great galumphing oaf of a singer to Baku last year: Anri Jokhadze singing I’m a Joker. The joke was on the Georgians when he became their first participant not to qualify, setting aside the year they pulled out once it became clear their thinly-disguised anti-Putin song wouldn’t survive without a lyrical edit. How does a proud nation respond to being left in the semis? Why, by engaging the songwriter of last year’s winning entry, that’s how! Swede Thomas G:sson has a strong pedigree not just in his home country but across Europe when it comes to Eurovision and national final entries and has delivered the Georgians with a fairly decent song. Dangerously decent, in fact, if a ballad like this isn’t your preferred choice of winner. It’s a belter with a big note (cue golden shower) that is a real contender. There are two little problems though: firstly the field is somewhat overcrowded with this type of song this year, although being a duo does set them apart a little; and secondly the deliberate contracting of G:sson just seems ever so slightly contrived. Of course the televoting public may not a) know, or b) care, they may just vote for the powerful song, but I’m going to stick my neck out and say this isn’t the winner but it will be up there near the top, though I’m by no means averse to a trip to Tbilisi if it is. And why is Sophie meandering her way around a maze that only comes up to her chest? Isn’t that defeating the object?

My score: 6 points

Monty x 

I don't get Eurovisionia!!!

Will someone explain this to me?