mrmike855
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Post by mrmike855 on Sept 15, 2020 12:59:45 GMT -5
2008 was a pretty weak year in hindsight. Outside of the qualifiers (and even a few of those were weak) there were pretty slim pickings this year.
I just can't get into Greece or Armenia because of the vocals. Sirusho sounds kind of screechy and Kalomira is constantly flat, but Qele Qele is overall better.
It feels like Finland sent their act to try to capitalize on "Through the Fire and the Flames". Consider both are power metal songs about war.
Slovenia and San Marino deserved to qualify (but wow is Slovenia sexual) and should've replaced Romania and Poland, the other non-qualifiers were pretty underwhelming.
So "Day after Day" and "Pokušaj" are deeper than I thought, interesting, but Azerbaijan still comes off as a complete mess.
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Future Captain
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Post by Future Captain on Sept 15, 2020 14:37:05 GMT -5
I really like Qele Qele and Secret Combination. I think Believe is one of the weakest winner of the 2000s tbh
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ry4n
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Post by ry4n on Sept 16, 2020 5:56:33 GMT -5
Qele Qele is still a bop!!!! My winner that year. Yeah I think the same, but I'll wait till I process Ukraine to declare my favourite of 2008 (I can't see anything else challenging). #spoilers. "Pokušaj" is so great!! Is over the top and ridiculous but catchy af, and is funny to see. Such a fun experience. "Secret Combination" is THAT bop, but the live performance felt flat for me. "Qele Qele" is solid too. "Day After Day" is so extra too, as a performance is good and really different, the storytelling is on point but the vocals ain't for me. Yeah, I saw some comments about Kalomira's vocals, but they didn't bother me that much 2008 was a pretty weak year in hindsight. Outside of the qualifiers (and even a few of those were weak) there were pretty slim pickings this year. I just can't get into Greece or Armenia because of the vocals. Sirusho sounds kind of screechy and Kalomira is constantly flat, but Qele Qele is overall better. It feels like Finland sent their act to try to capitalize on "Through the Fire and the Flames". Consider both are power metal songs about war. Slovenia and San Marino deserved to qualify (but wow is Slovenia sexual) and should've replaced Romania and Poland, the other non-qualifiers were pretty underwhelming. So "Day after Day" and "Pokušaj" are deeper than I thought, interesting, but Azerbaijan still comes off as a complete mess. 2008 is one of the most entertaining, but it also has a ton of joke entries, which you mentioned you're not a fan of, so I understand. I'm also one of those Eurofans that goes crazy over the female songs that placed 2-6 though lol. Re: Bosnia, I should clarify that that's my interpretation of it (I have edited my review to reflect that). It makes sense with the lyrics too. Azerbaijan's concept was explained on the Wikipedia article though. I really like Qele Qele and Secret Combination. I think Believe is one of the weakest winner of the 2000s tbhYeah... that live vocal is something else.
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Post by ry4n on Sept 22, 2020 10:10:04 GMT -5
Belgrade 2008 – Semi-Final 2 Host: Serbia Slogan: “Confluence of Sound” Participants: 43 Voting method: 12-point system (42 televotes / 1 jury) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 4 + host General Overview:This one is actually on YouTube in full! Although several performances are muted (they're uploaded individually on other channels anyway). SF1 contained the more obvious qualifiers, but SF2 includes plenty of quality entries too. The opening and interval acts again focus on Serbian cultural entertainment. The former is similar to the opening in SF1. It's theatre-esque, with a centaur shouting commands, and a collection of persons painted in the flag colours. The interval involves a quirky rubber band plucking beat and animated dance moves in raggedy clothes. It's charming. Lys Assia, the eternal special guest of Eurovision, kicks off the voting in this semi-final. She seems to be on a different wavelength from the presenters, though. There's a montage of the 5 auto-qualifiers before the results are revealed (boy the “big 4” hits a nadir this year). And the envelopes are transported to the main stage in a peculiar way, as was the custom around this time. Oh, and the green room hosts are AWFUL. The Entries:✓ Iceland: Euroband - This Is My Life If Steps or A*Teens were releasing new material in 2008, it'd probably sound something like this. But I mean that as a compliment! “This Is My Life” is sophisticated cheesiness, featuring a raging storm of synths, a passionate vocal delivery, and a message of self-acceptance. The narrator adopts a positive outlook on life despite their misfortunes and mistakes. The brisk trance production (which is on trend for the 2008 mainstream), and the radiant smiles on stage enhances that message. The song gets swept away in the euphoria. The duo also sings with determination, and the melody is catchy enough. ✓ Sweden: Charlotte Perrelli - Hero Sweden delivers another dosage of Schlager-pop, this time performed by the winning artist of ESC 1999. Notably, “Take Me To Your Heaven” was the song that kick-started this trend. “Hero” is certainly derivative of Sweden's previous 2000s entries – ie. the instrumentation, the enveloping chorus, the key change. Carola did it better in 2006. That said, that chorus does pack a punch. It's a victory lap, thanks to the backing vocalists and the jogging production. Charlotte conveys resilience while out on the edge. And the “out of the light, like a star, like a hero” bit (plus the accompanying piano notes) is bouncy. Elsewhere, the key change is handled well. And I like the series of percussion kicks at the end of each verse. The staging is noticeably bare, aside from the first verse, where the lighting paints a black-and-white illusion of Charlotte. Not sure why. Ultimately though, “Hero” only qualified because of the jury wildcard rule. It subsequently placed 18th, equaling Sweden's performance in 2007. Fun fact: “Hero” was bolstered by juries at Melfest 2008 as well. Sanna Nielsen's “Empty Room” won the televote. ✓ Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi - Deli Turkey continues to qualify with ease. In fact, this landed in 7th place! “Deli” is a sincere offering of alternative rock, that sounds contemporary for 2008. While the band seem like experienced musicians. The song is frantic and distraught, and even menacing during the bridge. Lyrically, the narrator appears to be a victim of a abuse, but the context is ambiguous. “Deli” conveys a rebellious response though. While the situation culminates in a loss of sanity in the bridge. Elsewhere, the guitar rhythm is tenacious. The lead-in to the chorus is effective (“resisting, resisting, resisting”). The elongation of syllables in the chorus is catchy. And the vocals are smooth. ✓ Ukraine: Ani Lorak - Shady Lady Ukraine are the runners-up two years in a row! The country's track record is impressive – their qualification rate still stands at 100% as of 2020. Additionally, “Shady Lady” won SF2. The bursting chorus is instantly infectious, thanks to the well-timed pauses and the spurts of disco strings – ie. “SHADY... LADY” (plus “are you... ready” and “rollin'... steady”). Ani delivers these lines with fierceness. The song is a declaration – she is done with being quiet and complacent in her broken relationship. Therefore it's time to unveil a sinister side that no one expects. Elsewhere, the verses are well-produced, with the fluttering synths and double beeps. There's a strutting rhythm. The bridge sets up the final chorus well. The choreography is slick, especially those head nods. And the light-up compartments on stage are a neat visual. Ani even climbs ontop at one point. “Shady Lady” is a masterfully constructed bop. Fun fact: “Shady Lady” was co-written by Philipp Kirkorov, who represented Russia in 1995. × Lithuania: Jeronimas Milius - Nomads in the Night Yeah, no. Jeronimas's over-singing completely spoils whatever sentiment this aims for. It's too over-the-top to take seriously, and the intensity is borderline creepy. Furthermore, “Nomads” is the type of ballad arrangement that just drags on. The song describes how the loneliness and coldness of the nighttime makes Jeronimas numb to his immense heartache. The guitars before the final chorus are alright. But this entry is unbearable to listen to. ✓ Albania: Olta Boka - Zemrën e lamë peng I'd say this is an underrated entry. Olta's vocals are shaky, but they express vulnerability so fittingly. Her voice contains a beautiful texture too. The song, meanwhile, portrays her emotional journey. The verses are gentle – they feature a glimmering acoustic guitar and heavy footsteps/heartbeats. The chorus, conversely, is an outpouring of angst, where the rock instrumentation intensifies. The lyrics employ a clock metaphor to explain how her relationship fell apart. And the camera work involves multiple fades to black (like time stopping?) Albania are 4/5 for me so far! × Switzerland: Paolo Meneguzzi - Era stupendo Switzerland substitutes for the departed Italy. “Era stupendo” begins as an old-fashioned Italian ballad, but the pacing increases once the drums enter after the first chorus. It becomes a little frantic. The transition isn't jarring, however. The song is bittersweet, where Paolo puts his relationship on hold so that he can fight for an important cause. But he promises to resume the romance in the future. The arrangement captures the contrasting sentiments of (celebratory) finality and reassurance. While Paolo's performance is genuine, heartfelt and passionate. And the melody powerfully soars when the chorus hits. But his vocals are rough at times. × Czech Republic: Tereza Kerndlová - Have Some Fun So “Secret Combination” isn't the only Timbaland-inspired track in the 2008 contest, as Czechia opted to emulate Nelly Furtado's “Say It Right”. The clacking percussion beat on “Have Some Fun” is essentially the same. The production is the best aspect of the song, though. There's enough deviations and it's a bop. The chorus also emits a carefree pop melody. On the flip side, the vocals are weak. The lyrics are clumsily written (the chorus has one too many “have some fun”'s). And the shouting deejay on stage is an unnecessary distraction. Ultimately, “Have Some Fun” falls too flat to be fun. × Belarus: Ruslan Alekhno - Hasta la Vista It's another “hasta la vista (baby)” entry in Eurovision! Well, this is a retread of “Work Your Magic” (the Belarusian entry from 2007). Namely in the immense, encompassing, dramatic guitars that drive the song. They project an ominous sense of urgency. But the chorus is a mess, both vocally and lyrically. The “..baby”/“..maybe” pauses are catchy, but the phrasing is cheesy and lacking. The star balls on stage don't add much either. The pre-chorus is decent though, thanks to the echoes. ✓ Latvia: Pirates of the Sea - Wolves of the Sea The 2008 joke entries are so extra. In the wake of Switzerland's campy musical number about vampires in 2007, Latvia does the same with pirates a year later. Near the peak popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, I might add. The Latvian group goes all-in with the concept. There's a sea shanty melody, obvious lyrical references, pirate costumes, a telescope, and a ship's steering wheel on stage. There's a whimsical, comedic tone to this entry. The hyper, pounding dance beat maintains jaunty energy. And the band takes pride in being pirates, while acknowledging they are violent thieves. However, that singalong “HI HI HO / HI HI HEY” hook is so irritating, even if it is catchy. A team of Swedish composers were responsible for that. And overall, “Wolves of the Sea” is too kitsch for my taste. ✓ Croatia: Kraljevi ulice and 75 Cents - Romanca This one is just an absurd joke entry. “Romanca” involves a grumpy curmudgeon named 75 Cents (presumably a pun on “50 Cent”) intermittently ranting and raving at the audience. It's a total “WTF” moment. He explains how he connected people via music before the Internet. The song explores themes of nostalgia, cynicism, fading memories and society's perception of the elderly. Musically, “Romanca” is in the style of early 20th century Mediterranean crooning, where the band reminisces over love songs from a bygone era. The accordion rhythm establishes a romantic mood. Meanwhile, the “Zasvirajte noćas tu romancu” hook is a strong lead-off, thanks to the emphases. And the song becomes crazy at the end, with the tempo changes, the clinking of glass bottles, and 75 Cents scratching records on a gramophone. × Bulgaria: Deep Zone and Balthazar - DJ, Take Me Away Bulgaria partakes in an experimental direction again, following the success of “Water”. “DJ, Take Me Away” is the most instrumental-focused Eurovision entry since “Nocturne”. There are no vocals until the 1:00 mark. The production is a mix of drum 'n' bass with hip-hop record scratches, featuring a sprinkle of other sound effects. It's a boisterous production that's unlike anything heard before in this contest. So the DNQ result isn't surprising, although it did come close. The instrumental is also a multi-faceted. There's a euphoric siren (emulating a drug trip), a cool down when the vocalist enters, a “drop” after the first vocal segment, and another switch-up during the bridge. I love the intricacies. There's also turntables on fire! As for the vocalist, she just repeats the same phrase (about escapism through dance music). Her contribution seems faceless. ✓ Denmark: Simon Mathew - All Night Long Denmark supplies a breezy, feelgood slice of retro 1970s soft rock, sung by a charismatic performer. Which is similar description to their 2005 entry. On the surface, “All Night Long” is plain and ordinary, but it's salvaged by infectious hooks and buoyant stage energy. The warm, singalong chants of “all night long” (+whistle responses) and the exclamations of “CEL.UH.BRATE. GOOD. TIMES. C'MON” are easily lodged in my head. While the stammering rhythm reinforces those hooks. The song's message is simple: be happy in the moment. And the arrangement conveys that purely positive happy-go-lucky spirit. Simon is also animated in his body movements. That said, 3rd place in the semi-final is excessive. ✓ Georgia: Diana Gurtskaya - Peace Will Come Georgia's second ESC appearance performs similarly to their first (11th vs 12th). The main draw of “Peace Will Come” is the haunting group chorus, where Diana and the backing choir repeat the titular mantra several times... almost willing it into existence. She is determinedly clinging onto the belief that “peace will come”, because she has to. She then cries in despair during the “something's gotta change” hook. The verses, meanwhile, mention the needlessness of war, the absurdity of child soldiers, and having to living in fear and division. Towards the end of the performance, a giant bed sheet initiates an aesthetic change from black to white – presumably symbolizing a rise from darkness to peace. The pop/rock instrumentation isn't the most original, but Diana's emotional endurance is the primary focus of the song. × Hungary: Csézy - Candlelight Zzzz. The last place slot belongs to Hungary. Understandable, as “Candlelight” is one dull piano ballad. The structure is formulaic. The chorus is sluggish. And the mood is dreary instead of inviting or intimate. In the song, Csézy patiently waits for her love interest to pursue her. But that approach seems clingy and overly passive – she could just make a move herself. Also, the candelabras on stage are on-the-nose. This entry leaves me feeling empty. × Malta: Morena - Vodka “Vodka” is one of the numerous silly entries from the 2008 contest. The song's premise is ridiculous – the narrator is a spy in Moscow, who is on the run because she possesses the secret code word, which is “vodka”. Yeah, this leans heavily into Russian stereotypes. The instrumental breaks, which are an addicting dominant hook, sound vaguely Russian too. The overall production is a chaotic sprint, like an adrenaline rush... or a nauseating drunken blur. It's overbearing and the breakneck pace is difficult to keep up with. This song does get annoying at times. But Morena has fun with it and she performs with enthusiasm. She plays the character well. Meanwhile, the chorus is a release of distress. And the instrumental breaks later double down with snaps. If only Malta submitted this next year instead, when Russia was hosting lol. × Cyprus: Evdokia Kadi - Femme Fatale The Cypriot entry involves a variety of sudden tempo and genre changes. It transitions from a laidback Greek boat ride to a brassy cinematic showstopper to 1950s romantic crooning to... burlesque? It's essentially four songs in one. There's many unexpected twists and turns, but it's a busy and messy song, and Evdokia whips through the syllables so quickly. “Femme Fatale” is packed with attitude, though. In the song, Evdokia responds to misogynistic remarks by using her seduction techniques to seize control of the power dynamics. She accordingly embodies “femme fatale” energy on stage via her interactions with the male backing dancers, where she's depicted as the center of attention. For example: the men kneel before her and physically lift her up. × F.Y.R. Macedonia: Tamara, Vrčak & Adrian - Let Me Love You (North) Macedonia gets bumped from the Grand Final because of the jury wildcard rule, despite placing 10th in the televote. Ironically, Tamara's 2019 entry “Proud” would go on to win the jury vote. Incidentally, the country has placed 9th or 10th in every semi-final so far. So “Let Me Love You” is an upbeat pop song featuring prominent strings and an engulfing, booming beat. The production powers the song and fills the arena, similar to their 2006 entry “Ninanajna”. Indeed, both songs were written by Vrčak. It's a slick composition regardless, even if it is somewhat copying that previous entry. Tamara's vocal gymnastics, meanwhile, project a sense of yearning. The chorus effectively switches gears to a continuous rhythm (compared to the verses). And the rap interjections, while unnecessary, are not bothersome. ✓ Portugal: Vânia Fernandes - Senhora do mar (Negras águas) Portugal are the runner-up of SF2, but they only reached 13th at the Grand Final. Regardless, it was the country's best result in 10 years (and a placing they won't surpass until Salvador in 2017). Also of note, “Senhora do mar” was co-written by Andrej Babić, the name behind Croatia 2003, Bosnia 2005 and Slovenia 2007. So the song executes a striking progression and a powerful vocal performance. It begins with Vânia wistfully pondering by the seaside. The accompanying instrumentation portrays a daydreaming Mediterranean scene. Following this, the harmonies intensify and the marching drums enter, as the unstoppable waves crash against the shore. Next, the waters briefly calm during the second chorus (which is an unexpected diversion). And finally, the song concludes in a bone-chilling finale. The backing vocalists enhance the atmosphere with their echoes. And the posture on stage is intimating. The lyrics, meanwhile, are poetic and describes a devastating loss. This entry is simply gorgeous! My Ranking:01. Portugal: Vânia Fernandes - Senhora do mar (Negras águas) ✓02. Ukraine: Ani Lorak - Shady Lady ✓03. Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi - Deli ✓04. Iceland: Euroband - This Is My Life ✓05. Albania: Olta Boka - Zemrën e lamë peng ✓06. Sweden: Charlotte Perrelli - Hero ✓07. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Tamara, Vrčak & Adrian - Let Me Love You 08. Bulgaria: Deep Zone and Balthazar - DJ, Take Me Away 09. Georgia: Diana Gurtskaya - Peace Will Come ✓10. Denmark: Simon Mathew - All Night Long ✓11. Croatia: Kraljevi ulice and 75 Cents - Romanca ✓12. Malta: Morena - Vodka 13. Switzerland: Paolo Meneguzzi - Era stupendo 14. Czech Republic: Tereza Kerndlová - Have Some Fun 15. Cyprus: Evdokia Kadi - Femme Fatale 16. Latvia: Pirates of the Sea - Wolves of the Sea ✓17. Belarus: Ruslan Alekhno - Hasta la Vista 18. Hungary: Csézy - Candlelight 19. Lithuania: Jeronimas Milius - Nomads in the Night Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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Leo ✔
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Post by Leo ✔ on Sept 22, 2020 10:17:46 GMT -5
"Senhora do mar (Negras águas)" is the best Portuguese entry ever! Period! "Shady Lady" has been a grower for me, I didn't like it until like last year. "DJ, Take Me Away" deserved to qualify, is trashy, but the trashy I lowkey enjoy.
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ry4n
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Post by ry4n on Sept 22, 2020 10:18:51 GMT -5
"Senhora do mar (Negras águas)" is the best Portuguese entry ever! Period! What? Not Salvador? :kii:
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Leo ✔
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Post by Leo ✔ on Sept 22, 2020 10:19:14 GMT -5
"Senhora do mar (Negras águas)" is the best Portuguese entry ever! Period! What? Not Salvador? :kii: I said best, not overrated :sip2:
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Soundcl🕤ck
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Post by Soundcl🕤ck on Sept 22, 2020 10:31:05 GMT -5
DJ Please Take Me Away was my jam!!!! I love that song.
I like Sweden and Iceland, typical catchy ESC songs.
also, agree with Leo on Portugal.
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mrmike855
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Post by mrmike855 on Sept 22, 2020 11:12:50 GMT -5
Ukraine easily wins in the battle of the divas. The best singing, the best staging, the 2nd best song (after Armenia), Shady Lady is really good
This is what happens when a novelty song finishes in 2nd, so many other countries try to copy it and waste our time. Out of all of them, only Croatia is really worth anything, and that's because it's a really nice song outside of the old man ranting.
Although Ukraine wins the diva battle, Turkey is the best song. We've had rock songs before, but none that match the chaos and intensity of Turkey, I've read that the lyrics are a metaphor for Turkey's relationship with the E.U., which are quite bad.
Portugal was also amazing with Vania, I really feel everything she says and the music is really beautiful and cinematic.
Switzerland seemed to be the only non-qualifier worth caring about, and I've only heard parts of it. If his vocals are bad like you say, then the worthwhile songs all qualified.
Hot take on Malta, lol.
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born
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Post by born on Sept 22, 2020 11:32:11 GMT -5
8 year old Jim be like: Albania: One of my favorite ballads of the 2000s contests. I always liked this one. Czech Republic: Okay... True story. I'd listened to the cd a couple of days before the contest and this was my favorite upon first listen. I was hooked lol. Then they ruined the song in the live performance so I forgot all about it. Iceland: This song was my introduction to Eurodance I liked them a lot as a kid and now I see why. Latvia: When someone says guilty pleasure this song & performance comes to mind. Honestly, a great entry! Portugal: Vânia Fernandes probably had the best Portuguese entry ever. Sweden: This was one of my top favorites in 2008 and now I see why (vol. 2) Turkey: God, don't you love the Turkish rock entries? This one is probably my favorite. Ukraine: Now that's a GOAT tier entry. Dimitris Kontopoulos used to make actual bops I love her.
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Post by ry4n on Sept 23, 2020 21:08:53 GMT -5
Belgrade 2008 – Grand Final Host: Serbia Slogan: “Confluence of Sound” Participants: 43 Voting method: 12-point system (42 televotes / 1 jury) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 4 + host Winner: Dima Bilan - Believe Country: Russia Points: 272 (54.0% of highest score possible) Language: English YouTube | Spotify | LyricsGeneral Overview:The 2008 contest is the end of the pure televoting era, as the juries will return in 2009. The EBU needed to discourage novelty entries and political voting, as both were getting out of hand. The contest's reputation was at stake. The Western countries were losing interest. Indeed, this year is an appropriate case study of the two issues. I count at least nine joke entries out of 43, and Russia benefited significantly from neighbourly voting. It was basically the final straw. That said, despite 2008 being the peak of the novelty era, there's also an influx of “serious” pop songs dominating. Which is an indication of where Eurovision is headed in the 2010s. In the lead up to the contest, Serbia's hosting capabilities were questioned due to Kosovo declaring independence mere months beforehand. They still pulled off a satisfactory program in the end, though. The Grand Final opens with Marija Šerifović performing a Euro-dance remix of “Molitva” (which does not suit the song), followed “Tell Me Why”. The latter is angsty pop/rock. The corresponding staging features a group of dancers wearing androgynous half-groom/half-bride outfits. The interval act, meanwhile, follows the theme of the semi-finals by showcasing more traditional Balkan folk music. The band performs a medley of 3 songs that are bouncy and dance-able. The blue and red painted dancers also return for this segment. It's like a party lol. The presenters – Željko Joksimović (of “Lane moje” and “Lejla” fame) and his future wife Jovana Janković – have likeable personalities. Although it bears repeating that the green room hosts emit too much intense/aggressive energy. The stage is an elevated circle, shaped like a bull's face and horns (symbolizing the confluence of rivers in Belgrade), with an LED board wall behind it. The design is serviceable. The postcards this year are simple and quaint (I usually zone out when it's scenery shots). They involve actors constructing the respective flag designs in artistic ways with various props, alongside an actual postcard visual. There's a loud THWAMP of a stamp being attached at the end of each one. For Serbia's postcard, every actor from the previous ones gathers together, which I thought was cute. The past few years have seen a local celebrity commence the voting. And 2008 is no different. This time, a (very tall) Serbian basketball player tosses a ball into the audience. I believe we're now at the point where countries are called in a deliberately suspenseful order, breaking from the longstanding tradition of the running order. It's trickier in the semi-final era. So the early stages teased a Greek win, but it soon became a tight race with Russia. The latter didn't build a significant lead until the final few countries. Also, Ukraine stole second place at the last minute. The most notable moments during the calls would be the Swedish comedian, and Czechia's correspondent mixing up Armenia and Azerbaijan (oof). On the graphics side, the screen zooms in when the “12 points” are announced, which is annoying. Upon the winner announcement, there's an explosion of fireworks outside the arena. They apparently could not afford to film it on an HD camera, however. 2008 also introduces the glass microphone trophy, which is still awarded today. Side note: I've stopped mentioning every use of wind machine, smoke machine or pyro, because they have become so commonplace at this point that they're no longer special. Although it can still be a striking visual. The Entries: Romania: Nico and Vlad - Pe-o margine de lume - United Kingdom: Andy Abraham - Even If 2008 is Terry Wogan's last time commentating for the UK after 36 appearances – he had lost faith in the contest. That factoid is more interesting than the song they chose this year. “Even If” is beyond dated and out of touch. It emulates 1970s disco/funk without any modernization. It's a relaxing, feelgood promise of devotion, but the melody isn't memorable enough. Still, Andy is a trained performer. He enjoys himself on stage and his vocals aren't an issue. He was the runner-up on X-Factor UK 2005, after all. In the end, the UK officially placed dead last with the tie-breaker, only receiving points from San Marino (6) and Ireland (8). Albania: Olta Boka - Zemrën e lamë peng - Germany: No Angels - Disappear No Angels were a girl group born on the inaugural season of the German edition of Popstars (a reality show that spawned local stars around the globe in the early 2000s). They attained four number one hit singles in Germany, but their commercial success waned soon after their Eurovision appearance. The group always seemed faceless to me, though. Anyway, “Disappear” is a boring, lifeless song that goes nowhere. The chorus melody and the synthpop production are especially uneventful. It sounds like generic pop radio filler. The ticking beat doesn't salvage it. There's more compelling ways to represent recurring thoughts. And then there's the tragic vocal performance. Staging-wise, the dresses flowing in the wind machine is a pretty visual though. Ultimately, Germany tied in points with the UK and Poland for last. Although it did earn 12 points from Bulgaria (one of the members is from there). Armenia: Sirusho - Qélé, Qélé - Bosnia & Herzegovina: Laka - Pokušaj I missed him jumping out of a laundry basket at the start, and the clown girl tossing the bridal bouquets into the audience lol. Israel: Boaz Ma'uda - The Fire in Your Eyes - Finland: Teräsbetoni - Missä miehet ratsastaa - Croatia: Kraljevi ulice and 75 Cents - Romanca I can't keep a straight face during this. Poland: Isis Gee - For Life - Iceland: Euroband - This Is My Life The enthusiasm really makes this song. Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi - Deli - Portugal: Vânia Fernandes - Senhora do mar (Negras águas) Wind machine like windy seas! Latvia: Pirates of the Sea - Wolves of the Sea - Sweden: Charlotte Perrelli - Hero - Denmark: Simon Mathew - All Night Long - Georgia: Diana Gurtskaya - Peace Will Come - Ukraine: Ani Lorak - Shady Lady Pop perfection! France: Sébastien Tellier - Divine This is quite the eccentric entry, and a confusing one at that. Sébastien is an oddball character. He enters the stage via a golf cart, while holding a globe balloon. Meanwhile, the backing choir mimics his aesthetic of long hair, a beard and sunglasses. Sébastien later swallows helium from that balloon and briefly sings in a “funny” voice. That gag gets a chuckle out of me, but beyond that, “Divine” doesn't have much else to offer. The “ba-ba-ba-badoo” backing and the instrumental are both monotonous, and the lyrics are nonsense. The soft texture makes it innocuous too. This entry just seems meaningless and pointless. Interestingly, this is the first time in ESC history that France's entry isn't predominantly sung in French. Azerbaijan: Elnur and Samir - Day After Day - Greece: Kalomira - Secret Combination - Spain: Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila el Chiki-chiki It's tacky and wacky, but it's a guilty pleasure. The Spanish entry is driven by a Reggaeton beat, accompanied by beeps from a children's toy keyboard. Rodolfo wears a (miniaturized sized) toy guitar around his shoulder, which is an amusing sight, especially with his large glasses and hair. The lyrics, meanwhile, describe the “Chiki-chiki” dance. They also name-drop numerous Spanish celebrities, alongside Michael Jackson, Robocop, “The Macarena”, and a reference to a political incident between Venezuela and Spain. The corresponding dance routine on stage involves silly arm movements. And the dancer in the pink dress misses her steps, and even collapses at one point. The percussion rhythm is kind of a bop, and the rapid stutters and the counting sections prevent things from being too one-note. But Rodolfo is such a troll throughout all this. Serbia: Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugić - Oro “Oro” is the best auto-qualifier of 2008, and it's not even close. So, not only does Željko Joksimović co-present this contest, he also wrote the host entry (busy man!). And this is definitely in the same league as “Lane moje” and “Lejla”. He is the master of majestic Balkan ballads! The instrumentation is rich, the soaring vocals are powerful, and the atmosphere is breathtaking. The structure also follows a progressing journey, instead of the conventional verse/chorus format. It builds from acoustic plucking to flutes to drums to the haunting chants of “NUNA NEY”, where the percussion tensely echoes. It's executed so well, and it's such a heavyhearted mood. It captures the moment where Jelena's heart sinks as she watches her ex in someone else's arms. The energy on stage is appropriately sombre with slow motion. Russia: Dima Bilan - Believe (winner review below) Norway: Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong - The Winner:Russia winning Eurovision was always inevitable, since they benefit from bloc voting more than any other country. Especially now that all the Baltics and Caucasus have debuted. Indeed, ever since 2000, Russia has amassed multiple top 3 placings with relative ease. And they will continue to do so after 2008. A second victory is surely a strong possibility in the future. Furthermore, Eurofans have speculated that, since the female pop songs split the vote, Russia won by default here. The staging certainly played a role as well – the figure skater in particular. Olympic gold medallist Evgeni Plushenko showcases talented body movements, while wearing actual skates on stage. It's a brilliant scene, but that alone doesn't justify a win. Next there's a violinist, who bows his instrument with fervour. And completing the trio is Dima, who embodies the song's passion and determination in his stage presence... to a melodramatic degree. For example, in how he spends the first half of the performance sprawled on the stage floor. He's a confident performer though! Dima carries this passion and determination over to his vocals which... does not succeed. The issue is the overemphasis on various syllables; the pronunciation of “impossible” is especially painful. Meanwhile, the white clothing aesthetic completes this winter vibe. And Dima later exposes his bare chest. The song was written by Jim Beanz, an associate of Timbaland, and a credited vocal producer on Nelly Furtado's Loose and Britney Spears's Blackout albums. The heavy booming percussion does sound like a modern pop hit. It's definitely the best aspect of the song. I like productions that fill the arena. Furthermore, there's a couple of decent hooks (“or change my direction” and “Yes, I've got something to believe in”). But overall, “Believe” is such a “blahhhh” song. The chorus is an underwhelming flat-line, despite the “raining down” atmosphere. The melody stagnates. And the bridge builds to nothing. Instead, the song suddenly ends where I except the final chorus. Lyrically, “Believe” is about the power of believing in oneself in the face of adversity. But it's communicated through cliche metaphors. Verdict: It's okay. My Ranking:Grand Final:01. Portugal: Vânia Fernandes - Senhora do mar (Negras águas) 02. Ukraine: Ani Lorak - Shady Lady 03. Serbia: Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugić - Oro 04. Armenia: Sirusho - Qélé, Qélé 05. Norway: Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong 06. Greece: Kalomira - Secret Combination 07. Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi - Deli 08. Iceland: Euroband - This Is My Life 09. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Laka - Pokušaj 10. Albania: Olta Boka - Zemrën e lamë peng 11. Sweden: Charlotte Perrelli - Hero 12. Finland: Teräsbetoni - Missä miehet ratsastaa 13. Israel: Boaz Ma'uda - The Fire in Your Eyes 14. Georgia: Diana Gurtskaya - Peace Will Come 15. Denmark: Simon Mathew - All Night Long 16. Croatia: Kraljevi ulice and 75 Cents - Romanca 17. Russia: Dima Bilan - Believe 18. Spain: Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila el Chiki-chiki 19. Poland: Isis Gee - For Life 20. France: Sébastien Tellier - Divine 21. Azerbaijan: Elnur and Samir - Day After Day 22. Latvia: Pirates of the Sea - Wolves of the Sea 23. United Kingdom: Andy Abraham - Even If 24. Romania: Nico and Vlad - Pe-o margine de lume 25. Germany: No Angels - Disappear Full Ranking: 01. Portugal: Vânia Fernandes - Senhora do mar (Negras águas) 02. Ukraine: Ani Lorak - Shady Lady 03. Serbia: Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugić - Oro 04. Armenia: Sirusho - Qélé, Qélé 05. Norway: Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong 06. Greece: Kalomira - Secret Combination 07. Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi - Deli 08. Iceland: Euroband - This Is My Life 09. Slovenia: Rebeka Dremelj - Vrag naj vzame 10. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Laka - Pokušaj 11. Albania: Olta Boka - Zemrën e lamë peng 12. Sweden: Charlotte Perrelli - Hero 13. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Tamara, Vrčak & Adrian - Let Me Love You 14. San Marino: Miodio - Complice 15. Bulgaria: Deep Zone and Balthazar - DJ, Take Me Away 16. Finland: Teräsbetoni - Missä miehet ratsastaa 17. Israel: Boaz Ma'uda - The Fire in Your Eyes 18. Georgia: Diana Gurtskaya - Peace Will Come 19. Denmark: Simon Mathew - All Night Long 20. Croatia: Kraljevi ulice and 75 Cents - Romanca 21. Malta: Morena - Vodka 22. Switzerland: Paolo Meneguzzi - Era stupendo 23. Russia: Dima Bilan - Believe 24. Netherlands: Hind - Your Heart Belongs to Me 25. Spain: Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila el Chiki-chiki 26. Andorra: Gisela - Casanova 27. Poland: Isis Gee - For Life 28. Czech Republic: Tereza Kerndlová - Have Some Fun 29. France: Sébastien Tellier - Divine 30. Cyprus: Evdokia Kadi - Femme Fatale 31. Moldova: Geta Burlacu - A Century of Love 32. Azerbaijan: Elnur and Samir - Day After Day 33. Latvia: Pirates of the Sea - Wolves of the Sea 34. Montenegro: Stefan Filipović - Zauvijek volim te 35. United Kingdom: Andy Abraham - Even If 36. Romania: Nico and Vlad - Pe-o margine de lume 37. Belarus: Ruslan Alekhno - Hasta la Vista 38. Germany: No Angels - Disappear 39. Hungary: Csézy - Candlelight 40. Belgium: Ishtar - O Julissi 41. Lithuania: Jeronimas Milius - Nomads in the Night 42. Ireland: Dustin the Turkey - Irelande Douze Pointe 43. Estonia: Kreisiraadio - Leto svet Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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Soundcl🕤ck
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Post by Soundcl🕤ck on Sept 23, 2020 21:38:51 GMT -5
It's funny to think that both Russia and Azerbaijan won the contest with their weak and boring entries.
Dima Bilan's 2006 entry >>>>>
Really interesting year, I like the top 10. Armenia #1
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Leo ✔
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Post by Leo ✔ on Sept 23, 2020 21:44:18 GMT -5
This is my ranking for the finale
1 Portugal 2 Greece 3 Serbia 4 Ukraine 5 Finland 6 Iceland 7 Latvia 8 Sweden 9 Norway 10 Armenia 11 Poland 12 Spain 13 Georgia 14 France 15 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16 Russia 17 Azerbaijan 18 Croatia 19 Albania 20 Denmark 21 Israel 22 Germany 23 Turkey 24 Romania 25 UK
I just can't with that trash UK sent, Romania was horrible too. Spain is trashy but funny af. "Oro" is amazing and prob top 5 on host entries ever.
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born
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Post by born on Sept 24, 2020 3:55:30 GMT -5
“Oro” is phenomenal. I wouldn’t mind seeing them win two years in a row.
I had voted for “Believe” in the grand final and I still love it (it’s in my top 10 of 2008 for sure) so I cannot relate with everyone who ranked it low :kii:
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Soundcl🕤ck
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Post by Soundcl🕤ck on Sept 24, 2020 8:25:34 GMT -5
"Oro" wasn't the first Jelena/Zeljko collab. I remember the scandal at the 2005 national selection, when all four juries from Montenegro "gave" 0 points to Jelena Tomasevic's "Jutro".
She finished at #2, and Montenegrin band No Name won that contest. I think they tried to send No Name again next year, but the show was cancelled.
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Post by ry4n on Sept 30, 2020 12:30:44 GMT -5
Moscow 2009 – Semi-Final 1 Host: Russia Slogan: [none] Participants: 42 Voting method: 12-point system (50/50 system - combined; televoting only for the semi-finals) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 4 + host General Overview:The 2009 contest commences the 50/50 era of Eurovision... but not in the semi-finals, where pure televoting was still utilized. That switch won't happen until 2010. Meanwhile, the jury wildcard twist was in effect again to determine the 10th qualifier. Incidentally, this lead to Finland and Croatia advancing in their respective nights, despite finishing outside the top 10. The two relegated countries were (North) Macedonia and Serbia. The former was denied two years in a row. Slovakia returns after a 9-year absence (in SF2). Over the next few years, the country will uphold their abysmal track record by amassing four consecutive DNQ's before permanently withdrawing again. San Marino also dipped after their debut entry flopped. Georgia, meanwhile, were disqualified because their song mocked Putin, and they refused to change the lyrics or submit a different song. SF1 opens with an announcer narrating a mythological story about a two girls and a firebird. It's a reference to a Russian fairytale. This leads to a flashy entrance of the Tolmachevy Sisters, the winners of Junior Eurovision 2006, and later representatives for Russia in 2014. They descend to the stage via a glowing firebird-shaped structure. The interval act involves a military choir (hard pass to this), seguing into t.A.T.u performing “Not Gonna Get Us”, where the aforementioned choir provides backing vocals. At least t.A.T.u's vocals are acceptable this time, although it was probably prerecorded. A different pair of hosts were employed for the semi-finals – Natalia Vodianova and Andrey Malakhov. The latter is irritating and overzealous. Their dialogue is badly scripted too. The results are presented differently this year. The physical envelopes are ditched in favour of revealing the qualifiers on the digital screen. Although envelope icons are displayed instead. The hosts press a button to “open” each one. The stage design is impressive this year, but I'll mention that again in Grand Final post. The Entries:× Montenegro: Andrea Demirović - Just Get Out of My Life Montenegro are a somewhat surprising DNQ, but the 10 qualifiers make sense. “Just Get...” is a disco-pop song that follows a brisk, slippery rhythm. The melody and production are agreeable, while the “out of my, out of my, out of my” refrain is easily catchy. It was written by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, two people responsible for several German entries since the 1970s. The verses also use a rising melody. The staging incorporates playful interactions between Andrea and a male dancer, which could be viewed as uncomfortable. The male keeps grabbing Andrea's waist and tries to pull up her dress at one point, while she repeatedly rejects his advances. He also twerks lol. In the song, Andrea is trapped by his charm. She knows this relationship is toxic, so she casts him away. The repetition of “out of my” highlights her torment. But then the song ends on a twist – “or just stay”, which undermines the message. × Czech Republic: Gipsy.cz - Aven Romale WTF is this? The composition is the definition of the word “discordant”. The melody jumps all over the place, veering off course into jarring directions, and none of it flows cohesively. There's claps, group chants, and vocal grunts. The staging, meanwhile, features bright outfits and comic book imagery on screen, while the lead singer wears a superhero costume. He also brings a zany personality. There's a funny moment when he ducks from the violin bow. But this entry is utter nonsense. It's also one of the rare instances of “nul points” in a semi-final. × Belgium: Copycat - Copycat And here's a song that earned just ONE point in the semi-final! “Copycat” involves an Elvis impersonator singing from the POV of Elvis Presley himself, commenting on his doppelgangers. The singer dresses like the King of Rock N Roll and emulates his vocal style, while the instrumentation mimics 1950s rock n roll. Meanwhile, the lyrics are littered with well-known references. The concept is just not that interesting. The idea is too thin to stretch to three minutes. And it's rather cringe. × Belarus: Petr Elfimov - Eyes That Never Lie Belarus continues to embrace tense, melodramatic atmospheres. Their '07/'08/'09 entries all conveyed that vibe. And this one cranks the intensity to 11. The rock instrumentation drives the song and represents Petr's distress. In the song, he's escaped a dark place in life since meeting his lover. It's also a visually striking entry. The staging features a person obscured and trapped by translucent bed sheet, while the wind machine batters them like a hurricane. This is complemented by the crafty lighting tricks and camera work. At one point, a single shot runs from the back of the arena to the stage and circles around Petr. But the issue is that the melody doesn't stick that well, and perhaps the atmosphere is too over-the-top. ✓ Sweden: Malena Ernman - La voix Despite placing 4th in SF1, “La voix” is Sweden's third consecutive under-performance at the Grand Final. This rough patch will culminate in next year's DNQ, though. So the mother of Greta Thunberg beat out Måns Zelmerlöw, Alcazar, Agnes and Molly Sandén at Melfest 2009. The song fuses operatic vocals with a contemporary Euro-dance beat. The opera sections imply a sense of angelic, pristine beauty. Not just vocals, but in how the screen fills up with a blindingly bright white light when that chorus hits. The soothing backing vocalists complement that illusion. Malena is feeling heavenly euphoria. The dance-pop production, on the other hand, delivers a bouncy, clap-along rhythm. But the verses are too short. And the transition into the final chorus is... a choice, with Malena's guttural notes and the muscle tensions in her face. Ultimately the song doesn't quite accomplish the graceful charm it aims for. And the genre fusion doesn't quite work for me. ✓ Armenia: Inga and Anush - Jan Jan Armenia succeeds “Qélé, Qélé” with another phenomenal bop! “Jan Jan” is an “Ethnic” entry where the traditional instrumentation is rich and prominent. It's a dance-able rhythm. Meanwhile sisters Inga and Anush deliver fierce energy. Their attitude really makes the song. And the mystical instrumentation matches that assertive approach. The outfits and the dark colour layout complete the allure. Furthermore, the chorus is infectious (ie. “everyBODY move your BODY”), the sisters trade lines cleanly, and the build-up leading into the key change is exciting. The duo later spew meaningless phonetic sounds in the bridge. It sounds exotic, though. The lyrics (the ones that are real words) imply sisterly support. Inga and Anush help each other move on from life's troubles by partaking in the “new dance” together, which symbolizes a new chapter. That's my interpretation, anyway. × Andorra: Susanne Georgi - La teva decisió (Get a Life) This is Andorra's last appearance in Eurovision to date. All 6 of their entries failed to qualify; an indication that micro-nations have an uphill battle. Some of them were surprisingly decent, though. “Get A Life” is a sugary and cutesy entry. It projects a carefree, assured, innocent vibe. The chorus employs a perky “pip-pip-pip” sound. And in the performance, Susanne and her backing band wear beaming smiles and joyfully sway about. The song is also professionally arranged in structure. The “ah-ah-ah-i” hook stands out. And the final chorus is a triumph. That said, the lyrics are too clingy. Susanne's lover wants distance, but she refuses to let go. Plus songs this sugary can lead to a toothache. Still, it's an enjoyable song. × Switzerland: Lovebugs - The Highest Heights Switzerland fails to qualify despite putting in the effort – a repeat story to last year. The synth-rock instrumentation on “The Highest Heights” is so aurally satisfying. It establishes a mood of peaceful euphoric bliss so perfectly. And it's consistently held in place, only pausing for the “oh-whoa-oh” bit. Which is an elevating moment. The lyrics, meanwhile, are charmingly straightforward – the narrator asks if his lover will be there during the dark times. Unfortunately, the song doesn't quite reach “epic” heights due to the underwhelming vocal melody. The lead singer fails to soar. ✓ Turkey: Hadise - Düm Tek Tek “Düm Tek Tek” has to be one of the catchiest songs in ESC history. It's astounding how every single second contains a hook. There's also a good variety of them – the instrumental intermissions, the double stammers in the verses (“bay-BAY”), the responses of “of all times”/“feels so fine”, the slower pre-chorus, the floating chorus melody, and of course the forceful “DUM TEK TEK” stomps. It's so jam packed. The production also cleverly pauses to emphasize that “DUM TEK TEK”. It's a cheesy representation of a heartbeat, but Hadise's assertive approach sells it. The “Ethnic pop” instrumentation helps reduce the cheesiness too. I like the guitar(?) and the heavy percussion line. Furthermore, the song is bursting with energy, there's pyro!, and all the pieces fit together. It's such a fun entry. ✓ Israel: Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way The Israeli entry pairs a Jewish singer with an Arab singer. The song calls for unity and acceptance amongst the political divide in the country. It includes both Hebrew and Arabic verses. And the duet exhibits intimate chemistry on stage. The song's tone is heavy and emotional, where Noa and Mira express love, compassion, empathy and reassurance to each other. The arrangement is minimalist to allow the message to take focus. But it's also underdeveloped. The vocal melody didn't immediately connect, and the title phrase is anti-climatic. But it's grown on me. It's pleasant, with the lead in to the title phrase being the best part. The square tin drums add a subtle texture too. × Bulgaria: Krassimir Avramov - Illusion LMAO what a train wreck. The backing vocalists are hilariously horrific. Their shrieks are ear-splitting, uncoordinated, and off-key. It renders the live performance into un-listenable territory, since they're impossible to ignore. It's weird because the backing isn't THIS prominent on the studio version. Krassimir's falsetto is comparatively bearable though. Likewise, the almighty force created by the production and the “give me give me you time”/“do I want your touch” hooks are good ideas. There's also dancers on stilts. But there's no cohesion or cooperation to any of this. Instead of being atmospheric, the result is more like a nightmare. ✓ Iceland: Yohanna - Is It True? The winner of SF1, and the runner-up overall, matching Iceland's peak placement from 1999. “Is It True?” seems to be an overshadowed entry from 2009. Which is a shame because it's a stunning and heartbreaking ballad. The emotion resonates due to Yohanna's honest performance – her vocal is beautiful too. Meanwhile, the gentle tone and the methodical pacing allows the melancholy and devastation to flow naturally. It's a moment where time stands still. The key change shifts the final chorus into a moving finale, and to a higher degree of pain. Also, the backing vocalists reinforce the melody. The watery blue colour palette and the cello are effective. And the lyrics are relatable. They explore Yohanna's mental processes as she confronts a lover who's keeping a secret. She's preparing for the break-up, and she wonders how love can lead to hurt, but she also second-guesses herself (“did I throw it away”). I can empathize. I could do without the extreme close-up at the start, though. × F.Y.R. Macedonia: Next Time - Nešto što kje ostane The juries deny (North) Macedonia from the Grand Final AGAIN. Incidentally, it's the 6th consecutive time they've placed 9th or 10th in a semi-final. Nothing of value was lost, though. “Nešto” is an entry that I feel indifferent towards. It emulates 1980s rock bands. There's gruff vocals, long hair, a guitar solo, and some catchy “yeah-eee-yeah”'s. It's an energetic and inoffensive song, but it's highly forgettable. ✓ Romania: Elena - The Balkan Girls Romania delivers a light and breezy celebration of Balkan girls. The song emanates a summery beach party vibe, thanks to the relaxed melody, the horns and hand drums. Elena is enjoying her life! The staging is inspired by Romanian mythology, where Elena enters via a stone throne, and the backing dancers wear sea-colour shredded dresses. Their fluid dance moves are sufficiently engaging. And the “for crowd delight” hook is strong. Overall, the arrangement flows smoothly and it's a solid performance. The only noteworthy flaw is that the song is basic. ✓ Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control Finland are the jury wildcard pick of SF1. The song ultimately placed last at the Grand Final, but with 22 points, which is relatively high for that position. So “Lose Control” contains a ridiculously catchy pop chorus, with rap verses interspersed, and a dance-pop production that is very 2009. My teenage-self would've loved it at the time lol. Also, the staging is notably flashy with all the fire antics. The booms and pyro explosion in the bridge are especially stimulating. It's a cool moment. On the flipside, the live vocals are patchy, and the chorus becomes a little repetitive. But the production is energetic and easy to bop along to. A catchy chorus is hard to resist. And the performance avoids taking itself too seriously, nor does it become novelty. ✓ Portugal: Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor The Portuguese entry is heartwarming and sweet; both in lyrics and composition. Vocalist Daniela Varela is so smitten here. In the song, she uses metaphors to illustrate the compatibility of her and her partner. Meanwhile, the folk instrumentation breathes a springtime vibe. A keenness of what the future holds, perhaps. It's also characteristically Portuguese, with the accordion and hand drums being highlights. Those drums enter and exit at appropriate times to prevent monotony, as the song shifts between dreaminess and excitement. The melody is lively and cheerful too. The colour patterns on the LED screen look like vomit, though. ✓ Malta: Chiara - What If We This is Chiara's third appearance in ESC, following her top 3 finishes in 1998 and 2005. “What If We” doesn't match those heights, however, as it places 22nd at the Grand Final. Her 2009 entry is, unsurprisingly, a ballad that follows the same structure as her other two. This type of redundancy is a pet peeve of mine. “What If We” is too much like an X Factor winner's single. It's boring and predictable. Still, Chiara is a talented singer. And the lyrics are existential in her search for the answers to life's questions, and skeptical over what we've been told. The drums also build anticipation. But the final chorus isn't climactic enough. ✓ Bosnia & Herzegovina: Regina - Bistra voda Bosnia's Balkan ballad reaches the top 10, but I find this one slightly overrated. The melody doesn't latch on easily and the chorus seems incomplete. I struggle to remember how it goes. To be fair, this genre doesn't follow Western pop music structures. On the positive side, “Bistra voda” is well-staged and the instrumental breaks do elevate the song. The visual involves a marching band showing a fervent, determined demeanour, set against a red backdrop. The outfits also appear historical. The accompanying lyrics are ambiguous, but they revolve around the theme of patriotism, which gives context to the staging. It's a meaningful entry anyway. My Ranking:01. Iceland: Yohanna - Is It True? ✓02. Turkey: Hadise - Düm Tek Tek ✓03. Armenia: Inga and Anush - Jan Jan ✓04. Portugal: Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor ✓05. Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control ✓06. Romania: Elena - The Balkan Girls ✓07. Switzerland: Lovebugs - The Highest Heights 08. Montenegro: Andrea Demirović - Just Get Out of My Life 09. Andorra: Susanne Georgi - La teva decisió (Get a Life) 10. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Regina - Bistra voda ✓11. Israel: Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way ✓ 12. Sweden: Malena Ernman - La voix ✓ 13. Belarus: Petr Elfimov - Eyes That Never Lie 14. Malta: Chiara - What If We ✓15. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Next Time - Nešto što kje ostane 16. Bulgaria: Krassimir Avramov - Illusion 17. Belgium: Copycat - Copycat 18. Czech Republic: Gipsy.cz - Aven Romale Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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kimberly
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Post by kimberly on Sept 30, 2020 12:38:55 GMT -5
DUM TEK TEK yes
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Post by ry4n on Sept 30, 2020 12:48:30 GMT -5
Would've been my #1 in some other years, but my top ~6 of 2009 is super strong
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Post by ry4n on Oct 14, 2020 17:13:48 GMT -5
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Post by ry4n on Oct 14, 2020 17:29:19 GMT -5
Moscow 2009 – Semi-Final 2 Host: Russia Slogan: [none] Participants: 42 Voting method: 12-point system (50/50 system - combined; televoting only for the semi-finals) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 4 + host General Overview:So Semi-Final 2 opens with a Russian folk band playing an instrumental medley of Eurovision classics. Namely “Volare”, “Waterloo”, “Ding A Dong”, “Diva”, and “Believe”. This segment also includes Russian kick-dancing, a giant Russian doll, and dancing polar bears (amongst other things). How quaint. The interval act, meanwhile, features more lively Russian folk dancing. It's enjoyable enough. SF2 definitely contains a stronger set of qualifiers than SF1. There's so many obvious picks in this one. The running order is lopsided, though. The first half is heavy on the ballads and novelty songs, and it includes most of the DNQ's. While the second half queues 7 qualifiers in a row, many of which are the big favourites. Spain reverted to a back-up jury for this semi because the broadcast was delayed there. The results portion features more foolishness from the hosts. At one point they attempt to activate the button by blowing on it together (gross). The male presenter (Andrey) is creepy too, with how he keeps grabbing Natalia. She doesn't look pleased. The Entries:✓ Croatia: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena Croatia are the jury wildcard pick of SF2, and I believe the juries saved the right song on both occasions this year. “Lijepa Tena” emits a romantic atmosphere, thanks to the nostalgic, daydream-y instrumentation. It illustrates the image of the Mediterranean seaside. Conversely, the bursting vocal moments add a hint of tragedy. The intensity is compelling too. The lyrics, meanwhile, praise a lover's beauty and graciousness. Although it implies a religious context (ie. “you're turning water into wine”). Staging-wise, there's an elegance to the bodies and fabric swaying against the wind machine. And Igor exudes comfortable stage presence. × Ireland: Sinéad Mulvey and Black Daisy - Et Cetera Ireland sends a pop-punk song! Which is a refreshing choice considering their previous entries in this decade. The electric guitar rhythm and the attitude are very 2000s. It's reminiscent of Avril Lavigne's style. Indeed, “Et Cetera” emanates angst-y teenage energy. The story told in the lyrics is exactly that – it reads like high school dating drama. Although, “Et Cetera” lacks an individual personality. Still, the guitar rhythm is invigorating, the “et cetera” hook is sufficient, and the chorus is a release of anxiety. × Latvia: Intars Busulis - Probka Ummmmmm. The Baltic countries sure love to submit confusingly weird entries. The lead singer's body language is intense, jittery, and agitated. He moves around like he's losing his sanity. Which matches the lyrical content, where he desperately needs to escape a traffic jam. The shouting and the rock instrumentation enhances that stressful mood. But the singer's performance is honestly unsettling and disturbing to watch. It's like he's about to violently lash out. Furthermore, all the shouting and the stammering in the chorus are obnoxious. Throw in some tempo accelerations, and “Probka” is aggressively unpleasantly to listen to. The song ultimately placed last in SF2, and became the first of 6 consecutive DNQs for Latvia. × Serbia: Marko Kon and Milaan - Cipela Interesting fact: Each of Serbia's three DNQs were one position away from qualifying. Including this one, which placed 10th in the televote, but the juries denied it from advancing. “Cipela” is one the better joke entries this year – although that isn't saying much. Only because the chorus hook and the accordion/percussion rhythm are serviceable. The ridiculous staging is the most memorable aspect, though. The general choreography is goofy but amusing. It includes fake shoe shining and a girl crossing her arms and pouting multiple times. Marko's aesthetic also stands out, thanks to his afro and yellow jacket. And the screens display pixelated caricatures. The song's premise, meanwhile, is intended to be comical – Marko travels the world to chase a girl that rejects him for being poor. But the performance is too “try-hard” to fully land. Also Marko's casual vocal in the verses is a no. × Poland: Lidia Kopania - I Don't Wanna Leave Poland's pained ballad is too dreary and depressing for me. The song just draaaags on and on. It fails to be emotionally impactful because of that. I'm over it before the key change hits. As for the lyrics, my interpretation is that Lidia is leaving home for the first time. She won't sever that familial connection completely, but she needs to take this step to progress and to “find herself”. But this message can be delivered in a more empowering way (see Cyprus), instead of this bawling, whiny tone. The ballet/ribbon dancing on stage is neat though. And Lidia is a decent vocalist. ✓ Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (winner review in Grand Final post) × Cyprus: Christina Metaxa - Firefly The Cypriot entry carefully builds anticipation across a prolonged journey, but the eventual climax is underwhelming. The final minute of floating euphoria requires a more “epic” release. Christina's shaky vocal undermines the destination. Otherwise, “Firefly” is a cute song with an inspirational message delivered in a heartfelt tone. It feels genuinely encouraging. The lyrics are centred around this firefly symbolism, where Christina describes facing the fear of the unknown, overcoming the nerves, and partaking on life's journey. The song's structure embodies that progression well. The first half is nervous and uncertain, while the second half is when she “goes for it”. There's also fairytale-esque twinkling at the start to establish the youthful context. The white light boxes are a cool prop too. × Slovakia: Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková - Leť tmou Slovakia returns after a 9-year absence, but their comeback entry is too stylistically dated for modern Eurovision. The song is an orchestral ballad, and the staging channels a classical aesthetic, including formal attire. The escalating pre-chorus is intriguing, though, in how the duo impatiently repeats each other. Throughout the song, the instrumentation and the vocals shift between calm reflection and intense despair. Nela holds long notes at the end too. The lyrics, meanwhile, are written as a conversation between Kamil and Nela. The pair wishes to restart their former relationship, because their lives are currently filled with “darkness”. But there's fears and uncertainties standing in the way. I appreciate the songwriting and the ebb/flow structure on “Leť tmou”. But the competition is fierce in this semi-final. ✓ Denmark: Brinck - Believe Again The Danish entry was co-written by Ronan Keating, and his influence on “Believe Again” is obvious. It sounds exactly like a Ronan Keating song, right down to the vocal texture and the instrumental. Both have a country flair. The band dresses appropriately for the genre too. So the chorus is the M.V.P. of “Believe Again”. It conveys such a bittersweet yet uplifting vibe. The sentiment resonates with me. The melody is strong. And the elongated “I-I-I-I” hook is an effective gear shift into said chorus. The verses also contain a decent hook (ie. “but someTHING... is missING”). And lyrically, “Believe Again” is an introspective song, where Brinck comes to accept that his relationship is over. He adopts a positive outlook and focuses on moving on. It's comforting, but some other entries stand out more. × Slovenia: Quartissimo feat. Martina - Love Symphony The first of two symphonic songs on the card tonight, but Slovenia's attempt fell short of qualifying. “Love Symphony” is one of the rare Eurovision entries to contain barely any vocals, alongside “Nocturne” and “DJ Take Me Away”. Incidentally, the entire first minute is instrumental. Singer Martina spends most of the performance hidden as a silhouette behind a curtain, later revealing herself towards the end. Her sections are brief, and her voice is implied to originate from a mysterious source. The instrumentation mixes an array of classical strings with an overpowering dance beat. It's like a force of nature. While it is a cohesive and complex composition, the instrumental sections are too long and repetitive; although there is a slow down divergence in the bridge. Martina is ultimately too inconsequential. × Hungary: Zoli Ádok - Dance with Me LMAO this is horrendous and cringe-worthy. The most glaring annoyance is Zoli's sexy overconfidence, which is a huge turn off. Furthermore, the staging resembles an aerobics instruction video. Zoli's vocals are awful, if it can even be considered “singing”. He basically talks the words. The disco groove is cheap-sounding. The lyrics are generic. And the ticking beat foundation doesn't salvage it much. “In The Disco” did it better. ✓ Azerbaijan: AySel and Arash - Always Now for 7 qualifiers in a row. Most of which are heavy hitters, including this one. “Always” is a thunderous “Ethnic pop” entry, with a chorus melody that is catchy AF. Arash built his music career in Sweden after all. That hook is so instant, effortless and irresistible. No wonder Azerbaijan placed 3rd. The resounding emphasis during the “always...” parts is particularly effective. As is AySel's ensuing solo responses. Furthermore, the duet displays chemistry and giddy choreography. The percussion rhythm and the stringed instrument supply the “Ethnic” aspect. The flow is dance-able. And the song maintains robust momentum for its entirety. The opening with Arash's traditional vocal is a good transition too. This is probably the song Azerbaijan should have won with instead of “Running Scared”, but “Fairytale” was insurmountable. ✓ Greece: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night WOW! Sakis walked so Måns could run. The staging is impressive, between the meticulously timed choreo and the interactions with the rectangular platform contraption. The synchronized arm movements create a strong first impression. Later, Sakis glides back and forth across the platform like a treadmill. And at the end, the structure opens up like a stapler, with Sakis towering above. The song is certainly suited for the staging with all the jump-shouts (ie. “this is our night... FLY!”). They're forceful hooks too. The production, meanwhile, is a darker, colder strain of dance/pop. The verses emit ominous yet anticipatory bubbling synths, which I love. But the chorus melody lacks smoothness. It's too choppy. Still, Sakis serves sexy charisma once again, and his vocals are an improvement from 2004. Oh, and this was written by Dimitris Kontopoulos. ✓ Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love Lithuania are the only SF2 qualifier that I don't care for. “Love” is a piano ballad, where Sasha Son reflects on his personal experiences with being a child star. Namely the price of fame and the sacrifices made. His voice is decent and there's a melancholic tone, but he literally says the word “love” 54 times in the song (in the full English version – the final portion was switched to Russian for Moscow). The chorus becomes confusingly worded because of it. Sasha Son is also dressed like the early 20th century, and he later holds a flame in his hand. This entry is just too eccentric for me. ✓ Moldova: Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova “Hora din Moldova” is so rambunctious and chaotic. The song continually jumps into manic flurries of brass instruments, accompanied by a bonkers choreography routine. It represents a folksy Moldovan dance party. There's an outdoor festival drinking vibe to it. The verses offer a necessary respite, though. And the traditional outfits complete the image. Meanwhile, Nelly and the backing dancers serve uninhibited, high-spirited fun, which allows this an enjoyable experience. It feels organic. “Hora din Moldova” is a fairly straightforward song but it makes me smile! ✓ Albania: Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams Albania continues to deliver! Wikipedia claims “Carry Me” contains elements of electronic, disco, folk, Schlager, French pop and “psychedelic turbo-folk”. I can't confirm that entire list, but the instrumentation is definitely slick and multi-faceted. The song is predominantly driven by a thumping bass dance beat, which is a banger. The opening, however, incorporates a fierce stop/start section of drums and strings, which is later repeated after the bridge. And the bridge itself diverges into an “Ethnic pop” direction. The staging, meanwhile, is inspired by the circus. It involves dancing mimes, a pink ballerina outfit on Kejsi, and a “faceless” person completely concealed in teal. It's a memorable aesthetic and the choreography is engaging. Furthermore, the chorus vocal melody captures the wistful sentiment expressed in the lyrics. ✓ Ukraine: Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) The staging is elaborate on this one too. “Be My Valentine!” is a bold and attention-holding entry. Perhaps Ukraine wanted to place in the top 2 for a third year. The set-up involves a set of spinning, human-sized hamster wheels inside cog-shaped structures. Svetlana seductively dances inside the middle one. She serves sexy confidence with a forward stance throughout the performance. Accompanying her are three backing dancers wearing skimpy Roman warrior outfits. At one point, they physically rotate Svetlana, which is a fierce visual. They also tug her drum platform to the center of the stage. As for the song, “Be My Valentine!” has an in-your-face approach. There's harsh electro-synths in the chorus, like a revving motor. While the verses follow a commanding flow, featuring horns, strutting percussion, excessive rhyming, and some silly “bom”s. It flows cohesively enough, and “Be My Valentine!” balances fierce and campy well, but it's a lot to take in. ✓ Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad “Rändajad” paints such an ominous, chilly and desolate atmosphere. It's vivid and breathtaking. This is established by the symphonic strings, the booming bass, the dark lighting on stage, and the vocal tone. The lyrics describe nomads endlessly wandering the desert. There's a risky escape path in front of them, but it's invisible to the nomads. It's a bleak metaphorical image. Furthermore, the chorus melody employs a careful succession of Estonian phonetics. The strings are atmospheric, especially in the bridge. The smoke machine also enters to enhance the aura. And the instrumental includes some subtle details. Fun fact: this is Estonia's first qualification since the semi-finals were instated. × Netherlands: The Toppers - Shine *Face palm* This is just embarrassing. “Shine” is such a cheesy and campy peace song. The glittery outfits are dated and cringe. The tone is overly wholesome. The rickety beat doesn't belong. And the group harmonies are a mess. It's too many layered vocals at once and it becomes a wall of noise. The lady with the headphones and turntable is amusing though. This entry is very 2000s ESC, and not in a good way. My Ranking:01. Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale ✓02. Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad ✓03. Azerbaijan: AySel and Arash - Always ✓04. Albania: Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams ✓05. Moldova: Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova ✓06. Ukraine: Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) ✓07. Denmark: Brinck - Believe Again ✓08. Croatia: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena ✓09. Greece: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night ✓10. Ireland: Sinéad Mulvey and Black Daisy - Et Cetera 11. Cyprus: Christina Metaxa - Firefly 12. Slovenia: Quartissimo feat. Martina - Love Symphony 13. Slovakia: Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková - Leť tmou 14. Serbia: Marko Kon and Milaan - Cipela 15. Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love ✓16. Poland: Lidia Kopania - I Don't Wanna Leave 17. Hungary: Zoli Ádok - Dance with Me 18. Netherlands: The Toppers - Shine 19. Latvia: Intars Busulis - Probka 9/10 is a first! Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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ry4n
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Post by ry4n on Oct 19, 2020 21:38:23 GMT -5
Moscow 2009 – Grand Final Host: Russia Slogan: [none] Participants: 42 Voting method: 12-point system (50/50 system - combined; televoting only for the semi-finals) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 4 + host Winner: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale Country: Norway Points: 387 (78.7% of highest score possible) Language: English YouTube | Spotify | LyricsGeneral Overview:The 2009 contest is indicative of Eurovision's technological progress. Moscow constructed the most elaborate stage set-up thus far. The artists are engulfed by a sea of LED screens, which comprises an extra wide backdrop, the usual glass floor, and an array of overheard blocks that can be placed in various desired positions. The platform itself is comfortably wide. It's less limiting than the circles of '07/'08. Indeed, Ukraine's staging this year requires the space lol. Russia didn't skimp on the extravagance – the voting is even commenced by ISS astronauts! Meanwhile, the Cirque du Soleil opening features acrobatic stunts, trapeze spots, people jumping on and off a vertical wall, and a woman inside a de-layering Russian doll. This transitions into Dima Bilan's flashy entrance. He descends to the stage via wires, where he infamously loses a battle with his coat (it gets stuck in the wires). Dima then walks in one spot as the background transitions around him. It's probably a conveyor belt. He also jumps through a “brick” wall three times. This eventually leads to a reprisal of “Believe”. The interval act is mesmerizing. It involves performers dancing in shallow water on Plexiglas platforms suspended above the audience, accompanied by tribal music. The platforms later lower so the audience can touch the bottom of it. The presenters are comedian/TV personality Ivan Urgant and Russia's 2000 representative Alsou. She isn't “going solo” this time! (I'll see myself out). They are a welcome relief compared to that semi-final host. The intermission host has a couple of funny moments too. She gathers some of this year's artists to perform a folk version of “Not Gonna Get Us” by t.A.T.u., which I thought was amusing. The postcards are creative too. They consist of 3-D pop-out books which feature various landmarks from each country. The vignettes conclude with model Ksenia Sukhinova (Miss World 2008) wearing an animated hat of said landmarks, in a different hair style each time. Notably, Armenia and Azerbaijan had a dispute over a particular monument used in Armenia's postcard. So the 2009 Grand Final officially launches the 50/50 voting system, where the returning juries and the televote are given equal weight. Both methods have their biases (juries favour technical songwriting and televoters favour their neighbours), so this system balances it out. Incidentally, the ballads (Iceland, the UK, France, Israel, and Malta) were significantly boosted by the juries; as were Denmark and Germany. On the flipside, Albania was the most damaged by them. Suffice to say, 2009 is not a suspenseful vote reveal. Norway held an approximate 2:1 lead for the entirety. In regards to the satellite feeds, some notable moments include Malta's rave scene backdrop, Russia's spokesperson being in the actual arena, the Slovenian guy taking a moment of silence, and Norway being called last (cute). Lys Assia appears once again, to present the winner's award alongside Dima Bilan. Overall, the 2009 entries are divisive. There's 6 different songs that I wanted to rank #1. While the semi-finals contain some truly horrendous offerings, although thankfully they all DNQ-ed. Moreover, the auto-qualifiers aren't that objectionable (none are in my bottom 10), and the GF is noticeably absent of novelty entries (aside from Germany I guess). The Entries: Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love Not a great opener. Israel: Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way - France: Patricia Kaas - Et s'il fallait le faire France recruits successful recording artist Patricia Kaas, which results in their highest placement since the famous ballads of '01/'02. Both of those entries aimed for towering vocal climaxes, whereas “Et s'il” is stuck in limbo. The piano and accordion notes follow a claustrophobic pattern. They strengthen as the song progresses, slowly enclosing Patricia into a trap, as her unwavering voice intensifies. The song concludes with the instrumental winning the battle, as Patricia does a little dance. The minimalist staging reinforces the message. And the instrumental sounds characteristically French. In the song, Patricia promises complete devotion even if it means self-destruction by sacrificing everything. Literally until she's reduced to “a shadow that follows you”. It's tragic. The anticlimactic structure feels incomplete, but it's also the point. Sweden: Malena Ernman - La voix - Croatia: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena - Portugal: Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor - Iceland: Yohanna - Is It True? - Greece: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night - Armenia: Inga and Anush - Jan Jan - Russia: Anastasia Prikhodko - Mamo Russia takes advantage of their own stage design here, with the placement of the mobile LED blocks. The screen behind Anastasia depicts her face gradually morphing into old age. She becomes quite tearful in her elder years. The image is... unsettling. Meanwhile on stage, Anastasia expresses emotional outbursts of devastation, especially at the end. It's her reaction to being dumped, as she recalls her mother's warnings about love. The verses contain intriguing instrumentation, and the chorus melody jumps out effectively. Anastasia gives a moving performance, but this entry is a little too hysterical and bleak for me. Her vocals sound flat in the chorus as well and her dress looks like a bath towel lol. Azerbaijan: AySel and Arash - Always - Bosnia & Herzegovina: Regina - Bistra voda - Moldova: Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova It keeps growing on me! I had to edit my SF2 ranking for it haha. Malta: Chiara - What If We There's nothing outstandingly awful in this Grand Final, but something needs to be ranked last. Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad - Denmark: Brinck - Believe Again - Germany: Alex Swings Oscar Sings! - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang Germany submits another retro entry. This time it's a homage to the American burlesque scene, completed by special guest Dita von Teese. This definitely belongs in the 2000s decade. The song pairs early 20th century brass with a more modern throbbing beat. Oscar serves horny charisma in shiny silver pants, while Dita knows how to pose seductively. The black-and-white aesthetic helps the illusion. And the bouncy melody is enjoyable. But the lyrics are too silly (ie. the “hee dee hi ho”s and the “gucci bang bang”s). The concept borders on novelty. It's a guilty pleasure though. Turkey: Hadise - Düm Tek Tek - Albania: Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams - Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (winner review below) Ukraine: Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) There's an intermission preceding Ukraine in both the Semi-Final and the Grand Final, presumably to set up the elaborate stage. Romania: Elena - The Balkan Girls - United Kingdom: Jade Ewen - It's My Time 2009 sees the UK shockingly place in the top 5, following a string of floundering results. “It's My Time” turned out to be an outlier, however, considering what lies ahead. The song was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren (which probably explains the result), and it's sung by future Sugbabe Jade Ewen. ALW even “plays” the piano on stage. Unsurprisingly, the self-empowerment theme and the arrangement channel Broadway/West End showtunes. “It's My Time” is a methodically paced ballad where Jade claims her personal moment. Her vocal gymnastics ensure that the spotlight is on her. And the staging is classy. It's a respectable entry, but it's not a very interesting one. Oops moment: Jade gets too close to a violinist and the bow bumps her microphone lol. Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control - Spain: Soraya Arnelas - La noche es para mí Spain deserved better. Of course the juries ranked “La noche” last, but the televoters weren't that generous either. The song is a burst of frantic, joyous energy from beginning to end. The chorus contains strong hooks – ie. the “take me”/“shake me” bit and the “la no...che es pa...ra mi!” pauses. The string-heavy instrumental is rambunctious and punchy. And Soraya is an enthusiastic performer. There's even a magic trick where she “disappears”. It's so random that I love it. That said, the choreo/camera work combination is dizzying and the lyrics are problematic (ie. “It doesn't matter if you want or not”). The Winner:Norway achieves their third win, breaking an 8-year streak of first timers. Moreover, “Fairytale” is the biggest landslide victory of the 12-point era. It also obliterated the points record, a distinction it retained until the tabulation change in 2016. And it earned “douze points” from 16 different countries (roughly 39%). “Fairytale” certainly belongs in the pantheon of legendary Eurovision moments. Which begs the question: is it “deserving” of that accolade? In my view, the answer is yes. Firstly, the violin riff is instantly recognizable, and it creates an electrifying, “arena-filling” effect. It's the most valuable aspect. The song also smartly begins and ends with it. Furthermore, the melody is incredibly catchy. The bursting chorus is encompassing, where Rybak projects turmoil while the stomping piano set the pace. The surge in the second verse (“HIGH ABOVE”) is particularly effective too. “Fairytale” is a pop version of Norwegian folk influences – fiddles and folklore both have connections to the country's culture. And the song captures the essence of fairy tales themselves. The female “da da da” backing and the twinkles are cutesy. Normally I'd find that grating, but it makes sense. The lyrics, meanwhile, are fairly straightforward. Rybak is bound to a fantasy – a lover from the past. It conveys a nostalgic theme; as do the stomping piano notes and the old timey outfits. And finally, the staging is charming. The three male backing dancers are a delight, with the body flips and the hand/foot jumps. Rybak also exudes confident (albeit smug) stage presence, as he bows his violin with enthusiasm. The positives vastly outweigh the nitpicks with this entry, though. Verdict: G.O.A.T. My favourite male winner ever. My Ranking:Grand Final: 01. Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale 02. Iceland: Yohanna - Is It True? 03. Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad 04. Azerbaijan: AySel and Arash - Always 05. Turkey: Hadise - Düm Tek Tek 06. Armenia: Inga and Anush - Jan Jan 07. Albania: Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams 08. Portugal: Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor 09. Moldova: Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova 10. Ukraine: Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) 11. France: Patricia Kaas - Et s'il fallait le faire 12. Denmark: Brinck - Believe Again 13. Croatia: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena 14. Greece: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night 15. Spain: Soraya Arnelas - La noche es para mí 16. Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control 17. Romania: Elena - The Balkan Girls 18. United Kingdom: Jade Ewen - It's My Time 19. Russia: Anastasia Prikhodko - Mamo 20. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Regina - Bistra voda 21. Israel: Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way 22. Germany: Alex Swings Oscar Sings! - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang 23. Sweden: Malena Ernman - La voix 24. Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love 25. Malta: Chiara - What If We Full Ranking: 01. Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale 02. Iceland: Yohanna - Is It True? 03. Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad 04. Azerbaijan: AySel and Arash - Always 05. Turkey: Hadise - Düm Tek Tek 06. Armenia: Inga and Anush - Jan Jan 07. Albania: Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams 08. Portugal: Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor 09. Moldova: Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova 10. Ukraine: Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) 11. France: Patricia Kaas - Et s'il fallait le faire 12. Denmark: Brinck - Believe Again 13. Croatia: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena 14. Greece: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night 15. Spain: Soraya Arnelas - La noche es para mí 16. Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control 17. Romania: Elena - The Balkan Girls 18. Switzerland: Lovebugs - The Highest Heights 19. Montenegro: Andrea Demirović - Just Get Out of My Life 20. United Kingdom: Jade Ewen - It's My Time 21. Ireland: Sinéad Mulvey and Black Daisy - Et Cetera 22. Andorra: Susanne Georgi - La teva decisió (Get a Life) 23. Cyprus: Christina Metaxa - Firefly 24. Slovenia: Quartissimo feat. Martina - Love Symphony 25. Russia: Anastasia Prikhodko - Mamo 26. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Regina - Bistra voda 27. Slovakia: Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková - Leť tmou 28. Israel: Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way 29. Germany: Alex Swings Oscar Sings! - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang 30. Sweden: Malena Ernman - La voix 31. Belarus: Petr Elfimov - Eyes That Never Lie 32. Serbia: Marko Kon and Milaan - Cipela 33. Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love 34. Malta: Chiara - What If We 35. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Next Time - Nešto što kje ostane 36. Poland: Lidia Kopania - I Don't Wanna Leave 37. Hungary: Zoli Ádok - Dance with Me 38. Netherlands: The Toppers - Shine 39. Bulgaria: Krassimir Avramov - Illusion 40. Belgium: Copycat - Copycat 41. Czech Republic: Gipsy.cz - Aven Romale 42. Latvia: Intars Busulis - Probka Like I said, any of that top 6 is worthy of #1. It was impossibly hard to rank, and I'm still not confident. Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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Leo ✔
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Post by Leo ✔ on Oct 19, 2020 22:00:04 GMT -5
I found "Fairytale" kind of overrated. I like "Is It True?", a really cute song. "La Noche Es Para Mi" is a bop and deserved better!! "Dum Tek Tek" and "Always" are bops
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ry4n
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Post by ry4n on Oct 19, 2020 22:05:19 GMT -5
Another decade done. Once I've reshuffled a couple ranks, I will post a rank of all 333 entries of the 2000s.
From there, I hope to finish up through 2020 before the 2021 contest happens. After which, I will rank the 2021 songs.
Then eventually I will re-review the 50s/60s/70s (and maybe the 80s too) since I put such little effort into them.
The 2000s and 2010s decades are infinitely more cumbersome to review (there's more songs and there's generally more aspects to talk about), so I'd rather do that first.
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Post by ry4n on Dec 18, 2020 23:38:23 GMT -5
Another decade done. Once I've reshuffled a couple ranks, I will post a rank of all 333 entries of the 2000s. From there, I hope to finish up through 2020 before the 2021 contest happens. After which, I will rank the 2021 songs. Then eventually I will re-review the 50s/60s/70s (and maybe the 80s too) since I put such little effort into them. The 2000s and 2010s decades are infinitely more cumbersome to review (there's more songs and there's generally more aspects to talk about), so I'd rather do that first. Uhhhh I did not expect the edits to take 2 months but I've decided to finally finalize my 2000s rankings. Otherwise I'll be overthinking them until the end of time. The lesson I learned is that my rankings are fluid and what I post now is merely a snap shot in time. If I did these rankings back in 2016, they'd definitely be different. So maybe I'll do a review in 5 years, who knows. Anyways, I am ready to post my ranking of all 336 Eurovision entries of the 2000s decade. I have split them into 6 tiers: 6. BURN IT WITH FIRE: The worst of the worst. These are the entries that I never want to experience again 5. WHATEVER: These are entries that I dislike, but they don't make me want to vomit or cringe like the bottom tier entries 4. PASSABLE: The average tier. I wouldn't seek them out, but I wouldn't skip over them either. Most of these songs have a good idea, but the execution is disappointing 3. PLAYLIST-ABLE: The cut-off point for what I'd include in a playlist 2. ESSENTIAL: All of these are great entries, but there's something holding them back from being in the top tier 1. OUTSTANDING: The entries that go “above and beyond”, or they go the “extra mile”. Basically the songs that I don't have any negative remarks for. So without further ado, here is the BURN IT WITH FIRE tier. # | Artist – Title | Country | Year | Year Rank | 336 | Piero Esteriore & The MusicStars - Celebrate | Switzerland | 2004 | 36 | 335 | Kreisiraadio - Leto svet | Estonia | 2008 | 43 | 334 | Gipsy.cz - Aven Romale | Czech Republic | 2009 | 42 | 333 | Arnis Mednis - Too Much | Latvia | 2001 | 23 | 332 | Intars Busulis - Probka | Latvia | 2009 | 41 | 331 | Gracia - Run and Hide | Germany | 2005 | 39 | 330 | Jeronimas Milius - Nomads in the Night | Lithuania | 2008 | 42 | 329 | Teapacks - Push the Button | Israel | 2007 | 42 | 328 | The KMG's - Love Power | Belgium | 2007 | 41 | 327 | Copycat - Copycat | Belgium | 2009 | 40 | 326 | Nonstop - Coisas de nada | Portugal | 2006 | 37 | 325 | Aivaras - Happy You | Lithuania | 2002 | 24 | 324 | LT United - We Are the Winners | Lithuania | 2006 | 36 | 323 | Scooch - Flying the Flag (For You) | United Kingdom | 2007 | 40 | 322 | The Toppers - Shine | Netherlands | 2009 | 39 | 321 | Eamonn Toal - Millennium of Love | Ireland | 2000 | 24 | 320 | Platin - Stay Forever | Slovenia | 2004 | 35 | 319 | MTM - Só sei ser feliz assim | Portugal | 2001 | 22 | 318 | Dustin the Turkey - Irelande Douze Pointe | Ireland | 2008 | 41 | 317 | Maryon - Notre planète | Monaco | 2004 | 34 | 316 | Francine Jordi - Dans le jardin de mon âme | Switzerland | 2002 | 23 | 315 | Csézy - Candlelight | Hungary | 2008 | 40 | 314 | Zoli Ádok - Dance with Me | Hungary | 2009 | 38 | 313 | Donna and Joe - Love? | Ireland | 2005 | 38 | 312 | Ishtar - O Julissi | Belgium | 2008 | 39 | 311 | Treble - Amambanda | Netherlands | 2006 | 35 | 310 | XXL - 100% te ljubam | F.Y.R. Macedonia | 2000 | 23 | 309 | Stelios Constantas - Feeling Alive | Cyprus | 2003 | 26 | 308 | The Ark - The Worrying Kind | Sweden | 2007 | 39 | 307 | Corinna May - I Can't Live Without Music | Germany | 2002 | 22 | 306 | Lior Narkis - Words for Love | Israel | 2003 | 25 | 305 | Las Ketchup - Un Blodymary | Spain | 2006 | 34 | 304 | Nathalie Sorce - Envie de vivre | Belgium | 2000 | 22 | 303 | Mumiy Troll - Lady Alpine Blue | Russia
| 2001 | 21 | 302 | Gary O'Shaughnessy - Without Your Love
| Ireland | 2001 | 20 | 301 | PingPong - Sameach | Israel | 2000 | 21 | 300 | Séverine Ferrer - La Coco-Dance | Monaco | 2006 | 33 | 299 | Marta Roure - Jugarem a estimar-nos | Andorra | 2004 | 33 | 298 | Geir Rönning - Why? | Finland | 2005 | 37 | 297 | Lindsay Dracass - No Dream Impossible | United Kingdom | 2001 | 19 | 296 | 2B - Amar | Portugal | 2005 | 36 | 295 | Lidia Kopania - I Don't Wanna Leave | Poland | 2009 | 37 | 294 | Frederik Ndoci - Hear My Plea | Albania | 2007 | 38 | 293 | Krassimir Avramov - Illusion | Bulgaria | 2009 | 36 | 292 | DJ BoBo - Vampires Are Alive | Switzerland | 2007 | 37 | 291 | Kaffe - Lorraine | Bulgaria | 2005 | 35 | 290 | Olexandr - Hasta la Vista | Ukraine | 2003 | 24 | 289 | Tie Break - Du bist | Austria | 2004 | 32 | 288 | No Angels - Disappear | Germany | 2008 | 38 | 287 | Monica Anghel & Marcel Pavel - Tell Me Why | Romania | 2002 | 21 | 286 | six4one - If We All Give a Little | Switzerland | 2006 | 32 | 285 | Vocal Group Cosmos - I Hear Your Heart | Latvia | 2006 | 31 | 284 | Chris Doran - If My World Stopped Turning | Ireland | 2004 | 31 | 283 | Sarbel - Yassou Maria | Greece | 2007 | 36 | 282 | Sergio & The Ladies - Sister | Belgium | 2002 | 20 | 281 | Martin Vučić - Make My Day | F.Y.R. Macedonia | 2005 | 34 |
Remaining: 2000 20 2001 18 2002 19 2003 23 2004 30 2005 33 2006 30 2007 35 2008 37 2009 35 Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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ry4n
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Post by ry4n on Dec 19, 2020 18:49:02 GMT -5
Here is the WHATEVER tier. These are entries that I dislike, but they don't make me want to vomit or cringe like the bottom tier entries. Basically, this is a list of bland and messy entries. # | Artist – Title | Country | Year | Year Rank | 280 | DQ - Drama Queen | Denmark | 2007 | 35 | 279 | Fabrizio Faniello - I Do | Malta | 2006 | 30 | 278 | Taxi - The Moon | Romania | 2000 | 20 | 277 | David D'Or - Leha'amin | Israel | 2004 | 30 | 276 | Lynn Chircop - To Dream Again | Malta | 2003 | 23 | 275 | Annet Artani - Why Angels Cry | Cyprus | 2006 | 29 | 274 | Roger Cicero - Frauen regier'n die Welt | Germany | 2007 | 34 | 273 | Kabát - Malá dáma | Czech Republic | 2007 | 33 | 272 | Piasek - 2 Long | Poland | 2001 | 18 | 271 | Sébastien Tellier - Divine | France | 2008 | 37 | 270 | Ruslan Alekhno - Hasta la Vista | Belarus | 2008 | 36 | 269 | Suntribe - Let's Get Loud | Estonia | 2005 | 33 | 268 | Andy Abraham - Even If | United Kingdom | 2008 | 35 | 267 | Haldor Lægreid - On My Own | Norway | 2001 | 17 | 266 | Hayko - Anytime You Need | Armenia | 2007 | 32 | 265 | Jemini - Cry Baby | United Kingdom | 2003 | 22 | 264 | James Fox - Hold On to Our Love | United Kingdom | 2004 | 29 | 263 | Re-Union - Without You | Netherlands | 2004 | 28 | 262 | F.L.Y. - Hello from Mars | Latvia | 2003 | 21 | 261 | Laura & The Lovers - Little by Little | Lithuania | 2005 | 32 | 260 | Next Time - Nešto što kje ostane | F.Y.R. Macedonia | 2009 | 35 | 259 | Arsenium feat. Natalia Gordienko & Connect-R - Loca | Moldova | 2006 | 28 | 258 | Eddie Butler - Together We Are One | Israel | 2006 | 27 | 257 | Tal Sondak - En Davar | Israel | 2001 | 16 | 256 | Gisela - Casanova | Andorra | 2008 | 34 | 255 | Anžej Dežan - Mr Nobody | Slovenia | 2006 | 26 | 254 | Stefan Filipović - Zauvijek volim te | Montenegro | 2008 | 33 | 253 | Nico and Vlad - Pe-o margine de lume | Romania | 2008 | 32 | 252 | Chiara - What If We | Malta | 2009 | 34 | 251 | Buket Bengisu & Group Safir - Leylaklar Soldu Kalbinde | Turkey | 2002 | 19 | 250 | Polina Smolova - Mum | Belarus | 2006 | 25 | 249 | Constantinos Christoforou - Ela Ela | Cyprus | 2005 | 31 | 248 | Dervish - They Can't Stop the Spring | Ireland | 2007 | 31 | 247 | Sasha Son - Love | Lithuania | 2009 | 33 | 246 | Stevan Faddy - Ajde, kroči | Montenegro | 2007 | 30 | 245 | Sofia Mestari - On aura le ciel | France | 2000 | 19 | 244 | Karolina - Od nas zavisi | F.Y.R. Macedonia | 2002 | 18 | 243 | Tereza Kerndlová - Have Some Fun | Czech Republic | 2008 | 31 | 242 | Todomondo - Liubi, Liubi, I Love You | Romania | 2007 | 29 | 241 | Natalia Podolskaya - Nobody Hurt No One | Russia | 2005 | 30 | 240 | Son de Sol - Brujería
| Spain
| 2005 | 29 | 239 | Sedat Yüce - Sevgiliye Son
| Turkey | 2001 | 15 | 238 | Global.Kryner - Y así | Austria | 2005 | 28 | 237 | Tomas Thordarson - Shame on You | Denmark | 2004 | 27 | 236 | Nicki French - Don't Play That Song Again | United Kingdom | 2000 | 18 | 235 | Fomins and Kleins - Dziesma par laimi | Latvia | 2004 | 26 | 234 | Marko Kon and Milaan - Cipela | Serbia | 2009 | 32 | 233 | Prime Minister - Northern Girl | Russia | 2002 | 17 | 232 | Bonaparti.lv - Questa notte | Latvia | 2007 | 28 |
Remaining: 2000 17 2001 14 2002 15 2003 20 2004 25 2005 27 2006 24 2007 28 2008 30 2009 31 Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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ry4n
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Post by ry4n on Dec 20, 2020 23:52:14 GMT -5
Here is the PASSABLE tier. The songs I wouldn't seek out, but I wouldn't skip over them either. Most of these songs have a good idea, but the execution is disappointing. Many of these entries are ones I have a soft spot for, even if they're not particularly “good”. Also two winners are eliminated. 231 | Glennis Grace - My Impossible Dream | Netherlands | 2005 | 27 | 230 | Karmen - Nanana | Slovenia | 2003 | 20 | 229 | Jakob Sveistrup - Talking to You | Denmark | 2005 | 26 | 228 | Lou - Let's Get Happy | Germany | 2003 | 19 | 227 | Pirates of the Sea - Wolves of the Sea | Latvia | 2008 | 30 | 226 | Alex Swings Oscar Sings! - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang | Germany | 2009 | 31 | 225 | Michelle - Out on My Own | Netherlands | 2001 | 14 | 224 | Petr Elfimov - Eyes That Never Lie | Belarus | 2009 | 30 | 223 | Gerli Padar - Partners in Crime | Estonia | 2007 | 27 | 222 | Evdokia Kadi - Femme Fatale | Cyprus | 2008 | 29 | 221 | Sofia Vitória - Foi magia | Portugal | 2004 | 25 | 220 | Malene Mortensen - Tell Me Who You Are | Denmark | 2002 | 16 | 219 | Sanda - I Admit | Romania | 2004 | 24 | 218 | Jari Sillanpää - Takes 2 to Tango | Finland | 2004 | 23 | 217 | Isis Gee - For Life | Poland | 2008 | 28 | 216 | Ivan & Delfin - Czarna dziewczyna | Poland | 2005 | 25 | 215 | Jane Bogaert - La vita cos'è? | Switzerland | 2000 | 17 | 214 | Ruffus - Eighties Coming Back | Estonia | 2003 | 18 | 213 | Mando - Never Let You Go | Greece | 2003 | 17 | 212 | Virginie Pouchain - Il était temps | France | 2006 | 24 | 211 | Jenny - Sense tu | Andorra | 2006 | 23 | 210 | Anastasia Prikhodko - Mamo | Russia | 2009 | 29 | 209 | Maja - Na jastuku za dvoje | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2002 | 15 | 208 | Hind - Your Heart Belongs to Me | Netherlands | 2008 | 27 | 207 | SKAMP - You Got Style | Lithuania | 2001 | 13 | 206 | Laura - Addicted to You | Finland | 2002 | 14 | 205 | Dragonfly feat. Dado Topić - Vjerujem u ljubav | Croatia | 2007 | 26 | 204 | Sandra Oxenryd - Through My Window | Estonia | 2006 | 22 | 203 | The Jet Set - Time to Party | Poland | 2007 | 25 | 202 | Martin Stenmarck - Las Vegas | Sweden | 2005 | 24 | 201 | Susanne Georgi - La teva decisió (Get a Life) | Andorra | 2009 | 28 | 200 | 4Fun - Love or Leave | Lithuania | 2007 | 24 | 199 | Sarit Hadad - Light a Candle | Israel | 2002 | 13 | 198 | Simon Mathew - All Night Long | Denmark | 2008 | 26 | 197 | Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way | Israel | 2009 | 27 | 196 | Linas and Simona - What's Happened to Your Love? | Lithuania | 2004 | 22 | 195 | Ortal - Chacun pense à soi | France | 2005 | 23 | 194 | Dima Bilan - Believe | Russia | 2008 | 25 | 193 | Michalis Rakintzis - S.A.G.A.P.O. | Greece | 2002 | 12 | 192 | Linda Wagenmakers - No Goodbyes | Netherlands | 2000 | 16 | 191 | Blue Café - Love Song | Poland | 2004 | 21 | 190 | Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL - Everybody | Estonia | 2001 | 12 | 189 | Manuel Ortega - Say a Word | Austria | 2002 | 11 | 188 | Pınar Ayhan & The SOS - Yorgunum Anla | Turkey | 2000 | 15 | 187 | Eric Papilaya - Get a Life – Get Alive | Austria | 2007 | 23 | 186 | Feminnem - Call Me | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2005 | 22 | 185 | Serafín Zubiri - Colgado de un sueño | Spain | 2000 | 14 | 184 | Olivia Lewis - Vertigo | Malta | 2007 | 22 | 183 | Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková - Leť tmou | Slovakia | 2009 | 26 | 182 | The Rounder Girls - All to You | Austria | 2000 | 13 | 181 | Sestre - Samo ljubezen | Slovenia | 2002 | 10 | 180 | Regina - Bistra voda | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2009 | 25 | 179 | Nuno Resende - Le grand soir | Belgium | 2005 | 21 | 178 | Fabrizio Faniello - Another Summer Night | Malta | 2001 | 11 | 177 | Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankoulov - Water | Bulgaria | 2007 | 21 | 176 | Friends - Listen to Your Heartbeat | Sweden | 2001 | 10 | 175 | Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila el Chiki-chiki | Spain | 2008 | 24 | 174 | Geta Burlacu - A Century of Love | Moldova | 2008 | 23 |
Remaining: 2000 12 2001 9 2002 9 2003 16 2004 20 2005 20 2006 21 2007 20 2008 22 2009 24 the early 2000s got slaughtered there Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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ry4n
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Post by ry4n on Dec 21, 2020 19:20:20 GMT -5
Here is the PLAYLIST-ABLE tier. It's the cut-off point for what I'd include in a playlist. Pretty self explanatory. I think this is the biggest tier. Two more winners are out, while 2000/2001/2002 continue to be slaughtered Some cheesy entries here and some that are vocally questionable 173 | Two Tricky - Angel | Iceland | 2001 | 9 | 172 | Max - Can't Wait Until Tonight | Germany | 2004 | 20 | 171 | Julia Savicheva - Believe Me | Russia | 2004 | 19 | 170 | Elnur and Samir - Day After Day | Azerbaijan | 2008 | 22 | 169 | Michelle - Wer Liebe lebt | Germany | 2001 | 8 | 168 | Paolo Meneguzzi - Era stupendo | Switzerland | 2008 | 21 | 167 | Marija Šestić - Rijeka bez imena | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2007 | 20 | 166 | Quartissimo feat. Martina – Love Symphony | Slovenia | 2009 | 24 | 165 | Daz Sampson - Teenage Life | United Kingdom | 2006 | 21 | 164 | Anonymous - Salvem el món | Andorra | 2007 | 19 | 163 | Malena Ernman - La voix | Sweden | 2009 | 23 | 162 | Knut Anders Sørum - High | Norway | 2004 | 18 | 161 | Lise Darly - Tout de moi | Monaco | 2005 | 20 | 160 | Stefan Raab - Wadde hadde dudde da? | Germany | 2000 | 12 | 159 | Mariana Popova - Let Me Cry | Bulgaria | 2006 | 20 | 158 | Mickey Harte - We've Got the World | Ireland | 2003 | 16 | 157 | Christina Metaxa - Firefly | Cyprus | 2009 | 22 | 156 | Sabrina - Dança comigo | Portugal | 2007 | 18 | 155 | Alf Poier - Weil der Mensch zählt | Austria | 2003 | 15 | 154 | Sidsel Ben Semmane - Twist of Love | Denmark | 2006 | 19 | 153 | Nina Åström - A Little Bit | Finland | 2000 | 11 | 152 | Sinéad Mulvey and Black Daisy - Et Cetera | Ireland | 2009 | 21 | 151 | Ivan Mikulić - You Are the Only One | Croatia | 2004 | 17 | 150 | Vanna - Strings of My Heart | Croatia | 2001 | 7 | 149 | Neiokõsõ - Tii | Estonia | 2004 | 16 | 148 | Jade Ewen - It's My Time | United Kingdom | 2009 | 20 | 147 | Morena - Vodka | Malta | 2008 | 20 | 146 | Tamara, Vrčak & Adrian - Let Me Love You | F.Y.R. Macedonia | 2008 | 19 | 145 | Javine - Touch My Fire | United Kingdom | 2005 | 19 | 144 | Andrea Demirović - Just Get Out of My Life | Montenegro | 2009 | 19 | 143 | Boaz Ma'uda - The Fire in Your Eyes | Israel | 2008 | 18 | 142 | Silvia Night - Congratulations | Iceland | 2006 | 18 | 141 | Deen - In the Disco | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2004 | 15 | 140 | Angelica Agurbash - Love Me Tonight | Belarus | 2005 | 18 | 139 | Vesna Pisarović - Everything I Want | Croatia | 2002 | 9 | 138 | t.A.T.u. - Ne ver', ne boysia | Russia | 2003 | 14 | 137 | Rita Guerra - Deixa-me sonhar | Portugal | 2003 | 13 | 136 | Kenan Doğulu - Shake It Up Şekerim | Turkey | 2007 | 17 | 135 | Guri Schanke - Ven a bailar conmigo | Norway | 2007 | 16 | 134 | Diana Gurtskaya - Peace Will Come | Georgia | 2008 | 17 | 133 | Kraljevi ulice and 75 Cents - Romanca | Croatia | 2008 | 16 | 132 | Brian Kennedy - Every Song Is a Cry for Love | Ireland | 2006 | 17 | 131 | Edsilia Rombley - On Top of the World | Netherlands | 2007 | 15 | 130 | Lovebugs - The Highest Heights | Switzerland | 2009 | 18 | 129 | Voice - Nomiza | Cyprus | 2000 | 10 | 128 | Walters & Kazha - The War Is Not Over | Latvia | 2005 | 17 | 127 | Mija Martina - Ne brini | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2003 | 12 | 126 | Louisa Baïleche - Monts et merveilles | France | 2003 | 11 | 125 | Aleksandra and Konstantin - My Galileo | Belarus | 2004 | 14 | 124 | Jonatan Cerrada - À chaque pas | France | 2004 | 13 | 123 | Sibel Tüzün - Süper Star | Turkey | 2006 | 16 | 122 | Claudette Pace - Desire | Malta | 2000 | 9 | 121 | Julie and Ludwig - On Again... Off Again | Malta | 2004 | 12 | 120 | Charmed - My Heart Goes Boom | Norway | 2000 | 8 | 119 | Nino Pršeš - Hano | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2001 | 6 | 118 | André - Without Your Love | Armenia | 2006 | 15 | 117 | Sandrine François - Il faut du temps | France | 2002 | 8 | 116 | Afro-dite - Never Let It Go | Sweden | 2002 | 7 | 115 | David Civera - Dile que la quiero | Spain | 2001 | 5 | 114 | One - Gimme | Cyprus | 2002 | 6 | 113 | Kate Ryan - Je t'adore | Belgium | 2006 | 14 | 112 | Teräsbetoni - Missä miehet ratsastaa | Finland | 2008 | 15 | 111 | Marie N - I Wanna | Latvia | 2002 | 5 | 110 | Marian van de Wal - La mirada interior | Andorra | 2005 | 16 | 109 | Olsen Brothers - Fly on the Wings of Love | Denmark | 2000 | 7 | 108 | Rosa - Europe's Living a Celebration | Spain | 2002 | 4 | 107 | Miodio - Complice | San Marino | 2008 | 14 | 106 | Elena - The Balkan Girls | Romania | 2009 | 17 |
Remaining: 2000 6 2001 4 2002 3 2003 10 2004 11 2005 15 2006 13 2007 14 2008 13 2009 16 Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855
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Post by born on Dec 21, 2020 19:26:04 GMT -5
Don’t you just love Ryan?
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Leo ✔
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Post by Leo ✔ on Dec 21, 2020 20:17:45 GMT -5
Don’t you just love Ryan? He's mine stay away :-×
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ry4n
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Post by ry4n on Dec 22, 2020 20:31:39 GMT -5
Now for the ESSENTIAL tier. All of these are great entries, but there's something holding them back from having winner quality. I love every song from this point onwards, though. This section sees the last of the novelty entries, since I never want one of those to win lol. Also I was wrong, this is the biggest tier. 105 | Sopho Khalvashi - Visionary Dream | Georgia | 2007 | 14 | 104 | Les Fatals Picards - L'amour à la française | France | 2007 | 13 | 103 | Ines - Once in a Lifetime | Estonia | 2000 | 6 | 102 | Charlotte Perrelli - Hero | Sweden | 2008 | 13 | 101 | Jostein Hasselgård - I'm Not Afraid to Move On | Norway | 2003 | 10 | 100 | Waldo's People - Lose Control | Finland | 2009 | 16 | 99 | Karolina - Mojot svet | F.Y.R. Macedonia | 2007 | 12 | 98 | Soraya Arnelas - La noche es para mí | Spain | 2009 | 15 | 97 | Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena | Croatia | 2009 | 14 | 96 | Chiara - Angel | Malta | 2005 | 15 | 95 | Christine Guldbrandsen - Alvedansen | Norway | 2006 | 13 | 94 | Olta Boka - Zemrën e lamë peng | Albania | 2008 | 12 | 93 | Deep Zone and Balthazar - DJ, Take Me Away | Bulgaria | 2008 | 11 | 92 | Ich Troje feat. Real McCoy - Follow My Heart | Poland | 2006 | 12 | 91 | Jónsi - Heaven | Iceland | 2004 | 11 | 90 | Lena Philipsson - It Hurts | Sweden | 2004 | 10 | 89 | Boris Novković feat. Lado Members - Vukovi umiru sami | Croatia | 2005 | 14 | 88 | Omar Naber - Stop | Slovenia | 2005 | 13 | 87 | Brinck - Believe Again | Denmark | 2009 | 13 | 86 | Patricia Kaas - Et s'il fallait le faire | France | 2009 | 12 | 85 | Xandee - 1 Life | Belgium | 2004 | 9 | 84 | Selma - If I Had Your Love | Iceland | 2005 | 12 | 83 | Luiz Ejlli - Zjarr e ftohtë | Albania | 2006 | 11 | 82 | Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night | Greece | 2009 | 11 | 81 | Zdob și Zdub - Boonika bate doba | Moldova | 2005 | 11 | 80 | Laka - Pokušaj | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2008 | 10 | 79 | Gülseren - Rimi Rimi Ley | Turkey | 2005 | 10 | 78 | GreenJolly - Razom nas bahato | Ukraine | 2005 | 9 | 77 | Rebeka Dremelj - Vrag naj vzame | Slovenia | 2008 | 9 | 76 | Goran Karan - Kad zaspu anđeli | Croatia | 2000 | 5 | 75 | Mihai Trăistariu - Tornerò | Romania | 2006 | 10 | 74 | Anna Vissi - Everything | Greece | 2006 | 9 | 73 | Dmitry Koldun - Work Your Magic | Belarus | 2007 | 11 | 72 | Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) | Ukraine | 2009 | 10 | 71 | Fame - Give Me Your Love | Sweden | 2003 | 9 | 70 | Ich Troje - Keine Grenzen – Żadnych granic | Poland | 2003 | 8 | 69 | Eiríkur Hauksson - Valentine Lost | Iceland | 2007 | 10 | 68 | Toše Proeski - Life | F.Y.R. Macedonia | 2004 | 8 | 67 | Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova | Moldova | 2009 | 9 | 66 | Esther Hart - One More Night | Netherlands | 2003 | 7 | 65 | Sakis Rouvas - Shake It | Greece | 2004 | 7 | 64 | No Name - Zauvijek moja | Serbia & Montenegro | 2005 | 8 | 63 | August & Telma - Tell Me! | Iceland | 2000 | 4 | 62 | Serebro - Song #1 | Russia | 2007 | 9 | 61 | Ira Losco - 7th Wonder | Malta | 2002 | 3 | 60 | Hanna Pakarinen - Leave Me Alone | Finland | 2007 | 8 | 59 | Anjeza Shahini - The Image of You | Albania | 2004 | 6 | 58 | Rollo & King - Never Ever Let You Go | Denmark | 2001 | 4 | 57 | Euroband - This Is My Life | Iceland | 2008 | 8 | 56 | Natasha St-Pier - Je n'ai que mon âme | France | 2001 | 3 | 55 | D'NASH - I Love You Mi Vida | Spain | 2007 | 7 | 54 | Birgitta - Open Your Heart | Iceland | 2003 | 6 | 53 | Evridiki - Comme ci, comme ça | Cyprus | 2007 | 6 | 52 | Texas Lightning - No No Never | Germany | 2006 | 8 | 51 | Severina - Moja štikla | Croatia | 2006 | 7 | 50 | Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor | Portugal | 2009 | 8 | 49 | Lordi - Hard Rock Hallelujah | Finland | 2006 | 6 | 48 | Verka Serduchka - Dancing Lasha Tumbai | Ukraine | 2007 | 5 | 47 | Mor ve Ötesi - Deli | Turkey | 2008 | 7 | 46 | Ledina Çelo - Tomorrow I Go | Albania | 2005 | 7 | 45 | Carola - Invincible | Sweden | 2006 | 5 | 44 | Ramón - Para llenarme de ti | Spain | 2004 | 5 | 43 | Lisa Andreas - Stronger Every Minute | Cyprus | 2004 | 4 | 42 | Jessica Garlick - Come Back | United Kingdom | 2002 | 2 | 41 | Sahlene - Runaway | Estonia | 2002 | 1 | 40 | Marija Šerifović - Molitva | Serbia | 2007 | 4 | 39 | Natalia Barbu - Fight | Moldova | 2007 | 3 | 38 | Hari Mata Hari - Lejla | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2006 | 4 | 37 | Alsou - Solo | Russia | 2000 | 3 | 36 | Roger Pontare - When Spirits Are Calling My Name | Sweden | 2000 | 2 | 35 | Claudia Beni - Više nisam tvoja | Croatia | 2003 | 5 | 34 | Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams | Albania | 2009 | 7 |
Remaining: 2000 1 2001 2 2002 02003 4 2004 3 2005 6 2006 3 2007 2 2008 6 2009 6 And 2002 is eliminated! Meaning nothing from that year was winner-worthy lol. Leo ✔ Soundcl🕤ck born fearlessarrow kimberly Mylo13 💜 Future Captain mrmike855 yuh yuh
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