Eurovision drama: what's in a (No) Name?
Mar. 11th, 2006 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jawnbcIt's that time of year again. There will be 38 countries competing in the 51st Eurovision Song Contest. Our newbie this year is Armenia; no word yet on its song, though the singer looks...Armenian. As of today we know 31 of the songs; the rest will be determined in the next 10 days, before each participating company needs to submit its song, recording, and name of on stage performers. For those new to the Eurovision, no more than 6 persons on stage, music is a backing track, but all vocals--lead and background--must be live.
Since 1999 countries can sing in any language and most have elected to sing all in English--in fact only one winner since 1999 (2004 Ukraine Wild Dances) had any lyrics in a local language--but the chorus, first and last verses were in English. Last year Israel had its best result in years (since winning in 98 in fact) with a mix of Hebrew and English. Hungary's and Croatia's entries were the best received of the non-English songs, 11th and 12th.
This year Norway, Iceland, Croatia, Albania, Andorra, Bosnia, and Spain are sticking with their own tongues (or one of their tongues). Poland will sing in multiple languages, returning with a group (Ich Troje) who finished 7th singing in German and Polish. There's been a few allegations of plagiarism (Slovenia, most prominently), which never seem to go anywhere. Oh, and the Cyprus selection was marred by scandal, disqualifications, and a highly controversial result. Thus tone deaf, badly dressed Greek-American Annette Artani will bellow yet another song about the suffering and death of children (Why Do Angels Cry?)--though no such song has ever done well. Why Do the Sucky Songs Get Sung?
Lithuania seems to have given up. Their entry is called "We Are the Winners" by LT (Lithuania) United. As in "We are the winners. Of Eurovision. We are! We are! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote for the Winners!" Except they pronounce it weiners. Indeed.
Serbia and Montenegro had their selection tonight and once again it was dramatic. In fact, as it became clear who would win, most fans walked out--while the rest threw bottles onto the stage in protest? Why? Well, In S/M each country hosts its own mini-final, sends their best songs, and has one super-final. And just like last year the Montenegrin jury members blanked the Serbian frontrunners, ensuring their own No Name won the ticket--for the second year in a row (where they finished a respectable 6th).
My favourites so far?
Romania's snazzy Tornero, a pop/trance track well sung.
Iceland's polished camp Til hamingju Ísland --don't let how outrageous "Sylvia Nott"'s persona is distract you from noticing what a great singer/actress she is.
Andorra's Sense-tu, their first non-sucky entry. Maybe even make it out of the semi-final?
Malta's I Do. Malta treats Eurovision like The Church, sorta. I want them to win because they would be crying in the streets with joy. And their songs are almost always good.
My dark horse is Ireland, and it's deceptively simple Every Song is a Cry for Love. Dublin 2007 anyone?
Since 1999 countries can sing in any language and most have elected to sing all in English--in fact only one winner since 1999 (2004 Ukraine Wild Dances) had any lyrics in a local language--but the chorus, first and last verses were in English. Last year Israel had its best result in years (since winning in 98 in fact) with a mix of Hebrew and English. Hungary's and Croatia's entries were the best received of the non-English songs, 11th and 12th.
This year Norway, Iceland, Croatia, Albania, Andorra, Bosnia, and Spain are sticking with their own tongues (or one of their tongues). Poland will sing in multiple languages, returning with a group (Ich Troje) who finished 7th singing in German and Polish. There's been a few allegations of plagiarism (Slovenia, most prominently), which never seem to go anywhere. Oh, and the Cyprus selection was marred by scandal, disqualifications, and a highly controversial result. Thus tone deaf, badly dressed Greek-American Annette Artani will bellow yet another song about the suffering and death of children (Why Do Angels Cry?)--though no such song has ever done well. Why Do the Sucky Songs Get Sung?
Lithuania seems to have given up. Their entry is called "We Are the Winners" by LT (Lithuania) United. As in "We are the winners. Of Eurovision. We are! We are! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote for the Winners!" Except they pronounce it weiners. Indeed.
Serbia and Montenegro had their selection tonight and once again it was dramatic. In fact, as it became clear who would win, most fans walked out--while the rest threw bottles onto the stage in protest? Why? Well, In S/M each country hosts its own mini-final, sends their best songs, and has one super-final. And just like last year the Montenegrin jury members blanked the Serbian frontrunners, ensuring their own No Name won the ticket--for the second year in a row (where they finished a respectable 6th).
My favourites so far?
Romania's snazzy Tornero, a pop/trance track well sung.
Iceland's polished camp Til hamingju Ísland --don't let how outrageous "Sylvia Nott"'s persona is distract you from noticing what a great singer/actress she is.
Andorra's Sense-tu, their first non-sucky entry. Maybe even make it out of the semi-final?
Malta's I Do. Malta treats Eurovision like The Church, sorta. I want them to win because they would be crying in the streets with joy. And their songs are almost always good.
My dark horse is Ireland, and it's deceptively simple Every Song is a Cry for Love. Dublin 2007 anyone?
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no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 08:19 am (UTC)Two of your favourites are favourites of mine as well, namely Andorra and Romania. I’ve already gushed about Andorra enough. Of the male-sung dance tunes, Romania’s was the best by far. I also rather enjoyed Norway’s song, even if in retrospect it’s a rather predictable move, something of a portmanteau of “I evighet” and “Nocturne”.
There were a few others I...didn’t dislike, but I’ll be damned if I can recall which they were offhand. It seems every year there has to be at least one nation playing the “we know we won’t win, we just want attention” card, and this year that country is Lithuania. So as sucky as that song is, it can’t compete with the British entry for sheer horrificness. Did they learn nothing from Love City Groove? And if Eurovision rap wasn’t milk-curdling enough of an idea, they have to go and add a children’s chorus! Ugh!
Look out Jemini, you’ll soon have company. (Does that make the U.K. the new Norway?)
no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 08:31 am (UTC)Dublin eh? Well, I'm most envious of my friends who are going to Greece this year to see Eurovision but Dublin could be doable next year as I'll have worked 12 months (hopefully) and I'll be able to take some time off.
Thanks for the updates.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 01:00 pm (UTC)I will be doing a post with my in depth deliberations on each song as soon as they're all in. I'll post it in Eurovision and Eurovisionary Towers as soon as I can!
Eurovision 2006 : The Great Flood
Date: 2006-03-16 08:57 pm (UTC)1. Sakis. Shake, shake, shake.... 'nuff said.
2. The girl. A Eurovision host with English as their first tongue? It's been too long!
3. Kate Ryan. Kate, je t'adore. You're the only person who could possibly outschlager...
4. Carola! Carola was singing Schlager on the Eurovision network before I was born! She triumphed in the shambles that was Rome 1991 and should the Swedes send anybody else to Athens I will be very, very angry.
5. Iceland. Now, in my real life I'm a big fan of Icelandic music. I'll never see Sigur Rós at Eurovision but this is much better anyway! The girl is bonkers and dear god I hope those lyrics are translated into English on the night!
Ah, interweb café closing! Buggah!