On Super Saturday
Feb. 3rd, 2007 07:36 pmThere were a whole slew of qualification rounds, semi-finals, and 4 actual finals. Here are some of my thoughts:
Estonia: One of my favourite countries, with a very strong line-up performer and songwriting wise. But of the 10 songs featured, for me it was a 4 horse race. I would have sent Ines again, but Gerdil Padar's song is good. Problem is she leaves no impression herself. So unless Estonia draws a late slot in the semi-final, I suspect it'll be heartbreak again. And really Maarja, please stop the languid reworkings of uptempo ESC songs. Your "Hard rock hallelujah" was...embarrassing.
Slovenia: I watched yesterday's semi, so only tuned in to those today I'd not seen. Many talented and accomplished performers, but none that leapt out and said winner. But Alenka Gotar has a good shot at qualifying: she's an opera singer, and this year's theme for many countries seems to be Lordi redux (rock acts). Désolé
paterson245
Poland: the Jet Set "Time to Party". Will totally qualify and I smell the faint scent of...winner? I don't say that very often at the national final stage, but it's memorable, they can all sing, the rap bitties work and they've already staged it pretty well--and have 3 months to make it even better. Just keep whomever choreographed "Follow my heart" 5000km away. 4 real, yo.
Malta: I love Malta, and was pleased they put 4 (0f 6) strong songs/acts into their final today. Which still lasted 200 hours, complete with faux Shirley Bassey interval act?). No doubt thousands of my fellow ESC kweens are squeeing with glee that Olivia Lewis has finally got the ticket to the Eurovision. Only problem is the song goes nowhere. I predict it won't get out of the semi-final, making it Malta's worst result ever. Keep an eye out for Kevin Borg and Pamela Bezzina: both proved themselves charming and accomplished.
Of the plethora (yeah really a plethora, not the way most people use the word) of semis and qualies and other thingies:
Finland: they do the 3 artists, 2 songs each, one song each to the final thing. 4 of 6 were good, none fab. But Johanna Kurkela with a great song would be a contender. And no, not a muthafuckin' tango...
Romania: I missed it much of it, so will hold off until the final. But I have all the songs on my iTunes and there are more promising songs in this selection than across the rest of Europe. They want it and want it bad. Bucharest within 5 years...
Bulgaria: no webcast, not many songs available. Dunno. Final is 3 weeks; today was a cull to 12 songs. Some of the songs are available embedded here
Lithuania: started to try and connect to the webcast and remembered it's Lithuania: 3 qualifiers then a long final. I'll skip the qualification turds thanks.
Sweden: As one expects, mostly very professional, polished, arguably sanitized pop. But nothing that grabs like "It hurts" or (dare i say it) "Invisible". Early days though
That's all I gots
Estonia: One of my favourite countries, with a very strong line-up performer and songwriting wise. But of the 10 songs featured, for me it was a 4 horse race. I would have sent Ines again, but Gerdil Padar's song is good. Problem is she leaves no impression herself. So unless Estonia draws a late slot in the semi-final, I suspect it'll be heartbreak again. And really Maarja, please stop the languid reworkings of uptempo ESC songs. Your "Hard rock hallelujah" was...embarrassing.
Slovenia: I watched yesterday's semi, so only tuned in to those today I'd not seen. Many talented and accomplished performers, but none that leapt out and said winner. But Alenka Gotar has a good shot at qualifying: she's an opera singer, and this year's theme for many countries seems to be Lordi redux (rock acts). Désolé
Poland: the Jet Set "Time to Party". Will totally qualify and I smell the faint scent of...winner? I don't say that very often at the national final stage, but it's memorable, they can all sing, the rap bitties work and they've already staged it pretty well--and have 3 months to make it even better. Just keep whomever choreographed "Follow my heart" 5000km away. 4 real, yo.
Malta: I love Malta, and was pleased they put 4 (0f 6) strong songs/acts into their final today. Which still lasted 200 hours, complete with faux Shirley Bassey interval act?). No doubt thousands of my fellow ESC kweens are squeeing with glee that Olivia Lewis has finally got the ticket to the Eurovision. Only problem is the song goes nowhere. I predict it won't get out of the semi-final, making it Malta's worst result ever. Keep an eye out for Kevin Borg and Pamela Bezzina: both proved themselves charming and accomplished.
Of the plethora (yeah really a plethora, not the way most people use the word) of semis and qualies and other thingies:
Finland: they do the 3 artists, 2 songs each, one song each to the final thing. 4 of 6 were good, none fab. But Johanna Kurkela with a great song would be a contender. And no, not a muthafuckin' tango...
Romania: I missed it much of it, so will hold off until the final. But I have all the songs on my iTunes and there are more promising songs in this selection than across the rest of Europe. They want it and want it bad. Bucharest within 5 years...
Bulgaria: no webcast, not many songs available. Dunno. Final is 3 weeks; today was a cull to 12 songs. Some of the songs are available embedded here
Lithuania: started to try and connect to the webcast and remembered it's Lithuania: 3 qualifiers then a long final. I'll skip the qualification turds thanks.
Sweden: As one expects, mostly very professional, polished, arguably sanitized pop. But nothing that grabs like "It hurts" or (dare i say it) "Invisible". Early days though
That's all I gots