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jawnbc Yesterday's semi-final had its highs and lows. Here are my impressions:
Opening
Once upon a time bla bla bla bla bla. Whoever thought it was a good idea to have a large faux bird fly over an arena with row upon row of empty seats....not a good idea. But then we get the hosts: a shouty tour guide (him), and a lovelily inept model (her). In fact she completely blanked while trying to explain the voting sequence in (not very good) French. No, really: she stopped speaking, swallowed hard, got that deer-in-the-headlights look, shuffled her cards and said "oh!" before continuing. Makes one nostalgic for Gigi and Toto from 1991.
Macenegro Montedonia Montenegro
Ralph Siegel has had about 20 songs in the Eurovision, four or five of which did well (top 5). Many sank like stones--rightfully so. He's also knocked on a lot of smaller nations' doors since the Germany managed to ditch him. Montenegro hopefully has learned their lesson: keep the Eurovision Siegel-less. Oh, and send someone who is a professional singer. With an easy song, the bum notes were inexcusable.
Czech Republic
I am apparently the only person who loves this song--and the act that goes with it. But there were so many completely botched shots--one camera was literally pointing to the stage floor before being swung up to the back of the singer--that I think the director sabotaged the act. I've never thought that before. Can you say racism (Gipsy.cz is the act)?
Belgium
Whatever one things of rockabilly or sound-alike acts, for television you can't send a grotty, icky looking person. Patrick really looked greasy, pale, bad teeth. Shouting didn't help, but I think this song wasn't going anywhere even with the hawtest of singers.
Belarus
Don't like the song, but this guy got ripped off. One of the best vocals, well-staged, this was the male equivalent of the total package. I won't be surprised to find that Petr got bumped from 10th by the jury's choice.
Sweden
Maybe it's using a microphone, but Malena didn't deliver exactly a stellar vocal. The frock was too big in the bust, but she otherwise looked much better than in Melodifestivalen. Still, this stood out by a mile and in this semi there were perhaps 5 songs battling out for the top of the board and another 8 battling for the next 5 spots. The studio version, though, has really grown on me.
Armenia
And finally we get the total package. Female? Check! Can sing live? Check plus! Fab frocks? Check plus! Uptempo? Well-staged? Memorable? Check check check! This is a performance number more than a song. Bonus points for having absolutely no sleaze factor. This was a class act and I suspect Inga and Anush may have won this semi.
Andorra
Nice. Nice woman, nice song, nice guitars, it's all very nice. But not very memorable--and then she tries to amp up her vocals for the closing, realizes she can't make the note, and starts laughing. If Estonia qualifies from tomorrow's semi-final, Andorra will be the only country to participate every year but have never made it out of the semi-finals. If they took their toys home for a few years I wouldn't be surprised.
Switzerland
I like the (unoriginal) sound of the song, and visually this was a treat. But the lead vocalist really struggled.
Turkey
Baby, your song is catchy.
You may the boys go gooey.
But you screamed more than you sang this
All. The Time.
Still it was pretty OK.
And you've got "family" elsewhere.
So you qualified easy
Got no rhyme.
Isräel
For the first time since 2005 (Malta), I was moved to tears by somewhat at the Eurovision. What often separates a professional singer from a compelling one is their ability to make you believe what they're singing. Even with a few off notes--but to be fair these were intricate harmonies, more challenging than I've heard at the Contest in a long, long time--I felt Mira Awad and Noa singing for peace, for change, for another way. I think this did very well--deservedly so.
Bulgaria
One downside to the semi-final system is that many people don't watch the semis. So when there is an absolute roadkill of a performance, they miss it. Although the Big 4 have taken up that mantle rather successfully as of late. Men with feminine voices don't do well at the Eurovision (Isräel last year was a high tenor, but still a tenor). When they sing badly it's like cats f*&%ing. Adding 3 women to the mix who also sing poorly? Well I'm glad there wasn't anything handy to stab out my ear drums. Because I was tempted....
Iceland
And then there was Iceland. A charming, talented young (blonde) singer, with a lovely ballad, with strong back-up vocals, and simply and elegantly staged. Wouldn't it be kewl to be going to Reykjavik next year? We may be...this also may have won the semi. Deservedly so.
Macenegro Montedonia Macedonia
This was late 80s hair band, but well performed. Props to Macedonia for its entirely unfolkloric entry ever. I think they deserved a slot in the final since their vocals were also flawless.
Romania
I just don't get this song. The overall performance was probably what lifted it, but really? The Balkan girls they like to party, like to party, like nobody? It's time for me to unwind, I'm gonna start my weekend wi'gin'n'tonic'n lime (she contracted the words that way, not me)? Risible....
Finland
Waldo's People have my respect for trying to make a social statement with Lose Control: homelessness can happen remarkably quickly to someone. Bravo. But "Waldo" also proved that perhaps 1% of rappers can reproduce the sound of their records: he didn't. The lead vocalist was all over the map too. I'm stunned this qualified as a result.
Portugal
Lovely, lovely, lovely--yay Portugal! For the second year in a row they prove that sending something of quality can qualify under this new system. She struggled a bit in places with her vocals, but the overall package was absolutely lovely. That she was genuinely crying as she finished was also lovely. Lovely.
Malta
Chiara clearly has something to prove. She's a great singer--and she is. That all she needs is a stage, a camera and microphone. And it's true. And with a proper stylist she looks great--big gurls ruuuuuule! But this song is nothing but a "see what a singer I am?" song. She accomplished what she set out to do. Can she win the whole thing with this? Of course she can: a lot of countries may have former ESC entrants on their juries. Anyone who follows the Contest has a soft spot in their heart for the wee Mediterranean isle that has given many really nice songs performed well. And she wouldn't be the first person to win the Contest with a weaker entry than her others (Carola, Helena, Dima). But I don't think this is gonna win.
Bosnia
Expectations were high...and they weren't entirely met. Regina's lead singer Davor looked at times panicked and really rough face-wise. Still it was very good, and miles ahead of most of the other songs. Add having the last slot in the semi and their qualification was no shocker. But I think this might not be the contender for victory many are saying. Top 10 in the final for sure, but maybe not even top 5.
Overall
The overall design--stage, graphics, typography--is the best ever for the Eurovision. The webcast was again excellent, and now supports the Mac OS properly (last year Mac users couldn't go full-screen). The show clocked in on time too. 2 hours is perfect for a semi-final! I loved the high-tech way of opening the voting envelopes--bravo.!
But there were serious technical issues with about half the acts. This has been a creeping problem since Riga in 2003 (excepting Helsinki and Belgrade). The EBU needs to bring in its own directors, period. It's not fair otherwise, especially the smaller countries. If I were the Czech delegation I'd be spitting bullets right now.
Contenders to win on Saturday are hard to call, since it's 50/50 televote jury in the final (just televote in the semis, except perhaps the 10th qualifier as a jury choice). But I could only see Iceland, Isräel, Malta or Bosnia winning. Merit-wise it would be Iceland..
Opening
Once upon a time bla bla bla bla bla. Whoever thought it was a good idea to have a large faux bird fly over an arena with row upon row of empty seats....not a good idea. But then we get the hosts: a shouty tour guide (him), and a lovelily inept model (her). In fact she completely blanked while trying to explain the voting sequence in (not very good) French. No, really: she stopped speaking, swallowed hard, got that deer-in-the-headlights look, shuffled her cards and said "oh!" before continuing. Makes one nostalgic for Gigi and Toto from 1991.
Ralph Siegel has had about 20 songs in the Eurovision, four or five of which did well (top 5). Many sank like stones--rightfully so. He's also knocked on a lot of smaller nations' doors since the Germany managed to ditch him. Montenegro hopefully has learned their lesson: keep the Eurovision Siegel-less. Oh, and send someone who is a professional singer. With an easy song, the bum notes were inexcusable.
Czech Republic
I am apparently the only person who loves this song--and the act that goes with it. But there were so many completely botched shots--one camera was literally pointing to the stage floor before being swung up to the back of the singer--that I think the director sabotaged the act. I've never thought that before. Can you say racism (Gipsy.cz is the act)?
Belgium
Whatever one things of rockabilly or sound-alike acts, for television you can't send a grotty, icky looking person. Patrick really looked greasy, pale, bad teeth. Shouting didn't help, but I think this song wasn't going anywhere even with the hawtest of singers.
Belarus
Don't like the song, but this guy got ripped off. One of the best vocals, well-staged, this was the male equivalent of the total package. I won't be surprised to find that Petr got bumped from 10th by the jury's choice.
Sweden
Maybe it's using a microphone, but Malena didn't deliver exactly a stellar vocal. The frock was too big in the bust, but she otherwise looked much better than in Melodifestivalen. Still, this stood out by a mile and in this semi there were perhaps 5 songs battling out for the top of the board and another 8 battling for the next 5 spots. The studio version, though, has really grown on me.
Armenia
And finally we get the total package. Female? Check! Can sing live? Check plus! Fab frocks? Check plus! Uptempo? Well-staged? Memorable? Check check check! This is a performance number more than a song. Bonus points for having absolutely no sleaze factor. This was a class act and I suspect Inga and Anush may have won this semi.
Andorra
Nice. Nice woman, nice song, nice guitars, it's all very nice. But not very memorable--and then she tries to amp up her vocals for the closing, realizes she can't make the note, and starts laughing. If Estonia qualifies from tomorrow's semi-final, Andorra will be the only country to participate every year but have never made it out of the semi-finals. If they took their toys home for a few years I wouldn't be surprised.
Switzerland
I like the (unoriginal) sound of the song, and visually this was a treat. But the lead vocalist really struggled.
Turkey
Baby, your song is catchy.
You may the boys go gooey.
But you screamed more than you sang this
All. The Time.
Still it was pretty OK.
And you've got "family" elsewhere.
So you qualified easy
Got no rhyme.
Isräel
For the first time since 2005 (Malta), I was moved to tears by somewhat at the Eurovision. What often separates a professional singer from a compelling one is their ability to make you believe what they're singing. Even with a few off notes--but to be fair these were intricate harmonies, more challenging than I've heard at the Contest in a long, long time--I felt Mira Awad and Noa singing for peace, for change, for another way. I think this did very well--deservedly so.
Bulgaria
One downside to the semi-final system is that many people don't watch the semis. So when there is an absolute roadkill of a performance, they miss it. Although the Big 4 have taken up that mantle rather successfully as of late. Men with feminine voices don't do well at the Eurovision (Isräel last year was a high tenor, but still a tenor). When they sing badly it's like cats f*&%ing. Adding 3 women to the mix who also sing poorly? Well I'm glad there wasn't anything handy to stab out my ear drums. Because I was tempted....
Iceland
And then there was Iceland. A charming, talented young (blonde) singer, with a lovely ballad, with strong back-up vocals, and simply and elegantly staged. Wouldn't it be kewl to be going to Reykjavik next year? We may be...this also may have won the semi. Deservedly so.
This was late 80s hair band, but well performed. Props to Macedonia for its entirely unfolkloric entry ever. I think they deserved a slot in the final since their vocals were also flawless.
Romania
I just don't get this song. The overall performance was probably what lifted it, but really? The Balkan girls they like to party, like to party, like nobody? It's time for me to unwind, I'm gonna start my weekend wi'gin'n'tonic'n lime (she contracted the words that way, not me)? Risible....
Finland
Waldo's People have my respect for trying to make a social statement with Lose Control: homelessness can happen remarkably quickly to someone. Bravo. But "Waldo" also proved that perhaps 1% of rappers can reproduce the sound of their records: he didn't. The lead vocalist was all over the map too. I'm stunned this qualified as a result.
Portugal
Lovely, lovely, lovely--yay Portugal! For the second year in a row they prove that sending something of quality can qualify under this new system. She struggled a bit in places with her vocals, but the overall package was absolutely lovely. That she was genuinely crying as she finished was also lovely. Lovely.
Malta
Chiara clearly has something to prove. She's a great singer--and she is. That all she needs is a stage, a camera and microphone. And it's true. And with a proper stylist she looks great--big gurls ruuuuuule! But this song is nothing but a "see what a singer I am?" song. She accomplished what she set out to do. Can she win the whole thing with this? Of course she can: a lot of countries may have former ESC entrants on their juries. Anyone who follows the Contest has a soft spot in their heart for the wee Mediterranean isle that has given many really nice songs performed well. And she wouldn't be the first person to win the Contest with a weaker entry than her others (Carola, Helena, Dima). But I don't think this is gonna win.
Bosnia
Expectations were high...and they weren't entirely met. Regina's lead singer Davor looked at times panicked and really rough face-wise. Still it was very good, and miles ahead of most of the other songs. Add having the last slot in the semi and their qualification was no shocker. But I think this might not be the contender for victory many are saying. Top 10 in the final for sure, but maybe not even top 5.
Overall
The overall design--stage, graphics, typography--is the best ever for the Eurovision. The webcast was again excellent, and now supports the Mac OS properly (last year Mac users couldn't go full-screen). The show clocked in on time too. 2 hours is perfect for a semi-final! I loved the high-tech way of opening the voting envelopes--bravo.!
But there were serious technical issues with about half the acts. This has been a creeping problem since Riga in 2003 (excepting Helsinki and Belgrade). The EBU needs to bring in its own directors, period. It's not fair otherwise, especially the smaller countries. If I were the Czech delegation I'd be spitting bullets right now.
Contenders to win on Saturday are hard to call, since it's 50/50 televote jury in the final (just televote in the semis, except perhaps the 10th qualifier as a jury choice). But I could only see Iceland, Isräel, Malta or Bosnia winning. Merit-wise it would be Iceland..
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Date: 2009-05-14 07:48 pm (UTC)