Every year when the month of May is approaching something happens inside of me. I start to feel restless, but on the other hand I'm also enthusiastic, excited and talkative. It's clear: I have Eurovision fever again.
Many people don't understand why people actually like Eurovision so much. They all complain about how their own entries are always horrible and never do well in the contest. That may be true: this year the Netherlands also sent in a very bad song to Eurovision that is certainly not good enough to finish in the top 10 and although critics are positive about the Dutch chances to reach the final I wouldn't be so sure. It's going to be a close call.
Anyway, my point was that there will always be bad songs at the Eurovision Song Contest. And this doesn't necessarily have to be so bad. You can laugh at funny events that are happening during the show (Greece will make a great show with an old man playing a traditional guitar while being surrounded by younger men who are wearing kilts), ask your friends to close their eyes and make them guess if the Romanian singer is male or female, start considering to donate new clothes to the chubby Israeli singer because her current dress seems to be a bit old and is way too tight or be amazed at how one young man from Azerbaijan can sound like a boyband all alone.
And actually there are some very acceptable songs in the contest as well. Here is my top 5, starting with number 5:
5. Denmark (Emmelie De Forest - Only Teardrops)
Denmark is the top favorite among bookmakers, together with Norway, which will not even reach the final if you ask me. The song has everything: a pretty girl singing it with a good voice, a flute-solo to help the voters remember the song and also a good musical composition. Besides this, Emmelie has many roots in other countries, which generally helps a lot in gaining extra points. We'll see if the bookmakers were right in predicting Denmark as a winner next week.
4. Belarus (Alyona Lanskaya - Solayoh)
Belarus didn't bother to send in a very original song this year: just a catchy song that is easy to dance to and sing along. This could be a huge hit that is played at clubs close to sunny beaches all summer long, but I doubt whether it's enough to win Eurovision this year.
3. Malta (Gianluca Bezzina - Tomorrow)
One of the most simple songs of this year. A young and charming guy on a guitar describing the life of an IT-guy who falls in love with a spontaneous girl that totally throws his life upside down in a style that reminds me a lot of Jason Mraz. Probably the song is too simple to win the contest, but it should be able to finish in the top 10.
2. Finland (Krista Siegfrids - Marry Me)
I realize that not all of you may enjoy this Avril Lavigne-clone, but for me she has that something special. Krista is a very fierce and energetic rock'n roll chick, though I'm afraid that due to her enthusiasm her live performance will not be as good as the video clip. I won't judge her on that expectation though: I like the energy of this song, so she's my number 2 in the contest.
1. Switzerland (Takasa - You And Me)
When I first heard that Switzerland was going to be represented at Eurovision by 6 soldiers of the "Heilsarmee" (Salvation Army), including a bass player that will be 95 years old, I thought that this would be another crazy low-quality song. When I first heard it however, it turned out to be a very nice pop tune. After listening to it a couple of times more it actually became my favorite song in the entire contest.
The fact that they are my favorite doesn't have to mean anything though: in the past 5 years Switzerland was among my top 5 favorites 4 times, but they only qualified for the final once: in 2011 they finished at the last place in the final with only 12 points.
However, if a couple of Russian grandmothers could finish second in last year's contest, then why can't a band with a 95-years old bass player win this year's edition? If all older people in Europe vote for Switzerland they will win for sure.
So the main message of this blog post is:
Elderly of Europe, unite, and help Switzerland win the Eurovision Song Contest of 2013!
Many people don't understand why people actually like Eurovision so much. They all complain about how their own entries are always horrible and never do well in the contest. That may be true: this year the Netherlands also sent in a very bad song to Eurovision that is certainly not good enough to finish in the top 10 and although critics are positive about the Dutch chances to reach the final I wouldn't be so sure. It's going to be a close call.
Anyway, my point was that there will always be bad songs at the Eurovision Song Contest. And this doesn't necessarily have to be so bad. You can laugh at funny events that are happening during the show (Greece will make a great show with an old man playing a traditional guitar while being surrounded by younger men who are wearing kilts), ask your friends to close their eyes and make them guess if the Romanian singer is male or female, start considering to donate new clothes to the chubby Israeli singer because her current dress seems to be a bit old and is way too tight or be amazed at how one young man from Azerbaijan can sound like a boyband all alone.
And actually there are some very acceptable songs in the contest as well. Here is my top 5, starting with number 5:
5. Denmark (Emmelie De Forest - Only Teardrops)
Denmark is the top favorite among bookmakers, together with Norway, which will not even reach the final if you ask me. The song has everything: a pretty girl singing it with a good voice, a flute-solo to help the voters remember the song and also a good musical composition. Besides this, Emmelie has many roots in other countries, which generally helps a lot in gaining extra points. We'll see if the bookmakers were right in predicting Denmark as a winner next week.
4. Belarus (Alyona Lanskaya - Solayoh)
Belarus didn't bother to send in a very original song this year: just a catchy song that is easy to dance to and sing along. This could be a huge hit that is played at clubs close to sunny beaches all summer long, but I doubt whether it's enough to win Eurovision this year.
3. Malta (Gianluca Bezzina - Tomorrow)
One of the most simple songs of this year. A young and charming guy on a guitar describing the life of an IT-guy who falls in love with a spontaneous girl that totally throws his life upside down in a style that reminds me a lot of Jason Mraz. Probably the song is too simple to win the contest, but it should be able to finish in the top 10.
2. Finland (Krista Siegfrids - Marry Me)
I realize that not all of you may enjoy this Avril Lavigne-clone, but for me she has that something special. Krista is a very fierce and energetic rock'n roll chick, though I'm afraid that due to her enthusiasm her live performance will not be as good as the video clip. I won't judge her on that expectation though: I like the energy of this song, so she's my number 2 in the contest.
1. Switzerland (Takasa - You And Me)
When I first heard that Switzerland was going to be represented at Eurovision by 6 soldiers of the "Heilsarmee" (Salvation Army), including a bass player that will be 95 years old, I thought that this would be another crazy low-quality song. When I first heard it however, it turned out to be a very nice pop tune. After listening to it a couple of times more it actually became my favorite song in the entire contest.
The fact that they are my favorite doesn't have to mean anything though: in the past 5 years Switzerland was among my top 5 favorites 4 times, but they only qualified for the final once: in 2011 they finished at the last place in the final with only 12 points.
However, if a couple of Russian grandmothers could finish second in last year's contest, then why can't a band with a 95-years old bass player win this year's edition? If all older people in Europe vote for Switzerland they will win for sure.
So the main message of this blog post is:
Elderly of Europe, unite, and help Switzerland win the Eurovision Song Contest of 2013!
You should make another one soon! It is perfect idea to have a song contest like that :)
BeantwoordenVerwijderen