Eurovision '07!

[King Riffle]

The music videos are up!

www.eurovision.tv

Click on "Media Centre"

Ukraine has a particularly... interesting entry.

Who do you want to win this year?

[t-rex]

Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and the UK have traditional fielded the most consistently good entries in Eurovision. The entrant's have been getting pathetic over the years. Ireland's entry I found to be the best of the lot, but I'd say DJ Bobo has the best shot at this year's prize. After last year's winners, though, nothing will surprise me.

[tomprice]

It'd be nice for Germany to win - I really like that song, and it's a genuinely good one, not just a cheesy brown coloured one like we have..

'Would you like something to suck on for landing sir?'

D'OH!!!

[t-rex]

Some old Eurovision winners popped into my head:

Dana, Cliff Richard, ABBA, Bucks Fizz, Massiel...

[King Riffle]

Originally Posted by t-rex

Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and the UK have traditional fielded the most consistently good entries in Eurovision. The entrant's have been getting pathetic over the years. Ireland's entry I found to be the best of the lot, but I'd say DJ Bobo has the best shot at this year's prize. After last year's winners, though, nothing will surprise me.

What? You didn't like "Hard Rock Hallelujah"? I liked it (the non-live version anyway).

I do agree with you on your prediction of this years winner.

[powervette]

King Rifle, there is only one member responsible for Euro Vision threads here. I hope he will react soon...
BTW, that whole Eurovision is the biggest **** on earth.

[King Riffle]

Originally Posted by powervette

King Rifle, there is only one member responsible for Euro Vision threads here. I hope he will react soon...
BTW, that whole Eurovision is the biggest **** on earth.

Who? Bravada? I don't think he posts much anymore. He went to go help out wikipedia or something like that.

Yes, I started a thread about Eurovision. I happen to enjoy it too. So what's the problem?

[powervette]

there's no problem, I just get very annoyed when I hear Eurovision, relax and continue your topic

[King Riffle]

Originally Posted by powervette

there's no problem, I just get very annoyed when I hear Eurovision, relax and continue your topic

I don't suppose you have a favorite this year?

[tomprice]

Bravada's certainly here - I think his last post was when the 500 debuted though. He left WP due to some godforesaken copyright issue I think, so he's back here.

I think he might be excited to know that people on GMi were discussing Eurovision though...

[Bravada]

Will post in a moment - but, King Riffle, is that a Zwinger you have there?

PS. While the songs are loading, a few words:

1. I have left quietly, but couldn't resist, so you'll see me posting around sometime

2. I have a rather busy schedule now, so not only can't I devote that much time to GMI, but even to the ESC, so thanks a lot King Riffle for the thread and one friendly member for the heads-up

[Bravada]

I have a day off today, so I am just going to do a quick catch-up by going through all the songs and I will give you my quick take on each (I know you were longing for it ):

Albania

I thought the lady had received a healthy dose of testosterone until I've realized I've fiddled with my sound settings before... (take two) Doesn't look very Albanian, rather Czech - a nice mature Czech lady in the mold of Vondrackova... Here comes the guy, he does look Albanian, and he looks SCARY! But boy, can he howl!

So, it's a typical Balkan ballad with some overtones of Iberic tango/paso doble (how did those come about?), combined with a rather lousy Albanian Tourist Board ad and a fashion disaster... This would bode well with televoters, but given that Albania is not that popular with other Balkan countries and the Albanian immigrants not as numerous accross Europe, I guess it would be yet another poor score for Europe's poor man...

(The songs take too long to load here, I think I need to switch to another computer, so that's it for now...)

Albania's last good entry was actually their first one in 2004, with Anjeeza Shahini - a girl that might not be Miss World, but is rather talented vocally, and the song was full of intricate hooks that helped her show it. The English lyrics weren't that completely meaningless either, and the tempo was there. Check it out on YouTube if you have the time!


Andorra

Can you think of a better name for a band representing the least known participating country than "Anonymous"? Andorra is also perhaps one of the most underrated entrants, they have consitently had really good entries. This year it's not a stoned girl, Dutch hotelier or a girthy Cataln grace, but actually a rock boyband! Given that the number of people in the entire country is lower than the population of some shopping malls at times, they might actually be the band that accompanied Maria Roure in 2004 (do see her clip too on YouTube, one of the best songs in recent years).

Again, a really great entry from our fellows, and it's in Catalan (partly) as usual! And, as usual, they'll get some lousy 3 points from Spain as a consolation and end up last. Shame!

[King Riffle]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Will post in a moment - but, King Riffle, is that a Zwinger you have there?

PS. While the songs are loading, a few words:

1. I have left quietly, but couldn't resist, so you'll see me posting around sometime

2. I have a rather busy schedule now, so not only can't I devote that much time to GMI, but even to the ESC, so thanks a lot King Riffle for the thread and one friendly member for the heads-up

No Prob.

So, I'm curious, what do you think of Ukraine's entry? Interesting, eh?


After finally getting a chance to sit down and listen to each and every video, I've decided that Bulgaria's entry is my favourite. I'm not quite sure why, but I really like it. It sounds very unique. If you know of any other songs like it, please direct me to them.

I still think Switzerland will win.


1000!

[Bravada]

ZAP!

Eurovision is just round the corner, so time to revive the topic. I admit I haven't had time to listen to all the songs yet, so here I go with a quick roundup of the remaining ones (for Albania and Andorra see above).

Armenia
Armenia debuted last year sending a singer who obviously couldn't sing (not like "couldn't sing very well" but like "at all") and looked rather so-so, presenting a show of throwing himself frantically around the stage - and came in the top ten! This shows how powerful the Armenian minorities around Europe are!

OK, that year it is a guy looking like an early-retired 1990s *** porn star - I must say he doesn't look like he tried to keep himself fit and trim following the retirement, and mande zero attempt at refreshing his wardrobe since the early 1990s. I can say nothing of his singing qualities, as only a studio recording is provided, and the song is not that demanding, consisting of Eastern-style howling. It is really boring and I realized that although it is in English I didn't manage to focus myself enough to remember what it was about.

Forgettable, but has good chance of scoring solidly thanks to the abovemntioned Armenian minorities.


Austria

Austria has been trying to figure out what it takes to make it, sending a variety of acts throughout the years, including even Karel Gott at one time and a woman dressed in an aerobic costume and a football helmet another... This year, it's an Eastern-looking guy singing a modern rock song, which is nothing special, but then kinda enjoyable.

The lyrics seem a tad uninspired (the title is "Get alive - get a life"), and there is a huge red ribbon in the background, suggesting perhaps that the song might have something to do with AIDS or other STDs. I'd guess it's either intended to be an "awareness" song and cash in on its "goodiness", or perhaps the singer is "positive" and they are going for sympathy votes (Germany once sent a blind singer - I mean blind, not deaf - but it didn't go as well as planned in the voting).

Overall - a not bad attempt by the Austrians, might do well with the "contemporary" voters, and if the guy is Turkish, it's a 12 from Germany.



Bleah, I have to dash off again... I will come back to it if I will have the time, until then I recommend you all to see the songs on www.eurovision.tv, and of course don't forget to tune in on Thursday for the semi and Saturday for the final!

Just a quick summary - this year's entries I like (a very small group, seems like everybody's confused and this might be one of the worst Eurovisions):

1. Sweden (as usual)
2. Belgium (funky!)
3. Andorra
4. France (surprisingly!)

Ukraine is perhaps the best of the "unserious" entries so far (perhaps save for Silvia Night last year, but she was a bit too "serious" to be considered "unserious" by some), and I guess it might stand a good chance!

[TaHoE]

Wow! The Maltese Girl is gonna be cute: