passionpop | Entries tagged with eurovision

You're viewing

passionpop's journal
Create a Dreamwidth Account Learn More

Reload page in style: light

Selection: Pabandom iš naujo! 2021
Wins: 0
2020: The Roop – On Fire
2021: The Roop – Discoteque

Current bookmakers: 8th

Watch on YouTube

The Roop, as a name, comes from an archaic English word that means ‘to shout’. When The Roop attempted to go to Eurovision in 2018, it was rather Pitchy, which could be a homage to the name. Hopefully at Eurovision 2021 they choose to sing rather than shout.

It appears in the 2021 national selection performance/official video that lead singer, Vaidotas Valiukevičius, split his fly on his high waist pants, which is a risk of being a harry high pants. He would have confidence though because he was singing a stronger song than the song The Roop won Pabandom iš naujo! 2020 with. Both Songs feature Vaidotas Valiukevičius showing off how much control he has over his fingers. Yes, you can do ‘Live Long and Prosper’, that’s nice.

It is safe to say that Lithuania will get more points than they did in their first Eurovision, which was all the way back in 1994. After finishing with 0 points, which was a bit harsh, it took 5 years for Lithuania to return the Eurovision, and we are glad they did…

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 0
2020: Tornike Kipiani - Take Me as I Am
2021: Tornike Kipiani – You

Current bookmakers: 39th (Last)

Watch on YouTube

Tornike Kipiani was selected to represent Georgia in 2020 after winning Georgina idol. He has also Georgian X Factor in 2014 and tried to go to Eurovision for Georgia in 2017 but finished third-last with something that could have been in the 1990s happy hardcore scene, if it was good. He doesn’t appear to be confined to any genre and thankfully he has got better since 2017.

This years song starts off sounding like a lullaby whereas last year’s song was completely the opposite, instead of putting you to sleep, it would wake you up. Tornike’s vocals last year sound a little like The Offspring. There as almost nothing in the song last year but it was out there an in your face. Being batshit boring doesn’t mean you cannot win Eurovision; Arcade was a snore for the most part and it carried home the Eurovision to The Netherlands.

Georgia only started appearing in Eurovision in 2007 and they are still trying to find a winning performance. 2015 was not a bad song and the singer was good, but there was nothing in the presentation. We will see what Georgia gives us this year.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins:0
2020: Sandro - Running
2021: Elena Tsagrinou – El Diablo

Current Bookmakers: 9th

Watch on YouTube

Elena Tsagrinou is singing one of no less than 3 songs written by Jimmy "Joker" Thornfeldt for this year’s Eurovision and one of two in the first Semi. It is controversial with the Orthodox Christians in Cyprus though because the song screams ‘I love El Diablo’. I don't get why any Christians would have issues with that, the devil is their creation after-all...

This song sounds like 3 songs squashed together, which is possibly better than last year’s selected Eurovision entry which sounded like 2 songs squashed together. 2020 would have given us a more standard song, this year at least is threaded together in an interesting way and it could be an interesting performance. It could also be a mess.

Like many Cypriot entries, Elena is from Greece and famous in Cyprus from her Greek fame. When sending Greek singers though, Cyprus usually gets more points if Greece is actually competing in Eurovision. Even when they are there they are not guaranteed to give Cyprus top points. 1989 saw Greece give Cyprus 7 points.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 2 (1966, 2014)
2020: Vincent Bueno- Alive
2021: Vincent Bueno - Amen

Current Bookmakers: 26th

Watch on YouTube

Vincent Bueno won Musical! Die Show in Austria and splits his career between Austria and his parents’ native country, the Philippines. In Austria, 35 year old Vincent does a lot of musical theatre, but he has released 4 albums. Does he have Sex appeal? No.

Though his dad was the lead singer in a rock band, Vincent is more R&B than rock, and this is shown heavily in the song he was due to send to Eurovision in 2020. That song was very Jamiroquai, whereas this year’s song is more of a Eurovision ballad. The 2020 song would probably have performed better. This year’s song sounds like at least 15 other songs that have been to Eurovision in the last 20 years.

In two Eurovision songs Vincent has not got through the dictionary past the letter A. If 1977 is an example, he can skip B if he gets another chance at Eurovision.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 5 (1967, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1997)
2020: James Newman – My Last Breath
2021: James Newman - Embers

Current Bookmakers: 23rd

Watch on YouTube

James Newman is a brit-award winning songwriter who has written a few number one songs in the UK and even had his vocals featured on a #1 song. I hope he is not the lyricist because if Embers is an example, 14 year old me assembled better word combinations in last minute desperation to complete English assignments. Particularly that second verse.

This song will probably fair better than last years song would have. Embers is more upbeat and possibly a little less lame than the chorus of My Last Breath. Everything else about My Last Breath is quite listenable and could be featured on a TV show. The UK has to have an outstanding song to do well at Eurovision though and neither of these songs is outstanding.

Once upon a time anything the UK sent to Eurovision would finish top ten, but then in 1959 there was only 11 countries and the song the UK sent was happy and cheery enough to not finish last.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Festivali i Këngës
Wins: 0
2020: Arilena Ara -Shaj
2021: Anxhela Peristeri - Karma

Current Bookmakers: 39th (Last)

Watch on YouTube

Anxhela Peristeri is an Albanian singer and model of Greek descent who has competed in a number of singing competitions in Albania as well as X Factor Greece, though Wikipedia does not verify this point from her bio. Her bio also says Anxhela tried to represent Albania in 2001, but Albania were not in Eurovision until 2004. I trust Wikipedia more than her bio.

Festivali i Këngës is a pre-existing competition based on Italy’s Sanremo Song contest. It started in 1962 and since 2004 it has been used to determine Albania’s Eurovision representative. Anxhela competed unsuccessfully in 2001 and won the 2020 edition which sent her to Eurovision 2021. As Festivali i Këngës is in late December, the winner goes on to the following years Eurovision. Though many countries are choosing to send their representative who should have gone to Eurovision last year, it is possibly a good choice for Albania not to do that.

This years song starts off interesting, but then becomes a normal ethno-pop song. That start might be enough to get it up a little, but it is not interesting enough to match Albania’s best result from 2012. I love Suus.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal/HaShir HaBa L'Eurovizion
Wins: 4 (1978, 1979, 1998, 2018)
2020: Eden Alene - Feker Libi
2021: Eden Alene – Set Me Free

Current Bookmakers:17th

Watch on YouTube

Eden Alene won X Factor in 2017 and went on to be the lead singer of the Israel Defence Forces band before competing in HaShir HaBa L'Eurovizion in 2020. She is the first person to win HaShir HaBa L'Eurovizion and X Factor. She can sing which is more than one can expect form some singing show winners

Both the 2020 and 2021 songs have a 90s beat behind them. This year’s is a little Jamiroquai, so 70’s/90s, whereas 2020 was early 90s dance. There is appeal in both the songs and they fit in with Eurovision giving us the song of the summer. Both of these songs are better than the shit that won for Eurovision for Israel in 2018, but maybe they are too lounge bar for a Eurovision audience. Set Me Free will perform well though, both on stage and in the final results.

Eden likes wearing white for her Eurovision songs. In 1986 Israel wore so much white it looked like a tacky wedding, and it also kinda sounded like one. This deserved all its 7 points.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2021
Wins:3 (1963, 2000, 2013)
2020: Ben & Tan - Yes
2021: Fyr & Flamme - Øve os på hinanden

Current Bookmakers: 27th

Watch on YouTube

Fyr & Flamme have given us a taste of the 1980s that is not surprising from Eurovision because it is often a long way behind the trends, but it is a little horrifying. It is not that they stole Sweden’s jacket from Eurovision 1985, It is that they have taken Wham, rolled them over and slapped them stupid with all the worse music from Flashdance. The song apparently translates to “Practice on each other” and is very tongue in cheek.

After last year’s Dansk Melodi Grand Prix gave us Ben & Tan, Denmark obviously saw 2021 as an opportunity to reset and find something that might win. They didn’t. Ben & Tan won more convincingly in 2020 and with recent Eurovision history that probably would have given them a strong result. Danes were less convinced with Fyr & Flamme with them being more marginal winners in 2021. Who needs the cost of hosting Eurovision anyway.

In the actual 1980s Denmark sent Hot Eyes to Eurovision thrice. The third time was in 1988 and saw them finish 3rd, which was their best result and Denmark’s equal best result between their wins in 1963 and 2000. If they had the Barbara Dex award for worst dressed in the 1980s, this would be up there.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins:0
2020: Ana Soklič – Voda
2021: Ana Soklič - Amen

Current Bookmakers: 38th

Watch on YouTube

Ana Soklič was 27 when her time on the first season of X Factor Slovenia (2012) ended with her elimination. Though she had a career under the name of Dionna Dim (sometimes Dimm) for about 8 years before her X Factor appearance, This was one her early appearances as Ana Soklič, and she has continued performing under her birth name since.

In 2020 Anna won EMA 2020 with a powerballad. The main differences between 2020 and 2021 are that this year Ana is singing in English in and in her presentation video she has removed half the drapes from her outfit. 2020 both sides were covered in white drapes and 2021 it is only her left side covered. Will she return to full drapes for Eurovision though? Who cares

Ana apparently sung Sweet Child o Mine on X Factor and I think her voice is more suited to rock, but Eurovision loves a ballad and Slovenia loves giving them to Eurovision. This from 1999

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins:0
2020: Natalia Gordienko – Poison
2021: Natalia Gordienko - Sugar

Current Bookmakers:17th

Watch on YouTube

Natalia Gordienko went to Eurovision in 2006 with Arsenium and Connect-R. Loca which was not a stellar moment in Natalia’s career. She was probably the reason that song got most of its 22 points. It is good that that song did not end her career.

This year’s song is just fun and trashy which is completely different form the 80s power ballad that Natalia won the Finala națională 2020 with. Both songs were written with Dimitris Kontopoulos and Philipp Kirkorov, the later known for representing Russia in Eurovision in 1995 and writing Belarus’ 2007 entry. They are both very different and I don’t think Sugar would have won a national selection. It is fun though and I hope it does well.

Though not the highest finishing song from Moldova, 2010 gave us their most legendary entry. Finishing 10th was epic sax guy and… and some other stuff…

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 2 (2004, 2016)
2020: Go_A – Solovey (Соловей)
2021: Go_A - Shum (Шум)

Current Bookmakers: 16th

Watch on YouTube

GO_A are and Electro-folk outfit who are about a ‘return to roots’, and describe that as the definition behind the name. The lead singer, Kateryna Pavlenko, appears to be channeling Trinity from The Matrix films, but that doesn’t detract from what they are doing.

After winning Vidbir 2020, GO_A was due to go to Eurovision 2020 before it was cancelled. They were announced as the representative for 2021 and three songs were put to a jury to choose from. They chose the one that started with a car alarm. Ukraine like to go in with the most offensive noise possible, it is what won them Eurovision in 2016

I have never been a fan of Ukraine’s Eurovision entries, but despite my disdain, they make it to the final every year. Other than their winning in 2016, I hated 2007 most, but everyone else seemed to love it.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 0
2020: Victoria – Tears Getting Sober
2021: Victoria – Growing Up is Getting Old

Current Bookmakers: 5th

Watch on YouTube

Victoria is an animal lover and Earth Hour Ambassador who entered X-factor Bulgaria in 2015 and came 6th. Though has an interesting tone to her voice and it is understandable why she has been popular, I don’t understand the fuss about this song. It is top 5 with the bookmakers and it is good, but possibly not that good.

This song marks the first time since before Bulgaria returned to Eurovision in 2016 that Symphonics have not been involved in the writing and production of the Bulgarian song. Even the song Victoria was due to take to Eurovision last year was written by Symphonics. Symphonics gave Bulgaria their best result at Eurovision in 2017, and though Bulgaria didn’t go to Israel in 2019, all Symphonics songs that Bulgaria has taken to Eurovision, other than the first song in 2011, have made the final. They give Bulgaria their best songs and arguably last year’s song with Symphonics is better than this year’s without. Why not stick with the good thing?

The only non-Symphonics song not make the final for Bulgaria was Water back in 2005. It is a lot different to the Symphonics songs.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 0
2020: Roxen – Alcohol You
2021: Roxen – Amnesia

Current Bookmakers:14th

Watch on YouTube

Roxen it apparently very popular in Romania and has been compared with Billie Eilish stylistically. Though she has not released an album she has had two number 1 singles in Romania and her music is generally quite listenable. Nothing standout, but listenable.

In 2020 Roxen competed in Selecția Națională in Romania and won both the jury and the televote with Alcohol You. Amnesia was internally selected and it similar to Alcohol You, but probably better and more performable. I see a Loreen type performance for Amnesia. This should do well at Eurovision.

In recent years Romania has sent some good and interesting songs. Recently they have been great. In 2000 they sent Taxi.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 1 (2000)
2020: Samanta Tīna – Still Breathing
2021: Samanta Tīna – The Moon is Rising

Current Bookmakers: 32nd

Watch on YouTube

Samanta Tīna has made a video for Eurovision that was filmed entirely on a camera phone, apparently a Samsung S21 5g. It is a slick vid and better quality than many filmed videos in the past. It is amazing how far technology has improved.

After 5 attempts to go to Eurovision for Latvia and a further 2 for neighbour Lithuania, Samanta Tīna finally won the national selection, Supernova, in 2020 only for the Eurovision to be cancelled. Persistence paid off however and Samanta Tīna was internally selected for Latvia for 2020. The 2021 song is nowhere near as good as the 2020 so, and that song was not that good. There are a couple good hooks that are good for samples, but not got singalongs and neither song received or deserved any cut through.

Out of 20 appearances at Eurovision Latvia has only seen the final 10 times, and 4 of those final appearances were before the Semi was formally introduced and in 2006 they were in the final because they finished in the top 10 the year before. It was 100% better than this year’s song.

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal/ Destino Eurovisión 2021
Wins: 2 (1968, 1969)
2020: Blas Cantó – Universo
2021: Blas Cantó - Voy a quedarme

Current Bookmakers: 35th

Watch on YouTube

Blas Cantó has tried to get to both Junior Eurovision as a solo artist and Eurovision as part of a boyband in the past and failed to get past the national selection. It took an internal selection to get Blas to Eurovision. Spain probably needed a competitive selection.

Blas was internally selected in 2020 with the song Universo to represent Spain. When the even was cancelled. In 2020 the public were given the choice of two songs for Blas to perform. "Memoria" has a messy structure in the first verse but was probably the better song over all compared all three options. The only thing Blas has going for him is that he is pretty, other than that the songs are all just well worn pop songs.

Though prettier than the 1963 Spanish entry, if the bookmakers are correct Blas wont fare much better. José Guardiola finished 5th last, with a 4 way tie for last. Blas could do worse.

<

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 1 (2007)
2020: Hurricane - Hasta la vista

2021: Hurricane - Loco Loco

Current Bookmakers: 21st

Watch on YouTube

Hurricane are made up of previous Eurovision contestant Sanja Vučić (Serbia 2016), Eurovision backing singer Ksenija Knežević (Montenegro 2015), and dancer Ivana Nikolić. Will this be a winning Eurovision combination? In a word, no.

In 2020 the usual national selection Beovizija was used to select Hurricane’s song Hasta La Vista, and it was a shame the event was cancelled because we needed another Hasta La Vista, after Belarus in 2008 and Ukraine in 2003. After the cancellation Hurricane were given the opportunity to come up with a better song for 2021. It is fair to say they didn’t. with such a low bar you wouldn’t think it would be a hard task but it seems it was,

This is the first trio Serbia has sent to Eurovision since 2013. That was also the year that Serbia had their lowest score on record. They did come out with a win though, of the Barbara Dex award for worst dressed at Eurovision

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Melodi Grand Prix
Wins: 3 (1985, 1995, 2009)
2020: Ulrikke – Attention
2021: Tix – Fallen Angel

Current Bookmakers: 9th

Watch on YouTube

Tix got his name from his Tourette’s that cause his involuntary tics. Tourette’s has not stopped his success as a singer, songwriter and producer. He has even co-produced a song with Flo Rida, giving Flo Rida two connections to this years contest (after working with San Marino’s song). Maybe Flo Rida should perform at Eurovision next year.

This years song from Norway is a vast improvement on last years intended contender for the Eurovision crown. Melodi Grand Prix tends to attract a lot of pop, which both songs are, but this year’s Backstreet Boys/Take That mash song is not annoying like Attention was.

It is hard to hate ‘Fallen Angel’, but it is Norway and inexplicably they finish last almost 3 times as much as they win. 1974 deserved more than 3 points, surely…

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 1 (2005)
2020: Stefania – Supergirl
2021: Stefania – Last dance

Current bookmakers: 11th

Watch on YouTube

Stefania was part of a girl group in Junior Eurovision in 2016 representing the Netherlands. Now she is going to the Netherlands representing her country of birth, Greece, as a solo artist. That’s about as interesting as Stefania gets.

After last years event was cancelled, Stefania, who was internally selected to represent Greece with Supergirl, was announced as being the country’s 2021 artist. Both are poppy, dancey little numbers but the 2021 song is an improvement on 2020. Even without the Pegasus (which is the best part of the 2021 video, nay, the best part of the song) 2021 would be better than 2020.

This year’s song sounds a little 80s, so here is something from 1987. Really the only difference between the two songs is the hair…

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Internal
Wins: 0
2020: Montaigne – Don’t break me
2021: Montaigne – Technicolour

Current bookmakers:23rd

Watch on YouTube

Montaigne is the second child of an international soccer (or if you prefer, football) player after Malta’s Destiny. Montaigne also played soccer and listening to this song she should have stuck with it.

Last year Montaigne won a national selection (Australia Decides) to represent Australia and after the event was cancelled, she was announced as the 2021 entry. In 2020 she had the best combined song and performance of the Australia Decides, even if her make-up was a bit WTF. This year the make-up is better but the song is WTF. Where the early announcement of the 2021 representative has benefited some countries, Montaigne appears to have forgotten she was going to Eurovision and like a high school student who has forgotten an assignment that is due, has slapped together something in the middle of the night. Suffice to say, this won't win.

There is something Australia should have done, besides having another national selection. We could have done nothing and provided the Sound of Silence…

Watch on YouTube

Selection: Sanremo
Wins: 2 (1964, 1990)
2020: Diodato- Fai rumore
2021: Måneskin - Zitti e buoni

Current Bookmakers: 4th

Watch on YouTube

Måneskin, who have one Danish member and are named after the Danish word for Moonshine, won San Remo earning them the option to be the Eurovision entry for Italy. The Winner of San Remo has the option to decline to go to Eurovision, which happened most recently in 2016 when Stadio won Sanremo, but declined due to prior commitments so second place Francesca Michielin went to Eurovision instead.

Sanremo does a final of all the songs in contention and then does a Superfinal of the top three. This year Måneskin can second in the final, but received over 50% of the televote to win them the Superfinal. Fai rumore, he song that would have gone to Eurovision last year lots the Televote but won both the final and the Superfinal with a more traditional Sanemo winner than this years Måneskin. This years is definitely better.

Eurovision 1967 featured one of the Sanremo winning artists, but not the other and not the song. There were rumours that the mafia were involved in jury rigging at Sanremo that year but, who can say they were and who can say they weren’t.

Watch on YouTube

Profile

passionpop

May 2024

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

Syndicate

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Style: Lettuce for Crossroads by branchandroot
Resources: P r o l o g u e

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags

Page generated Jul. 26th, 2025 12:35 am

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios