passionpop: (sweet and innocent)
Artist: Alika
Song: Bridges
Currently with bookmakers: 24th (50/1-500/1)
Place 2022: 23rd in the final
Wins: 1 2001


Alika won Eesti otsib superstaari (Estonia is Searching for a Superstar) in 2001 which lead to popularity in Estonia and her win at Eesti Laul 2023 which resulted in her going to Eurovision. She teamed up with Wouter Hardy who co-wrote Eurovision winner Arcade to write this years entry. 2023 is a year filled with Eurovision royalty and this is just another example.

Bridges is another Eurovision song this year that sounds like everything released in the last 30 years. it also sounds like an advert for car tyres. Though Alika was an amazing voice, the lyrics of this song are had to connect with. It appears to be about having wronged others and not so much people apologetic or repentant, but more about building 'bridges' over the mistakes. It is less emotional and more of a song about excusing oneself from being a person. Many will find this hard to connect to despite the awesome vocal. Such a Shame. 

From working with Eurovision Royalty to being Eurovision royalty. Maarja-Liis Ilus represented Estonia at Eurovision twice before she was 17. She might not have won but she is a goddess with hair bigger than the rest of her, and what is more Eurovision than hair. 
 


 
passionpop: (putting my foot in it)
Most Wins: Estonia 1 (Cyprus 0) 
Most Entries Cyprus 37 (Estonia 26)
Bookies favourite: Estonia 200/1 (Cyprus 250/1)


Stefan came to Estonia's attention when he was about 12 when he reached the final of children's talent show Laulukarussell and has since won The Masked singer (Maskis Laulja), and this years Eesti Laul on his 4th attempt. Andromache went to The Voice of Greece in 2015 and was knocked out in the first round of Live shows. in 2017 she worked with famous Cypriot singer/songwriter Giorgos Papadopoulos which lead to some success.

Stefan is sending spaghetti western dance music to Eurovision, which is surprisingly listenable. Andromache has giving us a song with middle-eastern, Balkan, Spanish, and pop tones. It is so pop that it sounds like it wants to break out into a rap, but fortunately does not. 

In the end these are both in the very competitive second semi which could leave some very good songs missing out. Andromache's is good, but Stefan is catchy. 

This round goes to Estonia
 

 

passionpop: (completely)
Selection: Eesti Laul 2021
Wins: 1 (2001)
2020: Uku Suviste - What Love Is 
2021: Uku Suviste - The Lucky One

Current bookmakers: 24th 



Uku Suviste was a bit of a child prodigy who attended a specialised music school from the age of 6, and after his military service performed as part of various groups and also as a solo artist. He pursued success at Eesti Laul in 2017 and failed to make the final, he then went to Russia to star in The Voice and made the Semi final. He Came back to Eesti Laul in 2019 and finished second before finally winning in 2020 and 2021. Persistence pays off.

Both the 2020 and 2021 songs are produced by Eurovision powerhouse Dimitris Kontopoulos, who has never won a Eurovision, but as come second a few times. The Lucky One sounds like it could have come out of Sweden and is the better pop song, but What Love is from 2020 is technically a better song. It is probably a good think that 2020 was cancelled because What Love Is could have tripped him up. The Lucky One is a simpler song to sing

With that this is the last song to go through for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. After a break in 2020 it is Amazing to be back.

passionpop: (sweet and innocent)
Poland - 0 wins
Tulia - "Fire of Love (Pali się)"

Verses

Estonia - 1 win
Victor Crone - "Storm"




Polish folk that borders on J-pop verses an Estonian song that sounds like Avicii meets Mumford &Sons. Sadly they did not meet in a burning building, if they had we would not have had Stig Rästa's third Estonian Eurovision entry in five years. 



These songs may not be to Everybody's taste, or anybody's, but someone liked them which is how they are going to Eurovision. Both have their nuances, Poland being the second time in recent years they have sent more traditional dress, and Estonia managing to rhyme 'this' with... 'this'. 

Neither of these songs may be great, but at least one of them is interesting. I am going Poland. 
passionpop: (subliminal)
Appearances: 23
Wins: 1
Selection method: National final Eesti Laul with Superfinal decider
Vote: Public and Jury in final, public selection only in Superfinal.
Winner: Elina Nechayeva
Song: La Forza



Forza was once just a car racing game. La Forza is an Australasian vocal group as well as a Eurovision song and although the song is currently second favourite with the bookies, it is popera. Popera is so 1990s

Popera appears at Eurovision quite regularly. Neighbour Latvia tried it in 2007 and finished 16th. Finishing 15th in the same year was Slovenia, who tried popera again in 2009 and failed to make the final. Romania fared better in 2013 finishing 13th. In 2015 Italy were ripped off finishing 3rd with Grande Amore, which as clearly the song of the night. La Forza sits somewhere between Romania in 2013 and Italy in 2015, though the use of the dress as a canvas is pretty, if not a little 2013.

So Estonia is sending the Sopranos or at least a song written by two sopranos even it if only features one, one that has bathed in glitter. This was the obvious choice to send as it creamed the competition in the national final, but it probably won’t do as well as the bookies expect.

The canvas dress is much better than Estonia’s first Eurovision outfit form 1994. The only good think about that was that the earrings matched the buttons… Accessorising level Estonia!


passionpop: (sweet and innocent)
Estonia
Semi Final 2
Artist: Koit Toome and Laura
Song: Verona
Odds: $41

Word of the day
Just teile - Just for you
Especially...



Like the play this song refers to, this song is a tragedy. It is better than rapeface from last year, but that doesn’t say much. This year’s Entry could almost be a Stock Aitken Waterman and in parts the male vocal even sounds a bit Jason Donovan. Tragic.

Not one but two repeat offenders are representing Estonia in 2017. Koit Toome represented Estonia in 1998 and Laura Põldvere in 2005 as part of Suntribe. The songwriter is also a repeat offender having been a writer on Suntribe’s 2005 entry as well as Estonia’s entries in 2009 and 2011. Sven Lõhmus songs have not got better over the years. Some would say they have gone downhill since 2009.

Laura has been desperate to return to Eurovision, taking part in the national selections (Eurolaul and then Eesti Laul) 3 times as a solo artist. She also released a compilation album of all her singles from both her albums. When your record company does that it is usually because they are desperate to make some money out of your nearly non-existent career.

Koit was only 19 when he first went to Eurovision in 1998 and finished 12th. He probably wont reach those lofty heights this year.

passionpop: (completely)
Estonia
Previous entries: 21
Wins: 1 2001 Tanel Padar/Dave Benton/2XL – Everybody
First Entry: 1994 Silvi Vrait - Nagu merelaine
Most Recent Entry: 2015 Elina Born & Stig Rästa – Goodbye to yesterday
National Anthem: Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm

2016



Jüri Pootsmann – Play

The highlight of this song is that the singer has “Poo” in his name, which is appropriate because that’s about what I think of the song. It is poo, but then out of the options in the national final it had to be poo. The song that was second was such a middle of the road standard Eurovision song and the one that was third featured a singer that couldn’t sing so Poo it is.

Since winning The Idol like “Eesti otsib superstaari” (Estonia is Searching for a Superstar) Juri has been touted as the most exciting singer in Estonia, or so the promo blurb says. He even won the best male artist at the 2015 Estonian Music Awards. I think he is a bit pitchy in the verses. If he is the best then Estonia is in a poor state.

This song was co-written by the writer and performer of last year’s Eurovision entry from Estonia and you can hear the similarity. I am into recycling and I think there should be more of it, but recycling elements of the Eurovision song you wrote last year and putting them into this years song is not doing anything for the environment.

Just because the song is average doesn’t mean it cannot do well. Estonia came 6th in 1999

passionpop: (dead)
Estonia
Population: 1 313 271
Area: 45 228 km2
Language: Estonian
Eurovision Attendances: 20
Eurovision wins: 1 (2001)



Elina Born & Stig Rästa - Goodbye to Yesterday

I understand why this is a favourite this year. It was 4th with the bookmakers prior to rehearsals, but it is the one I would put my money on. I think it has what got what The Common Linnets had last year which got them to second, but it has it in spades. It also has the darkness Norway is trying to achieve this year, but better. I think one issue for this song winning is that Mørland & Debrah Scarlett may take some votes from them. My message to Europe is FORGET NORWAY.

There is something a little Nick Cave about this song. I think that if ‘Where the Wild roses Grow’ had been a Kylie song more than a Nick Cave song, I think it would sound like ‘Goodbye to Yesterday’. I keep hearing elements of ‘Red Right Hand’ in it. Maybe that is just me.

Elina Born is a talent™ show graduate, but I will forgive her this once only because I think it has all the other elements right. This deserved to win the national selection (Eesti Laul) and so long as they get the performance right on the night (which it doesn't so far but that may be improved with lighting and stuff), this could win.

I think this is the "Diamond of Night" for 2015. The end.

passionpop: (dead)

Yesterday I was saying that Estonia would be the winner of this years Eurovision (my blog about this song will be posted in the next few days). I just saw the rehearsal clip for the Estonian act and I no longer think they are a winner. the staging is shit.

I would have staged it with a bed in the centre of the stage and Elina singing from that and Stig should have been standing at 45 degrees from it and her. the bed should have burn turned 45 degrees during the song. it should finish with them on either side of the stage (Elina having got up off the bed) with their shoulders to each other and each of them singing the last line looking at the audience over their shoulder.

Goodbye to Yesterday.

passionpop: (sweet and innocent)

so the first semi is a few days away and the rehearsals are progressing nicely. this is the running order of the first semi. SPOILER WARNING: this has links to rehearsal clips and comments on the rehearsals.

full list of Eurovision semi 1 participants )

so I think Hungary and Estonia have the best performance this semi and the Netherlands and Moldova are auto non-qualifiers

passionpop: (southpark)
Estonia will appear in Eurovision for the 20th time in 2014. This year they are sending a Russian born starlet who has tried to her hand at competitions and festivals in Russia, the Ukraine, Latvia and Estonia. I think Estonia are targeting the former soviet vote...



Artist: Tanja
Song: Amazing

Wow, this is retro. It sounds like it could have come out in the mid 1990's, late 1990's at best. I am yet to decide if that is a good thing. It is performed well but, wow, so retro.

The bookies are not really rating this song and I can understand that seeing it is aimed at the wrong side of Europe. After watching the live performance, I wonder if she was miming because if she was able to really sing while doing those dance movements then that is Amazing. If that will be something like her performance on the night, she will do better than the bookies think.

This is better than Estonia's 2003 attempt at retro but I don't think retro will win Eurovision. It should qualify for the final.

So from something sounding like it was from the 90's to something that was actually from the 90's. This Maltese song is only Amazing in that it past a national selection. It was evident in 1999 that the ability to sing was not a prerequisite for entering Eurovision.

passionpop: (southpark)
Country: Estonia

History...
Debut: 1994
Previous Appearances: 18
Wins: 1 (2001 - Tanel Padar/Dave Benton/2XL 'Everybody')

2013...
Artist: Birgit
Song: Et Uus Saaks Alguse



Is she wearing a nighty? I think she is wearing a nighty. Look love, we know you are pregnant, but that's no excuse to go out on stage in a nighty. I wonder how pregnant she is and if she could give birth on the stage at Eurovision. Wouldn't be the messiest thing that’s been on the Eurovision stage in history if she did.

This is a well sung ballad and I care nothing for it. I am far more interested in the nighty and where I can get one just like it. Maybe it is an Estonian thing...

This song is quite rightly a long shot. It will possibly qualify but wont scare the favourites.

More ballads and sleep will come over me Nagu merelaine

passionpop: (subliminal)
Performer: Ott Lepland
Song: Kuula



This song has been touted at the new "I Will Always Love You', though I think it sounds more like Mariah Carey's version of 'Without You'. Awesome voice, good looking boy (if you can get past the beer belly and the receding hairline) but this song is going to need some amazing presentation to cut it. 

If he wasn't eye candy (that is like 10 years younger than me!), I would call this a toilet break song. For the 3 straight boys that watch Eurovision (in total), I am sure it will be, but will it win, that is the question?

I think the worst part of this song is when the female backing vocal kicks in. It ruins the intimacy of the ballad. You are getting sucked into the song and then she sings and it is like someone watching over your shoulder. When you are sitting there imagining all the ways to break the boy, thats just not something you want.

If you are going to sing in your native language, singing a ballad is the only proven way to win a modern Eurovision but when it comes to ballads in Eurovision, no one is bigger (literally) than Chiara. It also must be noted that this ballad is better than 1998, 'Mere Lapsed'




passionpop: (sweet and innocent)
Estonia:

Wins: 1
Eurovisions: 13
Eurovision Semi 2007: 22
Eurovision Final 2007: DNQ

2008:


Kreisiraadio - Leto Svet (Summer LIght)


 



Like the translation make any sense, but anyway. The original isn't really Estonian either, it is apparently from a tourist dictionary

This song is the worst song that has entered Eurovision since.... Verka Serduchka - the Ukrainian Dame Edna, last year. I am still scared of the guy who was humping the piano.... argh! It is awful, ear-bleeding rubbish and... well Verka came second last year so this might win. I mean since when has talent been a requirement to win Eurovision anyways.

 

Just like all but 5 of his years entries, this has to claw its way from a Semi, and I sincerely hope it doesn't, I dont think I could bare to see this twice over Eurovision weekend.

I have a soft spot for Estonia since Ruffus sung 'the eighties are coming back' in 2003, but I am learning to hate Tallinn and its surrounds, I really am.

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