passionpop: (putting my foot in it)

So Eurovision is done and dusted for another year, except for people watching the prime time repeat tonight in Australian (which I wont watch because I cannot stand Australia's hosts)  and we have a winner, and what a result

First to the semi's

The bottom end of semi 1 looked like:

9: Belgium - 119
10: Norway - 115
11: Croatia -110
12: Romania - 85
13: Slovenia - 44
14: Australia - 28
15: North Macedonia -23
16: Ireland -20

Between 8th and 9th there was 15 points so this was the clear point where anything below it that made it was only making up the numbers

If it was based on the Jury only, Norway and Azerbaijan would have missed out and Croatia and Romania would have been in. if it was based on the public only Croatia would have been in and Belgium out. Croatia was at 10th with the jury and 9th with the public so when everything was added up, they just dropped out. Hard luck story really. a better outfit would have given them the 5 extra votes to make the final. 

The winner of Semi one was Malta who came first with the Jury and second with the public (Ukraine won with the public and Russia second with the jury)


The bottom end of Semi 2 had a more a clear line between the qualifiers and the maybes and even the maybes and the contenders. Between 7 and 8 there was 55 points difference and 23 points between 10 and 11

8: Serbia -124
9: San Marino - 118
10: Albania -112
11: Denmark - 89
12: Austria - 66
13: Estonia -58
14: Poland - 35
15:Czech republic -23
16: Georgia - 16
17: Latvia - 14

The only doughnut in the semis belonged to the Czech Republic who got 0 points from the televote. 

The jury got the same 10 countries through, but if this was based on public voting only the Albania would have missed out to Demark

The winner of this semi, Swizerland was also the overall Jury winner in the final. The won the Jury in the semi, but came third behing Finland (1) and Iceland (2) with the public.

The final



the Jury. 

Jury winner: 

The top 5 were

1: Switzerland - 267
2: France - 248
3: Malta - 208
4: Italy - 206
5: Iceland.- 198

The juries are usually make up of about 5 music experts so each of their votes carries a lot of weight. they usually go for more artsy stuff that is more technical. They also vote on an earlier performance than the public does. It was not a surprised that the two more gentle and artistic songs topped the jury with 19 points between them. The difference between 5th and 6th was over 50 points leaving Bulgaria a bit behind the pace

The jury is a double edged sword though. If one of the Jurors doesn't like your Song, you can end up with 0 points from that jury. Both France and Switzerland for 8 lots of 12 points from the juries so 96 points out of each of their scores came from 8 countries each. the other 150+ points came from up to 31 other countries. that's an average of 5 points each 

One Doughnut was 'awarded' but the jury. The United Kingdom got a big fat 0 from the jury

Public results

Public Winner:

The top 5 were:

1: Italy - 318
2: Ukraine -267
3: France - 251
4:Finland - 218
5:Iceland -180
 

Though France did well (and Switzerland finished 6th on 165 points), the public overwhelmingly endorsed Italy, but they only got 5 lots of 12 points from the public which was equal to Serbia, Lithuania and the Ukraine. this means they averaged over 7 points from the remaining countries. and this is how you win Eurovision, from being linked more than being loved. 

Four countries got 0 from the televote, which shocked the audience. These were the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and the UK. The UKs Zero was announced first because the results of the televote when from the lowest in the jury to the highest. The crowd was in shock. James Newman though is a hero and a trooper. He stood up and rallied the crowd to cheers, spilling his Heineken in the process, but his stoic performance received one of the biggest cheers of the night. He lost the event with a double doughnut, but he won everyone's hearts. 

There was a lot of shock at the low votes from the public to both jury favoured and non-favoured countries. The high votes came in though. Finland  went from 11th Briefly to first/ Then Ukraine's Votes were announced taking them up from 9th to 1st. A few rounds later Iceland's votes were announced putting them above Ukraine. After Iceland Italy was announced and they jumped almost 150 points above Iceland taking a lions share of the remaining votes and leaving nothing to give to the Juries top three. The audience was shocked with the public gave Malta 27 points but this meant there was a possibility someone could still overtake Italy. This was all over when France received 251 points from the public leaving them 25 points below Italy and leaving only 165 points to give the Switzerland.  

And so, Covid permitting we will be in Italy in 2022. Lets rock out to Måneskin one more time

 

passionpop: (completely)

*** This post has spoilers for the Australian Audiences who are not catching Eurovision live and instead are watching the repeats this weekend ***

We now have 16 finalists for Eurovision 2021, The big 5 (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Uk), last Eurovisions winner (The Netherlands) plus ten from the first semi (Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Cyprus, Norway, Belgium, Israel, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Malta), but this is not about who is in, but who is out.

The event itself appears to have some technical difficulties which I hope will be fixed by the next semi. a number of acts had echoes and other sound issues probably owing to the fact that the stadium was not full. with the corona limit on spectators and the greenroom being right in front of the stage, there was nothing to dampen the returning sound and it was catching in the mic's Usually if an act experiences technical difficulties they can repeat their performance, but everyone had them, so do we repeat all of the Semi, no.
So the exiting acts


Slovenia.

Powerful vocal, average song. the echo appeared obvious on TV but not on the clip. No one knew when it had ended but were probably thankful that it had.



Australia

 

I am ashamed that we sent this to Eurovision. Not shocked it didn't make the final

North Macedonia

I caught Vagisil... Vasil, in a clip for a Eurovision quiz and he came across as a bit of a tragic. He might be a good singer, but this song was wank and almost everyone was glad to see it go
 

 

Ireland

This never sounded like it deserved to qualify and for the ears of Europe it is great that it didn't. I am sure they clean up the audio on these clips before putting them on youtube. This sounded worse at 3.30am

 

Croatia

I think this song failed to qualify for the attire more than the song. 1960s Z grade Sci-Fi film outfits are not for Eurovision. 

 

Romania

Going in this was one of the more interesting songs, though it sounded a little Billie Eilish. The vocals were messy. shame really

 

 

passionpop: (subliminal)
Lithuania –  (rehearsal) The Roop had a bit of a following for the 2020 song, but has been falling away over the last few months. It is a cute routine

Slovenia –  (rehearsal) Has really never looked like a chance. Though the odd have improved since the release of the version with Perpetuum Jazzile, it has never looked like making the final

Russia – (rehearsal) odds are that this should make the final, Russia does usually do that. It will be a fun performance.

Sweden – (rehearsal) This has been slipping back with the book-makers and it is definitely not the best song Sweden has sent to Eurovision

Australia (Live on Tape) – (rehearsal) The Jury will usually give us points but the live on tape will probably mean less votes.

North Macedonia –  (rehearsal) Yeah Vasil can sing, but the song is wank. Every time I hear his name I think it should be a brand of vaginal cream

Ireland – (rehearsal)  the performance has some interesting and affordable aspects. Ireland will not host Eurovision in the foreseeable future

Cyprus -  (rehearsal) this has come up better in rehearsal than expected and the bookmakers have responded.

Norway –  (rehearsal) This has fallen away since rehearsal, possibly because the performance is not too different to the performance in Melodi Grand Prix 2021. shame

Croatia – (rehearsal) this has had a good following throughout and has picked up with the bookmakers despite that outfit. It is seriously WTF

Belgium –  (rehearsal) has fallen away since rehearsals probably because the performance reinforces that this song is just background music.

Israel – (rehearsal) this little Mariah Carey has been fairly stable with the bookmakers the last month. The only thing that could hurt this song is politics

Romania –  (rehearsal) this has been falling away a bit since rehearsals and costume is a bit poo. Still one of the better songs this semi

Azerbaijan – (rehearsal) Effendi will possibly qualify though this is not a great song.

Ukraine – (rehearsal) Go_A hurt my ears but I can see the appeal. Kateryna was too sick to perform the second rehearsal but it has not hurt the odds

Malta – (rehearsal) Falling since rehearsals. There was a lot of criticism about the outfit in the first rehearsal which was changed in the second and this song has gone from first to third with the bookmakers

Bookmakers Qualifiers: Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Cyprus, Norway, Croatia, Israel, Romania, Ukraine, Malta

My predicted qualifiers: Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Cyprus, Norway, Croatia, Israel, Romania, Ukraine, Malta

Yes I agree with the bookmakers, though with Cyprus’ improvement, and Croatia’s shit costume, there is a lot of potential for Croatia to lose votes and perhaps Belgium will replace them.
passionpop: (putting my foot in it)
Selection: Internal Selection
Wins: 1 (1986)
2020: Hooverphonic – Release Me 
2021: Hooverphonic – The Wrong Place

Current bookmakers



Hooverphonic have been around for over 20 years with various lead singers, but for Eurovision 2021 we see the return of their longest serving lead-singer Geike Arnaert. If you have watched the TV shows Mile High, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, La Femme Nikita, or The Last Summer Films, you may have heard Hooverphonic and never noticed. They are very much background sounds

The lyrics in both songs have a continuity, a flow that adds to the rhythm of the song. Both songs belong as background songs as you approach the cliff hanger in an episode of a TV show, not surprising as that where a lot of their songs end up, but neither Release me nor The Wong place is better than the other, if you like one you will like both. They are listenable but very much background music and both are probably too wordy for the feel of the songs. More instrumental. Actually an instrumental of either would be worth a listen.

Theis years song is the regret over a moment of passion. In 1984 Belgium went in with a lot of passion. Passion and gusto. The song was a snore, but it was sung with gusto.

passionpop: (sweet and innocent)
Selection: Evrovidenie 2021 – National'nyy Otbo
Wins: 1 (2009)
2020: Little Big – Uno 
2021: Manizha – Russian Woman Русская женщина

Current bookmakers: 14th



Manizha was born in Tajikistan and her father discouraged her from pursuing music because he didn’t believe it was a suitable choice for a muslim woman. She also is involved with Domestic violence campaigns and supports the LGBT community, even though this support cost her about 10000 subscribers on her Instagram channel.

Little Big would have been one of the craziest fun acts to go to Eurovision. It is a shame they didn’t get to perform Uno. Though a song by a satirical group would have been good, Russian Woman has its own power and has stirred up its own controversy with one Orthordox Women’s group in Russia saying the lyrics incite “hatred towards men, which undermines the foundations of a traditional family”. Maybe this is contrived controversy to get more votes and some consider this song a dark horse to win. Is it better than The Little Big? Maybe. Both are good Eurovision contenders though.

Russia started going to Eurovision in 1994 and beside the second in 2000, it really took until 2003 for Russia to understand what was needed to be successful at Eurovision. In 2002 they sent a ‘boy bad’ that sounded like they were from Eurovision satire Eurobeat.


passionpop: (Default)
Selection: Internal
Wins: 1 (2011)
2020: Efendi – Cleopatra 
2021: Efendi – Mata Hari

Current bookmakers: 19th (down since first rehearsal) 



Efendi was a bit of a child prodigy a soloist with the Children’s Philharmonic from a very young age. In adulthood she has tried to find success through various competitions and has never won. According to her Eurovision bio, it took 5 attempts before Efendi won the opportunity to represent Azerbaijan, however seeing Azerbaijan often uses internal selections, only her attempts in 2014, 2020, and this year were public.

It makes sense sending Mata Hari to the Netherlands seeing that was where she was from. Both songs are comparisons to women known for their sensuality and both mention Cleopatra. Cleopatra starts off as possibly the better song but goes a but stupid. Mata Hari is probably the better song overall but neither is a winning song.

Even though this year’s song is not a winner, it should qualify for the final. Azerbaijan always makes the final except in 2018 when it just missed the cut off and finished 11th. Surprising seeing worse songs make it to the final.

passionpop: (putting my foot in it)
Selection: Internal
Wins: Enough (1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996)
2020: Lesley Roy – Story of my life 
2021: Lesley Roy - Maps

Current bookmakers: 23



Lesley Roy is a singer/songwriter who’s biography says she is prolific. In 13 years she has released 1 album and 6 further singles, and been a contributing writer in 10 other songs of note. She must have a hidden body of work somewhere but it cannot be found on her official Eurovision bio or her Wikipedia page. Maybe someone should update that for her.

Maps sounds very Sheppard. Parts of it are almost directly lifted from “Coming home”. Both Lesley’s 2020 and 2021 grate in their lyrics. The words don’t fit into the bars of the song. This is common in pop songs. Both are middle of the range Eurovision songs and the only thing to look forward to are the dance moves lifted directly from Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett.

Having terrible moves won’t stop other countries voting for a song in Eurovision. It was probably a different time but 1979 but that’s not a side strut, that is a dad-dance.

passionpop: (sweet and innocent)
Selection: Pabandom iš naujo! 2021
Wins: 0
2020: The Roop – On Fire 
2021: The Roop – Discoteque

Current bookmakers: 8th



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…

passionpop: (Default)
Selection: Internal
Wins:0
2020: Sandro - Running
2021: Elena Tsagrinou – El Diablo

Current Bookmakers: 9th



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.

passionpop: (Default)
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



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.

passionpop: (my ass)
Selection: Internal
Wins:0
2020: Ana Soklič – Voda 
2021: Ana Soklič - Amen

Current Bookmakers: 38th



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

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

Current Bookmakers: 16th 



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.

passionpop: (putting my foot in it)
Selection: Internal
Wins: 0
2020: Roxen – Alcohol You 
2021: Roxen – Amnesia

Current Bookmakers:14th



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.

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

Current Bookmakers: 9th



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…


passionpop: (completely)
Selection: Internal
Wins: 0
2020: Montaigne – Don’t break me
2021: Montaigne – Technicolour

Current bookmakers:23rd



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…


passionpop: (completely)
Malta
Selection: Internal
Wins: 0
2020: Destiny – All My Love 
2021: Destiny – Je Me Casse

Current Bookmakers: 1




Destiny is hot favourite to win Eurovision and if she did she would be the first person to win both Eurovision and Junior Eurovision, which she won in 2015. Though this song should be up there, I keep hearing Moldova’s 2012 Eurovision song in the chorus

After being a backing vocalist at Eurovision in 2019 Destiny was due to go to Eurovision 2020. She was selected in 2020 after winning X-Factor Malta. After the event was cancelled Destiny was announced as being the Maltese entry from 2021. Malta always tried to put something good on stage and last year’s song could have been up there if the event went ahead. This year’s song is probably marginally better, but it is a matter of taste.

From someone who came to Eurovision’s attention as a little child to a song about a little child from 1992. Destiny was minus 10 when this song was performed.


 
passionpop: (beer and tits)
Selection: Internal
Wins: 0
2020: Vasil – You 
2021: Vasil – Here I stand

Current bookmakers:




*clip has been shorted by 35 seconds to remove pretentious wank.

Vasil has given us a Disney song and plausibly a toilet break. With his long history of live performance, there is no doubt he can sing it, but the song is a snore and his last years attempted entry was much better.

Despite being internally selected to represent North Macedonia in both 2020 and 2021, the country almost withdrew Vasil after seeing the finalized video for the song. The original video contained what appeared to be a Bulgarian flag, and that is a massive political faux pa. Then it came out that Vasil has Bulgarian citizenship. All this started two weeks before their entry had to be finalised and unfortunately, the North Macedonian broadcaster decided to go ahead with Vasil’s entry. If nothing else, even with the political tension between the two countries it will probably mean 12 points from Bulgaria.

Less controversial was the 2004. It wasn’t very good, it was just less controversial…


 
passionpop: (subliminal)
Selection: Dora
Wins: 0
2020: Damir Kedžo -Divlji vjetre
2021: Albina Tick-Tock

Current Bookmakers: 20th




Albina’s song has been co-written by Branimir Mihaljević who has tried to go to Eurovision himself as a singer a couple times before turning his talents to writing Eurovision songs. He co-penned Feminnem’s 2010 Eurovision entry “Lako je sve", which failed to make the final. Early popularity implies this song will fair better.

The national selection has faced some controversy with allegations that fans were not able to vote for some songs and a blacklist of artists that were in Dora, but never going to win. This after last years selected winner won in a tie-break by winning the televote. It could just be coincidence that the jury got the right winner this year though.

Fate could have been different. If Mihaljević won Dora in 1998 with Daj Daj (no chance), he may still think of himself of more of a singer. Alas he came third to this. Wait for the classic coming out of the darkness into the light transition.

passionpop: (putting my foot in it)

Selection: Melodifestivalen
Wins: 6 (1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015)
2020: The Mamas - Move
2021: Tusse -Voices

Current Bookmakers 6th



Tusse is a talent show graduate who has some Swedish writing power behind this song. The song writers have written popular singers like Akon, but mainly for other Eurovision stars. The writers are also involved in another song this Eurovision. but that is the cross-pollination of Eurovision

Tusse came up against The Mamas in the semi, who after being the backing singers in 2019 were hot favourites in 2020 and won Melodifestivalen before Eurovision was cancelled. This year their song was not really much different to their 2020 Melodifestivalen entry, which probably played against them leaving them to finish third in 2021. Tusse's song is probably better for a big stadium performance. I just can't bring myself to care for the song. 

Among the other competitors this years Melodifestivalen contestants were two time Eurovision contestant who won in 1999 Charlotte Perrelli (Nilsson), 2011's Eric Saade, and these guys. 

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