(no subject)

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

Having listened again to official, CD-quality versions of all 42 (!) Eurovision entries, my impression is that this is by some distance the worst Eurovision in the last 10 years, maybe even the worst edition of the modern pop Eurovision. My favourite song this year would probably only have been about fourth last year and wouldn't even have made my top 10 in a banner year like 2003.

12: The Ark - The Worrying Kind (Sweden)
10: Koldun - Work Your Magic (Belarus)
8: Serebro - Song No. 1 (Russia)

Nobody else on the planet will like the Belarussian entry but I think it's bloody great. It probably won't even get to the finals. There are dozens of Ark songs better than "The Worrying Kind", of course, the number of which is probably similar to the number of Eurovision 2007 songs that "The Worrying Kind" is better than.

At this stage, the other points from the Jury of Edwardistan would go to Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Moldova, Armenia, Slovenia and Netherlands but that might change a lot.

Favourites, predictions, poptimists. I predict Russia will win this time.

Comments

[getbacknow.livejournal.com]

I haven't listened to all of them, but I adore "Vampires Are Alive," which is Switzerland's (?) entry by DJ Bobo.

[getbacknow.livejournal.com]

link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-dDxp8Cez0)

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Isarael's entry is plain awesome - sounds like Gogol Bordello, has the zeitgeist power of Frankie Goes To Hollywood at their peak, and generally rules.
Then The (ever-excellent) Ark, then Switzerland.

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

I HATE the Swiss and Israeli entries. Oh god, I'm so out of step with Europe, they're probably going to both do really well.

[thedruproject.livejournal.com]

I love Israel's entry, too. It's just absolutely fun and slightly ridiculous :P which is what I think Eurovision is supposed to be.

I can't help but admit love for the Belarus entry, though /shame shame/.

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

absolutely fun and slightly ridiculous

See, I disagree about the "slightly ridiculous". I don't think it's necessary at all, but since a lot of the most fun entries which are also great pop songs also tend to have an aspect of the ridiculous to them, a lot of bad entries ham up and play up the silliness which means that you notice that rather than anything else.

"Push The Button" i think is very much like the Lithuanian entry last year in that it's one idea that would have made for a cute 90 second novelty song but seems very thin and somewhat annoying when it goes longer. Also, constipated chorus (see also the Andorran entry which is v. guilty of this).

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

Actually, this has inspired me to have a semi-The-Ark-Appreciation-Mania week. Bloody hell this band, when they're good, are astonishing. I nearly had that dancing with tears in my eyes just listening to "Calleth You Cometh I" just now.

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

Great song - I'd forgotten that one!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I watched about 3/4s of the entries on youtube several weeks ago (http://katstevens.livejournal.com/488686.html) and can't quite remember how they all went, but Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland are all great.

Worryingly the only one apart from Vampires Are Alive that I could hum you right now is Scooch.

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

Ukraine is indeed brilliant, and could do surprisingly well I reckon.

The other one I love is Romania, although I'm yet to see anyone agree with me on that one. The novelty of singing in multiple languages should help it, and the fact that it speedss up throughout gives it the kind of momentum that should help it work well live.

[koganbot]

Just listened to the Ukraine and thought it needed at least one more chord change.

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

I think it's quite mad enough even without the extra chord change. And the staging should certainly help it stand out. Here's the video:

http://video.oboz.ua/movie.php?dmM9MSZpZD0yODAy#target=blank

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I try not to see/hear any of the entries before the shows! I am a purist.

I made an exception for the Israeli one (or rather an exception was made for me: my colleague discovered it and played it loudly in the office). I thought it was good too: the chorus is the only thing I can remember from it, well, and the general impression.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

yes, i've only heard vampires are alive for similar reasons (although i havne't heard scootch either which seems a bit wrong. this is what happens when the only radio i listen to is xfm for 25 minutes in the morning i guess...)

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

I'd be quite disappointed to see Serebro win this year, considering how actual Russian pop acts in past years (Tatu, Alsou, Dima Bilan) with much better entries have failed to win, and all the political significance that will be assigned to a "group" manufactured specifically for Eurovision singing something stupid even by local standards.

I also think real-world politics will probably be working against Russia. (Estonia virtually guaranteed to give 1 point; Estonia's chances will be slim as well.)

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

I too am this year largely waiting until the semis to hear the songs. (Contrast with last year, when I bought the CD before the contest.)

Have heard to date: The Ark (grebt), DJ Bobo (overrated, but not bad), "Push the Button" (OK) and predict that all three will be top 6 finishers.

My other prediction: Scooch will do almost as badly as Jemini.

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

ooo, you're right, that Georgian one is pretty good, isn't it? Very atmospheric. I still don't hold out much hope for it though, unless it has some spectacular performance gimmicks to make people sit up and take notice.