Eurovision 2013: How Euphoric!

[Ziggy]

Natalia Kelly makes my skin crawl. It's just such a safe, unimaginative, cookie-cutter dull song. But yeah it'll surely win.

Bandaloop's "Back to Fantasy" is a fun electropop track but Jesus Christ her live vocals are just atrocious.

My favourite song out of the 5 but the worst live performance by far.

[Roxanne]

The last one was so bad! But it wasn't boring. I always root for whatever is the least boring.

[Ziggy]

Ok so here how I would rank them:

1. Elija "Give Me A Sign"
2. Yela "Feels Like Home"
3. Falco Luneau "Rise Above The Night"
4. Bandaloop "Back in Time"
5. Natalia Kelly "Shine"

Shame the Bandaloop singer can't sing and that the performance didn't have more pizzaz.

Elija was my favourite by far, even with the botched Euphoria. ;P

Solid track, performed really well.

[Ziggy]

Oh come on I waited through the loooong ad and news break to see results and now they have taken the live broadcast offline.

[Ziggy]

In news that will surprise absolutely nobody, Natalia Kelly was chosen to represent Austria at Eurovision winning by a massive landslide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKpqQplDVP0

Full results:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria...g_Contest_2013

I'm really surprised that Elija only came 4th with very low scores from both the jury and the televote.

In other news, I was very surprised to read that Slovenia's Hannah has composed the music and lyrics herself.

Coming back to Germany, Saint Lu's "Craving" was a very decent entry (it came 4th):
http://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/saintlu125.html

I am looking through the German results now and some interesting tidbits:
- "Nackert" won the online radio vote, came second in the televote but third from last in the jury vote (2nd overall)
- "Heart on the Line" won the jury vote, came middle of the pack in the televote but dead last in the online radio vote (6th overall)
- "Glorious" won easily getting 2nd place in online radio vote, 3rd in jury vote and winning the televote

[Zokko!]

I am looking through the German results now and some interesting tidbits:
- "Nackert" won the online radio vote, came second in the televote but third from last in the jury vote (2nd overall)
- "Heart on the Line" won the jury vote, came middle of the pack in the televote but dead last in the online radio vote (6th overall)
- "Glorious" won easily getting 2nd place in online radio vote, 3rd in jury vote and winning the televote

I know ... I'm not a fan, but I still would've preferred "Nackert", the-Moldavian-entry-without-Granny-beating-the-drum-and-this-time-coming-from-Germany-(at-all!), becoming last, than this ... I won't repeat myself ... becoming Top Ten ...! I'm aware I'm acting like a big, fat , but still, I cannot believe how this could happen ...

[Ziggy]

I know ... I'm not a fan, but I still would've preferred "Nackert", the-Moldavian-entry-without-Granny-beating-the-drum-and-this-time-coming-from-Germany-(at-all!), becoming last, than this ... I won't repeat myself ... becoming Top Ten ...! I'm aware I'm acting like a big, fat , but still, I cannot believe how this could happening ...

Well it's Eurovision.

Next to some of the other entries, "Glorious" will seem sophisticated.

[victoriaheidi]

This is my least favorite of the Austrian entries in the three years I've been following (and that's saying something--last year was the Trackshittaz! ).

[allezfred]

Marco Mengoni for Italy.

[shah]

this will represent Latvia this year
it seems no final for Latvia again...

[Roxanne]

I just checked and the last time Latvia made it out of the semi-final was with Wolves of the Sea Maybe they need to send something ridiculous like that again?

Anyway, I didn't expect this to qualify for Estonia's final. What if it wins?

[Ziggy]

Melodifestivalen - Semi-Final 3, Skellefteå

Here's the non geo-blocked link where you can watch the whole show for free. I recommend that you do because Melodifestivalen is awesome.
http://www.svtplay.se/video/1013537/16-2-20-00

So after the fiasco of the first semi, the second and third one were really slick. Danny became more comfortable and read much less from cue cards.

I loved the "Italy, why do you hate us so much?" theme throughout.

(As very minor quibble, it's a shame that they now name the composers as Music/Text together and not seperately any more.)

We'll know for sure when votes are revealed but it seems to me that this semi was the closest fought so far with no obvious frontrunners and a similar level of most of the entries.

1. Eddie Razzaz "Alibi"

Incredibly handsome... and that's it. Can't sing, can't dance. Generic, forgettable disco track. It was fun though and you can imagine having a dance to it in a club.

2.Elin Peterson "Island"

She wrote the track herself (AUTHENTICITY KLAXON). Shame it was shit. Dull, tepid pop rock mid-tempo about loving a boy, of course.

3.Ravaillacs "En riktig javla schlager"

Some old dudes who previously won Melodifestivalen singing a crappy schlager. Unbelievably, embarrassingly bad. It was like watching a Christmas performance in a nursing home.

4.Amanda Fondell "Dumb"

Trying way too hard to have a "rock" husky voice. It sounded comical. Really terrible delivery with audible breathing throughout. The song was like a Pink B-side.

5.Martin Rolinski "In And Out Of Love"

A fabulous euro trash mid-tempo, presented well with dancers in glass cubes, throwing paint at the wals (I kid you not ).

His falsetto is awesome.

He has such an angelic face, the shorter hair and a bit of stubble to balance that out were definitely a good idea.

6.Caroline af Ugglas "Hon har inte"

She has a good voice but that was way too overwrought and OTT from start to finish.

7. State of Drama "Falling"

Boring tinkly verses, very catchy generic power ballad choruses. American "rock" band sounding. This can become a very big hit, really radio friendly.

That guy in 80s bad perm killed me. Who on earth thinks that it's a good look in 2013?

8.Janet Leon "Heartstrings"

Really amateurish vocals. You could hear her breathing throughout. There's potential there, her voice is quite powerful but she really needs to work on it. A fun dance track.

That's how I would rank them:

To the final:
1. Martin Rolinski "In And Out Of Love"
2. Eddie Razzaz "Alibi"

To Andra Chansen:
3. Janet Leon "Heartstrings"
4. State of Drama "Falling"

To the trash heap:
5. Elin Peterson "Island"
6. Caroline af Ugglas "Hon har inte"
7. Amanda Fondell "Dumb"
8. Ravaillacs "En riktig javla schlager"

I'd be fine with any of my top 4 making the final but the other 4 were quite awful.

My predictions regarding how the votes would actually turn out were:

State of Drama and Janet Leon to the final.

Caroline af Ugglas and Eddie Razzaz to Andra Chansen.

I only got two out of four.

I was ok with Peterson and Fondell being out but when I saw "En riktig javla schlager" going through to the second stage, I almost threw my laptop out of the window. Seriously every responsible Swede should have hidden the phones from their parents and grandparents.

I wonder how close Eddie Razzaz was to 5th place (he placed 6th).

Caroline af Ugglas and Martin Rolinski went through to Andra Chansen.

State of Drama (that was a safe bet) and Ravaillacs (WHYYYYYYYY?!!!) went through to the final.

Now I am terrified Ravaillacs might win the whole thing...

[Ziggy]

Marco Mengoni for Italy.

He's not only been selected as the Italian entry, he also won the 2013 San Remo festival.

His song will be revealed at a later date but here's his winning song:

Marco Mengoni "L'essenziale"

A bit boring and generic, IMO. Something I'd expect at San Remo. He's incredibly hot, though.

this will represent Latvia this year
it seems no final for Latvia again...

Jesus Christ. This sounds like a cheap wedding band. Incredibad.

Anyway, I didn't expect this to qualify for Estonia's final. What if it wins?

I sure hope that it does!

We need more punk performance art at Eurovision. It would place last but it'd be a Eurovision legend to stand the test of time. ^^

[Ziggy]

Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankulov's three songs have been revealed.

They are all terrible and whichever wins, it definitely won't achieve Voda's legendary status.

Dzupai Libe Boso (feat. Skiller & Jahmmi) - a ridiculous mix of dancified Bulgarian folk and ska/dancehall
Kismet - wailing
Samo Shampioni - we are the champions, blah blah blah, this will win most likely (is most tolerable as well)

Meh.

[Roxanne]

I like the first one the best. I guess I have terrible taste. The last one is okay. Better than most of the Eurovision entries so far.

[Ziggy]

The first one is quite amusing. I just find the juxtaposition of the two styles really random and jarring. I'd be ok with it winning too.

Anything but Kismet, please. ^^

We had enough of crap Lori Nichol choreographed Kismets in skating.

[Evilynn]

Evilynn, if YOHIO wins, I will top myself. Pretty much every single song that has qualified to the final so far is more fun, better or both.

*whistling innocently*

Now I am terrified Ravaillacs might win the whole thing...

No, I did not accidentally set up an SMS gateway to get the Old Geezer song to go to the final just so Ziggy would join the YOHIO train.

[Ziggy]

Watching the Greek final now on eurovision.tv. A lot of money was spent on this!

Greek singers are singing duets with Ruslana, Alexander Rybak and Dima Bilan to start with.

[Roxanne]

If Greece picks the last song, it will be my favorite entry so far. But I think One Last Kiss or Alcohol Is Free will win

[Ziggy]

If Greece picks the last song, it will be my favorite entry so far. But I think One Last Kiss or Alcohol Is Free will win

I think "Alcohol is Free" has it in the bag.

But I agree. Aggeliki Illiadi (spelling? ) is fabulous and would be my favourite entry so far also, if chosen.

A powerful, dramatic, ethno off-kilter banger that really stands out.