Review & Analysis - Eurovision Semi 2
May. 28th, 2010 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shinydanSecond verse, same as the first - although I didn't think the standard in this one was up to much. Yet another f'n enormous
LITHUANIA - Inculto - Eastern European Funk
Air instruments! And appalling trousers. Five Guys Named Moe, anybody? This is terrible, but in that appealing EV way. Deeply naff and lightweight but oh my word there go the trousers! Spangly boxer shorts, perfection itself. Nice harmonies, too.
6 points
ARMENIA - Eva Rivas - Apricot Stone
Very pretty woman, and a very traditional EV ballad. Wait, what? Is Armenia known for its apricots? I think I'm missing something here. Can't see this getting anywhere, her voice isn't strong enough for the song, and the song's pretty lightweight to begin with. Ouch, and quite flat. Not for me.
3 points
ISRAEL - Harel Skaat - Milim
His air of excitement doesn't match the song at all. Decent voice, but there's something not quite right about it. He sounds autotuned. But he's singing live. How does that work? Technically excellent, therefore, but not enough punch about the song or singer for me. Might sneak in - if not, have another go in a few years.
6 points
DENMARK - Chanée and n'Evergreen - In A Moment Like This
It's Roxette! All the way down to the guy's jacket. And am I the only one to think of A-ha's "Take On Me" video when I look at the set? Decent enough song, reasonable singers, and oh my word the perfect key-change. Definite top 10 shout.
7 points
SWITZERLAND - Michael von der Heide - Il pleut de l'or
And now we have someone who hasn't grasped that you need to be able to sing to do this! What makes it worse is that I speak just enough French to know how banal the lyrics are, too. If you can tap the chanson tradition, then do it. Otherwise, stick to your national cliches.
3 points
SWEDEN - Anna Bergendahl - This Is My Life
Dwarfed by her guitar. Very quavery voice, very bad English lyrics. Even the crowd seems a little bored, waving their glowsticks like they were at a dull assembly. And the backing singers aren't any cop either. Yeuch.
4 points
AZERBAIJAN - Safura - Drip Drop
Solid R&B start, sounds a bit like Anastasia. A lot happier belting it out than being subtle and precise, but the song suits that. Would be even better if a big-name producer, a Timbaland or Farrell were to get hold of it. It'll qualify but I can't see it troubling the scorers on Saturday night.
6 points
UKRAINE - Alyosha - Sweet People
Blimey, she's naked! And that's a very interesting voice. Wow, nice range and very good control. Striking face, power in the voice as well, subtlety in the music allowing her to do all the work, very smart writing. Don't think there's a lot of depth to it but it'll pick up votes.
7 points
NETHERLANDS - Sieneke - Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)
Calliope music. It's 1972 all over again, and dear lord almighty I thought Ned Flanders syndrome was banned under the Geneva Convention? Shocking state of affairs, this, I'm wondering where Katie Boyle is to commentate. Damn silly set, too. The backstage crew must be praying this falls on its arse and everyone on stage is striving to make sure of it. Except. I can see this one squeaking through.
6 points
ROMANIA - Paula Seling & Ovi - Playing With Fire
Very Britney, excellent start. Paula's got a much stronger voice than La Spears, though, and it mixes very well with the other singers. Maybe the production's tighter than last night? In any case, this is exactly what EV is about these days. I like this a lot; nice fat bass, very nice outfits, best thing I've seen tonight. (Although there is the sense that the standard's a bit lower than on Tuesday.)
8 points
SLOVENIA - Ansambel Žlindra and Kalamari -Narodnozabavni Rock
...what on earth is this? Folk-rock hybrid, I suppose, but nothing that Jethro Tull would recognise. This is trying to do too much at once, and it's coming off as uncomfortably We Mean It Man in the process. Simply not a good enough song to do what the performers want to do with it. I could be wrong but I can't see this getting through.
5 points
IRELAND - Niamh Kavanagh - It's For You
Cute redhead. Nice voice, but we've heard better tonight. Aaaargh, here comes the Oirish Penny Whistle Begorrah! Yeesh. I suppose it's inoffensive enough stuff (unless you like _actual_ Irish music) and it's going to appeal to BoyzOne fans. Can't stand it myself but it's another top 10 contender. *shudder*
7 points
BULGARIA - Miro - Angel Si Ti
Lots of Angels this year, no? Strange-looking singer here, and I don't think the white leather look is doing him any favours. Ooo, second verse brings symphonic electropop! A bit Pet Shop Boys but without the self-awareness. This isn't bad at all, and the singer isn't all that strong but I don't think that counts for a lot. I quite like this one.
8 points
CYPRUS - Jon Lilygreen and The Islanders - Life Looks Better In Spring
Another singer-songwriter type! Not as good as yesterday's though. Boyish looks, and he's chewing his words the same way Ronan Keating does. Well executed modern Irish-style pop, this will saunter through with ease.
7 points
CROATIA - Feminnem - Lako je sve
Shades of Destiny's Child and that's all to the good. Taking a while to settle down, but the harmonies are nice. This hasn't gone anywhere useful, though. Nothing wrong with the act but I think they picked the wrong song. If they'de had the courage to go the whole R&B hog it might have been excellent. Still the nagging sense that tonight's a weaker line-up, so it might still crawl over the line.
6 points
GEORGIA - Sopho Nizharadze - Shine
Wow. Lovely voice, one of the best female vocals all night. Wouldn't necessarily chart in the UK but perfect for EV. A Shakira slow number. Pretty good, but I think it needs a - ah-ha! key change! Go on, give it some welly, that's the stuff. A very solid number, probably only worth a 7 last night but it's standing out tonight.
8 points
TURKEY- maNga - We Could Be the Same
Ooo, emo styling! Bit Nightwish, bit My Chemical Romance. Last song and finally my foot's tapping! Someone's been listening to Linkin Park, too, and I like it. Could perhaps use better, heavier production, but it's still good fun. And right on cue, the emo pause and crashing return! The last two songs have really stood out above the dross tonight.
8 points
PREDICTED QUALIFIERS (Actual qualifiers in bold)
Georgia, Romania, Turkey, Denmark, Cyprus, Ukraine, Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Azerbaijan
MISSED QUALIFIERS
Israel, Armenia
Hm. Convinced it was a weaker show tonight. Israel getting through was no shock, it was perm any two from them, the Azeris, the Croats and Lithuania. I couldn't take Armenia seriously but I was in the minority. I think I let my own tastes get in the way of my judgement again. Even so I'm pretty pleased - got 15 out of 20 qualifiers right and had a giggle along the way.
LITHUANIA - Inculto - Eastern European Funk
Air instruments! And appalling trousers. Five Guys Named Moe, anybody? This is terrible, but in that appealing EV way. Deeply naff and lightweight but oh my word there go the trousers! Spangly boxer shorts, perfection itself. Nice harmonies, too.
6 points
ARMENIA - Eva Rivas - Apricot Stone
Very pretty woman, and a very traditional EV ballad. Wait, what? Is Armenia known for its apricots? I think I'm missing something here. Can't see this getting anywhere, her voice isn't strong enough for the song, and the song's pretty lightweight to begin with. Ouch, and quite flat. Not for me.
3 points
ISRAEL - Harel Skaat - Milim
His air of excitement doesn't match the song at all. Decent voice, but there's something not quite right about it. He sounds autotuned. But he's singing live. How does that work? Technically excellent, therefore, but not enough punch about the song or singer for me. Might sneak in - if not, have another go in a few years.
6 points
DENMARK - Chanée and n'Evergreen - In A Moment Like This
It's Roxette! All the way down to the guy's jacket. And am I the only one to think of A-ha's "Take On Me" video when I look at the set? Decent enough song, reasonable singers, and oh my word the perfect key-change. Definite top 10 shout.
7 points
SWITZERLAND - Michael von der Heide - Il pleut de l'or
And now we have someone who hasn't grasped that you need to be able to sing to do this! What makes it worse is that I speak just enough French to know how banal the lyrics are, too. If you can tap the chanson tradition, then do it. Otherwise, stick to your national cliches.
3 points
SWEDEN - Anna Bergendahl - This Is My Life
Dwarfed by her guitar. Very quavery voice, very bad English lyrics. Even the crowd seems a little bored, waving their glowsticks like they were at a dull assembly. And the backing singers aren't any cop either. Yeuch.
4 points
AZERBAIJAN - Safura - Drip Drop
Solid R&B start, sounds a bit like Anastasia. A lot happier belting it out than being subtle and precise, but the song suits that. Would be even better if a big-name producer, a Timbaland or Farrell were to get hold of it. It'll qualify but I can't see it troubling the scorers on Saturday night.
6 points
UKRAINE - Alyosha - Sweet People
Blimey, she's naked! And that's a very interesting voice. Wow, nice range and very good control. Striking face, power in the voice as well, subtlety in the music allowing her to do all the work, very smart writing. Don't think there's a lot of depth to it but it'll pick up votes.
7 points
NETHERLANDS - Sieneke - Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)
Calliope music. It's 1972 all over again, and dear lord almighty I thought Ned Flanders syndrome was banned under the Geneva Convention? Shocking state of affairs, this, I'm wondering where Katie Boyle is to commentate. Damn silly set, too. The backstage crew must be praying this falls on its arse and everyone on stage is striving to make sure of it. Except. I can see this one squeaking through.
6 points
ROMANIA - Paula Seling & Ovi - Playing With Fire
Very Britney, excellent start. Paula's got a much stronger voice than La Spears, though, and it mixes very well with the other singers. Maybe the production's tighter than last night? In any case, this is exactly what EV is about these days. I like this a lot; nice fat bass, very nice outfits, best thing I've seen tonight. (Although there is the sense that the standard's a bit lower than on Tuesday.)
8 points
SLOVENIA - Ansambel Žlindra and Kalamari -Narodnozabavni Rock
...what on earth is this? Folk-rock hybrid, I suppose, but nothing that Jethro Tull would recognise. This is trying to do too much at once, and it's coming off as uncomfortably We Mean It Man in the process. Simply not a good enough song to do what the performers want to do with it. I could be wrong but I can't see this getting through.
5 points
IRELAND - Niamh Kavanagh - It's For You
Cute redhead. Nice voice, but we've heard better tonight. Aaaargh, here comes the Oirish Penny Whistle Begorrah! Yeesh. I suppose it's inoffensive enough stuff (unless you like _actual_ Irish music) and it's going to appeal to BoyzOne fans. Can't stand it myself but it's another top 10 contender. *shudder*
7 points
BULGARIA - Miro - Angel Si Ti
Lots of Angels this year, no? Strange-looking singer here, and I don't think the white leather look is doing him any favours. Ooo, second verse brings symphonic electropop! A bit Pet Shop Boys but without the self-awareness. This isn't bad at all, and the singer isn't all that strong but I don't think that counts for a lot. I quite like this one.
8 points
CYPRUS - Jon Lilygreen and The Islanders - Life Looks Better In Spring
Another singer-songwriter type! Not as good as yesterday's though. Boyish looks, and he's chewing his words the same way Ronan Keating does. Well executed modern Irish-style pop, this will saunter through with ease.
7 points
CROATIA - Feminnem - Lako je sve
Shades of Destiny's Child and that's all to the good. Taking a while to settle down, but the harmonies are nice. This hasn't gone anywhere useful, though. Nothing wrong with the act but I think they picked the wrong song. If they'de had the courage to go the whole R&B hog it might have been excellent. Still the nagging sense that tonight's a weaker line-up, so it might still crawl over the line.
6 points
GEORGIA - Sopho Nizharadze - Shine
Wow. Lovely voice, one of the best female vocals all night. Wouldn't necessarily chart in the UK but perfect for EV. A Shakira slow number. Pretty good, but I think it needs a - ah-ha! key change! Go on, give it some welly, that's the stuff. A very solid number, probably only worth a 7 last night but it's standing out tonight.
8 points
TURKEY- maNga - We Could Be the Same
Ooo, emo styling! Bit Nightwish, bit My Chemical Romance. Last song and finally my foot's tapping! Someone's been listening to Linkin Park, too, and I like it. Could perhaps use better, heavier production, but it's still good fun. And right on cue, the emo pause and crashing return! The last two songs have really stood out above the dross tonight.
8 points
PREDICTED QUALIFIERS (Actual qualifiers in bold)
Georgia, Romania, Turkey, Denmark, Cyprus, Ukraine, Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Azerbaijan
MISSED QUALIFIERS
Israel, Armenia
Hm. Convinced it was a weaker show tonight. Israel getting through was no shock, it was perm any two from them, the Azeris, the Croats and Lithuania. I couldn't take Armenia seriously but I was in the minority. I think I let my own tastes get in the way of my judgement again. Even so I'm pretty pleased - got 15 out of 20 qualifiers right and had a giggle along the way.
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Slovenia: mix 4 songs in a blender for a refreshing change.
Date: 2010-05-28 10:49 am (UTC)The Dutch entry was so appalling, I just couldn't believe it, but compared to Slovenia's attempt, it was Handel's Messiah.