GREECE 2011 - Watch My Dance

I'm sure a lot of people will agree that Greece really rocked last year. I wasn't too fond of that entry to begin with, but after seeing them live a few times and listening to the song, ahem, a lot of times ;-) I ended up really liking it. They really put in a great effort last year. So the question was how they would follow up on that this year. Would it be something equally catchy?

No.

I'm not actively trying to repeat myself, but what is the deal with all this rap? Seriously, this is the Greek entry. Where the hell does rap come into it? And also again with the dumbass stage name. And the incredibly stupid lyrics. STFU!!

The song is far from all bad. That is actually the worst of it, they've ruined what could have been a perfectly good song. I like the mix of two languages, which has become quite a trend over the past few years. I also like the parts of this song that aren't rap; those parts are actually quite melodious, and the ethnic sound that they've managed to give it sounds really good. In those parts. The rest of it is just annoying trash. So they've basically managed to destroy their own song. Almost kind of impressive. o_O

This is Loukas Giorkas featuring - I kid you not - Stereo Mike. They are schizophrenically performing Watch My Dance by Giannis Christodoulopoulos and Eleana Vrahali. They will be competing for Greece on Tuesday, May 10th. They are going on stage last, so the first semi will be ending on a low note. >:-)

Widescreen here.

Lyrics with translation here.

GREECE 2010 - Opa

Another gang of friends - not an omen of quality, considering the Russian entry ... ;-)

The Greeks like to throw some, ahem, cultural elements into their entries ... supposedly showing off their culture a bit. I am all for that, in principle ... I like to see the different cultures taking part in the contest, and participants sharing things from their culture, I just don't like it when it's done gratuitously. I don't want to point fingers, but, well, the Greeks are high on my list of sinners there. I don't know if you all remember their entry in 2005, My Number One ... or if perhaps you have blocked it from your memories. If the latter, I can't say I blame you. That song is a prime example of what I mean. And I really hate the fact that they won with it. >:-( Hungary should have won that year, or Malta ... or Romania, or even us. Damn short-skirted folk dancing so-and-sos. And what makes it even worse is that the next year they had a song that was SO much better, and only came 9th with that one. But what are you gonna do, it is what it is.

Anyway. This year they've piled all those cultural elements on there like there's no tomorrow. Dancing, drums, lyre, sheesh. I'm not saying that's a bad thing in itself, but it has to fit with the song ... and IMO it doesn't this time. The song in itself doesn't have a lot of personality, and I don't think all the Greek stuff manages to give it one. The song as such doesn't have any Greek flavor to it, IMO. It's a pretty standard pop song, kind of boring, sad to say. The singer also isn't very good, I am rather underwhelmed by his voice. The song would have benefited from a better singer. I don't hold out much hope for Greece this year ... and they don't deserve to do well, either, with this very lackluster effort. Kudos for singing in Greek, but the song just doesn't really have anything worth remembering.

This is George Alkaios & Friends performing Opa, composed by Alkaios himself and with lyrics by a whole gang of people - his friends?? ;-) - they're all listed here. They'll be competing on Tuesday, May 25th. Probably not on Saturday. >:-)



Lyrics here.

ESC + EQ

OK, so, as we all know, I'm a huge Eurovision Song Contest fan. If you've read the info in the sidebar, you'll know that I'm also a huge ElfQuest fan. I've actually been the latter for years longer than the former. ElfQuest isn't for everyone, but if you like it, you love it. And I love it. My favorite part is the First Quest, and then Kings of the Broken Wheel a close second. In case anyone was wondering. :-) Anyway.

I've been very distracted by Youtube recently, because I've been filming so much this summer and I'm finally working out how to edit video snippets ... in a very simple way, but still, you've gotta start somewhere. Anyway. Here's something kind of crazy that I found on Youtube recently. It's ... ESC + EQ. Yeah.

That still frame that's been chosen makes the whole thing look pretty cheesy, but please give it a chance. :-)



Venka is a really good character, I like her. I love the scene where she finally meets her father for the first time. She plays it so cool but you just know she's shaking in those pretty boots Moonshade made her. ;-) Well, who can blame her with a dad like that. >:-) I also like the song. It's the Greek entry from 2007. It placed 7th. I like it. (The performance, not so much.) But I never really saw it in ElfQuest ... or vice versa. o_O

Iceland, Greece, Armenia

Iceland:
A wonderful song that I hope will do well. The Icelanders need something nice to happen to them. :-)
She's a lovely singer, and the presentation is very good ... except for that dolphin. What is the deal with that dolphin ... ??

Greece:
Aerobics class ... !! Now everyone pull your shirts up ... !!
How this song is such a huge favorite I'll never know. It's gotta be just because it's Rouvas. Only explanation. o_O
But at least we've getting a great show out of it - Calyx and N. and trilltrall are totally dancing. LOL!!
Ridiculous performance for a man of Rouvas's age to be engaging in.
This may win, but I don't like it much. Still, a million times better than Ukraine.

Armenia:
OK, now we're talking!! Fantastic!!
A great song, it rocks. A great presentation. Love it.
This song had us all dancing in our seats. :-D And it got our first cheer of the night when it was over.
This'll do really well. I'd be happy to see the contest in Yerevan in 2010. Smokin'. :-D

Greece, Lithuania, Moldova

Greece:
One of the major favorites. Personally I don't see what's so special about it. It's a pretty standard dancey pop tune. If it wasn't Sakis Rouvas performing it, it'd get nowhere near the attention it's been getting.
I don't like the presentation much. It's just so ... average. So standard. What is so special about this?
I don't get it. It'll probably get through. Or will it?? I have a theory, actually. We'll see. >:-)

Lithuania:
On principle, I don't like this song much ... because it was in Lithuanian in the national final, and they're using an English version now. Why not keep the original?? Bwaah ...
It's a nice ballad, but again, nothing very special.
Presentation fine.
Ooh ... fire!! o_O

Moldova:
Yay!! :-D
Great song, a singer who can really sing, charming performance, great costumes, an entertaining show, a hint of Moldovan culture.
Nothing wrong with this.
Come down and get your plane ticket to Vegas, Nelly!! :-D

GREECE 2009: Sakis Rouvas – This Is Our Night

One of the major favorites this year. Deservedly? IMO - alas, no, not really. The song is a quality product, I won't deny that. But that's also very blatantly what it is - a product. Thoroughly designed and produced. And that isn't generally a plus in this contest. Overproduced and very slick entries tend to not do very well. Why? I wouldn't claim to know, but if I am to venture a guess, I'd say that it's because they very often have less charm and less personality than the less professional entries. Of course, that's a fine line to tread. But I think this one comes down on the wrong side.

It also isn't actually very catchy, surprisingly. o_O

The video's pretty good, although the Greek elements in it seem kind of tacked on. The live performance I don't like at all. I fail to see how this entry could have become a favorite on the basis of that. It's outdated and ... I'm sorry, I think it's embarrassing. That's the one word I'd pick to describe that performance. I was almost confused watching it ... like, is this what everyone's raving about? Because it's nowhere near what I'd expect from a seasoned performer like Rouvas.

Greece has sent much better entries in the past (Everything from 2006 comes to mind, a fantastic song) and IMO this one doesn't deserve to win. The whole thing is just way too slick and packaged. And if the presentation in Moscow is the same as it was in the national final, I can't see it standing much chance, either.

But don't take my word for it, see for yourselves. :-) This is Sakis Rouvas performing This Is Our Night by Craig Porteils and Cameron Giles-Webb ... they will be competing for Greece on May 14th, starting number 13.

National final:


Official video:


Lyrics here.

Azerbaijan, Greece, Spain

Azerbaijan:
It's almost impressive - to manage to be both vulgar and unoriginal and sing badly at the same time.
I like this song less and less every time I hear it.
This is where some of those Serbian snipers would have come in handy - where are they when we need them??

Greece:
Another potential winner. Though I hope they won't win as this is far too much like My Number One.
Not very original, but incredibly catchy.
Not a very good voice, and the performance is pretty tasteless. Tacky is the word I'm looking for. Stop importing Americans to this contest right now!!
They'll do well. But, well ... I'm not impressed with the presentation.

Spain:
Excellent ... !!
This is fun. I have a Chilean and a Serbian dancing in front of me right now. :-D This is really cool - best Spanish entry for years.
I think they may do well. But it would have been good if the audience had seen it before, that would have built up the expectations and gotten people more psyched up about it.
Good luck to Spain! They deserve it this year. :-)

Finland, Romania, Russia, Greece

Finland:
I like this song, but come on! This is exactly what they did two years ago, just without the masks. I don't think we'll be seeing this on Saturday. I don't think audiences want this now. And the presentation is boring. Raise your hand anyone who has not seen this dozens of times before ... ?
It's great that they're singing in Finnish, I really appreciate that. But I don't think this will get anywhere.

Romania:
A pretty ballad, but what else is new?
They both have good voices, I'll give them that, but ...
I kept waiting for something to happen to make this song special. It's a good song, a strong ballad, but again, I don't see where the hook is that will make this stand out above the rest.
Romania's one of the ESC greats in recent years. They're favorites this year too, but I'm really not sure.
Maybe.

Russia:
Yees ... !! My favorite this year. :-) Go Russia ... !!!
They will get a shitload of votes because Dima Bilan is Dima Bilan.
And he certainly does believe. :-D Psycho intensity, much?
Oh look, he's doing a Sandie Shaw ... !! LOL!
Yes, nothing says 'I have faith' better than a tame Olympic ice skating champion ... :-D
This is another song that's really growing on me. I dig it. I believe!! :-D
No question about it, Russia's in the final.

Greece:
Hey, it's Britney Spears five years ago ... ;-)
Now that is odd - I remember her voice as being better in the video ... ;-)
It's working pretty well anyway. An insanely catchy song will get you far. And here comes the ethnic vibe ... :-D
Personally I don't dig the presentation, but that's me. Many will no doubt like it.
I'm sure that Greece will be part of the show on Saturday too.

A great ending to the show so far. :-)

GREECE: Kalomira - Secret Combination

Again with the stupid lyrics that would have been so much better in Greek so that we wouldn't have been able to understand just how dumb they are ... !!

Catchy, I guess. But I am so not in the target audience for this song. Bubblegum pop for tweenyboppers. It will do well because young people watch down East. (Regardless of the contest results it will no doubt become a huge radio hit around the Mediterranean this summer.) Yeah, it is catchy. I just think they're trying too hard. And there's too much chorus and not enough verse, IMO.

The show on stage is probably going to look great. They'll make a serious effort with the scenography.

This is a very professional entry. V. clever that they're making it sound so modern and hip yet have managed to integrate some traditional Greek instruments into it as well.

(Bitchy aside: She's says in the song that she's 'not easy', but she sure dresses like she is. >:-)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cahA4mnWb_M


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAxaJiNwolk