ISRAEL 2010 - Milim

Israel ... often a supposed favorite in recent years, but has usually failed to live up to these expectations. I really don't know how they'll do this year. Their entry is good, quality work, no question ... and kudos for singing in Hebrew ... but it's also a ballad, so that makes it more difficult right there, and it's, I don't know, in some ways quite anonymous. I've listened to it a dozen times but I couldn't hum it now to save my life. Ballads can do very well in the ESC, but they have to have a hook, something that makes them instantly memorable, and IMO this song lacks that. But it's a beautiful melody and the fact that voting will begin from the start of the show this year will unquestionably work in this song's favor.

The performance was plain and unremarkable in the national final, I wonder if they'll be changing that ... if not, that'll again be making it less memorable. But it's a good song and the performance is sincere and emotional, which we know the Easterners like, so that may be good. ;-) But I have to ask one thing - WTF is up with his hair?? o_O

This is Harel Skaat performing Milim by Tomer Hadadi and Noam Horev. They will be competing on Thursday, May 27th.



Lyrics with translation here.

An atheist poem

From a Muslim ... or, I guess, an ex-Muslim. That's something you don't come across every day. Watch this video, it's really good. A great example of what is so great about Youtube. :-)



And look, even though this post is about religion, I can still force Keanu into it. He played Prince Siddharta in a movie once ... but did not become a Buddhist despite what you may have heard. o_O

Ooh, and happy birthday to Anéa!!! :-D

LITHUANIA 2010 - Eastern European Funk

Unlike the other two Baltic nations, Lithuania has never won the ESC ... in fact, far from it. Their best result was an astonishing 6th place in 2006 - pardon my French, but that song sucked ass - other than that, they've generally done badly. I'm almost sorry to say that I don't think their entry this year will change that in any dramatic way.

However!! In some ways I do like this song a lot. I don't particularly care for the style of music, it's not my thing ... and in any case I think this melody is too flat, it appears catchy at first, but gets repetitive and, alas, slightly annoying. But the lyrics!! I love the lyrics. They are so creative and funny and tongue in cheek. Absolutely charming, and perfect for the ESC. :-) Only problem is that poor English diction on the one hand and lack of English skills in the audience on the other may combine to render the lyrics less than understood. But kudos for this effort, regardless. :-) The performance isn't half bad, but it may have limited appeal. I wonder if they'll bring their silver glitter hotpants to Oslo ... ?? :-D

This is Inculto performing Eastern European Funk by ... themselves! :-) This is their second time in the contest (although the first time, in 2006, they came 2nd in the national final) and they will be competing for Lithuania on Thursday, May 27th.



Lyrics here.

Quote of the Week

I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process.
Benjamin Harrison

Today was World Fair Trade Day and there was an event here in Oslo, part of a bigger event, but still a lot of cool fair trade stuff going down. :-) Friends had a sales stand there - of course :-) - and that's where I spent my day. The weather was fantastic, there was live music, lots of happy people and an all-around good mood. Our sales went really well. So, yay. :-)

MACEDONIA 2010 - Jas ja imam silata

When people say that 'those Eastern countries are just totally dominating the contest these days' and that 'all those Eastern countries just push their own songs regardless of the quality' and all that shit, they aren't talking about Macedonia. A decade's worth of participating starting in 1996, and their best result ever is 12th. o_O That was with a tacky but catchy entry in 2006.

Anyway ... considering this track record, I was pleasantly surprised by their entry this year. Not half bad ... far from it, in fact. Catchy, a good melody with a good beat. Kudos for singing in Macedonian. Yes, I agree that the rapper guy is pretty embarrassing ... but we can't have it all. Overall this is an entry that I don't think will do all that well, it's a bit too anonymous for that ... it's good while you're listening to it but there isn't much to make it really stick in the memory afterwards. But it's certainly not half bad. I wouldn't be surprised if they get to the final with this. :-)

FYI, the name of this country is just Macedonia, but in the EBU universe they are forced to go by the name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (abbreviated FYR) because the Greeks have a stupid hangup.

This is Gjoko Taneski performing Jas ja imam silata by Kristian Gabroski, who will be competing for Macedonia on Tuesday, May 25th. Good luck! :-)



Lyrics with translation here.

IT HAS ARRIVED ... !!!

OMG OMG OMG ... !!! :-o

OK, deep breath. Right. This has really been a day suffused with the ESC spirit for me. :-) First of all I've been listening to the CDs almost all day. They're on my mp3 player and I am plugged in, my friends. Then when I was at my book group meeting ... we weren't at the usual place, long story, but we met at a friend's office, he works nearby. While we were there, I noticed that they had all gotten these fantastic brochures all about ... well, you know. I wanted one ... !! There weren't any extras around just then, so my friend gave me his. Aww. Here it is, look how kewl ... it has the full overview of all the events this month related to and inspired by the contest ... you can read it from both sides, one's for Oslo and one for Bærum. Which is where the contest will actually take place. They're calling it Oslo 2010, but it isn't really in Oslo. :-) Anyway, here's my brochure, from both sides:

And then when I got home, ooh ... !! Here's where the OMGs come in. I've got mail!! Ooh ... !! A letter ... !

And what's more, OMG, the contents of the envelope besides the letter ... !! OMG OMG!!

KAS, trilltrall, Anne Ida - three weeks and we're there ... !!! :-D

BELARUS 2010 - Butterflies

OK, the Belarusians have sent some weird songs to the contest, but I'm sorry to say that some of them I have really really liked a lot. Especially their entry in 2007, wow. :-) They do tend to try pretty hard ... and kudos for that, although of course we can't ever let them win. Obviously. But I always look forward to seeing what they'll come up with.

This year they surprised me. This song is nothing like what I was expecting from them. A sweet ballad, very prettily performed and with a striking melody. No offense to any Belarusians reading this, but I totally didn't see that coming. ;-) I like this song a lot, I liked it instantly as soon as I heard it ... once I'd gotten over the initial surprise. :-) I think this song has the potential to do really well. It may be too low-key to truly stand out, but I think they'll overcome that ... I think that this song will stick in people's minds. I also think that the new voting system - that we can vote from the beginning of the show - will work strongly in this song's favor. Admittedly the lyrics are pretty cheesy, but I think the main reaction this will get from audience members is Aw, that's so pretty. :-)

I'd wish them good luck, but, well, obviously not. I suspect I should rather wish them the opposite with this song. ;-)

This is 3+2 performing Butterflies by Maxim Fadeev and Malka Chaplin, who'll be competing in the first semi, on Tuesday, May 25th.



Lyrics here.