hmmm... a "try too hard" mash-up... the beat from "my secret combination" for the song "4 minutes" is good!! but the part where the greek girl starts singing sucks and makes no sense... Besides, madonna and justin have agressive voices in this song and the greek girl's voice is just too girly and sweet... It just doesn't work at all!... That's my opinion.
Ok, so Kalomira's voice is rather girly compared to Madge/JT but the beat is rather slick when merged!
And to pressing matters...
09 Nat Finals Official Video Belarus - Ruslan Alekhno - "Hasta la Vista"
How we got to this: Won the Jury's Pick In Eurofest What it sounds like: Take the NatFinal perf, add guitar & makeup and that gets you the official video. Why it will win: It's been deschlagered and the guy has become pressed. Nifty song, decent vocals & should look good after the Czechs. Why it will falter: It's lost the schlager and he constantly looks lost and confused with zero presence.And yet another Belorussian who's accent makes him sound like Dracula. Benefit of draw: After a fellow daceish modernish number and should look much better. Problem: Latvia. What can fix this?: If I was going I would have kept the schlager and hired a five-lady-choir to give it some funny gravitas. What SHOULD have gone instead: Didn't care for the other 3 selected to the Eurofest final. Finals?: I keep going back and forth on this. I'll say no for now but would not be surprised if it slipped in.
10 Nat Finals Latvia - Pirates Of The Sea, "Wolves Of The Sea"
How we got to this: Won Eirediezma 2008 What it sounds like: The Veggietales Presents: The Laziest Pirates In The World! The Musical! Why it will win: Pirates! Why it will falter: Pirates who cannot ****ing sing! Bad music! Why in the hell is the winner of Latvia Dancing With The Stars "singing"? Why does this seem like a more inate version of Scooch? Benefit of draw: Between a decent song and a horrid ballad. Perfect Problem: Lots of decent stuff remains to make this forgotten. What can fix this?: What SHOULD have gone instead: Sabine Berezina's ballad "If I Only Know" is rather pretty and would look really good comaped next to Croatia. Finals?: Obviously. And it might be the only comedy one in, damn it. But compared to Spain, it would fall down on it's sword.
11 Nat Finals Official Video Croatia - Kraljevi Ulice en 75 Cents, "Romanca"
How we got to this: Won Dora 2008 What it sounds like: Circe du Soile presents Gypsy Sessions! Why it will win: Street performers and a rappin' grampy hasn't been seen before. It's a twist on the techno movement & the ethno movement. Why it will falter: Grandpa might die from shock if this song somehow advanced? The sound, even with techno, feels about 9 minutes too long. Benefit of draw: Bad vocals could help make this odd musical number be remembered. It's in good position as the Bulgarian singer's vocals are iffy and Latvia's Fave Celeb Dancer, well, she ruins everything. Problem: Between Pirates and the rave, it's sorta dead in the water. What can fix this?: Figure out some way to make this song sound like it isn't 20 minutes long. What SHOULD have gone instead: Dora 2008 was overall **** so how about sending Servina again? Finals?: It might get the Serbian's 12 but otherwise, no.
12 Nat Finals Official Video Bulgaria - Deep Zone f. Balthazar, "DJ Take Me Away"
How we got to this: won EuroBGVision What it sounds like: 1999. Why it will win: Because I like it. Techno is comming back apparently and they do it well and, unlike Iceland's dance number with a message, they are rather blunt: I want to dance. Why it will falter: It's no longer 1998 & it's having it's own private contest with Nocturne's "Secret garden" for least words used. It has like 17 total. Her (Zone?) vocals are horrid live and the staging is messy. Benefit of draw: Between ballads/slower numbers Problem: Denmark is considered the dark horse of this round and a good job by Simon Who Needs New Teeth with a bad vocal could get it Iceland'ed. What can fix this?: Clearer vocals...hell, maybe add a "chorus" in Bulgarian repeating the English? What SHOULD have gone instead: Bulgaria had a rather good final and I would have loved seeing Simona Sivano's rather brill broadway number "Obehstaj mi" or Generation's "Running Scared." But "DJ" makes me happy. Finals?: It's being pegged as the fave fave to miss the finals (followed by Sweden & Iceland) but I think, considering it's between ballads, it's into the finals. Top 5 is possible but another top ten finish is rather respectable.
The Danes, The Georgians, The Magayrs & The Maltans come Friday. Cyprus, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of) and Portugal wrap us up next week!
Latvia's song is such ... Belarus's song is like... please give me something original!! ...
Croatia's song is sooooo out of the eurowave...
I like Bulgaria's song!! but I have to agree with you... it's not good when it's live...
13 Nat Finals Official Video Denmark - Simon Matthew, "All Night Long"
How we got to this: Won Dansk Melodi Grand Prix What it sounds like: Germany 2007 with more guitar. Crossed with a sad cheer. Why it will win: It's happy, peppy, upbeat, has a killer beat. Why it will falter: That killer beat lasts a quater of a second before it becomes the hokey pokey. It's old, stale and reeks of both, and in the current climate might falter. And no offense, only yes, this dude has some ****ed up teeth. Benefit of draw: It's surrounded by singers who are not friends with keys. Problem: It's before two ballads which should have better staging. What can fix this?: Veneers. What SHOULD have gone instead: Kendra Lou's overwrought "Until We're Satisfied" is a rather stunning ballad with loopy lyrics and far better than the Danish Top 3. Finals?: I'd hope not, but currently pegging them as 6th in. Meaning Iceland is currently the only Nordic state I don't see in the finals o.O
14 Nat Finals Official Video Georgia - Diana Gurtskaya, "Peace Will Come"
How we got to this: Won Georgian National Final What it sounds like: Stompy Peace Song with some really bad accent. Why it will win: It's done by a blind woman who had a costume change done while a sheet went over her head, it's a better "Give Peace A Chance" song, it's got a good melody. Why it will falter: Her voice sounds likes nails on a chalkboard, the song is definitly a grower and Eurovision doesn't like those. Benefit of draw: Before Hungary, so will bound to look good. Problem: Bad vocal + Denmark + Stupid Ballad After + VODKA! = not in the finals. What can fix this?: Salome Korkotashvili would have put Georgia in the discussion for a win with "Captaine" while 3G would have been a fun bratty thing with the probably best song from the Georgian Final Of Overall Goodness with "I'm Free" but Diana's entry is rather good on multiple listens. What SHOULD have gone instead: KEEP. THE. COSTUME. CHANGE. But time it to where it's done by the end of the sheet movement. Finals?: Yes? I think 4 ballads are in and while this is the risky choice (Portugal, Switzerland and Albania seem more certain) I think Georgia might have a rather surprising result.
15 Nat Finals Official Video
(Note, the National Final is in Hungarian. The music video is the actual entered version) Hungary - Csézy, "Candelight"
How we got to this: Won Hungarian National Final off a tiebreaker - she won the jury vote. What it sounds like: A woman who desperately needs a vibrator. Set to a Disney melody. Why it will win: It's stupid? Why it will falter: It's a horrid translation that makes Csezy sound desperate for a penis, it doesn't sound like loss or desire or even anything interesting, it's extremely dull to listen to. Benefit of draw: Plenty of iffy singers that with a decent vocal could help them out, #15 always (except for the Netherlands this time, I fear) makes it out & Hungary is 100% in making the Finals. Problem: This song sucks and Vodka and Peace will show it up. What can fix this?: Start over from musical note 1. What SHOULD have gone instead: Pfum Orsi's "Tavol" has bellydancing, killer beat, and a good vocal. Why did she not poll better? Finals?: No. Not even on jury vote.
01 Nat Finals Official Video Malta - Morena, "Vodka"
How we got to this: Won Maltasong for Europe What it sounds like: Schlaggery Russians invade the local county fair. Why it will win: It's loud and stupid and schlagerry. She's rather fit and has a good voice. It's the only fun entry in the back half (and we include the hell that FYR Macedonia will be performing in that). Why it will falter: Left to her own devices, Morena is rather annoying and would not place in an air guitar-Vision contest. Voice isn't all that clear and on schlager you have to be clear for the people. Benefit of draw: Iceland and Sweden are far the **** away. Problem: Cyprus and their similar ethno-ish number are next. What can fix this?: Choreography that doesn't involve air-guitar. What SHOULD have gone instead: I didn't like much from Malta so Vodka is fine. Finals?: Having been burned last year I am hesitant, but going to say Malta is either scoring really high or will be last in with Sweden being the bigger scorer. So yes. Not doing well come the finals, though.
For those who are curious, I deleted the whole of Mariah's new one due to utter boredom.
As for the Madge one...having been annoyed by 4min and rolling my eyes sideways on "Hard Candy" I had little faith in songs 3-8 from the leak.
And I was proven wrong, as those 6 more than make up for the failures of the lead 2 tracks. "Give It 2 Me" has to be the next single! "She's Not Me" and "Miles Away" might be the best things recorded by Madonna this decade (well, besides "Gone" from Music). And even "Beat Goes On" isn't bad, and Kanye makes it interesting.
Pharell is the better mixer on his tracks and yes, Incredible sorta lags but otherwise songs 3-8 sold me on her Hard Candy. Of course, considering she's pushing 50, it makes me also wonder what any of todays acts would be like on it and then I laugh cuz only she could pull some of these things off.
I like georgian entry however she is not the first blind singer in Eurovision. Spain sent one but I don't remember the name. The only good of Hungary is the video... a very well produced video. About Malta I like the sound of the end haha sounds... magic! haha and of course when Morena sings VOODKAAAAAAAA's part is catchy haha.
Anyway SWITZERLAND should win and Sweden should sink haha