Eurovision Song Contest 2024 *clears throat*

(I do that a lot, btw. Damn rhinitis! Hmm, alluring image to cultivate on the Internet right there…)

I PLEDGED (well, sort of) that I would go into this year’s Eurovision cold! (As cold as could be!)

(I am still a little put out at last year’s results. Well, it happened. I would love to be a juror one day. Oh, the POINTS I would give to some of the songs… #Power) (I would probably be a rubbish juror actually. I don’t like the bit at the end when the acts receive their public vote: you can tell it’s tough for many of the contestants. Justice for “Who The Hell Is Edgar?” ETC.)

I have heard some songs in their entirety.

Look, we’ll see how this goes, ok?

If anyone is interested *ahem* I made a playlist with some of the national final songs from this year (Lithuania, Estonia, Goddess Konstrakta from Serbia, RAAVE! from Austria).

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1yjfpUHxRqKf55RU44k6CO?si=6dBzPxkqReum9F_VwpYsMw&pi=e-CP17-xqsQVGi

I have watched Eurovision on and off since the 1980s.

My favourite Eurovision song of all time is this captivating masterpiece.

Goddess! Robbed! Babble! Etc…

My favourite songs from the last few years, hmm: Serbia from 2022/2023. Austria from 2023. Anouk (Netherlands). I honestly don’t know! Hold up, is it time for another playlist…

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0g68TA4oT3IJrHAF9Jk5js?si=BtdchOxRSZ6Id5WBjKZ-Yg&pi=e-Jq0QSIXkRJ-e

I like songs to be in native language if possible. I am a middle aged woman whose passport expired. Gimme different cultures, different languages! Give me that flavour, that excitement!

I am aware that I am getting older and some of the factors (things like TikTok integration) mean nothing to me (oh Viennaaaa). I really don’t want to sound like someone shouting at a cloud. I want to get the balance right (oh the title of a Depeche Mode song).

What have I heard so far, then?

Estonia – song with an incredibly long title that I am not going to look up as my cat is on my lap (Eesti, we are cool, right? We have a history!)

SOUNDS LIKE I have no idea

I completely and utterly love this and I am thrilled that this song will be representing Estonia in May. This is why I watch Eurovision! It’s in Estonian, it represents Estonian culture. The package is so fun and charming and clever and infectious. I might have to vote for this, you know. When did I last vote at Eurovision? I don’t always particularly care for the Estonian entries. I used to be a big fan of the Estonian music scene. Tallinn is home to this gem…

https://youtu.be/4j5M4N_NDPg?si=4Hrn_30A9ejbtCOA

(Does the embed work? It is the Depeche Mode bar in Tallinn. GOD. The sweetest perfection indeed.)

Sweden – Impossible

SOUNDS LIKE “Salva Mea” by Faithless (thank you Internet!)

Yes, Sweden has the ‘teacher’s pet’ tag for sure: they are good at what they do and I will always respect a competition like Melfest (they put the work in and it invariably pays off) but, yeah. It can be like eating Pringles (let’s NOT go there) instead of trying a new flavour, something different… I would love to hear Swedish language, for example. (When did Sweden last send a song in Swedish? It is a beautiful language.)

These singers (Marcus and Martinus) are adorable, and it is probably just as well I am not a juror because I don’t like to think of their little faces being disappointed in any way. Eurovision can be ruthless. Of course they will do well because Sweden (and the singers are Norwegian). The song is catchy. Good luck to them.

(I will be back…)

(I love Pringles btw. Way too much. And I always almost eat the original ones.)

Eurovision 2023 – my review – Part 2 *Роцк Лобстер*

(Uhmm, about following the Spotify playlist order…) (you’ve forgotten I wrote that, right? Right?)

Latvia. (Sudden Lights – “Aija”.) This is truly a ‘my type on paper’ kind of song. (Well, maybe more from a few years ago.) It ticks those indie rock boxes. Latvia, eh? Has it really been 23 years since this lil’ Britpop (Latpop?) number?

Latvia can bring the offbeat (last year’s salad song, the Pirates of the Sea) and the credible (the fabulously talented Aminata Savadogo, our Latpop heroes from 2000). I am interested to see (and of course hear) this year’s entry live in Liverpool. Let’s see if the performance elevates this song to an OMG fave!!! kind of song.

Lithuania. Last year’s entry from Lithuania was exquisite – so classy! Monika Liu was absolutely captivating. Lithuania is represented by another Monika this year and the song is called “Stay”. I think Ms Liu spoiled me last year, and that enthusiasm is hard to come by. I wish Ms Linkytė well, of course.

Estonia. (Alika: “Bridges”) There was THIS stormer of a song in the Eesti Laul final: wouldn’t this have been perfect for Liverpool?

Tuju know what I mean?

Alika won Estonian Idol and obviously has immense vocal capacity. “Bridges” is a big ballad and I am sure Alika will perform the heck out of it in the ‘pool.

Serbia – an interesting entry for the second year in a row! Who is this guy posing with a lobster? His name is Luke Black?

(I play visual novels, and I am reminded of “The Freshman” series – Choices Interactive – where your character can choose to adopt a lobster as a pet.)

Enjoy!

There is something I really like about this. I am going to listen further (doh) – this has definitely grabbed me… (You can listen too; go on!)

Rock Lobster!

Azerbaijan – aah, it’s the Azeri Kings of Convenience! (Except KOC are not twins, of course.) This is a rather charming entry!

More, more!

My favourites from this batch: Lobster Man and Azeri Kings of Convenience.

Laterz, I guess…

Eurovision Song Contest 2023 – it begins!

Hello Yoorop!!

Aaaah!!

I did this last year (what, are there any entries that share titles with Depeche Mode songs this year-) and you know, I think I am going to do it this year! That isss: review each and every entry for THE Eurovision Song Contest 2023! ✨

(Yes, I used an emoji. If you can’t use an emoji for Eurovision, when can you use one of the damn things?)

I write as a Eurovision fan of decades.

I burned myself out of Eurovision a little a few years ago (an existential thing) and that enthusiasm will never truly come back (I am an older woman now, I listen to Greatest Hits Radio and Classic FM, and have never used TikTok ever ever) but you know, it’s still Eurovision. Eurovision! It’s like Wimbledon (tennis) every year. It’s an event. I love the languages, the colour, the sparkle. There is still more good than anything else for me. (Let’s not talk about the Danish entry from a couple of years ago failing to qualify that one really hurt justice for Fyr og Flamme!)

So!

Let’s see if I can review these songs without falling back on the following:

Appraising the Lithuanian entry without mentioning “Strazdas” (hell, though: that SONG)

Reviewing Estonia without some bleating about my favourite Eesti Laul songs that went out at the semi-final stage in 2015 or something

The UK, and my relationship to the UK as a Welsh person (keep politics out of Eurovision!!!)

My age

The scorching Danish entries from the eighties (and Fyr og Flamme from 2021 sob sob)

We ready for this? Y’all ready for this?

Coming soon!

Party Zeit!

Opening Up

So, I have just been on Facebook. My personal info section is pretty bare (it is mostly a work thing, to be honest). I toyed with the idea of fleshing it out a bit (what a horrible expression) (I see that some people on Facebook have little sections on their pages where they have answered questions, and it is often contentious stuff such as Brexit) (thank you, David Cameron) (that was sarcasm by the way).

I need to keep it as dry as possible, really (I cannot go vocally anti-Tory because I am conscious of my job. I cannot post sweary stuff á la a family member who has been suspended from Facebook loads of times). It is really boring. My page is boring. Okay, so my life is boring. What to do?

I am reclusive – I will admit it. I have anxiety and all that comes with it. My self-esteem is frequently rubbish. I don’t really know how to ‘do’ being social because my head gets in the way.

I am obviously single, super single. I am used to being single. I don’t want to be hurt. I like having my own space, too. Just sometimes, though (and more so recently) I think of companionship. I went for a walk in the local woods yesterday and thought it would be nice to have someone with me. It would be nice to go supermarket shopping with someone (I do not ask for much). It would be nice to snuggle in front of the TV with someone. Damn.

This, though, involves opening up. Letting people in. Being brave and also vulnerable. People on Facebook don’t need to know about my favourite TV shows etc but perhaps I should open the door just a little.

When I was (much) younger I used to give myself profiles, like the ones seen in the magazines at the time.

Should I try something now, for the hell of it?

• Name – Fiona
• Star sign – Aries
• Favourite food – Pizza
• Favourite drink – Coffee Diet Coke water
• Favourite song – “When The Sun Hits”, Slowdive
• Favourite city – Tallinn, Estonia
• Favourite sayings – “A problem is an opportunity dressed in work clothes” and “Be the change that you wish to see”

It is hot and I am tired. Maybe it is time for closing down.

Eurovision 2022 *It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s (and Ivana Spagna’s) World*

Before I start…

Vlado Janevski, let’s bring him here…

(Is his look typical of North Macedonian men? Oh gosh, this is, errm yeah, Eurovision, 2022222…)

Oh, yes. I have been thinking (some pre-birthday reflections). Should I try and, you know, promote this blog a little bit? Do I want to? Do I really want to put this on my Facebook profile, where people I know can read my ramblings about Jakki Brambles, etc? ETC? Am I being needy? It’s PBT – Pre-birthday Tension. Maybe I just wanna be looooved. Right, this DEFINITELY isn’t being linked to Facebook! Back to Eurovision.

Estonia. I used to be obsessed with Estonia. There is a bar in Tallinn dedicated to Depeche Mode (endorsed by the band, too).

https://www.depechemode.ee

I have not been in Estonia since 2016 and I still regularly dream about this place.

Anyway, the Eesti entry this year is by Stefan and it is a big anthemic cowboy themed number. Stefan is handsome and the package is strong.

As this is Estonia (my specialist country, or was), here is a song from this year’s Eesti Laul that I really liked.

And #iconic:

Italia. Italian entries are a bit like dark chocolate. You may not always be in the mood, but it is sheer quality through and through, and better for you than other treats. I love Italy. I love having Italian heritage. Italy just excels in so many ways, yes?

I am looking forward to the hosting of this year’s contest. I want drama; of course I do. I am an Aries, with Italian heritage! I love the 1991 contest as a spectacle (and also really like a lot of the songs). Is it on YouTube?

Allora!

(Poor Sofia Vossou. I remember reading YouTube comments, and I think I could make out the Greek word for “sax” if nothing else.)

Australia. Aussies! This is very well sung. It needs a further listen, for sure.

Belgium. Belgique! This is also very well sung! It also needs a further listen!

Switzerland – “Boys Do Cry”. (Aka “In Your Face Robert Smith”.) Marius Bear has a great name. It is a strong ballad. (Meh, I really should have listened to these songs just a bit more before blogging…)

San Marino sorry whaaat Ivana Spagna participated in the national final?? Did she?? Do I want to listen to this…

Or do I keep her as a delightful eighties memory:

How did she do?? Well, she obviously didn’t win… Please, tell me, she didn’t get three pity points from the jury and nothing from the televote or something! No, I am keeping Ivana as a happy eighties memory. I want to remember her by her eighties sass. Ivana will understand. We are kind of Italian sisters; riiiight…

My apologies: I am being disrespectful to the winning song, which is called “Stripper”. I must listen to it again.

Laterz.