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 Song Contest 2023 – *Liverpool/Ukraine* – my review of the songs! (Part 1)

OK! I guess it is time! Is this going to be a yearly thing? (Did anyone read the post from last year reviewing the Eurovision songs with same titles as Depeche Mode songs? I mean… 🥰) (Yes I will use emoji when it comes to Eurovision posts. It is a blog rule. 😜)

Let’s see…

I am going to review six songs at a time! (This could change, and probably will change.)

I am reviewing the songs in Spotify playlist order. (Speaking of Spotify, I asked for the Eurovision playlist not to be taken into account while evaluating my tastes, or some such prompt. Yes, I am a fan, but it is about the purity of my Spotify Wrapped – I do not want a song I dislike to nudge ahead of some shoegaze song obsession, y’know.) (Actually, watch for Armenian Duduk music in my list this year. It is definitely relaxing…)

(Just tried to pull up the Spotify playlist and it is defaulting to the playlist from last year. Perhaps Spotify knows that I am being awkward.)

I am listening, not watching any videos if I can help it, so there is no prejudice.

I am no musician, so there isn’t going to be an intricate analysis of the songs. It’s going to be about what I like, really: a visceral thing.

Let’s go!

🇸🇪 SWEDEN: it’s Loreen!!!! Yes, that one! She’s back, back, baaack! And she might well win again with this song (“Tattoo”).

When I was younger, I used to buy Kiss FM compilation albums. I loved having the likes of “Jumbo” by Underworld (which is a MONSTER of a tune) on CD with other dancey highlights that I loved. I think “Tattoo” would fit perfectly on one of these albums. It would find an ideal home among such hits as “King of my Castle” (Wamdue Project) and “Sing it Back” (Moloko). I have just reminded myself that those songs are almost 25 years old. HELL, I feel ancient.

If you liked “Euphoria”, you will like this! Loreen seems like an awesome person too. Yes, it often seems that Swedish entries are somewhat ‘favoured’ (they have “Melodifestivalen” for God’s sake, they take this thing SERIOUSLY) but I won’t begrudge this winning.

🇺🇦 UKRAINE: oh Ukraine. My God. How to put into words… I haven’t the capacity to put my thoughts into words. I will try and focus on the song. It sounds a little shuffly mid-tempo effort. Slava Ukraini. Stand With Ukraine.

🇫🇮 FINLAND: this is an exhilarating fusion of industrial music and pop. It’s freaking awesome. It’s in Finnish, too!

🇳🇴 NORWAY: fun fact: I first heard this at work earlier this week (I had the playlist on in the background) and this song has stayed with me ever since, after just one listen! It is absurdly catchy. If performed well in Liverpool, this could do well for Norway.

🇨🇿 CZECH REPUBLIC: hmm, this is an interesting one. My notes read “spiky art pop”. I think I should learn the story behind this one. I definitely like it, but the other songs featured in this post (with the exception of Ukraine) (sorry Ukraine) have stayed in my head and this hasn’t (give it time).

🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM: in the post before this one, I promised I would not bring my own politics into this. It’s catchy, and Mae Muller is clearly super talented. I’ve read that this is like “Love Island”/TikTok music (noo, I am feeling ancient again…) (my iPad has just switched to dark mode it seems. This entry is fading to blaaack…).

Here is the Underworld song I mentioned. Isn’t it good?

1999 vibes!

Until next time…

Eurovision 2022 *slugging it out* (the final songs)

So, I have been meaning to do this, but I have just been feeling so tired and rubbish this week. Really, really sluggish. (The average slug pipes up: “Hold onnnn…”)

The news is unspeakably dreadful also. If there are any Ukrainians who come across this: sending so much love to your brave country. What can be said? What can be done?

I haven’t felt like writing anything. I do some writing for work and it is just rubbish (ahem, Eurovision? What is this entry supposed to be about?).

Albania: Sekret. Aaah!! I would quite like Albania (and Moldova) to win one year so I can fully experience their TV productions. (I know Festivali i Kenges is streamed around Christmas time, but I am older; it seems I cannot be bothered with streams these days. But but, do these shows have ads and everything? Damn, now we are talking: give me an insight into European supermarket prices!) (Also, FiK might clash with World’s Strongest Man on Channel 5, and my world stops for that.)

This Albanian song has a lot of attitude and the singer will leave it all out there. I wish Ronela and Albania well!

Ireland: That’s Rich. Ok, this is the kind of song that makes me think I am too old for this whole shebang. (“Rock n Roll Kids” and Linda Martin were thirty years ago, grandma.) It puts me in mind of that Icona Pop song from a few (probably more than a few) years ago (“I Don’t Care”?). I want Ireland to do well, of course! I grew up in the era of Irish dominance. I am Welsh. Ireland has a tough run at Eurovision over the past few (definitely a few) years. Good luck, Ireland. 🇮🇪

Sweden: Hold Me Closer. Hold onnnn, a woman? Sweden is sending a woman? (In fairness, The Mamas were most certainly women, and they were so unlucky to miss the 2020 contest that was cancelled due to Covid.) (Next year, will Malta send a man?) I struggle with a number of Swedish entries because of their somewhat formulaic nature but this is strong and it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if this won. (Irish fans: nooo, let us keep our record!)

Israel. Issa bop! (OK – clearing throat – I haven’t heard this for a while…)

Romania – another bop! Def summer hit potential with this one, I think.

Azerbaijan – not quite a bop, but very well sung.

Cyprus – I think this is quite lovely.

Poland – I really like the singer’s voice and I think the song is almost there. There is potential.

(Who have I missed/am I missing?)

Right, no particular order, my top favourites (the ones that come to my mind).

• Lithuania
• Serbia
• Portugal
• Slovenia
• Denmark

Laterz!