Esc2019 - Blog Posts
ESC19 songs that I don’t love but which will probably do great
AUSTRALIA / Kate Miller-Heidke / Zero
The song has improved along the with the staging and even I have to admit that this is pretty cool. I'm pretty sure this goes to the final.
CYPRUS / Tamta / Replay
As there was much hype around Cyprus last year Tamta's entry was highly appreciated. However I was disappointed with the song because I find it a bit overproduced and lacking personality. But I don't hate it and I have an open mind what comes to the live performance.
PORTUGAL Conan Osiris / Telemóveis
I wasn't a fan. And still isn't but I give credit for uniqueness and individuality. These kinds of performances bring diversity and develop the contest which is why I hope Portugal will be in the final.
CZECH REPUBLIC / Lake Malawi / Friend of a friend
I seem to have a problem with Czech entries since I didn't like last year's entry but everyoneo else did. However I see why people do love this. It's a perky, modern, colourful performance which is why this probably will go to the final.
BELGIUM / Eliot / Wake up
This is such a great song but with a weak chorus. I'm not the only who thinks so however this entry also gets a lot of love.
RUSSIA / Sergey Lazarev / Scream
Russia. Do I have to say anything else? Russian entries usually enjoy great popularity year after year and they do have massive production. There's nothing wrong with this song but for me something is lacking. VERY IMPRESSIVE staging! This will go far - no doubt.
North Macedonia / Tamara Todevska / Proud
The song has grown for me but still this isn't the top 10 track for me. I'm interested to see this live though cause the staging looks cool!
Spain / Miki / La venda
Everybody loves this. However I don't. It's too cheerful for my finnish taste. Fun track though.
Slovenia / Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl / Sebi
Another one everybody loves except me. I get it why. The atmosphere, the stars, the couple. However it's too repetitive and too bland what comes to the singing and her facial expressions (there's none). I'm not into the staring each other's face thing either. I'd like to see them interact with the audience but this can still happen.
ESC19 songs that I LOVE but probably WON'T DO WELL
As the rehearsals keep mixing my lists here are some of my loves during Eurovision 2019 which I’m afraid that I’ll stand alone for. (random order)
ISRAEL / Kobi Marimi / Home
Even though automatic qualifier as the host country I haven't seen much hype around this. However for me this is the best ballad of the season and Kobi singing just moves me (to tears!).
GERMANY / S!sters / Sister
There's a lot negativity around this one apparently due to the national selection but since I didn't follow that.. I'm kind of liking this. Not the best but definitely one of the biggest growers of the season.
FINLAND / Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman / Look away
My country with unfortunate and unlucky ESC history. As this is second internally chosen Finnish artist for ESC I'd wish this to do well. The song is however a bit repetetive and missing that climax and Sebastian's singing aint' one of the best in the contest (he's improved though). I do have hope though the icy performance does stand out (even though being the 3rd in Semifinal 1) between Moldova and Poland who represent totally different genres.
POLAND / Tulia / Fire of Love (Pali sie)
The staging has improved Poland's chances. However this is a heavy track that will create all sorts of reactions. But I do hope these ladies have more lovers than haters!
ALBANIA / Jonida Maliqi / Ktheju tokës
The underrated song of this season. Her voice, charisma, presence is one of a kind and the song has a nice ethnic sound which makes it stand out - I just hope they've got some drama, colour planned for us what comes to the staging!
AZERBAIJAN / Chingiz / Truth
This is fun and different from the rest of the upbeat tracks. Some people think it's over produced, too dark but from the first hear I loved it. I hope they'd do well!
ARMENIA / Srbuk / Walking out
What a voice! There's nothing wrong with the song but I worry we've heard this before and people might forget this since this starts semifinal 2.
Once an ESC artist always an ESC artist
Five artists have participated Eurovision before but didn’t quite get enough on first round-
RUSSIA / Sergey Lazarev / Scream (Stockholm 2016)
SAN MARINO / Serhat / Say na na na (Stockholm 2016)
HUNGARY / Joci Pápai / Az én apám (Kiev 2017)
NORTH MACEDONIA / Tamara Todevska / Proud (Belgrade 2008)
Serbia / Nevena Božović / Kruna (Malmö 2013)
Eurovision 2019 - Different genres
It's time to talk about Eurovision! The lists have been shaping during the entire spring and I'm ready to talk! Let's do the different genres first. Even though characterized as a pop song contest which it still is Eurovision holds a large range of influences of other genres as well. I always find sending something else than pure pop to Eurovision as a bold move and nevertheless how well they do they develope the event and give courage to those to think outside of the box!
(in alphabetical order)
AUSTRALIA / Kate Miller-Heidke / Zero Gravity - Opera /Pop
FINLAND / Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman / Look away - Dance / Pop
HUNGARY / Joci Pápai / Az én apám - Folk/ pop
ICELAND / Hatari / Hatriö mun sigra - techno/rock
ITALY / Mahmood / Soldi - R&B/pop
POLAND / Tulia / Fire of Love (Pali sie) - Folk / choir
PORTUGAL Conan Osiris / Telemóveis - Genreless / mix of everything
WHO WILL BE THE FINNISH ENTRY AT EUROVISION 2019?
We do have the date and the location (March 2nd, Espoo Finland) but what we do not have is the actual artist. It has been pain to be waiting for the news and here is what I think of the guesses, speculations of the Finnish ESC entry 2019.
WHO IT WILL NOT BE:
Every year people name these artists who are fabulous and the best what this country could offer musically but give it up. They won’t be doing it!
Alma – she’s already said no. Our brand shining star on an international music scene sees ESC as a competition only and has declined it. Pity.
Jenni Vartiainen – too popular and will not be humiliated by Finnish press
Vesala, Janna, Sanni, Chisu, Mikael Gabriel – just don’t think that they’re that interested
Nightwish – they already tried in 2000 but didn’t get selected (don’t ask me why)
Old school stars such as Jari Sillanpää, Kaija Koo etc – the time has passed them.
INSTEAD I HAVE FAITH IN:
Benjamin - Juon sut pois (2018)
Young talents and artists such as Benjamin, Robin, Evelina, Venior, Vilma Alina, Diandra, Ellinoora who are younger and have not labelled Eurovision as the older generation. They could actually see ESC as an oppurtunity even without winning the whole damn thing.
Venior - Sugar Rush (2015)
UMK competitors from the previous years: Mikael Saari and Emma – they’ve got the passion and the spirit. Even though I wasn’t too impressed by Mikael’s singing or songs when he was in UMK (2013 and 2016) and he has actually said that he wouldn’t do it again as a performing artist. But what if he was invited to be THE artist? Emma was my favourite in 2017 but she failed miserabily in 2017 UMK final (singing and technical issues). Emma also competed to be San Marino’s repesentative this year. Despite of the struggles gotta love her anyhow.
Tarja Turunen, the formed vocalist of Nightwish has been on ESC wishlist for being the Finnish entry for quite some time now! She would be such a professional, well known, interesting entry nevermind the song. And I even believe she might have that ESC spirit somewhere there inside of her if we just dig it out!
Tarja Turunen - Never Enough (2017)
ESC representatives: Krista Siegfrieds (2013) and Softengine (2014). She’s crazy enough and Eurovision fan so no doubt about it that she’d do it again! But she’s hosted UMK so they’d have to find another host….Softengine is our biggest success after Lordi and one of our few success stories in ESC to be honest so why not!
Softengine - Something Better (2014)
Eva & Manu are the hottest rumour out there to be the Finnish entry 2019 and I wouldn’t mind them being so. They could offer some fresh air (from a finnish perspective) and they are not a totally brand new duo since they have released albums. Plus they have an interesting story.
Eva & Manu - Empty (2014)
What do you think?