27 out of 43 countries have now selected their 2009 entries for Eurovision. I have therefore taken the time to evaluate the songs and write down my thoughts for each and every one of them.
SEMI FINAL 1
ANDORRA
Another good song from the little country in the south. I have liked more or less all their entries since their debut in 2004, and this is no different. Sweet and innocent guitar pop with the refrain sung in English, the rest in Catalan. Again they have opted for a female singer, this time of Danish origin. I would like nothing more than to see this qualifying for the final in May, a lot depending on her live performance of the song. (7 out of 10)
MONTENEGRO
A catchy dance pop song with an "I Will Survive" disco anthem feel. Very different from their entry last year, positively so, and one that if performed well could get a lot of points. Maybe even Top 10 in the final. A certain qualifier. (7 out of 10)
ICELAND
This year Iceland opts for a ballad. The singer looks gorgeous and so is the melody. Again, this could not be more different than last year's "This Is My Life". My only hope is that the song doesn't drown in a final with already several other ballads. One of my personal favourites this year. (8 out of 10)
GEORGIA
This sounds like a complete rip-off of the 70s classic "Disco Inferno", other than that is very catchy. The provocacy with the title, "I Don't Wanna Put In", has already been picked up by numerous medias, allegations that the lyrics are a political play with words have been denied by the group. That alone must be biggest joke of the year so far. Only time will tell if EBU will let this one pass through... Sounds better on record than it does 'live'. (6 out of 10)
BULGARIA
What can I say about this one? At first I was quite indifferent to this song, finding the production rather messy and the Jimmy Sommerville-ish vocals a tad annoying , but I had heard much worse in the contest this year already. However, nothing could prepare me for the nightmarish vocals on display in the Bulgarian semi final and final performances of this song. Shockingly bad, I don't think I have ever heard anything like that in my entire life. Sorry, Bulgaria... (1 out of 10)
SWITZERLAND
Will make this short as I have already commented on this song. Let me just add that in my opinion this is as relevant to the music scene in 2009 as Gina G was with "Ooh Aah ... Just A Little Bit" in 1996. I just hope this isn't "too good" for Eurovision. (9 out of 10)
FYR MACEDONIA
Another song which I don't like. I don't mind rock music when it's good (like Switzerland above) but this is quite annoying and tiresome to listen to. Neither do they have many of their neighbours in the same semi final voting for them so I believe this one will not qualify. (2 out of 10)
FINLAND
Finland is a country with very mixed results in Eurovision. This year they have sent a typical 90s something dance-song, complete with rap (luckily in English this time!), and the refrain has striking similarities to Nik Kershaw's 80s hit "Wouldn't It Be Good". An excellent choice for Finland in my opinion. This will do well, I am predicting a Top 10 with this maybe even Top 5. Europe will love this. (7 out of 10)
BELARUS
One of the first countries to select their song this year. This has luckily improved a lot since we first heard it in the horrid national final. The new production leans now more towards last year's entry, however I doubt that it will do much better. The guy singing looks completely wrong, which doesn't help at all. I can't see this qualifying but I am impressed with what they have been able to do to this song. 2 extra points for that. (4 out of 10)
TURKEY
One of the few Turkish Eurovision songs I have enjoyed from the start. Good vocals, and a very catchy rhythm. Unfortunately I do have a feeling I have heard this before. The style is very similar to songs like "My Secret Combination", "My Number One", etc. Again I wouldn't be surprised if this will be another Top 10 placing for Turkey. Europe seems to love this type of music. (7 out of 10)
ROMANIA
Unfortunately the Romanian entry is not as good as last year, and neither could it be more different. While last year's entry was elegant and classy, this song feels a bit cheap and somewhat of a copy-cat. Not a bad song though, even quite catchy, although I feel I heard it before. With a little luck and some neighbourly voting I think this may reach the final. (6 out of 10)
MALTA
Will be interesting to see if it will be 3rd time lucky for Chiara and Malta, as she came 3rd in 1998 and 2nd in 1995. Unfortunately this year's song is not as strong as her two earlier entries. However Chiara has a strong, solid voice and always sings convincingly. Personally I feel this song has something special to offer, as there is some sort anthemic build-up going on there in the background. I hope they will bring that stronger into the mix in the finalised version. Gloria Estefan's olympic anthem "Reach" comes to mind. (8 out of 10)
ARMENIA
While I enjoyed Armenia's entry of last year, this year is a completely different story. I get the feeling we are sopmewhere in India/Bollywood when I watch and hear these two girls perform. It certainly sticks out, but not in a nice way - for me. At least they are not out of tune, so an extra point for that. Hopefully the finalised version will improve. (2 out of 10)
SEMI FINAL 2
SLOVENIA
At first I really disliked this song, but has since grown on me. Must be the entry this year with the least amount of vocals. The song gives me associations to Belgium's 1983 entry "Rendezvous", although they are quite different. I think this is a song that could go either way, either it will be immensely popular with the public or it will fail completely. (5 out of 10)
DENMARK
This song I liked from the first time I heard it. Denmark had a fantastic line up of songs in their national final, and luckily they chose one of the best (although would have preferred "Someday" but can't complain...). Ronan Keating has co-written the song, and if I didn't know any better, I would think it was him singing. A typical Ronan Keating/Boyzone type of song. Difficult to predict how Europe will receive this. But I do hope this will qualify as there are not many similar mid-tempo songs like this in the contest. (8 out of 10)
NETHERLANDS
This must be one of the unluckiest countries in Eurovision of recent years. In my opinion they have had many really good songs in the last years that failed to qualify for the grand final. However this year they don't have one of those.... If songs like "My Impossible Dream" and "On Top Of The World" couldn't do it, this one is chanceless. The song is packed with over the top, sugar-sweet lyrical clichés and the melody itself is as camp as it can get. This is really bad taste! Sorry, Netherlands.... (3 out of 10)
NORWAY
How can I talk about Norway without being biased... Well, I'll try. This year Norway has gone back to its roots, so to speak. A pop-folk song complete with fiddles and traditional arrangements but yet in a contemporary way. And it is very catchy. Half of Norway is now believing they will win in Moscow in May, I think many Norwegians feel this year they are not just competing with a Eurovision song but with the soul of Norway compressed within those 3 minutes. It will certainly be interesting to see how this turns out, I think a lot is depending on Norway's draw in the semi final and final (if it qualifies, which I think it will easily do) and Alexander Rybak's performance itself of course. However I don't think everything is as clean-cut as many Norwegians would like to think, but I do believe we can match Maria Haukaas Storeng's 5th place last year with "Hold On, Be Strong", or even better. (8 out of 10)
GREECE
Not only Chiara is returning to the contest this year for Malta, but also Sakis Rouvas will sing again for Greece. The song is similar to his 2004 entry "Shake It", but in my opinion not quite as strong. However, I do think it will be another Top 10 placing for Greece (and possibly even Top 5). So far it looks like Norway and Greece will be the two big favourites in Semi Final 2. This is a 100% certain qualifier. (7 out of 10)
LITHUANIA
Lithuania returns again with another ballad, but luckily is not quite as depressing as last year's entry. Nice melody, good voice, but perhaps this is a little too safe? Gets easily a bit boring. Can't see this becoming a big favourite. Luckily they got more or less all their neighbours in this semi final, so the final is definitely in reach. (5 out of 10)
POLAND
Poland is becoming the big ballad country it seems. This year's song is quite similar in the style as last year. Will they be able to qualify two years running? I think the chance is 50/50. Decent enough song. Personally I like this one better than their 2008 entry. I think again the draw in the semi will be crucial. (6 out of 10)
MOLDOVA
This is a very unusual tune, and I may need to listen to this more times before I like it. At the moment I find this very messy and bizarre, a lot going on in this song. A lot of different genres mixed into one. It has a very foreign sound and I am sure this will get a lot of points from the Eastern countries, so on that basis I do think this will easily qualify. But it's really not my type of song. (4 out of 10)
CYPRUS
The song itself is not bad, could be something you hear on the radio, pleasant mid-tempo guitar-pop although not very memorable. A female singer-songwriter type of song. Unfortunately the singer murders this song completely and the live version of this song is quite unbearable. I hope her singing improves before May. Cyprus is another country I have felt in the past undeservedly missed out on the big final many times. But unfortunately that trend is not going to change with this song. (3 out of 10)
IRELAND
Wasn't too impressed with the songs in their national final despite usually liking most of the Irish entries. Luckily they went for a song that could have broad appeal, especially with younger people, especially now that Kelly Clarkson is doing so well again in the charts. I feel this song is of a similar style. The fact is I like this better every time I hear it, and I do hope the rest of Europe will vote for it enough to make it qualify. A country that has won 7 times really do belong in the final together with the big 4. (7 out of 10)
ALBANIA
The first country (again!) to select their entry. While I enjoyed their entry last year I did not initially find this song as instantly appealing. However with time it has grown on me and become a decent ethnic up-tempo dancey tune. Somewhat annoying vocals but could get better if they choose to translate into English. Very difficult to predict whether this is a qualifier or not, so will not attempt to guess. (6 out of 10)
THE FINALISTS
UNITED KINGDOM
Being a Norwegian living in the UK, this is like my own country too now... And I feel divided in two when it comes to who I patriotically support. However, I was very glad when Jade won Your Country Needs You in January, after having voted for her 11 times that evening. "My Time" seems to be tailored made for her. And it is definitely a song that grows. Having seen Jade perform in both Maltese and Greek final it is definitely a song that gets better with each performance both vocally and musically (as they have made some minor changes to it). I think Jade will give UK its best placing since 2002. My guess would be Top 5, but at least Top 10. This is one of those rare songs where melody/lyrics and performer fits like hand in glove. (8 out of 10)
FRANCE
France has opted for the supposedly well-known Patricia Kaas, although I must admit I had not heard of her until recently. The song itself is a very typical French ballad of the darker, more melancholic sort. There is not really a refrain in this song, and I suppose that is what I miss the most. It is pleasant as background music but on the whole I find this too depressing and I feel it is not the right type of song for Eurovision. However with the juries in place this year this may receive more points than it normally would have. Time will tell. But unfortunately not my cup of tea. (5 out of 10)
GERMANY
It has been 27 years since their last win, and although they have come close to winning many times they have suffered in recent years. This year they enter with a mixture of 90s dance pop and swing (of all things!) By no means not a bad song, it is actually quite catchy. However I cannot see the mass appeal this will have and predict that again they will have to face a placing outside the Top 10. Not quite my taste this one, but a decent enough effort. (6 out of 10)
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