Eurosunday: Believe In Me (who Believes In You)
Welcome to this week's Eurosunday. This week's is the penultimate for 2008, as this week I rank my top 6-10 songs.
10. Czech Republic
Tereza Kerndlova – Have Some Fun
Reaction:While I suppose a lot of Eurovision songs become guilty pleasures in different company, this song is one that I truly feel a little guilty for liking whenever I look at fan response. This song seems to be universally disliked by Eurovision fans, but I find it to be sweet and catchy. This is a simple pop/r&b ballad, not very original, but it has a cuteness and sunniness to it. The chorus has been stuck in my head since I first heard it.
Best Part:“We really get along/Like the sun goes with the sunshine/Like the grape goes with the grapevine”
Rating: 4/5
9. FYR Macedonia
Tamara feat. Vrcak & Adrian – Let Me Love You
Reaction: It’s criminal that this hasn’t gotten much fan attention. This is like Ninanajna 2008. Like Macedonia’s 2006 song, this is a hip-hop dance song, but this year’s song has a lot more going on. Drums and strings blend to create a stirring background, and the female singer and male rapper work well together.
Best Part: Chorus
Rating: 4/5
8. Greece
Kalomira – Secret Combination
Reaction: Greece has returned to the formula that won the contest for them in 2005 – female vocals with upbeat Greek-pop, although this time they picked an American instead of a Swede (and from Long Island no less!). It’s a very catchy song that will be perfect for summer.
Best Part: Chorus
Rating: 4/5
7. Russia
Dima Bilan – Believe
Reaction: Just two years after he reached second place in Athens, “They Call Me” Dima Bilan is back, this time with a more American sounding r&b ballad – naturally, as it was penned by an American. The lyrics are inspirational and the violin adds to the melody without drowning out the vocals.
Best Part: Bridge
Rating: 4/5
6. Bosnia & Herzegovina
Laka – Pokusaj
Reaction: It must be a mark of a good song that it can make me look at a genre that I had previously dismissed. This is definitely artier than the usual Eurovision song. The song starts with with chanting and by the chorus it explodes into piano-indie rock. I, a pop fan for the most part, would probably dismiss this as being the work of a hipster weirdo (which no doubt it is), but the chorus is so catchy, the lyrics are so sweet, and the whole act is so endearing that I can’t help but smile and enjoy it.
Best Part: Final choruses
Rating: 4/5
Next Sunday I'll reveal my top 5 songs (although if you can't guess by now what they are, there's no hope for you). However, you won't have to wait until next Sunday for more posts on the subject because I'll be doing more pre-contest recaps, with posts on preview videos, rehearsal impressions, and my ever-inaccurate predictions.
posted by Goggle @ 9:14 PM
1 Comments:
Seems like you and I are the only ones who like the Czech song. Not a great song, but nowhere near as bad as the betting odds indicate (and much better than songs given a greater chance to win).
I like the Macedonian song some, but it seems sort of average to me (in a strong year). It wouldn't disappoint me to see it do well, though.
I see Greece as a potential winner, especially given the staging. It ranks as a favorite of mine, but she annoys me. I saw an interview with her an Azerbaijani television where they asked her her birthplace, and she dodged the question by respoding "I'm Greek."
Russia will do well due to Dima's popularity in Eastern Europe, but this songs bores me to no end. It doesn't come close to "Never Let You Go" (his 2006 entry), let alone his best Eurovision song - "Not That Simple," from the 2005 Russian National final (where the Russian public somehow selected Natalia Podolskaya). I will call this the second most overrated song this year.
I have Bosnia and Herzegovina as a favorite, as well. This hasn't done that well in polls, but I think a memorable performance (which it looks like they have :) ), will get this to the finals.
So that leaves France, Iceland, Slovenia, Sweden, and Ukraine as your top five (none of my favorites, but three "near favorites" and two "near bottoms"). I could have predicted Iceland and Sweden in your top five before you even started. :) Seeing France there surprises me a bit, though.
I will have more to say, next week.
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