Preview/Reviews part 2

I am just about to fly out of Sydney and over to the lovely (and for this year, rather inexpensive) London for a quick spot of shopping prior to Oslo.

I touch down in Oslo on 18th May and rest assured I'll be blogging every day from then on.

In the meantime, part 2 of my personal Eurovision reviews...

Azerbaijan - the other favourite of this years contest does just a little more than conjure images of Rihanna. Safura has lost her umbrella, the delegation hired Beyonces choreographer and Michael Jackons filmmakker, and what do we have? A rather middle of the road, American sounding piece of r'n'b style pop. The reason it is favourite is quite obvious - Azerbaijan WANT to win and they will pump all sorts of money into doing so. Problem I have with this is that the song doesn't have any 'douze points' moments in the singing. Its all 'drip drop, drip drop' inoffensive and unremarkable chorus - lyrically the chorus lets it down. I am certain it will look great on stage, but the song is nothing special. Additionally, American-styled songs have never fared well on the Eurovision scoreboard. Its gonna qualify, its going to do well, but it wont win for a whole heap of reasons.
(I could also get on my little platform and state why I hope Azerbaijan don't win this year as I believe it could set the future of Eurovision back, but thats for another time when I'm drunk and rambling).

Armenia - Azerbaijans neighbours have sent Eva to sing to us about her 'Apricot Stone', and story behind the lyrics aside, I think this is the type of ethnic pop that I think has improved the Eurovision in the past few years. Eva is not a dancing-type, but her voice more than appears to make up for this. The song builds nicely, and by the end I can see the whole arena up on their feet dancing. Its gonna fly through to the final and I expect a top 10 position at ease.

Slovakia - 'Horehronie' is, as many fans have already said, 'Wild Dances-lite'. Not so much for the music, but for the presentation. Kristina will be clad in a leather-ethic-nature style dress, whilst leather men stomp around her. So whats the failing considering that I'm comparing it to a Eurovision winner? Its the fact that the song is more about the presentation than the song. Kristina sings well, but I dont think we'll be thinking that during the show, we'll be too busy watching the busy presentation. More style than substance. It has its fans, it will qualify, but I do think this will one for the 2nd half of the leaderboard at the final.

United Kingdom - I'll be honest, as a UK fanclub member who went to great lengths to make a UK flag dress this year, this song had me thinking about burning the dress. Pete Waterman is a classic songwriter/producer, and I still listen to his 80s work to this day. I had high expectations. What redeeming qualities this song had that recalled those golden Waterman years (the dancebeat and tempo) have been lost in the cd version of the song - slowed down to become no better than millions of artists out there trying to get a break. You'd never see it in the charts outside of Eurovision (or indeed in). Josh sings capably, but honestly, he's been handed a stinker to perform. If it wasnt for automatic UK qualification, this would come nowhere near the final.

Romania - this is my runner-up for the most underrated song of this years bunch. Paula and Ovi are in my eyes, this years Aysel and Arash (and more than just beyond it being a male female upbeat duet). They have provided the summer pop dance hit that I most expect to hear on the radio after Eurovision during my travels. The leather catsuit Paula will (hopefully) wear onstage is set to gather the votes of the hot-blooded straight men out there, and boy does she have a set of lungs on her! The chorus is catchy, memorable and will stick in the minds of voters. Also like the double ended piano/keyboard onstage - very eyecatching and easy to recall. Just last week I saw 180/1 odds on it to win - expecting those to shorten significantly once rehearsals start. Very very good chance for an each way (top 5) bet.

Serbia - I want to hate this so much, and I certainly did on the first listen. 'Ovo Je Balkan' draws upon folk, gypsy and balkan influences and Milan Stankovic is nothing if not eyecatching (for all the wrong reasons - his impossibly blonde bowlcut still scares me on the screen). But then the introduction draws me in, and by the time we reach the chorus I'm screaming 'Balkan Balkan Balkan'. Thus, it will be the song people will have in their heads and want to get out. I do think it is going to be a favourite amongst the other Balkan countries, but wont gather high votes elsewhere. That will mean its a definate qualifier, and I predict that thanks to some neighbourly voting, will finish mid-range in the table for the final.

Iceland - "volcano-permitting" has become the catch-cry of Europe for the past month. And it applies to this tune as well. Funny how world events affect the voting of Eurovision, but I expect the anger some people harbour towards Iceland for the volcano ruining their recent travel plans will affect the placing of Hera Bjorks song. Add to this the fact its practically the same music as their entry 2 years ago - Eurobands 'This is my life', with less catchy lyrics and that Hera wont be nearly as energetic on stage, I cant see this doing brilliantly. Perhaps Heras great voice, the songs dance beat and huge amount of gay fans will probably pull her through to the final, but it will end in the 2nd half of the final scoreboard.

Moldova - welcome to this years Waldos People - 'Run Away' is a track that sounds brilliant on cd, loads of commercial potential, and falls flat on the live stage. Its starting to get tipped quite highly but I fear people havent seen the national final footage where Olias voice boomed and screeched through the chorus. It will look energetic and colourful enough to some votes, and thanks to a opening place at the 1st (and weakest) semi it will waltz through, but at the final it will die horribly if its sung out of tune. This song also reminds me of Guru Josh (maybe its the saxophone, maybe its the fact it sounds like its stuck in the raves on the late 80s), and thats never a great thing.

Lithuania - I'll be honest this is MY favourite entry of the year. I'm not saying I want it to win, but its the most joyous song on offer at this years competition. Jurgis and his boys now how to entertain the crowd, and with a funny catchy upbeat ditty like 'Eastern European Funk' it will sail through to the final. Add to that, reasonably good looking guys, a little bit of humour, some poking fun in politics, and a little bit of flashing leg and sequinned hotpants, we have a top 5 contender for sure. Don't agree? Think back to 2006 and LT Uniteds' 'We are the winners'... it was the highest result Lithuania has ever received at Eurovision, and it had the element of good natured fun to it. Incultos entry is better both musically, lyrically and in presentation. In a far more average Eurovision year. The likes of the UK and Ireland will vote in droves for it (and not just because of diaspora). I took a each way bet on Lithuania 380/1. I expect to be rich this time in 15 days even if they only come 4th.