Mångfald, Möten, Möjligheter.. malmo
Second Semi Final
Second Semi Final will be held 3 days after first one. It is on May 16th 2013. 17 countries compete in this round, and still only 10 entries qualify to the final round. Well, entries which compete on second semi final has various genre from folk, pop, rap, electronic, and more which is interesting. Here are the review :
01 Latvia - PeR - Here We Go
Latvia oh Latvia.. i think Latvia is one of the country who has weekest entry year every year. Since Marie N winning on 2002, epic acapella on 2006, Latvia always send a good and modern and unique song to the contest. Have a look Aisha ballad on 2010, Musiqq on 2011 or Anmary last year. They are unique, but you know sometimes being unique doesnt ensure to get attention.
That phrase suits well for Latvia, so does this year entry. PeR, a modern pop duo with a british rap things represent Latvia with their english-based song titled Here We Go. My first reaction after listening to the song is : God bless you Latvia. The song is not bad but far from good. It comes into my ears and comes out from my ears easily. Nothing special about the song, nothing wow me, and nothing.. ah yes nothing. I dont think this song will qualify, but if it does i will be very very surprised.
Point : 3/10
Comment : I dont like it. Too light.
Qualifed : NO
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02 San Marino - Valentina Monetta - Crisalide (Vola)
She did it again, and she does it much much much better.
This song is a masterpiece. Crisalide (Vola) or Chrysalist (Fly) is a song sung in italian which describes the process of becoming a successful artist. Beside the amazing and inspired lyrics, this song also has very good melody, unique tempo, and thrilled classy instrument beat. The song began with a piano tuts, really slow, ballad things, then hit the reffrain amazingly when the monetta's vocal become higher and some violins sound played in the background. After first refrain, the tempo is raising up and up and up till the end of the song.
I do loving this song much. First I didnot expect that this small country bordered by italy and switzerland can have such an amazing entry. But then this song is fucking my ears hardcorely then it gets eargasm quickly. Compare to last year when Valentina Monetta play notebook and sing uh-oh-uh-oh facebook song in Baku's stage, this song is 10x better. Italy will surely vote this song, and people who love classic and instrumental song also will vote this. so qualified ? Absolutely with no doubt. If this song isnot qualified, it means that eurovision voting is no longer trusted.
Point : 10/10
Comment : One of the best entry this year. Lovely amazing thrilled italian song.
Qualifed : YES Absolutely.
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03 FYR Macedonia - Esma & Lozano - Pred da se razdeni
Vlatko Lozanoski is one of my favorite balkan singer. I listen to his latest album and it is amazing. I am glad he will represent FYR Macedonia this year, and i am pretty sure he can keep Kaliopi's grandfinal stick in this year contest. But when I heard Pred da se razdeni (before the sunrise), when Lozano will sing with Esma, a senior macedonian singer, I am dissapointed. Really dissapointed.
Lozano who has pop rock root will sing a pop folk with a dance element. ah come on macedonia. How could you ?! The song itself actually is not bad since Lozano is a great singer so does Esma. But they should sing this song as a duet right, but why I fell like they sing this song individually. I dont feel the chemistry between both singer, and i feel like this song is actually two songs who taped into one song which makes me feel weird. The song is also having less wow-factor that makes me remember this song. Overall, I dont think this song will make it to the final. but dont worry Lozano, I will always be your fans.
Point : 6/10
Comment : Great singer + Bad song = Bad.
Qualifed : NO.
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04 Azerbaijan - Farid Mammadov - Hold Me
Another ballad from Azeri this year, but yeah the tempo is louder than last year which is good. Since the debut in belgrade 2008, Azerbaijan doesnt disappointed me when it comes to the song.
Their entry year by year are good, unique, and above the average. But when it comes to the performance, some of the entry are performed badly **elgar and niki**cough**. This year, Hold Me sung by Farid Mamadov for me is really good, nice, deep and touching lyrics, and the beat is good. This song is not a ballad but not also an upbeat, just a medium beat. This song sung in english, and Farid pronounciation are good, and well-and-easy-to-be-understood. Hold me begins with slow tempo then it is getting up and up and up until the best part of the song, last refrain. But again, just like last year, this song has a very bad ending. Why azeri ? why ?!
Apart from bad ending, I do enjoying the song, It has a wow factor but not really stood-out. I am pretty sure this song will qualified easily in semifinal, then will do so well in grand final, top 10 for sure.
Point : 8/10
Comment : Good and unique song, but hate the ending.
Qualifed : YES.
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05 Finland - Krista Siegfrids - Marry Me
Folkish by Kuunkuiskajat ? failed. Ballad pop by Paradise Oscar ? qualified but didnt do well in final. Beautiful ballad sung in sweden by Pernilla Karlson ? failed *sadly. Another rock and roll ? boring. how about some pop rock p!nk and avril lavigne style ? hmm let's see.
Finland is a country which always try something new for their entry every year since many people tired of their rock and roll when it began in 2006 till 2008. This year, Krista with her pop rock song Marry Me will fly to malmo bringing finish flag in his hand. This song is good. Yea typical american pop rock song, just like p!nk or avril lavigne. I found out this song is interesting since i love p!nk's song. But after few times of listening over and over, It is bored me but it is good, but it is bored. Krista need to show both performance and vocal amazingly to impress many people. "oh oh oh oh ding dong" with a wedding bell ding dong sound is the wow factor of this song and people will remember it easily, yea at least for me.
Will this song qualified ? I think it will. but once again, it depends on what Krista and her Marry Me brings to the stage. Good performance ? qualified. Plain performance ? adios.
Point : 7/10
Comment : Good song but quite boring.
Qualifed : YES.
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06 Malta - Gianluca - Tomorrow
Ahhh another cheesy song. Malta oh Malta. Tomorrow is a song describes the life of Jeremy, an IT person. Heyy i am in IT and i am not like that. Actually the song is quite ok.
This song is a medium beat with some acapella and guitar element inside it, just like jason mraz things. But sadly, the lyric is cheesy and ah come on -.- then this song is having no wow factor and too light so i forget this song easily. If i compare to last year song, Both song (previous entry and this entry) is cheesy but last year entry is much better than this. Qualified ? I dont think so. better luck next time sunny side island, Malta.
Point : 4/10
Comment : Cheesy + boring song.
Qualifed : NO.
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07 Bulgaria - Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankoulov - Samo Shampioni
AWESOME, They are back ! Bulgaria is back to the game.
Bulgaria Bulgaria, they need more luck to qualified to the final in this contest. I love Poli Genova's song in 2011, so does last year dance electronic Sofi Marinova's song, but both were failed to qualified. But this year, I am eagerly and believing my self that Bulgaria can make it to the final and even get precious rank in final. It is Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov, a duo folkish drum-instrumental things will bring Bulgaria back to the game with samo shampioni (only champion). This is second time for Elitsa & Stoyan representing Bulgaria in eurovision after a success entry Voda (Water) back in 2007. Just like the 2007 entry, Samo Shampioni will be sung in traditional bulgarian with some folk element covered by amazing drum and traditional musical instrument of this central-european country. I dont understand bulgarian language but what I understand, this song is good, very good, very unique, and stood out among other entry. I pretty sure, elita & stoyan will give cool and awesome performance on stage with their drum just like what they did in helsinki. Will they win the contest ? I dont think so. but they will be qualified easily and takes top 15 easily also in the final. So Glad they are back, and Bulgaria choose the right song to suit in the contest. Brava Brava.
Point : 9/10
Comment : Folkish, Unique, amazing, and cool performance.
Qualifed : YES.
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08 Iceland - Eyþór Ingi - Eg A Lif
Traditional iceland ? ooh interesting. After several entry sung in English, Iceland tries something new this year, they bring the icelandic song to malmo.
Will Eyþór (read : eythor) be as success as yohanna or other previous entry ? i am not so sure. Eg A Lif or I am Alive is good ballad song with nordic element. When I hear the song, I feel like I am in narnia land or some viking village. Good and simple ballad, not to much and not less also, amazing lyrics about how precious life is, but appearently Eg A Lif is not strong enough to pass through the final. The song is less stood out, so it will be forgotten easily. even if I dont think this song will be qualified, it doesnt mean that i dont like the song. i do loving the song. really nice to have a listen to this song when the rain pour, alone, and a cup of tea.
Point : 8/10
Comment : Simple and good ballad. Just less stood out.
Qualifed : NO.
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09 Greece - Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis - Alcohol is Free
Greek is always be greek, amazing and unique as always.
Greece is one country that i give attention to in this contest. Why ? Just like Ukraine, they keep giving me surprise with their entry year by year. After winning in 2005, Greece is one of the toppest country in eurovision. Anna Visi in 2006, Sarbel in 2007, My favorite Kalomira in 2008, Gay-ish Sakis Rouvas in 2009, daddy giorgos in 2010, amazing awesome song sung by Yiorkas in 2011, and last year Eleftheria, all has a similiar and consistent music, greek music. Greek music is unique, very middle-east, lovely word, and really nice instrument inside. Alcohol is Free sung by Koza Mostra and Agathon Iakovidis is an upbeat folk funk and ska song. Funk and ska ? yes Funk and ska, Greek Funk and middle-east ska. Ah lovely. I love this song since the first time i hear this. I find that this song is really unique, and showing greek identity really well. It is also fun, cheering contrast with what Greece facing in economic thing. The word alcohol alcohol alcohol is free,, freaky freaky mija.. keeps spinning in my head. Qualified ? yes. Win ? I dont think so. Top 10 ? absolutely yes. So lets ska-ing people.. alcohol alcohol alcohol is freee~~
Point : 9/10
Comment : Unique and fun song. Cheers.
Qualifed : YES.
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10 Israel - Moran Mazor - Rak Bishvilo
Adele represent Israel this year ?????? ah just adele-look-a-like. HAHAHAHA
Israel will go well this year for sure. Even if the hebrew is really hard to say (at least for me), but Rak Bishvillo or Just for Him is one of stood-out ballad song this year. Moran Mazor is a big size lady, she looks like Adele you know, and her voice is yea not as good as adele but still great. Ok back to the song, Rak Bishvillo has amazing lyric about how big her love to her lover. The song is a ballad medium tempo song, covered with piano in the background. I love the reffrain part of the song, it is thrilled me. But the best part is the last reffrain when she hits high note, amazing. But again, the ending is kindda hanging, and less wow sadly. This song is worth-listened, and I will be pissed-off if she cant bring the israeli flag in the final.
Point : 8/10
Comment : Stood-out ballad. Love it!
Qualifed : YES.
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11 Armenia - Dorians - Lonely Planet
What happen to Armenia this year ? Do they loss their memory of what the eurovision is all about after last year absent ?
Armenia is one country that i pay attention to, beside Greece and Ukraine. Why ? because they always give me an unique song. Andre in 2006, Hayko in 2007, My lovely Sirusho in 2008, Amazing Inga & Anush in 2009, and Eva rivas in 2010, they are some entries of Armenia i like most. Unqiue, very arabic and middle-east things, and stood out. But then it changed when Emmy with her dull song Boom Boom in 2011, ughh. they yes as i expected, armenia failed to qualify. then last year, they went absent since the tension between azerbaijan. Ah i expected some good comeback, some sirusho and stuff music this year, but what i got ? an english dull rock song. Dorians will bring Armenia flag with "Lonely Planet" to malmo this year. As I said before, Lonely Planet is a dull standard rock song. Nothing special. No wow factor. Just like common pop rock song with medium tempo beat. No instrument stood out, dorians' vocal is average, and overall below average. Remember Turkey's entry in Dusseldorf 2011 ? yes it is similar music. Similar faith ? I think it will. no this song wont be qualified since it is boring. ugh. please send Sirusho next year Armenia. Come on, we need your traditional element back.
Point : 3/10
Comment : So dull.
Qualifed : NO
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12 Hungary - ByeAlex - Kedvesem
Woo another Anna Rossinelli-similar-entry. What who ? yes he is ByeAlex.
ByeAlex won hungarian national final and bring hungary flag to malmo with kedvesem (my darling). Kedvesem itself is a song sung in native hungarian describes about love. The song is slow medium beat song, accompanied by accoustic guitar from the beginning till the end of song. I personally love the song since it is calming me and such a wind breeze every time i hear the song. once again, even if i dont understand the song at all, i quite enjoy it. the guitar is well played and really fit with the song. As i said before, this song reminds me of Switzerland anna rossineli's song back in 2011. Compare to last year entry Compact Disco, this year is much better. But is this song good enough to qualify ? i am not so sure. This genre is quite risky cause it is less stood out but in the other hand the song is calming and calming song has a potential to be qualified. Perhaps some amazing performance will boast this song. Yea i will be happy if he can qualify but i wont be sad either if he fails.
Point : 8/10
Comment : Such a calming song.
Qualifed : NO
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13 Norway - Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love
one word : AMAZING. Wow Norway has such an amazing entry this year after shite entry last year.
Haa Norway, they still hold the highest point the winner ever got in the contest in 2009 when Rybak won, but in the other hand they also hold the most frequent country who got the last position. I dont know, everytime Norway has a good entry then year later their entry is bad, and worse, and worst, then it is raised to good and then bad and etc. Well, I feed you my love by Margaret Berger is one of stood out song in this year contest along with Ukraine, and Denmark. and I personally think she can win this year contest. I feed you my love is a pop techno rock song, sung in english. The tempo is medium, the lyric is about love, and the music is yea techno rock just like bjork meet robyn, you know. just wow. I am pretty sure that Margaret Berger will do well this year, since malmo is close to norway (so she can gain a lot vote), then the song will easily penetrate the european chart cause the song is really mainstream and modern, it feels like this song coming from the future. No word can describe this song beside Amazing. I love it. It absolutely will qualify and hits Top 5 for sure.
Point : 10/10
Comment : just one word: Amazing.
Qualifed : YES.
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14 Albania - Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko - Identitet
Welcome back rock element into Albania's entry. I hope you will rock the stage not as other rock song who had failed couple years ago.
Albania, the red with black bird flag joined eurovision well back in 2004 when Anjani hit top 5. Albania sends numerous genre on this contest, mostly pop, then pop folk in 2005, rock in 2010, and even eurodance in 2009. How about rock ? ohh they already did in 2008 so does 2011, and both didnt do well on final. How about now ? Nah identitet or identity sung in albanian by adrian lulgjuraj & bledar sejko, for me will end up just like other of their rock entries : fail. Compare to last year, when Suus sparked well on stage, i think this year their spark will be darker. Less stood-out. It is just plain and flat. One thing i do like from this song is the solo guitar when the song reach the ending part. The rest ? ah just flat. so albania, better luck next year.
Point : 6/10
Comment : Flat. Rock. Plain. Rock. Flat.
Qualifed : NO
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15 Georgia - Nodi Tatishvili & Sophie Gelovani - Waterfall
Claps for Georgia's entry this year. Probably the most powerfull ballad this year.
Waterfall will be sung for Georgia by Nodi & Sophie. Wow a duet again after Bulgaria. OK, many people said that this song is a copycat of Spain's entry last year Que Date Comingo. For me, yea i should agree about that. Waterfall has the same tempo, and the same flow just like Que Date Comingo. Slow tempo in the beginning, then powerfull and strong tempo surrounded by high note and amazing vocal in the end. I personally like this song, a lot. I imagine their performance will be epic and amazing with white light, sparkling things, and waterfall in the background. I hope their vocal are really good and the chemistry will work well. No doubt that the song will qualify and probably top 10 in the final.
Point : 9/10
Comment : Most powerful ballad this year
Qualifed : YES
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16 Switzerland - Takasa - You and Me
Nah another copycat of last year entry. After Georgia to Spain, and now Switzerland to Russia. Last year, Russia made all people smile because of their last year entry : 6 grannies with an amazing pop folk dance song. Now their concept is adapted into Switzerland when Takasa with You and Me will hit Malmo stage.
Takasa is a group, consists of band, with backing vocal and some war veterans playing instrument. Oh well, older people charming is the power of switzerland entry this year. Will it work ? Hmm i guess it will. The song is not bad, it is quite good and calming medium tempo song. Adding veteran to play instrument into the performances is a good way i think. People will appreciate it so much and probably vote for this song. You and Me itself is a medium and kindda oldies. Everytime i hear the song, i feel like i am in a cold war or something. But will it qualify ? i think it will. Another but, compare to others entry, this song has less powerful so i put this song as perhaps qualify.
Point : 8/10
Comment : a calm and good with oldies element inside
Qualifed : PERHAPS
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17 Romania - Cezar - It's My Life
Romania surprises me again. yes Romania always keep surprising me year by year by their entry. Amazing playing with fire in 2010, cheesy pop in 2011, and latin catchy song last year is a sample of what Romania's entry looks like. This year, Cezar, a soprano singer will sing a central-european dance song named It's My Life, with his soprano voice. HAHAHA nah please imagine.
Romania is a country in central europe which popular with their dance music. Most of good and awesome dance music are made in Romania which is cool. But It's My Life is not really good type of dance music. With soprano voice ? ah even worse. First time i hear the song my comment is Gosh This song is such a gay-dragqueen song. It reminds me of DQ in 2007 much. Eventhough it's my life feels like gay-dragqueen song things, i find out the song is quite catchy. It will be catchier if the soprano voice is dropped and changed into normal voice. Hahaha i dont know i just want to laugh everytime i imagine Cezar hit the stage singing this song. Since europe has a lot of LBGT peoples, i do believing that the song will qualify, but wont do well in final.
Point : 7/10
Comment : such a gay-dragqueen song
Qualifed : PERHAPS
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to be continued to part 3...
