Malmo is the city that all people will pay attention to. Why ? Yes because they will host the annual Eurovision Song Contest this year. After Loreen's victory last year in Baku, Sweden is emerged to host this year contest, and SVT (Swedish Broadcaster) chose Malmo. Well, Eurovision 2013's theme is "We are one", highlighting equality and unity of all the participating countries alongside the cultural diversity and influence of each participant. oh there are 39 countries participate this year, with Turkey, Slovakia, Portugal, and Bosnia withdrawn and Armenia returned.
Just couple days to go, this amazing song contest on earth will be held. So it is the time to review all the 39 entries. FYI, running order and entries are already set by the end of March. Now let's see, review, and listen, so we can choose which country or song that we really like and love the most, so it is deserved to win.
First Semi Final
First semi final will be held on May 14th 2013. There will be 16 countries compete in this round. Only 10 entries qualify to what become of the grand finale (ANTM style :DD). Alright, here's my review of all entries:
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01 Austria - Natalia Kelly "Shine"
I think Austria is playing safe this year. This year entry is too safe and quite boring me.
I remember first time watching Austria's debut after several years of absent in 2011, that song wow-ed me. Then Last year, male duo with dance electronic-element song and awesome stage performance also impressed me, but sadly they failed to qualified. But now, Austria go back to pop-ish, quite radio friendly but less wow-factor inside. It is Shine, sung by an american brazil-decent singer Natalia Kelly. Shine has a very good lyric and really inspired people who listen the song, but the song itself is quite dull, and forgettable. It is really hard for me to enjoy the song since I dont really this american-pop-ish song. Best part of the song is few minutes before the song will end, when Natalia hits the high note. Ahh i found out that is interesting and really good. But overall, "trust me you will shine" is an average song compare to all entries this year. Will this song qualified ? I think so. European seems like pop-ish song like this year by year. But if this song is not qualifed, I wont be shocked.
Point : 5/10
Comment : Dull song. Boring.
Qualifed : NO.
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02 Estonia - Birgit - Et uus saaks alguse
Estonia seems knowing what they are doing in the contest. Estonia keeps impressing me year by year since 2009.
This year, Birgit Oigemeel is honored to represent Estonia with Et uus saaks alguse or so there can be new beginning. As you can see and ofcourse heard of, this song is sung in estonian. Et uus saaks alguse for me is good, above average, but not really wow me. The song is calming pop with some country element inside, ahh i feel like i heard estonian version of lady antebelum. I m happy this song will be kept sung in estonian cause estonian has a very beautiful word eventhough I dont understand any of estonian words. Compare to last year entry, this song is not as good as last year. But I will be glad if this song qualified.
Point : 7/10
Comment : Calming Song.
Qualifed : PERHAPS.
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03 Slovenia - Hannah - Straight into Love
WOW. Just WOW. Jaw down for slovenia this year. I-I-I am speechless when hearing Slovenia's entry for the first time. It is a danceclub dumstek song ! Slovenia ? WOW..
Slovenia, a small balkan country mostly has a folk-ish song in this contest. I remember they sent a soprano singer to helsinki in 2007, ansambel folk music to oslo in 2007, and their probably best entry to date, a pop-rock with balkan element sung by maja keuc to dusseldorf in 2011. While last year, a beautiful balkan pop ballad sung by Eva Boto failed to qualified and stood in the last position in semifinal. So no wonder my jaw is dropped down when i heard this year song if i compared to their previous entries. just WOW.
Straight into love is a dance, electronic, with full of dumstek beat song. Sung in english by an american-decent singer Hannah Mancini. This song is powerful, really modern but not cheasy like any other recent dumstek song on earth lately. Best part is : this song is stood-out among other songs this year. Dance electronic like this is not new in eurovision, since a lot of this-kind-of-song had tried their luck, and some went well while some didnt. So will Straight into love go well this year ? IT WILL. I cannot wait to see what hannah mancini will give in the stage. She has a beautiful face, beautiful voice, and important is a very good song. If she can combine all of it into a good stage performance, Top 10 will be happy to have Slovenia on it.
Point : 9/10
Comment : OSOM. Love the beat.
Qualifed : YES
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04 Croatia - Klapa s Mora - Mizerja
Unique. That's what Croatia always give especially for me in this contest. I love Daria Kinzer in 2011, but the performance was horrible. I dont like Nina Badric in 2012, but the performance was quite stunning. And this year ? the song is good and the stage will be good also i guess.
Klapa s Mora will sing Mizerja or Misery, bringing red-white checkered-board flag in malmo. Klapa s Mora is a group of vocalist and music ensemble just like IL DIVO and stuff. While, Mizerja is a folk, pop, with some opera element, and will be sung in croatian. I personally love the song cause once again it is unique and so balkan. Beside that, a music ensemble group also had a plus point on stage. The vocal of the vocalist is un-doubtly amazing. Every vocalist has an unique voice, and when the voices combined, it becomes amazing and nice to listen to and make me thrilled. A wow performance is needed for Croatia to make this song qualified. But for me, this song may be qualified as long as the performance is stood out.
Point : 8/10
Comment : Unique, good, thrilled song.
Qualifed : PERHAPS.
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05 Denmark - Emmelie de Forest - Only Teardrops
OOPS DENMARK did it again to my heart.. HAHAHA gosh, another awesome song from Denmark. After good song with lame performance of Soluna Samay last year, Denmark finally find their magic again to find the right music to represent their existence in european music industry.
Emmelie de Forest, a 20 years old danish singer was selected to represent Denmark in malmo this year with a nordic pop titled "Only Teardrops".
I admit, I got an eargasm right after i listened to this song for the first time. The song is really nordic with a flute voice all over the song. This song is quite calm, not too loud, not too ballad, amazing lyric about losing and broken heart, amazing voice, and overall it makes me thrilled. I dont have many things to write down here since this song is really really great. such a masterpiece. So nordic. amazing. awesome and amazing again. Will this song be qualified ? absolutely 100% yes. I think this song will be in top 5 or have a chance to win this year contest even more.
Point : 10/10
Comment : Amazing song. so nordic. Love it !
Qualifed : YES
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06 Russia - Dina Garipova - What If
Russia goes slower this year. I really really enjoyed what Russia gave in Baku last year. 6 grannies sung a folk traditional russian song, baking cookies with smile. Hillarious. But this year, Russia pulls the humour back and set serious mode instead.
Dina Garipova, as my russian friend said she is quite known in Russia in eastern countries, since her vocal is amazingly great, and she has showed in some television singing contest. Well, this 22 years old singer from Zelenodolsk, Russia is an amazing singer with amazing voice. "What If" is an english-sung based song with amazing lyrics about some social pride which make people spirited when hearing the song. I found out this song is good. This song is a pop medium beat song but it is not felt ordinary. It is like there is something which make this song stood out among other pop song in the contest. Compare to last year, this is a downgrade. But I m pretty sure that this song will do well in malmo. Dina Garipova charisma will keep Russia on top 10, or top 15 perhaps, in grand final of course.
Point : 8.5/10
Comment : Inspired Pop Song. Very Good.
Qualifed : YES
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07 Ukraine - Zlata Ognevich - Gravity
Here is the winner!! Ukraine Ukraine how I love your entry so much since 2004. Ukraine is a country that I always pay attention for every year in eurovision. I keep guessing what they will bring to the contest since every year they keep surprised me with their amazing song, Ruslana, GreenJolly, Tina Karol, Verkha serduchka, Ani Lorak, Svetlana Loboda, Alyosha, Mika Newton, and last year Gaitana.. all are awesome.
Well awesomeness appearently wont move from Ukraine's entry, so does this year when Zlata Ognevich's "Gravity" bring Ukraine flag to Malmo.
Zlata Ognevich is 27 years old singer from Sudak, South Ukraine. This year is the third attempts of zlata to win the eurovision Ukraine National Final and finally she won. Gravity is the song sung in english, an emsemble pop song with instrument element in its beat. When i hear the song, It doesnt give me eargasm at first, since the song begin with a slow and less instrument beat. but then it is going stronger when the violin, strings, and all instruments played in the same time, i am thrilled. gosh men.. this is epic epic osom song. The beat is going up and up and up and boom ending. Amazing beat and instruments, amazing vocal, amazing singer, and amazing video preview. I hope this song will be sung well and Zlata can shakes the stage and wows peoples on Malmo or perhaps all viewers watching on TV. Truly winner. This is my most favorite song this year.
Point : 10/10
Comment : Epic Awesome! Love! Ljubav!
Qualifed : YES Absolutely
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08 The Netherlands - Anouk - Birds
Netherlands is one country who has failed several time lately. I even forget that Netherland is joining Eurovision in previous year.
This year a popular dutch singer Anouk will represent 'The Kumpeni' on malmo with her song called Birds. Birds is a ballad, quite classy song. Compare to previous year and years before, this song is so much better, eventhough I dont feel any dutch-unique-some-thing in this song. Orchestra played on the background really fit with Anouk deep and low voice. Some church-things-backup-singer voice is also a plus for this song. This is calm, simple, classy, and good. Qualified ? yes. Winner ? ah no. not strong enough to be the winner or even top 10 in the final.
Point : 8/10
Comment : Calm, Simple, and Classy
Qualifed : YES
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09 Montenegro - Who See feat Nina Zizic - Igranka
claps for Montenegro. I give a bow for this balkan country. Why ? Because they keep sending unique and different song to this contest year by year. They just dont really care if their entry is failed and not qualified, but they really proud by keep sending the most unique and remarkable song to this contest. Bravo!
Last year Rambo Amadeus with Euro Neuro which talks about Europe crisis was honored to be Montenegro's representative, but they failed. Now this year, a rap, hip-hop, dance duo Who See with gorgeous singer Nina Zizic will shake malmo with Igranka or Party. Yaps the song is rap + hiphop + dance sung in montenigrin. Unique ? yes of course. Interesting to listen to ? Yes. Because this song is really modern compare to other balkan entries this year. Apart from its uniqueness, awesomeness, and modern-ness, Igranka is not a eurovision lover typed song. I am 80% sure that this song wont be qualified, but hell yeah no matter what Montenegro should be praised and i will clap to you with my hands and feet if needed.
Point : 8/10
Comment : Unique and Modern.
Qualifed : NO.
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10 Lithuania - Andrius Pojavis - Something
My first comment of this song is .. it is something .. sesuatu. Hahaha i dont know i feel like i have heard this song before.
This song is quite similiar with other oldies pop indie song. Andrius Pojavis won the national selection with his song called Something. Something is a medium tempo song, sung in english. Pojavis has an unique song but this song *as i said before* is quite common and un-unique. Basically i found out that this song is good in the beginning but it sanks and sanks and i forget the melody of the song. Lyrics is average, stage performance i am not sure it will be epic. I dont know lately, Lithuania sends some average song to this contest but they always qualify to the final. So will the luck is still in Lithuania's hand ? My answer is perhaps.
Point : 7/10
Comment : Average pop. Kindda oldies
Qualifed : PERHAPS
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11 Belarus - Alyona Lanskaya - Solayoh
Wahahahahaha finally she reaches her dream by singing on eurovision stage. Alyona Lanskaya actually was singer who represented Belarus last year, but the president of Belarus chose Litesound and dropped her down from the contest. and yes she competed again in national final and won, and will represent Belarus this year.
Solayoh is title of the song that she will sing. Solayoh is an medium upbeat mediterian-belly-dance-turkish element song, sung in english. Good ? quite good. I personally like the song in the beginning since you know Turkey withdrawn from this year contest making me so carving the turkish element song and there is Alyona with Solayoh. But yeah poor performances, put shirtless males on stage while Alyona does some cheesy move is quite disturbing me. But talking about the song, it is quite good, catchy, unique a bit. Nah i think Belarus will qualify this year yes since people who miss Turkey will vote for this song.
Point : 7.5/10
Comment : Quite Good mediterian-belly-dance-turkish song.
Qualifed : YES
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12 Moldova - Aliona Moon - O Me
Moldova Moldova is a small balkan which less attention but appearently have one of unique entry every year along with Montenegro and Ukraine. But their luck is better than Montenegro. Remember when Natalie Barbu hit Helsinki with Fight, Failed Geta Burlacu on Belgrade triggered Hora din Moldova shone in Moscow. Dont forget the sax-guys in Oslo 2010, or one-cycle girl in Dusseldorf 2011, and funny fairies with funny and really good song of Pasha Perfeny last year. Yes they are unique.
Moldova seems know how to represent their song so people love and vote for their entry even though the song is not good enough. Oh well, this year, Pasha Perfeny's backup singer Aliona Moon stepped up by representing Moldova in Malmo with song called O Me or A Million. The song itself is composed by Pasha Perfeny. Ah well...
For me, the song is one of good and powerfull ballad. I heard the english version, it is good. but the romanian version is better, and glad the romanian version is chosen rather than the english one. Well, the song is ballad yes, pop yes, powerful yes since there are a lot of high note that Aliona hit and she hits it well. Overall i do loving this song. one of my favorite ballad song this year. Surely it will qualify, but i m sure also that this song will manage top 15 in the final.
Point : 8.5/10
Comment : Good and Powerful Ballad song.
Qualifed : YES
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13 Ireland - Ryan Dolan - Only Love Survives
*poker face* Ireland why Ireland ? Why you always pick this kind-of-song to malmo.
After jedward fever last year and previous year, I m personally a bit bored and tired of this electronic-pop-type song, and Ireland gosh why ...
Ryan Dolan's Only Love Survives will represent Ireland to malmo. surely swedish love this song since it is such a typical-swedish-pop song. But I dont know i dont like this song. I think this song is too much. The electronic beat is irritating me and just overflown. I feel like Ryan Dolan's voice is drown into the song. Dont like it. Dont like it. But will this song qualify ? Perhaps, since european love this type of song.
Point : 5/10
Comment : Just Too Much.
Qualifed : PERHAPS
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14 Cyprus - Despina Olympiou - An Me Thimase
such a beautiful song. Hahhh I imagine myself sitting in the garden, drink a cup of tea and enjoy breeze everytime i listen to this song.
Cyprus Cyprus, this small country influenced by greek and turkish culture dont really want to win the contest for sure. They play safe and send a safe and fairly song year by year. Oh but last year entry is absolutely amazing.
Well, a well-known singer Despina Olympiou will represent Cyprus. She will sing a greek-based song namely An Me Thimase or If you remember me. The song itself is ballad, calming, really greek, and beautiful. But for me the song is not strong enough to win or even qualify to the final. But still it is beautiful for sure.
Point : 8/10
Comment : Such a beautiful song
Qualifed : NO
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15 Belgium - Roberto Bellarosa - Love Kills
Love Kills over and over. Yay Love Kills over and over. Well, another young singer for Belgium this year.
He is Roberto Bellarosa singing an electro-pop song titled Love Kills. First, the song is good. It is catchy. Love the beat, not too loud not too ballad. Love his voice which is unique. But the song is less strong which is sad. Compare to disney pop-ish last year, Love kills is much better. Belgium surely need extra power to work on his stage performance to make viewer at home remember the song. Qualify ? I put his on perhaps area.
Point : 7.5/10
Comment : Good but less strong.
Qualifed : PERHAPS
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16 Serbia - Moje 3 - Ljubav Je Svuda
Serbia is doing something different this year. Moje 3, three young girls with an angel-decent looks won serbia's national selection and will represent Serbia in Malmo.
Ljujav de Svuda or Love is everywhere is a pop with some electronic element inside will be sung by them in serbian. First time i heard the song, ah it is so much different with previous year's entry or even any of serbia's entry on the contest. The song is more modern, and kindda weird, contrast with what i feel for serbia's entry every year which i consider them as classy. Eventhough it is weird and a decline for Serbia, I personally put this song above average, lower than good. Moje 3 voices are good and unique, their voices blend well, love the stage performance, but need some work to pull out the wow-ness of Serbia. This song will qualify i guess, but top 15 quite hard to reach on for them.
Point : 7.5/10
Comment : Too much for Serbia.
Qualifed : YES
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to be continued to part 2...
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