JESC Challenge: #4, #5, #6 and #7!

By Jaz, November 6, 2011

Day 4: Favourite song by a female soloist

Almost there:

Arabiens Drøm by Anne Gadegaard (Denmark 2003)

Det Finaste Någon Kan Få by Molly Sandèn (Sweden 2006)

Odelia Ranuni by Mariam Romelashvili (Georgia 2007)

Du by Mimmi Sandèn (Sweden 2009)

But my favourite is:

Zo Verliefd (Yodelo) by Laura (Belgium 2009)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii9R5ULTrlI&feature=related

The Sound of Music has nothing on this, a yodel-pop-fest that I think was robbed of second place – two times over – in Kyiv. If it wasn’t for that darned wonderful Ralf guy I would have gone as far as to say this should have won. I love everything about it – especially the way it starts out all ballad-like before unexpectedly launching into one of the catchiest choruses ever heard on a Junior Eurovision stage (well, it’s unexpected if you’re hearing the song for the first time. You kind of know what’s coming on subsequent listens). The yodeling makes it memorable; the up-tempo makes it fun; and the little choreographed jumps and bends make me nostalgic for other songs-with-dances…ah, how I miss you, Macarena.

 

Day 5: Favourite song by a male soloist

Almost there:

Ti Si Moja Prva Ljubav by Dino Jelusić (Croatia 2003)

Een Tocht Door Het Donker by Thor! (Belgium 2006)

Shut Up by Oliver (Belgium 2008)

Prati Mi SMS by Bobi Andonov (FYR Macedonia 2008)

Junior Swing by Daniel Testa (Malta 2008)

Mama by Vladimir Arzumanyan (Armenia 2010)

But my favourite is:

My Song for the World by Tom Morley (United Kingdom 2003)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuw7t5ovjb0&feature=related

Ireland spent a great deal of the 1990s and early 2000s sending message-ballads to big Eurovision. Unfortunately for them, I think the UK beat them at their own game at JESC in Copenhagen– by sending a 10-year-old boy. For me, this song is a classic of the contest: a really good ballad with a message that doesn’t make me want to shoot myself.

 

Day 6: Favourite song by a duo

Almost there:

Sinnsykt Gal Forelsket by 2U (Norway 2003)

Vesenniy Jazz by the Tolmachevy Twins (Russia 2006)

Get Up! by Jill & Lauren (Belgium 2010)

But my favourite is:

Ding Ding Dong by Rosica & Dimitar (FYR Macedonia 2007)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sQuWFwiWHE

I don’t know whether it’s the relative lack of duos in comparison to soloists and groups, or just my taste, but I found it hard to come up with more than a few duets that I like. Ding Ding Dong is the one I like most, which is odd as I usually stay as far away from the boom and bang and tiddly diddly doo songs as I can. I swear I like the song itself too, and not just the fact that Dimitar totally looks like Draco Malfoy.

 

Day 7: Favourite song by a group

Almost there:

Pigen Er Min by Cool Kids (Denmark 2004)

Erazanq by Arevik (Armenia 2007)

Anders by Trust (Belgium 2007)

Bonbolandiya by Bon-Bon (Bulgaria 2007)

But my favourite is:

Učimo Strane Jezike by Neustrašivi Učitelji Stranih Jezika (Serbia 2006)

If Serbia has their own version of Sesame Street then they would surely have adopted this song as their theme. I get pretty into the regular Sesame theme song (What? It’s catchy!) so naturally I love this song to pieces. It may be the kind of ‘childish’ effort that those not in the know would expect from Junior Eurovision, especially lyrics-wise, but who wants to see a kid in a tux/ball dress belting out a heart-wrencher umpteen times over? Sometimes we need to hear a bunch of kids count in umpteen different languages instead.

 

NEXT WEEK: Time-Warp Tuesday, JESC style; the challenge continues with days 8 to 12; and Part 2 of my 2011 reviews will be posted for your viewing pleasure….

 

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