Most-Played…JESC entries
By my reckoning, there are 296 days until Junior Eurovision 2012 – but I always was rubbish at maths.
Now that I’ve gotten that bad joke off my chest, I can tell you that there are in fact 22 days until the show, and that I don’t feel one of my usual rambling introductions is necessary for this post. Here’s a playlist of my most listened to entries from the last nine years of mini Eurovision, which surprised even me in its lack of resemblance to my list of all-time favourites…
#1 | Zo Verliefd (Yodelo) by Laura (Belgium 2009)
“I’m SO much cuter than Ralf…it should’ve been me!”
This list may not go hand in hand with my top 20 Junior songs of all time, but it does have my absolute most-loved right where it should be. Belgium is one of my favourite JESC countries (as opposed to being one of my most maligned ESC countries) and of all the gems they’ve sent over the last nine years, Laura’s is my personal best. Who’d have thought yodeling could a) not bring up unpleasant memories of being forced to watch all 56 and ½ hours of The Sound of Music when I was a kid and b) be so enjoyable? Prior to 2009 (and Gwen Stefani’s Wind It Up aside) not moi.
#2 | Erazanq by Arevik (Armenia 2007)
#3 | Antes Muerta Que Sencilla by Maria Isabel (Spain 2004)
#4 | Arabiens Drøm by Anne Gadegaard (Denmark 2003)
#5 | Mama by Vladimir Arzumanyan (Armenia 2010)
“The power of my finger compels you! To vote for me, that is.”
Two years on and I’m still loving it! This is the most recent winner I was 100% happy with, and didn’t have to spend a fortnight or so coming to terms with. Vlad (who I suspect will grow up to be quite the ladies’ man) deserved the victory with this ethno-pop plea for his mother’s love advice, which I can’t believe he wrote and composed himself at the tender age of twelve.
#6 | Det Finaste Någon Kan Få by Molly Sandèn (Sweden 2006)
#7 | Ti Si Moja Prva Ljubav by Dino Jelusic (Croatia 2003)
#8 | Allt Jag Vill Ha by Josefine Ridell (Sweden 2010)
#9 | Eooo, Eooo by Anja Veterova (FYR Macedonia 2010)
Little does Anja know her backup dancers are laughing at the ‘KICK ME’ sign on her back
I’m sorry to say this, but Anja’s singing – and unfortunately, speaking – voice is one of the most irritating I’ve ever heard. Luckily her entry for Macedonia in Minsk was so damn catchy it overshadowed that. I find this such a good sing-along song, and I think it could stand up in big Eurovision with a few tweaks.
#10 | Knock Knock!…Boom Boom! by Nicole (Malta 2010)
#11 | Mijn Ogen Zeggen Alles by Roel (Netherlands 2003)
#12 | Anders by Trust (Belgium 2007)
#13 | Oki Doki by Bartas (Lithuania 2010)
Bartas’ reaction on discovering he’d be opening the 2010 contest
I distinctly remember disliking this in the lead-up to Minsk, something I could say about quite a few of the songs on this list. Apparently I’ve come around. It does have a way of getting into your head – particularly the ‘oki doki’ parts, which are kind of annoying but so easy to sing along with.
#14 | Muzyki Svet by Daniil Kozlov (Belarus 2010)
#15 | Shut Up by Oliver (Belgium 2008)
#16 | Click Clack by Ralf (Netherlands 2009)
‘Click-Clack’ is actually Dutch for ‘stop that, you’re pulling my arms out of their sockets!’
Who doesn’t love this song? Okay, so it’s likely not everyone loves it, but come on – it’s so hard to resist those ba-da-bi-di-do’s! All in all it’s one of my favourite JESC winners, and despite the strong competition from Russia, Armenia and Belgium, I think it was the right choice. Anytime the Netherlands win anything ESC-related, there should be widespread celebration.
#17 | Čarobna Noč by Sonja Skoric (Serbia 2010)
#18 | Moondog by Amanda Bašmakova (Latvia 2011)
#19 | Get Up! by Jill & Lauren (Belgium 2010)
#20 | Sommer og Skolefri by Malin (Norway 2005)
‘Yes! I managed to hold up this giant mike the whole time!’
I’ve already sung the praises of this entry in my JESC ’05 recap (not literally, but if I had it would’ve gone something like this: ‘IIIII looooo-uhhh-ooooove thiiis SOOOOOOONG!!’, followed by riotous applause) but you can never say too many good things about it – it’s not like it’s going to get a big head. Malin was so teeny and adorable back then, and her super-cute song that implied how much school sucks was just the cherry on top.
Which Junior songs make your most-played list??
COMING UP: As the countdown to Amsterdam continues, I put JESC 2009 under the microscope. Then, it’s the exposé you’ve all been waiting for: who are the JESC doppelgangers? All will be revealed very soon…
eurovisionbyjaz.com 
4 Responses to “Most-Played…JESC entries”
MUZYKI SVET?!?!! Seriously :O all I can say is…..Wait until Dara sees that xD Other than that, I like the rest of your list and I have some of those in my list as well.
According to iTunes this is my top 20 most played jesc songs right now
1. Moldova 2011
2. Georgia 2007
3. Netherlands 2011
4. Serbia 2007
5. Malta 2010
6. Macedonia 2005
7. Serbia 2010
8. Denmark 2003
9. Macedonia 2004
10. Belgium 2009
11. Macedonia 2010
12. Belgium 2007
13. Romania 2005
14. Belgium 2007
15. Sweden 2006
16. Russia 2009
18. Croatia 2004
19. Lithuania 2008
20. Ukraine 2007
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Thanks for warning me. If Hurricane Dara appears I shall be prepared to defend myself!!
Pleased to see Mariam on your list. And Denis, and Laura, and Trust, etc etc. Seeing as Lerika is on top. can I ask: do you think ‘Sensatsiya’ is better than ‘No No’?? I know they’re very different but I’m curious!
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Zo verliefd is also my all-time favorite! I think Latvia’s “Viva La Danse” is totally underrated. She deserved to do better!
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Anyone who loves Belgium ’09 as much as I do must be supremely amazing, so congrats!
“Viva La Danse” was pretty good, but I didn’t rate those golf tournament outfits.
PS – your blog kicks butt #shamelessflatteryftw
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