EBJ’s top 10…Junior Eurovision countries

By Jaz, November 26, 2012

This time next week, JESC 2012 will be over (sad face) and I will be attempting to stay awake at a Christmas party having gone to bed at 6am after watching the contest live (I bet you’ve missed me complaining about being an Australian Eurovision fan. It really can be traumatising). There are still a few things to take care of between now and then, and I’m not just referring to painstakingly selecting my show snacks. The second half of my reviews is yet to come, as is the final recap of Yerevan and a prediction or two of what will go down in Amsterdam. But right now, it’s time for a top 10.

I’m always labeling one country or another as one of my favourite ESC or JESC participants – and now we’re in the thick of Junior month I figured it was about time I made the mini-Eurovision list official. It’s not exactly easy to narrow down which of the 31 nations who have ever competed are your most-loved, but a lot of nostalgia, countless calculations of percentages (#eurovisionmathsisthebestmaths) and several hours later, I’ve cracked it. The list is based on the countries that have sent amazing songs time and time again – in my opinion, of course – and in doing so given me high expectations of them the next contest approaches. Quite a few of them have less than impressive records in the ESC, but have found their rhythm (and a factory that produces supremely talented singer-songwriters aged 10-15) in Junior. Let’s hope they figure out how to do both in style sometime soon.

In the meantime, check out my favourite JESC countries and let me know which ones would be on your list.

 

#1 | Belgium

Debut: Copenhagen 2003

Best result: 4^th in 2009

My top 3:

Zo Verliefd (Yodelo) by Laura (2009)

Anders by Trust (2007)

De Vriendschapsband by X!NK (2003)

 

#2 | Spain

Debut: Copenhagen 2003

Best result: 1^st in 2004

My top 3:

Te Traigo Flores by Antonio José (2005)

Antes Muerta Que Sencilla by Marìa Isabel (2004)

Te Doy Mi Voz by Dani (2006)

 

#3 | Armenia

Debut: Rotterdam 2007

Best result: 1^st in 2010

My top 3:

Erazanq by Arevik (2007)

Mama by Vladimir Arzumanyan (2010)

Welcome To Armenia by Dalita (2011)

 

#4 | Georgia

Debut: Rotterdam 2007

Best result: 1^st in 2008/2011

My top 3:

Odelia Ranuni by Mariam Romelashvili (2007)

Candy Music by Candy (2011)

Mari Dari by Mariam Khakelishvili (2010)

 

#5 | the Netherlands

Debut: Copenhagen 2003

Best result: 1^st in 2009

My top 3:

Ik Ben Een Teenager by Rachel (2011)

Click Clack by Ralf Mackenbach (2009)

Stupid by Tess (2005)

 

#6 | Ukraine

Debut: Bucharest 2006

Best result: 2^nd in 2008

My top 3:

Evropa by Kristall (2011)

Matrosy by Victoria Petryk (2008)

Urok Hlamuru by Ilona Galytska (2007)

 

#7 | Serbia

Debut: Bucharest 2006

Best result: 3^rd in 2007/2010

My top 3:

Učimo Strane Jezike by Neustrašivi Učitelji Stranih Jezika (2006)

Čarobna Noć by Sonja Skorić (2010)

Piši Mi by Nevena Bozović (2007)

 

#8 | Belarus

Debut: Copenhagen 2003

Best result: 1^st in 2005/2007

My top 3:

My Vmeste by Ksenia Sitnik (2005)

S Druz’yami by Alexey Zhigalkovich (2007)

Tantsui by Volha Satsuk (2003)

 

#9 | Sweden

Debut: Copenhagen 2003

Best result: 3^rd in 2006

My top 3:

Det Finaste Någon Kan Få by Molly Sandén (2006)

Du by Mimmi Sandén (2009)

Varför Jag? by Limelights (2004)

 

#10 | Macedonia

Debut: Copenhagen 2003

Best result: 5^th in 2007/2008

My top 3:

Prati Mi SMS by Bobi Andonov (2008)

Rodendeski Baknež by Denis Dimoski (2005)

Ding Ding Dong by Rosica & Dimitar (2007)

So, which countries have you fallen in love with based on their Junior entries? 

2 Responses to “EBJ’s top 10…Junior Eurovision countries”

1. Annika November 28, 2012

   Hi again Jazz…oh sorry, I know it’s not even funny xD

   I think my top 5 would be something like:

   1. FYR Macedonia: Liked: 8/9 Loved: 6/9 Disliked: 1/9
   Favorite: Rodendeski Baknež

   2. Serbia (not counting their 2005 entry since that was Montenegro) Liked: 4/5 Loved: 3/5 Disliked: 1/5
   Favorite: It’s between Piši mi and Čarobna noć.

   3.Lithuania: Liked 4/4 Loved: 1/4
   Favorite: Laiminga diena. I can hear you screaming from here…sorry 😛

   4. The Netherlands: Liked: 8/10 Loved: 5/10 Disliked: 2/10
   Favorite: Teenager

   5. Belgium: Liked: 5/10 Loved: 3/10 Disliked: 2/10
   Favorite: Anders

   3 of my top 5 favorite countries don’t even participate anymore 😥 sad times

   LikeLike

   Reply
• Jaz November 29, 2012

  When you say Jazz I just try to think of ‘Vesinniy Jazz’ or ‘Junior Swing’. NOT ‘Boy and Girl’! It helps.

  Woo! Macedonia! I miss them already =[ I don’t think they got the scores they deserved over the years. Well, except for 2009 and 2011.

  I don’t hate ‘Laiminga’ that much! It must be someone else you can hear screaming…maybe Lerika after having a nightmare that she’s going to lose on Saturday.

  With you on Serbia, the Netherlands and Belgium, obviously. The last two are so underrated a lot of the time. ‘Anders’ is a prime example, although I guess it was a bit mature for JESC.

  LikeLike

  Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.