Selection Season Day 8: Continental song-offs and Swedish second chances
Hello again. It’s March, and another Super Saturday is upon us, but this time there’s a Super (ish) Sunday to go with it. This weekend, we have:
– Sweden’s Andra Chansen round
– Israel’s version of the above
– a Serbian semi and final
– decisions from Armenia, Estonia, Hungary and Bulgaria
– so many NFs, so little time, basically
That, combined with the fact that I’ve just gone back to university and am currently in way over my head, means there isn’t a second to spare for a wordy intro, so let’s crack on!
Entries of the week: my verdict
Five songs were released/chosen this week, and though I don’t want to give too much of my opinion away before my reviews, I feel compelled to inform you of my first impressions.
Croatia (Mižerja) – As a lover and learner of Croatian, I do appreciate a second consecutive year of native tongue from this country, especially after the train wreck that was Celebrate…ick. I also appreciate the traditional ethnicity of this entry, not to mention (even though I’m about to mention it) the top-notch live vocals from Klapa s Mora (so much more fun to say than ‘Super Klapa’). However, I can’t see this qualifying.
Georgia (Waterfall) – I do like this song, and again, the vocals from Sophie and Nodi are faultless. But sending a ready-made, cookie-cutter ballad penned by Swedes is a terribly Azerbaijan thing for Georgia to do, and it comes off as being an effortless selection in a negative way.
And here I was thinking Macedonia had this year’s Ell & Nikki…
Macedonia (Imperija) – I had no idea what to expect from this duo, and yet it wasn’t this. It was the best song to premiere this week by far IMO. There’s something dated about it, something vaguely 90s…but I grew up in the 90s, and it was a great decade for me. Methinks I’ll be retrieving my FYROM flag from the depths of my wardrobe before May.
Russia (What If) – What if, indeed. What if this song had different lyrics, or a Russian version even, that turned it from a sentimental cheese-fest into a reasonable ballad? If, if, IF! It was always going to be hard for Russia to follow the grannies, and in light of this, I say bring those saucy minxes back!
Spain (Contigo Hasta El Final) – How does this go again? I can’t remember. Pastora Soler blew me away last year, and even if you weren’t a fan you can’t deny that Quedate Conmigo went somewhere. This song really doesn’t.
Which of these, if any, is giving you douze vibes?
Sweden’s penultimate showdown
In my experience, it’s usually the worst couple of songs from the eight that make Andra Chansen that get out of it. So even though the line-up this year is stronger than the actual final, I won’t be surprised if my favourites don’t advance. Seriously, check this out and tell me the standard isn’t higher here.
- You by Robin Stjernberg
- Vi Kommer Aldrig Att Förlora by Eric Gadd
- Hon Har Inte by Caroline af Ugglas
- Jalla Dansa Sawa by Behrang Miri
- Hello Goodbye by Erik Segerstedt & Tone Damli
- Begging by Anton Ewald
- Burning Flags by Cookies ‘n’ Beans
- In And Out Of Love by Martin Rolinski
SVT has messed around with the AC structure for 2013 in a way that makes no sense to me. Instead of immediately pairing the eight songs up in the sudden-death duels that we love so much, they’ve decided to pit them all against each other in a round of voting to determine the top 5 (so far, fair enough, right?). But then, they’ve chosen to hold another round of voting just to cut one song. What is the point? Why not at least take it from a top 6 to a top 4? Sheesh.
Anyway, after that, the duels – just two – will come into play, and the lucky winners will take the final two places in the Friends Arena final. I wouldn’t be too happy if I was one of them, because let’s face it: they ain’t gonna win Melodifestivalen. But, you know. Good luck and all that.
I’d really love Robin, Behrang, Erik & Tone or Martin to nab a place. This is how I think things will go down.
The top 5 – Robin, Eric, Caroline, Behrang, Anton
The top 4 – Robin, Caroline, Behrang, Anton
The winners of Andra Chansen – Robin and Caroline, a.k.a. a half happy, half not-so-happy outcome for yours truly.
I really do want it to be ‘you’, Robin.
Who do you think deserves those second chances?
Elitsa & Stoyan, take two
The dynamic duo that took Bulgaria to the dizzying heights of 5th place in Helsinki is back, looking a little older (funny, that) but sounding much the same. The three songs Elitsa and Stoyan put forward as potential entries were released a few weeks ago, and I have two words to describe how I felt when I listened to them: intrigued and disturbed.
- Dzupai, Libe Boso
- Kismet
- Samo Shampioni
I dig the fusion of ethnic and contemporary they offer, and Stoyan’s drumming is as appealing as it was six years ago. But there is something frightening about Elitsa’s ahem, unique voice when accompanied by such things as rappers and dance beats. Could the European public be frightened into voting for them? I don’t know.
I do know my pick would be Dzupai, Libe Boso, even though I know it shouldn’t be. But there isn’t a lot separating them in my book, so whichever one goes to Malmö, I’ll make my peace with. Even Samo Shampioni, which reminds me of washing my hair. But I just don’t think these two will be able to do what I assume BNT recruited them to do – recapture the magic of Water and in doing so, get Bulgaria a decent result for once. There may be a place in the final for them, though. We shall see.
Do enjoy the program tonight and tomorrow (that is an order). Maybe I’ll see you on the other side? (Not an order, but a polite request for you to get on over here next week).
What are you hoping to get out of this weekend? Which finals will you be tuning in to?
eurovisionbyjaz.com 
5 Responses to “Selection Season Day 8: Continental song-offs and Swedish second chances”
If I wasn’t going out today, I’d totally be staying in to watch everything. However, I have errands and, like you, schoolwork. 😦
Anyway, forget lamenting! Even if it might be hard while watching 2013’s chance of being great fall every day. I mean, Croatia, Spain, Russia, and Georgia is all middling stuff, with Croatia being the best of that group. Macedonia is (apparently) being retuned for a late March re-release so we’ll see if they shun the, what I think is cheap, 90s sound. (If they really wanted a good 90s sound, they should’ve just recruited Daze and had them sing their DMGP entry, which I love to pieces).
To the selections: Sweden’s continuously annoying. You are absolutely right that all of the better songs went into Andra Chansen. The only song I really like still left in the competition is Robin (and David occasionally). Even Caroline disappointed me. 😦
Have you seen any of the Israeli, Hungarian, or Estonian selections? Israel, if they pick anything from their first semi, will probably be in my top five JUST for picking my four favorites from that semi, which never happens. 🙂 Estonia’s got a few goodies and Hungary eliminated my favorite in their semi-final round. Still, it’s so exciting! 😀
Good luck at university! 🙂
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Stupid work gets in the way of everything. School work, then uni work, then work work…life is so unfair.
I hope Macedonia doesn’t get totally overhauled, because I do like it the way it is. And it better stay in Macedonian!! Same with Ukraine. I’m not sure I like the sound of all the editing that’s going on there.
I didn’t follow/haven’t followed any of those NFs in particular. But I think Israel will probably appeal to me simply because they won’t be sending ‘Time’ which I really disliked. Apologies for that if you were a fan, I can’t remember.
I desperately need that luck, so thanks!
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I could live with Macedonia the way it is. It’s smack in the middle of my list right now (14th of 28). Ukraine, in my opinion, needs more depth in the orchestration. It just seems a bit too shouty in its current form. It’s in the 20s right now.
“Time” was my number 9 of 2012 and it also had my favorite music video of the whole year (ESC or not). So consider yourself banished! Kidding. But seriously, Israel actually has some good stuff on offer that you’ll like… hopefully.
Don’t mention it! 😀 What’s your major?
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The only issue I had with Ukraine at NF time was the backing vocalist dude who kept pushing his way in. I’m sure he’s a fine singer in his own right but he was just getting in the way.
Banished from my own blog. That is so sad =”'( JKs.
I did a double major in English and Creative Writing for my bachelor degree, but now I’m doing Honours, which is just crazy hard. Thinking about dropping it, actually.
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Yeah, that just made the whole thing messier. Maybe they’ll do some fine tuning on it and it’ll be amazing.
Wow! That’s great! Don’t worry, you can do it. 🙂
I’m actually thinking about doing some Hono(u)rs classes at university in fall(!), but I really need to work on time management. It’s something that’s always been difficult for me.
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