#Greta Salóme

[aijamisespava]

Favorite Songs From Each Country! Part 25/37: Iceland!

When I think of Iceland, I think of "How the heck hadn't they won yet?" They've been considered front runners for so long, but have only managed to finish as high as 2nd. People think that Iceland could have scored that certainly incoming first victory in 2020 had the contest gone on, but that is all up to the imagination now. But I think I speak with a lot of other people when I say that Iceland is definitely hovering around a Eurovision win soon and that we will be partying there the next year.

Favorite Entry: Oof. I forgot that with this project, that means picking a favorite for Iceland. The problem here is that all the ones that I ended up liking and putting in my playlist have their own reasons for being so good. While I could go on and on, I decided to go for "Hear Them Calling" by Greta Salóme from 2016. As much as I love a good rock song, or a ballad in the contest, a song with a minor sound always catches my eye. And this song is perfect for Halloween *totally saying this because I saw it on the Halloween mix the Eurovision Youtube Channel put up alongside my favorite Ukranian entry among others!* RANK: 14th in 2016 Semi-Final 1 (34th Overall)/PERSONAL RANK: 13th of 42 Countries

Thoughts on 2023 Entry: I'm starting with one thing. I love self-empowerment anthems. And Diljá certainly delivered with "Power" this year. I don't know if it's the personal connection I have (personal note, I cut a person that wasn't exactly healthy for me out of my life months before hearing this song for the first time...like "Heart Of Steel" had just been announced as the Ukranian entry days before). So, this song felt like a nudge from the contest telling me I'm going the right way. Was it robbed? Yes indeed. From what I've seen of the performance, she's got an electric stage presence! RANK: 11th in 2023 Semi-Final 2 (27th Overall)/PERSONAL RANK: 19th of 37 Countries

[poorlittleyaoyao]

All-Eurovision Untamed Fanmix, Part 1: Pre-Timeskip

It's Eurovision time again, and that means another retooling of the ever-changing chronological fanmix for The Untamed! Am I joking? Am I being completely earnest. Yes.

Listen to the full 26-song mix here!

(All lyrics from here, all screencaps from here.)

1.) "Heroes" by Måns Zelmerlöw (Sweden 2015)

2.) "Loin d'Ici" by Zoë (Austria 2016)

3.) "Ai Coração" by Mimicat (Portugal 2023)

4.) "I Don't Feel Hate" by Jendrik (Germany 2021)

5.) "Dark Side" by Blind Channel (Finland 2021)

6.) "Fulenn" by Alvan and Ahez (France 2022)

7.) "Hard Rock Hallelujah" by Lordi (Finland 2006)

8.) "Mata Hari" by Efendi (Azerbaijan 2021)

9.) "Storm" by SuRie (UK 2018)

10.) "Forogj, Világ!" by Nox (Hungary 2005)

11.) "Shum" (Ukraine 2021)

12.) "Never Forget" by Greta Salóme and Jónsi (Iceland 2012)

13.) "Zitti E Buoni" by Måneskin (Italy 2021)

[phantomdecibel]

WAIT HOLY HECK-

Odypen vibes

ASGHDJFKGGJHFDHHDGD Y E A H UR RIGHT IT DOOOEEEESS ASGHDFJHHK

also for your consideration of possible odypeb songs:

Battle cry by the family crest

Just my soul responding by Amber run

Heaven knows by five for fighting

Every time you leave by I prevail

and never forget by greta salóme & jónsi :)

[straazdas]

Thread of my 50 most listened songs on Spotify in March!

🗓️ February.

50. 🇦🇲 Shirkhani Par - Garik & Sona

49. 🇦🇲 Im Anune Hayastan E - Inga & Anush

48. 🇭🇷 Nevera (Lei lei) - Harmonija Disonance

47. 🇫🇮 Aava - Edea

46. 🇨🇿 ghosting - Pam Rabbit

45. 🇺🇦 Зозуля - Anastasiya Prykhodko

44. 🇺🇦 1944 - Jamala

43. 🇺🇦🇩🇪 KUPALA - Jerry Heil, alyona alyona, ela.

42. 🇸🇪 Tattoo - Loreen

41. 🇮🇱 Yachilvi Veyachali - Ofra Haza

40. 🇬🇷 Thalassaki - Andromache, DuoViolins

39. 🇱🇹 Stay - Monika Linkytė

38. 🇦🇲 Na Na Na - Srbuk

37. 🇨🇿🇳🇴 Lights Off - We Are Domi

36. 🇵🇱 new home - Alicja

35. 🇸🇪 Statements - Loreen

34. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 I Wrote A Song - Mae Muller

33. 🇵🇹 Antes do adeus - Célia Lawson

32. 🇦🇹 Who the Hell Is Edgar? - Teya & Salena

31. 🇧🇷 Waist - ELLA A

30. 🇹🇳 C'est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison - Amina Annabi

29. 🇲🇰 Pred da Se Razdeni - Lozano, Esma Redžepova

28. 🇮🇱 Rakata - Eden Alene

27. 🇦🇲 Harsanekan - Inga & Anush

26. 🇲🇰 Autumn Leaves - Daniel Kajmakoski

25. 🇦🇲 Future Lover - Brunette

24. 🇬🇪 Echo - Iru Khechanovi

23. 🇦🇲 Narin - Inga & Anush

22. 🇮🇹 MARE DI GUAI - ARIETE

21. 🇦🇺 Promise - Voyager

20. 🇲🇩 Du-mă - Aliona Moon

19. 🇳🇱 Burning Daylight - Mia Nicolai, Dion Cooper

18. 🇮🇸 Hear Them Calling - Greta Salóme

17. 🇮🇪 Come Back To Stay - Dickie Rock

16. 🇦🇲 Der Zor - Sirusho

15. 🇦🇲 Joukhtak Mom - Inga & Anush

14. 🇺🇦 Sevdim Seni - Jamala

13. 🇱🇻 Aijā - Sudden Lights

12. 🇦🇲 Tchanaparh - Inga & Anush

11. 🇸🇮 Prisluhni mi - Darja Švajger

10. 🇪🇸 Niña De Fuego - Blanca Paloma

09. 🇦🇲 Aysor Ton E - Inga & Anush

08. 🇦🇲 Yete Karogh Es - Srbuk

07. 🇬🇪 იდეა - Iru Khechanovi

06. 🇮🇱 The Fire In Your Eyes - Boaz

05. 🇫🇷🇹🇳 Lève-toi - Barbara Pravi, Emel Mathlouthi

04. 🇨🇭 Midnight in Paris - Gjon’s Tears

03. 🇲🇩 Soarele şi Luna - Pasha Parfeni

02. 🇮🇱 Tzur Mentati/Se'i Yona/Sapri Tama - Ofra Haza

01. 🇦🇲 En Dizan - Inga & Anush

🌐 Countries:

🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 🇲🇩🇲🇩 🇹🇳🇹🇳 🇬🇪🇬🇪 🇲🇰🇲🇰 🇸🇪🇸🇪 🇨🇿🇨🇿 🇨🇭 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇮 🇱🇻 🇮🇪 🇮🇸 🇳🇱 🇦🇺 🇮🇹 🇧🇷 🇦🇹 🇵🇹 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇵🇱 🇳🇴 🇱🇹 🇬🇷 🇩🇪 🇫🇮 🇭🇷

[onomastik]

𝔊𝔯𝔢𝔱𝔞

BEDEUTUNG: Die Perle, Kind des Licht HERKUNFT: Deutsch GESCHLECHT: weiblich NAMENSTAG: 20. Juli URSPRUNG: Margareta VARIANTEN: Gretha, Gretta, Gréta ALTERNATIV: Grete, Gretchen, Gretel GEGENGESCHLECHT: Gretus DIMINUTIV: Gretl, Gretchen BELIEBTHEIT: Deutsch, Skandinavien, Italien, Ungarn DOPPELNAMEN: Greta-Marie, Greta-Luisa PROMINENZ: Greta Garbo (swe. Schauspielerin) Greta Thunberg (swe. Klimaaktivistin) Greta Gerwig (US-Regisseurin) Greta Scacchi (ital. Schauspielerin) Greta Keller (öst. Sängerin) Greta Kuckhoff (deu. Widerstandskämpferin) Greta Schröder (deu. Stummschauspielerin) Greta Zimmer Friedmann (öst. Fotopersönlichkeit) Greta Gouda (öst. Schauspielerin) Greta Bickelhaupt (deu. Schriftstellerin) Greta Van Sustern (US-Fernsehmoderatorin) Greta Svabo Bach (isl. Sängerin) Greta Salóme (isl. Sängerin) Greta Galisch de Palma (deu. Schauspielerin) Greta Kempton (US-Malerin) Greta Anderson (dän. Schwimmerin) Greta Vaillant ( frz. Schauspielerin) Greta Koçi (alb. Sängerin) Greta Menchi (ital. YouTuberin) Greta Ferušić (bosn. Überlebende) FIKTION: Greta (Angelina Ballerina) Greta (Filly) Greta (Gone Girl) Greta (Lars der Eisbär) Greta (My Little Pony) Greta Birnstein (Meine teuflisch gute Freundin) Greta Doppler (Dark) Greta Evans (The Boy) Greta Müller (Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter) Greta Ohlsson (Mord im Orientexpress) Greta Wolfcastle (Die Simpsons)

[baseballbet]

¿Cuáles son los favoritos para ganar Eurovisión este año?

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¿Cuáles son los favoritos para ganar Eurovisión este año?

Participantes principales de Eurovisión 2022

Eurovisión es uno de los eventos musicales más esperados del año, y en su edición de 2022 contará con una serie de participantes destacados que prometen deleitar a los espectadores con su talento y energía en el escenario. Entre los participantes principales de Eurovisión 2022 se encuentra Alain Delon, un cantante reconocido por su potente voz y carisma, quien representará a Francia con una emocionante balada que promete conquistar al público.

Otro participante que ha generado gran expectativa es Lola Rodríguez, la joven y talentosa cantante española que representará a su país con una canción llena de ritmo y pasión. Su carisma y estilo único la convierten en una de las favoritas para llevarse el trofeo a casa.

Por otro lado, Greta Salóme, la talentosa cantante islandesa, regresa a Eurovisión con una propuesta musical innovadora que promete sorprender a todos. Con su voz cautivadora y su presencia magnética en el escenario, Greta promete dejar una impresión imborrable en el certamen.

Estos son solo algunos de los participantes principales de Eurovisión 2022 que prometen hacer de esta edición un evento inolvidable lleno de música, emoción y sorpresas. Con su talento y dedicación, estos artistas están listos para brillar sobre el escenario y mostrar al mundo la diversidad y creatividad de la música europea. ¡Que comiencen los espectáculos y que gane el mejor!

Canciones más populares de Eurovisión

En el mundo de la música, el Festival de Eurovisión ha sido un escenario icónico donde artistas de toda Europa y más allá han presentado sus mejores canciones. A lo largo de los años, ha habido muchas canciones que han dejado una impresión duradera en el concurso y en los corazones de los espectadores.

Una de las canciones más populares de Eurovisión es "Euphoria" interpretada por Loreen, representando a Suecia en 2012. Esta canción electrónica y pegajosa se convirtió en un himno de baile en toda Europa y le valió a Loreen la victoria en el concurso.

Otro clásico de Eurovisión es "Waterloo" de ABBA, que representó a Suecia en 1974. Esta canción catapultó a ABBA a la fama internacional y sigue siendo una de las favoritas de los fanáticos del concurso.

Además, no se puede ignorar la canción "Fairytale" interpretada por Alexander Rybak, representando a Noruega en 2009. Con su mezcla de pop y influencias folclóricas, esta canción cautivó a los espectadores y le otorgó a Rybak una merecida victoria.

Estas son solo algunas de las muchas canciones memorables que han pasado por el escenario de Eurovisión a lo largo de los años. Cada canción tiene su propio encanto y ha dejado una marca imborrable en la historia del concurso. ¡La música de Eurovisión continúa inspirando y emocionando a audiencias de todo el mundo!

Apuestas Eurovisión favoritas

Las apuestas de Eurovisión son una parte emocionante de la competencia anual de canciones, donde los fanáticos del evento pueden apostar por sus favoritos y ganar dinero si aciertan en sus predicciones. Cada año, los apostadores y seguidores del festival de la canción europea analizan detenidamente las actuaciones, las letras de las canciones, la puesta en escena y otros factores para determinar cuáles son las favoritas para llevarse la victoria.

En la edición de este año, varias canciones han destacado como favoritas en las casas de apuestas, generando gran expectación entre los seguidores del certamen. Artistas de diversos países han impresionado al público con sus interpretaciones y han logrado captar la atención de los apostadores, convirtiéndose en posibles ganadores según las cuotas ofrecidas por las casas de apuestas en línea.

Entre las favoritas destaca una canción pop de ritmo pegajoso interpretada por un artista carismático, que ha logrado cautivar a un amplio público tanto dentro como fuera de Europa. Las casas de apuestas han visto un gran número de apuestas a su favor, lo que indica que podría estar en la pole position para llevarse la victoria en el certamen.

En resumen, las apuestas de Eurovisión son una forma emocionante de disfrutar del festival y agregarle un toque extra de emoción a la competencia. Si eres un seguidor del certamen, ¡no dudes en seguir de cerca las cuotas y apostar por tu favorito para tener la oportunidad de ganar premios mientras disfrutas de la música y el espectáculo en Eurovisión!

Pronósticos ganadores Eurovisión

Eurovisión es uno de los eventos musicales más populares en todo el mundo, donde países de Europa - y algunos no europeos - compiten con sus mejores representantes. Para muchos fanáticos de la música, no solo se trata de disfrutar de actuaciones increíbles, sino también de apostar en los pronósticos ganadores de Eurovisión.

Cada año, las casas de apuestas y los seguidores del festival comienzan a especular sobre quién será el ganador. Factores como la calidad de la canción, la puesta en escena, el mensaje de la letra y la popularidad del artista pueden influir en las probabilidades de victoria. Aunque las votaciones se basan en un sistema complejo que combina el voto del jurado y del público, las tendencias y rumores previos al evento suelen ser un buen indicativo de quiénes podrían tener más posibilidades de llevarse el trofeo.

Los pronósticos ganadores de Eurovisión pueden cambiar drásticamente desde que se presentan las canciones hasta la noche de la final. Es común ver cómo un país partía como favorito y termina en las últimas posiciones, mientras que otro se convierte en la sorpresa de la noche. Por ello, seguir de cerca las noticias, las entrevistas a los participantes y la reacción del público puede ser clave para hacer una apuesta informada.

En resumen, los pronósticos ganadores de Eurovisión son parte fundamental de la emoción y la diversión que rodea a este evento tan especial. Ya sea por simple diversión o con el objetivo de ganar dinero, apostar por tu favorito puede hacer que disfrutes aún más de la magia de Eurovisión. ¡Que gane el mejor espectáculo!

Favoritos para ganar Eurovisión este año

Eurovisión es uno de los eventos musicales más esperados del año, donde países de toda Europa compiten por el título de la mejor canción. Este año, las expectativas están en aumento, con una amplia gama de talentosos artistas y canciones que compiten por la corona. Varios países han emergido como favoritos para llevarse la victoria en el Festival de Eurovisión de este año.

Uno de los principales contendientes es Italia, con su canción pegajosa y emotiva interpretada por un talentoso artista. Italia ha demostrado consistentemente su habilidad para producir canciones que cautivan al público internacional, y este año no es una excepción. Con una mezcla única de ritmo y emoción, Italia se encuentra entre los principales favoritos para ganar Eurovisión.

Otro país que no se puede pasar por alto es Francia. Con una balada conmovedora y una voz poderosa detrás, Francia ha generado un gran interés en el concurso de este año. La combinación de letras profundas y una melodía cautivadora ha capturado la atención de los espectadores en toda Europa, colocando a Francia como uno de los principales contendientes para la victoria.

Además, no se puede ignorar la presencia de Suecia en la competencia. Con una historia de éxito en Eurovisión, Suecia ha presentado una canción enérgica y pegadiza que ha ganado el favor de muchos fans. Con una producción impecable y una actuación enérgica, Suecia se perfila como otro fuerte candidato para llevarse el trofeo este año.

En resumen, Italia, Francia y Suecia son solo algunos de los favoritos destacados para ganar Eurovisión este año. Sin embargo, con tantos talentosos artistas compitiendo, el resultado final sigue siendo incierto hasta que se anuncie el ganador en la gran final.

[haljathefangirlcat]

listen. I'm sorry but no M/F ESC duet will EVER be Never Forget by Greta Salóme & Jónsi (ESC 2012) to me. it may be unfair but it's the truth

[hatari-translations]

Greta Salóme - Raddirnar (The Voices) - translation

Second request from Spanish anon! This was Iceland's official entry for Eurovision 2016, performed in English under the name "Hear Them Calling". The official English lyrics largely kept to the same basic ideas, images and folkloric atmosphere, but here's a straight translation of the Icelandic lyrics, which have a bit more environmental detail, etc.

Official Icelandic lyrics

Úti dansa skuggar Og þeir skríða á eftir mér. Læðast inn í huga Minn og leika sér.

Og yfir svarta sandana Við stígum hægt. Svo ég heyri þegar kallað er:

Ég heyri raddirnar þær eru allsstaðar. Ó leiðið okkur að lokum heim. Og yfir auðnina Og inn í nóttina Leiðið okkur að lokum heim.

Nístir inn að beini Napur vindur þenur sig Og það er sama hvað ég reyni ó, hann fangar mig.

Og yfir svarta sandana Við stígum hægt. Svo ég heyri þegar kallað er:

Ég heyri raddirnar þær eru allsstaðar. Ó leiðið okkur að lokum heim. Og yfir auðnina Og inn í nóttina Leiðið okkur að lokum heim.

Ó, ég heyri, ég heyri raddirnar Ooooh. Ó, ég heyri, ég heyri raddirnar Ooooh.

Ég heyri raddirnar þær eru allsstaðar.

Ég heyri raddirnar þær eru allsstaðar. Ó leiðið okkur að lokum heim. Og yfir auðnina Og inn í nóttina Leiðið okkur að lokum heim.

English translation

Shadows dance outside And they crawl after me. Sneak into my mind And play.

And over the black sands We step slowly. So I hear when they call:

I hear the voices they are everywhere. Oh, lead us home at last. And over the barren land And into the night Lead us home at last.

Piercing to the bone A sharp wind rises And no matter how I try oh, it captures me.

And over the black sands We step slowly. So I hear when they call:

I hear the voices they are everywhere. Oh, lead us home at last. And over the barren land And into the night Lead us home at last.

Oh, I hear, I hear the voices Ooooh. Oh, I hear, I hear the voices Ooooh.

I hear the voices, they are everywhere.

I hear the voices they are everywhere. Oh, lead us home at last. And over the barren land And into the night Lead us home at last.

[arabela25]

Goodbye, Greta [x]

[unifyagainstbullying-blog]

Greta Salóme and SVALA discuss Unify Against Bullying! We are so excited to be working with Great for our upcoming 2017 Unify Against Bullying Fashion Show!

[rybaksfacebookies]

12th - 13th of March 2017, Alexander Rybak was a guest-teacher at a masterclass for 150 young string-players in Iceland :-) 

Here, a glimpse of the first meeting between Alexander and the young Icelandic talents

Videos and more about the masterclass in Iceland Here 

[babolat85]

MY FAVOURITE EUROVISION ENTRIES: DAY 22 - Iceland

Okay, this is a total guilty pleasure because it’s so wrong that it’s right. Plus all the booing from people that didn’t get that it was a total joke entry.  I remember watching the whole series of "The Silvia Night Show” back when this came out in 2006/2007, and was centred on the whole diva personality of Silvía Night. 

Anyway, on a more serious note, Iceland had produced some amazing entries over the year including Yohanna - Is It True & Greta Salóme - Hear Them Calling nor to mention others including Hatari and  Daði Freyr (Daði & Gagnamagnið) – Think About Things

Edit: I feel like I haven’t done Iceland justice, so I also present another of my alltime favourites from the country.

PREVIOUS COUNTRIES:

Albania

Andorra

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Belarus

Belgium

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Hungary

[whenitsdarkweilluminate]

Baku 2012 – Semi-Final 1

Host: Azerbaijan Slogan: “Light Your Fire!” Participants: 42 Voting method: 12-point system (50/50 system - combined) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 5 + host General Overview: 2012 sees Eurovision return to Eastern Europe! But there was one major issue with Azerbaijan hosting – they did not have a venue large enough to facilitate the contest. So the government funded the construction of building one – the Baku Crystal Hall. Also, there was all kinds of human rights violations and political tensions in the lead-up to this contest, because of course there was.

The presenters this year are Leyla Aliyeva, Eldar Gasimov (the “Ell” of Ell & Nikki) and Nargiz Birk-Petersen. And oh boy, this is one dry and awkwardly unfunny scripted hosting team. This year sees the return of Montenegro after a 2-year absence, while Poland takes a break. Armenia also skips this one for obvious reasons.

The 2010 and 2011 contests experimented with allowing televoting during the performances, but this year the voting window reverts back to its “normal” slot. Albania won the jury vote in this semi-final, while Russia dominated the televote, which was enough to win SF1 overall. In other news, the juries stopped Switzerland from qualifying, and we get Hungary instead. The interval act stars the Natig Rhythm Group. It's a showcase of Azerbaijani cultural music and dancing, featuring lots of high speed hand drumming. There's also some cuts to the artists dancing in the Green Room.

During the results reveal, the hosts carry a golden ticket to the stage to reveal the final qualifier for some reason (which was Ireland). This lead to Jedward cartwheeling their way to the main stage. × Montenegro: Rambo Amadeus - Euro Neuro Yeah... file this one under the long list of “try-hard” joke entries I don't find amusing. I've heard that “Euro Neuro” drawing first is why the EBU ditched randomized running orders after 2012. I can see why because this is not a good opener. An eccentric, politically-charged novelty entry with horrific rapping isn't going to hook an audience in. The performance begins with Rambo acting as a cloaked, dark wizard casting a spell. Then the song becomes an anti-conservatism rant, where Rambo talks in a drunk voice and completely disregards following the beat. Seriously there's no coherent melody or flow to this. It's also accompanied by a tepid funky bassline. The chorus involves some folksy strings and background chants, but it's not that effectively catchy. The staging is also weird. There's a Trojan horse and a bunch of slogans written on banners, which are eventually used to mummify a band member. The song's message, meanwhile, advocates for a more altruistic government agenda. The lyrics contain some funny wordplay, where Rambo shoehorns the most awkward rhyming choices (“analphabetic” “dialectic”, “bicyclism” and “reumatism” in particular). The “always stay cool like a swimming pool” line is pretty ridiculous too. But musically speaking, “Euro Neuro” is a clumsy mess. Even if that's the intention, I have little reason to seek it out. ✓ Iceland: Greta Salóme & Jónsi - Never Forget Jónsi returns from 2004, as he teams up with Greta Salome, who will reappear in 2016! “Never Forget” is a melodramatic entry. The song's atmosphere is ominous and chilling, kind of like a ghost story. The booming percussion in the verses is like a thunderstorm striking or waves crashing. It's tense and turbulent. While the pre-chorus builds nicely to the climactic “free-eee-eee-ee” hook. The violin solo is another highlight, where Greta gets quite into it. And the dark blue aesthetic, as well as Jónsi serious looks into the camera, completes the haunting vibe. The chorus, meanwhile, is powered by the duet's firm harmonies. It's somewhat theatrical though, which undercuts the dark atmosphere. But Greta and Jonsi's contrasting vocals blend well together. He's more solemn, while she's more wistful. And the song is still emotionally intense overall. The lyrics tell the story of a separated couple, both of whom are dwelling on memories at night, as they await to reunite at dawn. It's a powerful performance and a polished arrangement... and it's my winner of SF1! I wish it did better at the GF. ✓ Greece: Eleftheria Eleftheriou - Aphrodisiac The song that broke Greece's top 10 streak (which started in 2004), although it did finish 9th in the televote. Perhaps “Aphrodisiac” sounded too dated and unoriginal. It encompasses an early 2000s Euro-dance rhythm, with a bouzouki thrown in for good measure. Which basically describes Helena's entries. I also get J Lo vibes at certain points. But what truly brings this down for me is how Eleftheria sounds like she's suppressing a giggle when she says the word “aphrodisiac”. It makes the song seem immature. The lyrics are pretty lazy as well. That all said, “Aphrodisiac” does deliver some dominant and irresistibly catchy hooks (thanks to the Swedish songwriters involved). Namely the thumping build-up of “over and over I'm falling”, the “oh oh oh... oh” refrain, and the bouzouki riff itself. A bop is a bop! Moreover, the song follows a highly energetic pace, as the imposing dance-pop production steamrolls by. It never becomes annoying or monotonous though. And the choreography is serviceable, with all those hair flips. The staging also goes for a beach theme, with the oyster shell in the background and the dress colours. × Latvia: Anmary - Beautiful Song This just seems so amateur. Like....what are these lyrics? The song describes Anmary's aspirations to become a famous musician. She mentions Johnny Logan's name and proclaims she'll be the next ESC winner. And that her song will be heard everywhere... yeah, so about that. I assume “Beautiful Song” is referring to itself in a meta way. The second verse is even more of a "WTF", where she says she's can't take Mick Jagger's phone call because she's too busy writing songs for Paul McCartney. It's such a hilariously bizarre lyric. She's setting the bar high for herself. But the delivery is too earnest for it to be a joke. Also... what is this staging? The backing singers just walk around aimlessly with hammy reaction shots, as if they each had a glass of wine beforehand. Anyways, “Beautiful Song” contains an easygoing, inoffensive, unmissable melody. But in an annoyingly, nursery rhyme way. The instrumental is rather plain too, but I do like the victorious synth after the “make this a worldwide hit” part. The vocal performance is alright though. This is an obvious NQ, but it gets a laugh from me. ✓ Albania: Rona Nishliu - Suus This is Albania's best result to date (5th). It's the big moment for the most underappreciated country in the contest. “Suus” is such a unique entry. Rona delivers a stunning, emotionally raw and sincere vocal performance. Her long, explosive belting notes and her high-pitched screams are polarizing for sure; and while this is a difficult song to put on repeat, I do think she delivers a highly compelling performance. Just the way her voice rises and sharply cuts. It holds my undivided attention. The piano and the strings move at a depressing, methodical pace, allowing Rona to focus on every single painful word as she feels each present moment pass by. She's on the verge of tears, sounding broken and devastated. The bridge is a great climax too – with the descending piano notes, the swelling orchestra, and her whistle note. Lyrically, “Suus” sees Rona mentally process her heartbreak. The words are bleak and hopeless, and she concludes that crying is the only response she knows. And she does just that by yelling “LET ME CRY” over and over. Rona also keeps her eyes closed a lot, while standing hunched over, displaying weakness and vulnerability. Her dress, the hair bun and the hair strand snaking onto her chest is a memorable look too. “Suus” isn't the most melodic song, but there's so much emotional depth to it. ✓ Romania: Mandinga - Zaleilah I'm sorry, but this song is too cluttered and boisterous for me to fully enjoy. That “Za-la-la-la-la-lee everything everybody” hook (which I always misheard as “sudden-en-en-enly”) gets on my nerves. While the instrumentation is on the rambunctious side. There's marching band drums, bagpipes, and an accordion all moving to an antsy rhythm. And all three are noisy instruments in their own right. I also want to note that this entry came in the wake of a series of Romanian dance-pop hits sweeping across Europe at the time. Namely “Stereo Love”, “Mr Saxobeat”, and those Inna songs. “Zaleilah” is in a similar vein, with the summery vibes, the foot-shuffling rhythm, and the accordions. Although this one has Latin American music influences (including Spanish lyrics), and it sounds more like a World Cup anthem. It's like a party song performed in the streets. Still, the instrumentation is pretty dynamic. I like the drum section during the bridge and the accordion riff is hook-y. The choreo is well-executed too, where the instrumentalists provide joyful energy. There's lots of pyro on this one too lol. × Switzerland: Sinplus - Unbreakable Why does the lead singer sing like this? It's like he's channelling Alex Band of The Calling or Scott Stapp of Creed (without the brash early 00s rock instrumentation thankfully). I'm not sure if it's his accent or if he's making this funny gargling voice on purpose. Either way, it's distracting. So the song is about inspiring someone to not be their own barrier in achieving their goals. It's basically a supportive statement of “you got this”. The words themselves are pretty cliche, but the frantic chorus exudes some uplifting, invigorating energy. The rapidity of the “swim against the stream” line and the repetition of “following your wildest dream, your wildest dream” makes for passable hooks. Staging-wise, the guitarist on the right is a bit, but not in a cringey way. And there's lots of flashing lights. Ultimately, “Unbreakable” isn't the most remarkable rock song but it's endearing enough. × Belgium: Iris - Would You? BORRRRRRRRING. “Would You?” tells the story of how Iris has packed up, left her lover behind, and moved to someplace secret. And now she's wondering if he'll even care to go looking for her. Which, just sounds like she's playing mind games. She later claims it's a “two-way street”, and resigns to finding him instead. I dunno, maybe she should just accept he's not that into her? Some of the lyrics are grammatically awkward too. Beyond that, the arrangement falls flat. It's just a lukewarm piano ballad with a slight hint of country texture. It tries to build into that final chorus (with that “still I wonder...” bit), and Iris tries to make that “any other guy would do” hook land. But it all feels so underwhelming. Her performance presents a personable approach, but her vocals are too unrefined to solidify the emotion or the melody. I'd prefer something more bitter instead of this blandness. She seems shy as well? × Finland: Pernilla Karlsson - När jag blundar I can understand how this entry was overlooked, since “När jag blundar” eschews modern ESC music styles. But the song has such a peaceful, romantic and heartwarming texture to it. It's like a cozy embrace by the fireplace. The staging correspondingly involves a fire red colour scheme, as the cello and the twinkling bells set the mood. The melody (and the Swedish phonetic sounds) flow in an effortlessly pleasant way. Incidentally, I believe this is the only ESC entry of the 21st century to be in the Swedish language. The verses are more gentle and sporadic, while the chorus floats in a more continuous melody. The lack of a bridge allows that final chorus to grow, and to end on a subdued note. And the song takes me back to the older era of Eurovision. Lyrically, “När” involves Pernilla articulating what her relationship means to her via some metaphors of things that complete each other. It's a sweet sentiment, and it's a well-composed song that sounds pretty. × Israel: Izabo - Time So Israel dropped a “WTF” entry on us this year. “Time” is a psychedelic rock song that channels a bygone era. Both the song and performance feel like a slurred, hazy hallucination that warps your perception of time. In particular: the strings; the eerie chorus harmony; and the drawn-out “zmaaaaaan” hook which gives a sinking feeling. There's also a trippy visual effect where the background zooms in and out whenever the camera cuts to the dancing couple. And the LED screens feature some Salvador Dalí-esque liquid clocks. This quirky staging is completed by a lackadaisical keyboardist, an animated guitarist, and water drumming. Lyrically though... “Time” is a bit disturbing. The singer asks for more time as things are happening too soon. Between the “you're the man in my playground” line, the “I will obey” and “why are you pressuring me” comments, and the second verse suggesting he's being used.... the implications seem very dark. The singer's voice also sounds demented. Otherwise, the song has a consistently moving forward pace, and it's kinda catchy. × San Marino: Valentina Monetta - The Social Network Song (Oh Oh – Uh - Oh Oh) The birth of PC music? Lol. This song's production is filled with scratchy, digitized computer sounds to seem less human. The studio version also uses excessive auto-tune. The lyrics, meanwhile, address modern-day Internet addiction and how it's changed our communication habits; among other issues. The track was composed by Ralph Siegel, but the execution is too campy to render this as an “old man doesn't understand youth” situation. Instead, it's a harmless joke entry and Valentina has fun with it. She literally types on a laptop on stage (LOL). And the computer references are laughable, like “do you wanna play cybersex again?” or “click me with your mouse” or “you're loggin' in...”. The backing members are also dressed in random costumes from cheerleader to doctor to airplane captain. And then there's the camera and phone props, and floating profile pictures on the LED screen. The song itself has a bubblegum-pop flair to it as well, namely in the “uh oh” hook. It's one of the better joke entries this year. We will see Valentina three more times after this, including the next two contests.... a true sign that San Marino has limited options. ✓ Cyprus: Ivi Adamou - La La Love The production on “La La Love” is as 2012 as it gets. It sounds like something RedOne would've given to J Lo around this time. Although I should note that it was co-written by Alex P (along with some other Swedish songwriters), who was working closely with RedOne back then. But yeah, this type of commanding, robust dance-pop was a guaranteed recipe for a banger in 2012. From the squeaky beat in the verses, to the percussion claps that build anticipation in the pre-chorus, to the bustling, water-sloshing beat in the chorus... this song's arrangement is pretty standard. The drum breakdown in the bridge is a nice touch though. And there's no shortage of hooks here. From the “i-i-i” stutters; to the perk-ups of “in the air / take it there”; to the “oh-OH-oh” bit in the pre-chorus. And of course the titular “la la la la la”s... which there are plenty of. The choreography involves Ivi swaying on a bench made of books. But the dance moves during the bridge is the best moment. She has confident stage presence too. ✓ Denmark: Soluna Samay - Should've Known Better “Should've Known Better” is like a homage to late-90s soft rock/adult pop. It's sonically reminiscent of Paula Cole or Jewel or Lisa Loeb or something. Plus the “like Sahara misses rain” lyric seems oddly similar to that line from “Missing” by Everything But The Girl. Anyways, the melody flows smoothly. The backing vocalists add a sense of comfort, while making the melody sound richer. And the song exudes a bittersweet tone. Lyrically, “Should've Known Better” offers an introspective and mature perspective, where Soluna is sad her relationship is over but she accepts that it can't work anymore. Her lover is living aimlessly and lacking in stability, which leaves her feeling neglected and stranded. It's too one-sided to be healthy. The “Sometimes we have to lose a part of us to find the truth” line sticks out to me. The staging is weird on this one though. Soluna is dressed like a sea captain mixed with a Marshall? The cellist is casually wearing a purple hoodie. And the drummer overdoes it with her fake playing, although her enthusiasm kinda sells it. It's another entry I wish did better in the final, but the staging probably ruined its chances. ✓ Russia: Buranovskiye Babushki - Party for Everybody After 3 years of middling results, Russia is back in the top 2! They also match “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” as the highest that a novelty entry has placed in Eurovision. It's easy to see why though. “Party For Everybody” is so memorable and adorable. It involves six Russian grannies dressed in traditional attire, lightly dancing to a modern dance-pop beat, while looking forward to a visit from their children, as a giant oven spins in the background. It's just so wholesome yet absurd. Their harmonies aren't the cleanest, but the “amateur” vocal adds charm, and they're having the time of their lives on stage anyway. Including some banter in the bridge. Although it bothers me when the one granny grabs the cookie tray without wearing oven mitts. Musically, “Party” begins as a Russian folk song, but then it abruptly switches to that heavy dance-pop production. It's such a stark contrast to the traditional vibes of everything else, but that's kind of why it works? Because it's unexpected. Although there is Russian instrumentation present still, most noticeably during the bridge. The beat is a little too abrasive and eager for my liking (particularly those cutting transitions into the chorus). It's arguably overproduced. But the chorus is effective, thanks to the pauses that follow “come on and dance”, and the “boom boom”s. And the verses use repetition well, culminating in that “žon žon žon” hook. ✓ Hungary: Compact Disco - Sound of Our Hearts Looks like we're in the dubstep era of pop music now. For a genre that can sound very harsh and unpleasant at times, I generally prefer when it's used in a more subtle, unobtrusive, brooding way like it is here, or on Muse's “Madness” to reference a non-ESC example. The background dub creates a dark atmosphere for “Sound of Our Hearts”, matched by some black outfits on stage. The beat moves at a firm and taut pace, with the production peaking in the second verse. The keyboard notes, the stadium rock chorus, and the “oh oh” climax are some other highlights on this track. It's almost like a Coldplay single. But the overall song is lacking something. It comes off a bit... uneventful? The melody doesn't really build to an anthemic moment until that aforementioned “oh oh” ending. And lyrically, “Sound of Our Hearts” is a cliche message about peace, unity, and the power of love. The modernized production prevents it from seeming corny or contrived, though. And the singer does deliver that “zeal” mentioned in the chorus. × Austria: Tracks**ttaz - Woki mit deim Popo This is so trashy. I'm not surprised Austria placed last in the semi-final. The song involves two dudes rapping in a German dialect, as they walk into a strip club and get horny over the ladies shaking their “popos” (bums). They're more presumptuous than flirtatious though. And the lyrics are too... unabashed and objectifying to be sexy. The amount of hubris and self-importance is something else. They really think they're the s**t. The name “Noodle Soup Gang” will stick in my mind though. Also the staging is a bit shocking. There's three ladies pole dancing and twerking, while the ballcap guy gets distracted by them. It also goes for a night club aesthetic, including some glowing light strips on everyone's clothing. As for the music, “Woki” incorporates a “jittery motor” dance-pop production, similar to the Klaas remix of “Infinity 2008”, alongside some squeaky synths in the verses. More notably, the audience gets to shout along “OOH OOH” during the chorus, alongside a double percussion clash. Everything about this entry – the production, the rapping, the staging – is so aggressively in-your-face. But I don't entirely hate it? ✓ Moldova: Pasha Parfeny - Lăutar Moldova delivers a zany and engaging choreo routine here. Between the robotic marionette limb movements, the fist shaking, the slithering like a worm on the floor, and the mini-tantrums... the backing dancers are hilarious to watch. They supply the appropriate campy energy. Their lampshade-shaped dresses stand out too. As for the song, “Lăutar” channels a carnival entertainer theme in its instrumentation and lyrics. Pasha is a trumpeter who's entranced by fiddler girl he met a wedding (the song's title literally translates to “fiddler”). The lyrics imply that there's a significant class/wealth division between the two, but his trumpet playing charms her anyway. The instrumental correspondingly includes a trumpet riff, as well as a fiddle moment in the bridge. Moreover, the “YOU... HAVE NEVER... BEEN TO MY SHOW” hook is pretty instant, with that stop/start trick. And the chorus employs a bouncy rhythm. Otherwise, the line “...how looks the trumpet” is another example of awkward English grammar tonight. But yeah this entry is lighthearted in the best ways. ✓ Ireland: Jedward - Waterline So Jedward closes out another semi-final. Last year the twins finished in 8th place, but this time they will fall 11 spots lower than that – which is a sign of diminishing returns. I mean, the boys just repeat the exact same gimmick from 2011. They energetically jump around the stage as if on a sugar high while wearing the gaudiest outfits imaginable (this time it's silver and gold plated armour) and subject us to their limited vocal skills. Except this year there's a water fountain on stage to represent a lyrical metaphor (there a bunch of water metaphors in this one). But also, “Waterline” is simply a weaker song than “Lipstick”. The latter became a guilty pleasure bop because of its heavy, intimidating synths making a strong presence. But the melody on “Waterline” is so bland and flat. And the chorus ends on an anticlimactic hook (ie. the “down as the big one” part, which lacks emphasis). The rapid, jogging dance-pop beat maintains some energy, but it's not enough to compensate for Jedward's vocal flaws. They were never THAT funny of a joke act to begin with though. My Ranking: 01. Iceland: Greta Salóme & Jónsi - Never Forget ✓ 02. Albania: Rona Nishliu - Suus ✓ 03. Denmark: Soluna Samay - Should've Known Better ✓ 04. Finland: Pernilla Karlsson - När jag blundar 05. Cyprus: Ivi Adamou - La La Love ✓ 06. Moldova: Pasha Parfeny - Lăutar ✓ 07. Russia: Buranovskiye Babushki - Party for Everybody ✓ 08. Greece: Eleftheria Eleftheriou - Aphrodisiac ✓ 09. Hungary: Compact Disco - Sound of Our Hearts ✓ 10. Switzerland: Sinplus - Unbreakable 11. San Marino: Valentina Monetta - The Social Network Song (Oh Oh – Uh - Oh Oh) 12. Romania: Mandinga - Zaleilah ✓ 13. Austria: Tracks**ttaz - Woki mit deim Popo 14. Israel: Izabo - Time 15. Latvia: Anmary - Beautiful Song 16. Ireland: Jedward - Waterline ✓ 17. Belgium: Iris - Would You? 18. Montenegro: Rambo Amadeus - Euro Neuro The 10 qualifiers all make sense though.

[hotpinkandsparkly]

I'm American and don't know Eurovision so could you please drop links to the banger songs you're talking about especially the fairytale one very fun to see you have such a good time with this

hiiii so this will be long <3

fairytale is norway 2009 (thee legendary winner ❤️❤️❤️)

my top 5 from this year:

1. Måneskin - Zitti E Buoni (Italy)

2. Fyr Og Flamme - Øve Os På Hinanden (Denmark)

3. Go_A - Shum (Ukraine)

4. Blind Channel - Dark Side (Finland)

5. The Roop - Discoteque (Lithuania)

my top 30 from 2010-2019:

1. Douwe Bob - Slow Down (The Netherlands 2016)

2. The Common Linnets - Calm After The Storm (The Netherlands 2014)

3. Il Volo - Grande Amore (Italy 2015)

4. KEiiNO - Spirit In The Sky (Norway 2019)

5. Greta Salóme & Jónsi - Never Forget (Iceland 2012)

6. maNga - We Could Be The Same (Turkey 2010)

7. Juliana Pasha - It's All About You (Albania 2010)

8. Pernilla - När Jag Blundar (Finland 2012)

9. Poli Genova - If Love Was A Crime (Bulgaria 2016)

10. Softengine - Something Better (Finland 2014)

11. AWS - Viszlát Nyár (Hungary 2018)

12. Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes (Sweden 2015)

13. Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma (Italy 2017)

14. Elina Born & Stig Rästa - Goodbye To Yesterday (Estonia 2015)

15. Rasmussen - Higher Ground (Denmark 2018)

16. Nina Zilli - L'Amore È Femmina (Italy 2012)

17. Anti Social Media - The Way You Are (Denmark 2015)

18. Loucas Yiorkas ft. Stereo Mike - Watch My Dance (Greece 2011)

19. Loreen - Euphoria (Sweden 2012)

20. Emmelie De Forest - Only Teardrops (Denmark 2013)

21. A Friend In London - New Tomorrow (Denmark 2011)

22. Nadav Guedj - Golden Boy (Israel 2015)

23. Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside (Belgium 2015)

24. Jedward - Lipstick (Ireland 2011)

25. Miki - La Venda (Spain 2019)

26. Eduard Romanyuta - I Want Your Love (Moldova 2015)

27. Giorgos Alkaios & Friends - OPA (Greece 2010)

28. Hatari - Hatrið mun sigra (Iceland 2019)

29. Luca Hänni - She Got Me (Switzerland 2019)

30. Mørland & Debrah Scarlett - A Monster Like Me (Norway 2015)