#laura groeseneken

[packsclass]

icons: seradeimiracoli (3)

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like/reblog or credits on twitter @/sunwroses

[kara-0105]

PSA:Belgium 2018 was and is a bop which deserved better..pass it on

[arabela25]

Sennek and the Belgian delegation dancing to Monsters

[eurovisionopinions]

[itscrazy-itsparty]

«sometimes we act like we’ve already chosen we try to retrieve something stolen by remembering how it used to be golden»

[betweenthetimeandsound]

Three Minutes to Eternity: My ESC 250 (#88-87)

#88: Sennek -- A Matter of Time (Belgium 2018)

“We try to retrieve something stolen By remembering how it used to be golden”

(Yes, I am fully prepared to have my Eurovision fan license revoked for putting such a song so high. Good news is that there's only one more NQ after this; bad news is it's equally mis-staged)

A song which is part of Belgium’s dark pop era, and shows off its strengths and weaknesses in equal measure. A Matter of Time is intriguing and sophisticated, with the mysterious and cinematic nature of the song.

From the initial chords, you know you are getting something thoughtful (or at least, another song from a movie soundtrack). Well-produced, slick, and with a tinge of darkness, one feels like they're have walked into a grandiose hotel and marveled at the aesthetics of it all (which is basically the MV--go check that out!). The lyrics are also quite interesting; inspired by a broken teapot, they muse about finding the beauty of something that has faded away. When listening to this, I kept thinking that with a dark and artsy staging, Belgium could win the 2018 contest.

I was wrong.

The staging wasn't as great, and was once attributed to the VRT's complacency towards their act. Admittedly, I liked the first and last shots, in which Sennek swooped her hand to step into the light and retreat from it. Throughout the middle, the performance made her look dead amongst the natural lighting, and she gawked at times. Her performance outfit was also left to be desired; I could imagine the overshirt being sold at Zara (and I saw something like it there, except without the linen stripes).

If I had my way, I would've staged it with a close focus on Sennek, dodging moving platforms on the main stage. There would be light and shadow mixed together, as if she was trapped in a labyrinth. As I mentioned with City Lights (#153), a golden lighting would've helped--first in small bursts, and then exploding by the second chorus as she breaks through.

But hell, let bygones be bygones, and let A Matter of Time shine on its own here. It hasn't aged since the 2018 contest, and has this sense of brooding throughout, along with what could have been.

Personal ranking: 3rd/43 Actual ranking: DNQ -- 12th in the first semi-final in Lisbon

#87: Anabel Conde -- Vuelve Conmigo (Spain 1995)

“Nada queda en el alma, Solamente esa llama que no morirá,”

“Nothing remains in my soul, Except for this flame that will never die”

This is a passionate and sensual song, but compared to the previous entry on this list, you wouldn’t know it from the studio cut. It starts off well-enough, but falls flat by the second chorus as it repeats itself over and over again.

The orchestration in Dublin, on the other hand, is sublime. It adds drama to it through the strings; the guitar work, and the wind section. They made the song less repetitive after the key change, and keeps the listener on edge as the story goes on. That arrangement probably did the most to elevate the song from another ballad to something else; thus it's my all-time favorite orchestral moment in the contest (though you'll get a few more of those near the end!)

What sent this from a scrap to a runner-up is Anabel's powerful vocals; she shows great vocal control for such a young age and emotes those lyrics so much, she ends up having her dress strap fall down by the end. Fortunately, she manages to lift it up, making for a charming moment by the end of the song.

As for whether it should've won over the winner, I'm not sure. I get the sentiment that since Vuelve Conmigo is a "proper song", it should've taken the crown, though that sends me to overdrive like with the many "should have wons". That said, I'm grateful that Spain didn't get relegated from this contest, so we could see this little gem come to life. (Also, Anabel deserved a better post-Eurovision career!)

Personal ranking: 6th/23 Actual ranking: 2nd/23 in Dublin

[sholazarr]

Sennek - First Rehearsal

[zweedsanimatiepoppetje1]

Sennek still works at IKEA?

[borisbubbles]

Eurovision 2018 Preshow #04

04. BELGIUM

What adorkable weirdo <3 I love how some of our participants can already be divided into character archetypes (Saara: the well-meaning abrasive bitch, Vanja: the sarcastic wench. Mikolas: the airtime hogging egomaniac (I DIED when he bombed Ryan’s ESCKAZ interview in Amsterdam. He’s so fucking annoying it’s almost admirable lol))  Sennek’s designated role in this musical carnival of death appears to be “resident alcoholic bitch” <3 like basically pawing off whole bottles of Châteauneuf off the Wiwibloggs gays in each of her interviews so far <3 Definitely the people’s aspergers princess <3

Now, Sennek has inspired SOME degree of (very regretful) negative criticisms. Her live voice has proven to a valid point of discussion, but I’ve chosen to not have it affect her spot in my ranking; There’s still time to improve. What I REALLY hate tho are the comments of her appearance. Someone in the Wiwibloggs comments section said she’d flop because, I quote “she looks like a farmer’s wife” um lol? Humbug! Sennek doesn’t look like a peasant; she looks like a baby dinosaur:

So c00t <3

Now, as you can imagine, I had a MASSIVE wishlist of possible entrants going into this year (incl. Laura Omloop, Ozark Henry, Emma Bale & Bazart), but my biggest wish was Hooverphonic. Imagine the EXCITEMENT I felt when I first heard “A Matter of Time”, as the musical genius of Alex Callier’s trademark symphonic pop is instantly recognisable. Such an epique song, I tell you. It was inspired by - I kid you not- a broken teapot <3 Oh Alex. Speaking of Hooverphonic, this contest now has two Hooverphonic entrants, as Madame Monsier’s Emilie was the vocalist behind one of their best songs. 

However things aren’t ALL looking great since I really can’t get away with not mentioning The Voice Thing. To be fair, Sennek was decent enough in Amsterdam, apart from a VERY pinchy vibrato during the chorus (it IS a vocally taxing key change, after all), but her earlier caterwauling in Tel Aviv was by far the worst thing I’ve heard this year, barring Yulia’s undulating Hell Scream during the Moscow Preparty (Which, as we all know, never happened.)

As I said though, Sennek has the time to practice and recover. Blanche did anyway... although I’m not sure if my heart can handle TWO vocal thrillers in a row; still that option is preferable to letting your voice become the thesis of your own fucking song. :-/

Qualification Odds: Good/Average. 

Obviously, it no longer makes sense to consider Sennek a guaranteed qualifier anymore, so I’m tentative putting her among the borderlines.

However, I actually think she’ll advance anyway? There are only two ways it can go: Either she’s good and she’ll finish high up the scoreboard. Or she’s bad and she will be booted in the semifinals in an unceremonious 14th place. 

The prediction is out of my hands tho. All I can do I wait for the rehearsals and x my heart. 

Jury or televote? jury

Sennek FEELS like an act that has more built-in jury appeal. It will entirely depend on the staging and live vocals however. If she nails the former, she’ll do well with the juries. If she nails the latter, she will collect a lot of televotes. If she nails both, she becomes a massive winner contender.

I’m confident the staging will be good though at least, which is why I went with jury. The staging is handled by Hans Pannecoucke (yes. his name is Pancake.), who also did the critically acclaimed staging for Laura Tesoro and the Common Linnets (and for Trijntje as well, but we’ll just ignore that). Definite worth more excitement than that overrated Jean-Baptiste woman. 

Projected placement: 2nd-14th in the semifinal, 2nd-12th in the Grand Final

THE RANKING SO FAR

[itsjusteurovision]

Laura Groeseneken from Belgium is the first confirmed artist for Eurovision 2018!

[kara-0105]

BEFORE IT ALL ECHOS ECHOS,ECHOS AND GOES!!!!

CRASHING AGAINST THE WALLS!!!!!

HOLD MY HAND AND KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED!!!!!!!!

[arabela25]

[x]

[thenerdyunhealthybrit]

What are the odds that Belgium will be the last country announced to have qualified in Semi Final 1?

Especially after Loïc/Austria, Laura/Sweden and Blanche/Ukraine...

[jackqulenmusicblog]

Belgium 🇧🇪 Sennek - A Matter of Time

Laura Groeseneken is an IKEA merchandiser who will be representing Belgium under the stage name Sennek. Written by herself, many think that A Matter of Time could easily be a soundtrack from a James Bond movie. While it’s currently the 4th favorite to win according to betting odds, I don’t share the same amount of affection towards it. It’s good. It’s unique. It’s not exactly my cup or tea.

My weird music taste ranking: 23rd out of 43 songs

[bisexualrhee]

how about your portuguese?