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A review of the 2011 ESC album.
I dissed the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 pretty
badly. My first reaction on hearing the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was:
Eurovision Song Contest 2010, come back, all is forgiven!
Happily, most of the dead dross was voted out already during the semi-finales. The finale was therefore relatively tolerable. Besides, I'm partial to Irish twins on met, Moldovans in dunce caps, Ukrainian "sand artists" and Georgian metal freaks who desperately attempt to mimic the Devil himself. And, of course, Stefan Raab! (What drug *he* was on, is open to some speculation.)
My only regret is that Belarus didn't make it to the finale. Their song, complete with balalaikas, was actually called "I love Belarus". And yes, Belarus is the last Communist regime in Europe. According to counter-revolutionary sources, the song was originally titled "I was born in Byelorussian ASSR". But perhaps that is just SMOT propaganda?
This CD contains all the participating songs, including the dead dross, the living dodos and...Belarus. As usual, however, the ESC should really be watched live. It never *really* works on a CD.
I have a pretty varied taste in music, so my favourites this year included Finland, Russia, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Hungary, Germany and France (Corsican opera!). Entertainment value only: Moldova. And, of course, Byelorussian USSR. Incidentally, my co-workers had pretty strange favourites, including the black metal dodo from Georgia!
The biggest disappointment was the British entry. Superstars who can't sing?! But then, I suppose *really* successful bands are used to playback. In the ESC, you have to sing live...
After a dramatic round of voting, Azerbaijan won the contest. Next year, the ESC will therefore be organized in Baku (rather than in Minsk)!
All in all, not a bad show. But, as I said, it really should be devoured live on TV, or at a DVD player near you.
This is the "playback" CD version.
;-)
Happily, most of the dead dross was voted out already during the semi-finales. The finale was therefore relatively tolerable. Besides, I'm partial to Irish twins on met, Moldovans in dunce caps, Ukrainian "sand artists" and Georgian metal freaks who desperately attempt to mimic the Devil himself. And, of course, Stefan Raab! (What drug *he* was on, is open to some speculation.)
My only regret is that Belarus didn't make it to the finale. Their song, complete with balalaikas, was actually called "I love Belarus". And yes, Belarus is the last Communist regime in Europe. According to counter-revolutionary sources, the song was originally titled "I was born in Byelorussian ASSR". But perhaps that is just SMOT propaganda?
This CD contains all the participating songs, including the dead dross, the living dodos and...Belarus. As usual, however, the ESC should really be watched live. It never *really* works on a CD.
I have a pretty varied taste in music, so my favourites this year included Finland, Russia, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Hungary, Germany and France (Corsican opera!). Entertainment value only: Moldova. And, of course, Byelorussian USSR. Incidentally, my co-workers had pretty strange favourites, including the black metal dodo from Georgia!
The biggest disappointment was the British entry. Superstars who can't sing?! But then, I suppose *really* successful bands are used to playback. In the ESC, you have to sing live...
After a dramatic round of voting, Azerbaijan won the contest. Next year, the ESC will therefore be organized in Baku (rather than in Minsk)!
All in all, not a bad show. But, as I said, it really should be devoured live on TV, or at a DVD player near you.
This is the "playback" CD version.
;-)
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