As the winners tour concluded last night in Copenhagen. Let’s have a look at some of the great moments that Måns gave us. Back on the London leg of the tour, just outside London’s West End at the gay venue, Heaven, Måns delivered a very intimate concert to a massive crowd. Performing most of his new album, Perfectly Damaged, but also some amazing favourites of the past.
He pleased the crowd by performing the Melodifestivalen 2009 finalist classic, Hope & Glory but it was the Mirrors Tung Version, which was a funk rock version of the song that still had an infectious beat.
He then sang the ever popular Cara Mia from Melodifestivalen 2007, which in my eyes still should of won of that year.
And of course no evening would be complete without the 2015 Eurovision winner, Heroes. Annouced by Conchita and replaying that winning moment back in Vienna.
Overall, it was a night to remember and can’t wait for the next time that Måns stops off in London. He is welcome back anytime.
It seems that Aminata Savadogo, who is representing Latvia, has certainly provided Roy van der Merwe with a rare treat. Aminata has posted a video on her site where she sings a line of her song in a number of languages and we have to try and identify the languages she uses. This is a little contest Australian member, Andrew Pentecost would really enjoy. But Aminata has now extended the languages and included Afrikaans, much to Roy’s delight. Check out her clip and see how you go with the language identification.
People celebrate Eurovision in all sorts of crazy ways. They get tattooed, they get their finger nails painted with their favourite countries on each finger, they get their hair dyed, face painted. Well here is another crazy way to celebrate. Roy has discovered Wivian Kristiansen and her way of celebrating is to produce tons of Flag Socks. They are gorgeous and I bet they keep feet warm in those cold Norwegian winters. I want the Iceland ones!!!
More people dropping in and meeting the team working on the Fan Desk every minute. This time Nadav Guedj representing Israel says Hi and greets the boys and signs the odd autograph. Thanks for the photos, Daniel, President of OGAE Israel.
Eurovision Radio International today launched a new Eurovision Award, to be known as ‘The Mozart Award’ marking both the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna and the concept of ‘Building Bridges’ between the Adult Contest, and its much younger sibling, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Radio International’s founder and regular show host Jürgen Börning, known to all as ‘JP’, said that he wished to mark the wonderful support the station receives from the organisers of both Contests by inaugurating a new award in the spirit of ‘Building Bridges’ from one Contest to the other.
There have already been a number of instances of young artists ‘graduating’ from Junior to Adult Eurovision – last year’s Russian Eurovision entrants the Tolmachevy Sisters being just one example. The ‘Mozart Award’ will be awarded to the person or group who graduate from being lead artists for their country at a Junior Eurovision Contest to performing the same role at the Adult Contest in the shortest time span. The award will be held by that artist until the record they have set is beaten.
Former 2013 Junior Eurovision participant Michele Perniola is singing for San Marino this year, but the time span of 18 months or so that Michele has set is completely overshadowed by his singing partner here in Vienna, Anita Simoncini. Anita Simoncini
Anita, who only recently turned 16, performed for San Marino as part of girl-group The Peppermints in the 2014 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Malta on Saturday 15th November. On Thursday 21st May Anita will sing for her country once again, this time alongside Michele performing ‘Chain of Lights’ in the second Semi-final of Eurovision 2015 – just 187 days after performing at the Junior Contest.
The Peppermints
‘JP’ presented Anita with her award during the San Marino Press Conference in Vienna on Saturday. So many congratulations to Anita for her achievement. We feel it likely that Anita’s record short ‘graduation’ time-span is going to be a very difficult one to beat too!
In 1 week, we will have a new Eurovision winner and if you are a true Eurovision fan, you will already have a list of your favourites for this year. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, you can have a look at the videos of the songs (you can find them all here).
I’ve been taking a look at all the songs in this years contest and providing some brief thoughts. If you agree or disagree, why not add your comments at the bottom of the page.
Today is the final instalment, we’re looking at the second half of Semi-Final 2 (plus the last 2 songs already qualified for the Grand Final which I haven’t covered in the previous articles).
Latvia
Aminata – Love Injected
Score
This is definitely one of Latvia’s best entries, although their are a number of fans who don’t seem to like it very much. I think that is because this is a performance song, best seen performed instead of listened to on a cd. Aminata has a very strong voice and should have no problem pulling this off on the night. I personally quite like it, however I do need to be in the right mood to listen to it. Could this be Latvia’s ticket to the final?
Azerbaijan
Elnur Huseynov – Hour of the wolf
Score
One of my absolute favourite songs this year. Azerbaijan always chooses the right song and their past stagings have been spectacular. If Elnur can pull off a flawless vocal along with attention grabbing staging, not only will they easily qualify for the final, but I think they have a very strong chance of their second win this year.
Iceland
Maria Olafs – Unbroken
Score
This song has grown on me more than any other in the contest. When I first heard it during their National Final, I wasn’t blown away. On listening to the final version on the cd however I think Iceland have changed it just enough to turn it into a very strong entry this year. Maria is very young though, so I am not sure if she can pull off the vocals live, but hopefully she will prove me wrong. I would love Iceland to finally win, but she has some strong competition.
Sweden
Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes
Score
Sweden knows how to do Eurovision. This year they have entered a very strong pop song with spectacular staging. It is the type of entry that forces you to watch, even if it is not your style of music. Måns is a very good performer and should pull off a flawless performance. This will easily qualify for the final. I also think they will be very difficult to beat this year, so it may very well be Sweden’s 6th win.
Switzerland
Mélanie René – Time to Shine
Score
A great entry from Switzerland this year. Mélanie performs very well live and has a beautiful voice. Her position in the second semi-final might work in her favour, give a very different music style to both Sweden and Cyprus, but people watching at home may also be a bit distracted by the previous Swedish entrant as it is always difficult following one of the favourites. I wish Switzerland all the best though and hope they will qualify for the final because they certainly deserve to with this song.
Cyprus
John Karayiannis – One Thing I Should Have Done
Score
This is a lovely soft ballad sung by a very competent performer with a great voice. It is going to stand out in the show because it is surrounded by much bigger numbers, but will it be the kind of song to make people vote for it? Hopefully Cyprus will be able to provide some memorable staging though for the audience to really take notice.
Slovenia
Maraaya – Here for you
Score
I’ve loved this song since first hearing it at their national finals. It is different, quirky and enjoyable. Maraaya has a great personality of stage and I love the headphones which she never seems to be without. I really hope this will qualify (and am sure it will).
Poland
In The Name Of Love
Score
When you first hear this song, it comes across as a great ballad and ticks a lot of boxes for Eurovision. However I feel that when you compare it to the other songs in the same genre, it doesn’t really stand out for me. I do sometimes forget who it is when the song comes on, which is not a great sign. I hope Poland pulls it off with some great staging, particularly as they are closing the show. The have come 11th in the semi’s so many times they do deserve to make it to the final.
Germany
Ann Sophie – Black Smoke
Score
I’m not in love with this song and I don’t really know why. It is the kind of music I most tend to listen to, yet there is something about it that just doesn’t appeal to me. I think if maybe it was a softer song, with just a piano and gentler vocal it would make it more enjoyable to listen to. But Ann Sophie is a great performer (I have seen her perform the song live) and I am sure she will do Germany proud.
Italy
Il Volo – Grande Amore
Score
My favourite in the contest. Italy was the only entry that when I first heard it, caused a little shiver up my spine with excitement. I think the song is beautiful and it builds perfectly for a Eurovision winner. It has the soft and the dramatic. The performers are phenomenal themselves and should easily pull off a fantastic performer. Italy has been doing very well most years since they returned to the contest and I do think this could be their year.
I have got hold of a copy of the Austrian National Newspaper, “Kronen Zeitung” and look who appeared in a feature they did on Eurovision this week. Roy was busy, but not too busy to stop for a quick photo opportunity to get some national coverage. Well done, Roy!
Today, one of OGAE Rest of the World’s newest members, Eduard Romanyuta, who is representing Moldova in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, paid tribute to a past star of Eurovision. We captured him at the Eurovision Wall in Vienna at the section dedicated to Udo Jurgens, the great Austrian Eurovision star who passed away recently. Eduard is from Ukraine and with Ukraine not appearing this year it is great to see they are not left out entirely. We wish Eduard, now one of our members, all the best this year.
Big day today at the Stadthalle as Richard Thiele and Andrew Pentecost got to meet Man Zelmerlow during his press conference and present him with the Heroes Messages from the OGAE Rest of the World fans and their Gift Bag with Post Card from Roger Armistead-Rainey and the Covers CD Roy van der Merwe had produced with Gerry Avelino’s great cover artwork. Their reward was a huge hug from Mans. Experience the moment with them below.
Vienna State Opera and ORF will host a grand gala concert “Pop meets Opera” only two days before the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals on 17 May 2015.
The opportunity is a great honour and acknowledgement for Boggie as only five ESC singers and Austrian representative Conchita Wurst is invited to perform at the concert.
Placido Domingo and Juan Diego Florez will also sing at the gala and a joint surprise performance will also be presented to the audience.
Boggie’s performance will also be extraordinary as she will sing her song “Wars for Nothing” together with the children’s choir of the Vienna State Opera.
“After receiving the invitation from the Austrian organizers I was extremely happy and proud at the same time. I could not believe this is all happening to me. It was not even in my wildest dreams to stand on the same stage as Placido Domingo… Whatever happens in Vienna, I will be forever grateful to fate for this gift.”
Áron Sebestyén (co-author of “Wars for Nothing”) will accompany Boggie on piano in the Vienna State Opera where she will perform in a wonderful Elysian dress besides the singers of Armenia, Ireland, Cyprus and Norway.
The gala will be broadcast live on ORF.
