Tag Archives: Vienna

2015 Eurovision Song Contest, Celebrating 60 years of Eurovision, Competitions, Covers

EUROVISION – 60 YEARS CELEBRATION

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Today is the official launch of the big project OGAE Rest of the world has undertaken to celebrate 60 years of Eurovision. A 3 CD set will be made and will be available in Vienna during the Eurovision period. Celebrating 60 years, so the 3 CD set will contain 60 COVERS of EUROVISION songs by artists from South Africa. Each CD will contain 20 songs. Only 60 copies will be printed and handed out in VIENNA during promotions and competitions.

Deciding on which 60 songs took a lot of effort since there were over 400 to consider and only 60 could be chosen.

I have tried to take into account several factors

– countries of the original song (trying to give each country at least one song) but it was not always possible as some like Czech republic has no cover done and others, notable Sweden and Iceland could almost fill 33% of such a project.

– SA artists – trying to use as big a variety as possible, making sure no-one is there twice as solo artist. Some do appear twice but then in duet with someone else.

– New and old songs, classics and hidden gems

– Big hits at EUROVISION but also big hits in South Africa (this does not always correlate)

After selecting the 60 songs, I also consulted with about 10 people who each could add one song and now the final 60 is there.

In the next 6 weeks, I will introduce these 60 songs ONE by ONE in the order they will appear on the compilation set.

Once all 60 songs have been unveiled, I will do a post as to how people can get a copy – keeping in mind there are just 60 copies. Because it is a promotion, the CD’s are not for sale.

I hope by the time we do the cover around beginning APRIL, we will have a logo for the club which will be on the compilation.

The original idea was to hand the first set to UDO JURGENS in VIENNA, but unfortunately that is no longer possible since his death in December.

2015 Eurovision Song Contest

Melodifestivalen 2015 – Semi-final 2 Results

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Last night in Malmö, the Swedish public decided on their third and fourth finalists yesterday. Magnus Carlsson and Mariette joined Eric Saade and Jessica Andersson for the final on the 14 March 2015 in Stockholm.  The second semi-final was an exciting glittery evening that kept the momentum going from Gothenburg.

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Linus Svenning – Forever Starts Today – Advances to the second chance

After his second attempt, Linus Svenning has managed to advance to the second chance for second year in a year.  Svenning won his ticket to the final last year during the second chance placing fifth in the final with “Bröder”. Svenning was back with this drum sliding number than was more upbeat than his first attempt.  The song is pretty solid and sounds very familiar which isn’t a bad thing.  Svenning’s vocal was sketchy in places but the overall performance was strong.

Emelie Irewald – Där och då med dig – Eliminated (6th place)

This ballad starts off strong with beautiful staging and a beautiful singer in a gorgeous revealing gown.  Although that’s where the positives stopped.  The song doesn’t go anywhere and stays in a monotone frequency with no build or interest to continue listening.  It was my most disappointing performance of the evening.

Samir & Viktor – Groupie – Advances to the second chance

This novelty song is a play on words of the “selfie” craze which wants listeners to take more “Groupie”s instead.  The performance and staging of this number is actually impressive.  You can tell this duo aren’t natural singers but the young lads are easy on the eye and surly won votes on their style rather than the substance of the song.

Neverstore – If I Was God For One Day – Eliminated (5th place)

This established rock band have several albums under their belt and have entered Melodifestivalen for the first time probably on the back on the popularity of State of Drama.  Their song is fairly similar to State of Drama’s entries and has potential.  The only thing missing was that killer hook or dramatic climax which would of taken the song to the next level.  Neverstore’s performance was positive and this very clean-cut rock band would of progressed with that little extra something.

Marie Bergman & Sanne Salomonsen – Nonetheless – Eliminated (7th place)

This duo on paper look like they could be unstoppable.  Marie Bergman has represented Sweden three times, tying Carola for the most times in Sweden, and Sanne Salomonsen, the Danish superstar, qualified directly to the final with “Higher Ground” in 2005.  The song is a country inspired number very much in the vain of last year’s Netherlands entry “Calm After the Storm”.  The main issue was it lacked the emotion the song needs.  The staging of this number was always going to be difficult but a leather sofa wasn’t the way to leaving the audience fairly cold.

Magnus Carlsson – Möt mig i Gamla stan – Advances direct to the final

This disco laced number feels much more like an Alcazar style dance number than Mangus Carlsson’s previous solo entries.  His third solo attempt and eight attempt including Barbados and Alcazar didn’t disappoint and was absolute schlager.  It was typical Swedish pop with dramatic drum beats and line dancing with an unmissable hip trust.  The staging could of been better just lacked the glitter the rest of the song and performance had but Magnus didn’t disappoint.

Mariette – Don’t Stop Believing – Advances direct to the final

This atmospheric number reminds me of “Europhia” in its styling and staging.  It was the most visually appealing performance of the evening without a doubt.  The song was like a haunting anthem that feels like a classic chart topper.  The mixture of all these positives create a song that easily qualifies for the final.

What do you think of the results?

 

2015 Eurovision Song Contest

Melodifestivalen 2015 – Semi-final 1 Results

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As only one song has won the Melodifestivalen crown coming from the first semi-final since the 2002 format change, Loreen’s Europhia, these songs will need to work very hard to get that Eurovision ticket this year.  These are my thoughts and the results of last night’s show.

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Molly Pettersson Hammar – “I’ll Be Fine” – Eliminated (6th Place)         

Molly’s song starts out promising with a diva in red and a wind machine but her screeching through parts of the song made parts of her performance painful.  A bit of practice could make this song much better.  I imagine it would translate well into Afrikaans.

Daniel Gildenlöw – “Pappa” (Dad) – Eliminated (7th Place)

A sad song about his father but it feels a bit devoid of any emotion and like a bloke wander in from the street and found himself in the middle of the Swedish selection process.

Rickard Söderberg & Elize Ryd – “One By One” – Eliminated (5th Place)

A very typical Eurovision entry with the combination of different music styles, ballad and classical.  The main issue with this entry is that the singers’ voices don’t complement each other.  The girl is flat in several places.

Dolly Style – “Hello Hi” – Advances to second chance

A very saccharin sweet child-like number with three wannabe children presenters that is annoyingly catchy.  You can’t get it out of your head sort of songs.

Behrang Miri feat. Victor Crone – “Det rår vi inte för” (We don’t control it) – Advances to second chance

A boy band style singer with a Swedish rapper doesn’t sound like a good idea but it works.  The song needs a stronger chorus to make it stand out more though.

Jessica Andersson – “Can’t Hurt Me Now” – Advances direct to the final

A gorgeous golden gown with a wind machine sets the stage for this lovely ballad.  It’s a lovely song but I feel Jessica needs to sell it with more emotion.  A previous Eurovision participant with the duo “Fame” in 2003 placing 5th, this is Jessica Andersson’s 4th solo attempt and her first directly qualifying song.  Easily translates into Afrikaans.

Eric Saade – “Sting” – Advances direct to the final

A very lavish production number by the white cladded dance machine known as Eric Saade was clearly the favourite of the evening before a single note was sung.  Also a previous Eurovision participant who came 3rd in 2011 with “Popular”, did his fans justice by delivering a very up-to-date number.

What do you think of the results?