Uh-oh, it's Eurovision time
May. 22nd, 2021 05:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oloriel... and while the Eurovision liveblogging on Tumblr is irresistible (one of the few things Tumblr is more suitable for than LJ/DW to be honest), I still feel obliged to subject you to the traditional Eurovision post here. Apologies in advance!
This year's ESC motto is Open Up, but it's a controlled and closely monitored sort of Opening Up. The audience is composed entirely of Dutch people with negative test results, there's no mosh pit in front of the stage, and the performers aren't allowed to go anywhere except their hotel rooms or (obviously) the arena. The audience is literally called the field lab? It would be funny if it weren't so serious, I guess.
In the semifinals, Australia didn't perform in person due to travel restrictions, so they showed the performance on video instead. Of course, this makes no difference to the TV audience; I wonder what it was like for the live audience! At any rate, Australia didn't qualify for the finals. Not sure they would've qualified if they'd been there in person, either.
Iceland also didn't perform on stage because one of their own tested positive, so they also had to show the video performance. They qualified, so we'll find out if they can come on stage tonight, I guess?
In the semifinal (particularly the second semifinal) there was a lot of 80s revival stuff. Speculations concerning the causation/correlation of existential dread, impending ecological desaster, general depression and this style of music should be permitted. In contrast, the unavoidable ballads did surprisingly badly during the semi-finals, with most of them not coming through to the final.
After the semifinals, I'm partial towards Malta, Ukraine, France and Italy (the last two didn't go through the semifinals, so I haven't actually seen the full performance yet, but I liked the rehearsal snippets they showed). Not making any predictions, though.
The male presenter is getting on my nerves already. Does he have any qualifications aside from his toothpaste smile? Wouldn't the three ladies have been enough? (They would absolutely have been enough.)
Anyway, let the show begin!
Cyprus
Elena Tsagrinou - El diablo
This one has apparently caused outrage among Orthodox Christians bc she sings about having fallen in love with el diablo. Never mind that it's a song about an abusive relationship apparently? Probably too complex a concept for simple minds. Surely it must be about *checks notes* worshipping Satan. Uh-huh. It's not a complex song though. It's a fairly simple song which may or may not have been heavily inspired by Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Whatever.
Albania
Anxhela Peristeri - Karma
I had completely forgotten this song after the semifinal, which probably says enough. Balkan pop power ballad. What's with all the leg-free outfits this years? That's not how the Open Up motto was meant. ... I hope.
Israel
Eden Alene - Set Me Free
Background dancers look like they want to play flag football later. The song is OK I guess, but the real star is her hair.
Apparently that B6 she screamed was the highest note ever hit in Eurovision history. Huh.
Belgium
Hooverphonic - The Wrong Place
Cate Blanchet body double in the wrong place. OK song, but not ESC material. More like a film noir song.
Russia
Manizha - Russian Woman
I have said it before and I will say it again, I'm not a fan of songs that copy previously succesful songs with more special effects, and this is essentially a Russian copy of Israel's winning song from a few years back. That said, this is apparently a very controversial song in Russia because of its feminist message and Russian conservatives are up in arms because she's not "ethnically Russian" (she's from Tajikistan) so how dare she tell Russian women to be strong and stand up? I want to like this just to piss off Russian conservatives. Ironically, the traditional folksong part of it is the most enjoyable.
Malta
Destiny - Je me casse
Not my type of music, but definitely the strongest performance so far.
Portugal
Black Mamba - Love Is On My Side
Love may be on their side, but I'm not sure that I am. I don't hate it? But it's more of a campfire song. Feat. Portuguese cowboys and, shockingly enough (for Portugal), entirely English lyrics. Bit boring.
Serbia
Hurricane - Loco Loco
Not even sex can sell this trite piece of Balkan disco. Trying hard to be Destiny's Child and failing spectacuarly. Nil points.
UK
James Newman - Embers
For a UK entry, it's not too bad, but it isn't spectacular. Fun and upbeat though.
Greece
Stefania - Last Dance
In spite of her invisible dancers, I had completely forgotten this song. Solid disco stuff but uninspiring.
Switzerland
Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers
He can sing, but the song is boring. Sorry.
Jörg's guest commentary: Switzerland is famous for clocks and cheese. This is not a clock.
Iceland
Daði and Gagnamagnið - 10 Years
This is apparently very popular. The best I can say for it is that it's massively self-ironic. Gives off student party vibes.
Spain
Blas Cantó - Voy a Quedarme
I actually like this one! Wouldn't mind if it won.
Moldova
Natalia Gordienko - Sugar
This song was written by a Russian oligarch and is apparently being performed by his sugar baby. The latter part is my nasty interpretation but the first part is actually true.
Germany
Jendrik - I don't feel hate
Hate to the dark side it leads, therefore feel it, Jendrik does not. At least he demonstrates that Germany is starting to understand how Eurovision works. Might come across as a bit holier than thou though.
Finland
Blind Channel - Dark Side
... Not feeling hate also led to the Dark Side, as it turns out. Finland reliably bringing the Metal. Wake up and start headbanging, Europe! Or, as the band put it, Middle fingers up!
Bulgaria
Victoria - Growing Up Is Growing Old
Kind of cute but also kind of boring. Not sure Eurovision is the right place to work through your feelings, frankly.
Lithuania
The Roop - Discoteque
It's a song about having a discoteque at home and dancing all alone. 70s costumes meet 80s background visuals meet the 2020 scenario. Not my thing.
Ukraine
Go A - Shum
Sort of like a cross between Värttinä's folkloric female leads and Helium Vola's electronic dance sound? Weirdly hypnotic. I like it.
France
Barbara Pravi - Voilà
I'm in love with this sweet little fairy woman, OK? She's enchanting. That's all. Other than that, it's a classic chanson, but I won't hold that against her because she's cute. That's too many voilàs though. That's... too much. Put some back. CALM DOWN WE'VE ALL SEEN YOU NOW
Azerbaijan
Efendi - Mata Hari
This is doing nothing for me.
Norway
Tix - Fallen Angel
Others have said that it's like Good Omens if Crowley were the angel, but frankly it's more like a Borat/Lucifer crossover. Does nothing for me. Nothing good, anyway. The wings annoy me an unreasonable amount. This is not how wings work! This is how an unholy number of Christmas pageant angels wear their wings because they apparently have never in their life seen a bird! Nil points from me just for the damned Christmas pageant wings.
Netherlands
Jeangu Macrooy - Birth of a New Age
A topical song that manages to stay just barely on the permitted side of the "no politics at Eurovision", apparently. Strong song, strong voice, strong message. Wouldn't mind this one winning.
Italy
Måneskin - Zitti e buoni
Honest hard rock. I'm here for it.
Sweden
Tusse - Voices
Tusse actually has a very pleasant voice, but I can't get over the fact that in my dialect German, Tusse is a derogatory word for a superficial, typically fashionable and arrogant woman. This Tusse is a guy though. Solid song but nothing groundbreaking.
San Marino
Senhit feat. Flo Rida
Last and least. This is not a senhit. Balkan bops (despite coming from nearly-Italy). Flo Rida adds nothing to the song, either. How did this ever make it past the semifinal?
- - -
Europe, start voting now!
Why are they riding the tram without masks on, that's just rude
This voting interval is not one of the better ones so far.
OK, the former winning acts performing on rooftops was kinda nice. Also a good reminder that Azerbaijan's winning entry was absolutely mediocre and I can only assume that bribes were involved in that victory.
-- One of the most interesting things about following the #esc or #eurovision tags during ESC night is that you are guaranteed to see entries like “this song is SO GOOD” and “oh i love this performance” for things that you just absolutely trashed either in your own posts or to your fellow viewers.
Felix is watching the Eurovision final at my parents' and I hope he's still awake because the danced countdown would be SO much his thing. (Incidentally, did I mention that he won the Maths Olympics in his school and made 2nd place in the Maths Kangaroo Contest nationwide bc I don't think I did)
The mother-in-law just retired to bed. Curiously, she didn't know or notice at any point of the evening that Nikkie is transgender, even though she's one of those people who insist that "you can always see it". All that she (the mother-in-law) objected to was her (Nikkie's) tattoos. Go figure.
Jury votes showing once again why the jury votes were abolished for a while.
The public votes are SAVAGE. UK beat us to the last place though. I didn't think Jendrik would do so badly, but clearly, it did come across as sanctimonious. Still, depressing that the Moldovan sugar baby got more points than him. That's a low blow!
Italy, Iceland, Ukraine and Finland leading now... let's see what happens now?
NOT SWITZERLAND PLEASE
Yes! Italy made it! Finally, one of my faves did it again! Well deserved win, I don't care what the jury thinks (though Italy was on place 5 after the jury votes, so it's not like they hated them). This is the energy we want!
This year's ESC motto is Open Up, but it's a controlled and closely monitored sort of Opening Up. The audience is composed entirely of Dutch people with negative test results, there's no mosh pit in front of the stage, and the performers aren't allowed to go anywhere except their hotel rooms or (obviously) the arena. The audience is literally called the field lab? It would be funny if it weren't so serious, I guess.
In the semifinals, Australia didn't perform in person due to travel restrictions, so they showed the performance on video instead. Of course, this makes no difference to the TV audience; I wonder what it was like for the live audience! At any rate, Australia didn't qualify for the finals. Not sure they would've qualified if they'd been there in person, either.
Iceland also didn't perform on stage because one of their own tested positive, so they also had to show the video performance. They qualified, so we'll find out if they can come on stage tonight, I guess?
In the semifinal (particularly the second semifinal) there was a lot of 80s revival stuff. Speculations concerning the causation/correlation of existential dread, impending ecological desaster, general depression and this style of music should be permitted. In contrast, the unavoidable ballads did surprisingly badly during the semi-finals, with most of them not coming through to the final.
After the semifinals, I'm partial towards Malta, Ukraine, France and Italy (the last two didn't go through the semifinals, so I haven't actually seen the full performance yet, but I liked the rehearsal snippets they showed). Not making any predictions, though.
The male presenter is getting on my nerves already. Does he have any qualifications aside from his toothpaste smile? Wouldn't the three ladies have been enough? (They would absolutely have been enough.)
Anyway, let the show begin!
Cyprus
Elena Tsagrinou - El diablo
This one has apparently caused outrage among Orthodox Christians bc she sings about having fallen in love with el diablo. Never mind that it's a song about an abusive relationship apparently? Probably too complex a concept for simple minds. Surely it must be about *checks notes* worshipping Satan. Uh-huh. It's not a complex song though. It's a fairly simple song which may or may not have been heavily inspired by Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Whatever.
Albania
Anxhela Peristeri - Karma
I had completely forgotten this song after the semifinal, which probably says enough. Balkan pop power ballad. What's with all the leg-free outfits this years? That's not how the Open Up motto was meant. ... I hope.
Israel
Eden Alene - Set Me Free
Background dancers look like they want to play flag football later. The song is OK I guess, but the real star is her hair.
Apparently that B6 she screamed was the highest note ever hit in Eurovision history. Huh.
Belgium
Hooverphonic - The Wrong Place
Cate Blanchet body double in the wrong place. OK song, but not ESC material. More like a film noir song.
Russia
Manizha - Russian Woman
I have said it before and I will say it again, I'm not a fan of songs that copy previously succesful songs with more special effects, and this is essentially a Russian copy of Israel's winning song from a few years back. That said, this is apparently a very controversial song in Russia because of its feminist message and Russian conservatives are up in arms because she's not "ethnically Russian" (she's from Tajikistan) so how dare she tell Russian women to be strong and stand up? I want to like this just to piss off Russian conservatives. Ironically, the traditional folksong part of it is the most enjoyable.
Malta
Destiny - Je me casse
Not my type of music, but definitely the strongest performance so far.
Portugal
Black Mamba - Love Is On My Side
Love may be on their side, but I'm not sure that I am. I don't hate it? But it's more of a campfire song. Feat. Portuguese cowboys and, shockingly enough (for Portugal), entirely English lyrics. Bit boring.
Serbia
Hurricane - Loco Loco
Not even sex can sell this trite piece of Balkan disco. Trying hard to be Destiny's Child and failing spectacuarly. Nil points.
UK
James Newman - Embers
For a UK entry, it's not too bad, but it isn't spectacular. Fun and upbeat though.
Greece
Stefania - Last Dance
In spite of her invisible dancers, I had completely forgotten this song. Solid disco stuff but uninspiring.
Switzerland
Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers
He can sing, but the song is boring. Sorry.
Jörg's guest commentary: Switzerland is famous for clocks and cheese. This is not a clock.
Iceland
Daði and Gagnamagnið - 10 Years
This is apparently very popular. The best I can say for it is that it's massively self-ironic. Gives off student party vibes.
Spain
Blas Cantó - Voy a Quedarme
I actually like this one! Wouldn't mind if it won.
Moldova
Natalia Gordienko - Sugar
This song was written by a Russian oligarch and is apparently being performed by his sugar baby. The latter part is my nasty interpretation but the first part is actually true.
Germany
Jendrik - I don't feel hate
Hate to the dark side it leads, therefore feel it, Jendrik does not. At least he demonstrates that Germany is starting to understand how Eurovision works. Might come across as a bit holier than thou though.
Finland
Blind Channel - Dark Side
... Not feeling hate also led to the Dark Side, as it turns out. Finland reliably bringing the Metal. Wake up and start headbanging, Europe! Or, as the band put it, Middle fingers up!
Bulgaria
Victoria - Growing Up Is Growing Old
Kind of cute but also kind of boring. Not sure Eurovision is the right place to work through your feelings, frankly.
Lithuania
The Roop - Discoteque
It's a song about having a discoteque at home and dancing all alone. 70s costumes meet 80s background visuals meet the 2020 scenario. Not my thing.
Ukraine
Go A - Shum
Sort of like a cross between Värttinä's folkloric female leads and Helium Vola's electronic dance sound? Weirdly hypnotic. I like it.
France
Barbara Pravi - Voilà
I'm in love with this sweet little fairy woman, OK? She's enchanting. That's all. Other than that, it's a classic chanson, but I won't hold that against her because she's cute. That's too many voilàs though. That's... too much. Put some back. CALM DOWN WE'VE ALL SEEN YOU NOW
Azerbaijan
Efendi - Mata Hari
This is doing nothing for me.
Norway
Tix - Fallen Angel
Others have said that it's like Good Omens if Crowley were the angel, but frankly it's more like a Borat/Lucifer crossover. Does nothing for me. Nothing good, anyway. The wings annoy me an unreasonable amount. This is not how wings work! This is how an unholy number of Christmas pageant angels wear their wings because they apparently have never in their life seen a bird! Nil points from me just for the damned Christmas pageant wings.
Netherlands
Jeangu Macrooy - Birth of a New Age
A topical song that manages to stay just barely on the permitted side of the "no politics at Eurovision", apparently. Strong song, strong voice, strong message. Wouldn't mind this one winning.
Italy
Måneskin - Zitti e buoni
Honest hard rock. I'm here for it.
Sweden
Tusse - Voices
Tusse actually has a very pleasant voice, but I can't get over the fact that in my dialect German, Tusse is a derogatory word for a superficial, typically fashionable and arrogant woman. This Tusse is a guy though. Solid song but nothing groundbreaking.
San Marino
Senhit feat. Flo Rida
Last and least. This is not a senhit. Balkan bops (despite coming from nearly-Italy). Flo Rida adds nothing to the song, either. How did this ever make it past the semifinal?
- - -
Europe, start voting now!
Why are they riding the tram without masks on, that's just rude
This voting interval is not one of the better ones so far.
OK, the former winning acts performing on rooftops was kinda nice. Also a good reminder that Azerbaijan's winning entry was absolutely mediocre and I can only assume that bribes were involved in that victory.
-- One of the most interesting things about following the #esc or #eurovision tags during ESC night is that you are guaranteed to see entries like “this song is SO GOOD” and “oh i love this performance” for things that you just absolutely trashed either in your own posts or to your fellow viewers.
Felix is watching the Eurovision final at my parents' and I hope he's still awake because the danced countdown would be SO much his thing. (Incidentally, did I mention that he won the Maths Olympics in his school and made 2nd place in the Maths Kangaroo Contest nationwide bc I don't think I did)
The mother-in-law just retired to bed. Curiously, she didn't know or notice at any point of the evening that Nikkie is transgender, even though she's one of those people who insist that "you can always see it". All that she (the mother-in-law) objected to was her (Nikkie's) tattoos. Go figure.
Jury votes showing once again why the jury votes were abolished for a while.
The public votes are SAVAGE. UK beat us to the last place though. I didn't think Jendrik would do so badly, but clearly, it did come across as sanctimonious. Still, depressing that the Moldovan sugar baby got more points than him. That's a low blow!
Italy, Iceland, Ukraine and Finland leading now... let's see what happens now?
NOT SWITZERLAND PLEASE
Yes! Italy made it! Finally, one of my faves did it again! Well deserved win, I don't care what the jury thinks (though Italy was on place 5 after the jury votes, so it's not like they hated them). This is the energy we want!
no subject
Date: 2021-05-22 09:49 pm (UTC)I need to catch up. But we spent the day gardening, the first nice day in an eternity or two, so I'm really tired. Maybe some of the tired is the shot...
no subject
Date: 2021-05-23 12:26 am (UTC)Incidentally, did I mention that he won the Maths Olympics in his school and made 2nd place in the Maths Kangaroo Contest nationwide bc I don't think I did
No, you didn't! That's awesome!
no subject
Date: 2021-05-23 09:14 am (UTC)To be fair, everybody who placed in the top 5% made "second place" because that's how the Kangaroo Contest works. But still, he's in the top 5%! (His teacher says "This contest is good for him because it'll finally give him some challenging problems to solve." Felix' verdict, afterwards: "It was pretty easy. Except for the second-to-last problem, that was tricky.")
no subject
Date: 2021-05-23 09:15 am (UTC)But yeah, the combination of vaccine and gardening might well account for the tired. Frankly, just one of the two would be enough to make me go to bed early. XD
no subject
Date: 2021-05-23 01:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-23 05:07 pm (UTC)Congratulations to Felix!
no subject
Date: 2021-05-24 10:35 am (UTC)Thank you, I'll pass it on! (In a good moment. He's desperate for praise but also embarrassed by it, so it's a fine line...)