Malmo 2013: Rankings of the 39: 5-1

And note, I'm not 'Dufnering' while I'm doing this. If you know what I mean.

However, this is, my top five from Malmo 2013. I have reviewed 34 others, but these are the remaining five, and yes, I saved those for last. Are you ready? Here we go...

Just like Esma Redzepova and Bonnie Tyler, Cascada was another brand name act that competed at this year's ESC. The trio was probably using their win in the German national final and the ESC as a way to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their successful track to date-a cover of "Everytime We Touch," a top five hit in the UK. A decade later, these same guys decided the ESC would be a great place to achieve their goal. And it worked. Despite getting lower points in the grand final, "Glorious," which was meant to be a copycat (not quite) of "Euphoria" by Loreen Talhaoui, winner of Baku 2012, is really a great track. And just as good as "Everytime We Touch." This channels "Euphoria," except "Euphoria" is much more euphoric and deeper. End of discussion. At number 5 (6 points) on my Malmo 2013 countdown, it is one of my favorite German entries ever in the ESC. Bar none.

At number 4 (7 points) is Margaret Berger with "I Feed You My Love" (Norway). I ranked this higher for a reason: for it's euphoric value. Some of these dumbfucks comparing her to that shithead Lady Gaga, except this woman is far superior. When someone compares an 'underground' act like Margaret Berger (and I mean 'underground' to us Americans) to Lady Gaga, it makes a person look stupid. Seriously. But this song is powerful and that is why at number 4, it is one of my favorite Norwegian ESC entries.

Who said rock doesn't fare well at ESC besides the likes of Lordi, The Allisons and Terasbetoni among others? Look no further than the collaboration between Koza Mostra and Agathon Iakovidis with "Alcohol is Free" (Greece), at number 3 (8 points). This has to be the best collaboration at Malmo, and is the essential party song. When we are all living in an tough, terrible economy, a song like this delivers. Alcohol is to be consumed free for all adults as a way to stay calm during these tough times. And their sound is a great companion. Therefore, this is one of my favorite ESC entries from Greece, along with Mathima "Solfege Lesson" (1977) among others.

Originally it was "Rhythm of Love," the song Alyona Lanskaya won the Belarussian national final with in December. The change to "Solayoh" (Belarus) doesn't mean shit. Both are great tunes. "Solayoh" eventually made it from the semifinal to the grand final, and garnered a 12 point vote. It is even my second favorite song (10 points) of Malmo 2013. The reason is simple. It is due to its raw courage, it's aura and it's epicness. It is hard to compare this with "We Are the Heroes" by Litesound from Baku 2012, except I like both songs. Belarus yet again never fails in ESC, as far as quality.

And there was one. Here is my number one song of Malmo 2013, and my 12 points go to...

Der Heilsarmee (or Takasa) with "You and Me" (Switzerland). Interesting group, including a 95 year old (seen in this image at the right on the cello), and a guitarist. This diverse group of people was why I put these guys at the top. Nevermind the EBU's name change from Heilsarmee to Takasa because of the Salvation Army name and trademark, but it is still the same great song with people you don't hear much about in the music industry. It is groups like these and the Babushki's from Baku 2012 that you want to be happy that they have performed on one of the biggest stages in the music industry, despite failing to qualify for the grand final. Like Sinplus at Baku, these guys continue to carry on the epicness that the Swiss brings to the ESC year after year.

So to put the cherry on top, here are my final rankings, three months removed:

39. Finland
38. Cyprus
37. Sweden
36. Azerbaijan
35. Belgium
34. Croatia
33. Israel
32. Moldova
31. Serbia
30. Austria
29. Iceland
28. Italy
27. Estonia
26. Ireland
25. Netherlands
24. Russia
23. San Marino
22. Macedonia
21. Malta
20. Ukraine
19. Slovenia
18. Latvia
17. Georgia
16. Denmark
15. Bulgaria
14. Great Britain
13. France
12. Lithuania
11. Hungary
10. Spain (1 point)
9. Montenegro (2 points)
8. Armenia (3 points)
7. Romania (4 points)
6. Albania (5 points)
5. Germany (6 points)
4. Norway (7 points)
3. Greece (8 points)
2. Belgium (10 points)
1. Switzerland (12 points)

One more point about Greece, I'm glad that "Alcohol is Free" made the final, but was mad when "Aphrodesiac" made the final at Baku. The difference was that the Greek song for Malmo is far superior than that slaggish shit that represented that country in Baku. End of story.

And that ends my Malmo 2013 review, it is nine months away until EUROVISION LIX, somewhere in Denmark.

Malmo 2013: The Ten Best Performances, Hand-picked!

EUROVISION LVIII has been come and gone in over a week, however some of the performances have been in my honest opinion, as tops.

With that in mind, here are the ten best performances of EUROVISION LVIII Malmo:

 

El Sueno de Morfeo "Contigo Hasta el Final"

 

 

Who See Klapa "Igranka" (featuring Nina Zizic)

 



 

Gor Surjan & Dorians "Lonely Planet"

 

F. Cezar "The Voice" Ouatu "It's My Life"

 

Adrian Lulgjuraj "Identitet" (featuring Bledar Sejko)

 

Cascada "Glorious" (Same guys who did "Everytime We Touch")

 

 

Margaret Berger "I Feed You My Love"

 

Koza Mostra "Alcohol is Free" (featuring Agathonas Iakovidis)

 

Alena Lanskaya "Solayoh" (NOTE: she has a personal Facebook page of her own.)

 

Heilsarmee (Takasa) "You and Me"

 

 

 

So those are my ten best performances of ESC LVIII. Later on this week, I will rank all 39 ESC LVIII entries. Where will these ten fall on the list? Stay tuned.

 



Malmo 2013 39 For 39: Cascada "Glorious"

After the one day hiatus due to the tragedy in Boston after the 117th BAA Marathon, I have decided to continue on with my reviews for all participants of Malmo 2013, the LVIII EUROVISION Song Contest.

The '39 For 39' series is now focusing on Germany. Cascada, who had a top ten hit in the UK in 2004 with a cover of "Everytime We Touch," will represent the country at Malmo. The same three that has been around off and on the past decade are still alive. Listen to "Glorious," a tune that exactly has the vibes of "Euphoria," the winning tune by Loreen Talhaoui from last year, and see if this is just as great as "Euphoria":

To me, it has that same feel, but even better than "Euphoria." Hell, it's even better than "Everytime We Touch," which was a typical AATW tune with AATW beats.

This looks to be a contender for the win. Why? Because of it's raw courage and excitement. The trio has made a statement saying that they're back and better than ever! This is proof.

I also think this is just as good as the epic ballad "Standing Still" by Roman Lob, who represented Germany at Baku 2012. No comparison.

Look for them to try to win it all on May 18 as they perform ONLY in the Grand Final, as one of the 'big six.'

Speaking of 'big six,' next up on '39 For 39' is Bonnie Tyler "Believe in Me."

EUROVISION LVIII 2013 Update: Cascada, Stoyan and Elitsa Returns, and More

As more countries selected their representatives for Malmo 2013, there are a few that are already catching my eye.

Valentina Monetta isn't the only returning artist to this year's ESC, Anouk is coming back as are Stoyan Yankulov and Elitsa Stodorova (pictured above). Yankulov and Stodorova represented Bulgaria in 2007, and finished sixth overall. To this day, it is the only act from Bulgaria to make it in the final. BNT, the Bulgarian broadcaster for EUROVISION, handpicked them to represent Bulgaria at Malmo as opposed to another national contest as they did since the country entered ESC in 2005. The duo have three songs, but it's up to the fans to decide. BNT's ratings for EUROVISION have increased in 2012 from 2011.

At Baku 2012, it was Engelbert Humperdinck. At Malmo 2013, it will be Cascada. A brand name act that could sway away in fan votes and juries. Cascada, an alternative house act, had a #2 hit in the UK in 2003 with a cover of "Everytime we Touch." The trio will represent Germany in Malmo with "Glorious."

A handful of artists have confirmed songs for Malmo. Among those, Esma Redzepova and Vlatko Lozanowski Lozano with "Empire" and the Who See Klapa, who will change songs and team up with Nina Zizic on "Igranka."

Also heard that Alena Lanskaya's "Rhythm of Love" will have a change as well as the band Heilsarmee, who will change their name to reflect EBU standards.

Later this week, Estonia, Hungary and Romania will name their acts as well.

The ESC LVIII roster as of now:
Adrian Lulgjuraj, Bledar Sejko "Identiet" (ALB)
Gor Sujyan "TBA" (ARM)
Natalia Kelly "Shine" (AUT)
Roberto Bellarosa "Love Kills" (BEL)
Alena Lanskaya "Rhythm of Love" (BLR)
Stoyan Yankulov, Elitsa Stodorova "TBA" (BUL)
TBA "Mizerja" (CRO)
Despina Olympiou "TBA" (CYP)
Emmelie de Forest "Only Teardrops" (DEN)
Krista Siegfrieds "Marry Me!" (FIN)
Amadine Bourgeois "L'enfer Et Moi" (FRA)
Nodi Tatishvili, Sophie Gelovani "Waterfall" (GEO)
Cascada "Glorious" (GER)
Koza Mostra, Agathonas Iakovidis "Alcohol in Free" (GRE)
Eypor Ingi Gunnlaugsson "Eg a Lif" (ISL)
Ryan Dolan "Only Love Survives" (IRL)
Marco Mengioni "L'Essenziale" (ITA)
PeR "Here We Go!" (LAT)
Andrius Pojavis "Something" (LTU)
Esma Redzepova, Vlatko Lozanoski Lozano "Empire" (MKD)
Gianluca Bezzina "Tomorrow" (MLT)
Who See Klapa, Nina Zizic "Igranka" (MNE)
Anouk "Birds" (NED)
Margaret Berger "I Feed You My Love" (NOR)
Dina Garipova "What If?" (RUS)
Valentina Monetta "Crisalide" (SMR)
El Sueno de Morfeo "TBA" (ESP)
Hannah "Straight Into Love" (SLO)
Heilsarmee "You and Me" (SUI)
Zlata Ognevich "Gravity" (UKR)

Stay tuned to this blog for any updates leading up to Malmo 2013!

Friday Jukebox 2.15.13

Since the group Cascada will represent Germany at EUROVISION LVIII at Malmo in May, I thought I'd give a refresher course to let people know that they're still alive. Hence, their cover of Maggie Reilly's "Everytime we Touch" from 2003. A number 2 hit in the UK at the time.

Be on the lookout for their new single "Glorious," which they will perform at ESC 2013.