Copenhagen 2014: Rankings of the 37, part 4: 20-16

Part 4 is now here. The halfway point is here. Why not waste any time...here we go!

Number 20!

Andras Kallay Saunders with "Running" (Hungary). Here's a man whose father was a jazz artist, and I like this song period. The break beat won this, and so did the atmosphere. There was no need to complain about this, even though this should be Erislandy Lara's new entrance song for his next fight (see his recent fight with Canelo for more details). Hungary never fails in the past three years of their ESC participation!

Now you're playing with fire. Dilara Kazimova at number 19 with "Start a Fire" (Azerbaijan). Same country which had a bonehead song (Farid Mammadov "Hold Me") that finished runner up last year in Malmo and could have been one of the worst ESC winners ever. Like last year, "Start a Fire" made it to the final. Great ballad, and my second favorite Azeri ESC song ever (behind Sabina Babaeva "When the Music Dies"). Enough said. Also the difference between "Hold Me" and "Start a Fire", was that this is filling, while "Hold Me" was a total letdown.

Tinkara Kovac with "Spet" (Slovenia) at number 18. Great song, unlike Hannah Mancini last year (was a good song, though only eight points. What the fuck?), made it to the grand final. It's gotta be the flute, it's gotta be the flute. One of the best Slovene entries in ESC hands down. Even last year was great.

Kasey Smith at number 17 with "Heartbeat" (Ireland). The second straight year in a row that Ireland has impressed me quality wise, since the awful shit in 2011 and 2012 (and still made the final due to the brainless teen girl population across the continent). However, this one missed the final. I felt like this song was great, but Europe missed the boat on this one. I hope somebody brings a song for 2015 that is even stronger. I have Irish roots myself.

Attention! Vilija Mataciunaite at number 16 with "Attention!" (Lithuania). Like Ireland, second straight year I've been impressed with Lithuania in the ESC since their disastrous shit with Donny Montell in 2012 (and still made the final, once again, stupid juries and voters with no brain and money in pocket). This one didn't make the final. Nevermind the dress you sick twisted fucks. I felt like it was a good performance, nonetheless.

Now attention please. This is how I stand after four posts:

37. Poland
36. Denmark
35. Belarus
34. Latvia
33. Macedonia
32. Austria
31. Sweden
30. Moldova
29. San Marino
28. Belgium
27. Spain
26. Albania
25. Montenegro
24. Armenia
23. Russia
22. Great Britain
21. Israel
20. Hungary
19. Azerbaijan
18. Slovenia
17. Ireland
16. Lithuania

And now it's past halfway. Fifteen more to go as the countdown continues!

Copenhagen 2014 Reviews: Can Linn Featuring Kasey Smith "Heartbeat"

Ireland finally has a winner...or is it? For Copenhagen, it is Can Linn (pictured) with "Heartbeat."

"Heartbeat"--Can Linn's collaboration with Kasey Smith--has a great beat, with Celtic folk vibes. Some said it was similar to the winning song from 2013, "Teardrops" by Emmelie de Forest. Not me, not that close. Her vocals are great as well. She will perform in the second semifinal on Thursday, the 8th of May. She will qualify for the grand final. End of story.

It is also a good sign that Ireland is coming back. Way back into the ESC frame. Some of you remember that Johnny Logan is a two time ESC champion in 1980 (with "What's Another Year") and in one of the greatest ESC's of all time in 1987 (with "Hold Me Now"). Johnny Logan aka Mr. Eurovision. Between those two wins by Johnny Logan, saw a couple great songs from Ireland--the Duskeys "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" (1982) & Linda Martin "Terminal 3" (1984). Since 1987, saw some very interesting songs from Ireland in ESC, including the McCaul's "Love?" (2005) just to name a few. Those are some of the great ESC songs from Ireland that come off the top of my head. It was sad in 2011 and 2012 when JEDWARD was there in both Dusseldorf and Baku with terrible entries that should've got nul points in the semifinals, simply because the Grimes twins were garbage (and still are). And after Timothy (?) Dolan's "Love Will Survive" from Malmo, Ireland has risen from the phoenix. This is Ireland in ESC, and this is what is done.

Up next: Mei Finegold "Same Heart."