EUROVISION LVII: Morgan's Ranking of the 42, 18-13

Counting down and assessing all 42 EUROVISION LVII participants, as now, this post is on the rankings of 18-13 (my rankings that is) of the participants in Baku, Azerbaijan this year. So once again, 'light your (ass on) fire' and enjoy this!

HERE WE GO!

Hop aboard the Love Boat with Captain Stubbing...I mean Soluna Samay (DEN)! Hence, the hat she wore for both nights of performances similar to what ship captains wear. "Should've Known Better" was number 18 on my rankings. Good song, even though now she has a NEW single, "Come Again (The Quetzal)," where the lyrics is in both English and Spanish, since Soluna (and G.G. Kettel) both were born in Guatemala and currently resides in Denmark. So there's a little background there. "Come Again" is honestly 'more powerful' than "Should've Known Better." If she won Denmark ESC with "Come Again" it would've been a contender for the win!

Vorsprung durch Lob. Not exactly, but "Standing Still" by Roman Lob (GER) was one of those songs that blew my mind off. It was one of six that pre-qualified for the final without a semifinal appearance, and it was good, but not exactly great, which is why I place this at number 17. Roman Lob is another competitor at ESC with major label backing.

Maya Sar (BIH) is one of the numerous competitors this year over the age of 30, with the tearful ballad "Korake Ti Znam." Lots of piano, and I thought it was something in the flow of the theme song used for the Masters golf tournament coverage on CBS here in the states. Listen to the beginning and you'll understand. Truly a tradition unlike any other...oh wait! It's not the Masters theme song! Great song, and it's at number 16.

"Kuula" is NOT about a cooler full of beer or food, but it's an exceptional masterpiece by Ott Lepland (EST), which is at number 15. Some piano in there as well. Great, and one of the best this year. Enough said.

Finishing fourth on her home soil in the grand final, it's true that "When the Music Dies" by Sabina Babayeva (AZE), at number 14, was another masterpiece that won me over. Forget all the bullshit about "Botox this, and Botox that!" She might've had Botox overload but she is a great singer, hence the reason why she is studying voice at a conservatory. Lovely woman; and I like the jazz version of this. Another video of a newer song is out, and more good things will come from this woman in the months to come.

The lovely red head Pernilla Karlsson (FIN) at number 13 with "Nar Jag Blundar." Swedish born with Swedish lyrics and I felt this was a song that should've made the final. Great voice nonetheless, representing the country whose last win in ESC was 2006 (that's right, the last true win in ESC-Lordi's "Hard Rock Hallelujah"). It isn't Lordi, but hell, I'd take this too.

After 5 days and 5 recaps:
42. Ireland
41. Austria
40. San Marino
39. Norway
38. Georgia
37. Moldova
36. Turkey
35. Cyprus
34. Greece
33. Lithuania
32. Romania
31. Albania
30. Ukraine (and I'm quickly becoming a Gaitana fan)
29. Latvia
28. Belgium
27. France
26. Netherlands
25. Portugal
24. Slovenia
23. Montenegro
22. Iceland
21. Spain
20. Croatia
19. Serbia
18. Denmark
17. Germany
16. Bosnia & Herzegovina
15. Estonia
14. Azerbaijan
13. Finland

Two more days and two more rankings and assessments of the 42 at ESC LVII. Where will Loreen end up? What about Engelbert? Keep on reading!

I'm Gonna Knock You Out! Mama Said Knock You Out!

..and 'shut 'em down' in the process!

Friday Jukebox 8.24.12

This week's Friday Jukebox is about the final 'official' song of the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London. There's three official songs at the London Games this year: "Survival" by MUSE, "Scream" by Dizzee Rascal and the Chemical Brothers' "Theme for Velodrome". As a big Chemical Brothers fan, this was a plus that a UK outfit contributed to an entity that was held on their home soil!

EUROVISION LVII: Morgan's Rankings of the 42, 24-19

Continuing on as you 'light your (ass on) fire' while you enjoy my posts, critiquing the 42 at EUROVISION LVII this May in Baku, Azerbaijan. Now it's on to 24-19.

Just like the Bud Light slogan goes...HERE WE GO!

At 16, Eva Boto (SLO) was the youngest competitor at this year's ESC with "Verjamem." Never heard the song? For starters, the name of the song will get people confused if this was a reggae song. "Yeah! I'm lighting up a joint and I'm verjamin'!" Nope. "Verjamem" is a great song and a great effort that I thought was too hard to rank, therefore I put this at number 24.

Rambo Amadeus (MNE), was one of the oldest competitors at ESC this year (he turns 50 this year). Don't know people's beef with "Euro Neuro", or maybe because the brainless are too stupid to cave into a fairly intelligent piece. It's liberal (I'm conservative-somewhat-in most areas of science.), but hell, it's good and educational and it's good. That is why I'm ranking it higher than these fools ranked it, which was down the bottom. Don't be disappointed. Rambo always has one rule: always stay cool like a swimming pool. It's at number 23 on my rankings.

ESC 2012's lone duet of Jonsi and Greta Salome Stefansdottir (ISL) was one of the best this year, and powerful. "Never Forget" had it all, but was glad this gem made the final. Great ballad, and was tough for placement, hence my ranking of this song was at the 22nd position.

At number 21, Pastora Soler (ESP) had one of the brilliant ballads this year, with "Quedate Conmigo," in which she has done an English version of the song. The Spanish version is heaps better and more flow than the English version. Once again, tough to rank this gem in my rankings.

Another good song that was tough to place in my rankings was "Nebo" by Nina Badric (CRO). "Nebo" is NOT about anything related to the Friday movies. No "That's my bike punk!" in the lyrics or no other Deebo references like "you got knocked the fuck out!" No not that stuff. Never heard original, but the ESC version is great, which I ranked it at number 20.

Yet another good song at ESC this year was "Nije Ljubav Stvar" by Zeljko Joksimovic (SRB), which is at number 19. Great song, breathtaking ballad, and was one of the best this year. Glad this gem made the final, and for those who think this is boring, screw you! You need a brain to listen to this!

So to recap so far after 4 posts and 4 reviews:
42. Ireland
41. Austria
40. San Marino
39. Norway
38. Georgia
37. Moldova
36. Turkey
35. Cyprus
34. Greece
33. Lithuania
32. Romania
31. Albania
30. Ukraine
29. Latvia
28. Belgium
27. France
26. Netherlands
25. Portugal
24. Slovenia
23. Montenegro
22. Iceland
21. Spain
20. Croatia
19. Serbia

Keep reading to see where Loreen ends up in my rankings. Up next it's 18-13 in the 42!

BELLATOR 73: Two #1 Contender Finals for the Price of One!

It's back! BELLATOR, that is! It's the conclusion of the three event Summer Series for 2012, as there will be two exciting tournament finals-as Marcos Galvao battles Eduardo Nogueira for the #1 contender spot in the bantamweight division, with a title fight against current champion Eduardo Dantas in the near future, whilst Attila Vegh and Travis Wiuff (pronounced 'View') will fight in the light heavyweight tournament final as the winner gets a shot at the title currently held by Christian M'Pumbu.

CARD

Bantamweight tournament final

(135lb/60.75kg)

Eduardo Nogueira v Marcos Galvao

 

Light heayweight tournament final

(205lb/92.25kg)

Attila Vegh v Travis Wiuff

 

 

Live on MTV2 and epixHD, 7pm local time, 8pm NAEDT. Great time to catch it, until next month!

 



EUROVISION LVII: Morgan's Rankings of the 42, 30-25

Continuing to 'light your (ass on) fire' with the best of Baku 2012! It's my ranking and assessment of all 42 participants of EUROVISION LVII, which took place in late May in the Azerbaijani capital.

So it's now at positions 30-25 on my rankings. Here we go!

NOTICE! The top 30 on my rankings are very powerful pieces and I respect, like or love them all!

Residential Shakhtar Donetsk supporter and the very-educated Gaitana (UKR) at #30 with "Be My Guest," which is included in her new album Viva, Europe! Why did I include those words in a short description? She wrote a song on Shakhtar, which is found on Viva, Europe!, but also has an economics degree. But the problem of why I ranked this song low, is at first I didn't like it, but grew on me (just like virtually everything else on Viva, Europe!). Did you know she was a friend of EURO 2012 (since Ukraine co-hosted the tournament with Poland) and composed a song-ironically the title track of her album-for the tournament? That's some facts to chew on! I want her to try again with something even more magical in the near future, but please download Viva, Europe! From what I hear, it's a great album!

"'Beautiful Song,' it's on the radio and on the TV shows..." Why some people didn't like it, but I did.  I'm talking about the entry from Anmary (LAT), which is #29 on my rankings. It's good, and Anmary is very attractive. Great singer, but don't understand the hate about this "Beautiful Song"? It might not make sense to the lowest common denominator (who think this is boring), but she doesn't go the same route as Ivi and Eleftheria! That is something to ponder.

Iris (BEL) was the second youngest participant of ESC LVII at age 17 with "Would You?" This is #28 on my rankings. Remember, it's from the same country that Kate Ryan represented ESC with years back. This is a brilliant masterpiece, and don't understand why some people put this down. It's good, but not great. I enjoyed it.

Anggun Cipta Sasmi (FRA), who was one of six pre-qualifiers without a semifinal run, at #27 on my rankings with "Echo". I liked it and found it to be OK a couple months after ESC LVII came to a close. Very underrated track, but this position of number 27 was a hard decision for a good song. Did you know Anggun had major label backing for ESC LVII? The same could be said for a few others in the contest.

At number #26 is pro wrestling legend Chief Wahoo McDaniel! I mean...Joan Franka (NED)! The headdress Joan had on in the semifinal is almost similar to Wahoo McDaniel's headdress during his years in territorial pro wrestling. "You and Me" is a good, yet underrated song, and whoever said it was terrible, you suck. Listen to this numerous times and you'll get the point.

At number 25, Filipa Sousa (POR) had another brilliant, yet good song, as well with "Vida Minha". It was one of the best Euro-ballads this year at ESC LVII, but was really tough to rank.

So to recap after 3 days and 3 reviews:
42. Ireland
41. Austria
40. San Marino
39. Norway
38. Georgia
37. Moldova
36. Turkey
35. Cyprus
34. Greece
33. Lithuania
32. Romania
31. Albania
30. Ukraine
29. Latvia
28. Belgium
27. France
26. Netherlands
25. Portugal

4 more reviews and four more rankings. Where will the champion, Loreen, end up on my rankings? Keep reading in the days to come! Up next it's songs 24-19!

EUROVISION LVII: Morgan's Rankings of the 42, 36-31

Continue to 'light your (ass on) fire' with my rankings from EUROVISION LVII this past May in Baku, Azerbaijan. Now it's on to the second group, 36-31.

At number 36 is the lame-ass song from Can Bonomo (TUR), entitled "Love Me Back." The ship has sank on this lame duck song that should've never made the final.

At 18, Ivi Adamou (CYP) was the third youngest participant at ESC LVII, with "La La Love," one of the most over songs this year. Why did I put it at number 35? Simple. For starters, this panders to the slutwave fans, and to those who listen to such shit as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry among others. For fuck sakes, this was a blunder itself and wish that it shouldn't make the final to begin with. Also note, this could be the death knell for Cyprus in EUROVISION due to lack of government funding and support to begin with (though Sony BMG, her record company, funded her efforts to Baku).

Just like her neighbor across the water, Eleftheria Eleftheriou (GRE) should have never reached the final as well. At number 34, "Aphrodisiac" is another dud of a song, period. But the jurors put her in the final simply because of the financial crises in her country. Strictly 'Kylie-lite' for the masses!

'Love' isn't blind, but is deaf. At number 33, "Love is Blind" from Donny Montell (LTU) is so boring as hell, and lame too. Such an offering that should've never made the final. Hopefully Robin Thicke can kick his ass just for stealing his voice.

This year at ESC LVII, there are five bands (so to speak). One of those is Mandinga (ROU), whose offering "Zaleilah" was part of a weak-ass first semifinal back on May 22. The song is the first single off of their new album CLUB de MANDINGA, and it really disappointed me, hence my ranking of them at number 32. The sound is there, the flare is there, but their over-botoxed lead singer (surprisingly, yet funny, was named one of GQ's 'sexiest' women for 2012) lost me. Remember folks, this outfit has been around for about ten years, and Elena Ionescu is their second lead singer, after their original lead singer left in 2006.

The ever-belching Rona Nishliu (ALB) at number 31 with "Suus". It seems that there's that part that I feel should been made into a commercial for something...like Preparation H or even Anusol. Where her screams of "Oh oh oh ooooohh!" could describe the itching and pain that you feel in your anus after taking a shit. But it's an OK track. Too overdramatic here.

Anyway, that's 31-36. To recap 42-31:
42. Ireland
41. Austria
40. San Marino
39. Norway
38. Georgia
37. Moldova
36. Turkey
35. Cyprus
34. Greece
33. Lithuania
32. Romania
31. Albania

So there you have it. In part 3, it's all about 30-25, so don't be angry, be cheerful!