Bonnie Tyler performed Believe In Me live on "The Graham Norton Show" last night and I think she did a pretty good job...
Her vocals were fine - a little shaky to start with maybe but that's to be expected. And the stage presentation looked great, very good use of the backing vocalists. I'm proud to be British this year... Bonnie also gave a quick interview following this performance where she said she hopes to give the best performance possible and she also mentioned how political the contest is. Hmm...
Here it is...
The Irish representative also have a live performance on live television last night - it's more polished and he sounds better and much more confident. Here it is!
This kinda rumours usually start after the contest but it seems RTP, the Portuguese broadcaster, has already announced they are interested in returning for next years contest. They are also considering airing the grand final, although it's been confirmed they won't show the semi finals...
The reason behind their withdrawal was because of the privatisation of the channel but that never happened in the end. Executives are already working on getting the country to participate. The broadcaster wants to participate - unlike some others... This is not official but we should know the decision in the coming weeks!
I so hope this is true! We need more songs like this in the contest...
The official video-clip of O Mie has been released, it's a fantastic clip! Aliona Moon looks great, much better than in the NF, where she didn't look her best exactly...
This clip was released on Pasha Parfeny's YouTube channel - wondering why? He wrote the entry and will join Aliona on stage in Malmo, I think. I still think it's weird they've translated the song back into Romanian after winning the national final in English - I'm not complaining though, it sounds great and she seems to put more emotion into this version. I wish her the best of luck!
I have decided to take a look at each entry this year, in a lead-up to the contest! There are 39 countries participating this year, all aiming to win in Malmo (well, some don't wanna win!) Turkey, Portugal, Slovakia and Bosnia & Herzegovina decided to withdraw this year, which was a shame, so lets hope they'll decide to return for 2014! I have drawn all the countries randomly and today it's Italy's turn...
Marco Mengoni - L'essenziale!
Italy have sent one of their best artists to the contest, Marco Mengoni! He was announced as the Italian representative at Sanremo but what song he would take to Malmo was still unclear. L'essenziale was the song he won Sanremo with and that magnificent song which was finally confirmed as the entry on the same day that all entries must have been sent into the EBU, 18th March! Italy is one of the favourites this year, but they was last year and Nina Zilli came 9th, which is a good result but it was still disappointing...
Marco won't have to compete in the semi finals as Italy are a member of the "Big-5". So he is already in the final and with a good draw - could it be a winner? Maybe! I think juries will love it. Marco has also got an Italian tour coming up very soon, so he's a busy man. I would love for Italy to win! Rome 2014 sounds great... Or Venice 2014, Florence 2014, Sanremo 2014 - they all are very possible. Thankfully he didn't translate the song, after Nina did last year, I reckon that's why she didn't make top five...
Mentre il mondo cade a pezzi Io compongo nuovi spazi e desideri che...
ByeAlex released the English version of Kedvesem a couple of weeks ago and I never knew about it. Why didn't someone tell me? LOL!
The translated version is entitled One for Me. I am pleased he will stick to Hungarian, naturally, but it's lovely to hear the song in another language - especially one I can understand. I think this could be a dark horse in Malmo - I hated it at first but now it's one of the best, in my opinion, and I reckon it could even reach top ten with help from the juries. It's not exactly demanding, vocally and it will be a breath of fresh air after all the power ballads and pop.
The Italian representative has released a new single! It's entitled Pronto a correre - which translates as Ready to Run. And he does a lot of running in this video...
It's already clocked over 75,000 views on YouTube - and the video's only been online two days. Shows this guy has a massive following - can that help him in Malmo? Si! I think Italy will be top five and could even win the damn thing. Rome 2014? I am actually very pleased he won't sing this in Malmo to be perfectly honest, even though it's a fine song! It will feature on his new album, naturally.
LISTEN HERE! And another one of Marco's latest songs... I love this one!!!
We have all seen the sketches but now we can really see what it looks like in the flesh. Pictures have been released online by M&M Production Management and they've been swirling around Facebook too.
It's looking great to be honest, much better than I thought it would! Here's what the stage will look like when Denmark compete...
For the Croatian entry...
And for the Bulgarian entry...
Even though I'm not around when the semi finals are being held I'll be doing as much as I can in the run up to the contest! ^^ I've had over 70,000 views this year alone - thank you so much everyone!
I really do like the Estonian entry this year. Yesterday the Spanish and Swedish versions were released and they've gone down very well online...
I especially love the Spanish <3 Maybe that's just because I love everything about the Spanish language - I used to be able to speak it really well but now I'm starting to forget bits... I must brush up! The Swedish version is lovely too - I don't speak Swedish, but love listening to it. And there's even a Russian one I didn't know about too - which is fantastic. Looking forward to seeing this permed live in Malmo - even if the majority of fans aren't fussed with it. I really wanna see Estonia make the final! And... I've just found an English version - any other versions I don't know about? Another minute this afternoon = another language of the Estonian entry I find! LOL!
The Romanian entry is one of the most disliked this year among fans and it deserves to be - I can't stand it but I am starting to appreciate it a little more now. Especially after the official video-clip was released today.
It's a pretty good video actually. He speeds along a Romanian motorway, jumps out of a plane and drives a boat with hos lady friend. Cezar has a busy life - but I guess that was the idea considering what the song is called... Cezar is a great singer, I must give him credit for that. Watch out for this in Malmo, got a horrid feeling it'll do really well. ^^
I have decided to take a look at each entry this year, in a lead-up to the contest! There are 39 countries participating this year, all aiming to win in Malmo (well, some don't wanna win!) Turkey, Portugal, Slovakia and Bosnia & Herzegovina decided to withdraw this year, which was a shame, so lets hope they'll decide to return for 2014! I have drawn all the countries randomly and today it's Israel's turn...
Moran Mazor - Rak bishvilo!
Israel returned to the ever so popular KDAM this year, after selecting internally last year and failing with Izabo. Several shows were held and Moran Mazor became victorious. It's actually a bloody amazing song! Kathleen Reiter withdrew just one day before the final as she felt the jury would vote tacitly, even if she was the big favourite to win the selection and if she did compete then I'm 99% sure she would've won. I was upset but that song bores me now, and I do love Rak bishvilo! KDAM 2013 saw a range of languages, including French and Spanish. The final was held 7th March - and it came as a surprise when Moran won, she was shocked herself...
She will compete in the second semi final and I bet it'll be qualify. And I think it could even be top ten in the final - juries will love it and I think people will vote too. Moran has an fantastic voice but she needs to ditch the NF outfit - she's a beautiful woman but her outfit that night was abysmal. It's drawn between Armenia and Greece - good luck Israel. Can't wait to see this live in Malmo, I think she'll blow the house down...
Rak bishvilo uchal lishcoa'ch et hakor Uvizchuto emtza ba'chosech et ha'or...
I have decided to take a look at each entry this year, in a lead-up to the contest! There are 39 countries participating this year, all aiming to win in Malmo (well, some don't wanna win!) Turkey, Portugal, Slovakia and Bosnia & Herzegovina decided to withdraw this year, which was a shame, so lets hope they'll decide to return for 2014! I have drawn all the countries randomly and today it's Estonia's turn...
Birgit Õigemeel - Et uus saaks alguse!
Eesti Laul was used once again in Estonia and it gave us some real laughs! The final was held on 2nd March and the winner did come as a surprise. Birgit won beating stiff competition from Grete Paia and Winney Puhh! Anyone who says the didn't enjoy Meiecundimees üks Korsakov läks eile Lätt is lying! HAHA! It was complete and utter craziness and I don't even have a clue what they were supposed to be. I did secretly want it to win but they only came 3rd. Mainly because the jury ranked them so low - if they had a few more points from the jury then they would've won. If anyone from the Estonian broadcaster is reading this I say "select Winney Puhh internally for 2014" and then it would be Tallinn 2015! The song itself is still pretty good but imagine people trying cover it on YouTube...
Birgit will perform her ballad second in the first semi final - she has the draw from hell, like Valentine, but will Estonia qualify? I think they could - the did with Kuula. Most people are writing this off and saying she'll just be ignored but I reckon the jury will like this and I think the "big-note" will make some people pick up the phone. I hope so anyway, it deserves the final. If you didn't know, Birgit is pregnant! Good luck Estonia - Birgit performs between Austria and Slovenia.
Love is all around us has been released and I must admit it's great! Normally I don't like translations but this one works really well. The girls can sing, I don't know what happened in the national final - maybe nerves?
The girls also released a a few remixes of it, in Serbian and English - you can download all of these here! Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work for me at the moment but I'm sure they'll be uploaded to YouTube soon so I can enjoy it then. I think my laptop is blocking it for some reason, you all probably have better luck than me... Anyway Moje 3 perform last in the first semi final and I think that'll help them qualify. Good luck Serbia! <3
Bonnie Tyler gave a live performance of Believe In Me today and Jesus it is amazing! This woman has the best voice this year, closely followed by Amandine Bourgeois and Zlata Ognevich!
She also have an interview to BBC Radio 2 - you can listen to that here! The guy interviewing said that over 40 countries are participant, you are wrong mister! HAHA! Anyway I can't wait to see this live now, Bonnie has said she will have backing singers in Malmo but no dancers. Thank god for that, dancers just didn't work for The Hump last year. Bonnie said she would love to win it but the most performance aspect is to enjoy it and for her to be happy with the performance! She's already done the UK proud! <3
Bonnie also gave an interview to a British magazine a couple of weeks ago but I just cannot remember which magazine exactly. Here's the live version here, what a great voice...
I have decided to take a look at each entry this year, in a lead-up to the contest! There are 39 countries participating this year, all aiming to win in Malmo (well, some don't wanna win!) Turkey, Portugal, Slovakia and Bosnia & Herzegovina decided to withdraw this year, which was a shame, so lets hope they'll decide to return for 2014! I have drawn all the countries randomly and today it's Finland's turn...
Krista Siegfrids - Marry Me!
The Finnish selection had some really decent songs this year but they opted for the "in your face" option with Marry Me! It is great, and Krista is a fine performer. She has a much better voice than I gave her credit for at first and I think Finland will really well in Malmo! The national final was held in February, like last year, and it did come as a surprise when Krista was selected. I thought Mikael or Diandra would win but they came 2nd and 3rd, respectably.
Finland will compete in the second semi between Malta and Azerbaijan. She's gonna qualify, lets face it, and then I think it could be a dark horse. A top ten contender, no doubt. But the juries will hold it back. Helsinki 2014 is not gonna happen but a decent position is likely. Krista is a hoot on Twitter, you can follow her here. She also released a parody video-clip for gay marriage - she said everyone should be able to marry who they want. 12 points, Krista!!! In Malmo she's promised a "circus" on stage. #TEAMDINGDONG <3
The music video is here! It's a good video-clip but the one for Imperija was much better. Shame they ditched that but I do really enjoy Pred Da Se Razdeni now - I especially love Esma's bit! It's also had a bit of a revamp in Lozano's bit, which works brilliantly!
This video-clip was released yesterday. The thing I don't get is why the released the music video is in English but they will perform in Macedonian in Malmo - unless there's something here I don't know about. The English lyrics are good though. FYR Macedonia are unlikely qualifiers but maybe they'll slip through, people will vote for Lozano and the jury should like Esma.
Here it is! :)
Let's remind ourselves of the performance in Amsterdam...
I have decided to take a look at each entry this year, in a lead-up to the contest! There are 39 countries participating this year, all aiming to win in Malmo (well, some don't wanna win!) Turkey, Portugal, Slovakia and Bosnia & Herzegovina decided to withdraw this year, which was a shame, so lets hope they'll decide to return for 2014! I have drawn all the countries randomly and today it's Malta's turn...
Gianluca Bezzina - Tomorrow!
The small Mediterranean island is sending a quirky song to the contest this year. Gianluca Bezzina won the selection on 2nd February, after beating 15 other participants. I like the song, it's fine, but I prefered many other songs from the national final. I think the best songs from it were Davinia, Chris Grech, Dorothy Bezzina and my absolute favourite was Claudia Faniello! Damn, I was so upset when Malta didn't select her in 2012, her songs this year wasn't amazing but still pretty good, in my opinion! She has a great husky voice, and stands out from all the others plus she's beautiful One year I'm confident Malta will send her, hopefully with something like Pure! But let's concentrate on the entry they are actually sending...
Tomorrow is a basic song, a fine song, but I feel there is something missing. He has good vocals and I'm sure the performance next month will be great but it's forgettable. Malta ain't gonna win! But when they do, apparently Maltese television have promised it to be held outside... Think of the security, there would be even more than there was in Baku! Malta competes in the second semi final, again, and will perform between Finland and Bulgaria - two songs which will really stand out, and I think they'll just be unnoticed. Maybe they'll shock us all and qualify, like they did last year...
She’s like tomorrow, oh so distant, she just wants to play Like tomorrow she is always one day away...
