All Kinds Of Everything for Eurovision -

Posted on 2008.05.16 at 12:45
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ARMENIA : This just gets better and better with every run through. Sirusho sounds confident and looks a lot more confident that before. The choreography is complex and involves a lot more rolling on the floor than I would like, but it is effective for the overhead shots. They have almost all the camera angles right, which is more than can be said for several entries, and even if the song is a tad repetitive, the dancing and fireworks add a bit of variety. Other people may be less impressed but for me this is an absolutely certain qualifier, and it’s not totally out of the running to win.

NETHERLANDS : Hind is in her stage outfit which thankfully isn’t the dreadful black frock that was held to camera on Monday. She’s in a full length violet number with a cutaway front which reveals her thigh, which I’m not sure is a great idea. Hind concentrates on singing and she sounds great, while two male dancers give a very energetic support and three female singers give both the vocals and the stage an extra depth. I think that despite the betting odds, and coming straight after Armenia’s similar ethno-pop song, this has a strong chance of qualifying.

FINLAND are now in their stage outfits, with the lead singer in leather and the bassist and guitarist stripped to the waist. It begins with an explosion of light but soon settles into a pretty stand “rawk” workout. The wind machine and flames are good and the vocals and strong and sound perfectly matched to the song, but I still can’t see the market for this. It’s in the Top 10 favourites to qualify and there’s certainly nothing like it in this semi, but I think it has little appeal to traditional Eurovision fans or to rock fans (assuming any are watching the semi-final this year). Not a qualifier for me.

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Comments:

(Anonymous) at 2008-05-16 10:51 (UTC) (Link)

I love this song :)))
Besides Russia it's my favourite this year.

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(Anonymous) at 2008-05-16 11:09 (UTC) (Link)

@ Keith:

Please don't say that Hind hasn't got a strong chance of qualifying! Why? Because another failure of my country, would make the Dutch national broadcaster more critical for future appearances of Holland in the Eurovision competition.

Right now...well.............we may qualify, but only with an 8th or 9th place. And that isn't good enough for a top-15 spot in the final.

So PLEASEE be negative (ahum)

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(Anonymous) at 2008-05-16 11:37 (UTC) (Link)

Sorry Keith...

But Dutch will qualify for sure while I can't see Scandinavian countries, Ireland and all the west Holland null points. For me is sure more than Ireland. But the song itself is bad for my opinion...

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(Anonymous) at 2008-05-16 11:36 (UTC) (Link)

Sirusho and Hind

Thanks for that Keith...

Love both these entries and am really hoping both will qualify...

to me they don't sound similar at all... the sound is totally different... Sirusho's song is Anatolian whereas Hind's is Maghreb/North African... suppose to western ears eastern is eastern...

My biggest worry is that you can't seem to hear the backing singers very well... Sirusho's voice is coming out loud and clear. Would be over the moon if she wins but i think it is between Ukraine, Serbia and Armenia this year.

All will depend on the performances on the actual night!

Cheers from London. Vasken

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(Anonymous) at 2008-05-16 12:12 (UTC) (Link)