Guilty Pleasure - Eurovision Special

So here it is folks. My all time favourite Eurovision song and I think quite a lot of you are going to think "really". Hopefully a few of you will also agree with my choice.

Number 1 - La Voix by Malena Ernman (Sweden)

That's right folks, La Voix is top of my Eurovision chart. I absolutely love this song. So much so,  I have listened to it on my ipod 238 times. More times than any other Eurovision song. Now that has to be some kind of record?

Malena represented Sweden in the 2009 contest. An opera singer, very famous in her home country and other parts of Europe, her coloratura mezzo-soprano vocals were put to good use in the song and to a dance soundtrack too. The whole thing blended perfectly to reveal what I believe to be a Eurovision classic.
Unfortunately, I think I was only person to think this as the song finished in 21st place. It failed to score with quite a few countries and only received low scores from those that did. Even the UK only gave it 1 point and that was probably courtesy of the gay audience.
I don't think it helped Sweden with Ms Ernman giving only an adequate performance on the night. On the high notes she was perfect but it was when she had to sing notes in a lower key that she had a few issues.
Here is the actual pop video to show you how it should have sounded.

I think you will agree that that sounds so much better doesn't it?

Despite the disastrous result in the contest, the song was released on download and cd.It reached number 2 in Sweden, number 19 in Finland, number 20 in Norway and 138 in the UK. Really UK..138? The UK position was, again, probably due to myself and a few more gays.

One thing that has surprised me the most is the lack of drag queens that have failed to incorporate this song into their routine. A lovely dress, blonde wig and a few scantily clad male dancers and hey presto, you have the start of a perfect nights entertainment.

I hope you have enjoyed my Eurovision Special as much as I have enjoyed looking back at the contest and writing about it. I've liked it so much, I have decided not to end on this edition of my blog.

Tune in next time when I will highlight my favourite three entries for this years Eurovision.

Until next time, I bid thee farewell.



Guilty Pleasure - Eurovision Special

Hi folks and welcome to the next recipient to earn a place in my Eurovision Top 10.
Without further ague, let us proceed.

Number 7 Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (Norway)

Winning the competition for Norway (though Alexander originates from Belarus)  in 2009 with a total of 387 points, the highest score in Eurovision's history, is this beautiful song.

Yes Mr Rybak is rather dashing and would look very nice on my arm but it is for the song that he features in my top 10.

I love the simplicity of the lyrics and in the way he delivers the vocal. Add to that his stunning violin playing and it's not hard to see why he was one of the favourites to win.

Alexander reached number 10 in the UK charts which, given the fact that the day when Eurovision winners did well had long gone, was quite an achievement. It went to number 1 in 7 other countries.

Since his top 10 debut, there has been nothing else from him, at least not in the UK.

Over in Norway, he did lend his voice to their dubbed version of the 2010 animated film "How to Train Your Dragon".

Until next time, I bid thee farewell

 

Guilty Pleasure - Eurovision Special

Welcome to my Eurovision countdown and I must say it is proving to be quite a task.
So many fantastic songs throughout the years and picking just ten is exhausting, not that I'm complaining. It's been lovely looking back through the archives of the contest.

Who is the next entry in my top 10? Read on and all will be revealed.

Number 8 Bobbysocks La Det Swinge aka Let it Swing (Norway)

Bobbysocks were Hanne Krogh and Elisabeth Andreassean and together they won the 1985 contest for Norway with this quirky little swing number.
They give a winning performance full of sparkle and energy and the orchestra, well what can you say except it is a swing song and when those instruments start a playing, boy do you want to swing.

Bobbysocks reached number 44 in the UK charts with their Eurovision winner and continued to work together until 1988. Up until their split, they released 3 albums and 10 singles. In 2010, a compilation album was released to celebrate 25 years since they won Eurovision and whilst not as successful as their previous releases, it did introduce them to a whole new audience.

Today, Eurovision's look has totally changed from the look of 1985 with everything produced on a much grander scale now. If Bobbysocks were to sing in the contest today, I doubt it would be a winner but I guarantee the audience would be up on their feet swinging to their hearts content.

Until next time, I bid thee farewell.