EUROVISION 2019 DARE TO REVIEW 9: SAN MARINO, BELGIUM, AZERBAIJAN, THE NETHERLANDS

More entries in my Top-10 reviewed

San Marino - Serhat - Say Na Na Na *****

Say na na na

You’re not alone so stand up na na na

Be a hero be the rainbow and sing na na na

Say na na na

Ahmet Serhat Hacıpaşalıoğlu (54) is back! The Turkish Sammarinese by adoption tries his luck for the second time in Eurovision and who knows, he might make it to the final this time and even if doing so, Valentina Monetta remains the one and only Sammarinese artist to do so. Say Na Na Na is what he does best: dated disco pop with old fashioned female backing singers over his husky half spoken performance. In some weird way it works. This is feelgood music, hilariously kitchy without being banal and somehow Serhat manages to make himself likable like a DILF of the fandom. Closing the first semi-final this could be what televoters had been waiting for: something instantly recognisable and fun, what most people think Eurovision is all about. If juries will get aboard too this just could make it to the final...

Belgium - Eliot - Wake up *****

I came to fight I came to fight over you

Don’t want your lies don’t want your lies I need truth

I came to fight I came to fight over you

No one will cry, no one will cry if it’s true

Eliot Vassamillet (18) is one of the youngest this year, and also without much experience whatsoever. Like most Belgian entrants in the past few years he's also a random The Voice participant the song's writer Pierre Dumoulin spotted. I like this more than his previous entry (Blanche's City lights). This one has a nice athmosphere and melody and I instantly liked this a lot. Time will tell how he handles this live and how the staging supports the song. With Blanche they had terrible start of the rehearsals but in the end she delivered - I hope Eliot does the same.

Azerbaijan - Chingiz - Truth *****

Oooooo So shut up shut up about it

I don’t need I don’t need the truth

Moscow born Çingiz Mustafayev (28) may be young but he's been around already over a decade passing from Pop Idol 2007 to Jūrmala's New Wave and Ukraine's The Voice before creating Palmas, a group he sings in performing an interesting mix of Azerbaijani and Turkish folk songs with flamenco, pop and rock influences. Sadly, his entry is nothing of that sort but almost too polished pop by the usual suspects Borislav Milanov & co. The video is one of the most stunning in visual this year and shares with The Netherlands some underwater scenes with the hunk that Chingiz is. I was very thrilled with the song with first hearing and even if this has lost a bit of its charm with further listenings one must remember most voters do hear it for the first time on the night. The staging will seal the fate of this but this is qualifier, and most likely will end up very high on the scoreboard. Yet, I wouldn't be surprised if this would flop; is it all too polished and sterile?

The Netherlands - Duncan Laurence - Arcade *****

Oh, oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh

All I know, all I know Loving you is a losing game

Duncan de Moor (25) aka Laurence of The Voice of Holland fame has emerged the one to beat this season. And no wonder, the song feels special, it's beautifully arranged, melodic and melancholic with a lyrical hook that can touch most people. The video is also suggestive featuring just like Azerbaijan underwater shots - only that when Chingiz is only shortless Duncan is completely nude. Yet it fits the whole and his pretty round bum doesn't steal the show. Also for this the staging and live performances will make or break it. Is this too obvious a winner? Just remember what happened to Francesco Gabbani.....

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ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

ESC 2013: SERBIA'S BIG GUNS

Serbia is one of the most succesful Eurovision countries in the recent years and this blogger 's favorites. This year I am again very curiously waiting for their entry and what they will offer us when they have a national final once again after last year's internal selection. Many bigger and smaller names have been rumored to have sent a song, or have confirmed so themselves. Among then a 63-year-old disco diva Neda Ukraden , Eurovision veteran Vukašin Brajić 's OT Band, Danijel Pavlovic who is Marija Serifovic's step-brother, national final veteran Ana Nikolic and other names like Nenad Cvijetic , Dejan Petrovic, Zejna , Ivana Pavkovic , Vanja Mijatovic .... Let's see who really are in when the final 15 out of 80 will be announced for the March 2, 2013 final. These 15 will be cut to five for the superfinal by televoting. Then we have Bojan Bjelic , who apparently was sending his song Mora before he decided not to blaming the contest is fixed and Serbian

GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o

Summer songs: Samantha Fox & Sabrina - Call me

Summertime is the time for cover versions and remixes. The late 1980's war of the boombs is over when Samantha and Sabrina put their bras together and cover Blondie's Call me in peace and harmony. Amore, chiamami!

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

Et voilà! Anggun presents Echo (You and I)

So today we finally heard the French entry in Eurovision 2012 in Baku by Anggun. Echo (You and I ) is rather bizarre mix of many things and just when you think you get it the songs takes a turn to another direction. Whistling all along. Very catchy it is. Call it an earworm if you want. Still I wouldn't scream a winning entry but... we will see. In Patricia Kaas like ending me thinks.

Blogilkar Exclusive: RAMBO AMADEUS INTERVIEW

My flying reporter Robert met Rambo Amadeus in his hotel this morning and what an interesting and entertaining meet it was! Unfortunately the time wasn't enough as this man has lots to tell about many topics. However, here are the main things! Thank you Rambo for this interview and first of all, how an earth Montenegro wanted you to represent them in Eurovision? I don't know! I really don't know. I didn't want to ask any questions why they wanted me. So they came to you, you didn't go to them? Of course. Everybody comes to me..... And everybody knows you and that you are bit, maybe a lot, Eurovision skeptic. Why did they come to you then? Well, I think they want the audience to pay attention to them? I think the new, young and ambitious director of RTCG decided to do some kind of shock therapy. He probably thinks there's nothing to lose. I asked him "Are you sure? Do you know my work?" and he said yes. I think they are learning how to g

GREECE: HELENA PAPARIZOU HITS AGAIN WITH HAIDE

Eurovision song contest 2005 winner Helena Paparizou has been enjoying Top-5 hits every year since 2003 with the exception of 2010 and 2014, this latest one being already her 27th! And Haide is charting also in Bulgaria and Finland, of all places. The catchiness of her hits has changed less over the years than her face.... Here's the English version , below the Greek version.

REMEMBERING MARILYN MONROE

It's 50 years since Marilyn Monroe passed away on August 5, 1962. Her legend still lives on and there's no doubt she got "it". Probably very much misunderstood and surely underrated she remains one of the biggest stars on this planet ever. How many fans have really seen her movies, I mean all of them? Not only the 2-3 most successful ones where she played pretty much the same dumb blond? Thee's so much more to her if you watch all her work.... And had she lived. She would be 86 now. Like this .

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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