EUROVISION 2022: SLOVENIA - EMA 2022 REVIEW

Slovenia had again its very long new talent Ema Freš selection prior to announcing the Big names for Ema itself. A total of 24 under 30 Freš artists battled it out in endless duels in November-December, and out of January final four of them got an access to the main thing: Stela Sofia, Leya Leanne, LPS and Luma. Next step was two semi-finals where six acts from each made it t the final, and all the youngsters are in!

In the final six thematic juries (OGAE members, songwriters, international artists etc) along with the televoting public will choose the winner.

BQL is back for the third time (2017, 2018) after being the runner up and televoting winner in both occasions overruled by the jury. Will they have their revenge finally? Luma has generated certain buzz in the fandom though.

Anabel - Tendency ***

Very middle of the road perfect pop song, and therefor rather unoriginal and forgettable. Anabel maybe isn't the strongest link in this affair. Somehow very American?

Stela Sofia - Tu in zdaj **

Not very convinving in any way. Comes and goes without a trace.

Manouche - Si sama? *

Ok, nice and somewhat entertaining but... No. I'm not in mood for this. At least right now.

Leya Leanne - Naked *

There are a zillion of zingers singing like that and I never liked it. The song isn't anything special for me either. My mind started wandering to the fridge midway. It tells all there is to tell.

BQL - Maj ***

Nothing wrong with this but then again nothing special either. But after two listening this does have some sort of ear worm qualities though.

Gušti feat. Leyre - Nova romatika ***

There's something authentic about this, and why am I thinking Portugal? The sound is very live and rough. I kinda like this and I don't quite even know why?

July Jones - Girls can do anything *

Thank God these noisy no melody shouty girl songs have almost vanished from the national finals. Samanta Tina showed the way. Can't stand these. No no no.

David Amaro - Še vedno si lepa *

The standard ballad but not a very good one at that, nor the singer so interesting. Yawn.

LPS - Disko ****

Just like Hauptman (see below) also this is like from a nightclub/cruise boat circuit thrown into this stage, but the boys are somehow fresh and innocent. I don't understand a word but I want to listen and cheer and give them a huge applause in the end while I sip my cocktails....

Hauptman - Sledim **

Straight from some hotel's nightclub or a cruise boat's random entertainment. And equally harmless and unnoticeable. This said very warm nice voice. I might give a glance who's there playing at some point.

Luma - All in ****

Zalagasper started a trend didn't they? This is like Zalagasper 2.0, hypnotic and interesting. If it was for me I'd send them to Turin as thee isn't anything equally intriguing. It may be a risk but a risk worth taking over mediocrity.

Batista Cadillac - Mim pravil ***

I kinda like the sound, and the performance is well rehearsed and looks good. Making most of what they've got and make it shine.

Comments

Nina Badrić for Croatia

Croatian TV went for internal selection in the end and chose Nina Badrić. She has been around for almost 20 years and has released ten albums between 1995 and 2011. She has also treid to get to Eurovision four times already without a win (1993, 1994, 1995 and 2003). She is popular also in the other ex-Yogoslavian countries so let those 12s run in.... Listen her here: Moje oci pune ljubavi , Dat ce nam Bog , Nebo and Mama . And lovely Carobno jutro .

Sabina Babayeva for Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani selection show for the represant was as long as the selection process for the five finalists. Kurt Calleja from Malta and Can Bonomo from Turkey were present with Ell/Nikki to see Sabina Babayeva to emerge as the winner after each and every finalist had done about zillion songs amongst other guests. Now the Azeri TV will shop around a suitable song for 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!

FINLAND: LORDI RELEASES SEXORCISM - THEIR 9TH STUDIO ALBUM

Brand new studio album SEXORCISM is released tomorrow, 12 years and 5 days after their monstreous victory in Athens 2006 Eurovision song contest. It is quite possibly the most controversial Lordi album yet and already their 9th stuido album (plus three compilations and one Ep)

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?

SWEDEN TRIES TO STEAL THE FINNISH KISS

We all know about Krista Siegfrids "lesbian kiss" and reactions to it in worldwide media, and especially in some more conservative countries like Turkey, Georgia and Greece (this blogger is still waiting for reactions from Azerbaijan and Russia). But that's not all, SVT is also featuring a gay kiss in their interval act. Martin Österdahl, the executive producer says they are expecting hard critic for it but think it's important finally to show some attention to the gay community in the show. It hsn't been easy for the gay fans and journalists in some present Eurovision contests in Belgrade and Moscow, not to even mention Baku! But... one question pops into my mind: when did they come up with this idea? Hmm... As we know, the interval and script's jokes and lines are worked until the last minute and for example Björn Gustafsson's part/lines have been cut after dress rehearsasl them being too provocative and causing protests from the commentators. ...

FINLAND: VIRPI KÄTKÄ NARROWLY MISSED THE SURVIVOR FINAL

Virpi Kätkä of CatCat fame came 4th in the Finnish Survivor against all odds, and was even the longest surviving female competitor. She managed to get this far by being friendly and helpful to everyone and staying out of any major fights and double-talk. Or so we thought.... she confessed afterwards it was just the game she played! She was voted out in unison by the remaining guys in a rather ugly way. after Kim won the last challenge and got safety when the other had planned to vote him out. No one wanted to be in the final against Virpi anyways so she would have been next one out perhaps but Kim's victory messed it all up. Kim is actually Kim Herold, of Humane Euroviisut 2007 (7th) fame. Let's see if he misses the final two as well and is on the next Plane Away. Virpi took her elimination "the same way I did with Eurovision, five minutes of depression, get over it and that's it!" she told. And the bikini in top photo she found in Thailand and as ...

THE ABBA REUNION 2016 - WATCH THEM SING TOGETHER AGAIN

The 2016 Eurovision song contest organizers didn't manage it - or any of the previous ones either nor those offering them millions of dollars - but they seem to get together for birthdays, the way the old friends do. Back in 1999 they performed together in a private party for Görel Hansel's 50th birthday, and now to celebrate the first meeting of Björn and Benny 50 years ago. Venue was Stockholm's Bern's Salonger and once again in a private setting but today even they can't stop the cell phone videos and social medias. Enjoy the magic of Frida's and Agnetha's voices again.

FINLAND: REMEMBERING KIRKA

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...

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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