EUROVISION 2026: SWITZERLAND, ALBANIA AND AUSTRALIA REVIEW

I wasn't planning on doing personal reviews this year either but here we go after all. Truth to be said I have listened the entries 0-2 times before sitting down now to comment them. Let's go!

The usual Blogilkar's home jury will reunite later and the results revealed in due time. meanwhile, my thoughts and comments on the entries of Eurovision song contest series is right here.

Switzerland - Veronica Fusaro - Alice **

Now this one's a tricky one. First listening (or rather just a bit of it when it was published) left me rather unimpressed but now listening it properly it's quite interesting. Different for sure, somewhat memorable. But then again we don't have any live performance (when writing this) so how this be staged; just simple rock act or a circus act with dancers and artsy nonsense? If the first option I'd say midtable at best, if the latter even NQ. But this is different, refreshing and a good choice no matter what.

Albania - Alis - Nân ****

The live performance in FiK was quite dramatic, powerful and engaging. The lyrics are beautiful and you can feel Alis pain. Great entry I wish all the success in the world. The melody also sticks to your mind even if at first might seem a bit difficult. This is sailing to the final and places well there. Left side of the final table.

Australia - Delta Goodrem - Eclipse ****

When I first heard this I thought Ok, Aussies are here to battle out the win. Then second time hearing the full song... nah. Makes me think more of a Maltese entry bought from Sweden any given year. Big favorite, flop result. As much as I like piano the piano solo in the middle seems out of place and isn't even very interesting, more like some Mozart thrown in for some reason. This said, this will do reasonably well, Top-10 but maybe not Top-5. This isn't Lost without you. Then again should this end up in Top-3 I'm not surprised.

And there's not a proper live performance yet to judge when writing this.

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 .

ESC 2014: UKRAINE REVEALS NEANGELY AND THE REST

Ukraine is set to select its entrant for Eurovision 2014 in about two weeks as the final is set on December 21, 2013. Twenty names made it through the casting selection yesterday and will be presented. The winner will be chosen by a jury and televote. Among the 20 some familiar names like NeAngely and names from local The Voice and X Factor as well as New Wave. As usual they didn't give the song titles yet but some songs have leaked already. Beware of changes though. Viktor Romanchenko - At the edge of the abyss Anna Hodorovskaya - If there is love Anatoly Shparev - Waiting for you Neangely - Courageous Stas Shurins - Why Tatyana Shirko - Let go Illarya - I'm alive Lisa Wassabi - No fear Vladimir Tkachenko - Be where you are Shanis - My soul Viktoriya Petryk - Love is lord Tanya Burke - Believe me Evgeny Litvinkovich - Strelyannaya Bird Anna Maria - 5 Stars Hotel Marietta - It`s my life Mariya Yaremchuk - Tick Tock Uli Rud - Tsvetok Deni...

ITALY: EMMA PUTS HER CAREER ON HOLD FOR SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS

Italian music world and not only, is turning to support Emma (35) on social media after her unexpected announcement on her instagram earlier this week. "Things happen. This really isn't the best moment but then, never would have been the right moment for this. It's time to deal with it and take care of it for good. I'll be back stronger than ever" as she cancelled her participation in a concert in Malta and apologing her fans who had booked flights and accomodations on the island to come and support her, along with her other plans. Most propably it's cancer, people are whispering. She was operated already 2009 for a tumor in uterus, and for the second time in 2014 and apparently it's back for the third time. Update 24.9.: According TG1 it should be neoplasm, and apparently benign and curable. The moment is the most unfortunate as her latest single Io sono bella (I am beautiful) has been well received by the critics and becoming one of her bi...

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 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 ...

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.

CZECH REPUBLIC: MARTINA BÁRTA PRESENTS MY TURN

Czech Republic's internally chosen Martina Bárta has released her entry My turn for the Eurovision as well today. Not sure if I managed to keep my attention level very high for very long when listening to it.... Shame.

AZERBAIJAN: CHINGIZ SHOWS US THE NEAR NAKED TRUTH

Well, almost. Now that Azerbaijan has risen up to the Top-5 in beting odds to win it all with Chingiz's Truth they are not holding it back and all tricks are welcome to attire some attention. And when they have a specimen like Chingiz why not strip him and show us the almost whole naked truth? So, they must have been thinking and who can blame them? Here is the result. Enjoy! Photos taken by Dmitry Komissarenko for NVRMIND paper.

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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