Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Here is the next set of today's second rehearsal for the semi final two ones. Check out the previous post for more information  here  . Poland is one the fandom loves to dislike this year with passion. But like with Estonia one can't remember the televoting powers and also all the Poles around Europe. The song isn't that bad but watching this clip one can only wonder: Why those pyros? Why in his face? What's all that? Looks like a bad random tv-show anywhere, not Eurovision quality and standars. Shame. With a better one this could have been a big Maybe qualifier. Moldova follows Poland's suit: the mediocre song could have been saved with a proper staging but also here it's without any effort, cheap and unimaginative. Boring with weak vocals and zero sex appeal she so hard tries to display. And to think this was one of The Songs when released. Now it struggles to qualify.... Iceland. Oh well. No. I can't take this seriously. I don't find it funny either. ...

Today's fourth song comes from Moldova. Natalia Gordienko - with a little help from Philipp Kirkorov - won the national final in 2020 and this year Moldovan television just chose her internally and the result is here now: Sugar. Let me just say this is a sugar watered Maruv.

Moldova - Natalia Gordienko - Prison One of those songs that are just "nice" in every way: melody, idea, vocals... but being so anonymous it leaves you nothing and even after several hearings you really don't remember a thing about. Except the overproduced over the top beats and arrangements. 3/10 Slovenia - Ana Soklič - Voda This is the complete opposite of Moldova. I liked it from the first hearing but then it has just grown and become better! Ana has proved the past months she's one of the best, if not the best, vocalist this year. The song is beautiful and she sings it with style and gusto. And for once the new version is better than the original mix. Could have been maybe a surprise success in Rotterdam, who knows? 8/10 Poland - Alicja - Empires This song's a problem for me. I'd like to like it a lot more than I do in the end. Alicja does a great job for her age, the song is melodic and boombastic without becoming a cliché. But someh...

Natalia Gordienko (32) was ment to do his solo debut at the Eurovision 2020 after representing Moldova already in 2006 with Arsenium and Connect-R with Loca . Natalia, of Ukrainian descent, sung, studied piano and dance at school and at the age 15 started participating in various song and talent competitions. She sung in Millenium band, worked as DJ, released an album and string of singles and videos over the years. And then came the big step back to Eurovision, until it was cancelled.  So far there has been no news if she will do it in 2021 or if Moldovan television will go for another selection. Somehow, cosidering she got a little help from Kirkorov this year, she might be back in 2021...

If Kirkorov and Dream Team (who are also behind  the Greek entry) had a reason to celebrate in Estonia last weekend their Saturday got even better in Moldova, where Natalia Gordienko's Prison won. As planned. Some fans were even saying the whole Finala națională was just a staged internal selection.....  Singer, dancer and DJ Natalia (32) is an Eurovision veteran having been part of Moldova's Loca team in 2006 with Arsenium and Connect-R. As most she has been through several national and international competitions over the years picking up prizes and awards, and has won both Slavianski Bazaar and New Wave, but there isn't much of a recording career to talk about, just a couple of singles. Another Eurovision veteran Pasha Parfeny came second and the third one, Geta Burlacu withdraw the last minute for reasons to me unknown... Check out the full results (results in the bottom with zero votes in order based on televotes)  and performance videos below: ...

Moldova has decided to go for a national final after all, even if it was possible the jury would pick up the winner already in the auditions where all 35 shortlisted entries out of submissions (or all the fullfilled the rules apparently) had to perform their song. Two acts withdraw or didn't show up at all. Twenty acts made it to the final to be held on February 29 with both expert jury and televoters choosing the winner. Among the acts three veterans: Geta Burlacu, Natalia Gordienko and Pasha Parfeny. At this point it is always a bit sad how uneven situation it is for the songs as some have a big money backing them with full prodcution and video all made while some others are clearly poorly made or even demos. The big money is behind Natalia with Kirkorov-Kontopoulos but is it good? No. I rather listen to Maria Ciolac for example once we get to hear it as it should be heard, finished and well produced hopefully. This said I guess my favorite is the old school Italy disco entr...