2012: The best top ten for languages

In 2012, despite Sweden's English language-win the year''s top ten was one of the best in recent years for foreign language entries, with 5/12 of the songs being in their own language, counting Russia's entry as a Russian language entry ("Party for Everybody, Dance" is not the most stunning use of English.)

Serbia have continued to be the most successful country in their own language, while Albania scored their best result. Estonia also seem to be scoring better with their own language than English.

Ott Lepland. Nothing to look at here...

Does this mean anything though? Not really? After all, 2007's Serbian win is still an oddity in the current trend. But we can dream and hope ESCToday don't steal this observation for an article topic on their site in a couple of months. 

Baltic Eurovision Contest

I got soooooo confused last night watching Lithuania and Estonia's national finals. Several times on Twitter I definitely tagged the wrong country. But, honestly, their fare has been slipping a bit lately and if Latvia had been the same night too, I'd have totally not remembered which was which. (except that Latvia is abominable.)

So, Lithuania. Love is Blind by Donny Montell. Love would have to be blind with his eyebrows!

:(

The song? It starts as a typical ballad. He's onstage blindfolded. Get it, cos LOVE IS BLIND! SO HE'S BLIND(folded). Did you get it? Did you get it? It's so subtle. 

Or maybe my comments about his eyebrows really did hurt his feelings? 

No, I guess not, because 1 and a half minutes in it goes all disco-dance. AND THE BLINDDFOLD IS BUCKSFIZZED! (yeah, it's a verb now!) Er... You know the song has to end at three minutes? At this point, it seems like two half-songs jammed together. And neither make much of an impression.

BUT HIS EYEBROWS DO!

Onto Estonia then. Ott Lepland with Kuula.

Not much to say here. It's a piano ballad, like hundreds we've heard before. But it is in Estonian, so I'm 12-pointing this one (yeah, that's also a verb now!) If it gets changed into English before the contest, it can fuck right off. 

20 estonia songs, even more briefly

Go to ESCtoday.com for the individual links! 

Janne Saar - Fight for love (Rob Montes, Carola Madis, Janne Saar) 

OH JESUS GOD NO

Erasmus Rotterdamist - Kuu pääle (Paul Daniel, Jürgen Rooste)

Love the name, love the language choice (ESTONIAN YAY!), love the genre

MIA - Bon voyage (Vahur Valgmaa)


Forgot this one while I was listening. Bon Voyage.

Milky Whip - My love (Karl Kanter, Helina Reinjärv)


I think there's some dirty subtext here. Didn't listen long enough to care.

POP Maniacs - I don't know (Rolf Ruusalu)


Songs with lots of production and vocal effects don't seem a good idea for a show about singing live. Just no.

Ott Lepland - Kuula (Ott Lepland, Aapo Ilves)


Piano ballad. Seems nice enough. I'm not a fan of ballads. I could get behind it though.

August Hunt - Tantsulõvi (August Hunt, Heiti Kinder)


it's in estonian, i'll let it off for that. 

Soundclear - A little soldier (Karl-Ander Reismann)


Very MGMT. Seems a bit production heavy again though. But it might work... Preferable to POP Maniac

Liis Lemsalu - Made up my mind (Liis Lemsalu, Rene Puura)


Estonian soul sister. No.

Loss Paranoias - Valedetektor (Loss Paranoias)


A bit 80s. Not sure, are we still into 80s nostalgia? 

Semifinal 2, February 25th

Traffic - NASA (Ago Teppand, Jaan Pehk)

Makes me think of Romania from last year. No

Lenna - Mina jään (Mihkel Raud, Lenna Kuurmaa)

I'm getting tired of listening now... sigh. It's ok. 

Malcolm Lincoln - Bye (Robin Juhkental)

Robbed two years ago. I liked him. Not sure about this song. But I liked him. I want him back (or if he could send me his number... :P)

I heart the scarf-wearing, velvet-jacketed fop. We will marry! 

Tenfold Rabbit - Oblivion (Tenfold Rabbit)

No. just no.

Birgit Õigemeel - You're not alone (Mihkel Mattisen)

God, there are a lot of songs, thank god something provides a toilet break. 

Soul Militia - The future is now (Lauri Pihlap)

It started fine, then got predictable. Maybe.

Mimicry - The destination (Paul Lepasson)

Low budget, I like it. No smashing boxes or anything. Is 80s nostalgia back though? 

Orelipoiss - Zombi (Jaan Pehk, Olavi Ruitlane)

Maybe. It's interesting. 

Teele Viira - City nights (Priit Uustulnd, Teele Viira) and Cat Eye - Ride 

Urgh, so many songs! I opened both this and the final song at the same time. Lady Gaga has so much to answer for. Neither of these songs impressed. I'm tired now, too many songs, this national final stuff is hard!

My picks: Erasmus, Soundclear, my future husband Malcolm Lincoln, Mimicry.