Eurovision 2012: Austria and Belarus Song Reviews

Over the past week, several nations have chosen their songs for Eurovision 2012, including Austria and Belarus. In fact, it's all change in Belarus as Alena Lanskaya has been thrown aside amid voting controversy. In her place comes the second placed act, Litesound.

However, let's start with Austria. They've chosen the wonderfully named duo Trackshittaz with the song Woki mit deim Popo, translated as Shake Your Ass. Resplendent with three pole dancers, the male duo have a good time shaking their rear ends to a track that sounds like something from The Beastie Boys' back catalogue. Lots of chanting, repetitive lyrics and a hip-hop beat that doesn't give up.

You're either going to love this one or hate it. Personally, I think it's a pile of TrackSHITtaz, but I have a sneaking feeling it will qualify for the final. 4/10.

On to Belarus, who we all thought had already decided upon its song. Originally, we thought it was Alena Lanskaya with All My Life, but her appearance at the semi-finals has been cut amid a row about some crafty voting irregularities. Step up boy band Litesound with the song, We Are the Heroes. Yes, leave it to Belarus to send a song with a title like that!

The song itself sounds a whole lot better than All My Life, but then so would a cat farting into a cup. We Are the Heroes is pretty much a generic power pop track with the drawback of some heavily accented vocals from the lead singer.

Depending on the strength of it competitors in its semi-final, the guitar thrashing, Eastern good looks and a relatively catchy chorus might see Belarus back in the Final. 5/10.

Eurovision 2012: Roman Lob: Standing Still

Roman Lob will take the stage for Germany in the Final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest singing Standing Still, a song reportedly written by British musician Jamie Cullum.

What could be described as a moody, contemporary rock or power pop ballad, Germany's entry is certainly a contender to win. The handsome Lob is the lead singer of indie band Rooftop Kingdom and his vocals reflect that genre to a tee.

It may take a couple of listens for some, but the chorus will soon get inside your head and stay there for some time. Germany have come up with another strong song and will be one to watch on the scoreboard in May. Yeah, I like this one. How about you?

Eurovision 2012: Alena Lanskaya: All My Life

Belarus has now chosen its 2012 Eurovision song to be heard in Baku in May. It's sung by Alena Lanskaya and is called All My Life.

To be honest, I can't think of anything positive to describe the Belorussian song. It's bland, boring and holds as much interest as watching your next door neighbour's paint dry. I did listen to it three times to try and find some redeeming feature. Nope, couldn't find one.

Ms Lanskaya is attractive with a strong voice, but she quite obviously has problems with the English language. I couldn't understand a lot of what she was singing and, quite frankly, I couldn't care what she was singing about.

Belarus has been known to hastily change its song selection in the past and the powers-that-be would be well advised to do the same this year.(As we know, this is exactly what happened). Generously a 4/10.

Eurovision 2012: Hungary, Iceland, Norway Decide

Three nations decided upon their representative songs for Baku yesterday, with Hungary, Iceland and Norway each completing their National Finals.

1. Hungary has chosen the group Compact Disco, a name which sent up red flags to begin with, but having heard the song, it's not what one might think. The entry is Sound of Our Hearts and the recorded version sounds pretty good. However, the live vocals were a disappointment, so they're going to have to get those sorted out before their semi-final.

As for the song, think of sub par Gary Numan and Ultravox circa 1981 and you'll get an idea of the content. It's not bad, but it's not that great: 6/10.
(Listen here)

2. Iceland's winner is Gréta and Jónsi singing Mundu Eftir Mér, which Google Translate tells me means Remember Me. Iceland generally have no trouble in choosing a decent song for Europe and this year is no exception. This time the island nation serves up a male/female duo with fine voices. Backing singers enhance the feel of the song. In fact, the entry has a very dramatic atmosphere to it, with some Celtic sounding violins added for good measure. It wouldn't be out of place at the Irish National Final of, say, fifteen years ago. Hoping for an English version. Nevertheless, good song: 8/10.
(Listen here)

3. Norway has chosen the song Stay sung by Iranian-born, minor TV personality Tooji. If you remember Sweden's Eric Saade from last year, then you have got a pretty good idea what to expect here.

Tooji is almost a carbon copy lookalike to Saade, but while his song Popular had an almost instant hook, Stay does not have that appeal. Yes, it's an electronic-style dance tune with some Middle Eastern styling (no doubt included to appeal to the host country and its immediate neighbours), but I can't see it being as popular as...Popular: 7/10.
(Listen here)

Eurovision 2012: Kurt Calleja: This is the Night

It was Kurt Calleja's night in Malta once he was voted through to represent the island nation at Eurovision 2012 with the song This is the Night.

Following a National Final that seemed to go on longer than the official Eurovision Final, Kurt reigned supreme for the third time of asking. Having finished 19th in 2010 and third in 2011, this was a dream come true for the young Maltese singer.

This is the Night is a 360 degree turnaround of a song that Malta normally sends. Big ballads are the island's staple offerings, albeit Glen Vella tried something different last year.

Kurt's song is another upbeat dance number, with a catchy chorus and several "eh, eh, ehs" that will have you singing along. It's a fairly strong track that with bigger production values at its presentation during the first half of the second semi-final on May 24 should see it qualify for the Final.

Eurovision 2012: Anggun: Echo (You & I)

France has selected Anggun to sing Echo (You And I) as the song to represent the country in Baku in May.

Of Indonesian decent, Anggun began having international success in the late 1990s when she released her first English album Snow On the Sahara, selling most of the copies in France, Italy and her native Indonesia. She has gone on to release several more best-selling albums, the most recent Echoes in August, 2011.

So this is a lady with some pedigree and the song that she will sing at Eurovision proves that. It's a very modern dance tune, in the vein of the the current David Guetta output. It only takes a couple of listens before you are hooked, particularly to the very catchy whistling refrain that can be heard several times throughout the song.

This one is a very strong contender, but then again I thought Amaury Vassili was likely to win last year for France. So, what do I know?

However, Anggun is scheduled to appear around Europe to promote Echo (You and I), so the song has every chance of becoming one of the leading favourites when all is said and done.

Am I sticking my neck out saying this is a likely winner? What do you think?

Eurovision 2012: Soluna Samay: Should've Known Better

Back at the tail end of January, Danish voters choose Soluna Samay singing Should've Known Better as Denmark's entry at Eurovision 2012.

21-year-old Ms. Samay competed against two other songs in the National Danish Final, beating second placed Take Our Hearts by eight points. The song is a mid-tempo rock-style number, the sort of thing that might not be out of place on a Heart album from a while back. Having said that, it's already been Number One in Denmark and does have a strong hook.

The problem is, it sounds like a song I've heard somewhere before. It's very familiar. However, Denmark tend to do well with this type of track and it should see the country qualify quite easily from the second half of the first semi-final on May 22.

One thing you can be sure of is that Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Finland will be voting for it, once it reaches the Final!

How about you?

Eurovision 2012: Ivi Amadou: La La Love

Ivi Amadou will be singing La La Love for Cyprus in the second half of the first semi-final on May 22 at Eurovision 2012.

Only 18, she is another representative who has formerly competed in The X-Factor, this time in Greece. Having been picked by the national broadcaster in Cyprus, Ms Amadou presented three songs for selection and La La Love was the one that won out in the end.

It's not difficult to see why. The song is a catchy, upbeat Euro dance number which will typically pick up a number of votes from around Eurovision Land. To be honest, any song with "la la" in its title and which is repeated several times is bound to do well. Not to mention that Ivi Amadou's looks, gyrations and dress sense will pull in a lot of votes too.

I can see this one doing pretty well, progressing from its semi-final to the Final on May 26. From there, it's anyone's guess. I don't see it being the winner, but I'll bet my house on the fact that it will get twelve points from Greece!

What do you think?

Eurovision 2012: Rona Nishliu: Suus

Rona Nishliu

The 2012 entry for Albania is to be sung by Rona Nishliu and is called Suus, translated into English as Personal. She will be singing in the first half of the first semi-final in Baku on May 22.

Nishliu was once a contestant on Albanian Idol (who knew that Albania had Idol?) and her song is something we have come to expect from the country. It's a ballad that slowly builds and when I say slowly, it's almost at a snail's pace. Apparently, she wrote the lyrics which no-one else will understand, as it will no doubt be sung in her native language. All credit to Albania for that, but it does hold them at a disadvantage over other songs which will be entirely more accessible to voters across Europe.

I've listened to it a couple of times, but I haven't discovered any discernible hook. In fact, for the most part, it makes you want to doze off. That's until you're unceremoniously woken up by Ms Nishliu howling and screaming towards the end of the song.

I can't see this one getting past the semi-final stages, but you might think differently?

Eurovision 2012: Sinplus: Unbreakable

Has it really been a year since I last posted here? Well, the new Eurovision season is well under way and several songs have now been announced.

One of the earliest to be decided was from Switzerland who are sending Sinplus to Baku with the song Unbreakable. This year the Swiss are going with some rock driven pop, not unlike a throwaway track from Irish legends U2.

Generally, these type of songs either do very well or completely bomb. If we look at the Turkish entries from the past few years, they've sent similar rock numbers which have fared very well.

One advantage for the Swiss is that Sinplus are pretty well known across Europe, so this shouldn't harm the group's chances in securing a Final spot. Is it the winner? Probably not. But, I've a feeling it will go down well with voters and see Switzerland back nearer the top of the scoreboard than in recent years.

What do you think?

Unbreakable is available on Sinplus' album Disinformation.