2014 Eurovision Compilation Album Set For Release

Eurovision Song Contest Album 2014

One of the highlights of the annual Eurovision Song Contest is the release of the compilation album containing all of the songs taking part in the competition. While several of the tracks have been available individually on iTunes, Amazon UK report that the entire collection of 37 songs for 2014 will be up for grabs on both CD and download from April 14. This date may be subject to change.

Not only is every song from Albania to the United Kingdom included, but this year the bonus track is the latest single from last year's winner, Emmelie de Forest. Rainmaker is the official song for this year's competition and will be performed live during the final.

 

To pre-order (before April 14) or order the album from the Amazon UK site, see the link below. As I write, if you purchase the CD you will also access the MP3 version for free.

Eurovision 2014: Denmark: Cliché Love Song

Basim: Courtesy Facebook

Three weeks have passed since the final of this year's Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in Odense, Denmark. As we now know, Basim and his Cliché Love Song won the Superfinal and will head the short distance to Copenhagen as the Danish representative.

Basim is not unknown in Denmark, having appeared on the country's version of The X-Factor in 2008. Though he was voted out at the quarterfinal stage, he has maintained a presence on both Danish television and in the nation's music charts.

Cliché Love Song follows a series of hits for the young singer - it currently sits at Number 5 in the Danish Top 40, having peaked at Number 2 - but this one is undoubtedly his biggest.

Basim describes it as a pop song with "a hint of soul and R&B". I can't argue with that, but you may be forgiven for thinking that there is more than a hint of Bruno Mars in the track and the presentation. I'm pretty sure I've heard that whistle on one of Bruno's songs and the melody and vocal styling are very familiar.

Of course, Basim is not alone in his overly generous nod to the current music scene. Belarus's TEO has done exactly the same thing with his Blurred Lines ripoff, Cheesecake. The difference between that and Cliché Love Song is that the latter is really quite enjoyable. Others must be thinking the same thing as Denmark's odds are growing shorter by the day. They are currently listed as fourth favourite by some bookies.

That betting may not be too way off the mark. With an automatic pass to the final this year, Denmark already have a slight advantage: performing 23rd on the night. Combine that with a home crowd, an energetic performance and a memorable toe-tapper of a tune and I wouldn't be surprised to see Denmark's name close to the top of the scoreboard again.

Eurovision 2014: UK: Children of the Universe

Molly Smitten-Downes: Courtesy YouTube

It's been almost three weeks since the BBC revealed that the song Children of the Universe would represent the United Kingdom at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.

Since then, Molly Smitten-Downes (or just Molly for performing purposes) has been rightfully lauded for writing a song that finally reflects what is currently happening on the British music scene.

Or, at least, a flavour of it. After all, this is still Eurovision and the song is going to have to appeal to a broad base of voters.

That said, Children... is what the BBC promised: anthemic and fresh. Fresh in both its sound and how it is delivered. Molly is 26 and a good forty years plus younger than her most recent predecessors: star names from decades past who could not deliver on the big night.

Having seen the reaction since the song announcement, delivery should not be a problem for Molly. I think we can all agree that UK supporters should not be concerned about her live performance. Her vocals are strong, even if her diction is occasionally unclear and her breathing erractic.

But the performance is not all about Molly. The song has been composed with both strong orchestral instrumentation and backing vocals to help carry it and make it memorable. I'm hoping both the drummer and the backing singers are a focal point of the staging in Copenhagen.

When Molly gets to Denmark, I believe the juries are going to love this and help push it up the scoreboard. With such an open field, it is currently among the favourites to win. Rightfully so, in my opinion.

UPDATE: Here is the official video for the song, released on April 23.

Eurovision 2014: Belgium: Mother

Axel Hirsoux: Courtesy YouTube

In the end, it was a convincing win for the song Mother, sung by Axel Hirsoux, at the 2014 Eurovision Belgian national final last weekend.

Held in Antwerp, the culmination of several weeks of knock-out rounds was a change in the way the entry from Belgium had been selected over the last few years.

We had become used to an internal selection, but a change in format saw an international jury and public telephone votes select what was probably the best of the six songs up for scrutiny. In fact, it was a runaway victory for the portly Hirsoux, whose closest rival trailed him by more than 140 points.

In many ways, its victory is not surprising. Mother is a simple ballad with a powerful and touching lyric that crosses international boundaries. Hirsoux's clear, soaring voice helps the song to fly effortlessly from quiet beginning, to glide at the crescendo of the chorus, then return smoothly to a tranquil conclusion.

Some might say it's mawkish and cliché ridden, which it probably is. However, it's going to appeal to a certain demographic and will no doubt tug at some heartstrings. With a strong vocal and uncomplicated presentation, this one should sail through its semi and cause some trouble at the top of the final scoreboard.

Eurovision 2014: Start A Fire: Azerbaijan

Dilara Kazimova: Courtesy YouTube

In early March, Azerbaijan chose its entry for Eurovision following a long process of auditions and heats to determine the national winner.

In the end, the song Start A Fire sung by the rather beautiful Dilara Kazimova emerged as the victor.

It's not the first time that Dilara has tried her hand at the Eurovision Song Contest. She participated in both the 2008 and 2010 national heats, but as a member of two different bands.

Placing second on both of those occasions, she has now gone one better and sings this somewhat sleepy, if not melancholy, ballad.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Azerbaijan is relying on the tried and trusted Swedish songwriter to bring the competition back to Baku: Stefan Örn. He was involved with country's entries between 2010 and 2012, co-writing their 2011 winner Running Scared.

Unfortunately, in a year when ballads prevail, this one is not particularly conspicuous. It does not carry a discernible hook, but the inclusion of the Azerbaijani musical instrument, the balaban, does give it a haunting quality. Whether this is enough to grab voters' attention remains to be seen.

With just six songs failing to make the cut in the first semi-final, I have a suspicion that Azerbaijan won't be in that group. In fact, the nation's Eurovision history shows that it has secured a Top 10 placing every year since it first entered the competition in 2008 and I can't see that changing. This is just not the winner.

Eurovision 2014: Austria: Rise Like A Phoenix

Conchita Wurst

We've known the controversial choice by the Austrian broadcaster ORF to send Conchita Wurst to the Eurovision stage in Copenhagen since last Autumn. However, today the song that this colourful character will sing has been revealed.

It's called Rise Like A Phoenix and is said to be a commentary on Tom Neuwirth's path to his drag persona, Conchita.

It's yet another ballad to feature in this ballad-laden year, but probably among the best of them. Very melodramatic, with the essence of a Bond movie theme, it's however very difficult to take the whole production seriously when one is watching a bearded "woman" perform it.

There has already been disagreement about Austria's choice of representative and now with the announcement of this song to a wider audience, it will only polarize the argument further. Russia's and Belarus' respective broadcasters have hitherto received petitions to edit Wurst out of the broadcast, but that action would contravene EBU rules.

Looking at the wider reaction, my belief is that the average Eurovision viewer is unlikely to vote this through, however good the song may be. It may qualify from its semi-final as, in general, the semis tend to have more "serious" Eurovision fans among its audience. Should it make the final, I think the song will find it tough to attract votes. Alternatively, it could "do" a Dana International and walk away with the whole thing.

Here's the video. What do you think?

  

Image (adapted) by Manfred Werner (Tsui) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Eurovision 2014: Norway: Silent Storm

Carl Espen

As expected, Silent Storm sung by Carl Espen will represent Norway at this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

After three semi-finals, a final and super final, the heavily backed ex-carpenter easily won the public vote from across the country. His piano-driven torch song is a complete change from last year's Europop track from Margaret Berger and appears to be gaining support from various betting outlets.

Quite why this should be so still remains a mystery to me. It has no discernible hook, although it builds quite nicely to a dramatic final thirty seconds. It's the beginning that is the problem. I foresee many viewers taking the opportunity to put the kettle on or to take a short power nap.

According to Espen's website, Silent Storm is an "intense, fragile and powerful ballad". A couple of those adjectives may also describe the singer himself. His on stage presence is both intense and powerful; something to do with his background as both a soldier and bouncer in the nightclubs of Bergen, no doubt.

With all the support he is currently enjoying, I can't see that it will be much of a fight for him to progress to the Final on May 10th. He is, anyway, quite nicely placed in the first half of the second semi-final among some more uptempo songs, which will help him stand out from that particular crowd.

Not a winner, but a Top 5 placing isn't out of the question.

Eurovision 2014: Armenia: Not Alone

Aram MP3

Armenia has finally revealed its Eurovision song for this year and I have to say that it's turning out to be one of my favourites.

Aram MP3 (a silly pseudonym for Aram Sargsyan) brings us Not Alone, a powerful ballad that has its fair share of dubstep thrown in for good measure.

It starts off quietly with piano and strings and builds throughout its three minutes. With the addition of drums and brass, it becomes quite intense as the song progresses. In some respects, it feels as if it needs more time to give the listener a credible ending. It just stops. Having said that, it is powerful and kinda reminiscent of Michael Jackson's The Earth Song in its construction.

However, it's another of those songs which is very dependent on how well its staging and live vocals turn out to be in its semi-final. It already has some traction among hardcore Eurovision fans, but how the performance will translate to the casual viewer is anybody's guess.

I'm hoping they will allow it to qualify for the final, where I can see it doing very well. A top 10 (or even 5) placing is not out of the question.

Image: Clubbing.am [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons