Could Our Guy win Eurovision?
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No pressure … Guy Sebastian will be the first Australian to compete in Eurovision in Vienna. Picture: Craig Greenhill
Source: News Corp Australia
IS Guy Sebastian in with a serious chance at Eurovision? After listening to the rest of the 15 Eurovision favourites so you don’t have to, national music writer Cameron Adams says yes, he is. Here’s a rundown of the best, and worst, this year’s Eurovision has to offer.
SWEDEN
Artist: Mans Zelmerlow
Song: Heroes
Heard Avicii’s folk-electro hit Hey Brother? This is the soundalike version that’s already been a No. 1 in his homeland. 28 year old Mans has done the rounds of reality TV shows in Sweden so he’s got the right moves, and looks, to sell a pop song down the camera. The Swedes know how to make event pop — this has got the big chorus and quiet verses for maximum drama on the Eurovision stage.
Eurovision stage prop: some indoor digital rain and hi-tech visual graphics. And pecs.
Look no Mans! … Swedish Eurovision Mans Zelmerlow gets excited. Cool your jets, you haven’t won, mate.
Source: AAP
ITALY
Artist: Il Volo
Song: Grand Amore
REMEMBER Il Divo? Here’s the younger, Italian version making pop opera in suits. And hipster red glasses, quiffs and facial hair. They’ve already had a few records out, but this is their Eurodebut. Grand Amore (or Great Love) is A Big Song. And the trio hit The Big Notes in all the right places throughout what’s almost a hard rock chorus once everything kicks in. This is classic, classical Eurovision. Although the song was written in 2003 and has gathered dust until now.
Eurovision stage prop: sharp suits and the occasional operatic fist pump.
Boys to men … Il Volo have achieved the ability to grow facial hair since this picture was taken.
Source: Supplied
AUSTRALIA
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Song: Tonight Again
OUR Guy in Vienna. Forget the tiresome haters, we’ve sent our most successful and talented (those two things don’t always go hand in hand) pop artist over to the biggest pop competition in the world. Tonight Again showcases everything we know he does well (effortless sky-high vocals, retro groove, modern production) and is a catchy party starter ready to compete with the world. The geographical outsider could also be the musical outsider this year.
Eurovision stage prop: talent
That’s our Guy … Could Tonight Again be the wildcard in Eurovision this year?
Source: Supplied
ESTONIA
Artist: Elina Born & Stig Rasta
Song: Goodbye to Yesterday
THERE’S always surprises on Eurovision, which is part of its charm. This duo have a ‘60s feel going on — think Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra, a bit of Motown, a bit of spaghetti western and surf guitar. Elina represented her country on her own two years ago. Stig’s a newbie to the competition but they have a great dynamic. This could do well.
Eurovision stage prop: the hipster duet partners who keep their distance on stage.
Two’s company … Estonia’s Elina Born and Stig Rasta prepare their pensive face for the lengthy judgment process.
Source: Supplied
RUSSIA
Artist: Polina Gagarina
Song: A Million Voice
POLINA’S another contestant groomed in reality TV with a string of hits in Russian, sung in Russian. This one’s in English and it’s the kind of song Celine Dion would have once walked over hot coals for. Polina’s got the pipes to handle those Eurovision key changes to take everything up a notch as they drive it home. Nothing special but very Eurovision friendly.
Eurovision stage prop: Big white dress that becomes a human screen for lighting effects.
In a Russia … Polina Gagarina can hit the big notes at Eurovision. Pic: EPA/ROBERT JAEGER
Source: AAP
FINLAND
Artist: Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät
Song: Aina Mun Pitaa
A RED herring from Finland and also the first punk song at Eurovision. This is a middle-aged punk band (also known as PKN) formed in a charity workshop for adults with developmental disabilities. Let’s hope that means people keep themselves nice on Twitter. The singer has that obligatory-for-the-genre Cookie Monster vocal styling and the title means I Always Have To and the lyrics include “I always have to clean, I always have to do the dishes, I am not allowed to watch television, I can’t eat candy, I always have to eat well.” You get the idea. It’s only 90 seconds long. Remember Finland won with heavy metal band Lordi in 2006.
Eurovision stage prop: Noise and smoke machines.
Punk’s not dead … Finland’s Pertti Kurikan Nimipaeivaet will provide 90 seconds of noise to shake up your Eurovision preconceptions Pic: AFP / DIETER NAGL
Source: AFP
AZERBAIJAN
Artist: Elnur Huseynov
Song: Hour of the Wolf
KEYCHANGE! Elnur looks like Azerbaijan’s answer to Justin Timberlake and he’s fresh from winning The Voice Turkey. See, someone from The Voice has done something! He sang Annie Lennox and Sam Smith songs on The Voice so he’s got the chops required on this power ballad. And there’s the mandatory key change and a choir behind him to aim for a goosebump moment. Not a bad tune.
Eurovision stage prop: sweeping camera shots to capture aforementioned key change and choir.
Justin Time … Elnur Huseynov is getting his Timberlake on at Eurovision: Picture: Magnus Ragnvid
Source: Supplied
SLOVENIA
Artist: Maraaya
Song: Here For You
THEY’RE a duo who are married in real life — singer Marjetka Vovk’s gimmick is to wear big headphones on stage. This may be to keep her hair in place when they switch the industrial-strength fans on. Her keyboard playing hubby has cans on too. She’s got an interesting, quirky voice (think Paloma Faith) and this song is a genre orgy — soul ballad, hip hop beats, fiddle and driving piano. This is odd enough to be a Eurovision favourite.
Eurovision stage prop: surely someone’s sponsoring those his and hers headphones already.
Wired for sound … Yes we get it Maraaya. You like headphones. And Abba poses. Picture: Matic Pandel and Sara Zigon
Source: Supplied
NORWAY
Artist: Morland and Debrah Scarlett
Song: A Monster Like Me
DEB was on The Voice Norway. Morland wishes he was Chris Martin. This is your classic ballad where he sings about being horrible to her, then she sings a bit about how horrible he was to her, then they unite for the chorus that doesn’t really take the story anywhere. There’s lots of singing back to back and a big last third, but you’ve heard all this before.
Eurovision stage prop: the slow reveal until they meet each other’s backs on stage.
Monster love … Morland and Debrah Scarlett are flying the flag for Norway. Picture: NRK/Kim Erlandsen.
Source: Supplied
ICELAND
Artist: Maria Olafsdottir
Song: Unbroken
THIS could plonk onto the playlist of any radio station right now, possibly after a dance remix. It’s a strong pop tune with booming drums and 22 year old Maria is no slouch in the vocal departments. She looks like she could be an interesting pop stars and had a hand in writing this song (which was originally Small Steps in Icelandic) which is a good start.
Eurovision stage prop: Kate Bush’s ballet dancers and Beyonce’s wind machines
Ice plague … Maria Olafsdottir could be the new Bjork. Or not. Picture: Jonatan Gretarsson
Source: Supplied
UNITED KINGDOM
Artist: Electro Velvet
Song: Still In Love With You
READY to hear ‘nul points’ for the United Kingdom’s latest diabolical decision. Remember that woeful ragtime song Doop? This one parties like it’s 1919, but aside the old school swing they try and throw in a bit of Daft Punk squelchy acid. They also rhyme ‘sneezes’ with ‘diseases’. Eurovision is the place for novelty pop, but this gets annoying 30 seconds in. Why didn’t they enter One Direction and be done with it?
Eurovision stage prop: dapper flappers and day-glo dancers.
Gruesome twosome … Electro Velvet sound even more annoying than they look. Picture: BBC/Sarah Dunn
Source: Supplied
SPAIN
Artist: Edurne
Song: Amanecer
IT translates as Dawn and sounds a bit like Madonna’s Frozen, except it keeps threatening to explode into something exciting that never arrives. It’s all drama, no memorable melody.
Eurovision stage prop: industrial-strength wind machines. And maybe some fire please.
Spain removal … Edurne is doing it for the Spanish in Eurovision 2015. Picture: Valero Roja
Source: Supplied
BELGIUM
Artist: Loic Nottet
Song: Rhythm Inside
HAVE you heard Lorde’s Royals? Logic has. Again, he’s been on The Voice Belgium and this borrow’s Lorde’s minimal, gothic electronic feel. It’s not too bad.
Eurovision stage prop: space-age robot dancers and some reverse worm work where Loic dances on his back. He’s also big at using his hand as if it’s a spider eating his face.
Ring my Belgium … Loic Nottet is boldly keeping it minimal for Eurovision: Picture: Josh Brandao
Source: Supplied
ALBANIA
Artist: Elhaida Dani
Song: I’m Alive
THIS young lady had to change songs at the last minute when the writers withdrew her original choice. Wonder if it was better than this one — this is one of those songs you’ve already forgotten by the time the last chorus comes around.
Eurovision stage prop: A cape. That’s about it.
Alive and kicking … Albania’s Elhaida Dani is making up the numbers at Eurovision. Picture: Orsola Memo/Class Photography.
Source: Supplied
ARMENIA
Artist: Genealogy
Song: Face the Shadow
THE terrible band name is explained by the fact this ‘supergroup’ was assembled from people whose families spread over the world after the Armenian genocide of 1915. They’re saying the song has no political overtones, they should be more worried about the fact it sounds like some overblown mess.
Eurovision stage prop: lots of grabbing the sky with the fist and back to back circle work.
Eurovision coverage starts on SBS from 7.30pm on Friday.
What the … This is Genealogy, not one of those dodgy recreation photos you give to Grandma. Picture: Ruben Matirosyan/Public Television Of Armenia
Source: Supplied
