Week 2: Eurovision usually prides itself on balls-out club bangers but things have changed in the wake of a world where every household owns a copy of Adele – 21. Esc 2012 features more balladeers than you can air-grab-during-a-key-change at but whether this is a good thing is highly debatable. Do we really want twelve identical piano-led torch songs about broken hearts? Can we survive a whole evening without a single firework display?
Here are five varying levels of balladry making up the highs and lows of what it means to send a slow song to Eurovision:
Rona Nishliu – Suus (Albania)
Now the occasional tendency with ballads is if you have a good voice and get a bit too into the emotion of the song you d0 a spot of wailing similar to demon-possessed cats scratching blackboards (not that i’ve ever heard that thank goodness). Now Albania’s entry by Rona Nishliu...
Here are five varying levels of balladry making up the highs and lows of what it means to send a slow song to Eurovision:
Rona Nishliu – Suus (Albania)
Now the occasional tendency with ballads is if you have a good voice and get a bit too into the emotion of the song you d0 a spot of wailing similar to demon-possessed cats scratching blackboards (not that i’ve ever heard that thank goodness). Now Albania’s entry by Rona Nishliu...
- 4/27/2012
- by Josh Webb
- Obsessed with Film
It’s exactly 35 days (I’m totally not keeping count or anything) until the final of the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan which also equates to 5 weeks because I can do maths me. So, to get in the Euro-mood each week i’ll introduce you to five of this year’s entries all linked together by a (extremely tenuous) link as a WhatCulture! Countdown to the big, shiny event.
First up, I know Eurovision has this stigma in the UK for being camp and indulgent where we can never win because of political block voting (i.e. everyone hates us but Ireland) and yes, most of that is correct, although us sending completely rubbish entries doesn’t really help either. The fact is sometimes, if you give it a chance, the songs in Eurovision are actually quite listenable without the rocket explosions and glitterball drag...
First up, I know Eurovision has this stigma in the UK for being camp and indulgent where we can never win because of political block voting (i.e. everyone hates us but Ireland) and yes, most of that is correct, although us sending completely rubbish entries doesn’t really help either. The fact is sometimes, if you give it a chance, the songs in Eurovision are actually quite listenable without the rocket explosions and glitterball drag...
- 4/21/2012
- by Josh Webb
- Obsessed with Film
The results of the semi-final allocation draw for this year's Eurovision Song Contest have been revealed. The draw, hosted by Leyla Alieva and Nazim Huseynov, involved officials drawing the 37 Eurovision countries' names from six pots and took place on the stage of the Buta Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan on Wednesday. According to the official Eurovision Song Contest website, the selections of countries in each pot were based on voting patterns from the past few years of the music competition. After the draw, there were performances from dancers and an orchestra, together with past Eurovision stars Ruslana, Aysel, Alexander Rybak, Safura, Lena and Ell/Nikki. The countries who have already qualified for the final include the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and hosting country Azerbaijan. There will be another draw in March (more)...
- 1/26/2012
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Ubisoft have today unveiled more songs from the tracklist of its highly anticipated game Just Dance 3, which returns with a brand new tracklist of more than 50 popular songs, each track featuring its own unique choreography.
The game will also have a variety of new features: including songs that feature 4-part choreographies, where each player has a chance to take the spotlight as they break it down with their own dance crew. Dance mashup mode lets players experience different dancing styles and moves from their favourite Just Dance choreographies on a single song, making it a unique experience each time. And all tracks provide on-screen lyrics to sing-a-long with the hits while dancing. For the first time on the Kinect, 4 players can dance simultaneously. Also on Kinect, players have the chance to create their own unique choreographies with the Just Create mode and immediately play the new choreographies back for 4 players to compete against.
The game will also have a variety of new features: including songs that feature 4-part choreographies, where each player has a chance to take the spotlight as they break it down with their own dance crew. Dance mashup mode lets players experience different dancing styles and moves from their favourite Just Dance choreographies on a single song, making it a unique experience each time. And all tracks provide on-screen lyrics to sing-a-long with the hits while dancing. For the first time on the Kinect, 4 players can dance simultaneously. Also on Kinect, players have the chance to create their own unique choreographies with the Just Create mode and immediately play the new choreographies back for 4 players to compete against.
- 8/18/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Blue have claimed that their loss on Saturday night’s Eurovision Song Contest was no reflection on them, or their song.
The British boyband – made up of Duncan James, Lee Ryan, Antony Costa and Simon Webbe – came 11th as they represented the UK with their song ‘I Can’ at the event in Germany but believe they would have finished higher if countries had voted for the performance rather than their neighbours.
Simon said: “It is often not really about the song but who your neighbours are. But we are proud of what we did.”
The singers had stopped smoking and drinking in the lead up to the show and so, despite not winning, after the results were announced Duncan, Lee and Simon stayed up until 6am, drinking Jaegermeister, champagne and vodka Red Bulls while Antony was so gutted he went straight to bed.
Blue’s fellow contestants Jedward – made up...
The British boyband – made up of Duncan James, Lee Ryan, Antony Costa and Simon Webbe – came 11th as they represented the UK with their song ‘I Can’ at the event in Germany but believe they would have finished higher if countries had voted for the performance rather than their neighbours.
Simon said: “It is often not really about the song but who your neighbours are. But we are proud of what we did.”
The singers had stopped smoking and drinking in the lead up to the show and so, despite not winning, after the results were announced Duncan, Lee and Simon stayed up until 6am, drinking Jaegermeister, champagne and vodka Red Bulls while Antony was so gutted he went straight to bed.
Blue’s fellow contestants Jedward – made up...
- 5/16/2011
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Cologne, Germany -- Germany has a new sweetheart.
Lena Meyer-Landrut, a 19-year-old amateur singer, has become an overnight pop sensation after winning the Eurovision Song Contest over the weekend.
More than 100 million viewers across Europe watched Lena's improbable triumph Saturday night as her catchy love song "Satellite" beat out the 24 other finalists in the singing competition, a sort of pan-European "American Idol."
A reported 14.7 million Germans tuned in, resulting in an astounding 49% market share for public broadcaster Ard, the kind of ratings usually only seen during major sports competitions.
The celebrations following Lena's win were also comparable to a World Cup victory.
Tens of thousands of fans celebrated at open-air viewing parties in Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Lena's hometown of Hanover. Berlin set off fireworks after the results of the Eurovison voting were announced. Political leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, congratulated the teen, praising her warmth and honesty.
"Europe does like us!
Lena Meyer-Landrut, a 19-year-old amateur singer, has become an overnight pop sensation after winning the Eurovision Song Contest over the weekend.
More than 100 million viewers across Europe watched Lena's improbable triumph Saturday night as her catchy love song "Satellite" beat out the 24 other finalists in the singing competition, a sort of pan-European "American Idol."
A reported 14.7 million Germans tuned in, resulting in an astounding 49% market share for public broadcaster Ard, the kind of ratings usually only seen during major sports competitions.
The celebrations following Lena's win were also comparable to a World Cup victory.
Tens of thousands of fans celebrated at open-air viewing parties in Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Lena's hometown of Hanover. Berlin set off fireworks after the results of the Eurovison voting were announced. Political leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, congratulated the teen, praising her warmth and honesty.
"Europe does like us!
- 5/31/2010
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Germany outsang 25 other countries and took the title in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo.
19 year old Lena Meyer-Landrut, with her rendition of the pop ballad Satellite, is the second German to win the world renowned competition in 55 years.
Germany last won the contest in 1982 and will host the show next year.
Turkey's MaNga came in second place, Romania third and Denmark fourth.
19 year old Lena Meyer-Landrut, with her rendition of the pop ballad Satellite, is the second German to win the world renowned competition in 55 years.
Germany last won the contest in 1982 and will host the show next year.
Turkey's MaNga came in second place, Romania third and Denmark fourth.
- 5/31/2010
- icelebz.com
Germany outsang 25 other countries and took the title in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo.
19 year old Lena Meyer-Landrut, with her rendition of the pop ballad Satellite, is the second German to win the world renowned competition in 55 years.
Germany last won the contest in 1982 and will host the show next year.
Turkey's MaNga came in second place, Romania third and Denmark fourth.
19 year old Lena Meyer-Landrut, with her rendition of the pop ballad Satellite, is the second German to win the world renowned competition in 55 years.
Germany last won the contest in 1982 and will host the show next year.
Turkey's MaNga came in second place, Romania third and Denmark fourth.
- 5/31/2010
- icelebz.com
Oslo - Germany won the annual Eurovision Song Contest late Saturday in Oslo by a comfortable margin over the nearest rival Turkey. 19-year-old Lena Meyer-Landrut said 'this is not real.' 'I am so happy and so thankful, I never thought we could do this,' Lena said before she stepped up to sing her winning entry Satellite once again, quipping 'do I have to sign now?' 'This is absolutely aweseome' she said from the stage. Norway hosted the event after winning the 2009 event in Russia, TV audiences all over Europe vote for the best pop song. Germany will host the 2011 finals performances. There were competitors from 25 countries in the final of this...
- 5/30/2010
- Monsters and Critics
Lena Meyer-Landrut from Germany celebrates after winning the Grand Final of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest at the Fornebu Arena in Baerum, near Oslo, Norway, 29 May 2010. Lena Meyer-Landrut won the contest with the song 'Satellite'. Epa/Joerg Carstensen Lena Meyer-Landrut from Germany celebrates after winning the Grand Final of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest at the Fornebu Arena in Baerum, near Oslo, Norway, 29 May 2010. Lena Meyer-Landrut won the contest with the song 'Satellite'. Epa/Joerg Carstensen Lena Meyer-Landrut (L) from Germany reacts after winning the Grand Final of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest at the Fornebu Arena in Baerum, near Oslo, Norway, 29 May 2010. Lena Meyer-Landrut won the contest with the song 'Satellite'. Next to...
- 5/30/2010
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
Oslo, Norway (AP) — Germany's Lena Meyer-Landrut won the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with "Satellite," an upbeat, catchy pop song, edging out Turkey and Romania. Meyer-Landrut, who turned 19 during the competition in Norway, won 246 points in the voting by a panel of judges and telephone votes from fans in the 39 participating countries. It was Germany's second win in the songfest's 55-year history, and the victory means it will host next year's contest. Meyer-Landrut had been second favorite among leading bookmakers, but first in a Google predictor program. Her victory marks the second year in a row...
- 5/30/2010
- by Ian MacDougall (AP)
- Hitfix
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