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eurovision 2005 

Shiri Maymon of Israel and No Name of Serbia-Montenegro

1. Israel - Shiri Maymon "Hakeshet Shenish’ar"

This is a truly amazing ballad. Not your average ballad but one that builds interestingly with no clichés and amuses listen after listen. The beautiful blond Shiri with her powerful voice also helps. Whether or not this great song is a Eurovision song able to pull in the votes is another matter. The fans like this too and it is high in pre-contest polls but qualification to the final is often a matter of how many countries are ethnically related to you not sheer brilliance.

2. Serbia-Montenegro – No Name "Zauvijek Moja"

The brilliant Serbian song Lane Moje came second in 2004 and this is not dissimilar to that song. Again an ethnic ballad but its dark vibes eminate from a very young boy-band which is surprising. Remixed it comes across in the video with startling effect, I was completely bowled over by a song I had originally rated as just OK. Not setting the pre-contest polls alight but a strong Balkan vote could place this very high if the sound comes across on the Eurovision stage.

3. Switzerland – Vanilla Ninja "Cool Vibes"

A dark and moody song in a minor key played with rock-attitude. Quite surprising as Estonian girl group Vanilla Ninja last tried for Eurovision in their home country with a silly song about dancing the kung-fu. This is the Bangles with major period pain problems practically eating the song alive. The song hits home in places but I wonder if the performance will loose it votes. Again well liked in the polls and I can see it qualifying and giving Euro-flops Switzerland something to smile about. 12 points from Estonia and probably other countries where the girls have had hits.

4. Spain – Son De Sol "Brujeria"

If you are familiar with Las Ketchup you are familiar with Brujeria. Basically it is the same song performed in the same way. Very catchy, very immediate, lots of impact and a tune most people will be familiar with. You may either love it or hate it but I just think it is fantastic and has the potential to do very well following in the Europe wide success of Las Ketchup.

5. Iceland – Selma Bjornsdottir "If I Had Your Love"

Selma was robbed of victory in 1999 and returns for vengeance with an even better song. This is a complicated pop song that builds in the chorus and has a strong beat. It will need a great performance and act to sell it convincingly. She proved herself capable of selling a song in 1999 and hopefully can do it again. This is one of the big three favourites but it all depends on how it sounds on the Eurovision stage.

6. Belarus – Anzhelika Agurbush "Love Me Tonight"

Anzhelika won her national final with the very ethnic song Boys & Girls. Responding to criticism from Eurovision fans she scrapped that song, hired Greek song writers and came up with a high-energy sound which is a real disco-stomper. Catchy and a great beat, this should have no trouble qualifying and making the final top ten. The performance needs a bit of polishing but this girl is obviously capable of anything.

7. Finland – Geir Ronning "Why"

Geir has attempted Eurovision before, failing to win the Norwegian national final in 1996. He is back with an exceptionally well crafted ballad. He drips honey in the verse, the backing singers build upon the music and the ‘why, why’ chorus pulls you into the sombre mood. His stage performance is faultless but is this what the voting public are looking for. I very much doubt it. Why?

8. Latvia - Walter & Kazha "The War Is Not Over"

If you liked Netherlands last year then you’ll love this, two young guitar strumming lads sing a sweet gentle ballad only unlike last year’s Dutch song, this has tune. Takes a while to grow on you but it the most amazing grower once it has you hooked. The Baltic vote should get it qualified and a late draw in the final could send this mega in an Olsen Bros/ Rock’n’Roll kids sort of way. The war is over and I have surrendered to Walters & Kaza.

9. Hungary – Nox "Forogj Vilag"

Nox are an established Hungarian group specialising in ethnically inspired dance tracks. This is stunning. The video is even more stunning. If they can transport the magic to the Eurovision stage they are heading for top 3 in the final. Simple and musically inspired this moves from melodic to a great beat and some heavy clapping and the universally acceptable na na na’s. A pretty singer always helps too.

10. Andorra – Marian Van De Wal "La Mirador Interior"

This has something wonderful about it, a clear, crisp Spanish mid-tempo song with a strong melody. However, it is not at all catchy, pretty unusual, the singer lacks star quality and it has been re-mixed to loose all impact. I am judging it on the original version but the video version was quite underwhelming. No chance, people look on the outside I’m afraid.

11. Malta – Chiara "Angel"

Chiara is back bigger and better than ever. I have never been a fan of her voice but she manages to convince many others and the video which promotes this has her in fine voice and the song just builds to an amazing crescendo. It is a startlingly superb ballad, one of the best things to come out of Malta for years, they just get better and better at the contest. At the moment I think they have the magic factor that Ireland had in the mid nineties, all they need is a win.

12. Slovenia – Omar "Stop"

A dark and moody rock ballad which after a few listens begins to grow on you. I was unconvinced at first but now I love it, and it could be one of the highlights of the semi-final but I just cannot see it appealing to the voting public despite its late position in the draw. A brave attempt from Slovenia but one which I sadly feel won’t be appreciated.

13. Sweden – Martin Stenmarck "Las Vegas"

A very different sound to the usual Swedish Europop. A much more swinging big band sound which would be ably suited to the soundtrack of Ocean’s Twelve. A great performance from Martin helps and this will appeal to many if not to the stalwart Eurovision fan. They should qualify for the final in 2006.

14. Albania – Ledina Celo "Tomorrow I Go"

Very impressed, Albania were in fine voice last year with a belter of a ballad, now they have an ethnic dance by a beautiful girl also in fine voice. Some good choreography will help and the ‘ditsy-da’ chorus is something memorable which the voting public can hold onto. Certainly I would expect a strong showing. Quality.

15. Lithuania – Laura & The Lovers "Little By Little"

This song is badly placed in going second in the semi, but it is really a very good quality pop song which bounces along quite nicely. Going so early in the draw may result in it being forgotten by the voters as there is nothing particularly distinctive about it but it well deserves a place in the final and will need to call upon an ex-USSR block vote to secure a position.

16. Estonia – Suntribe "Let’s Get Loud"

Girls do just want to have fun. This girl group look like a laugh and they have a lightweight piece of pop which just happens to be as infectious as measles. I can see how people will be charmed by it and it should hook in the votes, being the one of the most Eurovisionish songs in style and likely to attract the Eastern European vote too. How far they can go depends on their performance and the seriousness of the watching public.

17. Bosnia-Herzegovina – Feminnem "Call Me"

A real 1980’s Europop number sung with gusto by three sparkling blondes. This is everything you could want from a Eurosong, breezy and bouncy and catchy but I have major doubts as to whether or not these girls can actually sing. Remember ENI?? With a good performance this should get a respectable mid placed position.

18. Macedonia – Martin Vucic "Make My Day"

A controversial win against Aleksandra Pileva in the national final has not stopped him giving us a great if not spectacular song. Very much in the same vain as last’s year’s Macedonian entry, ethnic disco, which a great ‘na na hey na’ hook to link the bits of the song. He gives a good performance well enhanced with well enhanced backing dancers. This will pull in the Balkan vote rather than Croatia and Slovenia in the semi-final and I can see it qualifying but not doing too well in the final.

19. Norway – Wig Wam "In My Dreams"

Norway prepare to give us a wig wam bam and have hit the perfect gimmick in glam rock. A cross between The Sweet and The Darkness, the Wig Wams rock out a fantastically catchy heavy-metal number which will make an immediate impact if they perform well. It is clear why this is one of the favourites, although not with the fans (but what do they know). An winner? In their dreams. But dreams can come true.

20. Ireland - Donna & Joe "Love?"

What is the question mark for? Is it for the whole You’re A Star process which chooses singers from the general public to compete against the top singers in Europe. Sadly this process, which does not work for even a country as big as Spain, is failing Ireland. The song is quite good with a great intro and is certainly catchy and is definitely unusual. Donna and Joe will need major help to give a more professional performance as judging on the YAS shows they are a bit out of their depth. The Riverdance bit almost works (stop the spinning!). A nice try but still not much chance of qualifying.

21. Romania – Luminita Anghel & Sistem "Let Me Try"

Norway will be a hard act to follow so Luminita has her work cut out for her. She has a fine pair of lungs and other fine attributes so hopefully she will pass herself. Well liked by fans and high in the polls but I wonder if this has what it takes to stand out. It is fairly catchy but there is nothing special about the chorus although it does have a great beat to it.

22. France – Ortal "Chacun Pense A Soi"

Everyone thinks of themselves and few people will be thinking of France on Eurovision night. Not at all immediate but Ortal is a bouncy singer and you are almost convinced when you see her perform the song. This makes a very good contemporary pop record but as a Eurovision song it lacks that something magical.

23. Greece – Helena Paparizou "My Number One"

This is the big favourite. Much to my surprise I have to say. But it is topping the fan polls and the betting odds. It has a Greek ethnic beat and launches into a catchy chorus and Helena has star quality and will surely give a fantastic song and dance performance. As to it standing out, I can’t see I, but what do I know?

24. Cyprus – Constantinos "Ela Ela"

Greece did well last year coming third so Cyprus have entered the same song and virtually the same singer. Constantinos is a Eurovision veteran with a number of successful entries in his ESC career but this is a carbon copy of Sakis’ Shake It. I was unimpressed at first but Constantinos gives an energetic performance and the song has that ethnic beat which does so well these days. A hard one to predict.

25. Poland – Ivan & Delfin "Czarna Dziewczyna"

Poland go straight for the ‘lai lai lai’, plate smashing, knees in the air ethnic vote with a real Mazurka of a song. The emaciated Ivan sings it well, I’m not sure what Delfin does but she would need to come on stage with lots of backing dancers to really sell this one. Nothing special and an unpronounceable song title, but going last is its big advantage which may give it a helping hand into the final, where it will flop. Hey!

26. UK – Javine "Touch My Fire"

Nice to see a big name from the UK singing the most contemporary song in the contest. This would not be out of place in any chart, a bit urban and a bit Sertab. In fact it sells the Sertab effect really well with the Eastern riff and lots of belly dancing. An amazing performance, it is much more impressive visually than just listening to it. Another favourite and if only it was not in the accursed 2^nd place in the draw, I would be tipping it as a possible winner.

27. Croatia – Boris Novkovic ft Lado "Vukovi Umiru Sami"

Croatia are one of the top Eurovision countries, so this rather ordinary Balkan anthem is rather a surprise. He knocked out some great pop songs by some great artists to win the national final, so maybe this has something I don’t get but which is loved in the Balkans. It tries its best with lots of ethnic wailing and bagpipes trying to sell the song, but I doubt it will even qualify despite Croatia being a well liked country.

28. Denmark – Jacob Sveistrup "Talking To You"

A good singer and the mock reggae song drifts along in a pleasing way until you realise you are getting bored with it. Again, a late draw is unlikely to be taken advantage of as this is just not strong enough. The transition from the Danish of the national final into English for the Eurovision stage has also weakened it I fear.

29. Russia – Natalia Podolskaya "Nobody Hurt No One"

Natalia is Belorussian (one set of 12 points guaranteed anyway) and has been setting the Russian charts alight, although not with this song. One of the many rock ballads in this year’s contest, setting the trend for 2005. A good verse but the chorus lacks anything special. Russia will get points from former allies for just being Russia but the rest of Europe will be largely unimpressed.

30. Netherlands – Glennis Grace "My Impossible Dream"

A standard Eurovision ballad given a great vocal performance by Glennis who has obviously styled herself upon Whitney Houston. Unlike the Israeli ballad, this smacks of cliché and will no doubt be a bigger vote winner than that more original ballad. Certainly an easy qualifier and could do well on the Eurovision night. The lungs have it.

31. Germany – Gracia "Run And Hide"

The dark and slim Gracia attacks a rocky ballad in a very professional way but as a tune it is pretty weak. A sharp change in direction away from Schlager for Germany but it is hard to see this appealing to many without a gimmick or something to make it stand out – such as a melody.

32. Ukraine – Greenjolly "Razom Nas Bahato"

Yushenkho Ja! Yushenkho Ja! A song which won its national final for political rather than musical reasons. There is nothing jolly about this one, a definite statement and virtually a rap throughout, this is a big mistake unless they are going for the beat to carry them through. It may appeal to the more Eastern European tastes but most people appear unconvinced. Having said that, there just aren’t enough short, fat balding pop singers out there.

33. Belgium – Nuno Resende "Le Grand Soir"

Portuguese Nuno is hoping it will be his great night, but apart from 12 points from Portugal I think he will be struggling. Do you remember L’amour Ca Fait Chanter La Vie sung by Jean Vallee for Belgium in 1978. Perhaps you don’t but I do remember its surprising second place. This song has a similar tune, phrasing and structure gradually building to a climax. The climax takes too long to come in my opinion. Not great to listen to but he sells it with a convincing performance. Not a qualifier I think.

34. Turkey – Gulseren "Rimi Rimi Ley"

Boy Turkey have suddenly got it badly wrong, after two top 5 positions in a row. Gulseren tries her best with some dancing, ethnic wailing, lots of tambourines and running between sets of bongos but really what would sell Rimi Rimi Ley to the best effect is a good tune. The verse stumbles along and only in bits does the ethnic beat come into its own. All in all not great.

35. Bulgaria – Kaffe "Lorrian"

Wow, is it possible to write songs this bad. This is Bulgaria’s first Eurovision and they have a decent enough native music scene but this is just terrible. A slow badly sung ballad with a jazz twist. It is easy to see why it is last in almost all the polls. Not unlike Luna by Taxi a couple of years ago which amazingly managed to get some points but Lorrain is unlikely to achieve double figures.

36. Austria – Global Kryner "Y Asi"

Where else but in Eurovision would you get Latino meets yodelling?? Well here it is, a harsh voiced singer belts out an English verse and Spanish chorus and is joined on the odd (very odd) occasion by some yodels. The simplistic chorus barely required songwriting. Going first is a disadvantage, another disadvantage is the song being total crap and I fail to see it qualifying but most fan polls have it scraping the top ten of the semi.

37. Portugal – 2B "Amar"

As they say in fashion circles Portugal is this year’s Switzerland. This has all the hallmarks of the null points song sung last year by Switzerland. An early draw hampers, as does a poor song and shouted chorus of virtually no musical feeling. They even perform it like Piero and his Musicstars. Doomed.

38. Monaco – Lise Darly "Tout De Moi"

A typical Euro-ballad of yesteryear only reworked without any semblance of tune whatsoever. This will have its fans but not amongst the voting public. It has a gentle verse but the supposedly anthemic chorus just fails to place the notes in any harmonic order. Things are bad when I prefer Bulgaria to this. May have made the top 5 in 1973 but this in 2005 and headed for bottom 5.

39. Moldova – Zdob Si Zdub "Bunica Bate Doba"

With a song called Granny Plays Drums you know what to expect. An Eastern European version of rock-quirkiness that degenerates into just noise. The English bits make it worse with silly lyrics and bad rhymes. It may get a few votes for being zany and surprisingly is not bottom of the pre-contest polls but you need to go a long way to get worse than this.

Vanilla Ninja (Esto-Swiss singers)