1. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Title: Rijeka bez imena

Performer: Marija Sestic

Bosnia and Herzegovina´s artist Marija Sestic turned 20 yesterday. Next Saturday she will perform the song Rijeka bez imena (River without a name) in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest thanks to the 3rd place that Hari Mata Hari secured last year with the haunting ballad Lejla.

This year the Bosnians are offering us another beautiful Balkan ballad written by Aleksandra Milutinovic and Goran Kovacic who have previously worked with Zeljko Joksimovic who, in turn, composed Lejla and came 2nd in 2004 when he represented his home country Serbia (and Montenegro) with the almost hypnotic Lane Moje.  

The river without a name flows gently and slowly to begin with but with ever increasing intensity it soon reaches a breathtaking climax. In the instrumental part just before the final chorus I can actually feel the hair at the back of my neck rising.

But despite the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina´s entry is among my personal favourites, I am afraid that they will have to settle for a finishing position somewhere between 11th and 15th as Serbia will probably become the most popular entry in the Balkan region.

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2. Spain

Title: I Love You Mi Vida

Performers: D´Nash

The second Thomas G:son song in this year´s contest represents Spain. Thomas co-composed I Love You Mi Vida with Andreas Rickstrand and the lyrics were written by Tony Sanchez-Ohlsson and Rebecca Pous del Toro.

D´Nash consists of four handsome guys, Mikel, Basty, Javi and Oni, all in between the ages of 24 and 26. 

In sharp contrast to a lot of the hopeful artists that D´Nash defeated in the Spanish preselection these guys can actually both sing and dance. Unfortunately I have a sneaking suspicion that the song is simply not good enough to ensure a Spanish top 10 finish. I predict that Spain will place somewhere between 16th and 20th.

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The guys in D´Nash have a website which can be viewed here: www.nash.es

4. Ireland

Title: They Can´t Stop The Spring

Performers: Dervish

In 2003, 2004 and 2005 Ireland used a preselection method which resembled Idol to choose their representatives for the Eurovision Song Contest. When the results did not meet expectations they abandoned their You´re A Star concept and approached celebrated super star Brian Kennedy and asked him to represent them. Going for pure quality paid off as Brian finished 10th in Athens with Every Song Is A Cry For Help and secured a place in the final for Ireland.

This year Ireland is offering us another of their top names, namely the folk music band Dervish. The members of Dervish have previously performed together with world artists such as James Brown, Oasis, Sting, REM, The Buena Vista Social Club and Beck so we are truly dealing with professionals here.

They Can´t Stop The Spring is a Celtic celebration of the peaceful revolutions in the former Soviet states. I have a soft spot for this kind of Celtic folk music and I think it could do better than most people expect. But in the end singing about peace between nations, walls being torn down and people holding hands whilst singing as one clan just feels a little too pretentious and conceited to come across as sincere.  

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Pay Dervish a visit at: www.dervish.ie

5. Finland

 

Title: Leave Me Alone

Performer: Hanna Pakarinen

Hanna Pakarinen is the name of the 25-year-old artist who will have the advantage of performing in front of a home crowd in the Eurovision final in Helsinki on the 12th of May.

In 2004 Hanna won the Finnish edition of Idol but unlike many other talent show winners she has succeded in building a real career thanks to the TV exposure. The Finnish people has truly taken Hanna to their hearts, not only becasue of her impressive and expressive voice but also for the fact that she is very friendly person, nothing like a diva.

Hanna recently released her third album Lovers which contains both of her songs from the Finnish preselection, Euroviisut.

Leave Me Alone is an almost frighteningly strong rock song. The refrain fits like a hand in a glove and Hanna completely spellbinds the audience with her charms and great vocal abilities.

As the host nation Finland´s faith could partly depend on how well they manage to stage the shows on the 10th and 12th of May respectively, but if nothing unexpected happens, Finland could join the exclusive club of countries that have won the contest twice in a row.

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Hanna Pakarinen´s website is located at: www.hanna-pakarinen.com

9. Lithuania

 

Title: Love or Leave

Performer: 4 Fun

Despite having a great local music scene Lithuania had never succeeded in the Eurovision until last year when LT United placed 6th with protest song We Are The Winners.

This year it seems that the Lithuanians are desperately trying to convince Europe that they can be serious as well. The ballad Love or Leave starts rather promising but when you expect the song to reach a beautiful chorus it just dies. For the last painful minute nothing happens. Absolutely nothing!

The fact that the band calls itself 4 Fun is ironic since the last thing you are going to have in their company is fun.

In the end the choice I am given by 4 Fun, love or leave, is extremely easy to make – I am out of here.

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10. Greece

 

Title: Yassou Maria

Performer: Sarbel

Greece has been the most successful nation in the Eurovision so far in this millenium. In six attempts the Greeks have managed to secure a victory, two 3rd places and a 9th position. And this year they are among the favourites again.

One of the trends in this year´s edition of Eurovision is Swedish composers. Apart from the Swedes themselves even the Spaniards, Norwegians, Latvians and Greeks have put their eggs in the baskets of Swedish composers. The trio behind Yassou Maria, Mack, Marcus Englöf and Alex Papaconstantinou, have previously worked with artists like Anna Vissi, Helena Paparizou and A-Teens.

Sarbel, son of a Cypriot father and a Lebanese mother, released his debut album in 2005. It quickly reached gold status and last year the second album, Sahara, became a huge hit as well.

I am not a big fan of this kind of Mediterranian latino light pop, but the when Sakis Rouvas competed for Greece in 2004 with Shake It I bought it. Probably because Sakis could make a living selling sand in Sahara, Sarbel completely lacks that ability.

But this type of song could still work in the Eurovision although it is considered well beyond its expiration date everywhere else. So if the Greeks manage to create a good visual performance - which bears almost no resemblances to the almost embarrasing dance moves we had to suffer through in the Greek national final and the preview video – they might be able to finish in the lower part of the top 10, if not they will be hopelessly lost in the very bottom of the rankings.

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12. Sweden

 

Title: The Worrying Kind

Performers: The Ark

Before having even heard The Worrying Kind I had decided to love it. I think The Ark is a fantastic band who combines great music with lyrics with an important message.

Still I have to, reluctantly, admit to being a little disappointed in this year´s Swedish entry for the Eurovision. The melody in itself is more than OK, but the whole thing is just little too 70-ish and ABBA slash schlager to really do the trick for me.

So how will Sweden fare this year? Will the Swedes lift the trophe for the fifth time or will – as has been the case on numerous occasions in the past – one of firm favourites fail to make an impression on the televoters?

The Worrying Kind has not been received very well amongst the fans and although the bookies have Sweden as joint favourites alongside Serbia and Switzerland I think a finishing position between 6th and 10th will what Europa has in store for Ola Salo & Co. next Saturday.

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Read more about The Ark at: www.theark.nu

13. France

Title: L´amour à la Française

Performers: Les Fatals Picards

The French results in the Eurovision Song Contest the last couple of years are noting less than depressing. In 2005 they finished second last and 2006 they only managed to go one place higher in the scoreboard.

This year France leaves the ballads behind and tries a new concept with a modern and fresh sound in the entry L´amour à la Française which is performed in a mish mash of English and French.

The group Les Fatals Picards has a lot to offer on the stage when it comes to energy and enthusiasm, but the crucial question is of course whether or not the joke that the Frenchmen play on themselves will even be understood by the rest of Europe. I fear that might not be the case.

Some experts think that this could be France´s frist victory in 30 years, I cannot say that I agree. Even though I like the French song and find it very refreshing and catchy, I doubt that English with a French accent is a winning recipe this year. 

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Visit Les Fatals Picards homepage here: www.fatalspicards.com

15. Russia

 

Title: Song # 1

Performers: Serebro

Russia is one of the countries who has been on the verge of victory several times but is yet to win first prize. In 2000 Alsou finished 2nd in Stockholm with Solo. In 2003 pseudo-lesbian duo t.A.T.u. came 3rd with Ne ver´, ne bojsija. And last year Dima Bilan placed 2nd with Never Ever Let You Go.

Serebro is the name of the girl trio who has been appointed to make the Russian dream of a Eurovision victory come true. I, however, think that band members Elena, Olya and Marina will be unable to complete their mission successfully. Song # 1 is far from the worst song in the contest and it will probably be enhanced by a great choreography on stage, but it feels rather cold and unpersonal.

Russia usually gets a lot of point from their neighbours. And they have quite a few of them, so I think they will get a top 10 finish, but only barely.

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16. Germany

Title: Frauen Regier´n Die Welt

Performer: Roger Cicero

In this year´s German preselection Roger and his Eurovision entry received more than 50 % of the votes and won by a landslide. And I certainly have no problems whatsoever understanding how that could happen. 36-year-old Roger Cicero hits bullseye with wonderful Frauen Regier´n Die Welt. Who would have thought that good old-fashioned swing music sung in German could be so fantastic? Furthermore Roger is an immaculate entertainer with an outstanding voice. 

The German lyrics are humouristic and tell the story about a man who ever since he was a child has experienced close-up how women, thanks to their ability to attract the male eye, in fact are the rulers of the world. They should obviously not be taken too seriously or be subject to a feminist analysis, but when delivered with right amount of humor and wit they suit this kind of swingy music in the true spirit of Frank Sinatra perfectly.

Last year Roger´s debut single Zieh die Schuh aus became a huge hit and the album Männersachen has been riding high in the German charts for weeks on end. Earlier this year Roger was presented with an ECHO award (the German equivalent to a Grammy) for Best Male Artist.

I would love for Roger to do very well, but although fans of Frankie - and Robbie - will be calling until their fingers fall off (and probably even after that) I do not think that this magnificent piece of big band jazz will be the winning song. But I am quite convinced that the Germans are to be found at the top half of the scoreboard for the first time in some years. 

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 Roger has a website which can be viewed here: www.rogercicero.de

18. Ukraine

Title: Danzing lasha tumbai

Performer: Verka Serduchka

The second drag act this year comes from the hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, Ukraine. Since the breakthrough in 1991 Verka Serduchka, whose real-life name is Andrii Danylko, has been one of most popular Ukrainian artists and the album from 2003 Kha-ra-sho has sold over 1 million copies in Ukraine and other former Soviet states.

Danzing lasha tumbai is the nonsense song of the year. But ironically the Ukrainian lyrics have actually created a bit of commotion as some people claim that Verka in fact sings Russia goodbye instead of lasha tumbai. The Ukrainians state that lasha tumbai is Mongolian for dance, but so far no Mongolian-speaking person has been able to confirm this to be true. In the promotion video which was released a couple of weeks ago Verka even jokes about the whole issue, but no final answers are offered as to whether he did in fact sing Russia goodbye or not.

We will have to wait and see if this story is to be continued in Helsinki or if the Russians choose to lay low considering the other controversies that the nation finds itself in the middle of at the moment.

It is very hard to judge the musical merits of this entry as it can hardly be considered music at all, but I must admit to being a little touched by this huge drag queen who has hardly made any efforts to look like a woman – except for the compulsory dress.

But although the bookmakers hold Ukraine as a top-10-favourite, my prediction is that the Ukrainians will have to make do with a finishing position between 16th and 20th.

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Read more about Verka at: www.serduchka.com

19. United Kingdom

Title: Flying The Flag (For You)

Performers: Scooch

The United Kingdom has failed in this contest year after year since the wonderful Jessica Garlick finished 3rd in Tallinn 2002. In their four most recent attempts the Brits have not made it into the top 15. I think it is safe to say that they will not be able to break that negative trend this year either.

Scooch, which consists of Russ, Natalie, David and Caroline, had some minor hits at the end of the 90s . Way back then they got the chance to perform alongside Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue, Westlife and Ronan Keating.  In 2001 the band members went their own seperate ways but earlier this year they reunited to give it a go at the UK preselection for Eurovision, Making Your Mind Up, which they, much to everybody´s surprise, won dressed as flight attendants.

Personally I wish that they had not bothered, because Flying The Flag (For You) is europop at its very worst. The song is so provacatively meaningless that it would only be fair if it failed to score any points at all – just like the Brits did in Riga 2003 when Jemini, whilst performing dreadful Cry Baby, made Eurovision history as the worst vocalists ever. 

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Read more about Scooch at: www.scoochonline.com

20. Romania

Title: Liubi, Liubi, I Love You

Performers: Todomondo

Romania has rapidly gone from being a country that always sends hopeless entries that are destined to finish in the very bottom of the rankings to being a force to be reckoned with in the Eurovision. Last year Mihai Traistariu finished 4th with Tornero and in 2005 Luminita Anghel placed 3rd with Let Me Try.

So many fans felt that 2007 could very well be the year that Romania was to go all the way. But perhaps the Romanians have tried a little too hard this time. The group Todomondo tries to get their message that love means the same everywhere around the world across in no less than six languages, those being English, Italian, Spanish, Russian, French and Romanian. Dare we expect a line or two in Finnish on stage in Helsinki? The whole concept feels very Eurovision and somewhat tacky. Having said this, I still feel unable to completely dismiss Todomondo as a cynical gimmick for the sole purpose of gathering votes because of the happiness that these six men transmit on stage, that cannot be faked.

Romania will not win this year, but I do think that a finishing positition just outside the top 10 is within the Romanians´ reach.

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 Pay the Romanian band a visit at: www.todomondo.eu

23. Armenia

 

Title: Anytime You Need

Performer: Hayko

Last year Armenia made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest when artist André finished a very respectable 8th with orientally influenced uptempo song Without Your Love.

If the Armenians treated us to an energetic and sparkling show in Athens this will hardly be the case in Helsinki. But Anytime You Need is a beautiful Slavic ballad, the kind that could easily have represented one of the Balkan countries. So, although the lyrics and Hayko´s prenunciation leave if not much then at least a little something to be desired, I find myself really enjoying this romantic moment in Hayko´s company. I am particularly fond of the last chorus after the key change which is performed in Armenian.

Hayko´s list of merits is extensive. In 2002 and 2006 he was named Best Male Artist in Armenia. He has even won a number of awards in different song competitions and released more than ten albums so far.

Hayko can expect votes from the Eastern European nations, the Balkan countries and from the huge Armenian diasporas around Europe. This will probably be enough for the Armenians to finish somewhere in the middle of the scoreboard.

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