Eurovision Song Contest 2011

Well some might think I'm crazy and I have to say I would never deny that anyway but when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest I might be a little over the top. I watched that show almost every year for over 10 years now and I have to say it is every year a highlight. The combination of awful songs, weird dresses, gay dancers and the regular total embarrassment of the German contestant is very fun to watch and a good topic for endless discussions with various friends.
And well after I've been to the ESC last year in Oslo myself the whole excitement around it really got to me. But this year is a little different. Not like 2 years ago, where I knew, before Norway hasn't even decided who to sent to Moscow, that Alexander Rybak will win the contest in Moscow (call it intuition or just really good taste of music :P), but this year I didn't even know the time when the crazyness is held in Düsseldorf 4 weeks ago. Anyway after a little research and the funny evaluation of all ESC2011 Songs by the Swedish TV channel SVT I'm ready for the first semifinal tonight. I haven't seen that semifinal in 2 years since I missed it last year. Well instead of watching the show in the hostel TV room it was nicer to sit on my xxth birthday in the TV total studio with other weird people enjoying the company of Alex Rybak. Definitely one of the highlights of my Oslo trip.

Anyway I made up my mind and here are my Top 5 of this years Eurovision:

5th place Latvia: Musiqq- Angel in disguise
What a great dancing song. And it shows that you don't need to kick in glass windows, have weird background dancers or a crazy fire show! Sometimes less is more. And, well, I prefer a funny rap instead of a circus show on stage. Strong 6 points and a spot on my mp3 player!

4th place Iceland: Sjonni Brink's friends - Aftur heim
Besides the tragedy of the original singer's death right before the national selection I really like the song. Different style, no crazy half naked dancers. And Icelandic is such a cool language. I really hope they don't perform the complete English version of the song in Düsseldorf since that version sucks. Anyway 7 Points from me!

3th place Bosnia & Herzegovina: Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind
I just love it, a little bit Balkan style but without overdoing it. You just need to move to the great melody. :) And you see, a country doesn't need to send an Idols or whatever Casting Show winner to have a great entry for the ESC! Love it! Funny also that they faking the playing of their instruments. 8 points to Bosnia & Herzegovina!

2nd place Azerbaijan: Eldar & Nigar - Running Scared
Well I love ballads. Always have, always will. And this one really gets me. Besides that I don't like the female singer very much and there is no chemistry between the two singers the song is just great. Let's hope the live performance will be as well. 10 Points!

The last but definitely best song for me is Finland's Paradise Oskar and his Da Da Dam
Well Paradise Oskar or Axel, how he is really called, is just the best. A great message and the song is so cute and adorable. Well and so is Axel :D His music just reminds me of a mixture of Teitur and Tom Dice (participated for Belgium in last years ESC). Ok his album is not as genius as Tom's but anyway 12 Points from me! Too bad that I cannot vote for him :'( So please everybody vote for Finland!

So everybody enjoy the Eurovision and Share the moment!


PS My biggest disappointments this year are Israel and Sweden. Israel is usually my secret favorite. I just love songs in Hebrew and well and I think my all time ESC favorite will always be Boaz Mauda's Fire in your eyes written by the one and only Dana International. Too bad that she couldn't write a decent song for her participation this year. :( Well and Sweden, what the heck? Last years song was so amazing. Not that anybody besides me seemed to have noticed that but well I still feel that song from Anna Bergendahl was written just for me but this years participant is just a no-go. Well after a meaningful song last year which didn't even make it into the final (shame on you Europe!) Sweden probably thought: Let's send a typical meaningless Swedish pop song with lots of dancers and a window-kicking Idols winner to get into the final again. Well let's hope next year will be better again.