Austria has jumped up quite a bit! Has there been a revamp that I'm not aware of?

 

Not that I know of, it's just grown on me a lot! I still think it might struggle to qualify to the final though.

I think it will too, especially with its draw. I'm hoping that it will be re-recorded before Eurovision, because right now it sounds so demo-ish, and it would sound SO much better with REAL instruments!

Really? Out of all of the entries, I find Austria's production one of the most accomplished, save for the final chord, which since you pointed it out to me, does now sound like some sound effect from a child's keyboard :lol: It's not contemporary ballad production like Azerbaijan and Slovakia, but more of the X Factor ballad/early Christina Aguilera mould, which is fine too. I wouldn't want every ballad I listen to to have a Prince style thumping drum track running through it like so many seem to these days (thanks Ryan Tedder!)

To be fair the reason it sounds like a demo is probably because it is a demo, being the same version that was entered into the open internet selection. Rich I'm not for a minute suggesting that it should have a Tedder-esque "modern" feel to it, quite the contrary, but are you saying you would not prefer this to have real strings sweeping throughout it and a proper piano than what is currently a backing track made entirely on a keyboard?

 

I'm convinced that if (and probably when) a revamp does surface, you'll look back on this version after a while and wonder what you saw in it :lol:

 

I know that the feeling they're going for is an early Aguilera track / X Factor song, but until it is properly orchestrated, it just sounds like a demo of both of those.

To be fair the reason it sounds like a demo is probably because it is a demo, being the same version that was entered into the open internet selection. Rich I'm not for a minute suggesting that it should have a Tedder-esque "modern" feel to it, quite the contrary, but are you saying you would not prefer this to have real strings sweeping throughout it and a proper piano than what is currently a backing track made entirely on a keyboard?

 

I'm convinced that if (and probably when) a revamp does surface, you'll look back on this version after a while and wonder what you saw in it :lol:

 

I know that the feeling they're going for is an early Aguilera track / X Factor song, but until it is properly orchestrated, it just sounds like a demo of both of those.

 

Do you think there will be a revamp then? There's been no word of one :unsure:

 

I'm not one to cast aside demos/originals like a lot of people do actually! I'd far rather listen to the originals of Lovebugs - The Highest Heights, Teresa Kerndlova's Have Some Fun and Yohanna's Is It True to the versions submitted to Eurovision for example (and there are SO many other examples of that too). That's not to say that I wouldn't welcome a new version of The Secret Is Love, but I don't see me suddenly stopping listening to this one!

Do you think there will be a revamp then? There's been no word of one :unsure:

 

I'm not one to cast aside demos/originals like a lot of people do actually! I'd far rather listen to the originals of Lovebugs - The Highest Heights and Yohanna's Is It True to the versions submitted to Eurovision for example. That's not to say that I wouldn't welcome a new version of The Secret Is Love, but I don't see me suddenly stopping listening to this one!

 

Well that's fair enough I suppose, and there's been no word of a revamp as such. But I just find it hard to imagine that it will be left as it is, as it is still in the "demo" form that was entered into the web selection. A good comparison would be the early version of Questa Notte. It's the only one I can think of right now but most other big traditional ballads that have started off synthy have been given revamps. I wouldn't want them to change anything fundamental about the song itself (final chord aside), but I just can't imagine that its current form is how the composers ultimately envisaged the song to be. Obviously there's no way of knowing whether it's been revamped or not, since there hasn't been an official video made; just the national final performance.

 

Everything above also applies to Lithuania's song. I hope they get rid of the 80s drums that come in in the second half of the song!

Well that's fair enough I suppose, and there's been no word of a revamp as such. But I just find it hard to imagine that it will be left as it is, as it is still in the "demo" form that was entered into the web selection. A good comparison would be the early version of Questa Notte. It's the only one I can think of right now but most other big traditional ballads that have started off synthy have been given revamps. I wouldn't want them to change anything fundamental about the song itself (final chord aside), but I just can't imagine that its current form is how the composers ultimately envisaged the song to be. Obviously there's no way of knowing whether it's been revamped or not, since there hasn't been an official video made; just the national final performance.

 

Everything above also applies to Lithuania's song. I hope they get rid of the 80s drums that come in in the second half of the song!

 

I don't know the in's and out's of country's selections (Sweden aside naturally :lol:) so didn't even know there were pre-stages and that these songs were all demos. Either way, it's the version she's sent out to iTunes worldwide, and the version that's become a domestic hit in Austria, so people can't be that bothered about the way it sounds. But I guess we'll see if they do a different version for Eurovision - iirc Teenage Life had a different version on the CD single/UK hit version to the Eurovision version which had a piano intro. So it's possible that she'll leave the current version as the single version and send a revamp to Eurovision.

I don't know the in's and out's of country's selections (Sweden aside naturally :lol:) so didn't even know there were pre-stages and that these songs were all demos. Either way, it's the version she's sent out to iTunes worldwide, and the version that's become a domestic hit in Austria, so people can't be that bothered about the way it sounds. But I guess we'll see if they do a different version for Eurovision - iirc Teenage Life had a different version on the CD single/UK hit version to the Eurovision version which had a piano intro. So it's possible that she'll leave the current version as the single version and send a revamp to Eurovision.

 

Oh dear...I didn't realise it had been sent out to iTunes etc.

 

Hmm if that's the case it's much more likely this version is the one to be going to Eurovision I suppose. Not impossible, but most of the time when there have been seperate versions on CD singles and Eurovision, it has been "2 alternative versions" rather than an early version and a polished version. Je Ne Sais Quoi wasn't given a release prior to its remix as far as I know. Even so, I'm sure you won't mind nor will most people who have fallen in love with the song...I just naturally assumed it would be given a little polishing up between the national final and Eurovision. It just doesn't sound "finished" to me.

Oh dear...I didn't realise it had been sent out to iTunes etc.

 

Hmm if that's the case it's much more likely this version is the one to be going to Eurovision I suppose. Not impossible, but most of the time when there have been seperate versions on CD singles and Eurovision, it has been "2 alternative versions" rather than an early version and a polished version. Je Ne Sais Quoi wasn't given a release prior to its remix as far as I know. Even so, I'm sure you won't mind nor will most people who have fallen in love with the song...I just naturally assumed it would be given a little polishing up between the national final and Eurovision. It just doesn't sound "finished" to me.

 

I bought it on iTunes about three days before she won the Austrian final so I'm guessing it's been on there since the beginning of the year? It's quite possible that a replacement mix/digital single will be put up at some point. Austria don't seem like a country so on the ball with Eurovision that they'd consider that polishing it up would increase their chances of winning or doing well. In the hands of another country, it almost certainly would have been I guess.

 

Also, I've just downloaded the CD single versions of the song, from our favourite blog, even though on my internet connection it took about half an hour! The 'radio edit' basically is the version from the national final and the one that's on iTunes, so I guess that goes a long way to answering our question. There's also a karaoke version, but that's just an instrumental of the same production with the backing vocals still in and your favourite final chord! I think she'd be better off just singing the final word acapella and leaving that chord out.

I don't really understand quite why you have so much of an issue with the production Peter. It doesn't sound THAT synthetic!

I don't really understand quite why you have so much of an issue with the production Peter. It doesn't sound THAT synthetic!

 

I don't have an issue with it really, I'm just susprised that it is the final version.

 

And yes it does, it sounds COMPLETELY synthetic on account of the fact that it's made up entirely of synthetic instruments...

Weekly update 31/3/11;

 

Amazing

 

1. United Kingdom // Blue - I Can (1)

2. Austria // Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love (3)

3. Sweden // Eric Saade - Popular (2)

4. France // Amaury Vassili - Sognu (4)

 

Great

 

5. Bosnia & Herzegovina // Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind (5)

6. Estonia // Getter Jaani - Rockefeller Street (7)

7. Denmark // A Friend In London - New Tomorrow (6)

8. Germany // Lena Meyer-Landrut - Taken By A Stranger (9)

9. Azerbaijan // Ell & Nikki - Running Scared (8)

 

Very Good

 

10. Hungary // Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams (10)

11. Slovakia // TWiiNS - I'm Still Alive (11)

12. Norway // Stella Mwangi - Haba Haba (12)

13. Belarus // Anastacia Vinnikova - I Love Belarus (15)

14. Croatia // Daria Kinzer - Break A Leg (14)

15. Russia // Alex Sparrow - Get You (13)

16. Netherlands // 3JS - Never Alone (18)

17. Finland // Paradise Oskar - Da Da Dam (16)

18. Serbia // Nina - Čaroban (17)

 

Good

 

19. Iceland // Sigurjón's Friends - Coming Home (19)

20. Israel // Dana International - Ding Dong (21)

21. Poland // Magdalena Tul - Jestem (20)

22. Switzerland // Anna Rossinelli - In Love For A While (22)

23. Spain // Lucía Pérez - Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao (23)

24. Slovenia: Maja Keuc - Vanilija (24)

25. Latvia // Musiqq - Angel In Disguise (25)

26. Romania // Hotel FM - Change (26)

 

Average

 

27. San Marino // Senit - Stand By (27)

28. Lithuania // Evelina Sašenko - C'est Ma Vie (28)

29. Georgia // Eldrine - One More Day (29)

30. Ukraine // Mika Newton - Angely (30)

31. Bulgaria // Poli Genova - Na Inat (31)

32. Turkey // Yüksek Sadakat - Live It Up (32)

33. Armenia // Emmy - Boom Boom (33)

34. Albania // Aurela Gaçe - Kënga Ime (34)

35. Malta // Glen Vella - One Life (35)

36. Italy // Raphael Gualazzi - Follia d’amore (36)

 

Awful

 

37. Greece // Loukas Giorkas feat. Stereo Mike - Watch my Dance (37)

38. Ireland // Jedward - Lipstick (38)

39. Belgium // Witloof Bay - With Love Baby (39)

40. Cyprus // Christos Mylordos - San Aggelos S'agapisa (40)

41. Macedonia: Vlatko Ilievski - Rusinka (41)

42. Portugal // Homens Da Luta - A Luta é Alegria (42)

43. Moldova // Zdob şi Zdub - So Lucky (43)

 

A few minor changes this week, Austria retake pole position for a start as France move ever closer to overcoming Sweden in the top three...Estonia and Germany move up a bit in the top ten whilst Dana's sensational revamp pushes her up ONE place :cheer:

Weekly update 7/4/11;

Amazing

 

1. United Kingdom // Blue - I Can (1)

2. Austria // Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love (2)

3. Sweden // Eric Saade - Popular (3)

4. France // Amaury Vassili - Sognu (4)

 

Great

 

5. Slovenia: Maja Keuc - No One (24)

6. Estonia // Getter Jaani - Rockefeller Street (6)

7. Azerbaijan // Ell & Nikki - Running Scared (9)

8. Germany // Lena Meyer-Landrut - Taken By A Stranger (8)

9. Bosnia & Herzegovina // Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind (5)

10. Denmark // A Friend In London - New Tomorrow (7)

 

Very Good

 

11. Hungary // Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams (10)

12. Slovakia // TWiiNS - I'm Still Alive (11)

13. Netherlands // 3JS - Never Alone (16)

14. Norway // Stella Mwangi - Haba Haba (12)

15. Iceland // Sjonni's Friends - Coming Home (19)

16. Switzerland // Anna Rossinelli - In Love For A While (22)

17. Croatia // Daria Kinzer - Break A Leg (14)

18. Belarus // Anastacia Vinnikova - I Love Belarus (13)

19. Finland // Paradise Oskar - Da Da Dam (17)

20. Serbia // Nina - Čaroban (18)

 

Good

 

21. Russia // Alex Sparrow - Get You (15)

22. Spain // Lucía Pérez - Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao (22)

23. Bulgaria // Poli Genova - Na Inat (31)

24. Poland // Magdalena Tul - Jestem (21)

25. Israel // Dana International - Ding Dong (20)

26. Latvia // Musiqq - Angel In Disguise (25)

27. Romania // Hotel FM - Change (26)

 

Average

 

28. San Marino // Senit - Stand By (27)

29. Lithuania // Evelina Sašenko - C'est Ma Vie (28)

30. Georgia // Eldrine - One More Day (29)

31. Turkey // Yüksek Sadakat - Live It Up (32)

32. Albania // Aurela Gaçe - Feel The Passion (34)

33. Ukraine // Mika Newton - Angely (30)

34. Malta // Glen Vella - One Life (35)

35. Italy // Raphael Gualazzi - Follia d’amore (36)

36. Armenia // Emmy - Boom Boom (33)

37. Greece // Loukas Giorkas feat. Stereo Mike - Watch my Dance (37)

 

Awful

 

38. Ireland // Jedward - Lipstick (38)

39. Cyprus // Christos Mylordos - San Aggelos S'agapisa (40)

40. Moldova // Zdob şi Zdub - So Lucky (43)

41. Macedonia: Vlatko Ilievski - Rusinka (41)

42. Portugal // Homens Da Luta - A Luta é Alegria (42)

43. Belgium // Witloof Bay - With Love Baby (39)

 

The official compilation/final/English versions throw up some huge changes this week - most notably Slovenia who shoot up from 24th to 5th place in the rankings!!! Netherlands, Iceland and Switzerland are the other beneficiaries whilst Russia's tragic new intro sends them out of the top 20...The top four remain the same!

FINALLY love for Slovenia <3 Only Slovenian language version is much superior :(

 

Weekly update 14/4/11;

 

Amazing.

 

1. United Kingdom // Blue - I Can (1)

2. Austria // Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love (2)

3. Sweden // Eric Saade - Popular (3)

4. Slovenia // Maja Keuc - No One (5)

5. France // Amaury Vassili - Sognu (4)

 

AMAZING

 

6. Estonia // Getter Jaani - Rockefeller Street (6)

7. Germany // Lena Meyer-Landrut - Taken By A Stranger (8)

8. Azerbaijan // Ell & Nikki - Running Scared (7)

 

Great

 

9. Hungary // Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams (11)

10. Bosnia & Herzegovina // Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind (9)

11. Netherlands // 3JS - Never Alone (13)

12. Denmark // A Friend In London - New Tomorrow (10)

13. Switzerland // Anna Rossinelli - In Love For A While (16)

14. Norway // Stella Mwangi - Haba Haba (14)

 

Very Good

 

15. Slovakia // TWiiNS - I'm Still Alive (12)

16. Spain // Lucía Pérez - Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao (22)

17. Croatia // Daria Kinzer - Break A Leg (17)

18. Iceland // Sjonni's Friends - Coming Home (15)

19. Belarus // Anastacia Vinnikova - I Love Belarus (18)

20. Finland // Paradise Oskar - Da Da Dam (19)

21. Serbia // Nina - Čaroban (20)

 

Good

 

22. Romania // Hotel FM - Change (27)

23. Russia // Alex Sparrow - Get You (21)

24. Poland // Magdalena Tul - Jestem (24)

25. Bulgaria // Poli Genova - Na Inat (23)

26. Israel // Dana International - Ding Dong (25)

27. Latvia // Musiqq - Angel In Disguise (25)

 

Average

 

28. San Marino // Senit - Stand By (28)

29. Lithuania // Evelina Sašenko - C'est Ma Vie (29)

30. Georgia // Eldrine - One More Day (30)

31. Turkey // Yüksek Sadakat - Live It Up (31)

32. Albania // Aurela Gaçe - Feel The Passion (32)

33. Italy // Raphael Gualazzi - Follia d’amore (35)

34. Malta // Glen Vella - One Life (34)

35. Ireland // Jedward - Lipstick (38)

36. Ukraine // Mika Newton - Angely (33)

37. Armenia // Emmy - Boom Boom (36)

38. Greece // Loukas Giorkas feat. Stereo Mike - Watch my Dance (37)

 

Awful

 

39. Cyprus // Christos Mylordos - San Aggelos S'agapisa (39)

40. Moldova // Zdob şi Zdub - So Lucky (40)

41. Macedonia // Vlatko Ilievski - Rusinka (41)

42. Portugal // Homens Da Luta - A Luta é Alegria (42)

43. Belgium // Witloof Bay - With Love Baby (43)

 

Kill me now, Jedward have moved out of the awful category :drama: Still only a 5/10 at best, but that's average so...On the other hand, Ukraine's entry seems to get more boring with each listen - shock DNQ please! Growers this week are Romania, Spain, Switzerland (:o - I'd written this off but it keeps on getting better!), Hungary and Germany whilst Slovenia become 'Amazing' - congrats to them! Some of the category borders move around a bit as we get closer to the contest!

You've got Romania in GOOD?! It's possibly about as obnoxious as Jedward!

 

Also pleasing to see you've picked up on the distinction between AMAZING and Amazing. :kink:

The main reason why Ireland will be ranked highly by me is because it's annoyingly catchy. I like Jedward, but not as singers, and no doubt the live version will be horrendous. But it's far more memorable than a lot of the entries this year, so qualifying is still a possibility...

You've got Romania in GOOD?! It's possibly about as obnoxious as Jedward!

 

Also pleasing to see you've picked up on the distinction between AMAZING and Amazing. :kink:

 

Yes! I read something earlier in the week on some blog comparing the 'sound' to Boyzone's Picture Of You (an old favourite of mine) and suddenly I started to like it a little bit more :lol: And nothing is ever as obnoxious as Jedward!

 

Indeed, all eight of the songs are life enhancing but the first five are better than the other three and I felt that I ought to distinguish between them.

It's been about 2 weeks since my last update, a few changes have happened since then...

 

*****

01 01 Hungary: Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams?

02 02 Sweden: Eric Saade - Popular

03 04 Norway: Stella Mwangi - Haba Haba

04 05 Slovenia: Maja Keuc - No One

05 03 Germany: Lena - Taken By A Stranger

06 16 Spain: Lucía Pérez - Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao

07 07 United Kingdom: Blue - I Can

08 10 Estonia: Getter Jaani - Rockefeller Street

09 08 Croatia: Daria Kinzer - Celebrate

10 09 Ireland: Jedward - Lipstick

11 11 Azerbaijan: Ell & Nikki - Running Scared

12 06 Finland: Paradise Oskar - Da Da Dam

 

****

13 12 Bosnia & Herzegovina: Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind

14 13 Israel: Dana International - Ding Dong

15 14 Austria: Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love

16 20 Slovakia: TWiiNS - I'm Still Alive

 

***

17 22 Switzerland: Anna Rossinelli - In Love For A While

18 17 Armenia: Emmy - Boom Boom

19 15 Poland: Magdalena Tul - Jestem

20 19 Iceland: Sjónni's Friends - Coming Home

21 21 Georgia: Eldrine - One More Day

22 24 Netherlands: 3JS - Never Alone

23 25 Belarus: Anastasia Vinnikova - I Love Belarus

24 18 Denmark: A Friend In London - New Tomorrow

25 26 Latvia: Musiqq - Angel In Disguise

 

**

26 28 Malta: Glen Vella - One Life

27 27 Albania: Aurela Gaçe - Feel The Passion

28 30 Belgium: Witloof Bay - With Love Baby

29 29 Romania: Hotel FM - Change

30 31 Russia: Alexey Vorobyov - Get You

31 32 San Marino: Senit - Stand By

32 33 Ukraine: Mika Newton - Angel

33 23 Serbia: Nina - Čaroban

 

*

34 35 Portugal: Homens Da Luta - A Luta é Alegria

35 41 Greece: Loucas Yiorkas feat. Stereo Mike - Watch My Dance

36 40 Bulgaria: Poli Genova - Na Inat

37 34 Lithuania: Evelina Sašenko - C'est Ma Vie

38 42 FYR Macedonia: Vlatko Ilievski - Russian Girl

 

-

39 38 Turkey: Yüksek Sadakat - Live It Up

40 39 France: Amaury Vassili - Sognu

41 37 Cyprus: Christos Mylordou - San Aggelos S'agapisa

42 36 Italy: Raphael Gualazzi - Madness Of Love

43 43 Moldova: Zdob şi Zdub - So Lucky

It seems I managed to go a month without doing this. It's probably due an update:

 

AMAZING

 

01 01 Sweden: Eric Saade - Popular

02 02 Hungary: Wolf Kati - What About My Dreams?

03 04 United Kingdom: Blue - I Can

04 15 Norway: Stella Mwangi - Haba Haba

05 ** Belarus: Anastasia Vinnikova - I Love Belarus

06 06 France: Amaury Vassili - Sognu

07 07 Azerbaijan: Ell & Nikki - Running Scared

08 09 Slovenia: Maja Keuc - No One

09 03 Austria: Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love

10 26 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind

 

Great

 

11 08 Israel: Dana International - Ding Dong

12 05 Denmark: A Friend In London - New Tomorrow

13 16 Russia: Alex Sparrow - Get You

14 10 Estonia: Getter Jaani - Rockefeller Street

15 13 Croatia: Daria - Celebrate

16 19 Germany: Lena - Taken By A Stranger

17 11 Latvia: Musiqq - Angel In Disguise

18 12 Netherlands: 3JS - Never Alone

19 14 Serbia: Nina - Čaroban

20 17 Bulgaria: Poli Genova - Na Inat

21 18 Poland: Magdalena Tul - Jestem

22 22 Iceland: Sigurjón's Friends - Coming Home

23 23 Finland: Paradise Oskar - Da Da Dam

 

Good

 

24 27 Switzerland: Anna Rossinelli - In Love For A While

25 30 Albania: Aurela Gaçe - Feel The Passion

26 20 Georgia: Eldrine - One More Day

27 21 Spain: Lucía Pérez - Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao

28 29 Ukraine: Mika Newton - Angel

29 25 Lithuania: Evelina Sašenko - C'est Ma Vie

30 24 Slovakia: TWiiNS - I'm Still Alive

31 31 Italy: Raphael Gualazzi - Madness of Love

32 32 Malta: Glenn Vella - One Life

 

Average

 

33 33 San Marino: Senit - Stand By

34 35 Belgium: Witloof Bay - With Love

35 36 Cyprus: Christos Mylordos - San Aggelos S'agapisa

 

Terrible

36 28 Armenia: Emmy - Boom Boom

37 34 Turkey: Yüksek Sadakat - Live It Up

38 40 Ireland: Jedward - Lipstick

39 39 Greece: Loukas Giorkas & Stereo Mike - Watch My Dance

40 37 Romania: Hotel FM - Change

41 42 Macedonia: Vlatko Ilievski - Rusinka

42 38 Portugal: Homens Da Luta - A lute e alegria

43 41 Moldova: Zdob şi Zdub - So Lucky

 

It's shocking how such a small change can make a track so much better! Norway rocket into my top five, joined by Belarus who still hadn't released I Love Belarus this time last month!