The Kaamos before the storm

 

With anticipation at fever pitch for BJSC 100 next month FSR Rontvia are marking the celebrations early with a storming new trance entry, Kaamos by Finnish producer Tom Fall. The second Finnish act in as many months, the RTVN are hopeful it will outpeak the dreadful performance of Rontvian airplay classic Muistot by Dacia which flatlined last month near the bottom of the semis.

 

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: “We were disappointed last month, Muistot is an all-time classic here and it was a shame to see it fail so spectacularly. We’d been sitting on it for a decade without sending it, ultimately probably for good reason.

 

“But Kaamos is a different beast, a pulsating trance instrumental with a lovely subtle piano crescendo into an energetic track that gives everything it’s got. We first heard it on Armin Van Buuren’s famous A State of Trance compilation and it was this year’s easy standout for us - a true classic in every sense of the word, it’s like the love child of Anjunabeach by Above & Beyond and the best of Mauro Picotto. For us the melody and chord progression was too glorious not to send - the song has been at Number One in the Rontvian sales, streaming and airplay charts for two weeks, seeing off even new singles by The Corrs and Steps this week!”

 

Edited September 24, 20177 yr by gooddelta

BJSC 100: The return of Delta

 

For the landmark 100th contest, as well as FSR Rontvia's 100th participation, the nation's favourite artist has returned. The RTVN contacted Delta Goodrem around two months ago and the Aussie legend agreed to represent the nation for the third time in total, following her ill-fated first entry, a live version of Believe Again which finished 17th in the very first contest, and her BJSC 50 entry Hunters and the Wolves, which finished 2nd, though with the same number of points as the winner of that contest. Also representing Greenland and Ashton in the main contests as well as FSR Rontvia and Unovia in various spin-offs, Delta is prolific but has not been seen in the main contest for five years.

 

The song chosen for Delta's third Rontvian entry is Take Me Home, the b-side to her 2007 Aussie and Rontvian No.1 hit In This Life. Ricardo Delta, head of the RTVN said: "Take Me Home is a phenomenal track and was utterly wasted as a b-side, especially considering that era's album, Delta, was rather full of filler. A soaring ballad with subtle electro and dance production flourishes, the second verse onwards has always reminded us of William Orbit's work with Madonna and All Saints at the turn of the century. As a b-side, it's not an especially well known track - Delta has never performed it on tour and it's only available on Spotify in Australia, but luckily 80% of Rontvian natives imported the In This Life CD single at the time of release so know and love it. And it's been an airplay staple for the last decade, coming out at around the same time as the iconic Believe Again."

 

Take Me Home follows Tom Fall's Kaamos, which impressively finshed 6th in BJSC 99. The track has returned to the Rontvian top five following the news of the participation, up to #3 on Spotify and #2 in the airplay chart at the time of writing.

 

A 3-disc 60 track compilation album, 'The Very Best of FSR Rontvia', will be released on Friday to commemorate the 100th anniversary, featuring our 60 greatest entries, as decided by a public vote.

 

Edited October 25, 20177 yr by gooddelta

Been inspired to have a bit of a Delta evening on YouTube *.*

I did that Saturday, I had a real struggle picking which song to go for, so many 11/10s even amongst the b-sides and rarities, let alone on the albums :wub:

 

I rewatched the Believe Again tour too, mainly to see Predictable Dreams <3 (which I reluctantly discounted on the grounds of both Predictable and Sweet Dreams being pretty/incredibly well known).

Predictable Dreams :wub: going to have to dig out that tour DVD now!! What a stormer of a performance that was.

 

I was hoping she's tour in the UK this time, at least a date, because I'm still absolutely stanning for the album

Another Aussie to kick off a new century

 

Following Delta Goodrem's Take Me Home, which performed respectably with a 17th place finish in BJSC 100, FSR Rontvia has returned to Australia for our first entry of this new century. We proudly introduce 19-year-old New South Wales resident E^ST with Life Goes On.

 

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: "Life Goes On is one of those songs that hit us hard on the first listen, so much so that it has been lodged at No.1 on the Spotify and airplay charts in FSR Rontvia since mid-December, when we first heard the track. The song has a pulsating piano-house style intro before easing effortlessly into E^ST's gorgeous unaffected vocals, it's quite clear to hear that she is an Aussie, we love anybody from down under that sings with their authentic twang in tact, like Missy Higgins and Courtney Barnett. Her falsetto is also beautiful, and really dreamy when matched with the glorious four-on-the floor electro-pop soundscape.

 

"The lyrics are also really thought provoking, focusing on a lost, fleeting love that could have been something more, and one that ultimately made a significant impact on E^ST even if it might not have seemed it would turn out that way at the time. This is a real tears on the dancefloor anthem."

 

Edited January 22, 20187 yr by gooddelta

An entry of jurassic proportion for 102

 

Back in Ashton after their much deserved and long awaited second win, FSR Rontvia is ecstatic to be participating this month and has had a slight change-up in style for the 102nd contest, albeit still with another pop-influenced entry.

 

US female duo Fever High's Good Advice features a spoken word middle eight recorded especially for the track by no less a Hollywood legend than Jeff Goldblum, who the girls called on to tell them about some of the advice he'd been given by people over the years.

 

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN explains: "When we first heard this track we thought it sounded good, and it stood out as something different, but over the next few days it became apparent we should send this to BJSC. That chorus hook was once heard never forgotten and was going around in our heads for days after just the one listen.

 

"Fever High are great and remind us a little of early Bananarama, with the same chanty and collaborative vocal style that they delivered on most of their hits, as well as production that's not a million miles away from It Ain't What You Do It's The Way That You Do It. The fact that the legendary actor Jeff Goldblum delivers the middle eight just seals the deal, it works surprisngly well."

 

Good Advice spends its second week atop the Rontvian Spotify chart today, ahead of a new entry at No.2, Party Voice by Jessica Andersson.

 

US female duo Fever High's Good Advice features a spoken word middle eight recorded especially for the track by no less a Hollywood legend than Jeff Goldblum, who the girls called on to tell them about some of the advice he'd been given by people over the years.

The 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' of our generation? *.* :kink: seriously though I'm very interested to hear what this will be like, as I never expected him to venture into the world of music :lol:

The 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' of our generation? *.* :kink: seriously though I'm very interested to hear what this will be like, as I never expected him to venture into the world of music :lol:

 

Ha, I never thought of that. *.*

 

Apparently he recorded eight minutes of dialogue and they picked out 30 seconds of 'highlights' for the middle eight. It sounds like such a random idea but it adds nicely to the track! Kudos to him for doing it too.

Edited February 18, 20187 yr by gooddelta

Such a great duo! I hope you've also heard 'Tantalized' and 'All Work'!

I have! Also great tracks, their album is soooo good, I could have mined it for BJSC entries, they are such a modern day Bananarama <3 (oops at Good Advice coming to DNQ though but I’m so obsessed with it right now *.*).

Freya rides into view for 103

 

Upcoming London-based singer-songwriter Freya Ridings has been selected to represent FSR Rontvia in the 103rd edition of BJSC, held this month in Tinnmark. The 23-year-old's early signature song Lost Without You has been streamed nearly eight million times on Spotify, but it is the Live At St Pancras Old Church version that Freya will be performing in Tinnmark.

 

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta explains: "We first heard this song on a Spotify playlist and then it popped up again in the background of Neighbours recently, which still gets major ratings in FSR Rontvia. The public loved it and immediately begged us to send it to the contest. While the original is a spellbinding piano ballad, Freya has agreed to perform the live version for us in BJSC 103 because it elevates the magic to another level with her emotive, gorgeous vocals reminiscent of Hannah Reid from London Grammar, complemented beautifully by her flawless piano playing and an absolutely stunning string section that doesn't feature on the studio version. Lost Without You is the second live track FSR Rontvia has ever sent to the contest, the first came in the very first contest when we sent the live at Australian Idol version of Believe Again by Delta Goodrem. We wish Freya the best of luck and hope this track can find some love from any piano ballad fans in the contest."

 

Lost Without You is No.1 on the Spotify chart in FSR Rontvia for the second week, ahead of Kylie Minogue's Stop Me From Falling, Everyday by Mendez, For You by Mariette and We Got Love by Jessica Mauboy.

 

Contest version

 

 

Alternative live version from Hackney Round Chapel (minus strings)

 

Edited March 19, 20187 yr by gooddelta

This is giving me Florence Welsh vibes on first listen, but with a bit more soul x.x

Just listened to this for the first time (I'm in the other semi) and I just have to say wow. I'm honestly close to tears after listening to this. So raw and emotional. THAT VOICE. Jeez. Feels like a huge star in the making here. If this doesn't qualify I'll throw a fit.

mixed feelings about this! Love the voice naturally as I'm a big fan of Florence and London Grammar but her diction is awful! It's gonna take a few listens to understand what the song is about but on the surface it's lovely!

This is giving me Florence Welsh vibes on first listen, but with a bit more soul x.x

 

Can definitely see that!

 

Just listened to this for the first time (I'm in the other semi) and I just have to say wow. I'm honestly close to tears after listening to this. So raw and emotional. THAT VOICE. Jeez. Feels like a huge star in the making here. If this doesn't qualify I'll throw a fit.

 

Glad to hear you like it, it had the same effect on me when I first heard it, though I heard the studio version first but this live version particularly got me <3 am off to see her live in May and cannot wait, really hoping she has a great career ahead of her.

 

mixed feelings about this! Love the voice naturally as I'm a big fan of Florence and London Grammar but her diction is awful! It's gonna take a few listens to understand what the song is about but on the surface it's lovely!

 

Ha, yes I sort of get that. I wonder if it’s to do with the live acoustics, the studio version possibly sounds slightly clearer (but omits the lovely strings </3 hopefully a new studio version with those is forthcoming at some point.

this is lovely! hoping it's more of a contender than my odds suggest but you never know with live recordings

I'm calling it. This is a strong winning contender.

So here for this being a big hit, like I said on plug it honestly doesn't even sound like a live recording (until the applause at the end)! This would fit in perfectly on a London Grammar album, beautiful stuff.

Rontvian spirits high as Freya finishes 2nd!

 

For the first time since RAMelia (Song For Amelia) by RAM and Susana stormed to victory almost four years ago, FSR Rontvia mounted a very strong challenge for the win, ultimately scoring as many points as eventual winner New Lexico but losing out on a tiebreak due to receiving points from fewer countries. While a ninth win was not to be, the RTVN's Ricardo Delta said spirits were still very high today in the nation as it secured its sixth silver medal position to date.

 

"When we confirmed Lost Without You we thought it would perhaps make the final and end up somewhere towards the middle or bottom. Last time we sent a proper piano ballad was Don't Go by Rae Morris and that finished 14th - Rae would later go onto bigger and better things and we hope Freya's career takes off in the same way. Our other dabblings in MOR, meanwhile, often tend to finish a lot further down.

 

"We were obviously pleasantly surprised by the Plug reaction and then the odds and predictas, which pretty much universally had us in the top five. While a win seemed a little far-fetched for a live piano ballad - only Adele has ever managed this in BJSC and tracks like this tend to appeal hugely or not at all to most people - it did seem like the stars were aligned for our first top five result since Kosmonova's Danse Avec Moi! came 4th last summer.

 

"As the results unfolded, the Rontvian public were on the edge of their seats. New Lexico was leading almost from the off and never relinquished its position but it did look as if we could sneak past right at the end. It wasn't to be - we tied on points and three more countries voted for their entry - we gave it 13 points, it's a fantastic track and a rightful winner, and we are elated for New Lexico to finally score their first victory.

 

"But far from being disappointed, we were in fact ecstatic - while we've had some good results since RAMelia, including a handful of top five finishes, we never really felt like we had a true contender in our hands and, after winning seven times in the first 35 contests, it was pretty clear that we lost our way somewhat as 2012 took hold. RAMelia seemed like a late career anomaly and we honestly never thought we'd manage to deliver another winning contender again. Of course, those with long memories will note that we've been here before - Delta Goodrem's Hunters and the Wolves lost out on a tie-break in the 50th contest to Numayania. We at least now can notch up another record - a perhaps more unwanted one than many that we hold - of losing the most tie-breaks for victory!

 

"But it's hopefully onwards and upwards, the public feel buoyant about the fact we can still compete with the new guard and the modern day big hitters and we thank Freya for that - it was fantastic to still be in the running as the last vote was announced. We would like to thank everybody who voted for Lost Without You, with a special shout out to Harmonica, Ashton, Bhangra and Mosquetania who all gave it 18 points! Hopefully one day the contest will get another chance to return to FSR Rontvia, we always adore hosting it."

 

Lost Without You remains at No.1 in the Rontvian Spotify chart for a fourth consecutive week, with the highest stream tally of the year, and Freya has just released a new live album - Live At Omera on Spotify and iTunes this week. Two tracks from the album - Castles and Love Is Fire - have debuted inside the Rontvian Spotify top 20 and the album has debuted at No.1, knocking off Freya's previous live album, Live At St Pancras Church, from which the BJSC version of Lost Without You was taken.

 

Edited April 2, 20187 yr by gooddelta