and the winner is... Norway! See you in Oslo 2010

This Years Eurovision Song Contest finally ended yesterday.. as expected with a scandinavian victory  by Norway.. who will host the next year's Eurovision. The show itself was pretty good, the stage was magnificant.. and it really gave a huge impact on each song's performance. 

The organization however, specially the russian element in the show was a bit annoying and at some points i think it was offensive. For instance, in the first semi -final, before announcing the results the hosts presented the military Choir of the Russian Army to sing some Russian songs, now it would have been ok if we didn't suddenly see a tank and a military airplane colored in funcky colors appearing on the stage.. and then out of no where... the russian duo t.A.T.u started singing their Hit "Your not gonna get us"... i mean even the lyrics of the song are implying the fact that they wanna show the world how superior they are.. as a nation.. and as a power.. and thats pretty offensive.

On the other hand, in the final, there was this reportage made by the host tv in the streets of Moscow.. asking people to sing live... just to prove to the world that their vitory in the contest last year was well deserved.. so their first stop was asking 2 soldires !! i mean why do we need to have soldiers appearing on TV.. we get it.. you have a mighty Army.. 

Another interesting act by the host was the anouncement of the begining of the voting time, which was made by the Russian Space station/Sattelite.. and they connected the European viewers live with the Space ship to "press the button" and start the voting process.. Again.. we get it.. you are powerful and have space ship!!

So bascially, Russia paid more attention on showing itself.. rather than showing their rich culture.. i don't get it.. they have soooo many things to be proud of.. rather on showing to the world their strength. That was the laim part of the show.. aside ofcourse of having soo many average songs.. and singers focused on the coreography and the dance routine more than the song and the music itself (like Greece, Turkey and Germany).

Anyhow i think that the show was Ok.. and probably one of the good songs won. Here is the Norwegian entrey and winning song :

and here is my personal favourite.. Moldova.. that i wished it got more points but didn't :) :

Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Next week, the Russian capital Moscow, will be the host of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).. after a very suspicious victory in Belgrade last year. But, let's leave what happend last year aside.. the Russians are taking their job pretty seriously.. and 10 days ahead of the big show..they are determined to put into the shadow all the previous contests, and deliver a world class european show to all the 42 participating countries.. and the watching world.

This year, Almost all the European countries are participating.. with only Italy ,Austria and Georgia missing out, which makes it one of the most watched and popular TV shows through out all Europe and Israel who participates regularly even though its not a European country. 

This year's eurovision song contest, will be remembered by many interesting events to name a few..

Georgia's disqualification from the contest, since they were accused to be sending a song politically motivated. They thought they can outsmart the Russians.. and present a song called "We don't want to Put in" clearly playing with the words.. and moking the current Russian Prime Minister and former president Vladimir Putin after the Georgian/Russian crisis of August 2008.

 

The Arabic and Israeli Duet representing Israel for the first time on the ESC with a song sending a peace message (as they claim) entitled "There must be another way" performed by Mira Awad and Noa, which was very controversial issue between both the arabs and isrealis.

Another big change in the format of the competition this year, is having 50 % jury votes and another 50 % coming from the countries' televoters, to avoid previous "mafia" voting.. where voting became a political sign of friendship.. instead of voting to the best song. So it became very preditable that each year the Sandinavian countries will vote for each other, the Balkan and Yugoslav countries to each other.. the Ex- Soviet to each other.. and ofcourse Greece and Cyprus exhanging the 12 points every year.. So the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is hoping that this practise will come to an end.. and the best song to win. 

Having too many countries singing, this year ESC will be having two semifinals in which the best 10 of each semifinal will be qualifying to the Final along with the Host (Russia) and big 4 ( UK, France, Germany and Spain) who automatically go to the final every year.. (very democratic.. i know!). 

The Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, will be the avenue hosting the big show the next 12 , 14 and 16 of May with an expeted capacity of 20,000 guests in the Final plus the Press center in the very same building. 

About the songs, in my opinion.. there is nothing special to be remembered.. or any hit to mark 2009. But there is certainly a nice variety of music.. from Hard Rock, soft rock, pop, disco, ethno, traditional, balad slow music.. and Hiphop. Its a nice way to get to know the European Countries in a cultural way.. so i strongly recommend to add it to your schedule.. of next week.. you can find it on almost all the national TV stations on Hotbird. 

Let the Best song win. 

P.S. You can still watch the Champion Leagues final Man United and Barcelona.. next wednesday as they do not coincide ! :))

Music stronger than Politics : Macédomienne from 1990

My Macedonian woman

When she cries, it's the whole Adriatic
Who breaks out in her eyes
When she sleeps, it's not far from Ohrid
She dreams on the edge of the beautiful blue lakes
I see her again, a little girl on bare feet
With rain in her hair
In her house, on the earthen floor
She has left the illusions of all her games

Which she wants to keep to herself
She has the charm of Macedonian women
It's vital that I love her, that I hold her
Whatever you may do or think
But she is more beautiful
Those who don't believe me, let them come
They will see how much I have and that she is mine
You can shout, you can cry, you can laugh
But certainly not at her

When she sleeps, it's at the bottom of the hill
That she does with my body what she wants to
She's a sunflower that emigrated into the vines
In the middle of the arid and making flames of any fire
A gipsy(rom) cry hidden in her murmurs
She lives love without denial
When she fights from the top of her wounds
She pretends everything
She mocks the gods

Too many desire her
She has the charm of Macedonian women
It's vital that I love her, that I hold her
Whatever you may do or think
But she is more beautiful
Those who don't believe me let them come
They will see how much I have and that she is mine
You can shout, you can cry, you can laugh
But certainly not at her.

Eurovision 1990 Belgium - Philippe Lafontaine - Macédomienne

"It is a basic human right to choose a name for yourself and to express your nationality. Please respect that and call me by my name."