Blue songs in Eurovision

Desperately searching Youtube for a leak of Blue's Eurovision song I came across a number of Eurovision entries with Blue in the title or artist. Since we have to wait a whole day to hear the real Blue song I thought I'd share these with you.

Luxembourg: Vicky - L'amour Est Bleu (Love Is Blue) - 4th in 1967



Austria: Blue Danube - Du Bist Musik - 8th in 1980



Germany: Lena Valaitis - Johnny Blue - 2nd in 1981



Austria: Systems In Blue & Thomas Forstner - Nur Ein Lied (Only A Song) - 5th in 1989




Iceland: Jónsi - Heaven - 19th in 2004

Ok I'm struggling a little now but when I think of 'blue' songs in Eurovision this is the first that comes into my mind with the lyric in the chorus 'blend your colours with my blue'. Watch him sing his little heart out and come 19th in 2004.



p.s. It's not the Jónsi of Sigur Ros fame.


And finally, vaguely related, the Blue Man Group's performance at last year's Melodifestivalen final in Sweden. Maybe Blue should dress like this for their performance!

Melodifestivalen 2011 Final

So after a rather surprising Andra Chansen result Sara Varga and The Moniker complete the lineup for the Melodifestivalen final at the Globe Arena in Stockholm on Saturday. This is the order they will perform.

Eric Saade is the favourite to win, having been top of the Swedish iTunes chart and favourite with the bookies. However as we've seen with previous years anything can happen.

1. Danny Saucedo - In the club (Figge Boström, Peter Boström, Danny Saucedo)
2. Sara Varga - Spring för livet (Sara Varga, Fredrik Boström)
3. The Moniker - Oh my God! (Daniel Karlsson)
4. Brolle - 7 days and 7 nights (Brolle)
5. Linda Bengtzing - E del fet på mej (Pontus Assarsson, Thomas G:son, Jörgen Ringqvist, Daniel Barkman)
6. Nicke Borg - Leaving home (Jojo Borg Larsson, Nicke Borg, Fredrik Thomander, Anders Wikström)
7. Swingfly - Me and my drum (Teron Beal, Patrik Magnusson, Johan Ramström, Swingfly)
8. Sanna Nielsen - I'm in love (Irini Michas, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren)
9. The Playtones - The King (Fredrik Kempe, Peter Kvint)
10. Eric Saade - Popular (Fredrik Kempe)

Youtube playlist of the 10 songs:

Beginner's guide to Andra Chansen

As Sweden's journey to choose its 2011 Eurovision representative reaches its penultimate phase I thought it worth explaining how the second chance round works. You've probably worked out by now that in each semi final 2 songs go direct to the final and 2 songs go to Andra Chansen.

In Andra Chansen rather than the 2 songs with the most votes going to the final, the songs compete against each other in a series of duels.

So, first thing to note about Andra Chansen - because of the duels only one from each of these 'pots' can go to through to the final:

One of these to the final:
Jenny Silver
Love Generation
Loreen
Sara Varga

One of these to the final:
The Moniker
Linda Pritchard
Shirley’s Angels
Pernilla Andersson


This is how it will work on the night:


Duel 1
Jenny Silver – Something In Your Eyes
vs
Love Generation – Dance Alone





Duel 2
Loreen – My Heart Is Refusing Me
vs
Sara Varga – Spring för livet





So the second round will be Jenny or Love Generation vs Loreen or Sara and the winner will go to the final.


Duel 3
The Moniker – Oh My God!
vs
Linda Pritchard – I’m Alive





Duel 4
Shirley’s Angels – I Thought It Was Forever
vs
Pernilla Andersson - Desperados





So the second round will be The Moniker or Linda vs Shirley’s Angels or Pernilla and the winner will go to the final.

So just to reiterate

One of these to the final:
Jenny Silver
Love Generation
Loreen
Sara Varga

One of these to the final:
The Moniker
Linda Pritchard
Shirley’s Angels
Pernilla Andersson

I really hope Sweden choose Loreen and Linda Pritchard to the final.

Love Eurovision Advent Calendar: 24th

I've still got Christmas shopping to do today so just one 24th place video for you! And it's a good one :-)

Spain: Soraya - La Noche Es Para Mi - 24th place in Moscow with 23 points




Ok just one more then. I liked this one but no one else did.


Norway: Knut Anders Sørum - High - 24th place in Istanbul 2004 with 3 points (from Sweden)





and one last one I thought would do well that came 24th.


Denmark: Malene - Tell Me Who You Are - 24th in Tallinn 2002 with 7 points

Love Eurovision Advent Calendar: 25th

Merry Christmas!

If you're reading my blog then shame on you! You should be eating and drinking more! Then again so should I! Quickly before I go the lovely Josh Dubovie would like to share his 25th place entry 'That Sounds Good To Me' with you.





In 2009 it was Finland's turn to come 25th in the final.


Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control - 25th at Moscow 2009 with 22 points.





Christmas needs something a little more impressive don't you think? How about the 25th country to perform in this year's Eurovision final? Denmark was my favourite entry this year so it's a fitting Christmas present from me to you. Merry Christmas!


Denmark: Chanée & N'evergreen - In A Moment Like This - 4th place in Oslo with 149 points




Oh and a final happy Christmas from the official Eurovision team

Love Eurovision Advent Calendar: 23rd

On the eve of Christmas Eve I'd like to share with you some songs that came 23rd in Eurovision. Now you'd think they'd be the real stinkers but this Dutch entry from 1994 is actually one of my favourite Eurovision entries ever. Having talked to a few friends I seem to be alone.


Netherlands: Willeke Alberti - Waar is de Zon - 23rd at Dublin 1994 with 2 points!





Only the Croatians liked this song and even they only gave it 1 point. Perhaps a little too laid back for Eurovision but it's not a dreadful song. Sounds like an Eternal album track to me.


Spain: Lydia - No quiero escuchar - 23rd at Jerusalem 1999





Ok so some songs deserve 23rd place. Each entry needs something unique to make it stand out but I don't think knitwear is a winner.


Lithuania: Aivaras - Happy you - 23rd in Tallinn 2002 with 12 points





Now how this came 23rd I don't know! And I'm not being sarcastic this time! Watch in beautiful HD.


Belgium: Xandee - 1 Life - 23rd at Istanbul 2004 with 7 points





Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love - 23rd in Moscow 2009 with 23 points





Chiara and now Niamh have shown returning to Eurovision isn't always a good idea. Lena and Yohanna beware!


Ireland: Niamh Kavanagh - It's For You - 23rd in Oslo with 25 points

Love Eurovision Advent Calendar: 22nd

I realised I've been neglecting the 90s in my advent calendar posts. Here's a lovely nil pointer from 1991 - 22nd place in Rome.


Austria: Thomas Forstner - Venedig im Regen






I think the dancing saved Finland from last place in 1994. Worth 11 points in itself!






Poor Haldor Lægreid could only manage 3 points in 2001 but he wasn't 'on his own' as Norway tied 22nd place with Iceland (see what I did there ;-) It's one of my favourite Eurovision songs actually).






Nobody wanted to touch Javine's fire and so it languished in 22nd place in 2005.







Chiara returned in 2009 hoping to go one better than her previous 2nd place. Unfortunately she just added a 2 and came 22nd.