Portugal - Homens de Luta - A luta e alegria

PORTUGAL

Homens de Luta - A Luta e Alegria

The Portuguese national selection process provided much interest this year which a close online voting process followed by a tight national final. Despite placing only 4^th the juries, Homens da Luta proved popular with the televoters and thus narrowly won the right to represent Portugal in Dusseldorf.

In recent years the nation has been on a strong run in the contest with three qualifications for the final after missing out at the semi final stage for 4 consecutive years. Vania Feranades was a huge fan favourite when coming 13^th in 2008 , followed by the folksy Flor-de-Lis the year after coming 15^th and the sultry ballade from Filipa Azevedo last year coming 18^th. All the songs had followings among Eurovision fans and gained votes but sadly this year Portugal find themselves in a very different position.

What they are sending to Eurovision in the form of Homens Da Luta is a Street theatre/musical street show/improvisational comedy act that essentially has no place in a music contest. The song itself is nothing really but a street chant, it has no major hooks and feels massively out of place at Eurovision. Given the variety inherent in the contest that is really saying something but “A luta e alegria” really will not work on stage in Dusseldorf.

Indeed, I forsee that despite having a good draw in the Semi this could well finish last and has virtually no chance of qualifying. If this was outside on the streets of Dusseldorf entertaining passers by I am sure it would raise a few smiles a garner a few watchers, but this is Eurovision and on the big stage with millions watching in the vast arena this will not work.

Failure to qualify and potential last place!

Iceland - Sigurjons Friends - Aftur Heim

ICELAND

Sigurjosn Friends - Aftur Heim

Iceland will enter the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Dusseldorf with the song “Aftur Heim” by Sigurjons Friends. The group comprise of 6 members competed in the Icelandic selection in tragic circumstances. Original artist Sigurjon Brink was intending on presenting this song in the process but sadly passed away in the run up the event thus family and friends decided to drive the song forward and the band were formed to take the song to the final.

Iceland have performed relatively well at the past three Eurovision’s. After three years of missing the final Euroband score a 14^th place with “This is My Life” which Yohanna followed up with an excellent second placing in 2009 and last year her Bjrok made 19^th which was lower than expected but a 3^rd place in the Semi final confirmed the songs popularity.

Interestingly, this is the first non-English entry from Iceland since 1999 and it works better for that purposes. It’s a very folk based number with a slow building hook and a let-loose sort of fell. It does not follow a traditional song structure, is not over the top or cheesy in anyway and simply stands its own ground being something unique

Given the tragic circumstances this song could have easily been something very different and have a very different feeling. But rather than dwell on a tragic event the family and friends of Brink have stuck to the upbeat, almost celebratory tone of the song and its an all round upbeat feeling. The band deliver it well and it will have some impact on viewers I think.

I think this is a very touch and go song in terms of qualification but I can forsee it sneaking through into the final where it may place around 16^th-17^th. Either way it’s a song which will stand out and entertain with the celebratory tone and smile it is bound to bring to many faces around Europe.

Hungary - Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams

HUNGARY 

Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams

Hungary return to the Eurovision song contest after a one year absence to be represented by Kati Wolf with the track “What About My Dreams”. In recent years Hungary have failed to make the final in 2008 and 2009 with two poor entries. The 9^th placing of  Magdi Ruzsa in 2007 however showed the nation has potential to perform well in the contest and everyone in the Esc fan community is pleased to see them return in Dusseldorf!

Kati Wolf has previously released two albums and comes to the Eurovision Song contest 2011 with a modern upbeat number that will be a favourite with fans. When Eurovision tries to pop and dance it can sometimes come across as dated, out of touch and unintentionally retro but Wolf has a song here which could and may very well be, a summer hit around the continent.

The song hits its stride early with a singalong, feel good chorus that serves to instil an urge to jump up and dance and sing along. This will go down a storm in the arena and will come across well to people at home too. The mix of languages works a treat too and the whole vibrant, summer-like feel of the song make this a perfect antidote to some of the other songs around it.

I feel Kati Wolf will certainly make the final and when there she could creep into the lower reaches of the top 10. A good draw in the final may secure this and she certainly has potential to be one of the break out stars of the contest.

Hungary will be present in the Eurovision final and Kati Wolf will give us a performance to remember, of that I am sure! 

Croatia - Daria - Celebrate

CROATIA

Daria - Celebrate

Always one of the most enjoyable selection process Dora this year ended with victory for young Croatian singer Daria with the song now known as "Celebrate". After last years disappointment of the excellent Feminem failing to make the final Croatia will be looking to establish themselves back the Eurovision final of which they have missed only two in their history in the contest. It has been ten years since Croatia landed a top 10 placing, will this be the year they return to the upper reaches of the table?

The song is certainly different to previous winners of the Dora and takes a more Eurovision approach with a up-tempo, disco fueled almost retro pop track. Its lively, upbeat and feel good with a sing a long chorus that you will remember long after first listen. It jumps into your ears and will be one of the songs you will be humming around the house.

This will look fantastic on stage with correct staging and if Daria nails the English version and pulls of the performance she is capable of this could be one of the nights mot feel good and upbeat numbers. I have no doubt this will qualify for the final in around 7th-8th place in the Semi final and will probably end up around 12th-13th in the final. It is always nice to have an old-school, disco track that you can sing along to with the hairbrush in Eurovision and at a time when a  lot of nations are trying new types of music in the Eurovision, its good to see Croatia give us something like this. By no means the best song in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 but certainly one that will raise a lot of smiles and qualify for the grand final.

San Marino - Senit - Stand By

SAN MARINO

Senit - Stand By

Having only competed in Eurovision once before, in 2008 when Miodo failed to make the final, San Marino make a welcome return as one of the newcomers to the contest. They have chosen the popular and successful Italian singer Senit to represent them in the semi final and will have hopes of making it to their first Eurovision Song Contest final. 

The song "Stand By" is a ballad in a modern fashion sung with a powerful vocal from a proven singing talent. There is no doubt that on the night it will be delivered with class, power and a vocal masterclass by Senit but the song may lack the punch to make the final. 

The chorus is not particularly memorable and it doesn't jump out and leave a lasting impression.  even after a few listens it is hard to recall the songs hooks and it turns into a very bland experience. The song becomes boring very quickly and no matter how good the performance or staging is I cannot see this qualifying for the final.

I would like this to be the "shock" qualifier of semi final 1 in the 2011 Eurovision song Contest but simply cannot imagine it. San Marino are welcomed back with open arms to the contest but I feel will have to wait a little longer to qualify for the grand finale. 

Georgia - Eldrine - One More Day

GEORGIA

Eldrine - One More Day

After Eldrine triumphed in the Georgian selection this year with the song One More Day the lead singer of the group was promptly replaced for reasons which have hitherto been fully ascertained. Regardless, the song and style remains the same and Georgia this year provide us with a rock song which has every chance of qualifying. 

Georgia have managed to make it through the semi final in each of the contest they have participated in since debut in 2007 and have never been outside the 9th-12th placings. Bar the disqualification on 2009 they have shown promise and are one of the nations I feel will prove victorious at some stage in the near future. 

"One More Day" by Eldrine is unlikely to challenge for the victory but it certainly has a lot of positives and should make the final. It opens in a moody, rock induced, vocal powered intro and moves into a high energy rock chorus that will have the arena jumping. It does at times sound very dated however with the rap sections sounding like something for the late 90's. Nevertheless, this has proved to be popular in other selection procedures so maybe it will add to the songs appeal.

It certainly ticks a lot of boxes and will make for an excellent on stage performance. It is clear from selection processes all over Europe that this type of music has a wide audience and I expect this will gain many votes from countries who have selected similar songs and those you like their music with a rocky edge. I feel this will qualify in about 7th or 8th position in the semi final and maybe land a placing of around 14th-15th in the final.

Albania - Aurela Gace - Feel the Passion

ALBANIA

Aurela Gace - Feel The Passion

As usual Albania were among the first nations to select their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 and this year have selected Aurela Gace to fly the flag in Dusseldorf with the song "Feel The Passion". Albania have made a habit in the past three years of managing to qualify for the final but I feel this year they may find it slightly tougher going.

Aurela Gace is a popular Albanian singer with a string of hits and is now based in the USA. She won the selection process with the song sung in her native tongue but this has since been changed into the English version as you will see in the video above.

The song is a mid-tempo song and will participate in the first semi final of the Eurovision song contest 2011.  Gace is an excellent live singer but has a slightly annoying voice in parts of this song when it appears she is merely shouting the lyrics and it starts to grind on the ears and feels very uncomfortable to listen to. Its certainly not an easy song to fall in love with as its hard to remember, lacks a major hook and starts low and goes nowhere. Also again, it suffers from the English translation.

i am usually a fan of the Albanian song but feel this is their worst entry in years and they will fail to make the final for the first time in 3 years. Its not an appealing song and will require some amendments and an excellent staging and commanding vocal to give it any chance whatsoever.

Poland - Magdalena Tul - Jestem

POLAND

Magdalena Tul - Jestem

Poland have had a frustrating time in the Eurovision Song contest as of late and will hoping to rectify this in 2011 with Magdalena Tul;s "Jestem". Easing to victory in the national final with almost 45% of the vote, Magdalena has her sights firmly on qualification for the final at the very least. However, Poland have in recent years failed to make an impact on the contest qualifying for the final only once in the last 6 attempts and sadly I feel Magdalena will follow suit.

Her song is a typical up tempo Eurovision type song with an overly repeated chorus, a female lead and a simple melody. Although the song is pleasant enough to listen to and can easily be danced and sung along to after only a few listens, it fails to have that key first time impact that Eurovision winners require. There is nothing that jumps out of the song and strikes you in the face to impress and after one listen its barely memorable.

Magdalena Tul does the best she can and is a competent performer with a good voice, stage presence and the looks but that alone will not carry her through to the final. It will serve a very good on stage show but the song won't be remembered enough to be in peoples voting plans come the end of the Semi.

 The draw has not been kind to Poland either and sadly they will find themselves watching from the sidelines again this year. A non qualifier.