Tag Archive for entertainment

ESC13: Those Who Didn’t Make It; Belarus – Switzerland and Belgium

December 16, 2012 Belarus, Belgium, Eurovision, Switzerland No comments

eurovision_song_contest_2013_logo_by_lazaric-d51dij3Believe it or not, but not even 8 months after Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest many countries have already started their quest for their nation’s hopeful in the 2013 event. Even though it’s still waiting for a final list of its participants, which according to various reports won’t have Slovakia, Portugal, Poland and Turkey included, the Eurovision season is full on.

As last year we’re not going to spoil the suspense by presenting you the winner songs, but we kick off with our ‘those who didn’t make it’ chapter where we present you some of the tracks, we think would have made a pretty good chance. We’re kicking off with Belarus who chose their entry last week, and finish with Switzerland and Belgium, who both made their choices yesterday and today.

Belarus: Daria – Catch Me Again

Last week, Belarus kicked off the Eurovision season with their Eurofest final. Belarus is one of the most intriguing countries when it comes to Eurovision as their selections seem to be rather interesting with most of the times the winner and its song being changed more than usual. However we don’t think that would have been a necessity if Belarus had chosen Daria to represent Belarus in Sweden with ‘Catch Me Again’. It’s old school, sixities and jazzy. Lovely lovely!

Switzerland:

Last night saw Switzerland choose its representative for the contest and going unanimously for the salvation army. Listening to the other candidates this fella caught our attention the most. With a track that sounds a bit like a Coldplay track, but sung by a singer with a voice timbre of Roch Voisine, Nicolas Fraissinet’s Lève-toi would have been a decent entry for Malmo in our opinion. A bit baffled this ended fairly low in the overall ranking. Never the less still very enjoyable.

Belgium:

Just barely a month ago, Belgian broadcaster RTBF announced the winner of their first season of the Voice, Robert Bellarossi would defend the nation at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. This morning during a radio show, the young performer presented three songs of which one was selected to be the entry. One of the tracks, coming from his latest album ‘Reste Toi’ has to be our favourite though as it’s catchy fresh and reminds us a little bit one particular Swedish pop star who went to third place back in Germany, now two years ago in the Eurovision Song Contest.

What do you make of these songs, and what were your favourites? We’d love to hear!

A special of Driving Songs from 2012 by one of our guest writers. Check them out

December 16, 2012 Special No comments

With the end of the year looming, plenty of blogs have started to release their top songs of 2012. For the occasion we were approached by Matt from RAM tracking to give their verdict on some of the best driving songs from 2012. Have a look at them below:

Ram Infographic

Do you agree with them? Get involved.

the X Factor is over… Time for some change. Here are five tips we’d suggest

December 11, 2012 Daily News No comments

Last night saw the end of series 9 of what we are told to believe the Nation’s favourite talent show… the X Factor. While 12.5million people saw a certain Arthur James win the latest X Factor crown, the latest series has had a serious decline in ratings… Is the UK finally getting bored with its ongoing season of talent show after talent show after talent show?

In all fairness this year we couldn’t be bothered with it at all, and actually we’re quite pleased to find we haven’t been missing the ‘show’. Perhaps it is time for Cowell to seriously rethink the X Factor and come back with a bigger and much more improved show that’s fresh and current. So here are a few of our suggestions that we think could spice up the X Factor:

1. Spice up the judging panel and get celebrity mentors.

There’s been a lot said about this year’s panel, perhaps a bit too much, but let’s face it, the problems already started with this years series when producers weren’t able to find a proper replacement for Rowland until very late into the auditions. In a time where British music is ruling the world, wouldn’t it be a far better idea to get in four judges who have done all the hard work and earned their stripes in the industry. Shouldn’t this show be about talent rather than four judges who are constantly bickering, pick novelty acts or find it fun to cause drama’s. For us it’s simple, bring in four professionals, each with their own team and a former X-Factor winner as mentor to guide them through the live shows.

2. Get rid of the same old themes

One of the big reasons why we couldn’t get excited about this year’s series is partly due to the fact that X Factor no longer provides a platform for a variety on music in its theme weeks. The same tracks are being chosen over and over again, or hardly have anything to do with the themes and leave a big dissatisfaction behind. We very much like the idea of getting new themes like ‘one Hit wonders’, band/artist related themes and for the grand final we’d absolutely love it if the nation had a say in which songs the finalists should sing.

3.bloody get a brand new song for the winner

We find it beyond possible that every single winner has released a cover version. Judging by the amount of money that’s been spend on the ridiculous choreography or the stage, you’d wonder whether the money wouldn’t be better spend on allowing the winner to sing a brand new composed song. Hardly any of the winner singles so far have been outperformed by the original. In fact in most cases the original could hardly be called a hit in the UK in the first place. If countries like Australia can do it, then surely a nation that has music as one of its biggest export products can do so as well.

4. Bye bye novelty acts

Over the past few years, we’ve all got experience the novelty act which, mostly by Louis Walsh, ended up in a competition when there was absolutely no reason for it. In the long run, hardly any of these novelty acts last in the competition that long enough to build out a substantial music career (unless your called Jedward). Thinking that the past nine years, the likes of a Rylan Clark or a Wagner have taken the place of talented singers not only makes our blood boil, but makes us doubt the intentions of the X Factor as it is.

and finally

5. get the result show more excited.

There is no reason why the power of who gets to stay in the process should remain with judges. Give full power to the nation who get to vote for their bottom two, after a duel. Let the two bottom acts sing the same song in a huge sing off with votes coming in directly. At the end of the song, the public gets two more minutes to vote, something which can be seen on the screen live, and whoever loses leaves the process.

We know its much to take in, and with a series over, many blogs and media will report on how Cowell and ITV should rethink their shows. In all fairness we’d still prefer the show to be put to rest, but its hardly unlikely that Cowell, nor ITV will give up that easily. Let’s hope changes for the better will be made in 2013.

Let us know your thoughts, do you agree, or what would you change to the current X Factor system.

For what’s it worth; check out the latest X Factor winner James Arthur, below:

Listen to the stunning single ‘Bon voyage’ by Sweden’s Nadia Nair

December 7, 2012 Sweden No comments

We can’t quite work out why we overlooked another great track which was sent to us by Swedish singer songwriter Nadia Nair. The Gothenburg raised singer has a natural ability to mix her many influences (which include rock, soul, western pop, classical music with ethnic and folk melodies.

The result is quite astonishing. Take ‘Bon Voyage’, which you can hear below. It’s HUGE! and what an amazing voice Nadia has. We’re looking forward to hear what 2013 has in store for this lady!

meet Arthica, the Brazilian band with a very interesting Irish flavour

December 6, 2012 Brazil No comments

Paula Lacerda, Luis Gustavo Lima Lara, Ivo Márcio Ferreira, Daniel Canelli and Ariana Abrantes all have one huge passsion. They absolutely love playing music with an Irish flavour. Nothing unusual you’d say? Well think again because this lovely lot, are in fact the Brazilian band Arthica and well playing celtic-inspired music in Brazil is quite rare.

But please don’t let it put you off because the at first strange combination does work wonderfully. Since the release of their first EP in 2005, the band who are massively inspired by bands like the Corrs, are gaining fans worldwide from all types of ages. So we’re very happy to be able to introduce them to an even bigger audience now.

The track we have chosen of them is their latest single Tudo em Você, which they released independently in the summer. Go on, give it a spin or two, you know you want to! ;-)

Check out the band on their official website here

Add 1 cup of Iceland and a sniff of Sweden; the result? Daniel Oliver’s ‘Dj Blow My Speakers’

December 6, 2012 Iceland, Sweden One comment

Well in all honesty, apart from Of Monsters and Men and this years Icelandic Eurovision participants we haven’t really put a lot of Icelandic pop acts in the limelight. But that’s about to change, because this young man, Daniel Oliver, has caught our attention with what we call, a rather brilliant pop track ‘Dj Blow My Speakers’.

A big Fat pop Bass line? Check! Sexy voice? Check! Catchy? Check! perhaps a sexual reference? check! Pop? Check! We could go on for ages really. but we hope you get the picture and kinda get the idea that you have to hear it.

Daniel’s currently living in Sweden and working together with Jonas von der Burg, who’s previously worked with the likes of September and Alcazar, so no surprise it sounds sooo yummy! And are we glad it’s the first actual single to be released from Daniel in the world. So a big double cheer! We’re expecting big things (including Eurovision), Daniel!

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