Time for another Eurovision update, with San Marino, Cyprus and Denmark lined up to be reviewed. What can you expect this time? A song about Facebook (?), a Cypriotic eurodance number and fluent radiopop from Denmark. Are you excited?
San Marino: Valentina Monetta – The Social Network Song
The tiny microstate San Marino, is yet to qualify for its very first Eurovision final since they debuted in the contest in 2008. This year they’ve internally selected Valentina Monetta, a jazz singer to represent her country with a Ralph Siegel song. The man is a rather familiar face in Eurovision having written the Eurovision winner in 1982, and responsible for many more eurovision songs. Now… Valentina is not exaclty singing jazz… but a song about yup… Facebook! Well social networking… San Marino was forced to rework the song as it was in breach with the EBU rules and decided to slightly alter the lyrics to the social network song. Eurofans everywhere are shocked and dare to make the comparison with Rebecca Black’s ”Friday”. Might be a bit harsh because ‘The Social Network Song’ is actually pure kitsch, it’s a a song about facebook on a disney beat and autotuning… and that’s what Eurovision is about really. Probably your highlight of the night, during the first semi final, whether it qualifies or not.
Cyprus: Ivi Adamou – La La Love
Cyprus could be called the weaker little ‘’brov’’ of Greece in Eurovision the past few years, but not this time. In fact, Cyprus is showing the Big Bro how you deliver a proper europop track. Ivi Adamou, was selected quite early during the summer that she would represent the island at this years Eurovision. In January, a final with three songs whas held, where a jury and televoting chose ‘La La Love’ as the Cypriot song for Baku. And quite a clever song choice, as Eurodance pop style is rather absent this year, a genre many of the fans absolutely love. We’re loving the dancebeats throughout the song and it sounds modern enough to become one of the huge summer hits in Europe & Ayia Napa alongside the Romanian entry! Let’s now hope Europe doesn’t mistake this to be Greek entry. Cyprus is one of the countries who have never won the Eurovision before, despite taking part 29 times. They’re best result to date is fifth in 2004 with Lisa Andreas.
Denmark: Soluna Samay – Should’ve Known Better
Final country for the day and we’re off to Denmark. In January the country held its national final with 9 finalists. Three of them made it to the superfinal, where an international jury of 4 countries (Azerbaijan, Germany, Norway & Russia), the Danish Jury and televoting decided upon their representative; Soluna Samay won the competition with ‘Should’ve Known Better’, a genuine radiofriendly pop song which reminds us in many ways to a young ‘Alanis Morissette in a poppy radio mood’. The Danish, have really raised their game in the Eurovision Song Contest, having survived the semi’s 6 out of 8 times, and the past two years ended up in the top five. And by the looks of it, ”Should’ve Known Better” is going to keep up with that trend. An easy one to qualify.
Our Verdict So far
1 Denmark
2 Romania
3 Finland
4 Belgium
5 Switzerland
6 Latvia
7 Cyprus
8 Israel
9 Iceland
10 Albania
11 Montenegro
12 Greece
13 San Marino
Next up are Russia and Hungary
