European Explorer

UK - Eurovision 2013 FInal

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:11:22 +0100

UK - Eurovision 2013 FInal

Robin Stjernberg - You (Sweden - Eurovision 2013) After winning...

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:40:51 +0100

Robin Stjernberg - You (Sweden - Eurovision 2013)

After winning last year for the fifth time, host nation Sweden are sending Swedish Idol runner up Robin Stjernberg to represent them with the song ‘You’. ‘You’ is already #1 in Sweden and has also charted in Finland, and is an incredibly catchy and decent pop song. Bookies are expecting a mid-table position for the song however, but with the Scandinavian countries predictably behind it, Sweden could do well this year, just not as well as Loreen.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/sweden-eurovision-2013.html

El Sueño de Morfeo - Contigo hasta el final (Spain - Eurovision...

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:43 +0100

El Sueño de Morfeo - Contigo hasta el final (Spain - Eurovision 2013)

Spain reached the top 10 last year with ‘Quédate conmigo’, however this year’s entry isn’t expected to meet the same fate. ‘Contigo hasta el final’ by El Sueño de Morfeo is a mix of pop, indie and Celtic all rolled into one. It starts of rather slow and soothing, before the drums kick in, but it never really gets too energetic. It’s a bit more folksy than other entries, but lacks that Spanish passion and latin sound we love Spain for. All in all, it might be a bit too slow and forgettable to make much progress on the leader board.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/spain-eurovision-2013.html

Cascada - Glorious (Germany - Eurovision 2013) Germany won the...

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:43:07 +0100

Cascada - Glorious (Germany - Eurovision 2013)

Germany won the contest in 2010 with ‘Satellite’ and have achieved top 10 position from then on. This year, German dance act Cascada, who have had success across the globe, will be representing Germany with dance song ‘Glorious’. ‘Glorious’ is a popular, upbeat dance tune that is bound to get the arena dancing. It shows of Natalie Horler’s vocals well and has a terrific beat. It’s still very much ‘Cascada’, but pop enough to do well in Eurovision too. However, bookies aren’t expecting a top 10 position, despite their worldwide success, but somewhere in the mid table instead.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/germany-eurovision-2013.html

Bonnie Tyler - Believe in me (UK - Eurovision 2013) Last year,...

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:00:06 +0100

Bonnie Tyler - Believe in me (UK - Eurovision 2013)

Last year, the UK chose an old singing legend, gave him a ballad and sent him of to Baku; things didn’t go too well. This year, the UK are doing the same thing, only this time sending ‘Total eclipse of the heart’ superstar Bonnie Tyler. Bonnie doesn’t expect to win, stating that it is ‘too political’, and is instead using it as as a platform to promote her new album. She has sold over 9 million records all over Europe and the world, so her European fan base could work in her favour. However, the song fails to show off her amazing vocals as some of her previous power ballads do. It may also sound too American country for the European public. Hopefully this will do well. Overall, a nice song and Bonnie sings it amazingly.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/uk-eurovision-2013.html

Marco Mengoni - L’Essenziale (Italy - Eurovision...

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:30:16 +0100

Marco Mengoni - L’Essenziale (Italy - Eurovision 2013)

After returning from a 12 year absence in 2010, Italy have placed within the top 10 twice. This year’s entry ‘L’Essenziale’ by Marco Mengoni has already hit the #1 spot in Italy and has entered the charts in both Switzerland and Belgium. Mengoni himself is a former X Factor winner who has gone on to release two #1 albums and win awards across Europe. He is good looking and a great singer, although many believe that the song isn’t memorable enough to make a lasting impression. If he is to make any impact on the Eurovision table, he’s going to have to show off his vocals more and throw on hell of a performance.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/italy-eurovision-2013.html

French President Hollande has signed the gay marriage bill,...

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:35:23 +0100

French President Hollande has signed the gay marriage bill, making France the 9th in Europe and 14th globally to legalise gay marriage.

The bill has been controversial, with anti-gay marriage protests hitting the streets in Paris and throughout the country. The right-wing opposition also challenged the bill, a move which was rejected by the Constitutional Council.

Both the Catholic Church and the right-wing opposition UMP think that the bill will undermine an essential building block of society. This is surprising as the Catholic Church’s influence on the French people was believed to have decreased in recent years. In January, some 340,000 protesters hit the street to voice their opposition to the bill.

Opinion polls have suggested that around 55-60% of French people support the gay marriage bill, but only 50% support gay adoption.

Currently, the UK are in the process of legalising gay marriage. Countries which have already legalised gay marriage include Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Belgium.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/hollande-signs-gay-marriage-bill.html

Serbia - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 1

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:25:34 +0100

Serbia - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 1

Switzerland - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 2

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:22:56 +0100

Switzerland - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 2

Montenegro - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 1

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:19:32 +0100

Montenegro - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 1

Ireland - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 1

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:16:43 +0100

Ireland - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 1

Eurovision fans were shocked last night as Valentina Monetta failed to make the final after performing in the second semi-final last night in Malmö.

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:41:37 +0100

Sanmarinese singer Valentina Monetta represented the country for a second consecutive year, after coming 14th in the semi-final with 31 points (San Marino’s best entry so far) with ‘The social network song’.

This year, she performed ‘Crisalide (Vola)’, written by German producer Ralph Siegel, which was a hit with both fans and critics. ‘Crisalide (Vola)’ had been placed in the top 3 by both fans and the press, however failed to progress to the final for a second year running, despite appearing to be a dead cert.

Fans were also shocked that Israel’s entry ‘Rak bishvilo’ by Moran Mazor failed to make the final as well. The song had been rated highly, yet remained in the bottom 7 of the semi-final.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eurovision-shock-as-san-marino-fails-to.html

Eurovision 2013: The countries that made it through

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:57:00 +0100

Semi-Final 1:

Estonia Denmark Russia Ukraine The Netherlands

Lithuania Ireland Belgium Moldova Belarus

Semi-Final 2:

Greece Malta Romania Norway Iceland

Finland Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan Hungary

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eurovision-2013-acts-that-made-it.html

Denmark - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:49:26 +0100

Denmark - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 1

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eurovision-2013-acts-that-made-it.html

Finland - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:47:19 +0100

Finland - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 2

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eurovision-2013-acts-that-made-it.html

Romania - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:45:21 +0100

Romania - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 2

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eurovision-2013-acts-that-made-it.html

Azerbaijan - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:40:53 +0100

Azerbaijan - Eurovision 2013 Semi-Final 2

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eurovision-2013-acts-that-made-it.html

Amandine Bourgeois - L’enfer et moi (France - Eurovision...

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:40:41 +0100

Amandine Bourgeois - L’enfer et moi (France - Eurovision 2013)

Despite winning the Eurovision Song Contest 5 times and coming second and third a handful of times, France have only reached the top 5 three times since 1990. Last year, Anggun only managed to win 21 points with ‘Echo’, coming in 22nd place. This year, bookies aren’t expecting France to do so well. ‘L’enfer et moi’, sung by Nouvelle Star winner Amandine Bourgeois, starts is a stereotypical French song. It’s hard to explain why it is so appealing; it starts off quite slow and cool, then the French lyrics begin and the song gradually builds up for the chorus, but not too much. Amandine’s voice adds a kind of rock feel to the song, however rock doesn’t always do so well in Eurovision. Overall, it’s a good song, but might not stand out next to some of the big contenders.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/france-eurovision-2013.html

Cezar - It’s my life (Romania - Eurovision 2013) The final...

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:35 +0100

Cezar - It’s my life (Romania - Eurovision 2013)

The final act to perform in the semi-finals will be Romanian opera singer Cezar. His song ‘It’s my life’ is a controversial one. You either love this song (on a serious or humerous note) or you find it ridiculous. It has some incredibly high points, but Cezar is an amazing singer and is admired as an opera singer. He reaches many notes and brings something new to Eurovision, so you have to appreciate him for that. However, this might not be enough to get him through to the final, which is a shame as Romania has never missed a final.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7526375764402486254#editor/target=post;postID=1946289806079006944;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=link

Takasa - You and me (Switzerland - Eurovision 2013) Switzerland...

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:41:55 +0100

Takasa - You and me (Switzerland - Eurovision 2013)

Switzerland have only qualified for the final 3 times since 2004, and this year doesn’t seem likely to break this bad spell. Takasa, a Swiss group of singers from the Salvation Army, with a age range from 21 - 95. ‘You and me’ has reached 21 in Switzerland, probably due to a catchy chorus and the novelty of a pensioner. Some are concerned that a strict Catholic organisation with conservative views regarding LGBT rights may not do so well in Eurovision. All in all, not a bad song, but they aren’t expected to qualify.

http://europeuncovered.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/switzerland-eurovision-2013.html