Glenn Walker is a writer who knows pop culture. He loves, hates, and lives pop culture. He knows too freaking much about pop culture, and here's where he talks about it all: movies, music, comics, television, and the rest... Welcome to Hell.
This is the week, Eurovision happens this week. The First Semi-Final is tomorrow, with the Second Semi-Final on Thursday and then the big event, the Final on Saturday.
And on Saturday, the winners of the First and Second Finals will compete with last year's winning country, Denmark, and the original five countries. Here are those entries:
Denmark - "Cliché Love Song" by Basim
Spain - "Dancing in the Rain" by Ruth Lorenzo
Italy - "La Mia Citta" by Emma Marrone
Germany - "Is It Right" by Elaiza
France - "Moustache" by TWIN TWIN
United Kingdom - "Children of the Universe" by Molly
It's a nice pop tune, but I guess Sweden doesn't really want to win two years in a row.
Spain - "Contigo Hasta El Final (With You All The Way)" by ESDM
At first it seems like Spain has gone traditional. I just wonder if the audience will still be with them by the time the song really kicks in.
Italy - "L'Essenziale" by Marco Mengoni
Wow, that's some hair.
Germany - "Glorious" by Cascada
Germany is usually a strong competitor, despite most of Europe still hating them for that World War II business, and this year is no exception. It's a great dance tune that would have won if it were from the Ukraine, but not Germany.
France - "L'enfer Et Moi (Hell and Me)" by Amandine Bourgeois
This is a great song, and per usual, it's in French, but it's much better than most years' entries. It seems the French are in it to win it this year. I can't wait to see what this looks like on stage. That will make or break it.
Along with the UK entry, "Believe in Me" by 1980s songstress Bonnie Tyler, the above finalists join Semi-Final winners Lithuania, Moldova, Finland, Belgium, Estonia, Belarus, Malta, Russia, Armenia, The Netherlands, Romania, Hungary, Denmark, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Greece, Ukraine, Norway, Georgia, and Ireland in the Grand Final tomorrow afternoon. Those of you in the States can watch it live here.
These are the five nations who are always in the Finals, plus last year's winner and this year's host, Azerbaijan.
United Kingdom: "Love Will Set You Free" by Engelbert Humperdinck
The UK always tries to make an effort, like trying to get Morrissey, or getting Andrew Lloyd Webber to write the song. This year they got decades past pop idol Humperdinck. It's just not enough, UK…
France: "Echo (You and I)" by Anggun
Speaking of trying to win, every once in a while France decides they'd like to win and actually enters something catchy and modern. This is one of those years. Another one that's growing on me.
Italy: "L'Amore È Femmina (Out Of Love)" by Nina Zilli
I think this one has a real chance of winning. Dancey, jazzy and fun.
Azerbaijan: "When the Music Dies" by Sabina Babayeva
Another power ballad, but a strong one and a real contender for the win.
You'll have to click the link above to see the Spain video, embedding forbidden by YouTube. It has no chance to win though in my opinion, but then again, just my opinion...
Germany: "Standing Still" by Roman Lob
Europe aside, I think this could be a hit here. I like it a lot, one of my favorites, and another strong contender for the win.
The Grand Final for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest takes place on May 26th in Baku, Azerbaijan.
