Now Eurovision's over for another year

The quality of entries this year was remarkably high.
So I was delighted that Azerbaijan and Italy came first and second, respectively. I had loved both those tunes since I heard them a few weeks back.
Italy's success in particular shattered the notion that there is a "Eurovision" song. If there is a place for exceptional jazz piano, there is a place for anything.

Take note UK.
Sure, 11th place was respectable given last year.
We need to carry on with tried and tested performers. And also having them sing songs tailored to them. So farewell to audience voting.
Yeah, in Eastern Europe, they still vote for who will represent them at Eurovision.
However, this is often the sole route for Polish/Hungarian etc. acts to generate an international following.
Acts over here will try to get onto X Factor first.

So, fairly established acts for us. It will be great to have ones that are still fresh.
Problem is that the Jessie J's will not want to do all the publicity all over Europe.
We either go for someone so big that it's not strictly necessary or someone who's prepared to put in the hours.
Of the giants, who would bite? Me, I think the BBC should ask Muse. It doesn't seem completely out of the question and they would write something powerful and fun. If that seems a bit too rocky for a BBC convinced that the Eurovision's camp (despite all the evidence), try Lily Allen.
If it has to be an up-and-comer, get Mark Ronson to produce.
But please don't make it a ballad as, shown time and time again recently, that don't get the votes.

Eurovision preview

Normally my televisual highlight of an evening would definitely be a Neil Gaiman-scripted Doctor Who episode. And it still probably will be. Even if they bring the Rani back tonight as rumoured.
However it'll be the warm-up act to Eurovision and, well, this looks like a vintage year.
Not for pointing and laughing (Jedward aside, few of the krazies have reached the final).

As has been the trend, there are a fair few credible efforts.
The Italian jazz piano entry is an excellent example of the genre.
Me fears though the classy vote will be split between that and the French tenor.
Georgia, Denmark and Moldova (once you get over the millinery) are all good altie efforts. They may not place highly but show that the competition isn't the camp festival of yore.
EU politics will probably rule out Germany (also Lina's song will be a difficult sell in the more religious nations).
Blue have been getting ominously big cheers on the floor. The song is just OK but I think their popularity will get the UK top 5.

My gut says that, unless Azerbaijan put on a better performance than they did in the semi, it will be a straight fight between Sweden's decidedly camp entry and Estonia's mix of Broadway-esque visual feast and catchy tune.

From the Vaults: Sounds Like Teen Spirit

Eurovision is a strange beast.
Its unique blend of politics, music and campy weirdness, well, doesn't make much sense when trying to explain to people who haven't grown up with it.
It's brought us ABBA, Celine Dion and Riverdance. (erm, yeah, sorry about that)

And Junior Eurovision  is another class entirely.
To British viewers it has echoes of Minipops, a questionable Channel 4 show showing pre-teens belting out tunes.
But JE (as nobody calls it) isn't quite as creepy.
Though, as documentary Sounds Like Teen Spirit shows, it's still most odd.

Just as Spellbound uses the Spelling Bee competition to explore the social strata of America, Sounds Like Teen Spirit covers Europe. From the wealthy middle classes in Belgium to the humbling poverty of Georgia.
And, like Spellbound, there are some awesome characters. Cypriot Yiorgos and Bulgarian Marina are both heartbreaking and hilarious in equal measure.
And the Belgian contingent is incredibly funny.

Director Jamie Jay Johnson tells a great story, though, to be honest, the very occasional history lessons are distracting and not as funny as intended.
The excitement of Miriam from Georgia is infectious and acts as an excellent counterpoint to the antics of the wealthier contestants.
And the crazy intensity of some of the others (hello, Russia).
There are some cheap laughs and real oddities, like the Dalton Sisters. But there are also touching moments, some big and some small (like Eva's body language when discussing her band's future).
It's a great little movie and a good warm-up to this year's Eurovision.

Eurovision 2011 may be over a month away

But we're already getting advance coverage of the contestants.

The UK is represented by Blue and Lee Ryan is up to his old tricks of being rather stupid but at least it's not as moronic as he's been in the past.
Here's their offering in all it's majesty.

Jedward, the eeriely talent-less X Factor twins, are singing for Ireland. Poor Ireland.
Their presence would make it bad enough but the lyrics "She's got her lipstick on, hit and run, then I've gone" sink it to new depths of bad-ness. If you must, it's here

Much is being made of Portugal's credit crunch protest song, which mixes the visuals of a miltant Village People with particularly weak Algarve folk aimed at tourists.
However special mention goes to Finland's Paradise Oskar. I can't imagine his brand of David Gray-uber-lite will reach the final, so go and enjoy.

What is noticeable is that there's a fair few acts, like Paradise Oskar, who are producing songs that don't sound like Eurovision but like actual proper pop. Listen to the Azerbaijan entry, which should place top three at least.
The absolute stand-out though is Italy's jazz entry from Raphael Gualazzi. It's up there with Jamie Cullum. Even if you don't like jazz piano, it's hard to deny his talent. He may need some luck reaching the final as voting in the semis always seems random but once there, he should win over a continent even if he doesn't win the competition.