So I've been away on holiday for a week, but I'm back now, and it's time for Germany's entry. I honestly picked this entry as the winner, so was surprised it didn't do that well. However I'm a big Cascada fan, so how can I not root for them?
Cascada, the internationally great dance band with chartings all over Europe and America, entered the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, astonishing people, such as myself, how was anyone going to beat this well known group? They consist of three people, Natalie Horler, Manian (real name Manuel Reuter) and Yanou (real name Yann Peifer). They have recently been dropping charting positions here in the UK, after a number one hit with "Evacuate The Dancefloor" the singles that followed didn't even make the UK Top 40, and some never even charted. I think the main thing is promotion. I remember seeing Natalie Horler singing "Evacuate The Dancefloor" on a few TV shows, and it also got a lot of radio play, they need to present their songs and promote them on TV. Many people are unaware of their new songs (apart from this one because it was on Eurovision... That goes towards promotion because we saw it on TV!)
"Glorious" was written by Yann Peifer, Manuel Reuter, Andres Ballinas and Tony Cornelissen. The song entered the UK charts at 129, after the Eurovision Song Contest, yet why did many people download the song and not vote for them? And don't you dare say it's fixed because "the UK will never vote for Germany", I have heard that reason way too much lately, and it's totally not true, we've given points to Germany a number of times in the last 10 years. Maybe it's because we all thought it was too similar to Loreen's "Euphoria". It also had to be investigated as a lot of people thought it was too alike. However it got cleared of plagiarism. The song is definitely Cascada and I even believe it is showing their new direction, hopefully it will attract more fans, they need another number one hit!
Germany came 21st out of 26 countries in Eurovision 2013. Cascada got a total of 18 points. Spain gave 3 points, Austria gave 6 points, Israel gave 5 points, Albania gave 3 points and Switzerland gave 1 point. I just hope it was enough to push this dance band back into the spotlight.
The music video is typical Cascada. Very much a performance piece, and although it is lacking a narrative storyline, the glorious wonders of this glorious song proves you don't need one.
As per usual Natalie Horler is the only member of the dance band that features in this video (although we have known of Manuel Reuter and Yann Peifer making appearances such as their cover version of "Last Christmas"). Her gorgeous looks is all she needs to capture you and makes you want to see her live, yet she failed to capture the Eurovision audience this year, maybe she didn't perform the song that well.
The ballet is something new, something glorious as some may say. And maybe it is that which brings a new spin of this on this song. It shows that it's not just a upbeat dancing that will go with dance music, and this is so peaceful, and glorious to watch I understand why they put it in.
Overall a song that should have done better on the UK chart as well as should have done better in this year's contest. It's music video has no narrative, but is pure performance. I want to see this dance group live, yet the video is pretty much similar to their other videos... Minus the narrative, plus the ballet. I can't wait for their future releases, I would really like their single "The Rhythm Of The Night" to get released, although that's doubtful, but I'm hoping their future unplugged album (which is on the cards) gets a UK release.
Krista Siegfrids came to prominence in The Voice Of Finland, in which she got eliminated in the first live show. She competed in the Finland's national selection which is called Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu. Where she won with this song. controversy came up with her performance as she kisses another woman on stage. Her reasons for doing this is that she wants Finland to legalise same-sex marriage. This caused a stir in Turkey, who had pulled out of the competition this year, as they didn't show the contest due to the kiss. Although Krista Siegfrids didn't do as well as she should've done in the contest, this song has charted in some countries, and it is such a catchy song, maybe she'll become an international star.
"Marry Me" was written by Krista Siegfrids, Erik Nyholm, Kristofer Karlsson and Jessika Lundstróm. The song was definitely one of my favourites, it's so catchy that after one listen you just want to sing-a-long. I really thought this song was going to get top five, at least, so I was stunned at it's placing.
Finland came 24th out of 26 countries in this years contest. Krista Siegfrids gained just 13 points, this should've got a lot more. France gave 3 points, Germany gave 1 point, Denmark gave 2 points, San Marino gave 3 points and Israel gave 4 points. So this song along with Ryan Dolan's "Only Love Survives" were the shock surprises, why were these songs not voted for? However it was such a tough competition this year.
This music video is great to watch. Krista Siegfrids reminds me of Ke$ha, and I could definitely imagine Ke$ha singing this song. The whole concept reminds me of Katy Perry's "Hot n Cold". However it's fun, exciting, different and samey all at the same time.
There's a narrative, with a wedding performance. The narrative is interesting. She's idolising her boyfriend, asking him to propose to her. He looks vulnerable, as if he doesn't know what he wants, and she's this wild, crazy girl who he can't handle. How did he take this long to propose to her?
The flirtation between her and her friends is different, showing that she's comfortable with who she is, and she will do what she wants. told you she's crazy, but in the amazing crazy way. At the start she writes in her notebook: 'I'm not obsessed I'm just a woman!'. She kidnaps her boyfriend, and then performs at her wedding, where he FINALLY proposes.
Her performance at the wedding is fun, exciting and totally different. It makes me think that I'm watching a musical, and she's singing on the way up the aisle and then her guests dance, that made me laugh lots. She has so much energy, crazy freaky energy, that will be awesome on stage at one of her concerts. I really want to see her live now.
Overall a very catchy song worthy of a top five Eurovision placing, instead it landed near the bottom for unknown reasons. The music video, is fun, energetic and full of everything I want. I have a little problem with kidnapping the guy, it's happened too many times in other music videos, and surely there could have been a more original idea, but apart from that, a narrative, a performance... What more do I want? Definitely the best music video I have reviewed from Eurovision 2013 SO FAR... Can any others top this one?
Ryan Dolan was chosen to represent Ireland, he is a young singer-songwriter and shouldn't have come last in the Grand Final, this song is amazing. Little is known about him, although I am aware of the fact that he has released quite a few singles here in the UK.
"Only Love Survives" was written by Wez Devine and Ryan Dolan. The song was set to do well, especially when it came eighth in the first Semi-Final, so how this only got a few points in the Final, and came 26th out of 26 countries, I have no idea. My thought is that Ireland performed last, and by then everyone had chosen their favourites to vote for and Ryan Dolan failed to make those people change their minds.
In the Final, Ireland came last, and only managed to get 5 points, 1 point from the UK, 2 points from Sweden and 2 points from Cyprus. Whereas in the Semi Final Ryan Dolan gained 54 points from various countries, where did it all go wrong?
This music video surprised me, at the start, the performance is stand out and top notch. I was ready to give it a top rating watching it, as it brought in the concept of the world changing and each day possibly being the last, as well as playing on the love side of the song which is the main theme. And then it went downhill.
I really did not enjoy the editing of the various photos and video from the general public, it made it amateurish. And after such a professional start to the video, this seemed wrong and not right at all. Plus the amount of 'heart-hands' is just too much.
There's not a lot more to comment on I have downloaded the song and listened to it a couple of times, and I do really like it, but it doesn't stick in my head compared to other songs from this year's contest. As for the video I got excited that I might be giving out the first five stars for a Eurovision 2013 music video, but my excitement dropped as the fans and general pubic joined in, it looks messy and just doesn't work.
Who See, also known as Who See Klapa are a duo from Montenegro. If I had to announce my favourite from this years Eurovision Song Contest, I'm pretty sure this would be the one, if not they would be really close. Who See consists of Dedduh, real name Dejan Dedović, and Noyz, real name Mario Đorđević. They are a hip-hop group, and are well known in Montenegro. So much so they have even won an MTV EMA. This is their international debut, although they haven't actually released the single, so I had to download it from the Eurovision 2013 album. I just hope they eventually release over here in the UK. The song features Nina Žižić. She has been trying to become known for almost a decade, and have performed at various international festivals. I think this appearance will help push her career. I hope Who See and Nina Žižić collaborate again, as this should have been a success, I just cannot believe it missed out on the final.
"Igranka" was written by Djordje Miljenović (also known as Wikluh Sky). The song was really one of my favourites, and even Ana Matronic (one of two commentators for the Semi Finals in the UK) loved it as much as I did. Like I previously stated I bought the song, and I have already played it a number of times, along with watching this video a couple of times. This will never get old.
Unfortunately Montenegro didn't make the final, in fact they have never made the final, placing 12th out of 16 countries in the first Semi Final. I really thought this would've made the final. Who See gained 41 points overall. Croatia gave 6 points, Denmark gave 5 points, Ukraine gave 8 points, Belarus gave 2 points, Moldova gave 6 points, Serbia gave 12 points and Sweden gave 2 points.
The music video is surprising, a lot of dancing going on, whether it's freestyle or choreographed is debatable, the in sync dancing had to be choreographed right? But the freestyle might just be freestyle. There is so much going on that it's hard to keep up with it, I think the editing can be considered quick, but it's easily watched, whereas Latvia's Entry: PeR with "Here We Go", is a different story.
So let's start off with the narrative, a woman comes down a lift, turns on music, removes her jacket and dances around a chair provocatively, this is what we sort of expect from this dubstep/hip-hop/rap combination. Then another woman enters the room and they have a dance-off. At the end they walk off together.
In other scenes, we see Who See in boiler suits picking up drills in cases, and handcuff them, soon we see them surrounded by two guys with swords. They start rapping and then make their ways towards the stage. I just cannot help but think: where are the astronaut costumes? As they performed as astronauts in the first Semi Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 (check out video below).
Elsewhere there is a 'cat-fight' between two women in a cage... And then Nina Žižić appears on stage. Who See breaks up the fight and the girls start dancing beside them. Then they replace the cases where they were and everything is deserted.
I do not understand this video at all, but the dancing is good to watch. The crowd around the performance piece really shows us how much people enjoy their music, I would be one of them if I could be. However I think Nina Žižić has a much bigger stage presence than Who See.
Overall an unusual Eurovision Song Contest entry, however I enjoyed it, and many others did too, it could have spurred other countries to enter a similar act for next year, or not since it didn't make it through to the final, although it definitely should have been there. As for the accompanying music video, I don't get it, but I can appreciate the choreography and the performance piece, but there isn't a stable narrative, so here's my rating.
Takasa, are a six piece band. They were originally called Heilsarmee, but due to the Eurovision rules that forbid political and religious content, Heilsarmee had to change it's name to Takasa since Heilsarmee is German for 'Salvation Army'. The name Takasa is a Swahili verb meaning 'to purify', but it has also come to attention that Takasa is an acronym for The Artists Known As Salvation Army, which is amazingly clever. They consist of Sarah Breiter, Jonas Gygax, Katharina Hauri, Christoph Jakob, Emil Ramsauer and Michel Sterckx. Their age difference is surprising, Sarah Breiter is just 22 years old whereas Emil Ramsauer is 95 years old, making him the oldest musician to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest.
"You And Me" was written by Georg Schlunegger, Roman Camenzind and Fred Herrmann. The song is about love and endearment, and I really thought this was going to make it through to the final. It makes me feel happy and I just want to play it again as soon as I hear it. Takasa (known as Heilsarmee back then) competed in the Swiss national selection show called Die Grosse Entscheidungs Show, where they won with this song. I just cannot believe they didn't get through to the final.
Switzerland took part in the second Semi Final. They came a respectable 13th out of 17 countries, beating one of my favourites PeR whose song was "Here We Go" for Latvia. Takasa gained 41 points. They got 6 points from Finland, 2 points from Malta, 1 point from Bulgaria, 5 points from Iceland, 3 points from Greece, 2 points from Armenia, 6 points from Hungary, 3 points from Norway, 2 points from Albania, 10 points from France and 1 point from Germany.
This music video has little to it, but I can't help but laugh at some of the things that is going on. Emil Ramsauer is picked up on the way, he's posing as a hitch-hiker, hoping to get to Malmö, Sweden, where the Eurovision Song Contest was held this year. They manage to fit him in the car, and even put his double bass on the back of the car.
I like how it shows they go on a journey to get to Malmö, Sweden. And surely they've already done that competing in the national selection. But this is a journey in a compact car that seems to have only five seats... How does six people safely drive in a five seater car? Maybe someone's in the boot?
The various scenes out of the car include picking Emil Ramsauer up, going the wrong way, having to push the car, singing and playing their instruments on the ferry, passing people on the street, as well as the men standing on the side, surely they're not doing what we all think they are... It's against the law in England and Wales, deemed under the Public Order Act 1986. But it still makes me laugh, especially when they leave one of them behind, reminding me of Tim Berg's (Avicii's) "Seek Bromance".
Overall it's a perfect song, one that makes me want to sing every time I hear it, one I want to give to people to make them happy as well, this band is in such a good mood, and I don't think they'll ever stop being happy. The music video includes their happiness a lot. I like the use of the journey, who knows how long it took them, but even I would have found it difficult to keep happy after that, yet this band manages just fine. They use green screen during the scenes inside the car, but it's so good to watch you don't even realise. The song is about togetherness, and although it is portrayed between a relationship, it can be seen in a friendship kind of way.
