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.
Natália Kelly is an 18 year old singer, who was born in America, but moved to Austria when she was just six years old. Her father is American with Austrian and Irish roots, her mother is Brazilian. She won The Voice in Austria 2012, that has been going since 2002, and has nothing to do with the international franchise 'The Voice'. After winning she entered Österreich rockt den Song Contest, which is the Austrian selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest, and Natália Kelly won that too. However she failed to get through to the final. There was so much buzz about her before the competition started, I really thought she was a contender for winning, but she kicked off the first semi final, leaving the other 15 acts following after her. Her song got forgotten by the time the voting opened, and unfortunately didn't get through. But I loved it, hence why she's in my Eurovision Special.
"Shine" was written by Andreas Grass, Nikola Paryla, Alexander Kahr and Natália Kelly. The song is catchy and powerful. She portrays emotions through her words and she means every single one of them. I just cannot believe this didn't make the final, it was definitely worthy of a higher position.
Austria came 14th out of 16 countries in the first Semi Final. She got 27 points and fell short of getting through to the final. She got 1 point from Estonia, 1 point from Slovenia, 4 points from Croatia, 4 points from Denmark, 3 points from Moldova, 4 points from Ireland, 2 points from Cyprus, 3 points from Belgium, 2 points from Serbia, 2 points from Italy and 1 point from the UK.
This music video is simple and totally focused on effects. The performance-based video brings her strong powerful vocals to the camera exposing how much she believes in this song.
The start is in black and white, which worried me, I really do not like black and white music videos, so I was happy when it went into colour. And then I saw how musical she is, playing the guitar, the piano, the drums... This is the Natália Kelly band. What let this side down was seeing someone help her with the drums... Maybe she isn't a musical genius as I first thought.
We have a lot of fun scenes, where the title of the song is behind her, where her name gradually appears behind her, various behind the scenes clips that show her laughing, trying to catch the drumsticks and just having the time of her life. She is the girl next door, and the video portrays her perfectly.
Then ending is full of fun fun fun, balloons, dancing, paint bombs (is there such a thing? Or did I just make that up?), and a dog or two. One of the topless guys slips over just as Natália Kelly gets splattered by a paint bomb, I just can't help but replay that scene over and over again. The very ending when she splats that guy is great to watch too because he doesn't expect it.
Overall a catchy song that should've made it through to the final, and a music video filled with fun, making Natália Kelly shine. She obviously had a wonderful time, and you just want to be there with her. She looks good, and has an infectious personality that is so bubbly. I just want to be her friend, as I'm sure many other fans want to be too.
