| Eurovision Song Contest News - 2010 Oslo, Norway 

togravus ceterum

Hi Europe and beyond,

I was born the year Sandy Shaw conquered Europe barfooted and currently live in Stuttgart, Germany. I have been an ESC fan for as long as I can think. The first contest I remember is 1977, when Marie Myriam won for my favourite ESC country France. I enjoy discussing ESC songs and trivia but I don't like all the 'political' discussions and hate speech one can nowadays find on esctoday. (Many thanks to the editors for deleting most of it!) ESC should be about uniting people from different countries and cultures, not about reinforcing differences and prejudice. Celebrate diversity!

My main interests are literature, philosophy, art, theatre, opera, and history, and normally I prefer listening to classical music. There are, however, some contemporary singers I really love: Cristina Branco, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Etta Scollo, Benabar, Teoman, Radio Tarifa, and Tiziano Ferro *blush* are among my favourites.

My greatest passion, however, is travelling. My favourite places in Europe are: Hungerford Foot Bridge in London, the vaporetto stop Sant' Angelo in Venice at night, the Lower Barracca Gardens in Valletta, the terrace of the Parador Hotel in Carmona (Andalusia), the monasteries in Batalha, Alcobaca, and Tomar (Portugal), the cloister of Saint-Trophime (Arles, France), Khora Sfakion (Crete) in winter, and Zahara de los Atunes out of the tourist season ... the cities I am madly in love with are London, Lisbon, Seville, Istanbul, Brussels, and Ciudad Rodrigo.

If you want to drop me a line: togravus.ceterum@yahoo.de

Pre-contest ranking 2010

1. Israel 10/10 (In front of Turkey and Estonia because of the fantastic live vocals.)
2. Turkey 10/10
3. Estonia 10/10
4. Spain 9/10
5. Switzerland 9/10
6. Germany 9/10
7. Belgium 8/10
8. Cyprus 8/10
9. Croatia 8/10
10. Russia 8/10
11. Sweden 7/10
12. Serbia 7/10
13. Macedonia 7/10
14. Slovakia 7/10
15. France 6/10
16. Albania 6/10 (Would be higher if Juliana hadn't that awful accent in English!)
17. Latvia 6/10 (Will be much lower if her vocals are as bad as they were in the Latvian NF.)
18. Lithuania 6/10 (I will forget the terrible gimmicks from the NF for now ...)
19. Denmark 6/10
20. Finland 5/10
21. Greece 5/10
22. Slovenia 5/10
23. Portugal 5/10
24. Ireland 5/10
25. BiH 5/10
26. Armenia 4/10
27. Poland 4/10
28. Belarus 4/10
29. Norway 3/10
30. Romania 3/10
31. Iceland 2/10
32. Georgia 2/10
33. Bulgaria 2/10
34. Azerbaijan 2/10
35. Malta 1/10
36. Moldova 1/10
37. UK 1/10
38. The Netherlands 0/10
39. Ukraine 0/10 (No matter what they choose!)

All the ESC songs I love listed by decade. My all-time top 10 are marked by an asterisk.

2000-2009

ESC has become a highly commercialised event, which is neither a good nor a bad thing, but has profoundly changed the event without doubt, especially the songs chosen and the performances on the night of nights.

1. Patricia Kaas, Et s il fallait le faire (France 2009) *
2. Mor ve otesi, Deli (Turkey 2008) *
3. Jelena Tomasevic, Oro (Serbia 2008)
4. Regina, Bistra voda (BiH 2009)
5. Athena, For Real (Turkey 2004)
6. Macedonia, Tamara feat. Vrcak & Adrijan, Let Me Love You (Macedonia 2008)
7. Marija Sestic, Rijeka bez imena (BiH 2007)
8. Zeljko Joksimovic, Lane moje (Serbia & Montenegro 2004)
9. Sasha Son, Love (Lithuania 2009)
10. Natasha St.-Pier, Je n ai que mon ame (France 2001)
11. Jonsi, Heaven (Iceland 2004)
12. Roger Cicero, Frauen regiern die Welt (Germany 2007)
13. Lovebugs, The Highest Heights (Switzerland 2009)
14. Brainstorm, My Star (Latvia 2000)
15. Sebastien Tellier, Divine (France 2008)
16. Hari Mata Hari, Lejla (BiH 2006)
17. Vania Fernandes, Senhora do mar (Portugal 2008)
18. Nicola, Don t Break My Heart (Romania 2003)
19. Christine Guldbrandsen, Alvedansen (Norway 2006)
20. Son de sol, Brujeria (Spain 2005)
21. Urban Symphony, Raendajad (Estonia 2009)
22. Elitsa & Stojan, Voda (Bulgaria 2007)
23. Greenjolly, Razom nas bahato (Ukraine 2005)
24. Maria Haukaas Storeng, Hold on Be Strong (Norway 2008)
25. Marian van de Wal, La mirada interior (Andorra 2005)
26. Xandee, 1 Life (Belgium 2004)
27. Louisa Belaiche, Monts et merveilles (France 2003)
28. Nelly Ciobanu, Hora din Moldova (Moldova 2009)
29. Sopho, Visionary Dream (Georgia 2007)
30. Voice, Nomiza (Cyprus 2000)
31. Boaz Mauda, The Fire in Your Eyes (Israel 2008)
32. Texas Lightning, No No Never (Germany 2006)
33. Inga & Anush, Nor par (Armenia 2009)
34. Mumij Troll, Lady Alpine True (Russia 2001)
35. Anonymous, Salvem el mon (Andorra 2007)
36. Miodio, Complice (San Marino 2008)
37. Olta Boka, Zemren e lange peng (Albania 2008)
38. Ortal, Chacun pense a soi (France 2005)
39. Urban Trad, Sanomi (Belgium 2003)
40. Natalia Barbu, Fight (Moldova 2007)
41. Rita Guerra, Deixa-me sonhar (Portugal 2003)
42. Lise Darly, Tout de moi (Monaco 2005)
43. Magdi Ruzsa, Unsubstantial Blues (Hungary 2007)
44. Ramon, Para llenarme de ti (Spain 2004)
45. Shiri Maimon, Hasheket shenishar (Israel 2005)
46. Sandrine Francois, Il faut du temps (France 2002)

1990-1999

A decade characterised by many exceptionally beautiful songs. Unfortunately, none of them won.

1. Kasia Kowalska, Che znac swoj grzech (Poland 1996) *
2. Imaani, Where Are You? (UK 1998) *
3. Paul Oscar, Minn hinsti dans (Iceland 1997)
4. Evridiki, Ime anthropos ke ego (Cyprus 1994)
5. Amina, C est le dernier qui a parle qui a raison (France 1991)
6. Alexandros Panayi, Sti fotia (Cyprus 1995)
7. Mia Martini, Rapsodia (Italy 1992)
8. Evridiki, Teriazoume (Cyprus 1992)
9. Lucia Moniz, O meu coracao nao tem cor (Portugal 1996)
10. Tanja Ribic, Zbudi se (Slovenia 1997)
11. Dino & Beatrice, Putnici (BiH 1999)
12. Aud Wilken, Fra Mols til Skagen (Denmark 1995)
13. Fazla, Sva bol svijeta (BiH 1993)
14. Anabel Conde, Vuelve conmigo (Spain 1995)
15. Duo Datz, Kan (Israel 1991)
16. Azucar Moreno, Bandido (Spain 1990)
17. Friderika, Kinek mondjam el vetkeimet (Hungary 1994)
18. Jan Johansen, Se pa mig (Sweden 1995)
19. Frances Ruffelle, We Will Be Free (UK 1994)
20. Silje Vige, Alle mine tankar (Norway 1993)
21. Dulce Pontes, Lusitana paixao (Portugal 1991)
22. Joelle Ursull, White & Black Blues (France 1990)
23. Philippe Lafontaine, MacedoMienne (Belgium 1990)
24. Eva Santamaria, Hombres (Spain 1993)
25. Justyna Steczkowska, Sama (Poland 1995)
26. Jalisse, Fiumi di parole (Italy 1997)
27. Rita, Shara barchovot (Israel 1990)
28. Kali, Monte la rivie (France 1992)
29. Sergio Dalma, Bailar pegados (Spain 1991)
30. Sebnem Paker, Besinci mevsim (Turkey 1996)
31. Elena Konstantopoulou, Pia prosefhi (Greece 1995)
32. Koit Toome, Mere lapsed (Estonia 1998)
33. Katarina Hasprova, Moldiltba (Slovakia 1998)
34. Maywood, Ik wil alles met je delen (Netherlands 1990)

1980-1989

A complete disaster. Noone had a clue. Spain and Portugal saved us from utter musical insignificance.

1. Maria Guinot, Silencio e tanta gente (Portugal 1984)
2. Bravo, Lady, Lady (Spain 1984)
3. Remedios Amaya, Quien maneja mi barca (Spain 1983)
4. Carlos Paiao, Playback (Portugal 1981)
5. Trigo Limpio, Quedate esta noche (Spain 1980)
6. MfO, Sufi (Turkey 1988)
7. Karoline Krueger, For var jord (Norway 1988)
8. Klips ve Onlar, Halley (Turkey 1986)
9. Mariana Efstratiou, To diko sou asteri (Greece 1989)
10. Bucks Fizz, Making Your Mind up (UK 1981)
11. Armando Gama, Esta balada que te dou (Portugal 1983)
12. Umberto Tozzi & Raf, Gente di mare (Italy 1987)
13. Alan Sorrenti, Non so che darei (Italy 1980)
14. Lucia, El (Spain 1982)
15. Pas de Deux, Rendez-vous (Belgium 1983)
16. Doris Dragovic, Zeljo moja (Yugoslavia 1986)
17. Live Report, Why Do I Always Get It Wrong (UK 1989)
18. Yardena Arazi, Ben-adam (Israel 1988)
19. Ingeborg, Door de wind (Belgium 1989)
20. Justine Pelmelay, Blijf zoals je bent (Netherlands 1989)
21. Lena Valaitis, Johnny Blue (Germany 1981)
22. Hoteyes, Det lige det (Denmark 1984)

1970-1979

Not a strong decade either, but we got the first really good disco songs.

1. Tonicha, Menina (Portugal 1971) *
2. Anne-Marie David, Je suis l enfant soleil (France 1979)
3. Carlos do Carmo, Uma flor de verde pinho (Portugal 1976)
4. Anne-Marie B., Frere Jacques (Luxemburg 1977)
5. Jeane Manson, J ai deja vue ca dans tes yeux (Luxemburg 1979)
6. Marie-Myriam, L oiseau et l enfant (France 1977)
7. Pepel in Kri, Dan ljubezni (Yugoslavia 1975)
8. Teach-In, Ding-a-dong (Netherlands 1975)
9. Veronique Muller, C est la chanson de mon amour (Switzerland 1972)
10. Krunoslav Slabinac, Tvoj djecak je tuzan (Yugoslavia 1971)
11. Israel, Milk & Honey feat. Gali Atari, Hallelujah (Israel 1979)
12. Nicola di Bari, I giorni dell arcobaleno (Italy 1972)
13. Romuald, Celui qui reste et celui qui s en va (Monaco 1974)
14. Anne-Marie David, Tu te reconnaitras (Luxemburg 1973)
15. Ilanit, Ay-sham (Israel 1973)
16. Lars Berghagen & The Dolls, Jennie, Jennie (Sweden 1975)
17. Izhak Cohen, A-ba-ni-bi (Israel 1978)
18. Ireen Sheer, Feuer (Germany 1978)
19. Marianne Mendt, Musik (Austria 1971)
20. Katri Helena, Katson sineen taivaan (Finland 1979)
21. Ambasadori, Ne mogu skriti svoju bol (Yugoslavia 1976)
22. ABBA, Waterloo (Sweden 1974)
23. Semiha Yanki, Seninle bir dakika (Turkey 1975)
24. Heddy Lester, De mallemolen (Netherlands 1977)

1960-1969

My favourite decade. No fireworks, no undressing, no silly dancing routines. Simply beautifully composed songs and great voices. Yes, I love (not like) all the songs I have listed below.

1. Claude Lombard, Quand tu reviendras (Belgium 1968) *
2. Frida Boccara, Un jour, un enfant (France 1969) *
3. Laila Kinnunen, Valoa ikkunassa (Finland 1961) *
4. Isabelle Aubret, La source (France 1968) *
5. Oesten Warnerbring, Som en droem (Sweden 1967) *
6. Nora Nova, Man gewoehnt sich so schnell an das Schoene (Germany 1964)
7. Simone de Oliveira, Desfolhada portuguesa (Portugal 1969)
8. Lado Leskovar, Vse roze sveta (Yugoslavia 1967)
9. Raphael, Yo soy aquel (Spain 1966)
10. Raphael, Hablemos de amor (Spain 1967)
11. Gigliola Cinquetti, Non ho l eta (Italy 1964)
12. Grethe & Joergen Ingmann, Dansevise (Denmark 1963)
13. Nora Brockstedt, Voi-voi (Norway 1960)
14. Domenico Modugno, Dio, come ti amo (Italy 1966)
15. Jean-Claude Pascal, Nous les amoureux (Luxemburg 1961)
16. Iva Zanicchi, Due grosse lacrime bianche (Italy 1969)
17. Isabelle Aubret, Un premier amour (France 1962)
18. Simone de Oliveira, Sol de inverno (Portugal 1965)
19. Lola Novakovic, Ne pali svetlo u sumrak (Yugoslavia 1962)
20. Los TNT, Caracola (Spain 1964)
21. France Gall, Poupee de cire, poupee de son (Luxemburg 1965)
22. Vice Vukov, Brodovi (Yugoslavia 1963)
23. Francoise Hardy, L amour s en va (Monaco 1963)
24. Viktor Klimenko, Aurinko laskee laenteen (Finland 1965)
25. Alain Barriere, Elle etait si jolie (France 1963)
26. Katy Boedtker, Det var en yndig tid (Denmark 1960)
27. Vice Vukov, Ceznja (Yugoslavia 1965)
28. Nora Brockstedt, Sommer i palma (Norway 1961)
29. Noelle Cordier, Il doit faire beau la-bas (France 1967)
30. The Allisons, Are You Sure? (UK 1961)
31. Rachel, Le chant de Mallory (France 1964)
32. Anita Thallaug, Solhverv (Norway 1963)
33. Ase Kleveland, Intet er nytt under solen (Norway 1966)
34. Esther Ofarim, T en vas pas (Switzerland 1963)
35. Robert Cogois, Pres de ma riviere (Belgium 1964)
36. Francois Deguelt, Ce soir-la (Monaco 1960)

1956-1959

Not even a decade, but four contests only. There are some real gems though.

1. Fud Leclerc, Messieurs, les noyes de la Seine (Belgium 1956)
2. Michele Arnaud, Ne crois pas (Luxemburg 1956)
3. Corrie Brokken, Net als toen (Netherland 1957)
4. Walter Andreas Schwarz, Im Wartesaal zum grossen Glueck (Germany 1956)
5. Michele Arnaud, Les amants de minuit (Luxmeburg 1956)
6. Dany Dauberson, Il est la (France 1956)

Worst songs (of those who tried to be a song ... I don't stoop to judge stuff like Scooch or Kreisiraadio)

Wilfried: Lisa, Mona Lisa (Austria 1988)
Oleksandr Ponomarov: Hasta la vista (Ukraine 2003)
Sirusho: Qele qele (Armenia 2008)

Best winning songs

Jean-Claude Pascal: Nous les amoureux (Luxemburg 1961)
Frida Boccara: Un jour, un enfant (France 1969)

Worst winning songs

Herreys : Diggi-loo diggi-ley (Sweden 1984)
Ruslana: Wild Dances (Ukraine 2004)

Most undeserved 0 pointers:

Nora Nova: Man gewoehnt sich so schnell an das Schoene (Germany 1964)
Remedios Amaya: Quien maneja mi barca? (Spain 1983)
Celia Lawson: Antes do adeus (Portugal 1997)

Favourite ESC artists (judging their non-ESC stuff)
Dulce Pontes, Justyna Steczkowska, Hari Mata Hari, Jelena Tomasevic, Sebastien Tellier

Favourite ESC years
1969, 1979, 1996, 2007

Worst years
1959, 1978, 1987, 2006

Best lyrics
Walter Andreas Schwarz: Im Wartesaaal zum grossen Glueck (Germany 1956)
Jean-Claude Pascal: Nous les amoureux (Luxemburg 1961)
Isabelle Aubret: La source (France 1968)
Vania Fernandes: Senhora do mar (Portugal 2008)
Patricia Kaas: Et s'il fallait le faire (France 2009)

Most overrated ESC artist: Carola
Most underestimated ESC artist: Simone de Oliveira

Best ESC moment
The brilliant camera shots of France 2008!

PS:
I still don't understand what happened to Rita Guerra in 2003, Xandee in 2004, and Anonymous in 2007 ...

Btw, it is rather sad that you cannot use diacritical symbols in your profile ... I do not enjoy mutilating languages!