Eurovision 2012

Did anyone ever know what the capital city of Azerbaijan was before they won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest? I clearly remember wikipediaing Azerbaijan to find out what the capital city was. At the time I was already thinking of potential 40th birthday destinations back in May 2011 ( a whole year in advance). So all eyes were on Baku this past weekend for the 57th Eurovision Song Contest.

I love Eurovision and you can see my earlier post about that. The London years really made me fall in love with Eurovision and now I simply couldn't not not watch it. It would be wrong. This year I managed to see all of Semi Final 1, part of Semi Final 2 and all of the Grand Final. This post is about my favourite countries from the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. You may not agree with me but thats your problem, not mine. I promise this will be my last post on Eurovision til 2013 comes around. So you probably know by now that Sweden won with their entrant Loreen. It was a strong song, a very deserving winner in a Eurovision non-compliant kind of way (more on that later) but it wasn't my favourite. 

Loreen wins 2012 Eurovision for Sweden

So here are my top 7 countries (more or less in some kind of order). Read em and weep!

7. Albania

This was the belter from this year. Full credit to Rona Nishliu for singing her heart out for Albania. Interesting choice of hair and dress. She reminds me of the Evil Queen from Snow White but then I would say that at the moment. Be prepared to be moved - FYI!

Official Placing: 5th place with 146 Points
Australia Placing: 23rd place 

6. Iceland

Its quite obvious Iceland were copying Azerbaijan's winning formula from last year by having a couple singing a together. Jonsi and Greta really pulled this off and she is also playing the violin! They have a great key change and lets be quite honest Jonsi is worth the points on looks alone.

Official Placing:19th place with 26 points
Australia Placing:10th place

5. Italy

Italy vanished from Eurovision for a while there and came back with a vengeance last year. I thought this years number was a cool little song. Nina Zilli really pulled this one off by singing in English and Italian. Lets be honest the choreography is a bit non-existent and thats being kind. You kind of have to do more than just stand behind a microphone and sing. Eventually she moves around a bit but I think a little too late really.

Official Placing: 9th place with 101 Points
Australia Placing: 4th place

4. Greece

I always like Greece in Eurovision and thats a fact. I can't explain it but usually I am very impressed. I loved Sakis from 2009 (that was my winner that year). I actually will never forget that performance so that may explain it. Eleftheria Eleftheriou is Eurovision all the way. Look at those legs! 

Official Placing: 17th place with 64 Points
Australia Placing: 8th place

3. Switzerland

So Switzerland didn't even make it to the Grand Final but they were great in Semi Final 1. I think he is singing "Swim against the stream, following your wildest your wildest dream" but I could be wrong. Sinplus (not sure about the name boys) remind me so much of Norwegian band Lorraine/Blackroom. I'm including them anyhow!

Did not place!

2. Sweden

The winner is Loreen. I think its a great song and very catchy, kind of like a trancey Florence and the Machine. The one thing I am glad is that she is slightly bonkers and the performance was very NON-Eurovision which makes a nice change. The lighting was quite dark, her dancing was very "different" and just having the one black dancer come on for the end - all very unusual for Eurovision. I also am beginning to think that hype is deciding the winner. It has happened the last few years with the most hyped contestants winning the contest in the end. It happened in 2019 with that annoying fiddler from Norway and then Lena from Germany stole the show in 2010 and now Loreen for Sweden.

Official Placing:1st place with 372 votes
Australia Placing: 1st place

1. Norway

My favourite of the night. I love Tooji! This song is SO-OO catchy and he's dancing and they have the whole persian rhythms going. I mean he stood out to me and Tooji gave a fantastic performance and really did not deserve to be in last place. How can he have got less votes than Engelbert Humperdink?

Official Placing: Last place with 7 votes
Australia Placing:15th place (see Australia knows!!!!)

So that was the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. There is nothing quite like it in the world. I am already excited about Stockholm in 2013. I have always said I'd love to go to a Eurovision Contest one year. I am not sure if 2013 is that year. Time will tell. Thanks for sticking with me on this mammoth post. 

The Grand Final List

Eurovision Website

SBS Eurovision (Australians only)

How Australia voted

Sufjan is in Sydney

Sufjan Stevens is in Sydney. That is all! See my previous post for more information on Sufjan's visit for Vivid. I'll be there on Wednesday night for his show with Nico Muhly and Bryce Dessner. 

Sunday Song by Catcall

I have recently discovered super cool Catcall (aka Catherine Kelleher) who has just released her debut album The Warmest Place. The first single, which has been out for some time is the glorious poppy THE WORLD IS OURS. Check it out below. If this doesn't bring a Sunday smile to your face, you've got serious issues. I'm off to buy her album!

Catcall on Facebook

Catcall on Twitter

It's a Timebomb by Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue has unleashed her new video TIMEBOMB (aka WHOOP!!!). The song will appear on her "Best of " to be released next month as part of her K25 celebrations. The video was filmed in London and looks amazing as she walks down Old Compton Street and the back alleys of Soho and Chinatown. Enjoy!!!!!!

I LOVE EUROVISION

My name is Phillip and I am a Eurovision tragic! The Eurovision Song Contest is on the 26 May 2012 (Australian time) and I for one cannot wait. I LOVE EUROVISION! It's like the best song contest in the world and its an event. I became a big fan during my London years. Its hard to keep up the love when you're living in Oceania but I still make an effort to watch the FINAL and BAR any form of news, websites or social media that might leak the winner.I haven't had a Eurovision soiree since 2008 so I think it maybe time to have a Eurovision do. I have yet to listen to any of the songs for 2012 as I've been pre-occupied with a certain birthday. I do know that Engelbert Humperdink is the UK entrant with a big ballad. Lets be honest folks, they are SO not going to win with Engelbert! 

Here are some of my favourite recent Eurovision moments!

Iceland were ROBBED in 2010 when Hera Bjork didn't win with this fab Euro number JE NE SAIS QUOIS. I was singing this for days afterwards!

Who remembers SAKIS - the Greek entrant from 2009. The man embodies everything that is Eurovision. He should've won just for wearing WHITE! He only managed 7th place.

Azerbaijan WON in 2011 with this great ballad RUNNING SCARED by Ell and Nikki.

Watch the Eurovision Final on SBS in Australia
Eurovision SBS on Facebook
Eurovision Website
Eurovision on Facebook
Eurovision on Twitter