Our penultimate ex-Yugoslav country hasn’t had much success at Eurovision lately but they’ve made it to the upper echelons of my own rankings this year. With just three qualifications to the final in the last 10 contests, can the sparky Lea help them get there this time with “Hvala, ne!” (In English, “Thanks, no!”) Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 previews countdown: #14 SLOVENIA – Lea Sirk – “Hvala, ne!””
We’re into the top 15 now, and it’s fair to say we have really reached my favourite songs of Eurovision 2018. It’s been a long while since we’ve had a big 5 country, and France is proving to be a huge fan favourite with their electropop song about the European migrant/refugee crisis. France have done well in the last couple of years, and signs are that this year will also bring success. But can they win for an elusive sixth time – they have been waiting since 1977 – the year before I was born!
Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 previews countdown: #15 FRANCE – Madame Monsieur – “Mercy””
Once again riding high in both the betting and in fan rankings is Belgium and they nearly make it into my top 15. Few countries have more contest appearances than Belgium and they’ve had a renaissance of late, with a top 10 and two top 4 placings in the last three years. Is Belgium the new Sweden? And can that finally translate to what would be only their second win at their 60th contest?
Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 previews countdown: #16 BELGIUM – Sennek – “A Matter of Time””
It’s our penultimate Nordic country – and those of you paying attention will know who is my top placed Nordic this year. Denmark are three-times winners, and after a couple of poor years with non-qualifications, they made it back to the grand final last year. Can they repeat that return to form this year? Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 previews countdown: #17 DENMARK – Rasmussen – “Higher Ground””
For third preview in a row, we’re in south-east Europe, and it’s a country that has brought us its fair share of Greek-flavoured party bangers over the years. This year however, they’ve moved away from the party banger sound but have very definitely got a Greek-flavoured song. Their last attempt at a non-party banger Greek-flavoured song ld to their first (and to date only) non-qualification to the grand final. Will this fare better?
Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 previews countdown: #18 GREECE – Yianna Terzi – “Oniro mou””
Staying in the Balkans, it’s the third up of the five ex-Yugoslav countries in this year’s contest. Last year, Croatia gave us a monstrosity that was loathed by the fan base (including me) yet somewhat predictably somehow managed to go on and do well in the grand final! Can their effort this year (a much classier affair) repeat that success of last year?
Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 previews countdown: #19 CROATIA – Franka – “Crazy””
We’re into the top 20! The crème de la crème of this year’s offerings – well according to me anyway… And first up in this top group is a country that may come as a surprise that it’s come so high – Albania. Of recent years, most Albanian entries have been mediocre angst-ridden female solo ballads, sometimes attempting vocal gymnastics – and none have appealed much to me (or Eurovision voters it has turned out!) but this year Albania has chosen differently. Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 previews countdown: #20 ALBANIA – Eugent Bushpepa – “Mall””
The Entente Cordiale is alive and well – with the vocalist of Madame Monsieur (France’s Eurovision 2018 representatives) falling ill just before the biggest of the preview events, SuRie, the UK’s representative for Eurovision this year, offered to take the stricken Émilie’s place and sing (with almost no time to learn the song and rehearse) at the concert. My friend Zoltan was the man on the ground and who I have to thank for sending this through to me. A true magical Eurovision moment! Continue reading “SuRie sings “Mercy” by Madame Monsieur at Eurovision in Concert 2018″
We’re staying in the Mediterranean as we move into the top half of my rankings and it’s that other country who are long-time entrants but yet to achieve a win – though they have come agonisingly close on several occasions. Eurovision without them just wouldn’t seem right – and they have not missed a contest since their return in 1991. They are the tiny island with a big heart – it’s Malta. Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 previews countdown: #21 MALTA – Christabelle – “Taboo””
