Eurovision 2012 // My Top Picks - The Top 5

It all comes down to this -- my Top 5 choices for this year's Eurovision contest which comes to its epic finale on Saturday May 26 in Baku, Azerbaijan. If you missed my picks for the bottom half of the Top 10 then head over to the first post.

The top picks I chose are, I think, diverse, interesting, creative and all worthy of attention.

May the best one win!

5. Anggun - Echo (You and I)


France's entry from Anggun was another prequalifier which makes it difficult to gauge how well she will do at the finals. She's a veteran of the music industry having spent the past 25 years as a charting performer, and she has the chops to impress, while the quality of the song also gives her the potential to rank high. In interviews she expressed her disappointment with the rehearsals, so perhaps she'll step up her performance on game night.




4. Soluna Samay - Should've Known Better


As I've said previously, Soluna's entry for Denmark is probably the best song from this year's competition. I could see it being a hit on North American radio stations, and it reminds me of the Lilith Fair era of music that defined the late '90s. Unfortunately, her stage presence is a little underwhelming and it'll cost her a top position. Really, the main problem is that this song doesn't deserve to be in Eurovision. To put it lightly, it's better than this contest. Eurovision is more about being showy and over the top to a perfection, if not just plain silly. Soluna has a competent track that isn't improved by her silly military uniform.


3. Tooji - Stay


A couple months ago I was rooting for Tooji to take the top prize. The song was shut out of Sweden and wound up migrating over to represent Norway. In its infancy, Stay was an energetic, pulsing club track that Tooji took to the stage with wide-eyed wonder and a surprising amount of precision. When he performed it again earlier this week at the semi-finals his vocals were flat, he looked like he'd overpracticed and the whole performance had lost its spark. I wish he was still my number one pick, but he's slid, and slid fast.


2. Roman Lob - Standing Still



This isn't one of my favourite songs in the competition, but it gets a higher rank because I understand just how strong the entry is, and that its exactly the kind of song that could sneak a win. Roman Lob is cute, he has a presence and the track goes down smooth. Standing Still is the kind of song that would have a home on American Idol or any other singing contest show. All of these factors could play into him scoring high or taking the top spot for Germany. Unfortunately it's a little hard to say in advance because he was another prequalifier so we haven't seen his full live performance.




1. Loreen - Euphoria


Sweden has a stunning opportunity to come out as the winner with this powerful track from Loreen who showed real potential early in the game, but has emerged as a force to be reckoned with this past week in the semifinals. The dance track could've been written for Celine Dion if she went the direction of dance diva, but Loreen owns it quite well with a geisha-inspired dance sequence. If she can flutter around, lessen that slurred speech and keep a tune, I think she'll take this one home.

So what do you think? What are your Top 5 picks?

Don't forget to log onto the Eurovision website at 3 p.m. EST (9 p.m. CET) on Saturday to stream the show live. And have fun!

Eurovision 2012 // My Top Picks

I swear I haven't been neglecting you all intentionally, but things have been busy and honestly much of my music-related time has been spent scouring the contestants for this year's Eurovision contest which comes to its epic finale on Saturday May 26 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

While the contest is widely considered a joke when it comes to quality, and is best known for birthing the career of ABBA, I think recent years have displayed some real talent. While the contest is still a guilty pleasure of mine, in the pop world it needs a little more respect. If anything, it's pure fun.

So here it is, my Top 10 picks for the contest this year. It's not necessarily what I think will win, but it's a combination of my opinion on the songs, performances, and realism on whether they could actually win or not. For example, I love Soluna Samay's song and think it's probably the best of this year, but her life performance is incredibly dull, which is why she ranks so low.

Even if you don't follow Eurovision and could care less, consider these 10 cheesy pop tracks that you could add to your guilty pleasure list, or listen to once and forget about forever. Whichever you choose, I will definitely be on the Eurovision website at 3 p.m. EST (9 p.m. CET) streaming the show live.


The Top 10

10. Gréta Salóme & Jónsi - Never Forget


For what Iceland's entry lacks in song quality (it's pretty standard and sort of dull), it makes up for in a whalloping, dramatic live performance. It's just a shame that the passion and talent they have on stage couldn't be used for a more winning song, but the way they rock the violin mid-song gives them some extra credit.

9. Nina Zilli - L'Amore È Femmina (Out Of Love)


Italy chose a sizzling throwback to the '60s for its entry and while the track is quite good it was also a pre-qualifier which means we've seen very little of Nina performing it live. That makes it hard to decide how good the live show really will be on Saturday night. The rehersal footage isn't bad though...




8. Ivi Adamou - La La Love


I've really had trouble getting past the live performance of Ivi Adamou's La La Love, an otherwise fun dance track. There's something about her presence that seems sloppy and silly, and it really hurts her chances. The only thing I can compare it to is a teenage girl in high school performing in her school play, half trying to be "showy" and half in love with her own show. It doesn't work very well, and Cyprus should've seen this early on when they chose her as the performer, whittling down three of her songs to this one. The only factor ranking this song so high is its enthusiasm.

7. Gaitana - Be My Guest


If Gaitana could just rein it in a bit then the entry for Ukraine would be higher in my books, but judging by the way she sang at the Thursday semi-final she can't help but belt it out at a nauseating level. Earlier in the contest she performed the celebratory song without straining so much, but perhaps she was just too excited? Either way, she's no Whitney or Aretha so bring it down a bit.

6. Jedward - Waterline


As much as Jedward gets on my nerves these twins have ambition, and they came back to Eurovision this year with a weaker song (they competed last year with the song Lipstick), but a performance that's full of surprises and really delivers. It starts with their costumes, which look like what would happen if He-Man and She-Ra had gay twin babies, but it builds with the "waterline" and a big wet finale. These guys really want to win, and their efforts are on full display.

Continue onto my Top 5 picks for this year...

Song of the Day // Ladyhawk - Sunday Drive

OK, I'm back. Sorry, I've been incredibly busy, but I'll make it up over the next few days. Here's a good one for you to start...

One of the best feelings I get from music has to be when a relatively new artist puts out new music that's actually an improvement over their previous work.

Ladyhawk has done that with Sunday Drive, a stomping pop track that has a slight '60s R&B flavour. It doesn't sound like a hit, but it sounds like the kind of song you'd add to your playlist and listen to for years to come.