Hanna Ferm at Lotta på Liseberg, July 2020.
Yep, she still gave me one of my moments of the 2021 season!
It is stretching the past season a little but twelve months it is and what happened to Hanna showed what a great professional she is and made me smile, so it had to be part of my TWENTY personal moments of Eurovision 2021. Normally this is a written article only but I wanted to play the music to go along with the artists, so it conveniently became show 149! Have a listen to LET ME BE THE ONE by one simple click:
Now you will notice that I out my moments into a nice playlist to produce a great flow on the radio - it wasn't chronological as you will be able to tell from the playlist...
"Lie" - Oskr
"MONUMENT" - KEiiNO
"Discoteque" - THE ROOP
"Friendzone" - Alicja Jern
"Adrenalina" - Senhit ft Flo Rida
"Knucklehead" - Mixed Up Everything
"Maps" - Lesley Roy
"Chiamami per nome" - Francesca Michielin & Fedez
"growing up is getting old" - VICTORIA
"Behöver inte dig idag" (Akustisk version) - Clara Klingenström
"Pas grandir" - Barbara Pravi
"Aldrig Nånsin" - Hanna Ferm
"SHUM (eurovision version)" - Go_A
"Dancing in The Stars" - NEEV
"Fallen Angel" - TIX
"Energy" - Kadri Voorand
"The Wrong Place" - Hooverphonic
"Sweet Water" - Davina Michelle
"Amen" (eurovision version) - Ana Soklič
"Embers" - James Newman
"Beggin'" - Måneskin
"Let Me Be The One" - The Shadows
And as you can see, there are six tracks that I haven't played before but that do relate to the artists that created my moments. Confused? Don't be - I explain all on the show and a bit more below, all of them in sort of date order. So lets start with Hanna!
Hanna Ferm has shoe issues...
The video here is a little small to see - click here for a better view. Every time I watch this clip, I have the biggest smile - Hanna Ferm is such a lovely lady and is singing one of the sing-along staples that Lotta på Liseberg is famous for, wondering from stage front to the satellite stage and then over to the other artists. What nobody in the production team had accounted for is that the open drainage grill would have holes just big enough for Hanna's heel to stick in! She handled it amazingly well and didn't have to stop singing, as David and Kristina Lindgren immediately came to her aid and got her loose. The bizarre thing was that they were showing a split screen clip from the previous year and Hanna stumbled over the feet of an audience member as she walked down the walkway a few seconds after that happened in the live show! She fits the persona of 'Cute Clumsy Girl' perfectly - what will happen on July 26th 2021, when she is due back on the show? I know that I'll be watching and chances are that she will be singing her new release "Aldrig Nånsin" that I played on the show...
Who are Mixed Up Everything?
A Melbourne band on their European tour are almost finished as they play in Albania - the pandemic strikes and they cannot leave nor fly back to Australia. Somehow their predicament led to them providing the interval act at Festivali i Këngës 59 - yes, it is a lip-synched performance of their cover of "Wind Of Change" by Scorpions but it was entertaining and totally unexpected by everyone, even most Eurovision Aussies watching who had no idea who Mixed Up Everything were! I now know and I played one of THEIR songs, "Knucklehead", on the show - could that performance lead to a place in Australia's 2022 selection process? Another national final is mooted - surely this would be a really interesting back story for the show, even if there are likely to be 'heavyweights' returning (Dami Im?)...
UMK artists show the ultimate respect...
UMK 2021 was my favourite National Final of the year by far - a great line-up of artists and songs, one of the best English commentaries I have ever heard and a final result that was vindicated by Europe and Australia in Rotterdam. That was topped off by this video that showed how intelligent, insightful and respectful all of the artists in Finland were this year when listening to each others music. No bitching, no bad mouthing, just some nice comments on each song - when you consider that we had Country, ballads, nu-metal and a funeral song this year, that is no mean feat. I played Oskr's "Lie" on the show as that was my studio favourite but there was no way anyone was beating Blind Channel this year. UMK 2022 is happening and I am thoroughly looking forward to it already...
Barbara Pravi was my revelation...
I had her third based on the studio versions of the songs from 'Eurovision France, c'est vous qui décidez!' but the above staging made me put her first in my book immediately. I knew that this would win in France and I instantly knew that we would have a potential Jury winner in Rotterdam (second) - what I wasn't sure about was how the public would take to this song. Third there at Eurovision was a great televote result and if it were not for the overwhelming public love for Italy, we would have had a JESC/ESC double for the first time ever. Not much change in the staging meant that what we got here was more or less what we had in Rotterdam - a perfect modern chanson with incredible intensity and drive, sung by one of the most passionate singers that we have had at the Contest for years. France is getting stronger and wanting to win this Contest - don't be surprised if we get another Big 5 nation on the winner's spot in a year or so. I played Barbara Pravi's debut single "Pas grandir" just to show off her versatility - maybe she will sing that live in March...
Sometimes simple is best - Kadri Voorand...
There were two selection processes that seemed pre-determined from the start - THE ROOP winning in Lithuania and Uku Suviste winning in Estonia. That didn't stop some artists using the opportunity to show off their talent and Kadri Voorand was one of those. "Energy" was a song that didn't stand out from the Eesti Laul list in the studio but the performance was arguably the one to watch this year - she is a classically trained singer and musician, something that is clearly evident when you watch the video. Her vocals, her emphasis on each word, her piano playing, her emotional delivery, all superb and this was my favourite performance of Eesti Laul 2021. When I watch this again, I just wonder how this would have fitted into the line-up at Eurovision - it would have been a stand out, much like the musicianship of Hooverphonic. Would it have got Estonia a final place? I am sure that the juries would have appreciated it and if filmed like that in Rotterdam, even the public would have had some memory at the end of the recap. We will never know but fingers crossed we will see Kadri again...
If looks could kill...
Francesca Michelin and Fedez were Sanremo runners-up to the eventual Eurovision winners, as it turns out - luckily his social media transgression didn't prevent that happening in the first place. His posting of a short snippet of "Chiamami per nome" (which was quickly removed) was overlooked by the Sanremo producers and these flowers were intended to be an apology to her. Of course, us guys never really understand and her face makes this picture so unforgettable! Will neither, either or both of these incredible artists be back in 2022 with the prize being the host entry at Eurovision? We will have to wait and see...
Clara Klingenström was the real star of Melodifestivalen...
All the focus was on Tusse, Dotter, Eric Saade, Charlotte Perrelli, Danny Saucedo and The Mamas at Melodifestivalen 2021 as possible winners but for me the real star was Clara. She was the artist that benefited most from being at Sweden's premier music event this year - her simple staging involving her singing perfectly and playing a guitar, no gimmicks, no bells or whistles, struck a chord with the voters to the extent that she ended up third with the televote behind The Mamas and runaway winner Tusse. "Behöver inte dig idag" is the most successful track to come out of the process and bar having Måneskin as a coup star guest, she was the one to watch on the premiere of Lotta på Liseberg last week. It would not surprise me to see her at Melodifestivalen 2022 but this time as one of the contenders to win and be Sweden's artists in Italy - perhaps she and Måneskin will co-star yet again...
NEEV sung arguably the most heart wrenching lyrics this year...
The televote winner at Festival da Canção 2021 but having not enough support from the juries meant that "Dancing In The Stars" was not the first English language song to be sent to Eurovision by Portugal. To be honest, I think that "Love Is On My Side" by The Black Mamba was the right choice for Eurovision 2021 but NEEV gave us one of the performances at any national final this year. His lyrics and the emotional delivery were supreme and most years would have seen him go forward - it is the highlight of Portugal's selection process for many fans and perhaps we will see him turn out yet again at FdC. Will his song be in English or Portuguese though?
Hooverphonic grabbed me during this radio show performance...
It was a year of redemption for Hooverphonic - 2020 saw them at loggerheads with fans due to their decision not to participate in 'Eurovision : Europe Shine A Light' and Alex Callier's apparent aloofness about the whole process. By the end of the 2021 Final, everyone seems to be on good terms - Hooverphonic'got' Eurovision, they made the Final, they accepted their low televote score, they enjoyed the show and will return to their fans and career with a zero benefit/deficit as far as I can see. They won't turn up at any Eurovision events but I felt that it will be viewed as a positive experience. As for my moment, this live performance of "The Wrong Place" on NPO2 showed what a superb lead singer Geike and gave a big hint that she was going to be THE focal point of their Eurovision staging (as we saw in Rotterdam). A great vocal and charismatic show, thank you guys for giving it another year...
Well done to the Ukrainian PR team who sorted out my chat with Taras, the keyboard player / sound engineer / best English speaker from Go_A - he was informative, witty and having someone from the band who came second in the televote and fifth overall isn't a bad thing, is it? My interviews were constrained by the pandemic and none of the promo events happening, my usual source of artist chats - here's hoping that everything is back to normal in that regard next year...
NINE complete sets of National Final entries played on the show...
And one of those was of course, KEiiNO's "MONUMENT" - expected to win MGP 2021 by us fans, all bar those who knew something of the Norwegian music scene and put their money on TIX! Nine selection processes covered in their entirety, 116 songs in all from these nations:
Spain 2
Israel 3
Bulgaria 6
Finland 7
Denmark 8
France 12
Estonia 24
Norway 26
Sweden 28
I could have added Portugal as I downloaded all of the FdC album, playing nine of those but I will bow out gracefully as the season is over. Maybe next year...
I was interviewed on Swedish radio...
Thank you to Emil and Carolina for contacting me and having me as a guest on "Eftermiddag i P4 Skaraborg" the day before the P4 Nästa Final - it was an experience to chat to them in English and then wait for them to translate it all into Swedish for their listeners. Alicja Jern's "Friendzone" was their local P4 artist and it has become one of my favourites over time. Pity that the radio contest won't have an automatic place at Melodifestivalen in 2022 but I will still be listening in case any of the singers turn up in February as one of the magical 28...
The Power Of Water was THE BEST INTERVAL ACT this year...
There are not many interval acts that stick in my mind but this one did, mainly due to the visuals which were superb and to the incredible vocals of Davina Michelle. I suspect that when she wants to do Eurovision, The Netherlands will throw their full weight behind her campaign, as she has charisma, she looks the part and she has an amazing voice. If, like me, you watched the Hymn concert, you will know what I mean - this is a potential Eurovision winner of the future...
Lesley Roy & TIX answered my questions at Rotterdam...
The Online Press Centre was amazing this year - no travel needed, always on time, easy to eat and drink whilst watching, plus it was arguably easier to have a question answered via the Online chat than it was being in the Press Conference or Meet & Greet themselves! My question to Lesley Roy was credited to Destination Eurovision who were the press name below my question, whereas there was no confusion with the TIX one - fingers crossed that there is a virtual Press Centre again, IF I don't make it to Italy. Many thanks yet again to the UK delegation for supplying me with the press pass this year - just a pity that a more positive story couldn't have been painted of our entry...
VICTORIA gave me my first WOW moment in Rotterdam...
The rehearsals of "growing up is getting old" was where I had my first sign of perfection at Rotterdam - VICTORIA's singing, her emotional story telling, the props that were so integral to the performance (picture of her dad and the sands of time) plus that angelic choir / golden lights moment just blew me away. This was the first entry to get 20/20 from me, top marks for vocals, visuals and overall impression - "Zitti e buoni" and "Voilà" scored the same but obviously being Direct Finalists meant that they came afterwards. I was surprised that Bulgaria only got 11th but I am sure that we will see more of the delightful VICTORIA over the coming months and years...
Don Jiggy, Flo Rida, Senhit and her Freaky Trip...
No other artist kept the fandom so entertained throughout the run-up to Rotterdam as Senhit did. Those videos on her #freakytriptorotterdam were intense, vivid and inspired - the work that she and Luca Tommossini put into all of those was incredible and that is her lasting legacy. I fully expected Senhit to qualify for the Final with "Adrenalina" and that was even before we knew that Flo Rida might be there on stage with her. To be honest, Don Jiggy was a superb stand-in during the rehearsals and if Flo hadn't made it, San Marino would have had a safe pair of hands for the rap part of the entry. 22nd was far too low a finish for this piece of brilliance - this is NOT a worse entry than "Say Na Na Na"! At least every returnee for San Marino has made the Final now - a NF beckons in 2022...
Having a live audience was wonderful and THE ROOP were the right act to open...
It might have only been 3500 fans per show but that made a world of difference - the artists seemed more up for it, the shows on tv had so much more atmosphere and it was the beginning of the path back to a 'normal' Eurovision world. Whoever chose THE ROOP to kick things off was a genius - flawless, fun and slick was the phrases for "Discoteque" and it was one hell of a way to get the party started. The other plus was having all the artists around the stage - it raised the camaraderie and if it wasn't for the fact that venues like standing fans to add atmosphere and camera shots, I'd be happy to see that stay for Italy 2022. Fingers crossed that wherever that is, there are no restrictions...
I was very busy with radio shows, articles and video reviews...
Being at home meant that I could get more things done for the radio show, for Bradley Stoke Radio (drivetime 5 minutes, three 15 shows plus an hour Saturday special) and for ESC FAN TV (THIRTY-SEVEN rehearsal reviews!). I didn't stop for two weeks and that is what I should have been doing in Tel Aviv (admittedly just for the week), but the novelty of it all and being a newbie really stopped me doing as much as I wanted to. Now just to move that onto being on site in Italy (hopefully) - of those 37 videos, Ana Soklič's "Amen" was the first one that I was involved in and that is why she appeared on the show this week. Everything I did was as positive as possible - not in a smarmy, "teacher's pet" sort of way, but trying to draw on the best things about a performance or vocals etc. What is the point of being a nasty bitchy critic? I have heard and seen some of those press regulars who are like that and it is as if their soul is being cut away with only nasty criticism being left - they are people to avoid in future press centres. I am already looking forward to next season - maybe I can fill in the time with more interviews over the summer to add to my lovely chat with Lisa Andreas/Porter...
Zero points for James and the UK...
This new way of presenting the scoring was meant to avoid a 'Zero/Zero' points happening but it did - James Newman got no points from jury or televote. To be brutally honest with you, he wasn't anywhere near my top ten so he would have got nothing from me either, but I was shocked that there were three others with no televote points as well. Germany and Spain I can see why but The Netherlands? That was an outrage and it was painful to watch Chantel and Jan have to read out FOUR nations with zero points - I think that the EBU Reference Group will look into this, at least perhaps not reading out such low marks on the televote, which would minimise any embarrassment? James to his credit took it in his stride on the night and it did seem to cause a sea change in the way that the UK public and music industry saw our result - no more "everyone hates us" or "it was all Brexit", but more "we weren't good enough, how do we change that". If that continues through to 2022 then getting absolute rock bottom and no points might be a blessing in disguise. It is still a moment though...
Måneskin take on the world and are winning...
As I write this, the Italian winners of Eurovision are the music act of the moment. They are reaching top tens everywhere in numerous markets and breaking records wherever they go. "Zitti e buoni" reached the top 20 in the UK and currently "I Wanna Be Your Slave" plus "Beggin'" are both in our top ten, the first time an Italian act has done that. Admittedly it is just a month since they won in Rotterdam but compared to most recent winners, having more than your winning song doing well is amazing - I hope that this continues and that they are managed properly to take all the opportunities that arise. Even though Barbara Pravi was my favourite in 2021, the right act won - not only for them, but for Italy who had been knocking on the winner's door for so many years and also for Eurovision. This band is a phenomenom and it will hopefully inspire new artists to do Eurovision, plus have record labels and established acts look at the world's greatest music contest as an option for success. Måneskin might be as big a turning point for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 as ABBA were in 1974 - another level of recognition, an increase in popularity and a step up in credibility by the serious musos and music press would be a godsend for the EBU. They are popular winners - let's keep backing them all the way...
What Was Yours?