Bright and loud with lots of heart(s)...
That's the Liverpool artwork...
Is it going to be how Eurovision 2023 is too?
Tuesday 31st January was a massive day for Liverpool and Eurovision, in that it was not only the day of the next big event, the Handover/Allocation Draw, but also the reveal of the artwork and slogan for Eurovision 2023. Yes, The Guide Liverpool told the world about these things the day before, as they watched the workmen putting banners up for the following day, but all the official pulsing gifs and super-stunning art came out to mostly positivity. Once we knew that it was hearts in the logo and that the font was clearly chosen as PENNY LANE, we now know what will be emblazoned on our merchandise this season. A closer look at the slogan? Go on then...
The main event on Tuesday was that SF Allocation Draw - that took place an hour before LET ME BE THE ONE started and I watched it on my laptop in the studio. You can hear what I thought about it at the beginning of the show - click below:
And the playlist?
"Diva" - Dana International
"Cry For You" - Ochman & @atutowy ft KALUSH ORCHESTRA
"Brutally Honest With You" - Victor Vernicos
"Sudnji Dan" - Thea Devy
"Flood" - Maella
"ghosting" - Pam Rabbit
"Happy" - Markéta Irglová
"My Sister's Crown" - VESNA
"Introvert Party Club" - Rodan
"Til evig tid" - Ulrikke
"Kemama" (Karaoke Version) - Benny Cristo
"Mall" - Eugent Bushpepa
"Too Good For Your Love" - ADGY
"Midnight Summer Night" - CONNOLLY
"We Are One" - Wild Youth
"Wild" - Leila Jane
"Down In The Rain" (censored) - Academy ft K Muni & ND
"Hawaii" - Public Image Limited
"Do What You Do" - Mario Junes
"Love Of My Life" (Eurovision version) - Petunija
"Žinau, tai tu" - I.T.
"Att älska dig" - Shirley Clamp
"Stress" - Odd Børre
"Let Me Be The One" - The Shadows
You have now heard what I thought - here are those placings in full. First the Direct Finalists:
SF1 - Serbia/Croatia, Norway/Sweden/Finland
SF2 - Cyprus/Greece, Estonia/Lithuania, Georgia/Armenia
There seemed to be no real connection between the Direct Finalists in each SF and any other nation, bar perhaps Ukraine with Georgia/Armenia. Other sites will dissect and discuss possible pros and cons for each nation in that draw - for me, as I said on the show:
If an entry is good enough, it won't need geography to get it through to the Final!
The whole Handover/Allocation Draw show was excellent in my opinion - Rylan and AJ Odudu were relaxed, entertaining, professional and interacted with the camera and the extras drawing the Direct nations with ease. It bodes well for Eurovision itself as far as BBC coverage is concerned, fingers crossed. We now have the rest of the National Final season to navigate and the gaps for the SFs can be filled over the coming six or so weeks. Two more artists were added to that list this week and you heard something from their back catalogue on the show. Let's start with Greece...
Victor Vernicos has been chosen as the Greek artist for Liverpool and will be singing "What They Say". That song has not been revealed as yet and so on the show I gave you a taster of what he sounds like with his latest release "Brutally Honest With You". What an incredible voice this 16 year old has! If his Eurovision entry is anything like the song you heard on the show then Greece might end up with a third consecutive top ten placing. He is already signed up with Panik Records, a sure-fire way to guarantee excellence as far as staging expertise and vocal coaching is concerned - as soon as "What They Say" is released, you will hear it on the show.
The reason for linking you to that again? You still have the chance to vote! I have already, based on my preferences on the night:
That was I.T. with "Žinau, tai tu" from Lithuania's Pabandom iš naujo 2023 Heat 2 - I loved this, vocally and performance wise. It bordered on pure artistry, with the dark shades and colour on her body, the gold leaf and what appeared to be something like an ultrasound scan on her abdomen, and yet this did not make the SF, finishing 11th. Perhaps it was too out there for Lithuania but it earnt I.T. the right to be played on my show and have her video here on the blog!
I'll tell you why Luis Ejlli's "Zjarr E Ftohtë" is on the show
next time on LET ME BE THE ONE!