Bored

So there's 2 and a half hours til my next radio show (which you can listen to here),and as we've been planning it all week,there's not really anything left to do this evening.
2 bits of Dima Bilan related 'news' though,both of which I'm quite excited about.The first being that I found his version of Ave Maria the other night.Seems like a very strange song for a Russian to cover,or for any pop artist to cover for that matter,I don't know how that came about,but it's really lovely.No video or anything though,and I can't quite remember where I found it now,so that was a pointless bit of news really.Secondly though- it's been confirmed that Mr B's going to be attempting Eurovision again this year!That's very exciting indeed.According to the many websites I've read it on,the song will be in Spanish (Spanish?!) and was written by someone who's worked with Christina Aguilera.Ooh...That's it,Russian National Final Day (March 9th) will officially be a holiday at Europop Mansions Surrey Branch,complete with lots of raucous singing of Dima songs and lots of vodka too!Probably.

Le mie radici resteranno qua

Apart from listening to Brandur practically non stop when I'm on the internet at university,I've been really getting into another song lately too.It's called Sogno Americano (American Dream) and is on this MySpace page. I came across it at some stupid time yesterday morning whilst watching a re-run of some panel programme on the Napoli FC Supporters channel (don't ask).There is a video to it,quite a nice video I must say,but it doesn't appear to be on youtube yet so I'm having to listen to this song via MySpace,which is a bit rubbish.Anyway,check it out,it's really good.I particularly love the lyrics.Mostly because the Italian is basic enough for me to understand,yet it still makes a nice strong point :)

Dreamers like us can get around without spending a fortune

Just a quick post to let you know I'm in (musical) love again.Not with a Russian though.Or a Belarussian.Or even a Norwegian.
Brandur Enni,as you probably know from Melodifestivalen,is from the Faroe Islands like Teitur,who I also love lots.For an 18 year old,he's been around quite a while,having released an album and everything 6 years ago...I've probably mentioned my opinions about child stars before,but Brandur's early songs weren't actually that bad.At least the ones I've heard so far.Anyway,have a look at his MySpace page. There's 4 songs on there,I really like World Citizens.And All For You.And the other 2 as well actually,they're all fabulous.
Here's his Melodifestivalen attempt from last night as well.I think I like it,but there was no way Sweden was ever going to send anything less than schlagertastic.Still though,was choosing Amy Diamond really necessary?

Anyway.Linguistics coursework.Ethnicity and language planning in Luxembourg.Must concentrate...

Life will give us time to love again

I'm still sulking about Zuma not winning Siste Sjanse last night.So to stop me thinking about the injustice,and also to give me something to do in the 20 minutes I have before I have to run off to German,I thought I'd share a few songs I've been listening to quite a lot lately that are not Always Always.

This is Dima Bilan looking rather nice and singing Ne Skuchay, Bedniy Angel, from the Vremya Reka album.Quite old then,but I've only just come across it really.It's not as good as Yunskiy Dozhd,which is another old one that I've just come across,but there doesn't seem to be any videos of that one anywhere.


And this is Dima Koldun,not looking at his best it must be said- whoever chose that outfit has seriously questionable taste in fashion...Anyway,the song is a cover of Sofia Rotaru's Ty Uletish (You'll fly away).It's wonderful,it does sound a bit old fashioned,and the chorus may well get stuck in your head...But it's still fabulous.

Norway's Mediocre Grand Prix

I'm trying to do everything I can to avoid revising for tomorrow's Russian test.And seeing as I'm quite behind with recent Eurovision events,and seeing as Norway is by far my favourite European country,I thought I'd better have a listen to the contenders for the final of Melodi Grand Prix...
It seems a lot of people are a bit surprised Lene Alexandra didn't go through from the Siste Sjanse round in Oslo tonight.Why?!I don't mind Lene actually,but Sillycone Valley was awful in every way.Zuma however,I can understand.Always Always is fabulous!I love the guy's voice,the lyrics are hilarious,and it's soooo catchy.It would have done so well in Belgrade.


But alas,it seems Saturday's final will be pretty boring.I've had a listen to all the songs in it now,and can't say I'm that excited by any of them.There's not really any bad ones,they're all good in their own right I suppose,but there's nothing that I think will really stand out amongst the other 20 or so entries that Norway will be up against in the semi final on May 20th.
I heard Eastern Wind by Torstein Sødal about a week ago,and quite liked it.This may or may not be influenced by the fact that Christian Ingebrigtsen wrote it :) But yes, Torstein has a wonderful voice,and I'm sure he'd perform really well at Eurovision.But now I've heard Zuma,I can't get too excited about it anymore.

I'm liking Ann-Mari Andersen's Ándagassii too.Normally I find the ethnic-type songs boring and repetitive,but this is really good- more like a calmed down version of Neiokõsõ's Tii type ethnic than Lane Moje type ethnic.And it's nice to hear something sung in Sami for a change.It's not your typical Norwegian ESC song though,so I doubt she'll get through.
Then there's Crash! Complete with Jetzt Anders! style exclamation mark :) Get Up is Ok,a bit of pop rock never hurt anyone...

Not too excited about Veronica Akselsen (which is a shame,because I thought Like A Wind from 2006 was really good),or Maria Haukaas Storeng.

There's a place for people like Ole Ivars,but unfortunately I don't think that place is Eurovision.I don't mind Som i Himmelen,there's nothing wrong with a bit of old Norsk Dansband...but like a lot of people,I can't believe he got through to the final.Instead of Zuma.Someone commented on the youtube video saying "noe av det dårligste som har vært i mgp's historie" which made me laugh.Norway have been competing in Eurovision for years,I'm sure there's been a lot worse at some point.

Such as this This also got through instead of Zuma.Seriously Norway,what's happened?!First you choose boring Glenn Lyse to win Idol,and now this?!

Anyway,continuing with MGP,King of Trolls seems to be getting a lot of negative comments.But I think Far Away probably has the best chance of winning on Saturday.

All in all though,I'm really not bothered who wins,I don't think any of these songs would do very much in Belgrade.I think I'll stick with supporting Belarus for another year.Go Ruslan!

Tonight...

Is the first Sounds of Europe show.From 11pm til 1am you will be able to hear lots of wonderful European things on 1350AM if you're in Guildford.If you're not (which is probably the case),you can listen online ,just click the listen live bit at the top and it should work.Unfortunately we won't have much Russian stuff tonight,but we're going to work on that a bit.There will however be a bit of Anžej Dežan, The Ark and Paolo Meneguzzi.Hope you'll be able to listen!

Your name is in my every breath

Exciting times,this video (added to youtube yesterday),is of Dima K's new song Tsaryevna.Although it's not the video that I was talking about the other day.Whether or not that video and this song are meant to go together,I still don't know,but anyway,have a look :) It's a really nice song,sounds like he's been taking tips from Prohor and his ethno-pop- very different to Dima's normal stuff.



I'll (probably) be back later with news and things about Eurolaul which has been happening this evening.