I love acoustic music, and quite frankly who doesn't. Heck, back when MTV actually showed music, "Unplugged" was one of my favorite shows. So when a few of the contestants put out acoustic versions, I jumped all over that.
First of is Sabina Babayeva (Azerbaijan) who gives "When the Music Dies" a little flamenco flair. It doesn't have the same power notes as the official version, but her voice is just gorgeous.
Iris (Belgium) also shines in "Would You." I really think it suits her voice a lot better, and the entire song seems a bit sweeter and less generic pop.
Roman Lob (Germany) gives yet another swoon-worthy performance of "Standing Still." I swear, if this song played on American radio, people would think it was the new single by The Fray.
And as a bonus, here's the acoustic version of last year's winner, Ell & Nikki's "Running Scared" (Azerbaijan). There's harmony in that song I never knew existed before!
We're half way done with the semi-finals! Only three more pots and the finalists to go! Today's pot is a strange mix of Mediterranean and the Benelux.
Armenia
First Appearance: 2006
Highest Place: 4th (2008)
Armenia withdrew from the competition on March 7, 2012, citing safety concerns for its delegation, a month and a half after the pots and semi-finals had been allocated. For a discussion about the icy relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan that lead to this decision, click here.
Belgium
First Appearance: 1956
Highest Place: 1st (1986)
Iris - "Would You"
At 17, Iris is one of the youngest competitors in this year's competition, and it shows. The song is nice, in that teenage ballad way (am I the only one who could see Taylor Swift singing something this this?), but I don't think it will score that high. "Would You" won the song selection in Belgium with 53% of the vote, while the other option, "Safety Net" garnered 47% of the vote. However, don't underestimate the youth from Belgium; Sandra Kim won with "J'Aime la Vie" at age 13 in 1986, the youngest winner in Eurovision history.
Cyprus
First Appearance: 1981
Highest Place: 5th (1982, 1997, 2004)
Ivi Adamou - "La La Love"
Another upbeat song by a young competitor, and this one is oddly catching (trust me, after a listen or two, you'll find pops into your head at random times). Eurovision betting odds say that it will do well, although Eurovision isn't likely to be coming to us from Nicosia next year. I'm definitely a big fan of the Snow White motif, although did anyone notice in three minutes, Adamou shows more emotional range than that other Snow White (Kristen "Bella Swan" Stewart).
Greece
First Appearance: 1974
Highest Place: 1st (2005)
Eleftheria Eleftheriou - "Aphrodisiac"
Another upbeat song by a young competitor, and this one is oddly catching (trust me, after a listen or two, you'll find pops into your head at random times). Eurovision betting odds say that it will do well, although Eurovision isn't likely to be coming to us from Athens next year. Wait, is that the same thing I just said about Cyprus? Yes, because they're both nice, fun, upbeat songs that enjoy alliteration. Eleftheriou was actually born and raised in Cyprus (more similarities?) Is anyone else getting vibes of Helena Paparizou (first place in 2005) or Kalomira (third place in 2008)?
So, it's a nice little song that's a change from the ballads and pop numbers in the pot so far. And if you listen to it, it's a kind of sweet (she's talking about playing "Indian" with a friend when she was five). But the outfit...the backup dancers. We're about thisclose to awful stereotype and thisclose to the craziness that Eurovision sometimes can become. I'm not sure which way it's going to fall yet.
Turkey
First Appearance: 1975
Highest Place: 1st (2003)
Can Bonomo - "Love Me Back"
Turkey gives us an interesting mix of modern pop music with traditional flare. The song has yet to grow on me, but the video more than makes up it. Interesting note: Bonomo is of Jewish descent, yet is representing a nation that, as a Muslim state, previously chose not to participate in Eurovision when it was held in Jerusalem.
Five more down, only a few more to go. Pick from this pot? Cyprus.
