As opening days go, it certainly was one. It was certainly pretty damp as well. There were times in today’s proceedings that I feared the fjord was coming to see us. I was sure I could see some bearded old chap on a distant hill shepherding animals into a big boat. But this is a city that suits damp, and in the old moments the deluge was quelled, steam and mist instantly began drifting out the of wooded forests that surround this city and looked pretty atmospheric while they were about it.
But enough of that typical English griping about the weather (it’ll be too hot next week, you mark my words!), it’s the songs you want to hear about, I’m quite sure. Well my On-U colleagues have covered them in some depth already, so I’ll only dip my commentary toe in the water for some quick impressions (just like that! oh please yourselves …)
The day’s opener Moldova wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. In fact, everybody said that. At the same time, no one claimed any particular joy towards the song either. It’s not a bad opening, as it goes, but leaves the brain almost the moment it ends. And that saxomophier is a bell end of the highest order.
Russia, on the other hand, was fabulous. Yeah, I know you don’t see it, but you’re not looking right. Yeah, it’s morbid and in bad English, but that’s the point. It’s a dark, self-mocking intellectual ballad with a wry sense of humour that’s head and shoulders above anything else in this contest. The boy Nalich was also hilarious in his press conference, gently mocking the dope who’s chairing them this year without ever being cruel. Having said that, you can’t see it doing anything much better than qualifying, but it’s a fabulous thing all the same, and I’m so glad it’s here.
Estonia on the other hand suffer from the draw. Anyone who didn’t see the fun in Nalich is going to dash off to the bog when this one is on. Which is a shame, cos I quote like it, despite it’s frequent sparse moments where you drift off and wonder what to have for tea. Sadly, the one thing you don’t see enough of with the camera direction his lumbered with is his crazy legs – which were the only thing that was going to get him any votes at all. Sadly doomed, bless ’em.
Slovakia is there. It starts, goes on for just under three minutes, and then it ends. Any claims to the otherwise are sadly exaggerated. As are any claims that she’s going to win. Nice enough, but that’s not enough.
Finland’s a chuckle though. A happy-go-lucky bounce-along that’ll have the crowd all clapping in the wrong place by the second reel. They sell it well, and folks will like it. Whether they will vote for it is an entirely different matter.
The Latvian lass though sounds like she’s in trouble. Her voice has been flatting out and breaking up all over the shop. She can clearly sing, but her big notes keep collapsing like a straw scaffold and she’s visibly struggling to find her pitch. Let’s hope that it’s just a tech itch and not any fault of hers. Having said that, the song is thoroughly ludicrous, mind.
We missed the last pairing of Serbia and Bosnia, as we whipped off to the north of the city to watch the Valerenga match – and jolly good fun it was too. The like a singsong these Norwegians, and they treated us to one of the best displays of flag waving and pointless bouncing about that we’ve witnessed in a long time. Just a shame that the game wasn’t one of the best, but the overall experience was marvellous.
I have just had a peek at the two songs that I missed though and here’s the verdict.
Serbia? Nah mate. The poor boy looked knackered by the middle eight, and the song plods along at best. Shame, cos he’s quite likeable too.
Bosnia came and went. It was like a soundcheck at a pub gig by a support band you never got the energy to watch.
Oh blimey, my short notes have become big blathers, so I’ll desist. But not before I warn you that we’re off to the opening of Euroclub in a mo, so we’ll report any shenanigans tomorrow – if anyone’s manage to burst through the dust yet.
Be warned.