So, the countdown of all countdowns continues……

60

Country: Slovenia
Song: “Vrag Naj Vzame”
Artist: Rebeka Dremelj
Year: 2008
Position: 12th in Semi Final

Great song, a welcome addition to any dance floor! Rebeka has a very strong voice, I am just miffed with the outfit, was not good, not cool…just wrong!

59

Country: Ukraine
Song: “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”
Artist: Verka Serduchka
Year: 2007
Position: 2nd in Final

Crazyness, mental, camp, trashy…just some of the words used to describe this act but I think they fell short big-time!! Verka went all out in 2007 and he certainly got the attention he wanted but he did put on quite a show so it was well deserved! I think this will always be remembered and is nearly always guaranteed to be shown on Eurovision previews!

58

Country: Moldova
Song: “Run Away”
Artist: Sun Stroke Project & Olia Tira
Year: 2010
Position: 22nd in Final

Not exactly the worlds best singers and I think they may have been swamped by such a particularly huge stage in 2010, however, my love for the song itself sends it into my no 58!

57

Country: Finland
Song: “Lose Control”
Artist: Waldo’s People
Year: 2009
Position: 25th in Final

As with Moldova above, Waldo’s “People” didn’t exactly set the world on fire with their voices but they had one thing going for them, a great song! Presentation was quite poor, not thought out but as I said, the song has got them this far in my countdown!

56

Country: Serbia
Song: “Ovo Je Balkan”
Artist: Milan Stankovic
Year: 2010
Position: 13th in Final

Didn’t fall for this the first time I heard it but it very quickly grew on me and I became slighty obsessed! Great quirky song with a weird looking singer to match!

55

Country: Greece
Song: “Everything”
Artist: Anna Vissi
Year: 2006
Position: 9th in Final

I really thought this one was a bit of a “Diva” when I saw her in Athens but then again, I had other motives around then! I really liked the song and after five particularly busy Eurovision years, it has become one of my favourites!!

54

Country: Cyprus
Song: “Stronger Every Minute”
Artist: Lisa Andreas
Year: 2004
Position: 5th

Lisa’s song was simple and her voice amazing…she didn’t need any gimmicks or big presentations, she just used her brilliant voice!

53

Country: Germany
Song: “Dschinghis Khan”
Artist: Dschinghis Khan
Year: 1979
Position: 4th

An iconic song, an even more iconic performance! This had all the unruly behaviour and madness I enjoy in a performance! I love to hear this at any Eurovision party or gathering!

52

Country: Sweden
Song: “Take Me To Your Heaven”
Artist: Charlotte Nilsson
Year: 1999
Position: Winner

I don’t think Charlotte Nilsson (Perrelli nowadays) knew the effect she would have on Eurovision back in Israel in ’99. Maybe she did but I bet the Swedish are very happy with her. She has an amazing career now in Sweden and this song really made it for her!

51

Country: Netherlands
Song: “Ik ben Verliefd Sha La Lie”
Artist: Sieneke
Year: 2010
Position: 14th in Semi Final

This was like a throw back to the 80′s and I love it! Sienke was a bit young for this style of a song but I think she pulled it off brilliantly and should have done much better at Eurovision! Tragedy in my book!

50

Country: Greece
Song: “This Is My Night”
Artist: Skais Rouvas
Year: 2009
Position: 8th

Sakis put on such an amazing show in 2004 and didn’t disappoint five years later! He is the ultimate professional and his performances were always polished to the last detail. Both of his songs were great too along with his presenting skills! Think his second entry should have made it higher, as should his first, now that I think of it!

49

Country: Germany
Song: “Disappear”
Artist: No Angels
Year: 2008
Position: 23rd in Final

I don’t know what it is about this song but I think it’s something special. I was never fond of any of the singers, their voices were quite poor live and I cringed watching this on my screen but I have remained a huge fan of this song!

48

Country: Slovenia
Song: “Nananana”
Artist: Karmen Stavec
Year: 2003
Position: 23rd

Poor Carmen, I think she really believed she might win and I was rooting for her but deep down, even I knew she could never win but didn’t expect her to do as bad as she did. I still love that song to this day, I think she was great personally but I think her backing singers/dancers did leave her down, they didn’t look like they even wanted to be there!

47

Country: Albania
Song: “It’s All About You”
Artist: Juliana Pasha
Year: 2010
Position: 16th in Final

I thought this song was just good on the cd until I watched her belt it out on that huge stage in Oslo. Juliana really put on some show. She was firing on all cylinders and she was the type that shows up in every year of Eurovision where they impress when not expected!

46

Country: Yugoslavia
Song: “Brazil”
Artist: Bebi Doll
Year: 1991
Position: 21st

I never appreciated this until a few years ago, think I was too young at the time. She looks pure nuts the whole way through the song! I love everything about the performance now! She is FUN!

45

Country: Lithuania
Song: “Little By Little”
Artist: Laura & The Lovers
Year: 2005
Position: 25th in Semi Final

Having lisened to this on the official CD, I was expecting great things, however, when it came to the actual performance at Eurovision, I was left feeling a little disappointed, the song was still very good, she looked good and the whole presentation looked good. The singing however was a bit dead but…….but I still love this song!

44

Country: Bosnia & Herzigovina
Song: “In The Disco”
Artist: Deen
Year: 2004
Position: 9th in Final

I like to think that I’m open minded and not easily shocked but I found Deen’s performance a bit…I don’t know, I don’t think I can find the words. It was just that I thought he was very over the top but like I have learned with others, I just didn’t appreciate it enough at the time. I adore this now! It was one of the best in 2004 without a doubt and should have been higher up the table right up to the end!

43

Country: Denmark
Song: “In A Moment Like This”
Artist: Chanee & N’Evergreen
Year: 2010
Position: 4th in Final

This is a fabulous song from Denmark, it was one of my favourites to win for 2010 and I think it had the potential to win but was left down by the obvious coldness between the two singers. It appears all was not well backstage with these two. Will they regret it in years to come? Have they left their feelings for each other ruin the chances of winning? Only they can say!

42

Country: Greece
Song: “I Would Die For You”
Artist: Antique
Year: 2001
Position: 3rd

This was another amazing song among two or three others in the same year. Antique’s overall final position was well deserved and the winner was a mistake in my opinion so Antique could easily have stolen their crown! So this song remains on my top Euro party list among myself and my friends!

41

Country: Turkey
Song: “Dinle”
Artist: Sebnem Paker
Year: 1997
Position: 2nd

A huge slice of Turkey in a song that I loved from the start. A brilliant effort for Turkey and one of my all time favourite Turkish entries and of course, still a huge fan favourite all over Europe.

So….there you have songs 60 down to 41!

What do you think so far?

Which ones would you have further up in your list or not in your list at all maybe?

So, the countdown of all countdowns continues……

80

Country: Slovenia
Song: “Mr Nobody”
Artist: Anzej Dezan
Year: 2006
Position: 16th in Semi Final

When I first saw the official video for this, I thought, way over the top camp but it was more toned down at Eurovision which is a good thing and he sang very well. Not sure about the ladies around him, they didn’t quite seem to gel that well, looked a tad messy!

79

Country: Ireland
Song: “We’ve Got The World”
Artist: Mickey Joe Harte
Year: 2003
Position: 11th

What can I say? I loved everything about Mickey Joe’s performance, great voice, great emotion and great energy. I don’t think however, the dresses did anything for the backing singers at all! A small price to pay though and Mickey Joe did us proud, I still love hearing that song!

78

Country: United Kingdom
Song: “Knock Knock, Who’s There”
Artist: Mary Hopkins
Year: 1970
Position: 2nd

This was a very cutsie, feel good song from the U.K. in 1970. From what I know, Mary Hopkins was not happy with this song and regretted doing Eurovision afterwards. Mary, you have nothing to be ashamed about, this was a good entry!

77

Country: Finland
Song: “Addicted To You”
Artist: Laura
Year: 2002
Position: 16th

Really enjoyed Laura’s performance with this song. She made a huge effort to inject energy into this song and it worked for her. A decidedly catchy number from Finland which was not appreciated enough by Europe in my book!

76

Country: Finland
Song: “Pump Pump”
Artist: Fredi & Friends
Year: 1976
Position: 11th

Now this is a very guilty pleasure of mine and for many others! That girl with the perm is crazy and I love watching her, she is addictive, along with the very gigantic Fredi himself!  Also, I think the male backing singer may actually be a puppet, he barely moved for the entire performance!

75

Country: Slovakia
Song: “Horeronie”
Artist: Kristina
Year: 2010
Position: 16th

I enjoyed this song the first time I heard it but I was severely let down when I watched the live performace. This song has only made it to my no:75 because of the song and not the singer. She was without any sex appeal, decent choreography, sassiness or personality!

74

Country: Cyprus
Song: “Man Mou”
Artist: Hara & Andreas Konstantinou
Year: 1997
Position: 5th

The piece of music at the start of this had me gripped before being led into a sound from Cyprus I have come to appreciate over the years from having family there. This was probably my 2nd favourite in 1997 after the actual winner. (The dress didn’t help her but she’s forgiven!)

73

Country: Bosnia & Herzigovina
Song: “Call Me”
Artist: Feminem
Year: 2005
Position: 14th in Final

I first heard this while at work with my best friend and we both got excited when we heard this. The performance was high energy, high pitch and high teeth but it was instantly catchy, instantly a hit. Wonder what they thought after when they realised that they thanked Copenhagen after the song instead of Kiev who where hosting the show?

72

Country: Cyprus
Song: “Comme Ci, Comme Ca”
Artist: Evridiki
Year: 2007
Position: 15th in Semi Final

Had never been a fan of Evridiki before this performance but she converted me, great powerful dramatic performance which should definitely in my opinion reached the final! The song along with her outfit were ultra modern and she had a very severe look that just drew you in. Loved it!

71

Sandra has graced us with her presence again this time the only Belgium winner has rehashed the video to her winning song from 1985. Not Bad Sandra, not bad at all

Todays Forgotten Gem comes from the 2005 Melodifestivalen and Danish singer Sanne Salomonsen. 

So why do we love this song, firstly she is a hot momma who has been shaking her thing since 1975.   She looks like a cross between Jennifer Coolidge and Nicolette Sheridan and has a voice to rival Anastasia with a deepness reminiscent of Tina Turner.  The song is very catchy and would have been a good addition to Eurovision history.   All you need do is listen to it twice and you’ll find yourself singing along.  Sanne continues to sing and release albums the latest released in 2009 was entirely in Danish while the previous four had been in English.  A worthy addition to any music collection check out today’s forgotten gem, Sanne Salomonsen.

What a flawed masterpiece this was.

With some more appropriate styling och consulting Killing Me Tenderly could have been a real contender for Maria Haukass Storeng in Melodifestivalen 2009. Instead Maria had her head turned by a talentless ho-bag and was kicked out at Andra Chansen, dashing her dreams of becoming the 21st century Elisabeth Andreasson.

So, in honour of what could have been…

Fem (5) StylingOchConsulting Tips!

1. Ditch the hussy in the mini – Charlotte the harlot didn’t go down well in 2008, neither will Anna in 2009.

2. Ditch the Chicago-esque light boxes; sexually depraved prostitues do not match the mood of this song!

3. Maria love, you’ve got a great pair of lungs on you but a dancer you ain’t. We loved, loved, loved your little pointy moves as you stood still and belted out Hold On, Be Strong but what’s gotten into you now? You’re wandering around the stage aimlessly and every so often you’re grabbing your tits, shaking your well proportioned booty. You may be trying to look sultry but it’s all coming across a little Bernie from Ballinasloe after a few too many Bulmers…

4. Have you rubbed Baby Oil on your boobs? Too much Maria, too much!

5. Borrow Jade Ewan’s steps, violinists and get a sultry Swede to play Lord Webber’s piano. Or better yet, try and get Dirik Solli Tangen to join you in your treason against Norge. Make your sexy eyes at him but try and be a little more subtle than your lazerbeam-in-heat antics with Anna…

And their you have it. From Zero to Like a star, like a hero in Fem easy steps.

Todays ‘Forgotten Gem’ comes from American singer Lagaylia Frazier.  Before Lagaylia took to the Melodifestivalen stage she had made quite a name for herself stateside having appeared opposite Sharon Stone and Sylvester Stallone in the movie ‘The Specialist’ as a club singer performing two songs one of which, ‘Shower me with love’ would go on in a remixed version to reach number 2 on the Billboard dance charts.  She went on to work with Whitney Houston and Jennifer Lopez as a backing singer and then in fairytale fashion in 1999 while on a trip to Sweden she fell in love with both a man and a country.  In 2001 she left America to move to Stockholm for a permanent relocation.  She has entered the Melodifestivalen twice, in 2004 with ‘It’s in the stars’ and our forgotten gem song ‘Nothing at all’ in 2005.  I can’t fathom how she lost out to Martin Stenmarck with ‘Las Vegas’ but she did.  With a voice to rival the top Diva’s Lagaylia released her debut album, ‘Uncovered’ in 2007 to much critical acclaim.  We look forward to hearing more from this understated singer in the years to come.  

Not content with 5th in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, Sheeba tried out for Ireland again the following year with the rather less catchy, but our guilty pleasure Go Raibh Maith Agat.

Loving the eye shadow and Maxi’s wings!

Todays Forgotten Gem comes from the 2006 Melodifestivalen.  This was Velvet born Jenny Marielle Pettersson first attempt at the Eurovision.  She lost out to Carola and lets face it if you had to loose to someone then loosing to Carola takes the edge off.  I’d imagine had Velvet won with ‘Mi Amore’ then the outfit yes would have been skimpier but the wind machine would have matched breeze for breeze.  The song did go on to become the song of the year and placed high in other countries charts.  She has subsequently entered the Melodifestivalen twice more and although has yet to win remember world ‘Resistance is futile’ and Velvet would make one sexy Borg.

On the eve of Eurosong 2010 let’s remember the runner up in the Irish selection last year. Laura Jayne Hunter finished second to Sinead Mulvey and Black Daisy with her uptemo Celtic-infused dance number Out Of Control.

The production values might have been somewhat lacking but I think Derry O’ Donovan had crafted quite a clever Eurovision entry and with a bit of work it could have done quite well in Moscow. Having said that, I kind of love the dramatic statue dancing, bizarre Riverdance moves, Israeli strutting, Catholic geneflecting and half-sean-nós half-whore-in-heat wailing. Anyway, here it is, our forgotten gem of the day!

Todays ‘Forgotten Gem’ comes again from Britain.  In 2007 Cyndi Almouzni came second to pop band ‘Scooch’.  However it wasn’t plain sailing for Scooch as when the winner was announced Terry Wogan said it was Cyndi while Ferne Cotton simultaneously said it was Scooch.  Confusion reigned until it was finally discovered Cyndi had gotten 47% of the votes while Scooch had 53%.  A strong vocal ballad and camp gimmick pop song had never been so close.  Not to be outdone Cyndi moved to America and for an American market has changed her name to Cindy Alma.  She is currently recording an album under Cherry Lane Music home of the Black Eyed Peas for release this year in both America and Europe.  Hmmm, where are Scooch?