All posts by Cole Van Dais

Singer/songwriter
2015 Eurovision Song Contest

Melodifestivalen Second Chance 2015

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Tonight Sweden will chose their last 4 songs for the final next Saturday.  Helsingborg is this year’s hosts and  are getting into the spirit all of things schlager.

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Watch it tonight at SVT Play at 8:00 pm CET – Click Here!

Duel 1
1 Andreas Weise “Bring Out the Fire”
2 Linus Svenning “Forever Starts Today”
Duel 2
1 Hasse Andersson “Guld och gröna skogar” (Gold and green forests)
2 Kristin Amparo “I See You”
Duel 3
1 Dolly Style “Hello Hi”
2 Dinah Nah “Make Me (La La La)”
Duel 4
1 Behrang Miri feat. Victor Crone and Malena Ernman “Det rår vi inte för” (We can’t help it)
2 Samir & Viktor “Groupie”

Duel 1 – Predict Linus Svenning

Andreas Weise reminds me of a cocky egotistical used car salesman but there are some Swedish that obviously like it.  The song is not horrendous actually but I believe that it is good enough for Eurovision or to win Melodifestivalen due to the lack of like-ability.  Linus Svenning’s song and performance feels much more genuine and the quality is much higher.  With Svenning being a finalist last year as well he is clearly in with a great chance of going through to the final.

Duel 2 – Predict Hasse Andersson

Hasse Andersson is like that old friend you have seen it a long while and comes in a springtime happy song that just makes you smile.  Even if you don’t care for danseband music, it is almost impossible not to smile at least once during his performance.  The Swedish love Andersson and the audience participation in the arena is electric.  Kristin Amparo is an Adele-like songstress and her performance is flawless.  The setting and lighting just add to this atmospheric song.  This is my favourite song of the evening and it slightly kills me to predict anyone to win against it but I believe Andersson’s popularity is win over Amparo moving performance.

Duel 3 – Predict Dinah Nah

Dolly Style is the saccharin sweet trio of wannabe children presenters performing one of those songs you can’t get out of your head.  The song is instantly catchy and will be a favourite of anyone under 12.  The battle is arguably the closest to call but it will depend on how much the parents drink this evening.  Dinah Nah is a summer-drenched club anthem with a great chorus.  What makes this song stand out is the simple special effect of shaking the camera during the all male dance performances given that earthquake effect.

Duel 4 – Predict Samir & Victor

Behrang Miri has been to the second chance round before and lost out previously to proceed to the final.  The song is a bit lost amongst the other songs this evening due to the lack of sparkle.  There has been a sneaky change here as Malena Ernman has been added as backing vocalist.  I still don’t think Ernman’s addition will change the popularity behind Samir & Victor.  Samir & Viktor are easily the most popular song of the evening.  Unfortunately, the song and vocals aren’t up to the popularity of this novelty song.  This won’t stop the Swedish kids and teens voting for the rather good looking duo.

 

 

 

Slovenia

Perpetuum Jazzile pay tribute to Slovenian entry Maraaya

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Perpetuum Jazzile is a large Slovenian vocal group known around the world for their excellent vocal renditions of various hit songs.  No instruments beyond the voice. They have produced this short A’capella rendition of the Slovenian entry for Eurovision 2015.  If you have never heard of them well worth an exploration of some of their work on YouTube.

Their performance video of Toto’s “Africa” has received over 17 million views.  They have been around since 1983.  I guess they might never represent Slovenia at Eurovision unless they expand the rules from a maximum of 6, and I counted 42 at one stage!

2015 Eurovision Song Contest, Uncategorized

Experiencing Eurovision History

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This morning sitting having breakfast and messaging with Eurovision friends I became aware the German final was on.  Little did I know when I zapped across to Safari and typed in eurovision.tv that I was about to experience, first hand, a piece of Eurovision history.  I had been told two acts were fighting it out and so while we chatted and made observations I started to watch the final contestant.  Andreas Kummert instantly won me with Heart of Stone.  Finally, after what had been shaping as a very lack lustre year, here was a great meaty rock ballad with a touch of soul.  For us in Australia it would be like a facially forested and balding Jimmy Barnes.

As I listened and messaged I felt this was not only the winner for Germany but would offer such a nice contrast on the Eurovision stage in Vienna.  Could this be the overall winner?  Why Not?  I loved it.  What song had I heard this year and instantly loved?  O.  So as he concluded I was rapt to find it and a Euro friend  was messaging his disappointments with Germany last year and Unhelig and now hopefully all was well with the world.  We waited.  We watched the countdown. We saw what many are unfortunately describing as Lena 2.  And then the moment.  The announcement.  I sat there willing, crossing my fingers, hoping that the balding, well forested face would appear on the big screen….. and…..there it was!!!

I was over the moon.  The future looked rosy.  Eurovision 2015 had been saved and I thought I was so lucky to turn to it and see this moment.  But hang on.  My schoolyear’s German kicked in.  I didn’t like the look on his face.  The look on the announcer’s face.  She actually looked like ” Tell me this isn’t true, not me, not now, what the hell do we do, where is that hole I can crawl into?”

I think he was saying NO?   Surely not?  Ann Sophie looked upset.  She looked like she was a rabbit in the spotlight.  No idea what was happening.  How to react.  And yes in that instant I saw the joy of Eurovision turn to sour cream.  They embraced, with Ann still not sure what had happened.  Had there been a death in the family?  No and Andreas just slowly slinked off the stage having handed his title to her.  So the best song in Germany by a mile disappears in a puff of Black Smoke and we are given leftovers.  I feel for Ann, for the many who spent their hard earned coin on the voting only to find they didn’t get that song or artist, for my friend who  was already dudded by Unhelig last year and sat like a stunned mullet trying to work out, what is it that these Germans torture him every year, and me.  I only turned it on near the end. I heard a song I instantly loved. I felt euphoric when it won.  I still don’t know what I feel 12 hours later…..

News

Guy Sebastian – The Australian Eurovision Entry

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Today Guy Sebastian was announced as the Australian Performer for the Wild Card entry of the 60th Anniversary for the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria.

 There was a lot of discussion about who would represent Australia and this morning the speculation ended with the SBS announcement. In the article below I have included a brief history of Guy’s songs that I have loved through his career so far. I’ve included YouTube Clips and I believe that they really show his abilities as an amazing performer (Don’t mind the ads at the start of the clips).

 I remember watching Guy on Television on Australian Idol in 2003. Back then I thought he had an amazing voice. I followed his journey though to the finale and thought he was a very deserving winner with his song “Angels bought me here”. As you can see from the Clip below, other than his great voice, he was sporting a fantastic Afro, aptly named the “fro” that was sort of his trademark for a while.

http://youtu.be/eGaxpwU7dMk

After winning Australian Idol in 2003 he released an album in 2004 with a hit single “Out with My Baby”. I really like this song and believe that it showcases his more RnB ability. Note also he is still sporting his “fro”

http://youtu.be/KCXiT9R0qJs

Between 2004 and 2010, Guy was very active as a performer achieving many awards and really coming into his own as a true success for his career. Over that period he worked with many artists. In 2010 he released another album, featuring the single “Like it like that”. Note “fro” is covered by a beanie.

http://youtu.be/QYz-CjqaOG0

Shortly after this he worked with Jordan Sparks to make the single “the art of Love”, which is a very beautiful song. His hair covered by a hat, but I think the “fro” is on the way out”

http://youtu.be/n75lnqmcQrM

Between 2010 and 2011 Guy worked supported and worked with many amazing talents and was also a Judge on X-Factor in Australia. He also released and album featuring the single “who’s that girl”. This is a little different from his usual songs as it features Eve (who is a US rapper). His hair is also covered by a hat in this clip but I definitely think the “fro” is going.

http://youtu.be/ip2mwfG83KE

In the years between 2011 and 2013 Guy continued to mentor on X-Factor Australia and released another album with another great single called “Don’t worry be happy”. In this clip he looks amazing and is now “fro”-less.

http://youtu.be/Dz_6Y0-Pv38

Also on this album he worked with Lupe Fiasco and created another song called “battle scars”

http://youtu.be/4ka1Lgd3SAI

From then until now, Guy has released another album featuring many great songs. Some of the ones that I think are great are,

 “like a drum”

http://youtu.be/-N6O0xI3A2o

“Come home with me”

http://youtu.be/pPzxHrg6-9Y

“Linger”

http://youtu.be/jk3Oe-2LmLk

These are just a few of the many song that I have really enjoyed from Guy Sebastian over his career so far. As far as him being a contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, I think he’ll do a great job of it. He has had a lot of experience and his musical repertoire covers many genres and styles.

 More Importantly if you look back at the film clips, he has experience with what makes a great Eurovision Song in “Angles bought me here” – his winning song on Australian Idol, there’s a sparks curtain and confetti cannons. Looking at his more recent work “come home with me” with the acrobatic dancers and smoke machines.

 That ticks a lot of boxes for a great Eurovision Song, so I look forward to seeing what song will be chosen for him to sing when its released in the coming weeks.

Marcus Davey