Eurovision Song Contest 2009 – Introduction Of The Finalists

Clarix's picture

By Clarix on Friday, May 15, 2009 - 18:23

 

Wasn’t that...? Who is this guy? Didn’t they win before?...

 

Here you go with a summary of the contestants, so everybody has a little guide for the live-blogging of Saturday’s final.

 

The order of the countries is the one in which they will appear on the show.

 

You can watch all songs videos and much more on the Eurovision YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/eurovision  and also the official page has it all: www.eurovision.tv

 

 

1. LITHUANIA

 

Song: Love

Artist: Sasha Son

Some info:  Lithuania is taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1994, when the doors were opened to the Eastern European Countries. Lithuania has never won.

Comment:  Love ballad with nothing special: It’s a hard entry to remember, especially as the first one to be performed.

(1 vote)
maxime68's picture
ESC - favorites
Editor
Submitted by maxime68 on May 16, 2009 - 07:34.

I read somewhere that the jury-members already gave their votes on Friday, cause they were to judge only the songs and not the performance - wondering how that is possible ;)
Let's see if something changes re the distribution of the votes with this new system.

One of the reasons I haven't been watching the shows in the last years is that I don't like the new style of songs, e.g. take Finland which was too much disco for my taste. Or Bosnia and Herzegovina - I didn't get at all why that song made it to the final; I watched that semi-finale and had made a note about that act "can't sing"

So who are my favorites?
Difficult to say, as I still haven't listened to all songs. I like the song from Portugal, but only the second part.
Israel is great and I hope for them to get many points, though I fear that the act is too political for ESC.
Malta, great song - same goes for Iceland and Sweden. And though my favorite song from all those I know is the French one (Patricia Kaas), judging this through ESC-eyes I'd say there will be a tie-in between Turkey and Spain.

And btw, I was really sad that Andorra didn't make it to the final, still no winner material, but way better than some other songs.

and thanks for the article, that was a lot of work :)

http://twitter.com/eurout_politics or http://twitter.com/maxim68
Natazzz's picture
Thanks for the great overview
Editor
Submitted by Natazzz on May 16, 2009 - 11:50.

I'll have another look at it before the live blogging starts, so I at least know a little bit about what I'm watching.

25 songs is quite a lot lol...guess that tells you something about how much I like this event...

- - - - - - - - - -

Who doesn't have a blog these days?


michelle's picture
Russia has been a homophobic host
Submitted by michelle on May 16, 2009 - 12:01.

I just want to mention that a number of gay rallies have been stopped with brutal force and other than the Netherlands I do not know any other European country who protested. How can the most progressive and gay friendly continent in the world have the Eurovision contest (definitely the gayest singing contest) in the homophobic country of Russia where gay people are routinely bashed just for coming out?

 

 Also, the Russian singer is a known racist and has said that she doesn't like Chinese and Black people. How could she have made this far? Hopefully, she won't win the final and represent as a European winner.
maxime68's picture
why in russia?
Editor
Submitted by maxime68 on May 16, 2009 - 14:55.

Unfortunately both the broadcaster and singer have crawled back on their statements.

As for why Russia hosts this events? Its part of the Eurovision Song Contest rules that the winner will get to host next years events. We will see tonight if the re-introduction of juries (whose points value 50%) will make the expected difference and avoid the vote cluttering of recent years (neighbor votes)

I'll also be monitoring news closely to be aware of all statements made by broadcasters and musicians this afternoon.

http://twitter.com/eurout_politics or http://twitter.com/maxim68
michelle's picture
I also wanted to add that I
Submitted by michelle on May 16, 2009 - 11:59.

I also wanted to add that I really enjoyed your analysis of all the contestants. Eurovision is shown at 2am in the morning here in Australia so i plan to record it and watch it later. Now I know who to look out for.
Dee's picture
BOYCOTT the song contest
Submitted by Dee on May 16, 2009 - 14:10.

I would like to encourage everyone to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest tonight!!! The Russian authorities have once again shown that they do not support basic human rights and have arrested a bunch of demonstrators in a totally peaceful gay pride parade in Moscow today! The parade was banned by the authorities in the first place, but when demonstrators showed up anyways, they were arrested. This is outrageous and completely unacceptable! Perhaps some people would say that this has nothing to do with the Song Contest, but I don't think that is true. This is about democracy and human rights. Russia cannot claim themselves a democratic country and compete in a competition like this when at the same time they refuse basic human rights, freedom of speech and people's right to demonstrate. So please - show that you won't support a country that is so homophobic by boycotting the show tonight. I sincerely hope that some of the contestants in the show will refuse to perform tonight and show their support for gay rights in this way. I hope that people will agree that this is not about the glitter and glam of the Song Contest but something much bigger and a million times more important.
maxime68's picture
Don’t boycott, vote for gay-friendly country
Editor
Submitted by maxime68 on May 16, 2009 - 14:39.

As much as I’d like to see a boycott of the Russian Eurovision Song Contest, this is not the best way. A boycott only makes sense when the person or entity the boycott is directed at feels this or the consequences as punishment. What do you think would happen, if we boycotted this event incl. boycotting the vote? The eastern connection would win again and next year’s Eurovision Song Contest would be hosted by another homophobic country.

The best thing we can do is watch and vote for a song from a gay-friendly country. Imagine next year’s ESC would take place in Oslo or Stockholm or Rejkjavik or Paris or Barcelona :)That would be the real party.

Or vote for Israel, this would be the ultimate statement, this song being the only political song performed in the final.

http://twitter.com/eurout_politics or http://twitter.com/maxim68
Dee's picture
Best of all would be.....
Submitted by Dee on May 16, 2009 - 15:04.

....having all of the contestants (those who support gay rights) drop their outfits and wear a t-shirt that says something like "I support human rights and democracy" and perhaps have one contestant make a statement on stage that what has happened in Moscow today is not democracy and that Russian gays have a right to demonstrate peacefully.

I'm not really sure that voting for a gay-friendly country will suffice - I'm not saying that we shouldn't - but don't the Eastern European countries have the majority? I certainly hope that a democratic country will win but I don't think the contestants and all the people watching should ignore what has happened in Moscow today
maxime68's picture
Today I'm gay
Editor
Submitted by maxime68 on May 16, 2009 - 15:30.

says Malena Ernman (the Swedish Contestant) on her homepage
http://www.malenaernman.com/

"Regarding the planned gay parade here in Moscow today I think it’s very sad that they won’t allow a tribute to love. I’m not homosexual but today I am happy and proud to call myself gay - to support my friends and fans."

http://twitter.com/eurout_politics or http://twitter.com/maxim68