Eurovision
Right now across the ocean, it is Eurovision season. This is always awesome and yields some fantabulous things. For the most part, of course, it's straight up pop of the synthy European variety. However, every year one or two things is in the mix that is completely fantastic, completely unexpected, or just completely bizarre.
Back in 2006 - notably the first year I was actually aware of Eurovision - Finland gave us Lordi, the KISS-esque, Klingon-looking hard rockers, and everyone delighted in their grand victory. There was also the much celebrated, though to me slightly too gimmicky Lithuanian entry, "We Are the Winners" by LT United.
Last year, there were the most fantastically flamboyant Swedes since ABBA, The Ark, with their excellent etude in extravagance, "The Worrying Kind."
Aside from it bumming me out that they did not win, what really disappoints me is that they did not share a stage with Finland's 2008 entry, Teräsbetoni, whose song "Missä Miehet Ratsastaa" ("Where Men Ride") (previously mentioned here) beats even Manowar for its macho gayness.
Most fantastically this year, though, we have Belgium's entry, Ishtar. Ishtar play folk music with imaginary words. Now, usually folk music in a pop competition summons images of The Byrds, or Ani DiFranco, or in any case the classics-modernized approach of The Pogues and their kind*. Ishtar plays real folk music, though it has some elements reminiscent of 19th Century chamber music. It puts one rather in mind of some small European market town generations ago. And it was determined to be the best pop music in Belgium this year. Just listen to the crowds!
I want them to win so badly. I might cry with joy if they do.
*Notably, last year Ireland's entry was Dervish, who are indeed a straight-up Irish folk act, though the song did have a certain poppy grandiosity, not to mention Irish folk's considerable popularity all around in recent years.
Back in 2006 - notably the first year I was actually aware of Eurovision - Finland gave us Lordi, the KISS-esque, Klingon-looking hard rockers, and everyone delighted in their grand victory. There was also the much celebrated, though to me slightly too gimmicky Lithuanian entry, "We Are the Winners" by LT United.
Last year, there were the most fantastically flamboyant Swedes since ABBA, The Ark, with their excellent etude in extravagance, "The Worrying Kind."
Aside from it bumming me out that they did not win, what really disappoints me is that they did not share a stage with Finland's 2008 entry, Teräsbetoni, whose song "Missä Miehet Ratsastaa" ("Where Men Ride") (previously mentioned here) beats even Manowar for its macho gayness.
Most fantastically this year, though, we have Belgium's entry, Ishtar. Ishtar play folk music with imaginary words. Now, usually folk music in a pop competition summons images of The Byrds, or Ani DiFranco, or in any case the classics-modernized approach of The Pogues and their kind*. Ishtar plays real folk music, though it has some elements reminiscent of 19th Century chamber music. It puts one rather in mind of some small European market town generations ago. And it was determined to be the best pop music in Belgium this year. Just listen to the crowds!
I want them to win so badly. I might cry with joy if they do.
*Notably, last year Ireland's entry was Dervish, who are indeed a straight-up Irish folk act, though the song did have a certain poppy grandiosity, not to mention Irish folk's considerable popularity all around in recent years.
Labels: music
posted by Mephisto at 1:30 PM
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