Eurovision 2015: Vienna is coming (VII)

Australia - Guy Sebastian with "Tonight Again"

The best way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest was to invite one of its big fans: Australia!
The european influence in the australian culture is very strong, and Eurovision couldn't be out of it!!!
For the last 30 years Eurovision is a very popular show in Australia, being even more popular in the recent years. From the transmition of the shows to their own voting (which of course wasn't valid for the contest), the public audience in Australia has been growing. But it seems that this year the euphoria will be even bigger!
On 10th of February the European Broadcaster announced that Australia would be authorized to participate in the contest and in March SBS, the australian public broadcaster, announced that Guy Sebastian will be the australian representative, with the song "Tonight Again".
Despite not being very famous in Europe, Guy Sebastian has already a solid career in Australia, and we can expect from him a good performance on stage.
As for the music, I can firstly say: Thank God it's not a ballad.
In a year full of ballads, Australia brings a very dynamic and energetic song, with a good vibration. It's a kind of song where it's very easy to make a good performance os stage: the rhythm itself helps a lot!
Even being just a special participation, if Australia wins this year, it will participate again in 2016, but the host city will be in Europe. Being a country so far away and a big new in the contest, it's vey hard to predict how it will finish in the voting system, especially due to the political voting that still persists.
Let's hope that the juries will help Australia to finish at least in the TOP 10, even though a TOP 5 will be well deserved.


Belgium - Loïc Nottet with "Rhythm Inside"

This year Belgium joined the group of countries that will impress by the originality. It's not the style associated to this contest not even associated to Belgium. After being unsuccessful last year, this western country had bet on a young and very talented voice, which fame is growing in the country.
Yes, as many people are saying, 'Rhythm Inside' could be a song from Lorde - the similarities are really many -, but the singer can bring some originality to his performance, from the live performances we have seen so far.
If it was a country with more influential voting power, this song will be easily in TOP5 in the Final, no matter how the performance would be. However, coming from Belgium and, even with a simple performance as much as the voice of Loïc can show its all potential, the juries may help Belgium to return on stage on saturday's night. It was an excellent  internal selection by Belgian broadcaster Radio Télévision Belge Francophone. At least Belgium will have voting in the same semifinal, The Netherlands, France and Spain.

Eurovision 2015: Vienna is coming (VI)

Azerbaijan - Elnur Hüseynov with "Hour Of The Wolf"

Last year, the azeri entry entered for this country's History in the contest not for the best reasons. For the first time, Azerbaijan didn't finish in the TOP10: they actually finished in the bottom 5, something that made the azeri government to protest, arguing that it was impossible to finish so low, when Azerbaijan came 8th in the juries votes. It seems that azeri government forgot that in 2009 they finished 3rd because of the televoting (2nd in televoting and 8th in the juries) and they even win in 2011 because of the televoting (since the juries gave the 1st place to Italy). Despite the interisting lyrics and the good voice of Dilara, the performance, the melody and the rythm were not good enough to appeal to the public.
However, after that disaster it seems that Azerbaijan have learnt the lesson. The Azerbaijani broadcaster 'İctimai Television' made an internal selection bringing back Elnur from the 2008 contest, but with a completely diiferent style of song.
With the help of swedish composers and songwritters, Azerbaijan brings this year a very powerful ballad, something that could be part of a musical show, with a very strong message. Well made and well produced, it's difficult to find something bad about the song. The only thing really playing against Elnur is the fact that we are in one of the years with most ballads. However this ballad easily stands out from the others.

Of course a great ballads brings the effort of making a great performance of stage at the same level. Despite laste year, we are used to great performances on stage from this country. The absence of Turkey and Ukraine too, will for one hand nake Azerbaijan loose top points, but on the other side will make the ukranian and turkish emigrants to vote in Azerbaijan, So, another victory is very possible.



Poland - Monika Kuszyńska with "In the name of Love"

Last year Poland gave us a very controversial but extremly funny song. This year, the controverse remains but the subject is other. For the first time in Eurovision's History, a person in a wheelchair will perform on stage. Monika Kuszyńska, a 35 years old singer, who suffered a car accident in 2006 that makes her paralyzed from the waist down. However, she didn't give up from a musical career.
Of course after being known that Monika would be the polish artist, many people started to say that a qualification would be possible more bocause of her physical condition than to her voice or song. However, I think that, one way or another, Poland deserves to be in the Grand Final. Since the traditions shows that Poland has not being very successful to achieve the final since 2000, maybe Poland is jus using all the tools it can to qualify.
As for the music, it's a interesting ballad, the lyrics cannot be very original but the message is powerful. Monika herself is a great example we can learn from this edition. If the Monika's voice will be fine, at least the juries will support her. Poland will be very lucky because will have voting on its semifinal many of the countries that give more point to this country: Germany, United Kingdom, Lithuania and Ireland. Unfortunately Poland will perform in the second semifinal, where the most part of favourites are.

Eurovision 2015 - Vienna is coming (V)

From the east I'm going now to the West

United Kingdom - Electro Velvet with ""Still in Love with You"

From the first disappoint about the song, many people started later to argue that it was expected that UK would send a song like this, as a reaction for the unfair results the country has having, especially last year.

One thing is sure: almost no one was expecting a song like this from the UK. BBC made an internal selection (as usally) and gives us this year a duo, Electro Velvet (made up of Alex Larke and Bianca Nicholas) with some previous musical experience.

It's a completley entry joke, funny and a little crazy! It brings again an old style, mixed with some modern aspects.

However, if at the beginning the song received many dislikes, the true is that after some weeks, many more people started to appreciate the song. Indeed, the song is very different in style from the majority of the songs in the contest and will remain in people's memory at the time to vote.

The United Kingdom this year can be a pleasant surprise in the Grand Final.

Being a member of the BIG 5, the UK will be immediately in the Final. However, taking into account the recent past of this country, it will be almost impossible to finsih in the TOP15. Depending on the live performance, this song at least has quality to not finish in the bottom 5.

Spain - Edurne with "Amanecer"

In the recent years Spain is reversing the way of poor results it was having especially since the introduction of semifinals.

In 2012 with Pastora Soler Spain finished on the TOP 10 and, after a very bad result in 2013 (second to last), last year with Ruth Lorenzo brought again to Spain the 10th place. So, it seems that the recipe for success for Spain is to send a great ballad sung by a lady with a powerful ballad. This year Spain bet on the same type of performance. The national broadcaster TVE selected internally the singer and the song. Edurne has a solid musical career and it's obvious that she has a good vocal capacity. As for the song, it's in line with the recent successful spanish entries: it's a ballad full of emotion and with a rich message.

Even in a year full of ballads, the Spanish one can easily stand out from the others. So, being already at the Fnal, at least the TOP 10 is guaranteed again for Spain. The rest will depend on Edurne's performance, since the song is very hard to manage.

Eurovision 2015 - Vienna is coming (IV)

Russia - Polina Gagarina with "A Million Voices"

Let's now talk about one of the countries the people speak more about in Eurovision, and not for the best reasons. Last year Russia was the first country to bring a winner from the Junior Eurovision Contest to participate in the Eurovision: The Tolmachevy Sisters.
Even with their good voices and good voice performance on stage, the 6th was too high for these contestants, because of the song that was a little outdated. However, the most remarkable on the rusian participation was the booing, especially during the voting. The anti-gay laws and gowing homophobic environment together with the invasion of the ukrainian territory were the reasons for that.
And the victory of a drag queen was even more symbolic last year.
This year Russia brings again an young voice (not so young as the twins!): the 28 years old Polina Gagarina with a powerful ballad called "A Million Voices". For me this is in line with their 2013's proposal: a song that appeals to peace and harmony. Of course many voices started immediatly arguing, saying that is a sign of hypocrisy from a country that is reducing the freedom, especially against the LGBT community, Also this year, even before the begining of the contest, some people in Russia protested against the Polina's words, when she supported the Conchita's victory.
Performing in semifinal 1 and being Russia, it would always be very easy to advance to the grand final. This year, they not only will qualify but they also deserve it. Let's hope that Polina will be able to put on stage all the emotions essential for this powerful ballad.
The booing will be inevitable: especially because Eurovision is one of the biggest LGBT events in the world.


Israel -  Nadav Guedj with "Golden Boy"

Let's talk about a country with one of the most particular and curious paths in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel was the first country from the euro-Asia region to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest (since 1973) bringing many times over the years, songs with a singular and unique style. The victory of Dana International in 1998 is still one of the most famous victories not only, but also for being the first and only (so far) transexual to win the contest.
Unfortunately in the last years Israel hadn't been lucky, failing the qualification since 2011 (the year when Dana's returned). 2013 and especially 2014 were years in which the voting was very unfair with Israel. Some people have been putting Israel in  the countries that may withdarw from the contest due to the unfair results. However, not only Israel resists, but also they made a big style change from last year. This year's song is fresh, funny and with traditional and ethnic elements, that make it even more attractive. In a year full of ballads, many of them a little boring, Israel made a great decision by sending a song very different from the others in style. It has a curious strange beginning, but the people can easily understand the message. This song will easily remain on people's mind when the time to vote will arrive. Nadav Geudj was selected through the reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa and the song was selected internally.
It's a good proposal and it seems that Nadav will perform it well. The only problem will be the capacity to conciliate a ritmic song with a good vocal. Israel will be in the called most difficult semifinal. and among the countries that in the past gave more points to Israel, only The Netherlands and Portugal will vote in the same semifinal.

Eurovision 2015: Vienna is coming (III)

Here are my comments about two more countries

Slovenia and Maraaya

For me the Slovenian participation in the ESC is one of the most peculiar among the Balkan Countries. Unfortunately not for the best reasons because several times Slovenia should be in the Grand Final and that didn't happen.Surprinsingly Slovenia qualified last year, even without many of its neighbors in the contest. 

This year the scenario is a little different. One of out neighbors returned (Serbia) but the most important is the quality of the music: since the victory of the duo "Maraaya", the slovenian song is placed between the favourites not only to advance to the grand final but also to win this competition. However, even with the recent changes inm the voting system that are reducing the political and neighborhood effects, I don't think that Slovenia will win this year. The style of the duo is very interesting and the songer has a great voice live. This song was tottaly differente from the runner-up, the group Rudi Bučar en Figoni with the song "Šaltinka". It's a very funny and energic song but, coming from Slovenia it was a certain way to rest in the semi-final.

But it's interesting to see the variety of the songs this country has sent to the contest, or at least has on its semifinal. Slovenia will have at its semifinal Montenegro and Ireland, that are among the countries that usually give more points to this country. 

The qualification is more than certain, and I sincerely hope will win in a better place than last year and 2011.

Czech Republic and Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta

I need to start standing that, so far and for the first time, Czech Republic is really caring about its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Now let's talk about the lest lucky country in the Eurovision. It had participated only three times and, not only failed to reach the final all the times, but also place last two of these times, and the other was the penultimate. Even being in the center of Europe, surrounded by countries, the neighborhood effect doesn't mean anything to Czech Republic.

After the withdraw in 2010 due to poor audiences and results and the absence since then, no one was expecting the return of this country to this year's edition. However, in 19th of November 2014, the czech broadcaster, ČT, revealed its intention to participate and the internal selection as the selection  process.

This year ČT decided to choose two singers with a consistent career in the country: it's obvious that Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta are not beginenrs and inexperienced in the music field. 

Alone their voices are great and the same was expected when they would be put together. However, the result was not so stunning as many people were expecting. The ballad is interesting and, even being in a year full of ballads, is not among the worst. But after listenning the song I feel that something is still missing like if they were really close but didn't achieve it!

Even bring the most dificult semi-final and not receiving any political voting, the voice quality of the singers and a decent performance on stage can make to Czech Republic the same that was made with Montenegro and San Marino last year: achieve the final for the first time. But if the qualification can be a reality, a good place (maybe TOP 15 at least) is not so possible.

Armenian Genocide: 100 years of conflit in the Caucasian Region

Today (24th of January 2015) we celebrate a century from what is called for many as the first genocide of the 20th century. And it happened in a very turbulent region of the world, very close to the european continent. What happened there was a result of what was happening for centuries and was one reason for many of the conflits that still exist in this area.
But let's go back to 1915 to understand better what occurred there.
The caucasian region map was quite different from the present. In the beggining of the 20th century Armenia was between 3 big nations: Persia, the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Armenia is one of the oldest nations in the world but its boards were not defined in the same shape like today.
Being in a territory where many conflits occurred among the centuries and being placed between the East and the West, many cultures, religions and beliefs had been spread in this areas. And also with all the invasions and occupations, the diaspora was a natural consequence of this situation.

It was estimated that 2 million of armenians were living in the Ottoman Empire and after the massacre and deportation, 1.5 million died. In 1915 the Ottoman Empire was participating in the World War I together with the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires. At this time, the ottoman religious authorities declared a 'holy war' - jihad - to all the christians, except their enemies: among the enemies were of course the armenias. Many of the military authorites started to accuse the armenians of betrayal, arguing that they were helping the russians. On 24th of April the real massacre started: first the intellectual armenians were arrested and brutally executed, and then the rest of the armenians were forced to leave their homes with nothing and sent to walk in the Mesopotamian dessert with no food or water until they died. They were forced to walk under a extremly hot sun and if they stopped to rest they were immediately dead. At the same time, organizations were formed in the Ottoman Empire in order to eradicate any christian presence in the country, by persecution, destruction and dead. The result was obvious: when the massacre ended in 1922 only 388000 armenians were still living in the Ottoman Empire.
But the tensions did not finish then.

The religions differences

As you already figured the religion is a controversial subject in this area. The crhistians and muslims were co-existing in the same territory for centuries, but this living together is far away from being paceful.
The official religion of the Ottoman Empire were the Islam but they allowed the existence of religious minorities. However, their rights were not tottaly respected and their social status was below the statusof the muslims. Eventhought the armenians lived together with the ottomans. But the religions tensions had been always there and it was a question of time until a conflit based on religious questions get started.
After the genocide the religious issue continued to be a problem. With the end of the Ottoman Empire and later the Soviet Union, many countries were formed in this region besides Armenia: Azerbaijan and Georgia too. Like Armenia, the main religion in Georgia is the christianity. But like Turkey, the main religion is the Islam. There have been some religious tensions in this region in the last decades, especially between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia Genocide memorial in Bikfaya

Conflits between Armenia and Azerbaijan

The problem is far away from being solved. The main issue is the authority in the Nagorno-Karabakh republic, a non-recognized sovereign republic that was part of the soviet republic of azerbaijan when it was integrated in the Soviet Union. After the fall of the comunism in the region, the authority over this territory is being disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The religious freedom is legally recognized in all this countries but over the decades many inccidents and discriminations have occurred.

The lack of civil rights

Besides the religious rights, many other problems related to the civil rights persist in this region, especcially the LGBT ones. The same-sexual activity is recognized in all these countries. But only of them had signed the UN declaration and in none of them the sam-sex relationships or marriages are legally recognized. Not also the adoption. The same for the absense of anti descrimination laws, that only exist in Georgia.
There are also some improvements that need to be done in gender equality between men and women in the domestic and labor worlds.

The Eurasia is a place of tensions and conflits which are far away from being solved. Unfortunately many situations like the armenian massacre could happen again.

Eurovision 2014: what happened in one year after Conchita's victory?

Whitin excatly one month will start the Eurovision 2015 with the first semi-final. Of course the dimension of this contest goes beyond the week of the competition. Since October unitl March are released the songs for the next edition and of course after the end of the contest, people and the media continue to talk about the recent edition. The dimension of the talks and the media's cover depend a lot of the controversies of that edition. And last year was one of the years with more controversy in the History of Eurovision. And the big part of that controversy was caused by just one person: CONCHITA WURST.

In this article I will talk about some of the reactions about Wurst's victory and some of her biggest moments.

The victory: support from the West and hate/indifference from the East

Last year's contest was another contest in which the people didn't have a big consensus about the winning song, unlike some past editions like 2013 or 2012. Austria was one of the favourites but, some bad comments and reactions about that character made the chances for Conchita's victory many difficult. But the truth was that, surprising for some and expected for others, Conchita did win the contest with the 4th biggest points awarded in the grand final. But even with only 4 countries not voting for Austria, Europe last year was tottaly divided into 2 parts. Despite the 12 points from Israel, the other 12 countries that gave the maximum points to Austria were all from the West (Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland and Sweden). Conchita was clearly the winner in the West but not so clear in the East. Even being in the TOP3 points from Lithuania, Ukraine, Romania and Georgia, the fact is that 3 of the countries that didn't give a single point for Austria were from the East too (Poland, Belarus and Armenia). And of course I need to mention all the polemic and the boycott threats to participation in the contest from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Many voices, even from politicians and ministers especially from Russia accused Conchita for giving a bad example for the kids and to violate the good values of tradition, And the comments became even worst, saying that Conchita should die and burn in hell.

The truth after all was that the big part of Europe supported Conchita and her song.

Of course the controversy was intensified after the show especially between Conchita and Russia. But of course the problems were not only between Russia and Conchita.

Just a few days after Conchita's victory  Angel Dzhambazki, an european congressman from Bulgariam said that Conchita is a genetically modified organism. That sentence is very hard to understand since Conchita only put implants on brest and long hair: according to her press conference after the grand final, Conchita is still a man.

The controversy with the Christian Religions

Of course the Conchita's caracther was also a controversy issue for the christian religions.

And in that subject, we saw two opposite reactions.

First, the negative and absurd comments from the orthodox Patriarch of Serbia that blamed the gays and the Conchita's victory for the storms that happened in the Sava River and caused the death of dozens of persons in the Balcan region. It's very strange to see that a Austrian singer that won in Denmark was responsible for storms that happened... in Serbia. Even more strange is the fact that the pedophile priests or even the gay ones are not responsible for nothing. 

One the other side, we received an amazing positive reaction from the Arcebishop Schonborn from Vienna who said that "In the garden fo the Lord there's space for everyboy", which is clearly and anti-hate message for Conchita. This surprising reaction received a positive feedback and support not only inside the catholic church but also outside it.

Presence in important places 

After Conchita's victory, she performed in many places, including of course the gay parades and other gay-friendly events in many cities. But I would like to highlight the presence and concert in the European Parliment, a way to show that in the European Union there's shouldn't be place for hat and homophobia Unfortunately, in some of its members the hate still persists. I would love to see the  Angel Dzhambazki's reaction in front of Conchita Wurst.

In all the editions we face lots of controversy about many subjects. But one of the most controversial was last year's edition. But despite all the bad reactions and comments the truth is that Conchita is one of the most famous winners from recent years and, brought attentions to the Eurovision from people that usually don't pay attention to that contest.

What about this year? We have already some controversies but they will not be so big like last year!