We’re running up to the 2012 Contest, all entries for Baku have been chosen and it’s time to take a closer look at what we can expect to see and hear at the end of May. I’m reviewing everything in order of draw: I’ll first give my general thoughts on the countries’ choices, then I’ll subject them to the DIMI test and finally I’ll score them, accompagnied by a predicition of how I think they’ll do in Baku. I’ll be tackling them in pairs & on the menu today: Turkey & Estonia.
13. TURKEY – Love me back
What is going with the second semi, it started off so good! Turkey can count its lucky stars this isn’t in the semi with Israel and Moldova but I think it’s a lost cause anyway. Not that I completely dislike this: I think the composition itself is quite good and I like the Eastern influences in the instrumentation. But Can Bonomo’s voice annoys me, his composure annoys me, the lyrics annoy me – it basically doesn’t interest me at all. If last year’s song couldn’t make it I don’t see how this can.
Checkpoint DIMI:
Daft? Not the good kind.
Intriguing? The music is. I just really want to slap him though.
Modern? I don’t think so.
International? I can’t for the life of me imagine it scoring throughout Europe.
Personal score: 6/20 – Prediction: Stuck in the semi
14. ESTONIA – Kuula
And this, dear Balkan countries, is how it’s done these days. I half expected Bette Midler to start singing The Rose after those first piano notes but the rest of Kuula luckily very much stands on its own. This is basically how France 2011 should have sounded: not too much fuss, just a nicely balanced composition (it keeps its cool where it easily could have slid into bombast) and a very capable singer who knows how to handle his song – well done, Ott Lepland. At a certain point I was wondering why this isn’t a duet, as those harmonies with the female backing are quite dominant in the middle part of the song but that’s a minor side thought. I hope they keep it exactly as in the national final. Classy and touching, no need for English – much like Finland basically.
Checkpoint DIMI:
Daft? Not at all.
Intriguing? From start to end.
Modern? Stripped from all redundant frivolity it’s rather timeless.
International? Same as with Finland: the musicality here should know no boundaries.
Personal score: 17/20 – Prediction: Final
So, what do you think?
Tomorrow: Slovakia & Norway
Dimivision 
Turkey: nothing about this song intrigues me, silly and dull at the same time, no final please 5/20
Estonia: an old school ballad, very well sung, it stands its ground, but it doesn’t tickle me in the right way either 13/20
So harsh and short – had a bad day, there? 😉