Memories and Rankings from Athens

[Mannone]

Yassou!

I think this was a pretty good year, really above average. When I listen through the studio versions my overall impression is the perfect blend between rock and pop. Even though I usually can't stand hard rock, I must also admit that Lordi deserved the victory, if just for being one of the few hard rock songs that I can actually dig, and they are particularly worthy of great praise for adapting the hard rock package to a more habitual schlager-structure.

In this thread you may post your rankings of both favourites and unbearables, or simply share your overall memories from this edition.


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Here are my favourites:

1. - Ich Troje - Follow My Heart

The nazi vibes was too pronounced in their song "Keine Grenzen", which you probably remember from Riga in 2003. This year they adapted, and I think they reached a well-balanced end product with an interestingly episodic progression. Most of all, I'm in love with the almost barbarous rapper: Espera, Candela, Quisiera... And then the woman's voice takes over and sooths his ex-girlfriend enumeration... Haha, just so cool!


2. - Sidsel Ben Semmane - Twist Of Love

One of the greatest entries from Denmark. Brisk and classical pop with a top notch catchy refrain. The flow is just so natural.


3. - Lordi - Hard Rock Hallelujah

As stated in the first paragraph, and the outfit was undeniable. Of course.


4. - Daz Sampson - Teenage Life

Erroneously denied. Earned a better place. Clearly a decent rap-song! The chorus with humming children maybe leaves something to be desired, but I think the melody is very fine and the strings are heavy!


5. - Séverine Ferrer - La Coco-Dance

Such a jolly orchestra full of elements, and the dripping is surprisingly exciting.


6. - Arsenium feat. Natalia Gordienko feat. Connect-R - Loca

Quite a horny duet, or is it triplet? I'm definitely swaying along... and the speaking parts add some complexity.


7. - André - Without Your Love

Never thought I would get a reason to appreciate any songs from this country. The brisk pace in the refrain is a big plus.


We also saw pretty nice entries from (Texas Lightning), (Tina Karol), and (Jennifer). (Brian Kennedy) was rather OK too. Inevitably though, there were also some rubbish. Here comes my gutter squad:

37. - LT United - We Are The Winners - You are the losers. Of Eurovision.
36. - Silvia Night - Congratulations - Cocky nonsense.
35. - Severina - Moja štikla - Idiotically organized different shades of noise and cheering.
34. - Treble - Amanbanda - Nothing but nagging.
33. - Sibel Tüzün - Süper Star - Wont be no süpü staaaa. No süpü staaaa...
32. - Vocal Group Cosmos - I Hear Your Heart - Very original, obviously, but I just don't approve. Next...

 

[Nicholas123]

alvedansen - Christine Guldbrandsen

 

[Mannone]

"Teenage Life" is a true grower for me. The strings are a completely superb element. But I really enjoy all of my top 4 so the ranking wont change. Yet...

 

[Impressive]

Thank to Mannone, I am listening all past years' songs

I have just listened all final songs.

sounds very peaceful. Nothing is boring, just not for my taste but very cool entry. 8/10.

I would never expect such an entry in ESC Sounds funny. 20th is very underrated but not a suprise. It can't be sound nice for Eurovision fans. 7/10.

It started well but the same tune doesn't help to reach votes at all. 4/10 is the best I could.

Belgium 2011's worse version :? After 1:20 it becomes better but they could do something better in my opinion. 5/10.

Is there a wedding? Stage performance is awesome. 7/10.

performed something better in 2005. Theme is the same with 2005 entry but they did better. 5/10

Obviously deserved more than 1 point. Just the way he says "I do" is dumb 7/10

is so enjoyable 9/10

is one of my favourite countries in whole ESC. This one is simply "so Denmark". 9/10.

as someone who hates "Believe me" with very high leveled passion, this one is quite better. 8/10.

is not that bad but in that strong year, I wouldn't be hopeful. 6/10.

I know this song already. One of the best song of the year. Just his own costume looks a bit randomic when dancers appear. I rate 10/10!

Very overrated :? He is second Željko Joksimović. Sleep whole 3 mins and get top 3. 4/10.

THIS IS AWESOME!! WHAT ELSE I CAN EXCEPT? Best first impression ever!! 10/10

The girls by themselves is so nice but listening to that rap-ish guy is just painfull. I would rate 9/10 for girls. After that guy, just 7/10.

Chrous part is nice. But the rest is disappoint. 6/10.

is the best winner as I know. 10/10 for sure!

has always red-white at the stage (2006 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010). This is just like usual entry Dynamic and attractive. 9/10.

I would expect more from France after 2005. Not good nor bad. 5/10.

So nice to see something folk like that funny Deserved top 10 for sure. 7/10.

BOOOOO this song should be in bottom 3. I am in my bed at the moment... 1/10!

had much better songs in the past. This one is weak between them but by itself, quite nice. 7/10.

4/10

Stage performance is cool. I can't say the same for André. 6/10.


So, here is my final ranking:












Just missed from my favoruites
11.
12.
13.
14.

and worst 5 entries in final belong to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

 

[Celia]

I rewatched the Final a couple of evenings ago and thank God the quality level is improving in the contest! Weak year IMO, however the winners are the best ever Hard Rock Hallelujaaaaaah!

So, my favourites are: , , , , , and

And I had to say it: WTF Loca, give me give me your boca

 

[ParadiseES]

What I still don't understand of this year is HOW Turkey qualified and did quite well with SUCH song...

 

[Mannone]

I just can't stop listening at La Coco-Dance...

Last 22 seconds are just... irresistible!

 

[ParadiseES]

I just can't stop listening at La Coco-Dance...

Last 22 seconds are just... irresistible!

OMG really???

 

[aletem]

What I still don't understand of this year is HOW Turkey qualified and did quite well with SUCH song...

I actually love it!! It is in my top10!!

 

[Terence]

2006! Definitely a year where I either loved or hated the songs... no real in-betweens.

With so many great songs, I don't have a clear favourite!

deserved to win, different to anything else, even though I think it's a schlager song with added guitars & masks
- class! The best song of the year, and the best stage presentation EVER! What a step-up from their awful 2005 entry!
- the better entry from Dima, another slick stage presentation though his singing leaves much to be desired. Still, this walks all over the 2008 entry!
- instantly catchy, great vocalist, awkward presentation!
- I really, really liked this and I thought this would win! What's with that big blue sheet though?!

Other notable songs/performances:

- I remember this was the favourite that year and you can see why - sing-along classic ballad, and in a way its result is disappointing.
- their debut. Slick presentation, terrible vocals. The beginning of the Armenian-diaspora invasion of the scoreboard!
- simple. I hated this before the semifinal but the performance changed my mind!
- deserved better in my opinion!

Low-lights:

- terrible disjointed song, and a kitchen-sink performance. It's as if they were caught on stage and acted instantly. Cheap.
- cheap tactic of getting votes. Only Malta were shallow enough to buy this!
- speaking of which, this was Malta's moment of shame. Decent song but terrible performance, staging, outfits. The song deserved better but it got killed in the night and would've made a perfect nil-points for us!
- Hookers re-union?! Terrible!
- one of the dancers was fit. The rest was shambles and vocally this was all over the place!
- boring.

 

[Nikkita]

It was such a bad year.Lots of stupid songs like ,,,...There was LOTS of them so some songs really shined through.Especially i'll never forget Lejla.It's another Joksimovic masterpiece.
And that year's winner...IT CHANGED MY LIFE.I was only 10 when that came out.

 

[Impressive]

Isn't 's respesenter blond Lily from HIMYM? 3

 

[Celia]

hahahaha, you're right! There's some resemblance between them

 

[Impressive]

Oh, my...

 

[Adrian]

My top 5 from 2006
1
2
3
4
5

 

[Adrian]

I must add and

 

[toinou03]

As for me, Athens is a weak year with a very weak final that showed the problem of the former rule with the top 10 qualifying for the next year, as Switzerland, Moldova, Israel and Malta had very weak songs...

Among non qualifiers, I rank and very high, and , and as deserving to qualify.

My top 10 :
1. Mihai really ROCKED Athens and was with lordi the only one to set the arena on fire ! Definite winner !
2. I really love it !
3. "show me your love". I love it. Very energetic and huge vocals !
4. Very good song
5. A classic !
6. Anna Vissi
7. Legendary
8. Guilty pleasure...
9.
10. Other guilty pleasure, though I'm not fond of the song but Severina is great !

I really hate our song. Well, it was a nice song, but it was butchered on the big night...
Of the whole thing I hate most (stupid), (horrendous), (hilarious), and !

 

[Celia]

Oh, my...

disgusting but epic

 

[Nikkita]

Oh, my...

Sibel Tüzün is an old rocker.

 

[anto475]

1. - Ich Troje - Follow My Heart

The nazi vibes was too pronounced in their song "Keine Grenzen", which you probably remember from Riga in 2003. This year they adapted, and I think they reached a well-balanced end product with an interestingly episodic progression. Most of all, I'm in love with the almost barbarous rapper: Espera, Candela, Quisiera... And then the woman's voice takes over and sooths his ex-girlfriend enumeration... Haha, just so cool!

Nazi vibes?!

Anyway two things I particularly noticed from Athens were:

1. Maria seemed really like a persona non grata, I mean, for one thing, she was cut off halfway through a segment in the green room during the voting. But then Sakis seemed really really really cold to her throughout the show, there was no amicability and warmth there at all. It was almost like he resented her being there or something. And that would've been fine if she was a bad host like in 2013, 2012, 2011, or 2009, but she was exemplary!
2. I know there was a draw and all, and I've just watched it actually, but does no one else find it suspicious in the least that the last five countries to vote were Greece's closest neighbours, and Greece? In fact the last two were the countries that Greece historically has the worst relations with, that is, Macedonia and Turkey.