@RainyWoods thank you so much, I feel honoured
Nice to see you appreciate my robbed Iceland songs beside the Kanto gems I know you like a lot. I hope I can still win your heart with NW Italy, too. Anyway, Your post came too early though
cause I've prepared a big 2021 summary post inspired by the one you've created
Here it is:
Whiteshoes in 2021
When I look at my stats of 2021, there wasn't a lot between top and flop. Mostly I either got a top result or flopped in the Semi Finals, but there is definitely a lack of results you could consider "decent" or "alright"
I started awfully into 2021 with four consecutive
flops. I found myself in situation in which I wanted to share a different side of Icelandic music scene, a more modern/electronic and even more alternative stuff than usually, but came to realize that the kind Icelandic songs I've been listening to in that time are hard to sell. If I sent all the Icelandic songs I used to listen in 2020 and beginning of 2021 I could have extended the streak of flops easily. Then, my last Icelandic entry by GusGus was a result of desperate unimaginativeness, the song is 'nice' but I should not have sent it.
I am happy about having sent aYia and Solveig, yet I feel like I chose the wrong songs of them. Instead of "Water plant" I should have sent the more intense and memorable "New Moon" and instead of "The End" I should have sent the catchy "Venus". From these four entries, "The End" is definitely my favorite.
About my
stay I wrote a post once before when I said goodbye in the Kanto thread. In many regards it was my most succesful time in WV and a fantastic recovery from the bad results of my latest Iceland editions. It's great to prove I am also on of the cosmopolitan players who enjoys to represent places out of the western world and the time there certainly enhanced the sympathy I've always felt for Japan. During my researches, the percentage of discoveries I've actually enjoyed was higher than in other places I've been juror of. Having said that, my two favorites Japanese entries were some I've known before: The achingly beautiful piece "The Sheltering Sky" with this splendid orchestra and the Enka gem Shura No Hana by Meiko Kaji whose 11th place was a lovely surprise for me.
Despite my success I got a bit bored in Kanto then, so I've gone back to my paternal roots and to a country I've done well with in the past: Italy! Well...
this time. After four editions I am satisfied with how things are going. La Pulce d'acqua, although being old and a song I've known for many years, has as matters stand become my most listened song in 2021 and it is for sure
one of my favorite songs I've sent this year beside The End and the two Kanto songs I named before. Einaudis result surpassed my expectations too. Joan Thieles flop I anticipated but it was still annoying that my attempt to get out of the comfort zone was not rewarded but I took it as a good sign that I became 2nd in REJU voting. Pirri making the final is a big relief because I didn't wanna slip into another "crisis". I stay in NW Italy for one or two more editions. I know my next destination already but I keep it secret because it is something special and it means a lot to me. It will be a place that haven't been in WV before.
Biggest surprise: Winning with the Moomin song... it is soooo beautiful and nostalgic but in this competition it was pretty much a random win. Same level of surprise as for my first win with Kaleo in WV 45. Consequently, 2021 was the third consecutive year in which I've won the WV once, after three years of missing out (2016-2018).
Biggest disappointment: I didn't expect to miss the final with the Olympics anthem but I didn't feel sad because I kinda sent it on a whim and already during the voting period it was a little overplayed for my likings. However, I didn't have a truly shocking flop like for instance M83 in 2016, Julee Cruise in 2018 or Billie Eilish in 2019
In terms of Final percentage, 2021 was my second-worst year (59%). My worst year was 2017, when I qualified for only 50% of all finals.
but now the good stats: My Top 10 percentage was never better than this year (41%), and I've never ever before won four medals in a single year. Well... of course it could still become five, let's wait a few more days
In order to celebrate this year I stole Kais idea of creating a recap of my 2021 entries:
Not gonna lie: I expected to advance to the final based on previous results with similar kind of entries, nevertheless I did not take it for granted!