Eurovision 2017 – This year we resume the “Eurovision Times Awards” to give prizes (the Fridas) for the best in every category! And you get to vote! Today, we resume the polls with the two categoriesfocused on broadcasters’ choices!
2017 will be the fifth year for Eurovision Times to organize a new contest (you can check 2013’s results here, the 2014’s ones here, the 2015’s ones here and the 2016’s ones here). As with the past few years, our blog hosts now two contests: TEKO which takes place before the contest and the “Eurovision Times Awards” after the contest. The principle of the ET Awards is simple, in each categories, the staff of this website will nominate a few entries per categories and open polls for the public to vote in them so we can reveal afterwards all the winners. The winners recieve an imaginary trophee, entitled the Fridas in hommage to Frida Boccara, the French Eurovision winner in 1969 with “Un jour, un enfant“.
The fourteenth award is in the “Delegation” category and it’s “Best Internal Choice”. Here are the results of the recommendations made by the regular users of Eurovision Times in this category:
- 15 Belgium
- 13 Azerbaijan
- 10 Bulgaria
- 3 Armenia
- 3 Czech Republic
- 2 Australia
- 2 France
- 1 Austria
- 1 Macedonia
- 1 Montenegro
- 1 Serbia
However, it’s down to the staff of Eurovision Times to choose the official nominees. But it’s up to you to vote in our poll below which entry was the best internally chosen this year! You need to click on the country’s name to be redirected to the video of the song. The nominees in alphabetical order are:
- Armenia‘s Artsvik
- Azerbaijan‘ DiHaj
- Belgium‘s Blanche
- Bulgaria‘s Kristian Kostov
- FYR Macedonia‘s Jana Burčeska
Rules: the polls will be open for a week. At the end of the week, an article will announce the winner of the category but not the detailed results. The full results will however be given to you once all polls are closed so that you don’t get influenced (we never know) in your following votes. Every IP gets only one vote, please do not cheat, do take in consideration to rewatch very carefully the videos before voting and do not vote necessarly for your favorite song but vote regarding to the category. Of course, it’s pointless to vote only for your own country unless you’re really certain it should win. May the best win!
The Eurovision Times 
Phew! Finally done, 4 articles a day is a lot! Tomorrow I finish work at 6h30pm so dont expect Fridas too soon!
We have plenty of time.
My nominees were Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Austria. I voted for Azerbaijan because Dihaj is an original and daring choice for them – I don’t judge results only. For example I didn’t think Belgium was a succesful internal choice – the song definitely, the artist definitely not. And the FYRoM is some kind of insider’s joke right?
As for the worst internal choices, I had Australia, Montenegro and Ireland.
I wouldn’t call Armenia an internal choice.She won Depi Evratesil,after all.
FYROM was a really bad internal choice.A nice enough song ruined by the performer.
Result-wise,Bulgaria made the best choice.However,i’ll have to go for my favorite song,Belgium.It’s true i believe Blanche could have performed it better but without her there would be no City Lights in esc.My second pick would be Dijah.
*Dihaj
DiHaj was a great and daring choice imo.
She was a good choice,indeed but she did eurovisionize her style for esc so i wouldn’t call it a daring choice.
it was a fan favorite after all, that has to cound for something right?
But why was Armenia included?
for the song?
I thought it has to be an internally selected artist.
‘Fly with me’ is a great and intriguing song. Armenia got my vote.
Off topic: I am intrigued, fascinated, scared, terrified, all at the same time with what’s happening in the Trump administration! The man is a complete buffoon with dangerous narcissistic features. Thank God, for Merkel amd Macron (May has disappointed me immensely; I would vote for Labour, if I were a British citizen and this is coming from a conservative!).
There was an interesting article I read today about how helpful Trump has been to both Merkel and Macron in their domestic positioning and political calculations and how unhelpful he has been to May (because the UK is now lumped together with the US due to Brexit).
However I think Merkel went too far in implying that Europe should now cut its atlantic ties and become a union with Germany on top (something that nobody in eastern or southern Europe would like to see). As for Macron I wish he tries to get some political leverage by standing up to her (or at least getting a distinct role in that marriage) as well as delighting liberal opinion-makers with his tough-guy stance on Trump/Putin.
I agree with what Merkel said, but I see your point. Macron is still at the very beginning of his presidency; let’s wait and see what happens.
Bulgaria was my #3 and Armenia #4 this year, so it has to be Bulgaria.
I won’t vote for BGR despite their silver medal because it was too “manufactured” for its own good. Also, heavy promotion and no substance imo. Just another MTV, soulless product. I don’t like Kristian as an artist either but I won’t elaborate on this cause I may be totally wrong and unfair with my judgement.
My vote will go to one of the 3 songs I personally loved this year (out of the nominees)
so it will be either AZE, BEL or FYR
Belgium, without hesitation. It has grown to be my second favourite song :-)
Same here, despite the lukewarm vocal performance. Stll, a 9/10 (not a 10/10)
The semi final performance was very shaky, but I think she improved a lot in the final. The imperfection of her performance was somehow liberating – very “human” so to speak.
I agree again!
I think up to a point her catatonic performance may have helped the song because it stressed its “hypnotic” nature. But I don’t think it was deliberate but rather a result of inexperience and her lack of solid standing as an artist. I still don’t enjoy listening to the final performance (no mistakes but no real passion either, just a sense of creeping vulnerability due to the lack of a more intimate setting). If this song could get 4th with her, they would have probably won with someone more adequate.
I really couldn’t agree more. There is strange motherly vibe with all these gay men round here when it comes to Blanche. No. It’s mother henly vibe 😃
New era gay icon, perhaps? Scary school girl 😃
I just think that maybe her style suited the song. But that is not to say that Belgium couldn’t have done even better. Besides, Salvador and Kristian were hardly conventionally packaged pop stars either. In fact a lot of people are trying to minimise Salvador’s victory as some sort of sympathy or pity vote. In the end, they all prove that ESC is a hard thing to predict!
I love the studio version, I just felt so uncomfortable watching her struggle. She is not a live performer. Sweden was actually year too early with their geek.
I’m not a gay man, but I like the entry for what it is. She is not pretending to have a big voice, and it’s not meant to be passionate or anything. I think she is able to express something inside the frame of her vocal abilities, and that makes it stand out. It’s very “we are what we are” like, and I think that is beautiful. And most important of all: it’s just a really good song :-)
It’s really good song. I didn’t like her live. Her voice is perfect for the song – in the studio. Live was just shaky and very uncomfortable to watch.
I agree on the semi final performance, but the one in the final was much better. It had some nerve.
Yeah, some 😃
ARMENIA!!!
OK!!!
YES!!!
I have Armenia 2nd and Belgium 4th but voted for Blanche because I found her live perforamnce in the final more convincing. As a song, I still slightly prefer Armenia though.
FYR Macedonia shouldn’t be there. The song is fine but the singer sucked since day one. It was a half-package.
I voted Azerbaijan then Bulgaria. I can’t give my vote to Blanche whatsoever because she isn’t consistent or great live performer. At least not yet.
Hardest one yet, but in the yet I went with my favorite studio version, Azerbaijan.
The Slovenian broadcaster considers changing the language rules for EMA 2018. Meanwhile Maraaya and BQL are about to release their new song collaboration of course in english. I guess EMA no longer needs them and their contemporary musical input….Musical nationalism wins.
So far 3 potential DQs next year : Germany, Estonia and now Slovenia. Lets see if anyone but the UK Ireland Malta Australia and Sweden hopefully will have the courage to stand up.
Oh and so I am not of thread this is at least a Frida Sobral cannot win so I may as well vote : Blanche gets my vote with Kristian a very close 2nd and Dihaj a solid 3rd.
Apparently RTVSLO has confirmed that no english songs will be welcome in their 2018 eurovision selection.
Slovenia is officially the first country DQed from my 2018 list.
As a Beatles fanatic, I think I must remind you that “It was 50 years ago today…”
Happy birthday Sergeant!!!! I really hope you don’t mind that I still prefer Revolver and The Beatles over you 😃
The new remix is fantastic. I was very very cynical about it. I was wrong. I think I really have to go and get some acid 😃
Hjallis, Abbey Road is my favourite :)
Listen, on Tuesday, I received an envelop with 3 beautiful Finnish stamps! :-) So, at the moment, Top Albums at home are: Suomen Euroviisut and Sgt. Peppers (still waiting for my deluxe edution from Amazon, thou…)
What a lovely and eccentric combination! Me likes! Glad to hear you like the stamps. I think it’s only thing our post is really good at as they have been running it down for such a long time 😃
I love Abbey Road too, and even Let it be. Also way too deep for my own good
into solo careers of both McCartney and Lennon 😃
I love them all. Saw Paul many times live (last time, june 2016 in Madrid). And I have an autograph from Ringo!!!! :-)
!!!! Wow! I have Ringo’s seventies albums too and they are very dear to me! He is so cool and entertaining 😃
I’ve seen Macca live couple of times too ❤️
I’m so glad to have a Beatles’ pal in the house! We can discuss them now and then too :)
So am I! And yes, we surely can 😃
Were you here?
Yes, and also Helsinki 2004 in stadium and in Stockholm 1993. I wish I’d seen Wings! Over America, that is 😃
I wish I had seen Wings, also. You had them in your country in 1972, you were propably too young :)
Sgt. Peppers deluxe has arrived! Huge huge box with the sleeve on 3D! Fantastic! It’s a pitty to open it…
I was only 2 so I hadn’t developed my eternal love for Macca by then. How stupid of me! I’ve seen couple of articles in old magazines about Macca and the bus in Helsinki.
Enjoy the set. We’ll probably hear something from you end of next week!
A fantastic album, especially the grande finale “A Day In the Life”. However, I usually don’t approve of remixes. I prefer music to sound like when originally released.
My personal favourite album by the Beatles will always be Revolver which I think is a bit more “electric” and intense. Songs like “Eleanor Rigby”, “Yellow Submarine”, “She Said She Said”, “For No One” and “Tomorrow Never Knows” are pure genious <3
Also: Rubber Soul, Abbey Road, the White Album :-)
Finally we seem to agree on something! Revolver is not only my favorite Beatles album but also one of my favorite albums and of great influence to many favorite bands of mine like Blur and Jam. It’s the mothership of so many things in British rock music.
The Beatles (White Album) is very close second and after that I have Abbey Road. I also love Let it be, which on my opinion is quite underrated. It has flaws, but those flaws are most interesting. Most of the time it’s effortless kind of just happening and then there are two overproduced classics which makes it even more interesting. For me it’s indie years before indie just like Macca’s first solo McCartney.
Let It Be is a fine album overall, but it is also pretty inconsistent. Some songs follow the original back-to-basics idea, but then there is Phil Spector’s opulent orchestrations of especially “Across the Universe” and “The Long And Winding Road”.
I’m not so much into their solo careers tbh. I love All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, whereas I have mixed feelings about Lennon’s solo work: it tends to be too private, but on the other hand it also sounds honest, and it is very to-the-bone. As for McCartney solo I mostly know Band on the Run.
Hi, The Anders. What is really amazing about Beatles’ albums is how they keep changing and how different they are. My list of favourites also include A Hard Day’s Night: so fresh, so electric, pure fantastic pop (with extremely good taste!)
I love their solo careers. You should listen to Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (McCartney). You’ll love it, I’m almost sure :)
I love A Hard Day’s Night too :-)
Speaking of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band:
And one of my favourites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqEJoQ3Z5v4
More Sgt. Pepper associations: There is also Frank Zappa’s hilarious parody, We’re Only In It For the Money. A bizarre mix of pop, rock, jazz, avant-garde, satire and weird humor:
The Anders, for bizarre Beatles covers, this collection is a must: http://www.exoticarecords.co.uk/beatles.html
Thank you. Will check it out :-)
I am gonna vote for Belgium here as she did manage to impress me a lot in the final and overall the song is amazing, but I mean Bulgaria will probably win this tbh
Lol. VRT is planning to internally select the flemish artist that will represent Belgium next year and among the many artists who have already expressed interest is Kate Ryan :-P
Finally some good news at least
No surprise Kate Ryan is interested, all her latest releases were big flops.
I’m pretty sure VRT will not choose Kate Ryan for Eurovision next year.
Yes I think that is a safe bet :-)
Cascada pt.2?
The tired dance is the most annoying category of pop music, it actually beats jury friendly ESC pop.
Just kidding. It doesn’t. Jury friendly ESC pop is the most annoying category of pop.
On topic re national selections insider TVE information suggests TVE will follow previous “Operación Triunfo” selection for ESC with new Operación Triunfo 2017 they are launching: Previous results 2002 – 2004 format:
Rosa 2002 : 7th
Beth 2003: 8th
Ramón 2004: 10th
hmmmmm…
HELL YEAH my one nomination for Macedonia paid off! A little sad to lose Czech Republic, but I can live.
This is an interesting award to vote for, since my top 3 pre-contest were all NF winners! Each song (save for Armenia, imo) is a strong effort and represents the direction that broadcasters should be moving in when commissioning entries; a complete package of song, concept, and performer. The only one that wasn’t able to do that was Macedonia, whose stage show didn’t capture the instant interest the song had when paired with its video. That’s the only easy cut to make, as the last three all would get my vote on a different day. I’m thrilled that RTBF hasn’t lost its knack for matching songs to singers, as they’ve done that excellently for the third time in a row (knock Love Kills all you want, but Roberto was the perfect singer for it and that 13th place was earned). However, Bulgaria’s commitment to creating a concept through and around its entry is also deserving of a vote. That being said, we have high expectations for Belgium (well, RTBF, at least) and Bulgaria. Azerbaijan, though…
Dihaj’s selection by the Azeri broadcaster was one of the most daring picks of the season by either a company or voting population. The fact that one of the most method-driven countries decided to break its mold enough to allow an interesting entry like Skeletons to go to Eurovision while retaining its knack for staging concepts that are *almost* too over the top tips my scales in favor of Azerbaijan.
(Also I’m mad that I forgot about this award because I otherwise voted in perfect order. Oh well lol)
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