ETSC – Every year, the summer is the calm after the storm so it’s the perfect time to resume the highly anticipated the Eurovision Times Song Contest! 42 of you entered for the July 2017 edition and a random draw was made! Discover the songs live tonight at 9 PM CET!
Each summer, a good number of regular readers stay around for different reasons (they don’t get breaks from work or don’t go on holidays…) but there aren’t much news to keep us going. So the last few years we introduced all sort of games. The Eurovision Times Awards (Fridas) and the Douze Points Trivia Quiz kept us going in 2013 and Fridas have made come-backs the past four years. Three years ago, a lot of you asked for a fake Eurovision where each one of us would send songs and get to vote. And that was it: the Eurovision Times Song Contest, from then on known as ETSC.
We’ve therefore had 6 editions of ETSC, two in 2014: July 2014 and August 2014, both won by France; the third edition was held in July 2015 and won by the United-Kingdom; the fourth edition was held in Augusut 2015 and was won by Austria; the fifth edition was held in July 2016 and was won by Israel. Last August, the sixth edition was held and won by Denmark’s Blaue Blume with “Sky“. For more information, you can discover our new page dedicated to the contest, with its history, all songs participating and the rankings here. You can also find it by clicking on the “Specials” section of the site, in the top menu in the red box, just under the site’s name. “ETSC 7 – July 2017” will be officially held in Copenhagen and as for venue, it’ll be Koncerthuset!
After a first round open for people to sign up with a country and send a song, we got 42 people in. In the meantime, to keep us busy, I made a random draw. I also made personal postcards for each entry which will be revealed along with the songs. Everyone can request to see their own postcards for now.
Here are a few facts about the 42 entries:
- This is a rather well spread out contest: 27 female vocals / 13 male vocals, plus 2 duets, a domination for female vocals, with 8 male groups and 5 male vocalists only, while there are 6 groups with female vocals, 1 female duet, 20 female vocalists!
- Well just like in the Eurovision Song Contest, English has won us over… but we’re going backwards from ETSC5’s record of 28 songs in English and 21 in ETSC6 with 15 songs this time (including Ireland, United-Kingdom and Malta) that have English in their lyrics (at least partially for 1), 3 songs in serbo-croat, we keep the now tradition of 1 song in French in the edition and the rest is as follows: 3 in Greek, 3 in Russian, 2 in Arabic, 1 in Armenian, 1 in Azerbaijani, 1 in Bulgarian, nish, 1 in Estonian, 1 in Faroese, 1 in Finnish, 1 in Georgian, 1 in German, 1 in Hungarian, 1 in Italian, 1 in Lithuanian, 1 in Polish, 1 in Romansch, 1 in Slovakian, 1 in Spanish and 1 in Turkish (if you’re good in math that’s a total of 43: one song is bilingual!)
- Besides a lot of electro-pop, electronic, darkwave, pop, folk, ethnic, rock and ballads are all present!
- We only have 6 FdlC returnees!
- On the other hand, no artists did Eurovision and only 2 artists did a NF! However, one artist is an ETSC returnee I allowed. A lot of new artists to discover!
Before the show starts, we get the live reprise of the winning song:
Can we beat last years’ editions in comments? ETSC 1 had 1,090 comments and ETSC 2 went all the way to 1,607 comments! We thought we reached our best when ETSC 3 ended at 1,686 comments but ETSC 4 went insane and we had 2,581 comments! ETSC 5 “only” reached 1952, so… We’ll see! Now to listen to the songs, you need to click on the postcard. You can also use this playlist (thanks to Donnie): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgCuJvprQh4wLuRn1DQ4GaOe0DYMIizSi
Rules: the voting will open at midnight Monday 17th CET! You can vote until Wednesday 26th at midnight CET! Results will probably be revealed Friday 28th at 9PM CET! In the meantime, you can do promo for your entry in the comment section here (or not at all). Once you’ve voted, you can not change your votes, so wait until you’re sure. Also, you have to send me your 11th and 12th in case something goes wrong and we sadly have a DQ. Moreover, you need to send me a city, a hall venue and a host for the next edition if you win!
Good luck everyone!
The Eurovision Times 
And for those of you who didn’t catch it amid yesterday’s mêlée, these are the headquarters of the lebanese delegation: One of the strangest and most sci-fi looking buildings in the world, the maronite church of Our Lady of the Fortress built atop the ruins of a crusader castle, on a peak above the northern lebanese city of Ehden.
No offense but that building is ugly…that small chappel on the right though is really cute
It is. But that’s not very unusual in Lebanon, which is full of brutalist architecture. So we chose it on purpose :)
Lebanon has very beautiful modernist legacy in architecture. Also their brutalism can be very handsome. Maronites surely missed the mark with their lady 😃
To be honest it looks like a Scientology establishment lol
It does! I’ve only visited this Lady of Lebanon which is in Jounieh some 30 kilometers north of Beirut. During the war Jounieh was haven for Maronites very practically sheltered by mountains. I think I’ll pass this other lady 😃
😊
That’s brutalist architecture for sure. It has a SciFi feel to it……. like Goldfinger’s lair atop the Alps.
Yes that’s why I chose it. It is supposed to be religious but it looks evil ;)
Yes it does. Maybe that was the intention? A sinister building to increase the fear!
Come on, this hideous Maronite shrine has nothing to do with Piz Gloria, which is actually Blofeld’s lair 😃
No comparison….. other than they’re both imposing buildings on top of a mountain, and commanding all those who look up. 🙂
They both should now command Michos to find a new HQ 😃
But the delegation might be very happy there already! 🙂
Spritualized even!
Exactly!
I’ve listened all songs in full twice…2 songs are for sure don’t need third listening as they will stay as my top2 no matter what
For the rest I don’t know what to do…I will keep on listening 😬
Same here, but most likely with different songs. I think I’m in love ❤️
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Iisa (Iisa Pykäri) is a Helsinki based singer- songwriter originally known as the lead singer of Finnish indie electro band Regina. She launched her solo career in 2013. Her husband also from Regina fame produced her first two commercially and critically well reiceived solo albums Iisa (2014) and Kukaan ei oo kenenkään (2015) with dreamy soundscapes, melodies and lyrics.
Unfortunately Helsinkian dream hipster marriage ended in divorce and now their well over decade long very fruitful musical collaboration is also over. Iisa’s got a new producer and new sound, which is boring and very mainstream. Luckily we got two Finnish dream pop classic, also Regina’s catalogue is worth checking out. Iisa represents celebrated Helsinkian hipsterism as it’s best.
I hope you enjoy her music as much as I do!
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“Helsinkian Hipsterism” ..gotta love that! :-)
It is very lovely! Such pretty young things. And they come with style and brains. What’s not to love? 😃
am sure it is, and the term may one day be used in Finnish history “books” in the famous Finnish education system ! :-)
I hope so as they have made Helsinki so much more fun. Also their ideas about progressive urban life hasn’t been left unheard. Green Party is very strong in Helsinki and it shows.
indeed, we use Finland a lot here with such references it must be said re education , environment etc I mean in what we call “Progress media” as opposed to “government media” of course :-)! BTW how is Katri Helena doing these days, I know about her own battle with relationships, toyboys and suffering etc :-(
That toy boy or should we call him toy hippie has totally ruined her musical career as her manager. So she has had lots of time to write books about angels, “design” Finland 100 years Katri Helena product line, launching Lithuanian Katri Helena prosecco. It’s a mess really. Her dark arch rival Paula Koivuniemi has won in every front thanks to stellar management and top record label putting money on her .
Here’s one from Katri Helena’s better days. Syysunelma (autumn dream) was her song in Syksyn Sävel ( Melody of Autumn, very big big tv music competion and hit making machine on our commercial chanel) 1975. She became second. Tje presenter is Rauno Lehtinen, inhouse conductor of that chanel, father if this competition and also composer of Finland 1973 Tom Tom Tom and 1971 Tie uuteen päivään.
And Here’s Syysunelma. Very big hit and a standard.
sounds like he basis for a bad TV movie, poor Katri! :-(
Still, she seems happy with his “beau” and Finns love her. A national treasure with blue and white voice come what may.
I’m really going to try and vote this year properly as promised although this time of year is always really difficult, I’m going to have a proper listen at the weekend before any deadline! *sighs* I listened to Spanish entry anyway as one of the band members is acquaintance of my husband! In Catalonia it’s a small musical world especially such on- the- fringe groups, from Collbató near Montserrat mountain/monastery , it’s the kind of genre I can listen to but am not necessarily immediately struck by it as anything too original in such a genre let’s say, maybe it will grow on me, anyway, full-on weekend ahead I guess :-)
You can’t vote…
why not? what did I miss? I had to be involved in the process..? damn!
Does Nauru vote in ESC? :P
I have no idea these days…possibly, obviously me and Nauru have a lot in common these days, well in that case I might 1/ listen to all the songs and send my comments for others to vote on 2/ spend my weekend at the very nearby Costa Brava sunbathing and sipping cocktails, let me know! :-)
This always made me nervous submitting Animic, as I recall you were based in BCN and might be familiar (more than anyone else) with the group. I wanted to bring something different to Etsc, a different genre not normally associated with Spain and something I liked equally as much as typically Spanish romance or Flamenco music. I hope it will grow on you. 🙂
As everyone else is posting the lyrics for their songs, here is the lyrics for Don’t worry about me:
[Intro]
I’ll feel the fear for you, I’ll cry your tears for you
I’ll do anything I can to make you comfortable
Even if I fall down when you’re not around
Don’t worry about me, don’t worry about me
If I fall, you’ll fall
And if I rise, we’ll rise together
When I smile, you’ll smile
And don’t worry about me, don’t worry about me
[Verse 1]
I’ll feel the fear for you, I’ll cry your tears for you
I’ll do anything I can to make you comfortable
Even if I fall down when you’re not around
Don’t worry about me, don’t worry about me
[Verse 2]
I’ll climb the hills you face, I’ll do this in your place
I’d do anything to go through it instead of you
But even if I fall down when you’re not around
Don’t worry about me, don’t worry about me
[Chorus]
Cause if I fall, you’ll fall
And if I rise, we rise together
When I smile, you’ll smile
And don’t worry about me, don’t worry about me
Cause if I fall, you’ll fall
And if I rise, we rise together
When I smile, you’ll smile
And don’t worry about me, don’t worry about me
[Instrumental bridge]
[Outro]
Cause if I fall, you’ll fall
And if I rise, we’ll rise together
When I smile, you’ll smile
And don’t worry about me, don’t worry about me
Don’t worry about me, don’t worry about me
Also, here were the two other Frances songs I was struggling to decide on but ultimately ended up with the current song,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDuphKT2mFg – Set Sail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hw3h9cAIFk – Borrowed Times
13 songs in the run for points. It is easier for me this time.
thanks for that standard song, I’m glad to hear she is doing well and looks well after such tragedies, am guessing she ends up in what we would call “divas” in the modern world
?
After listening thoroughly today on my headphones, I can say I have 20 songs I would like to give votes to (up from 14 yesterday, but I changed my mind about one of those therefore it’s +7 and not +6). Problem is I just calculated that 10 of them are in the “definitely” column, while the rest are in the “maybe” column. So I guess I have my top10, plus or minus a tweak here or there?
Newsletter from 🇮🇹 HQs
nice although didn’t get Eurovision out of it?
What do you mean, Paul?
Another /older/ video from Mi qani hogi featuring them in the video! Song about the thoughts of a poet using drugs and thinking that someone follows him and is responsable for his difficulties……..
We’d like to present the Hungarian spokesman,Olympic,world and Eurorean champion in 200 m. Breaststroke,Daniel Gyurta:
This very handsome young man should really reconsider his swim wear 😃
sexy waterpolo friend in Catalonia :-) Marc is /would be sexiest person ever :-)
above for me is kind of bland stuff :-) get real there better to find out how waterpolo stuff really goes sweetie, believe me it, it’s full on especiallly via media :-)
Kedvesem😍
and thus above are commenting and deciding on such a thing in the end, very sad
about such reasons why gay/bi/etc can’t be the norm? why not?
Boris Titulaer (known as Bo Saris since 2012) is a contemporary soul singer-songwriter from Venlo, Netherlands.
He won the 2nd edition of the Dutch talent show Idols in 2004. Since then he released 4 albums as Boris, then in 2012 he changed his stage name to Bo Saris and released 3 more EPs including “The Addict”.
I don’t remember hearing too many songs in this style in ETSC so far (if any) but I hope there are some soul lovers here. :)
I will listen to the songs again on Thursday. :)
Iceland is quitely listening to the songs. :) Our entry will not be heavily promoted. We’ll post the studio version and the lyrics of the song and that will be it:
Lyrics:
Sleep while you shall
Reach out for darker nightmares
Are fine
I won’t go back
Stay for a while
Lead me away from the night
Nothing to fight
Emptiest forest
No one can hear the sound of your dear
Stay for a while
Lead me away from the night
I’ll make you happy
Hiding makes you not disappear
Hiding makes you not disappear
Queen of the night of fading ghost
Above the ocean I won’t go
Queen of the night of fading ghost
Queen of the night of fading ghost
Free me, I want to ride
I feel for light
And I’ll make you happy
Hiding makes you not disappear
Hiding makes you not disappear
Hiding makes you not disappear
Hiding makes you not disappear
These are the Icelandic headquarters and that fine horse will sort of be our spokescreature. :)
https://guidetoiceland.imgix.net/336299/x/0/wildlife-and-animals-in-iceland-7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ch=Width%2CDPR&dpr=1&ixlib=php-1.1.0&w=883&s=c84838a38078455c568b08960fcd513f
Fabulous picture. Love that horse :)
Looks lovely but a bit cold … but I guess that’s what you want. :)
I’m pretty sure about my 12 points atm.
So am I.
Israel calling……
Some information on our entrant: J.Views.
Jonathan Dagan, known by his stage name J.Views, is a two-time Grammy nominated Israeli artist based in Brooklyn, New York.
As a songwriter, producer, remixer, and art director, J.Views is known for pushing the boundaries in the creative world, constantly innovating the dialog with his audience.
Under the alias J.Views, he has collaborated with numerous guest vocalists and musicians. His production often incorporates nostalgic elements through the use of samples, analog tapes and synthesizers, and is often described as multilayered and detailed.
The third and latest album of J.Views, 401 Days was released independently in May 2016. J.Views performs with a changing live setup, and in 2017 the live band includes Denitia Odigie, Ofer Levy, and Tomer Rabinowitz. This live band also launched the album 401 Days along with the 30-Piece Revolution Orchestra at the Tel-Aviv Opera Hall,as an audio-visual experience later in July of 2017 they presented the song ‘Into the Light’ as Israel’s entry in ESCT 7 held in Copenhagen.
Lyrics to ‘Into the Light’:
I was lost and wandering
I couldn ‘ t see your face
That tangled branch inside me
Grew and grew to a deeper place
And I couldn ‘ t say
Or wash it away
The things that I had hid inside
I tried and tried
You stood there
In the night air
A flicker in the fading lights
You lift the veil from my eyes
Are open
Open wide
We ‘ re strangers in the dark tonight
Blind hope (and)
We don’ t ask why
From the dark into the light
I stood there naked I felt
New in front of your heart
Made clean by your raw fire I
Took the darkness and tore it apart
I can’t go
I won’t hide
I need to hear you say that
Something’ s shone
In the light
Look me in my eyes
Are open
Open wide
We’re strangers in the dark tonight
Blind hope
And we don’ t ask why
From the dark into the light
I can’t go
I won’t hide
I need to hear you say that
It’s all you want
So look me in my eyes
My eyes
Are open
Open wide
We’re strangers in the dark tonight
Blind hope
And we don’ t ask why
From the dark into the light
And here is our entrant rehearsing their entry before presenting their performance to the ETSC audience.
:)
3rd listening complete. The field has been cut down to 16 songs.
here was the dear Spanish version of Bananarama, which like everything copied in Spain, did really well at first and became an evergreen kind of song, but in the end those singers had to find an alternative profession post 90s, which they did.. ..
Not as scruffy as our banana girls but a nice slice of 80’s-style pop.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJLVGi6BcIF/
I’ve got them demons
Floating in my head
I’ve got them demons
Right under my bed
I’ve got them saying
It’s good when it’s bad
Is this what I really want?
Is this the only thing I have?
I got the army
Fire on the run
I’ve got them armed
And they’re giving me a gun
I’ve got them demons
Volumed down to low
They are waiting for the bombs
But it took me time to know that
What I want is what I really got and
What I want is what I really have and
What I love is what I really want
It took me time to realise it
Hope that you are not already gone
Not already gone
Not already gone
I’ve got them vipers
Slither through my bones
I’ve got them thoughts
They are closing all the doors
I’ve got the eyes of a melancholic god
All I gotta do is smile
But it took me time to know that
What I want is what I really got and
What I want is what I really have and
What I love is what I really want
It took me time to realise it
Hope that you are not already gone
Not already gone
Not already gone
I got them demons
I got them demons
I got them demons
I got them demons
What I want is what I really got and
What I want is what I really have and
What I love is what I really want
It took me time to realise it
Hope that you are not already gone
I got them demons
I got them demons
I got them demons
I got them demons
I’m not sure which ones I love the most, Luke’s face or the pug?! <3
An extra ploy to win votes from our resident dog lovers…..clever!
I do love dogs! and cats of course!
And birds, and mice, and hamsters, and bats. I love all animals except wasps … but I don’t hold a grudge against them either. The thing is that a wasp stung me in the throat when I was a small boy eating an ice cream. I had to be brought to hospital and almost died because I couldn’t breathe anymore and because it turned out that I am allergic to wasp stings. Well, if I had been that wasp, I would have stung too because I threatened to crush her between my shoulder and my chin. Therefore I think that wasps are fine creatures after all (it simply tried to defend itself …) but they scare the shit out of me nevertheless. I make a complete fool of myself whenever I see a wasp. LOL I haven’t had an ice cream ever since …
I love all animals! I don’t mind wasp, I was stung once and therefore I know I am not allergic ;)
Lucky you. I was stung by a hornet in Psili Ammos Beach on Patmos 2 years ago … and I was totally immune. So let the hornets come … I will cuddle them. :)
So,you don’t eat fish,seafood,poultry and ice creams? :(
what’s wrong with poultry?
Correct. I don’t eat chocolate, plums, cherries and some other things either.
lol.I love chocolate,plums and cherries.
You’d love Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte then. :)
You mean this?
Black Forest Cherry Cake …
Yes,that’s it.At least that’s the Greek Black Forest Cake.
Oh.I didn’t see you had already posted a photo.I really like it although it’s not my favorite kind of cake.I love chocolate and cherries but not necessarily mixing them together.
I am the exact same with wasps (though never had that frightening experience as you did). I make all sorts of shrieky noises and a lot of arm flapping if a wasp comes near me much to others amusement. You’re missing out on some delicious ice-cream though!
Your reaction when eating fish, seafood, poultry, ice creams, chocolate, plums, cherries and some other things: https://andersfinals.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/asterix.jpg
LOL :)
This edition is going to be the toughest of the ones I’ve participated in, not only because some songs are fantastic but because ALL songs are of a good quality standard. I’ve created a preliminary Top 30, but it should take some time before I know my final Top 10. My 12 points on the other hand, has been established and is a real gem in my opinion! :D
P.S. Here’s a music video I spotted from a Dutch band recently, the song is decent but I know Morgan and Mermaid will love the content of the video. Enjoy!
That white fluffy tail beating out the rhythm😍
12 pts!!!
On ESC news: Christer Bjorkman will be part of the Australian national final this year.6 acts representing different genres will compete for the right to represent Australia in Lisbon.
Plus,Helena Paparizou performing her latest single during the MAD awards:
Let’s start the rumour mill: Anastasios Rammos (!) and I know an Australian guy who fills their ESC criteria: signed to Sony, has worked with DNA, interesting looks, had some kind of success, approved by me, etc. Let’s see what happens :)
I don’t quite follow you.You mean that you have in mind a singer that could enter the Australian final?And how is Anastasios Rammos involved in all this?lol
Yes (Australia). Nothing, Anastasios should be called in Greece, just saying :P
Hmmm… :P
I LOVE my top 7…
Facts:
-I got my first draft of a top 10 done (and a top 20 ordered). Sleeping on it for a few days to see if there are any changes.
-I LOVE the artists, concepts and visuals of 11th and 12th likely way more than my 10th place (point zone), but 10th edges out on a slightly more appealing song…. For now.
-Despite the task of making a top 10 is the hardest it has been on the editions I’ve been in, my 12 points could nto have come quicker and easier, and it’s my favorite song of all the ETSCs I’ve been in.
And more of my song!
This is the Italian version. IMO the one I weeded of the earliest. There was something about how it flowed that didn’t do it for me. That and my Italian best friend didn’t enjoy it as much as other versions.
My gardener has just told me that my huge 40+ year old Nordic Cypress will probably die because of climate change. The only thing I can do to help her is watering her for an hour every day in summer. The gardener installed a hose which works like a drip-feeding. We will see if I can save her … :(
It seems they can get a kind of “cancer”. Try to reading this:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242277570_O_CANCRO_CORTICAL_DOS_CIPRESTES
Hope you can save her.
Thanks. Luckily my tree does not seem to have those symptoms. My gardener told me that many endemic plants find it increasingly difficult to survive our new summers. Have I told you that my neighbour has a palm tree in his garden now? In Germany!
The times they are a-changin’…