THE TIME CAPSULE: IN A BIG COUNTRY. More retro tomorrow.

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

IN A BIG COUNTRY

Big Country

1983

U.K. - #17; U.S.A. - #17

Trivia:

The group Big Country was formed in Scotland in 1981 by English born Stuart Adamson. Debut album 'The Crossing" spawned the hit single "In A Big Country". The LP was produced by Steve Lillywhite.

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0?si=BYCiWGK3QRim_FaIIkAIdg

spotify:playlist:1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0

THE 2023 EUROVISION SONGS RANKED IN ORDER. This post: #6. Continues: next week.

EUROVISION 2023

THE 37 SONGS

(in order of preference)

 

The number of competitors for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has decreased to 37 with the absence of Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro. This year, the ESC will be held in host city Liverpool, England in May. Caffè Lattè has ranked all of the entries in terms of sonic quality, as it does annually. The higher the ranking, the better the song.

*Note that a live performance and the on-stage presentation may alter the overall impact of a song.

ROMANIA GERMANY LATVIA CZECHIA ARMENIA CROATIA ALBANIA

NETHERLANDS SPAIN GEORGIA AUSTRALIA SAN MARINO GREECE

UKRAINE MOLDOVA LITHUANIA SLOVENIA MALTA ESTONIA

SERBIA DENMARK BELGIUM CYPRUS ICELAND ISRAEL

SWITZERLAND IRELAND AZERBAIJAN POLAND AUSTRIA FRANCE

FINLAND ITALY NORWAY

PORTUGAL SWEDEN UNITED KINGDOM

 

#6   

 

DUE VITE

Marco Mengoni

Italy

As one of the “Big 5” countries, Italy has pre-qualified for the Grand Final. Marco Mengoni has competed at Eurovision before, finishing in seventh place back in 2013. Ten years later, he returns with another quality song. The title means “two lives”. Performed in Italian, the song continues the tradition of interesting entries from Italy’s Sanremo Song Festival. This deserves to land in the Top 10 at the conclusion of the Grand Final.

 

EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 2020.  More: tomorrow.

EUROVISION

1956-2022

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS

(in chronological order)

 

This year’s Contest will see the 70^th song declared a winner. Caffè Lattè lists all of the past winning entries and other songs that have had a lasting impact on the Eurovision Song Contest.

2020

The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest was due to take place in host city Rotterdam.  Hungary and Montenegro withdrew, while Bulgaria and Ukraine were scheduled to re-join the other 39 confirmed participants. While preparations were underway, it became obvious that the Contest could not safely proceed due to the global Coronavirus pandemic. For the first time since its inception, Eurovision was cancelled. A CD of the 41 songs was released as a tribute to the artists that would have competed. Winners of national finals for the 2020 Contest were eligible to compete in 2021, but required a new song.

 

THINK ABOUT THINGS

Dadi & Gagnamagnid

Iceland

Iceland has never won at Eurovision despite first competing in 1986. While we will never know what the actual outcome of the 2020 ESC would have been, many commentators predicted an Icelandic victory. Dadi & Gagnamagnid returned with a new entry in the following year. “10 Years” saw Iceland finish in fourth place in the 2021 Grand Final.

 

FAI RUMORE Diodato

Italy

The other likely winner of the 2020 Contest was Italy’s entry. Its title means “make noise”. Diodato’s vocal delivery was powerful. This is one of Italy’s best entries and was a worthy winning song. As the Contest was cancelled, we will be left wondering if “Fai Rumore” would have given Italy its third ESC win. Diodato had won the Sanremo Song Festival with this song. The Italian contest would be held again in 2021, therefore giving a new song the opportunity to compete at Eurovision should it be held that year.

 

 

THE TIME CAPSULE: KUNG FU FIGHTING. More retro tomorrow.

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

KUNG FU FIGHTING

Carl Douglas

1974

U.K. - #1; U.S.A. - #1

Trivia:

Carl Douglas was born in Jamaica and raised in California before relocating to England where he eventually launched his musical career. Years later, Douglas penned a song about the kung fu craze. Initially only intended as B-side throw away, "Kung Fu Fighting" was recorded in just 10 minutes. The label insisted the song should be the A-side. It sold 9 million copies internationally.

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0?si=BYCiWGK3QRim_FaIIkAIdg

spotify:playlist:1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0

 

THE 2023 EUROVISION SONGS RANKED IN ORDER. This post: #7. Continues: tomorrow.

EUROVISION 2023

THE 37 SONGS

(in order of preference)

 

The number of competitors for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has decreased to 37 with the absence of Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro. This year, the ESC will be held in host city Liverpool, England in May. Caffè Lattè has ranked all of the entries in terms of sonic quality, as it does annually. The higher the ranking, the better the song.

*Note that a live performance and the on-stage presentation may alter the overall impact of a song.

ROMANIA GERMANY LATVIA CZECHIA ARMENIA CROATIA ALBANIA

NETHERLANDS SPAIN GEORGIA AUSTRALIA SAN MARINO GREECE

UKRAINE MOLDOVA LITHUANIA SLOVENIA MALTA ESTONIA

SERBIA DENMARK BELGIUM CYPRUS ICELAND ISRAEL

SWITZERLAND IRELAND AZERBAIJAN POLAND AUSTRIA

FINLAND FRANCE ITALY NORWAY

PORTUGAL SWEDEN UNITED KINGDOM

 

#7   

 

ÉVIDEMMENT

La Zarra

France

2023 is looking like a good year for the “Big 5” countries. One of the standouts this year is the French entry. It is classy while possessing a catchy beat. France has pre-qualified for the Grand Final and the song will be performed in French. Its title translates as “evidently”. La Zarra co-wrote her song. It deserves a Top 10 finish.

 

EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 2019.  More: tomorrow.

EUROVISION

1956-2022

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS

(in chronological order)

 

This year’s Contest will see the 70^th song declared a winner. Caffè Lattè lists all of the past winning entries and other songs that have had a lasting impact on the Eurovision Song Contest.

2019

The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest took place in host city Tel Aviv.  Bulgaria and Ukraine withdrew, decreasing the number of participating countries to 41.

 

ARCADE Duncan Laurence

Netherlands

The Netherlands had not won at Eurovision since 1975. “Arcade” gave the Dutch a fifth victory, placing it in equal third position with France, Luxembourg and the UK for the most wins. Only Sweden and Ireland have won more, with 6 and 7 respectively. Duncan Laurence’s entry was a strong favourite before the Contest began and stormed ahead in the Grand Final, accumulating 498 points.

 

 

SOLDI Mahmood

Italy

Italy can usually be relied on to present a quality song. In 2019, it was represented by a very contemporary entry that differed vastly from any of its previous offerings. “Soldi” (meaning “money”) was performed in Italian with some lyrics in Arabic by Mahmood. As both a Muslim and gay man, the song deals with his relationship with his father. Italy gained 472 points and finished as the runner-up. Mahmood returned to compete again in 2022 with Blanco singing “Brividi” and finished in sixth position.

 

 

SPIRIT IN THE SKY KEiiNO

Norway

Norway was first represented by a song with lyrics in Northern Sàmi back in 1980. That entry finished in 16^th place. In 2029, “Spirit In The Sky” stormed the Eurovision stage. This song incorporated dance, pop, folk and Sàmi yoik. It was performed in English with some lyrics in Sàmi. Its message pleads for equality, especially for Norway’s indigenous peoples. The song earned 331 points and ended the night ranked sixth. KEiiNO won the public voting and has gone on to chart success in many countries.

 

PROUD Tamara Todevska

North Macedonia

North Macedonia achieved its best ever ESC result with “Proud”, a song about female empowerment that resonated enough to attract a score of 305 points. As well as ending a non-qualifying period that lasted 7 years, this entry won the jury vote.

 

 

ZERO GRAVITY

Kate Miller-Heidke

Australia

One of the most memorable moments of the 2019 Contest was the staging of Australia’s entry. “Zero Gravity” was performed by the well-respected singer/ songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke. She sang her song energetically while on a pole above the stage. After winning her Semi-Final, “Zero Gravity” landed in ninth position. This remains Australia’s most recent Top 10 finish. Australia competed in every Grand Final until 2021 (-there was no 2020 Contest).

 

 

HATRIÕ MUN SIGRA

Hatari

Iceland

Iceland’s entry shocked many Eurovision viewers with its stage presentation and sound. Hatari’s song, performed in Icelandic, means “hatred will prevail”. Iceland has yet to win the Contest and this was the country’s best result since 2009. “Hatriõ Mun Sigra” was awarded 232 points, placing it in tenth position.

 

 

THE TIME CAPSULE: WE LIKE TO PARTY. More retro tomorrow.

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

WE LIKE TO PARTY

Vengaboys

1998

U.K. - #3; U.S.A. - #26

Trivia:

"We Like To Party" was the fourth single lifted off the Dutch group's debut album 'Up & Down- The Party Album' (aka 'The Party Room' in some regions). It proved to be one of the most successful songs by The Vengaboys. The single was also a Top 10 hit in Europe, Canada and peaked at #2 in Australia.

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0?si=BYCiWGK3QRim_FaIIkAIdg

spotify:playlist:1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0

THE 2023 EUROVISION SONGS RANKED IN ORDER. This post: #8. Continues: tomorrow.

EUROVISION 2023

THE 37 SONGS

(in order of preference)

 

The number of competitors for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has decreased to 37 with the absence of Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro. This year, the ESC will be held in host city Liverpool, England in May. Caffè Lattè has ranked all of the entries in terms of sonic quality, as it does annually. The higher the ranking, the better the song.

*Note that a live performance and the on-stage presentation may alter the overall impact of a song.

ROMANIA GERMANY LATVIA CZECHIA ARMENIA CROATIA ALBANIA

NETHERLANDS SPAIN GEORGIA AUSTRALIA SAN MARINO GREECE

UKRAINE MOLDOVA LITHUANIA SLOVENIA MALTA ESTONIA

SERBIA DENMARK BELGIUM CYPRUS ICELAND ISRAEL

SWITZERLAND IRELAND AZERBAIJAN POLAND

AUSTRIA FINLAND FRANCE ITALY NORWAY

PORTUGAL SWEDEN UNITED KINGDOM

 

#8   

 

WHO THE HELL IS EDGAR?

Teya & Salena

Austria

Songwriting duo Teya & Salena have long been fans of Eurovision. Individually, they have tried to represent Austria in past national selections and 2023 will finally see the two join forces with a satirical Austrian entry.

The song will compete in Semi-Final 2. It will be sung mostly in English with some Italian lyrics. Whether the humour will be successfully conveyed on the ESC stage will determine its chances of making it into the Grand Final. It’s catchy enough to be a strong contender.