EXPLAINING THE AZERI VICTORY
I have the feeling that a lot of things happened last night in the Eurovision 2011 scoreboard. My thoughts since last night are storming my head and I have to share them with you as I am totally surprised (personally) that Caucasus countries (Armenia and Azerbaijan) are the winners and hosts of the two EBU family events (junior and senior Eurovision Song Contest).
Would Azerbaijan win if Turkey was in the final? I personally do not think so. After all you saw in the press conference and in today’s news that mama Turkey is also celebrating with the Azeri in this triumph. Turks all over Europe were deeply pissed off when their country (which just came 2nd last year) didn’t qualify (I keep say that the copycat of maNga was the reason for Yukset Sadakat to pay the price). Turks in Europe are estimated in millions and I am 99% sure that they were all voting massively for their brother nation.
It is the first time since Azerbaijan takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest that Azerbaijan did not spend millions of Euros into promotion and advertisement. They did everything in a – somehow – sneaky way. They also had one of the three best visual presentation in stage, not to mention that they had a very good draw.
Weirdly just when the show began, Azerbaijan – suddenly – took the lead in the booking odds after 3 months seeing France (and Norway earlier) in the lead. It was only oikotimes (amongst fan sites) to have the closer prediction for Azerbaijan as the – so called “popular” and “secure” – polls of esctoday, escdaily and esckaz failed big time predicting the country from 3rd to 6th.
Once again though it was proven that since 2009 Eurovision is won by newcomer artists, fresh blood in the contest a recipe that Greece closely follows. Greek entry was the most unique and purely national representation this year and for 8th year this country managed to be in the top 10 although many of us (as well as myself) didn’t believe that could happen.
It will be interesting to see how things will turn in Baku next year as Azerbaijan is famous for it’s anti-gay sentiments. Will we have episodes with fans and media representatives who are 90% gay? This was also a fear in JESC editions in Romania and Belarus but nothing really happen. Though these events were by far smaller than ESC. I am sure the Azeri will do everything possible for the gay community not allowing their country image to be internationally ridiculed.
It wouldn’t also be Baku 2012 if EBU had taken actions in 2009 when Azeri arrested 6 citizens with the accusation that they have voted for their eternal enemy, Armenians. This was never punished but just a small fine. The relations of the two countries are still in the red alert and security issues will definitely emerge next year. Do not forget that those two nations in the 80s were strongly killing each other over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Will Armenia participate next year? If yes, will Azerbaijan allow them in the country? You know that you cannot visit Baku if your passport has a visa from a previous visit to Armenia!
United Kingdom and Ireland plunged in the scoreboard despite been favorites. Just 11th for the Blue who were deeply supported by the international media and lots of millions were thrown in their hands to re-unite them. BBC and their management team did a huge promo tour and big promotional actions to make them winners. But the Royal wedding and the 2012 Olympics didn’t help the UK to get the trophy.
Ireland is said to have disappointed by not winning. At least they managed to qualify after many years of failure and achieve an 8th position in the final.
Every year we have at least 1 CIS country doing well. Despite the Russians trying to convince us that Alex Sparrow will get in the top ten finally reached 16th position, it was Ukraine who did well this year ranked 4th. Why did this happen? Well first because Mika Newton had an excellent draw in starting positions. Second she was proven to be an amazing vocalist and third the visuals with Ksenya Simionova’s sand draw worked perfect on camera, impressing (obviously) lots of Europeans especially all the CIS countries.
Italy returned to the contest and it took the 2nd place. We all said that when Italy return, they will win. This almost happened this year as it seems that Europe really wanted Italy back. Italy is said to have said to EBU that they would love a good position but they do not wish to win and host it (no confirmation on that, just a rumor spread here in Dusseldorf). Another wild guess is that Raphael won the jury voting. Don’t know if it is true (yet) but he was definitely better performer than the French guy who seemed lost in the first part of his performance and was fixing his microphone set three times during his performance. Highlight of the night: the absolute Goddess Raphaella Carra giving the votes for Italy.
German entry ranked 10 which is a nice figure for a host country (descent enough) but definitely not for Lena. The choice of Lena as a participant after her 2010 triumph was the biggest mistake the national broadcaster did. Not because they didn’t do nothing more than a 10th position but because they “burned” the image of Lena. When last year, Lena won the contest was a newcomer who had a bright future. Now she appeared as if she was already the German Lady GaGa.
Spain once again brought to Eurovision a trash song and they got paid for this. Will Spain finally get it that they need to work harder for Eurovision? Do they want to win it someday? If not I guess they could stay home and save millions of Euros. I cannot understand what the Spanish broadcaster liked in this song and singer? She was one of the worst TV presentations of this country.
Two Nordic countries in scoreboard’s Top 5! Denmark was expected to do well (at least this is what we all saying that past 2 weeks in the press area. In terms of Sweden, I guess the show itself gave Eric the best result Sweden achieved in more than 5 years. Eric was not vocally good and the visual presentation had many camera work problems but Europeans wanted to voted something like the 2011 Eurovision version of Kanye West. But it must be a happy hour for Scandinavia as two of them got in the high rankings.
Voting this year remained in the usual parameters. Diaspora and neighbor voting sustained their reign in the scoreboard. It was hilarious how Greece, Cyprus, Balkans, CIS countries and Nordic ones exchanged their 8, 10 and 12 marks. This is getting worst the last years as EBU uses the system of announcing automatically the first 7 marks making the give away of 8, 10 and 12 very provocative when they are announced. Greeks in Netherlands, Belgium, Albania, Romania, Germany and the UK supported strongly the Greek entry as well.
Poland, Norway and Armenia claim that Europeans couldn’t vote for them as the lines were scrambled during televoting. I don’t know if this statement is true but for sure Norway (17) and Poland (19) have every right reason to believe this.
Black girls do not do well in Eurovision. This is the sentiment once again this year. I first heard this quote in 2005 Eurovision edition in Kyiv when Glennis Grace although excellent performer didn’t proceed to the final on behalf of the Dutch flag. This year San Marino and Norway missed the final and everyone keeps vowing here that the reason was the mainly the skin color. I hate to believe such an idea though. Some might argue that France did well last year with “Alle Ole Ola” but remember France was already in the final.
Copycats didn’t do well. Turkey and Norway were very similar to what Turkey and France had in the Eurovision already in 2010. While some press and media said that this was a good recipe for them, it is now proven that European viewers do not accept such strategies.
A hilarious statement came from the President of Belarus regarding the elimination of Anastasiya Vinnikova from thee final. He said that not qualifying was a political attack of Europe against his country. This insane man is definitely need a therapist as he has to first realize that he is a dictator and that second the song he personally chosen to send to Eurovision 2011 was dreadful! Propaganda is not accepted in Eurovision Mr Lukashenko (and I hope someone does something and restore things in this country).
Theatrical performances qualified from the semifinals. If you see almost all qualifiers from each semifinal (Moldova, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Finland, Lithuania, Switzerland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ukraine and Austria) were songs that had many theatrical and dramatic elements in their stage presentation and vocal performance.
Dana International (1998 Eurovision winner) got 15th in the semifinal despite Israelis spreading here and there that they missed the final because of a tie! Dana came to Dusseldorf as a Diva but she was actually nothing besides attitude. This woman (!) didn’t realize that: a) it’s not 1998 anymore, b) she has done nothing in the past ten years and c) she had a very – but totally very much – bad song!
What’s another year? The 2011 Eurovision Song Contest is over and once again a thriller took place in the scoreboard thanks to the new algorithm from the EBU. Greece standing in the top for 15 minutes then followed by the UK and then by Sweden made us all stop breathing. The scores went like hell during the night and no one could understand where things are going till the final 10 countries which were voting. But this is why we love to hate the Eurovision Song Contest!
