Eurovision 2008 Live Blog Wrap Up

I turned off my computer last night because for some strange reason I figured we wouldn't know the Eurovision results until today. I think I had the American Idol production schedule running through my head and expected the results to be drawn out over a 24 hour period at least. (I am forced to watch American Idol every year when I go home, my mom is a fan so that's why I am very familiar with it.)

I then went to turn off the TV and and found that the results were being tallied. You have to give Eurovision a hand for the TV production part of their show. They don't mess around and the show moves fast. It has to.

Russia's Dima Bilan won and Ukraine's Ani Lorak came in second. The grooving band from England came in dead last. Oh well.

Thanks for bearing with me on my need to do something completely different and bizarre on my blog. We will be back to our regular blog posts of more edifying information from Ukraine this coming week.

Eurovison 2008 Live Blog Part 6

I survived did you?

They are wrapping it up. Vlade Divac is on stage. He's really tall. Oh he is starting the voting. When the basketball is thrown to the crowd, the voting can begin.

WHO WILL IT BE?

I don't know when the voting closes but I am going to close this insane blogging venture of mine and hit the sack.

Good night everyone.

Eurovision 2008 Live Blog Part 5

21. Greece

Greek music. Female singer on male dancer's shoulders. English language. Definitely boring after Ani Lorak. Ani's not necessarily different from the competition, she just does everything better. Back flips by the guys. She's in this heart thing on stage. I can't wait for this to be over.

22. Spain

Elvis hairdo on guy playing child's guitar. Fireworks. Lots of female dancers. Elvis guy is lead singer. Hey chiki chiki......I think it's Spanish. Yes it's Spanish. I think it's a Spanish interpretation of Indian movie music and dance routines. I don't think I have to add anything to that. Maybe the his hair will catch on fire from the flames bursting up on the stage. No such excitement.

23. Serbia

Guitar music. A woman. Singing in Serbian. I'm a little burned out at the end of the night but it's calm and pretty. The dancers are going to ruin this act. I feel it. They are laying on the stage. Somebody call bring in some professionals to do a conference or something for these choreographers. Whatever happened to just standing on the stage and singing the song? I would like this song if it wasn't the 23rd performance of the evening.

24. Russia

I've been waiting for this. Olympic gold medalist Eugeny Plushenko will be skating as the back up "dancer" Dima Bilan the singer is very famous in Russia and what can I say. It's very Russian. Violinist on the stage. He's singing in English now. Doing a good job. A bit pitchy. Plushenko is on this TINY bit of ice. Probably plastic. Yes, it's plastic. He's the star. Look out. Talk about charisma and playing an audience from a tiny stage. He does a spin. His stylish footwork. Good grief, stand at the side and let Plushenko skate. They are all on their knees now.

25. Norway

Female singing in English. Decent singer. Decent song. Catchy in a Eurovision kinda way. I bet she's going to pull in a lot of extra votes because she's performing near the end. I bet the stage lighting looks even better in person than it does on TV.

Eurovision 2008 Live Blog Part 4

13. Portugal

Portugese. Woman dressed in black. Very scary. Purple tinged hair. Five people dressed in black behind her. I am loosing my wind here. What to add to this????

14. Latvia

My favorites. They are getting booed. The pirate brigade. I need this. With a hi hi ho and a howdy howdy hey....we are pirates of the sea!!!!!! A group of pirates, dressed in bad Halloween costumes complete with a ship's wheel/flags and plastic swords.....I think this is worth a vote or two. The leader singer has tried to copy Johnny Depp's makeup. I bet they could get a gig at Euro Disney. I would stop and watch on my way to Haunted Mansion. They need a song about Captain Jack Sparrow. No, they need a parrot!!!! A parrot that sings! They are the epitome of Eurovision style. Now I'm awake again. I hope these guys place well.

15. Sweden

uh oh.....Here she comes. The one who is marked to win in the polls. A song about a hero in English, I can't understand her. A very tall, underweight singer with a scary make up job. Paula Abdul would tell her she looks great. The dress is jazzy. Now two back up girls....I have no idea why she is considered better than Ani Lorak. Maybe it's the song. It's a big show stopping song, that's for sure. Now there's guys and laser lights. She performed to win.

16. Denmark

English. Gosh I though for a moment it was Donny Osmond. This is kind of a retro English pop song. Wow a HOOK. Very catchy. Needs a different arrangement. Chorus is good. The band is lively looking. Retro keyboard onstage. Where's Lionel Richie when you need him?

17. Georgia

oooh a guitar. a female singer. Boring dancers. I guess she's singing in English. Something about, "Peace will come." The melody is the most dark and haunting thing. Again, the chorus is interesting. OOOhh the dancers had fire shoot out of their hands. Now they are covering the singer in a white cloth. Now they are all in white. Peace has come I guess. ooooooh the singer is a famous blind singer.....I've seen her on TV here.....

18. UKRAINE

Ani is front of these mirror things and the male dancers are inside.......Her sound is better tonight than when she performs in Ukraine. Compared to the other acts, her dancers are better choreographed. Now the hard part. She goes in the mirrors and then crawls on top of them and risks falling. It's an awkward transition to the ground. But she pulls it off. She finishes and looks like she is going to pass out from emotion. She wants to win and get work in Europe.

19. France

Women singers with beards. A person in a cart. A man in the cart also with a beard. English. Holding a globe thing in his hands. Can't understand a word he says. It IS a globe. Something about trying to find the milky way. This guy is just scary. Well I hope he finds the milky way. Good luck.

20. Alzerbaijan

Angels. Man singing in falsetto. Really feathery big wings. Screaming in falsetto. A guy on a throne. Goth rock. I think in English. This is just absolutely disturbing. Too psycho for me.

Eurovision 2008 Live Blog Part 3

7. Israel

Boaz is singing. In Hebrew. I have no idea what he is saying but I have to admit it's a pretty song. Background singers appear. I bet he's a big deal in Israel. It's weird to hear someone singing in Hebrew....ops....he's singing in English now.....I think. I'm not sure. The melody is truly pretty in an Eastern style.

8. Finland

Rock. Definitely not Bon Jovi. Screaming. Heavy metal band. Period. Heavy Metal in Finnish. Can you say Finnish Wayne's World? In 20 years they will be the Finnish Spinal Tap.

9. Croatia

Old guy on stage dressed up like the Godfather. Younger, yet still older man singing in black. Definitely got a Godfather theme here complete with weird woman in burgandy dress doing mime moves. Guess the choreographer wasn't available. Now she's dancing. I guess he's singing in Croatian and it does sound a bit Italian. Very very folk. This is probably what you watch every night on TV in Croatia. The lighting is cool. They have birds flying back and forth. It's like this huge lighting board that you can do anything on. Now the dancer is playing wine bottles. Bottles filled with different levels of wine and hanging up and you tap them. Now the old guy is mixing on an old record player.....

10. Poland

Female singer. Slow. small orchestra and piano on stage. Singing in English. The song is pretty but she's not carrying it off. It's a hard song to sing because it's actually a bit complicated melodically. Get somebody to really sing this song and it would sound incredible.

11. Iceland

Techno pop intro. Boy band singer. Now a female singer. A bit pitchy. Wow, they are like techno pop retro 90's Donny and Marie. Singing a song in English called, "This is my life." What does this remind me of? Footloose movie music. Well they're belting it out, gotta give them that.

12. Turkey

Rock band. uhm. gothicish rock look. Lead singer has dyed black hair and eyebrows and is singing in Turkish. Very typical. Nothing too much to report here. I'm gonna fall asleep this is so boring. A guitar solo would be creative.

Eurovision 2008 Live Blog Part 3

7. Israel

Boaz is singing. In Hebrew. I have no idea what he is saying but I have to admit it's a pretty song. Background singers appear. I bet he's a big deal in Israel. It's weird to hear someone singing in Hebrew....ops....he's singing in English now.....I think. I'm not sure. The melody is truly pretty in an Eastern style.

8. Finland

Rock. Definitely not Bon Jovi. Screaming. Heavy metal band. Period. Heavy Metal in Finnish. Can you say Finnish Wayne's World? In 20 years they will be the Finnish Spinal Tap.

9. Croatia

Old guy on stage dressed up like the Godfather. Younger, yet still older man singing in black. Definitely got a Godfather theme here complete with weird woman in burgandy dress doing mime moves. Guess the choreographer wasn't available. Now she's dancing. I guess he's singing in Croatian and it does sound a bit Italian. Very very folk. This is probably what you watch every night on TV in Croatia. The lighting is cool. They have birds flying back and forth. It's like this huge lighting board that you can do anything on. Now the dancer is playing wine bottles. Bottles filled with different levels of wine and hanging up and you tap them. Now the old guy is mixing on an old record player.....

10. Poland

Female singer. Slow. small orchestra and piano on stage. Singing in English. The song is pretty but she's not carrying it off. It's a hard song to sing because it's actually a bit complicated melodically. Get somebody to really sing this song and it would sound incredible.

11. Iceland

Techno pop intro. Boy band singer. Now a female singer. A bit pitchy. Wow, they are like techno pop retro 90's Donny and Marie. Singing a song in English called, "This is my life." What does this remind me of? Footloose movie music. Well they're belting it out, gotta give them that.

12. Turkey

Rock band. uhm. gothicish rock look. Lead singer has dyed black hair and eyebrows and is singing in Turkish. Very typical. Nothing too much to report here. I'm gonna fall asleep this is so boring. A guitar solo would be creative.

Eurovision 2008 live blog part 2

Okay here we go.......

The tag said, "Confluence of Sound." Maybe that's the theme?

I'm afraid.

Someone's singing in a language I do not know.

I'm not honestly sure if it's a man or a woman. That was a groom and now there's.....a bride.

Now the bride has changed into a tux.....now her costume is half a dress and half tux and so are all the dancers on the stage. hmmmmmmm.

So this is Euro pop.

The arena is full.

They could call this the Eurovision mechanical drum song contest......

Now the groom is singing in English.......Now the half men/women dancers are 100% women.

The stage itself/lighting is actually very decent. Simple in a way and it has the ability to use a lot of lights.

Now more of the intro.......

The hosts have appeared......

They speak in English.....

25 acts to sit through.

1. Romania

A very Robbie Williams looking guy singing slowly with a piano player in the background. Singing in Romanian. Now there are 3 back up singers (women) Uh oh, he could sing, the woman joining him can't. Ouch. The ultimate duet. She's picking up. It could be nerves. They sound better now. In a Disney Jasmine/Aladdin kind of way.

2. United Kingdom

Funk. Definitely R/B. The lights on the stage are so versatile and cool I can't believe it. What can I say, this group actually rocks a little. Very 70's R&B. They are actually grooving. Amazing what musicians can do without a drum machine. Well if we are supposed to vote by songs.....this is definitely worth a vote.

3. Albania

Girl singing in Albanian. Breathy, kind of pretty. VERY cool heart lighting thing going on behind them. I'm more taken with the lights on the stage than anything else right now. Now they're going a little rock/folk Albanian. She's a little pitchy. The heart is mutating behind her. She's got a wind machine to her face. I bet she's a big deal in Albania.

4. Germany

Some kind of group. Lots of fog. They've got a Cher/Spice girls thing going. Definitely not cast for their voices. They're wearing these purple and blue scarf thingie dresses. They are sharing parts of the song but they should let the Cher look a like sing the lead. Fireworks on the stage. They need them. Girl band gone wrong. Way, way wrong.

5. Armenia

Singing in Armenian. A female with male dancers. Big hair. Wow, she is an Armenian Ani Lorak, except Ani Lorak can sing better. Nope, she's singing in English. Couldn't tell. Not as much movement as Ani Lorak. More fireworks. She needs them too. The dancers are spending more time lying on the floor than dancing. You can't do dance moves that people can see in the seats laying on the floor. Weird. Okay, I will just say it. Bad choreography and I wish this act were over.

6. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Girl with apples on the dress sitting next to a clothes line. Four brides. I think they are pregnant. A very pitchy man starts singing. I think this is supposed to be cute. Maybe the girls are just in hoop skirts. I can't tell. They are not singing in English. The girl is hanging up laundry. She is taking the bride's bouquets. Dramatic lights and the girl throws the bouquets to the crowd. The only thing worse than how they look is the song itself. Now the brides are knitting. I'm sure this means something subtextually. The brides are moving the laundry line around on the stage. It's over.

Eurovision 2008 live blog part 1

I am watching the pre-show and I already notice that it is hard to listen to a broadcast in Ukrainian and write/type in English.......sorry if I make mistakes.....

The show is 100% focused on Ani Lorak. Ruslana is on now explaining how important and serious this contest is.

Verka Serduchka is there to add her support.

Ani's interviewed for the billionth time explaining how amazing her act is, yada yada yada.......

There are lots of Ukrainian fans in Belgrade and did you know by the way for the 2 billionth time that Raiffaisen Bank is sponsoring Ani's trip. (They have good musical taste as they helped us too when we did our musical!)

Now there are shots of other acts. I heard that the Latvian pirates made it to the final. They are worth watching this whole thing.......but based on the other acts, I don't know if I'm gonna make it through this show.....

Back to coverage of Ani but every now and then they do a little shot of Russia's contender Dima somebody......

Now they are interviewing fans. Of course they are Ani Lorak fans......

Now we break for commericals........

Eurovison 2008 Live Blog

It's a little after 9:30pm and I am getting ready to live blog Eurovision 2008 from my flat in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Stay tuned......

From Passion to Eurovision

Last Friday, May 16, the Passion Conference came to Kyiv and I attended it. Since then, many friends have asked me, "Why didn't you blog about it?"

Honestly, I felt I just didn't have a lot to add to the blogosphere since I have been super busy and I noticed other bloggers have been busy writing about it on their blogs. I tried to take some photos at the event but was told by the ushers to put my camera in the bag and was then glared at until I zipped it up. I was a bit disappointed with this attitude as the event was videotaped and featured in a podcast and since I am lately into photo blogging, my enthusiasm to write about the event was dampened.

So since everyone has been asking, here's my summation of the Passion 08 conference in Kyiv:

I experienced Matt Redman, Christ Tomlin, and Charlie Hall, and each of these musicians performed with their entire bands while in between sets Louie Giglio preached. I also experienced THE most awesome sound system ever to be used in Ukraine. Is there something about the above to criticize or discuss? It was extreme. It was, well, PASSIONATE. What more can be said except, "PLEASE COME BACK NEXT YEAR!"

You can check out other blogs on Passion 08 Kyiv, get all the scoop and some illegal photographs and a YouTube video thrown in.....

Here

Here

Here

Here

Here

and Here.

And just to top it off, there are a couple of good rants Here and Here.

And now the blog master of Greetings From Kyiv, will take you on a writing segue way that you will not experience on any other blog in the universe.

We are going to go from Passion to Eurovision.

If those of you from the states are suffering from post American Idol let down, let me give you something to ease your anxiety back into a TV world where there's nothing else exciting left on TV except Dancing With The Stars. I have something that just may help you though this rough patch.

It's called "Eurovision Song Contest." You can watch it on the web at their official website.

Eurovision is an European contest that has launched the careers of such prolific groups as Abba and Celine Dion.

It's kinda like the tower of Babel of song contests. Every European country sends an artist to sing a song in either their own language or in average to really bad English and then everyone watching massively jams the phone lines while calling in and voting for their favorite song/artist. Some slavic countries, like Russia and Ukraine, also participate even though they are not in the EU. Since each country has different levels of musical training, professionalism, experience, and talent, there's no clear idea on whether the event is a talent show for wannabes or a real contest to find future stars. The easiest way to explain this show is that it's a conglomeration of styles and musical tastes, and (I'm sorry to be a music snob, but I am,) it seems that most people performing on the show are just really bad. I don't know that Paula Abdul would be able to find kind words to say about some of them. This year the semi-finals featured a turkey puppet and a pirate brigade complete with plastic swords.

In England, this contest is considered an extreme night of comedy with people having huge Eurovision contests and sit around laughing at the performances.

But in Ukraine, Eurovision is taken very seriously. Popular Ukrainian artist Ruslana won the contest in 2004 and Ukraine has been hungry to get the title back ever since.

This year Ukraine sent Ani Lorak to try and win first place and she is going to perform to win. I have already blogged about how I think she is just too talented to perform in this competition. She is actually a very talented musician and performer in her own right and I don't think she needs Eurovision to advance her career.

But she's participating this year and just to entertain you all, (and to give myself something fun to do Saturday night) I will be live blogging Eurovision 08.

I will start 10PM Kyiv time.