Eurovision Song Contest 2013

It's upon us again: the Eurovision Song Contest -the biggest singing competition in the world, watched by millions of people all over Europe - will be broadcast this weekend live from Malmö in Sweden. The semi-finals already in full swing, but luckily, our favourite MFL countries are automatically qualified for Saturday's Grand Final.

The event is also an opportunity to listen to some modern foreign languages: especially when it comes to France who pride themselves in entering songs in their mother tongue: Here is their candidate Amandine Bourgois with the rather haunting L'enfer et Moi (Hell and I) about how she's going to give the 'you' hell....
Nice song, though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQJaab8j4fU

 

  
Spain are entering the contest with a pop-rock band with Celtic influences by the name of ESDM -short for El Sueño De Morfeo (Morpheus’ Dream). The song is called 'Contigo Hasta El Final' (With You Until the End). A lovely song, although more Irish than Spanish. Maybe not a winner, but a nice horse....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5m8aCZSvws

 

Germany have opted for a dreadful Eurodisco pseudotechno track called 'Glorious', a bad copy of the Swedish winner song from last year. And it's in English. Great Shame. Allegedly, the singer Cascada had 'many world-wide successes'....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8LPaowU9js

The other German speaking country Austria bring forward a girl with 'US American roots' singing in English. Listening to the song 'Shine' might evoke fond memories for all who had German with Frau Mahler in their primary school: Natália Kelly almost sings 'Find the Schein!'). Unfortunately, Natália didn't make it to the final. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKpqQplDVP0

Then, of course, there's the British entry. After big names like Blue and Engelbert Humperdinck it's Bonnie Tyler's turn with the decent song 'Believe in me'. In the promotion picture on the eurovision website (www.eurovision.tv) she looks like the granddaughter of the Bonnie in the back stage pics.
Do watch the video and tell me: why does she stand in the mud? Surely her fringey boots got ruined!?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqXk_FRw62Q


Well, good luck to Bonnie on the day! May she bring some points home to Great Britain!

Finally, after all these English-language songs, here is a foreign language treat - in Estonian. Birgit is singing 'Et Uus Saaks Alguse'  (A New Beginning). "Leave what's passed in the past / For things to once again start anew." Or in Estonian (with even more Umlaute than German): Mis möödund, jäägu kaugele! Et uus saaks taas alguse....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0mQfWpNG2o