Douze Points!

"Azerbaijan regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The country has rich mineral resources as well as oil and natural gas. However, conflict and corruption have kept it from developing a healthy economy."

Whittaker's World of Facts - Russell Ash

Hannah's view
Oh. My. Word. This is SOOOOO weird. The starting is an amazingly high pitched, creepily sung piece of 'opera' by an equally creepy man. Even though these artists are singing in English, you wouldnt be able to guess it as they sing in an, almost unnatural, way which makes the song seem scary. Something you'd find playing in a goth's bedroom; not Eurovision.
I do not like this song and I doubt it will do well in the finals, that's if it gets there. Bad first year Azerbaijan!

Nathan's view
I can tell you that Hannah doesn't think it's bad... we think it's worse but although we have freedom of speech on the Internet, we're not going to express it... Erm... Yeah... I can't actually tell you what I think about this. I'd have to censor it. Yeah it's bad... No it's worse than bad... There actually isn't a word you can use to describe this song. Let's leave it at that. And I'm never lost for words so... y'know this song has to be bad... or, as I've said, worse.

"Albania depends mostly on farming, and its main crops are wheat, maize, sugar beet, potatoes and fruit. It has borders with Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Greece."

Whittaker's World of Facts - Russell Ash

Hannah's view
This is just another boring ballad. This is why I don't like ballads, songs like this.
Yeah, the music is nice, but its all the same. And of course, the singer and backing singers can sing well, but there is no variation. The lyrics say the same thing over and over again, and all it seems to talk about is clocks... why?! She's singing, then there are people breathing (?!) and then she's singing to a slightly different bit of the music.
Boring ballad. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Nathan's view
Oh. My. Dear. God.
Not only have they sung in Albanian(?!) they have sung another ballad. I mean, come on Albania! It's not hard to try something new! I think the best song that Albania have sent in recent years is Zjarr E Ftohtë, probably because it wasn't a ballad. Like Hannah, this is the reason I don't like ballads. It's so slow, it's all the same. Sure, she has a nice voice but it's all the same. This is the sort of music that wants to make me go to sleep. And what is with the 'breathing(?)' in the background. I think it has a key change, I can't be sure because it's so boring. Yeah, y'see if we still had juries, and I was on the United Kingdom's jury and we could vote in SF1 then I would make sure that this got 'nil points'.

"Switzerland is the most mountainous country in Europe. The Alps occupy 60% of its land area. It has a very high income per person, low unemployment and its people have a long life expectancy. Switzerland was not involved in either World War and has not joined the European Union."

Whittaker's World of Facts - Russell Ash

Hannah's view
As Nathan is constantly reminding me; this year could be called 'The Year of the Ballad'. This is definitely true in the Swiss entry's case. Normally, I don't go in for ballads, I hated Serbia's entry last year; but I really like Era Stupendo. I think this is because it's not like a normal ballad which continually drones on about how life is awful.
Although this is in Italian and I cant understand it, i love the music. It starts off like a ballad, very slow and beautiful, but then the tempo picks up a quickish beat is introduced, making it feel a lot more exciting than your traditional ballad. It is also sung well and in tune by Paolo. Like this song; definitely one of the better ballads.

Nathan's view
I think the reason we both like this song is because although it's a ballad, it's a pop ballad! It's upbeat so yeah, like Norway, we like this ballad. As I have said time and time again this is 'The Year of the Ballad' so you have to have a special ballad to stand out and I'm sure that, again like Norway, Switzerland will stand out. They are almost guaranteed points from San Marino if this song reaches the final, cause it's in Italian!

"Ukraine is a vast area between Poland and Russia. It became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1986 it was the scene of the world's worst nuclear disaster, when a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded."

Whittaker's World of Facts - Russell Ash

Hannah's view
I like this song. I don't know why really.
I like the way the music reminds me of an action movie, all very loud and bursting in the choruses and slightly mysterious in the verses and introduction. I think the beat is infectious, it makes your feet itch to dance and the lyrics are very appealing to girls, mostly.
This year's Ukrainian entry might not be dressed in tin foil, but somehow I think the power of this woman's voice makes her performance shine. No need for silver cooking paper.

Nathan's view
Damn you Ukraine! Where's the tin foil?!
Great song again this year. I have NEVER not liked a entry from Ukraine. And it continues this year. Great beat and I will be dancing to this come May!