Time To Make Your Mind Up...
Well Making Your Mind Up this Saturday will officially shut the 2007 National Final season. As it's the UK, it will probably end with more of a bang than a whimper - an opinionated audience, six Eurovision hungry acts, an "expert" panel to whip the crowd up into a frenzy, and Wogan not really knowing what's going on. Sounds like a perfect evening's entertainment to me! But who should win? Well I've heard all the songs all the way through now, and here's my concise evaluation...
01. "DON'T IT MAKE YOU HAPPY" - Liz McLarnon
It's a 60s effort with more than a hint of "Song of a Preacher Man" by Dusty. It's sunny, summery, soulful and she sings it very well - she'll prob do a fab performance to - but it's not going to set the world alight.
02. "I CAN" - Brian Harvey
Rather nice ballad written by Connor Reeves and sung by Brian Harvey who DOES have a fantastic voice (cf. "If You Ever" by East 17). The ballad is rather pretty but I think the verses are stronger than the chorus so... If he does a mindblowing vocal performance of this it could do OK but no more I think. It may, likewise, bomb.
03. "BIG BRO THANG" - Big Brovaz
The R&B/Hip Hop group hope to do a Love City Groove and bring modern music to Eurovision - but actually, this rap effort is rather credible, catchy and a very good example of UK contemporary rap music - maybe this is where Daz went wrong. A good performance could equal a good result and this would be the best R&B song at ESC this year. Shame they found it upon them to use the word "thang" in the title though.
04. "I'LL LEAVE MY HEART" - Cyndi
Well you could argue that this is the best song musically in the selection and it's a rather beautiful, powerful ballad. Remember - the UK have never failed with a ballad and as we're drawn between Ukraine and Romania, this could probably stand out. However there are two reasons why this will probably not win tonight:
1. The viewer will realise that it's a blatant rip off of You Raise Me Up and therefore not vote for it on principal.
2. She's French.
05. "FLYING THE FLAG FOR YOU" - Scooch
Wow. This is the most naff, cheesy song I've ever heard. But the thing is, they know it is. Full of innuendo, cheesy harmonies and possibly Nicki French on backing vocals, this actually has nul-points written all over it. But don't underestimate the UK televoter - this could be so camp that it could win MYMU. Of course, we'd come 24th in Helsinki, but maybe we'd expect it.
06. "THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THEY USED TO" - Hawkins & Brown
Something rather different here. It's sort of glam rock, sort of pop but soulful too! Brown's powerful vocals contrast with Hawkins' falsetto rather nicely and I like the song - it's my personal favourite! But there is a chance that this could sound rather messy live, so it will all be down to the performance. Also, people have aired their worries that The Ark from Sweden will completely overshadow it. They're probably right. It's good though.
So my top six...
1 - Hawkins & Brown
2 - Cyndi
3 - Big Brovaz
4 - Brian Harvey
5 - Liz McLarnon
6 - Scooch
I'd be happy if any of the top 3 won! But I think it's between Hawkins & Brown, Scooch and Big Brovaz. We'll just have to wait and see though. Who will the UK pick as their 50th entry?! I can't contain myself any longer!
01. "DON'T IT MAKE YOU HAPPY" - Liz McLarnon
It's a 60s effort with more than a hint of "Song of a Preacher Man" by Dusty. It's sunny, summery, soulful and she sings it very well - she'll prob do a fab performance to - but it's not going to set the world alight.
02. "I CAN" - Brian Harvey
Rather nice ballad written by Connor Reeves and sung by Brian Harvey who DOES have a fantastic voice (cf. "If You Ever" by East 17). The ballad is rather pretty but I think the verses are stronger than the chorus so... If he does a mindblowing vocal performance of this it could do OK but no more I think. It may, likewise, bomb.
03. "BIG BRO THANG" - Big Brovaz
The R&B/Hip Hop group hope to do a Love City Groove and bring modern music to Eurovision - but actually, this rap effort is rather credible, catchy and a very good example of UK contemporary rap music - maybe this is where Daz went wrong. A good performance could equal a good result and this would be the best R&B song at ESC this year. Shame they found it upon them to use the word "thang" in the title though.
04. "I'LL LEAVE MY HEART" - Cyndi
Well you could argue that this is the best song musically in the selection and it's a rather beautiful, powerful ballad. Remember - the UK have never failed with a ballad and as we're drawn between Ukraine and Romania, this could probably stand out. However there are two reasons why this will probably not win tonight:
1. The viewer will realise that it's a blatant rip off of You Raise Me Up and therefore not vote for it on principal.
2. She's French.
05. "FLYING THE FLAG FOR YOU" - Scooch
Wow. This is the most naff, cheesy song I've ever heard. But the thing is, they know it is. Full of innuendo, cheesy harmonies and possibly Nicki French on backing vocals, this actually has nul-points written all over it. But don't underestimate the UK televoter - this could be so camp that it could win MYMU. Of course, we'd come 24th in Helsinki, but maybe we'd expect it.
06. "THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THEY USED TO" - Hawkins & Brown
Something rather different here. It's sort of glam rock, sort of pop but soulful too! Brown's powerful vocals contrast with Hawkins' falsetto rather nicely and I like the song - it's my personal favourite! But there is a chance that this could sound rather messy live, so it will all be down to the performance. Also, people have aired their worries that The Ark from Sweden will completely overshadow it. They're probably right. It's good though.
So my top six...
1 - Hawkins & Brown
2 - Cyndi
3 - Big Brovaz
4 - Brian Harvey
5 - Liz McLarnon
6 - Scooch
I'd be happy if any of the top 3 won! But I think it's between Hawkins & Brown, Scooch and Big Brovaz. We'll just have to wait and see though. Who will the UK pick as their 50th entry?! I can't contain myself any longer!
posted by ESCChris at
1:54 PM
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