Eurovision Song Contest 2002

I wonder why I didn't realise reviewing these should be a priority as it helps to sort out the eternal question of each year being compared to each other. I guess I could review even the years without official compilations?

But wow, this year ended up being of quite a high quality. 15/24 entries scored four or five stars. That must mean that it'll top 01 and 03. That's a surprise.

#1 Cyprus - One - Gimme 9½

Just great, even though the performance disappointedly excluded the removal of shirts that was rumoured.

#2 UK - Jessica Garlick - Come Back 8

Blaah. DJ Romeo was miles better. I so don't understand why this was so successful, third from this hopeless draw!

#3 Austria - Manuel Ortega - Say a Word 7

One of my three bets to win, don't really remember why. I guess Everybody's victory the year before afflicted my judgement.

#4 Greece - Michalis Rakintzis - S.A.G.A.P.O. 8½

From the very high-quality preselection, this got through with shady methods. Namely, somehow they managed to sing playback while all the other acts suffered from sound problems. On the final stage, their lack of skills in either singing or performing became obvious but still I think it's an okay song, even though repetitive. And it's very regrettable that the artist wasn't any more attractive, given his outfit.

#5 Spain - Rosa - Europe's Living a Celebration 9

Just the kind that wears out quickly, so now it sounds a bit fresher after no listening for some time. The bouncy arrangement must be the best element.

#6 Croatia - Vesna Pisarovic - Everything I Want 8½

Rather average, though just a bit better now than then.

#7 Russia - Prime Minister - Nothern Girl 9

So far this seems like a solid year. This "alternatively attractive" boyband with its easy-to-mishear lyrics is one of the better entries.

#8 Estonia - Sahlene - Runaway 9

Five four-stars in a row is interesting. This didn't use to be this high but just before the contest, it started rising.

#9 Macedonia - Karolina - Od nas zavisi 8½

This might well be the sixth, even though it lacks the mystery and shoutiness of the original version.

#10 Israel - Sarit Hadad - Light a Candle 6

There's no way for the good run to continue anymore. Booh. The Hebrew language doesn't help at all. Light your candles somewhere else, please.

#11 Switzerland - Francine Jordi - Dans le jardin de mon âme 7

Another one of the same kind. How this managed to get points is beyond me.

#12 Sweden - Afro-dite - Never Let It Go 10

My favourite for almost all the pre-contest time, until during the last week, Denmark went ahead. The choreography is great with its nakenchok and all.

#13 Finland - Laura - Addicted to You 8½

Bad draw, bad styling, wrong kind of a performance and a song that doesn't work on the first listening. And still you wonder why this didn't succeed? I guess I still should give the fourth star.

#14 Denmark - Malene Winther Mortensen - Tell Me Who You Are 10

Oh so good. Not really my style on paper, though, I guess. But speaking of bad performances, oh my. Still, the last place was an insult.

#15 Bosnia-Herzegovina - Maja Tatic - Fairytales about Love 8

Bosnia gives a lesson in mediocrity, as well as questionable pronunciation.

#16 Belgium - Sergio @ The Ladies - Sister 5½

Yuckity yuck. This one was the second one I put some money on, mainly for life-insuring purposes.

#17 France - Sandrine François - Il faut du temps 8½

France on its way down. Still better than I remembered.

#18 Germany - Corinna May - I Can't Live Without Music 8½

Chaotic but interesting. Another unsurprising flop in retrospect.

#19 Turkey - Buket Bengisu & Grup Safir - Leylaklar soldu kalbinde 7½

One of Turkey's more decent efforts.

#20 Malta - Ira Losco - 7th Wonder 8½

This came right from the bushes to almost win.

#21 Romania - Tell Me Why 7

More surprising successes.

#22 Slovenia - Sestre - Samo ljubezen 8½

This first of Slovenia's four consecutive wrong choices. Let's list the correct ones for the benefit of the ignorant:

2002 - Karmen Stavec - Še in še
2003 - Nuša Derenda - Prvic in zadjnic
2004 - Natalija Verboten - Cry on My Shoulder
2005 - Rebeka Dremelj - Pojdi z menoj All except the 02 one would've been my annual favourites but alas, it wasn't to be.

#23 Latvia - Marie N - I Wanna 5

BOO!

#24 Lithuania - Aivaras - Happy You 8½

We All would've been so much better, hadn't it been DQed. They probably also wouldn't have let themselves be humiliated by such a horrible video, not to say anything about the styling...