Wild Wednesday: Eurovision 2017 Recommendations

Heyhey Internet 💟

I hope y'all are feeling good about this week and life in general. Personally, I have a lot going on right now with university assignments so apologies in advance for a relatively short post this week 🙈

Consistency is one of my goals for 2017 so I didn't want to leave whoever reads this without some content for this week.

So with that being said, this week I wanted to shed a little bit of light on one of my favourite things in the entire world: Eurovision.... 🎶🎶🎶
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am not ashamed to say that I love Eurovision. I think it is one of the most beautiful celebrations of music and culture we have ever created whilst also being genuinely fun to watch and follow every year.

The 2017 competition wrapped up a few days ago with the lovely Salvador Sobral from Portugal coming out victorious. But is it crazy that I am still listening to a Spotify playlist of Eurovision 2017 songs on repeat?

Trust me, a lot of the tracks are truly memorable if you open your mind to the idea that a Eurovision song could be half decent.

So, as a quick little celebration of one of the biggest music competitions in the world, I thought I would give y'all some of my personal recommendations from the finalists of Eurovision 2017.  Feel free to chuck them into your personal playlists and repeat to your heart's content.

1. Salvador Sobral - "Amar pelos Dois" (PORTUGAL)

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/portugals-winning-eurovision-song-salvador-sobralamar-pelos/

This wonderful man won the competition for a reason, because his song was truly beautiful. Written by his sister Luisa, Salvador's tender and loving tone creates a melody that transports you to another place. It’s brilliant in its simplicity and perfect for when you want a reflective musical moment to yourself. Don't understand Portuguese? That's OK - sit back, close your eyes and just enjoy the goose bumps.

2. Lucie Jones - "Never Give Up on You" (UNITED KINGDOM)

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39883575

Australia gave this golden girl 12 points and why not? She was splendid. Not only is Lucy's voice all kinds of amazing, but the song's message is so beautiful and so powerful. Co-written by Eurovision 2013 winner Emmelie De Forest, this song is certainly one of my favourite ballads ever. Although she only placed 15th, Miss Lucie won a whole lot of love and admiration from me.

3. Anja - "Where I Am" (DENMARK)

Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/02/26/australian-born-singer-represent-denmark-eurovision-2017

People might recognise Danish-Aussie Anja’s powerhouse vocals from her victory on the 3^rd Australian season of The Voice, and she is still going strong in 2017 with this killer song. It complements her gorgeous style and tone perfectly, with the high notes sounding especially effortless. Throw in some honest and uplifting lyrics and you have a banger of a ballad. If you like fierce diva anthems, please look this one up!

4. Dihaj - "Skeletons" (AZERBAIJAN)

Source: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-05-13/who-is-azerbaijans-eurovision-entry-dihaj

Dihaj’s dark and edgy song stuck out to me straight away because of how beautifully unique it is. There are wonderful spiritual and philosophical undertones all over the place, and the quirky lyrics reflect how Eurovision entries do have the ability to sing about more than love and peace. When you pair this thick and eerie production with Dihaj’s evocative vocal power, the result is a song that will haunt you in the best way possible.

5. Artsvik - "Fly With Me" (ARMENIA)

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Artsvik/1st+Semi+Final+Eurovision+Song+Contest+2017/iPBxon0LzC4

The vibrant musical diversity that emerges from different countries and cultures competing in Eurovision is awesome, and I am so happy that Armenia and Artsivk decided to bless the world with this song. I absolutely love how it channels all kinds of oriental and Arabian nights’ vibes. The hypnotising beat and alluring overtones of Artsvik’s rich vocals combine perfectly to create a wicked dance track where’s no-one’s hips are safe from the enchanting rhythms.

6. OG3NE - "Lights and Shadows" (THE NETHERLANDS)

Source: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-05-13/who-are-the-netherlands-eurovision-entry-og3ne

One of the most underrated songs of the final, this track will have you feeling all the warm and fuzzy feelings. The 3 beautiful ladies who make up the band OG3NE harmonise with flawless precision and the uber inspirational lyrics will never fail to make you smile. There are also a couple of cheeky key changes that lift it up even more to a whole new level of epic. Sure, it’s a little bit cheesy. But don’t you think we could all use a little more of this in our lives?

I’ve been following Eurovision long enough that not every song is going to be amazing. There have definitely been some cringey choices that I believe often tarnish the competition’s reputation as a fun and genuine musical platform. But I hope that these recommendations encourage you to expand your Eurovision horizons beyond the cringe and into a new realm of musical discovery and acceptance. Happy listening!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there you go, I hope you enjoyed that little review/recommendation post. Please share and recommend to friends if you did, I'd really appreciate it 😇

Question of the Day: What is a song people would be surprised to see in your playlist? Leave your answers in the comments below, and you can contact/follow me on Instagram (@miss_memphis98) to keep up to date with all my blogosphere goodness 💗

Thanks for reading,

Love, glitter and wind machines, Emily xx 🌟