Turkey: Can Bonomo – Love me back

What happened to the rock bands and the bellydancing girls, Turkey? Not that I’m complaining. Or well, I wasn’t, until about 15 seconds in the song when I found myself thinking “where the hell is this leading to”. I’m afraid the answer is “nowhere”. And what is all this about you being a sailor? You look as much like sailor like Milan Stankovic resembles a builder.

Turkey : Yüsek Sadakat - Live it up

Oh yeah, Turkey’s bringing us rockers with a wind machine, I like it when countries stick to traditions! At last, the first certain qualifier of the evening, and not just because it’s Turkey.

Turkey: MaNga – We could be the same

Obviously Turkey is a no-brainer for the final, for the top ten even. But this time –in my humble opinion- I really won’t begrudge them for it. I love this song. My wife’s grumbling something about “typically Turkey, it’s either soft rock or a slutty bellydancing girl”, and sure, that’s true, but at least they have some kind of variation going. Other countries *cough* Malta *cough* think they can get away with sending the same ballad year after year while Turkey’s not broken Sertab out of retirement yet.

Turkey – Hadise – Düm tek tek

Belgium had a potential winner. Did you know that? No. Well, we did. Her name is Hadise and she’s Belgian from Turkish descent. Unfortunately –for our Eurovision future- after taking part in Pop Idol, she got “discovered” in Turkey, became a TV star there and is now representing Turkey and not Belgium. Does that mean she’s now Turkish of Belgian descent? Who knows. Düm tek tek ticks all the Eurovision boxes: ethnic dance tune, sexy young girl, lots of bootie-shaking and a biiiiiiig diaspora vote. Turkey might get their first 12 from Belgium since Armenia entered the contest.

Turkey and the Ukraine

Turkey sends Mor ve Ötesi with Deli, thus ending our gay invasion of Eurovision for now. Though I’m convinced the lead singer is definitely nice enough to look at, so the fun is not totally ruined. We’re back into the regions rock songs, without a feather boa or backing dancer in sight and –even worse- real instruments on stage. Come on, I’m meant to write a review of this song and you give me no material, whatsoever. Right, back into the history books then. Turkey’s last rock entry was Athena with For Real who came fourth in 2004. The year before that, Turkey won for the first time in their Eurovision career when Sertab (the Turkish Madonna) and her harem of German backing singers/dancers narrowly beat Belgium (the nerve!) with "Everyway that I can”. Certain parts of that performance still make me grin like an idiot. Not that I need much, but still. So yes, this year’s entry. Well, seeing as it’s Turkey, they’ll definitely make it to the final, so in case you’ve not lusted after the lead singer enough in the semi, you’ll get a chance to do so again in the final. Every cloud has a silver lining, no?


On we go to Ukraine where a lady called Ani Lorak sings a song called Shady Lady. Now if there’s anything the Ukranians know how to do, it’s sending sexy ladies with original choreographies. Just think of Ruslana (winner 2004), Tina Karoll (ESC 2006) or er.. Verka Serduchka. This year’s entry is no exception. Ani is surrounded by backing dancers in adventurous outfits and make up. II admire men who can do the splits, and I keep wanting to send her dancers on a kind of exchange project to Iceland or Azerbaijan. I think they’d fit right in there.