The next few hours speed by and then we’re off to the
hospital. “M” checks in for her
procedure and realises she has lost her phone.
I dash back to the car and don’t find it. By the time I return, she has been called in,
taking my stuff with her. (Not that
retrieving my stuff was the main issue here; I hadn’t the opportunity to say
goodbye.) Fortunately, hospital staff understands
and I’m allowed to stay with her for a couple of minutes.
After a quick lunch, I settle down in the waiting area not
exactly knowing what to expect. I try
some reading and writing without success.
Attempting to think up my own objective method for judging the
Eurovision final fails too. So I settle
for my iPod and watching the TV as I listen to the Icelandic band that paved the way for Sigur Ros;
(#367) The Sugarcubes – Life’s Too Good (1988)
Their debut album and, more or less, the one which
introduced Björk
Guðmundsdóttir (or just plain old Bjork)
to the world. Whether you truly noticed
her vocals or not, and indeed how you view the album, depends upon how you take
to the vocal work of Einar Örn Benediktsson (or just plain old Einar) who takes the phrase “acquired taste” to strange and
interesting places. The opening track
Traitor, is the first test although his voice oddly sits well with the fractured
music on offer. The far more conventional sounding, but still quirky, Motorcrash
is next and the Bjork show is off and running .
This is followed by the sublime ballad Birthday, highlighted by her
breathy vocals and screams and Delicious Demon in which her vocals are by the
end so off the wall joyous that you’ve actually forgotten this is a duet with
Einar. Mama, a mid-tempo number, is even
better. The rest of the album is solid –
Sick For Toys is probably the pick of these – but that’s probably more a
reflection about the brilliant standard set by the opening five numbers than
anything else.
By the end of this, I’m getting nervous as “M’s” operation should have
concluded. Stiffling some rising tension
or anger with the lack of information, I seek solace in my iPod in the form of
some soothing sounds from Germany;
(#368) Einstürzende Neubauten – Tabula Rasa
(1993)
This is the band led by former Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds guitarist
Blixa Bargeld, fabled for
their use of non musical instruments such as metallic objects and pneumatic
drills. Given that the English translation of their name is “collapsing new
buildings”, that’s fair enough. However, their reputation, approach or even Bargeld’s
very Germanic vocals seems to put off the great bulk of punters which is a
pity. If you want to hear their material
and don’t have the money to shell out on their four Strategies Against
Architecture compilations, this is as good a place to start as any. Opening track, Die Interimsliebenden sounds
very much like a track from one of Peter Gabriel’s untitled early solo albums
(especially the third one). Blume is
what can only be described as a ballad with former Cave associate Anita Lane on
vocals. But it’s the impressive two track epic Headcleaner that dominates here,
seemingly constructed or dominated by the noise of the found objects to
powerful effect.
Even before this
ended I received a fright. I finally found
a nurse who was willing to say something and she repeated her understanding
that “M”s operation was still going on 2 hours after it had commenced. This was not good news as it was envisaged to
last no more than an hour. About half an
hour later she returned to advise that it was complete in the predicted time
frame and that she was now sleeping through the anesthetic. Highly relived, I sought out comfort food and
then settled down in an empty waiting room with only the TV for company. My boredom was temporarily relieved when
someone I knew popped up in Millionaire Hot Seat, but it was long wait until
about 6.30 when I was reunited with “M”.
She relayed her specialist’s initial highly promising diagnosis and a
weight was lifted from my shoulders. Now
my concerns was to get her home, tuck her into bed and not miss the Eurovision
Broadcast.
(AV 10) 2013 Eurovision Song Contest – Semi Final
1
There are only 26
spots available in the Eurovision final.
Six spots are automatically reserved for “The Big 6” being the UK,
Spain, Germany, France and Italy which provide most of the funds for the
broadcast, and Sweden as last year’s winner.
The remaining 33 countries that entered this year, including European
heavyweights such as Azerbaijan, Israel and Armenia, are split into 2 semi
finals of which the top ten of which will make the final.
Now I don’t plan
to write in detail about either semi final as this would entail a great deal of
repetition. So, here are my comments
about the 6 unfortunate countries that missed the cut. As I’m a lazy sod, I’m not going to record
artist or song titles. Go to the Eurovision site if you want that detail.
- AUSTRIA: a mid
tempo ballad called “Shine” (Gee, haven’t heard too many songs with THAT title
before) simply bursting with cliché.- SLOVENIA: an attempt to invoke the spirit of Daft Punk, via 3 gymnasts on stage with welder masks that look like they’d been purchased from a $2 shop, fails miserably.
- CROATIA: another version of the tenor group Il Divo, albeit with rather nice matching robes. Just what the world has been demanding….not.
- MONTENEGRO: Balkan rappers dressed in spacesuits plus a girl with what appeared to be a jet pack on her back. Their failure to perform in English obviously denied them a well-deserved place in the Final.
- CYPRUS: a lovely unadorned ballad set on an otherwise vacant stage, very much like the country at the moment.
- SERBIA: a dancy number with 3 girls but otherwise unremarkable.
By the end of the broadcast “M” had fallen asleep. I’m not that far behind. We spend most of Saturday catching up on
sleep. Whilst awake, I tend to her
needs, aided by the fact the Doggies are playing on the Gold Coast. They lose by 32 points and I start to harbour
my first doubts about this season. But,
by the time the match has ended its time for:
(AV 11) 2013 Eurovision Song Contest – Semi Final 2
And here is my
comments about the unfortunates that missed out. Better luck next year guys and girls!
- LATVIA: a boy
band. That’s – by Eurovision standards –
so 2010. Don’t they realise the current fad
is for the reformations of boy bands?- SAN MARINO: somehow they managed to find an act that was able to channel Delta Goodrem. Not a good idea if you’re trying to win over Europe.
- MACEDONIA: a singing troupe comprising individuals seemingly designed to appeal to different target demographics but pleasing no one.
- BULGARIA: rhythmic overkill with vertical drums (a neat idea) but seemingly forgetting about the need to write an actual song.
- ISRAEL: Adele + Nana Mouskouri . A short sighted idea that’s left a country rolling in the deep. [OK, you do better!]
- ALBANIA: an over the top rock anthem complete with guitar that shoots out fireworks. Deserved to be in the final.
- SWITZERLAND: a 6 piece acoustic band formed by members of the Salvation Army who were promptly disallowed to wear their uniforms. The upright bass player at 95 years of age is the oldest person ever to compete. I have too much respect for the Salvos to say anything other than they should have made the Final.
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