#Samanta Tina

[borisbubbles]

Eurovision 2023: #28

 28. GEORGIA Iru - “Echo” 29th place

Decade Ranking: 92/116 [Above Vladana, below Samanta Tina]

Great gown, beautiful gown; 

Enough time has passed. Echo sucked. Yeah SORRY we all want underdog countries to do well and they are often undeservedly sidelined but come on. Georgia is NOT Slovenia. Their failures are always self-inflicted and not the result of jealousy, but of being too much themselves and not caring how they come across (aka “Dilja Syndrome”). I love them for that normally but not here. When is Georgia is too much Georgia? When it’s not enough Visionary Dream, too much fucking Iriao whateverstan, that’s what. Enter, “Echo” which... is a song. Kind of. I guess? It lasts for three minutes and she sings some words. Words that don’t make sense (funny how quickly this becomes a source of aggravation once you realize it was a deliberate stylistic choice to emulate “uwu quirkiness”), but as if anyone could pay attention to Iru with those obnoxious lights and camera cuts going on. So much bombast, so little impact.

The backing track was a clash where the prerecorded vocalists and persussionists tried to outnoise eachother, a vain vanity project for Iru to flex her voice against.  Sadly the backing track won. Another thing that ground my gears at the time (enough to mention it five months later) were the Iru stans; Sure, ESC stans, you know them, we are them, you know how toxic they (we) can be sometimes. Nobody is innocent! But a line has to be drawn somewhere, and *I* draw mine way before reposting images depicting Iru crying in distress after her elimination, and using it to attack Blanka for “stealing” Iru’s spot. Respecting my idol’s feelings is nice but they rejected my ideal reality and it hurt my feelings, so GOODBYE respect!!! Espec when you consider Iru was upset in the first place because aforementioned braindead stanholes had spent months gaslighing her into believing she would have had an effortless path into the finale.  Good fucking job!!!

But nobody can take away that she did wear a really beautiful gown. 🙂

[because-its-eurovision]

I'm working on a small ESC project atm for which I'm looking at some national finals from this season and the 2021 season. And I noticed that there used to be a lot more internal selections two years ago compared to nowadays. Do you have any idea why that was the case/ why it changed? (I know it's a really random question but I thought you'd be the best person to ask :))

There are many countries that have their established national selections that are organised every year. UMK, Melodifestivalen, MGP, DMGP, Söngvakeppnin, Eesti Laul, Supernova, Festivali i Këngës, Festival da Canção just to name a few.

Then there are those countries that try different selection methods every few years, depending on the participating broadcaster, their financial situation and if there are any established artists showing interest to be selected internally. Some examples of those are Netherlands, Belgium (with two broadcasters), Moldova, Spain, San Marino, France, Malta, Georgia, Australia and Israel. Sometimes they organise a full national final, sometimes they choose just the artist via a talent show (Malta's X Factor 2019 & 2022, Georgian Idol 2019 & 2020), and sometimes they make an internal selection.

In 2022 TRM was planning to hold a full national selection but cancelled it after the preliminary round when it became clear there was no competition for Trenulețul. San Marino's 1in360 was scrapped after only one year letting Senhit & Flo Rida to represent the country and then Una voce per San Marino was founded in 2022. Israel, Slovenia and France also got big names with Noa, Joker Out and La Zarra so organising a NF would have been a waste of everyone's time and money, and so forth. This leads to the number of national selections changing from year to year, and I must admit that I haven't been invested in the subject enough to notice any strong trends.

2021 national final season is very exceptional since it was strongly effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the 2020 contest got cancelled, a total of 24 countries decided to send their representative again the next year, and that lead to one-year hiatus for many established national selections. Most of those then returned again in 2022 👇

Czechia: Benny Cristo won Eurovision Song CZ 2020, was internally selected in 2021, in 2022 they had national selection ESCZ 2022 Iceland: Daði & Gagnamagnið won Söngvakeppnin 2020, were internally selected for 2021, Söngvakeppnin returned in 2022

Serbia: Hurricane won Beovizija 2020, were internally selected for 2021, in 2022 they had national selection Pesma za Evroviziju '22

Latvia: Samanta Tina won Supernova 2020, was internally selected for 2021, Supernova returned in 2022

Slovenia: Ana Soklič won EMA 2020, was internally selected for 2021, EMA returned in 2022

Australia: Montaigne won Eurovision - Australia Decides 2020, was internally selected for 2021, Australia Decides returned in 2022

Israel: Eden Alene won Rising Star 2020, was internally selected for 2021, in 2022 The X Factor Israel was used as the national selection

Romania: Roxen's entry was selected via Selecția Națională 2020, she was internally selected for 2021 as was her song, and Selecția Națională returned in 2022

Ukraine: Go_A won Vidbir 2020, was internally selected for 2021, Vidbir returned in 2022

Malta: Destiny was chosen via The X Factor 2020, internally selected for 2021, and in 2022 Malta Eurovision Song Contest was used as the national selection

[thoughtfullyrainynightmare]

I got tagged by @atinyhellu to post the 10 first songs on shuffle from my spotify on repeat playlist! Thank you for the tag!! 

I put my liked songs on shuffle, and I really only listen to the ones on the top of said list, so there might be some old ones in there ^^’

1. Gone by Beth Crowley

I have no memory as to when I added this to my list, but it does give me angsty and faint warrior -like vibes. There are themes of loss and battle for sure though. Good writing inspiration. But nowadays feels a bit repetitive :/

2. I’m not the only one by Sam Smith

Another tragic love song. I think I added this for writing inspiration too, specifically for writing the last few chapters of BWHI, though the song itself isn’t a good fit for the story. But again, the feels of the melody, and some individual lines from here and there. 

3. Gloria Regali by Tommee Profitt, Fleurie

A song I stumbled on by accident, and it was again for writing purposes, because I felt it to have similar themes to the BC manga, but also went nicely with The Vows We Made. Though I would put this as a Queen Anima song as well (so essentially Embers thing).  Man there’s a lot of Embers inspiration songs here ^^’ 

4. The Moon Is Rising by Samanta Tina

A Eurovision song! I found it through Ukraine’s entry, and put it in my Liked Songs before I found that it’s a Eurovision song, actually. Just some sexy, warrior, goddess/valkyrie vibes. 

5. Wellerman by The Longest Johns

A fun sailor song. Miiiiight have been influenced by a friend ;) But it’s a fun song. 

6. Godhunter by Aviators

Don’t remember why I added it, but doesn’t really matter. It’s a nice song with hunter, mystery, and lore -vibes. If I want to feel badass while walking somewhere, I might put this one on.

7. Your turn to roll (Critical Roll theme) by Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Sam Riegel

This is here because of DnD vibes. Stumbled on it by accident, but I had to put it there, especially because of the BC dnd game we’re playing.

8. The Fine Print by The Stupendium

Can’t remember why I added this, but it’s a ... funky song. In lack of a better word. But there’s the deal making -vibes, which can be very good writing inspo, so it could be that I listened to it while writing something specific. Can’t really remember. 

9. New Tradition by Saysh, Anderson Rocio

I think I just liked the vibes of this song too. It’s determined, as a nice spunk to it. Another song that I’d listen to while walking from point A to point B.

10. Surface Pressure by Jessica Darrow

Do I need to say something about this? Sometimes there is a lot going on in life, and it seems unbearable, but it’ll be alright in the end. 

I’m tagging (with absolutely no pressure) @acacia-may @trolling-the-interwebs @koneko-pi and @daffodilsinspring

[eurovision-revisited]

Eurovision 2005 - Number 1 - Jadranka Juras - "Anima"

2005 is a weird year. Normally there are a two or three songs I know are likely to be my winners from early on. In 2005 that didn't happen. I genuinely had no clue what song would win. Even if I had picked eight or nine potential winners, this would not have been one of them. It's the very definition of a grower. Having said that, I'm still surprised this unheralded eighth place finisher from EMA came out top in my bracket.

Jadranka Juras had one earlier attempt at EMA in 2003 - when she got a single point and finished second last. She's a classically trained singer who switches between pop, light opera and jazz easily and frequently. She's here in 2005 because her first album is out and this is the lead track from it.

Anima wears its avant-garde qualities on its extraordinarily long sleeves. That instrumental struts and stomps its way with dramatic low order brassy punctuation and woozy synth farts that swirl around between the chorus and verses. There's an eastern sounding hammered string thing going on that keeps the pace and tension high.

Tension is what this song is about. It's a moment in an argument between a man and a woman. She gives (Dam dam) much of herself, doesn't give (Ne dam) things that cause distress and generally does her bit to make the relationship work. He keeps disappearing and is hiding something. The song represents this opening statement in what's undoubtedly going to be a protracted argument. Her first steps towards freedom.

The lyrics and song are both angular in strange ways. The backing singers insistent dam dams synchronised to shoulder-ography. It's perpendicular to the status quo, jutting out when previously everything had been smooth. Jadranka herself has moments of choreography that fit the song's more unlikely pauses and quirks. Initially she's attached to the male dancers, but by the end she's liberated and in control.

I love everything about it - even if Slovenia didn't. Yes, it's definitely not a standard Eurovision pop song. Selecting it would have been daring in the same way that Latvia selecting Samanta Tina in 2020 and 2021 was. Yet, eighth place is selling this short. It was probably that low in the result as it directly followed two of the favourites including the winner.

Since 2005, Jadranka's career has taken her to many places geographically and musically. From performing in a production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte to becoming a judge for a season on the Slovenian X Factor. She's released several albums all wonderfully different from the others. Avant-garde pop to big band ensemble to light jazz. She's one of the more versatile signers the national finals have given a stage to and she's continuing to tour, perform and record today. She's a passionate supporter of animal welfare organisation and has addressed the Slovenian parliament on this issue

Anima is an odd winner, but its weird, quirky shifts and the integration of song with performance are way ahead of the Eurovision status quo and for me it's the best of 2005.

[antmranking]

Lea

2. Maja F.

3. Nika Mi.

4. Sara Ana

5. Tina

6. Nika Ma.

7. Ana

8. Kamila

9. Martina

10. Samanta

[miuimusic]

Samanta Tina

[invece-sto-sdraiato]

ahhhh the hold this song had on me when it was first released. I was freaking obsessed with it for like, a month. then I saw the rehearsal and I knew they were done for.

(why the fuck am I being nostalgic, it was only two years ago 😫😫😫)

[baltfilm]

Samanta Tina Set | Wedding Oskars Sabina | 2022 from Baltfilm on Vimeo.

[foollime-00]

kinda despised it when I first heard it but you know what? Still Breathing is super good actually. is it a hot take Samanta Tina got a raw deal, cause I think she did

[trzpiotka]

eurovision + txtposts: latvia

[littlemisspoltergeist]

omg u watch doctor who?

i was so confused for a moment

honey, that’s eurovision

[guysofeurovision]

Moon Is Rising or Eat Your Salad?

[lexa-el-amin]

okay but samanta tina's green eurovision wardrobe is immaculate

[antmranking]

Nika Mi.

2. Maja F.

3. Sara Ana

4. Ana

5. Lea

6. Nika Ma.

7. Samanta

8. Maja B.

9. Martina

10. Tina

11. Kamila

[atimefordragons]

obsessed with this stage effect 👀👀👀