…from Eurovision Song Contest 2014 are people still listening to? Some people need a break from the songs for a while after the contest, while others just keep listening to the entire album. Now it’s been five months, and I guess most people have some songs that stay with them and others that are «gone».
I asked a bunch of fans from all over the world which songs they still listen to, and if their feelings towards some songs have changed. And as always the answers vary, but there *is* a pattern…
NATHAN WADDELL;
Still listen to:
Dancing in the Rain
Like now but not before:
Calm After the Storm
Like then but not now:
Children of the Universe
I still listen to Ruth’s bilingual masterpiece at least once a week. It’s the perfect song to belt out when you’re on your own and it’s even better to listen to it walking about in the rain.
I was never a fan of the Dutch entry but the simplicity of it – the staging was terrible – actually appealed to me on the night and I was very proud of it’s position in the UK charts. It was perfect for the current genres of music that are popular here.
Children of the Universe was a song that I didn’t like for a long time, then the final worked version was released and it felt much tighter as an entry. Then the live performances were astounding… and it all fell apart on the night and with the running order. Unfortunately, I’ve returned to my original dislike for the song.
SHARLEEN WRIGHT;
For me, there is only one song. It was a favourite before the contest, and it’s an enduring love afterwards – Calm after the storm. Absolutely not my normal cup of tea, but so happy to see how successful it went on to be, and is testament to how tv production can also elevate a simple song into 3 minutes of magic. Plus, I thought that Waylon was quite easy on the eye, and it even like his new single.
TOBY LIOR CARMEL;
Germany: I absolutely hated this song before and during the contest but relistening after a few months, I can see it is more complex and layered than I originally thought, I could actually listen to it more often now
Israel: there was so much hype around the song before the contest that few people noticed it was actually pretty dull. I don’t play it anymore at all
Iceland: I didn’t think much of this song before the contest but listening to it now makes it sound like a Eurovision Classic
Ireland: loved it before the contest, never listen to it anymore…
But my favorite song from before the contest is still my favorite now (Norway)
NICK VAN LITH;
The Netherlands – Despite the fact I absolutely despise Waylon, this song has grown on me even more. I am a big fan of country music, so this is perfection for me. The song is still played on radio here and I love it every single time. The Common Linnets are definitely my favourite Dutch entry since 1993!
San Marino – My big guilty pleasure of the year. I love the 70s (or at least old-fashioned) midtempo ballad Ralph Siegel came up with this year and I am delighted it brought San Marino a place in the final. I still listen to it whenever I need to cheer up.
Grown on me after the contest:
Ukraine – The most catchy song of them all this year. Tick Tock grew on me with the awesome live performance Mariya gave in Copenhagen and it’s only been growing and growing ever since. It was only just in my top 25 before the show, it’s now creeping up in my top 10.
Spain – In a close battle with Austria to be my favourite song of the year, even though Austria was miles and miles ahead before the contest. Like with most big ballads, I don’t listen to them on a daily basis, as I prefer less ‘drama’ when I’m studying. So songs like Rise Up, Tick Tock and Maybe get played a lot more than Dancing In The Rain. Nevertheless, I really love this.
Listen less:
United Kingdom – I don’t know what happened, but I’m just done with this song. It might be Molly’s voice which just makes me tired, it might be the overly cliche theme or the horrible memory of the stage performance, which was wrong in every single way.
Hungary – Whereas I appreciate Spain’s dramatic song much more after the contest, this uptempo drama from Hungary, which was my favourite for quite a while, has lost some of its power for me. The drum in the chorus (which I only started noticing thanks to Wiv…) is annoying me more and more…
RYAN WILSON;
Still listening to Ukraine, which was one I liked less before but more now
Same with Russia and Belarus
and probably also Switzerland and Iceland
Armenia and Denmark are ones I liked before but am listening to less now
EMMA BACKFISH;
Still listening to: Calm After the Storm, Not Alone and Coming Home
Hated but now listen to: Rise Up and Same Heart
Loved but now «hate» (aka, overplayed them!): Silent Storm and Cliche Love Song
MIKHAIL KESAREV;
I can tell you now. I still listen Tanja from Estonia, Conchita from Austria, Emma from Italy, Azerbaidjan, Spain, Israel, Montenegro
Then the songs which I can listen now but didn’t listen before. Romania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Latvia
And finally vice versa. I can’t listen now though liked before. Ireland, Ukraine, Russia, Belgium, Switzerland, the UK, San Marino, Greece, Moldova, Sweden
And of course I didn’t like before and don’t still like now. Armenia, Albania, Belarus, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Norway, Slovenia.
PHILIP HOUTERMANS;
The songs I still play from this years contest:
Silent storm, Norway, a very strong and moving ballad that has touched my heart. I can not listen to the song, the emotion in his voice combined with the lyrics make me silent every time I hear it
Undo, Sweden, a cliche love song you’d say, but Sanna brings it so convincingly that you believe what she’s singing. Swedish school, upgraded by the voice of an amazing singer
Same heart, Israel, a very strong song that should have made it to the finals. The song reminds me of my last relationship, it described the emotions I went through, and I guess that’s why I still play it. It’s a reminder of the sort of relationship I don’t want anymore
Songs I started appreciating during the fortnight, and after the contest:
Cake to bake, Latvia, a very charismatic singer, so full of life, that the song is turned in to a feel good moment. Every time I hear it, it puts a smile on my face.
Rise like a phoenix, Austria, I must admit I had my doubts before the contest, I’m not a big fan of the music genre, and I was doubting the bearded lady would be good promotional material for the contest. The song grew on me during the eurovision weeks, and so did Conchita. Interviewing her was one of the best interviews I ever experienced, she knows what she wants and gets the message across. In retrospect, winning the contest was the best thing that could have happened.
Calm after the storm, the Netherlands, I never really cared for the song before or during the contest, I was even disappointed that they kept receiving points. After the contest, I returned home and watched the song on television, and I finally got the message, I could understand why it got to second place.
Songs I used to play before the contest but don’t play anymore:
Mother, Belgium, I was impressed when I heard him performing live during the Belgian preselection and had very high hopes for him, however, the performance during the contest was weak, and all of a sudden the song was mediocre and melodramatic.
Children of the universe, UK, one of my favorites before the contest, it just faded away after the contest, no sticky performance, no airplay, it just was one of these ‘forgettable’ songs
DEBBIE PARKINSON;
I still listen to La mia Città as from hearing it at Eurovision made me really like the Artist ‘Emma Marrone’ and so now have her albums and listen to them all regularly.
Also Mei Finegold Same heart is a regular on my gym playlist.
At first I also had risky kids Rise up on that same playlist but now find myself skipping this track… Not for any particular reason just that now there is more songs on my playlist/iPod that I would rather listen too.
EYRÚN ELLY VALSDÓTTIR;
Songs I still listen to from ESC 2014: The Common Linnets: Calm After The Storm – but who doesn’t?
Sanna Nielsen: Undo – On my party playlist
Carl Espen: Silent Storm – the melody is so calm and effordless and it really is easy-listening. I don’t really consider it Euro-pop-bubblegum-music which you have to brace yourself to listen to.
Conchita Wurst: Rise like a phoenix – The drama in the song somehow appeals more to me as I listen to it more.
Pollapönk: No prejudice – Not really by choice but my 3-year-old listens to Pollapönk some of the time and sings it out loud rest of the time!
Songs 2014 I like now but didn’t before/during ESC: TwinTwin: Moustache – Have this also on my party playlist. Love the energy but didn’t really like it before.
Songs I liked but don’t so much now: Paula & Ovi: Miracle – Rarely listen to it, thought I would much more. Playing with fire much stronger.
ERVIN;
The songs I’m still listening to:
– Andras Kallay-Saunders – Running – this one is my favourite Hungarian Eurovision entry ever, it was my big favourite this year, and I think I’ll be listening to this song for a long time!
– Mei Finegold – Same Heart – I loved her performance, I love the music, and I love her voice. One more song that will stay with me for a long time.
– Tinkara Kovac – Round And Round – such a beautiful melody, a very nice performance, an amazing artist, and a great song!
Didn’t like it then, like it now:
– Sergej Cetkovic – Moj svijet – I used to find this rather bland (might be because I’m not really a fan of ballads), but in the end it really got into my ears.
– Donatan & Cleo – My Slowianie – I found it a complete mess, and a weird song. Seeing them perform in Copenhagen, made me love this, and I listen to the song every once in a while
– Sebalter – Hunter of stars – I found the whistles very annoying (and I still do), but his performance was so happy and honest, that you just can’t not like this.
Liked it then, don’t like it now:
– Softengine – Something better – This is a good song, first of all, and it was within my favourites in Copenhagen. But I think I overplayed this a little bit, and got bored of it. And again – why didn’t they have any pyrotechnics? It would have made their performance so much better!
GLEN BARTLETT;
Songs still listen to from ESC ’14.
⦁ France – Twin Twin – Moustache
Such a fun vibe and so energetic – represents everything good about Eurovision – LOVE!
⦁ Finland – Softengine – Something Better
My favourite band of the competition. Sounds as fresh as it did when I listened to it in UMK first time round. Very rarely that I follow bands religiously after Eurovision, but Softengine are great, and this song is equally as good!
⦁ Poland – Donatan & Cleo – My Slowianie
For the outrageous-ness! It’s such a great song and it got Europe talking – still a popular song on my iPhone!
Like now but didn’t so much before.
⦁ FYR Macedonia – Tijana – To The Sky
I found this quite cheap during the Eurovision fortnight. It got lost between two very good male solo performances. I myself had to question ‘Where do we go now?’, and I definitely didn’t see this qualifying. What’s crazy is, over the last few weeks, I’ve fallen in love with the meaning of the song. Tijana (during the competition) always reminded us that ‘the Sky’s the Limit’ – it’s about letting go and being free, and I finally realise this with the song. I’ve especially fallen in love with the guitar chorus near the end of the song.
⦁ Belarus – Teo – Cheesecake
I ruled this song out as early as the Belarussian national final. I felt it was weak and I was begging for the tradition of a song change. Nonetheless, after watching it live on the night – the song represented everything that was great about Eurovision – it was fun, it was cheeky, and it wasn’t to be taken too seriously. It’s not one I skip when it comes to shuffling the playlist – and to this day I haven’t mastered the «Teo shuffle»!
⦁ Montenegro – Sergej Cetkovic – Moj Svijet
I didn’t *dislike* this song, but I never saw this as a contender during the competition. I felt that the song was nice enough and it would at least qualify, but other than that, I was looking forward to Sergej’s performance, as it was my I designated it as my ‘loo-break song’. As time has progressed though, I’ve re-opened my eyes to see an elegant, loveable Balkan ballad. I sometimes pretend to skate across my living room too (to little success).
Liked then but don’t so much now.
⦁ Latvia – Aarzemnieki – Cake to Bake
Their vocal performance on the night ruined this song for me and now I just see it as a very weak, half-done pop song. It’s weird, because I LOVED this song before.. maybe I fell in love too much with the band, rather than the quality of the song.
⦁ Greece – Freaky Fortune ft. RiskyKidd – Rise Up!
This was my favourite to win the whole competition, but one word; Trampoline. Pretty much ruined the song for me! The atmosphere was amazing in the arena for this song, but the moment’s gone and it’s time to move on!
⦁ Hungary – Andras Kallay-Saunders – Running
I feel this has been blown out of proportion by many Eurovision fans and sadly, because of the over-hype of this song, it’s made me dislike it! Very much love for an average song.
