'Cause radio plays our favorite song

What has happened to the Estonian national finals for Eurovision lately? They've been low on quality for the past couple years (with the exception of Rolf Junior, whose entry this year is still one of the best singles of the year). Some of the credit for the quality back in the first half or so of the '00s has to go to the team of Pearu Paulus, Ilmar Laisaar, Alar Kotkas, and lyricist Jana Hallas. They contributed some fun, poppy, but kind of classy entries, three of which won and got to represent the country in Eurovision.



Young Ines might not have won the 2000 ESC as many anticipated, but "Once In A Lifetime" is still a gem, mixing a gentle acoustic guitar sound with traditional Europop to create something completely endearing.



Lovely Swedish singer Anna Sahlene ended up singing "Runaway" in 2002 when Ines turned it down. Representing the host country that year, Sahlene did Estonia proud with her performance and the third place result it brought in. Once again, the Paulus/Kotkas/Laisaar/Hallas team turned in a great uplifting track.



Another Swede, Sandra Oxenryd, represented Estonia at Eurovision in 2006 (just beating out Ines in the national final). She failed to make it out of the semifinal despite some of the year's best choreographed group strutting. Come back to national finals somewhere, Sandra--it's been too long since 2008's "Superhero"!



If you're looking for more music by these songwriters, check out Ines's "That's All Because Of You," which was covered by Swedish group Friends as "Favorite Song (That's All Because Of You)." It's another great song in their catchy, upbeat, organic Europop style. "You Wanna Play Too Tough" is also highlight from them. The composers of the group are also part of the group 2 Quick Start, but I've got only the most cursory of knowledge of that group's material. It's in Estonian and more Eurodance, from what I've heard of it.

After 2006, the team had a few more entries in the national final, but none to rival the quality of their earlier work. It's a shame--fans of Eurovision could use them operating at the same level they used to

Tangentially, while we're talking about Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest, I have to recommend the documentary Estonia Dreams of Eurovision, which Len was kind enough to send me a few years ago. It's an interesting look at Estonia's preparations for hosting the contest in 2002, including the falling out between the duo that won for the country in 2001, the national final to determine who would represent Estonia in 2002, and the decision as to who would host Eurovision. It's much more entertaining than that description makes it sound, though.

Ines's debut album, Here For Your Love, isn't really available for sale any longer, but you can always keep an eye on eBay and hope to get lucky. Anna Sahlene's debut album, It's Been A While, released under the artist name Sahlene, is available on iTunes internationally here and digitally internationally here; it's really an enjoyable little album--check out the amusing "House" and her 2003 Melodifestival entry "We're Unbreakable." Sandra Oxenryd's album Through My Window is available digitally internationally here.

I can fly, be invincible

God, I love Sandra Oxenryd. I was all set to like Kasia Nova's "The Devil" more as a song than I liked Sandra's "Superhero" (as I mentioned earlier this year, she's competing to represent Poland at Eurovision), even if expecting Sandra's performance to be better and therefore a better choice, but then I saw the video for "Superhero"...



...and suddenly, not only did I love her even more, I loved the song more, too (though we'll see if it's picked up enough steam to become my favorite). Talk about camp--she's too adorable. Can we please get another album from her after this?

If it's streamed on the Internet (and not conflicting with Melodifestivalen), I am definitely watching Piosenka dla Europy this year.

While I'm at it, here's Kasia Nova's "The Devil."



The other buzzed-about (in fan circles) danceable pop track from Poland is Man Meadow's (also from Sweden, like Sandra) "Viva La Musica."

It's not a game

Quick note to say that Poland has announced its songs and performers for Eurovision. I don't know very much about Polish music, so I don't have much to say here, though I couldn't pass up the opportunity to notice globe-trotting Swedish singer Sandra Oxenryd among the contestants (Sweden's Fame Factory to Estonia's Eurolaul to Norway's Idols to Poland's Piosenka dla Europy). Oh, and Michaell-supported singer Isis Gee is on the list. And I presume the Queens on the list is the Europop group featured on Poplicious once (courtesy of Michaell). Songwriter Thomas G:son's got a song in the running too, sung by Men Meadow.

I never wanna live without your love

Sandra Oxenryd is great. I'm not really sure what she's doing entering Norwegian Idol--after all, she's already won Fame Factory in Sweden (the fourth and most recent season) and represented Estonia in Eurovision (in 2006), so I would've thought that would be enough to prove to companies that she's a good singer. It's a real shame if someone like her still can't get enough (record company?) support that she feels the need to go on another televised contest (if she's trying out for Idol in other countries, I presume she's no longer signed). Plus, look at the boots and the strutting (in the final minute) in her Eurovision semifinal performance! Should've made it to the finals.



Anyway, as far as I know, Sandra has only released on album so far (or maybe two editions of basically the same album), but it's got some good songs on it--this is one of them.

All There Is--I think I remember seeing that a couple of other artists had released this song as well (there's a Chinese pop singer who released it back in 2004), but Sandra's great, this is a Fame Factory special, and I prefer this version than the only other one I can remember at the moment, so I'm posting her version. It's very poppy, cute, and catchy--a great pop song, in other words.

Besides the songs I've posted before, I'd recommend picking up "Make Me Better" as well (and some others). You can buy the album here (physical) or here (digital).

Next up: in all likelihood, after today I won't be able to post anything until Monday (not for any fun reason)--there's a chance I might be able to post some stuff beforehand, but odds are against it. I'll be back soon, though, maybe with one-half of a Fame Factory couple.

What about the rain you cried on my pillow

Once again, we've got another female Fame Factory contestant from Sweden today. However, in this case, she's never competed in Melodifestivalen...but she has already been to Eurovision! She was chosen by a jury vote to represent Estonia at the 2006 Eurovision, where she didn't make it out of the semifinals. I wouldn't say it's worth buying Sandra Oxenryd's whole debut album (if you have to get an album by a female singer who I would've liked to see make it out of the semifinals but didn't, go with Kate Ryan's Alive), but there are a few good songs on it. On the other hand, it also features yet another cover of "A Moment Like This"--are there not enough giant inspirational songs out there that reality TV contestants have to keep reusing the same one? Sandra's also from the same season of Fame Factory as Linda Bengtzing, which Sandra ended up winning.

Through My Window--Sandra's Eurovision song, written by the creators of Estonia's previous entries "Once In A Lifetime" (a great song, sung by Estonian singer Ines) and "Runaway" (also a great singer, sung by another Swedish singer, Sahlene, who's probably going to be featured here very soon), which both placed highly; "Through My Window" didn't, coming in 18th out of 23 in the semifinals and so failing to make it to the final. The song is upbeat, with little clappy background effects; I wouldn't say it's schlager, but then again, I still get schlager and dansband music mixed up, so I'm definitely not the best person to talk to.

At Your Side--though the end of the chorus of this song is good, the verses are generally better than the chorus itself (though it does improve when we get some ad-libs or variation from its formula). It's pretty easy to pick out my favorite parts--I think the top award goes to the "someone to love us through, through the pain, a little hope" part, not because of the lyrics, but just how she sings them--I love how her voice rises up, somehow conveying both intensifying pain and support. That's making this song sound a lot deeper and sophisticated than it is; at heart, it's just a catchy little pop song, simple but fun. I'm not overly fond of those last few seconds, though.

To buy Sandra Oxenryd's debut album (I think there may have been two editions of it, one called All There Is and one called Through My Window, but as far as I know they have the same tracklisting), go here (physical) and here (digital).

Next up: possibly more Fame Factory contestants, but even if not that, probably more music from Sweden. I really will get away from that eventually, I promise.