I'm going to put Xandee in the category of "Belgians who should have done better at Eurovision," along with Kate Ryan. She was their 2004 representative and, though I didn't watch the performance, with a song like "1 Life" can she really have deserved 22nd out of 24? I don't know very much about what she's done since then, though she did release an album also called 1 Life and later released a cover of "Conga." It seems like she's still performing, though, given that she had to cancel a concert when she gave birth to a baby girl last August.1 Life--just in case anyone doesn't know it yet, this was her Eurovision song. It's very danceable and, though it's also pop, it's also got a more electronica backing part than you might expect, and it's that part that really seals the deal here--it's what's responsible for a lot of the song's catchiness.
Payback Time--not much of the album sounds like "1 Life"--it's generally less "you must dance now!"-sounding, which is sort of a shame. Still, this song is good, in a smoother, slightly less shouty way, and I might even prefer it to "1 Life." Her voice also sounds somewhat different on this song compared to "1 Life," but maybe that's a function of the different styles of the songs. The chorus is catchy, the song's fun...really, that's enough for me.
To buy Xandee's album 1 Life, go here (physical).
Next up: music from France.
5 comments:
Poor Xandee - should've been top 3 not bottom 3.
Kate Ryan's 'shut that door' is also a fave.
Enjoyed payback - thanks!
Xandee's song is indeed a Top 3'er but on the night she just didn't deliver. The performance was dated and very un-spectacular. It looked like half of it was improvised on the night.
However, Kate Ryan's 'Shut that Door' was sensational. How she didn't end up getting clobbered by one of those microphones is beyond me. Oh, and I loved the bit when the wind machine kicked in and she strook poses whilst her orange frock billowed in the breeze.
Oh, good--glad you liked "Payback"! I think it's one of the better songs on the album.
And poor Kate. Loved the song, loved the dress--I just don't know why it didn't do better. Alive is a much better album than 1 Life (the album), too.
Also on the topic of Kate (and sort of Xandee), there was a really interesting interview with her over on Ronny & Ronney's Schlagerblogg--it's in Swedish, but translatable...she gives her opinion on a bunch of the 2006 Melodifestivalen songs...she likes Linda's "Jag ljuger så bra" but thought BWO's "Temple of Love" sounded too much like "1 Life," among other things.
Xandee was robbed! As was Kate Ryan! The neon microphone stands were fab! As was the wind machine moment...
Have you heard this year's Belgian song? It's at http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/versie2/nieuws/details/070222KrazyMessGroovers/index.shtml
It's a bit rubbish...
Ooo--not sounding so great. Of course, that probably means it'll make it out of semis and do incredibly well, convincing Belgium to keep sending songs like that...
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