If you’re new to the contest, or even if you’re already familiar with what it’s about, let yourself be reminded by this little blurb...
ETNW is about choosing a song you think sounds like it could have been an entry in Eurovision - from any country that’s ever taken part in any year between 1956 and 2011. Maybe there’s some Armenian song you’ve just discovered (possibly featuring pomegranate or some other fruit with religious connotations) which you thought would have made a great entry for the country in Moscow; or you’ve always loved a Belgian song you’re sure the Walloons would have gone for in 1973 if it hadn’t been Flanders’ turn.
Your entry might scream Eurovision and pick itself, or it could take you a while before you’re sure it would have slotted in perfectly for that country in that year. But whatever it is you come up with, use your imagination; think ‘what if…?’ – it's the Eurovision That Never Was, after all. It’s up to you how you interpret that. With any luck it’ll provide us with a good variety of music and a worthy winner!
ETNW is about coming up with an entry you reckon is as authentic as possible given the year and country you’ve allocated it to – which is, importantly, how your voting should work. Say there are two songs you’re torn between: one you like but which doesn’t really feel like it comes from ESC, and the other which you don’t like as much but which seems as though it was lifted straight out of Eurovision. Your higher mark should go to the second one. That’s what distinguishes ETNW from other MB contests: it’s not about personal taste as such, but rewarding good matches. See the other posts hereabouts for more information about rules and voting.
Just so you don’t forget, submissions start this Wednesday, 4 January, and will last about a week-and-a-half. Before that, let’s have a recap of last year's winner and some sage advice from its sponsor, Roger...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWTLV2Be6dY
If the video's not showing up, just click on the link ;)
That’s the kind of thing to aim for! (Not that everyone should submit up-tempo ’60s numbers, of course – Arvid’s winner from 2010, which Mr. Scroll will help you find, was a ’90s anthem. Stuff from every decade’s done pretty well so far.)
And now it’s over to the man the UK probably wishes really had won it for them...
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As defending champion it is a joy and thrill for me to try and help you all do better this year!
I’d like to be able to tell you all exactly how I found and chose Colour My World last year. But I honestly can’t remember. I think the thought process was probably something like this though:
1. Heavens to Pet! This may not be one of her most well-known songs, but it is definitely one of her best.2. Petula really should have done Eurovision. She was famous in France!
3. Colour My World is less than 3 minutes. That’ll shut the pedants up!
4. The UK started sending naff cheese from 1967 onwards.
5. The UK didn’t send anything resembling a 1960s pop song until 1965.
6. Petula could work those 1966 stairs even better than Milly Scott.
OK, that last thought only just occurred to me. But basically, just find a good song and then fit as best you can with a country and year. Don’t overthink it! Although, don’t underthink it either. Kylie is not a realistic Swedish entrant. Really.
Remember that people are voting for the song that best matches the country and year, not the song they like the most. However, lots of songs will fit very well and then people will probably end up voting for the one they like the most anyway. So don’t enter a really shit song. Unless it’s being nominated for the UK in the last 10 years of course, in which case you have no choice!
Now let’s see if I can manage to follow my own advice.
*deletes Kylie playlist*
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All that. (Apart from deleting the Kylie playlist – tsk!) So if you haven’t got an entry yet, get thinking! Remember: submissions open this Wednesday. By which time I’ll hopefully have an email account sorted ;)
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