Balearica Island is a psycho (NSC 234)

[Ana Raquel]

The timezone should be fine if you host it at night (for you guys) as it would be at some point in the afternoon for me.

 

[Morty]

The timezone should be fine if you host it at night (for you guys) as it would be at some point in the afternoon for me.

Anytime early September would work best for me.

So late evening in early September then. Don't really want to do it too late tho. I was planning to enjoy this too, and I need to keep the volume down a bit after 23:00, because of neighbors. So I would probably want to start around 21:00.

 

[Morty]

Re: Balearica Island got the moves like Jagger (NSC 197)

The DJs From Mars Techno Bootleg of Billie Eilish and Oxia failed to qualify to the final, but 13th is a pretty good result for a mashup, so I'm not too disappointed. Thanks to everyone who voted for it!

For NSC 197, I had a plan that I was really set on sticking to, as I've been planning it for several months. But then Eskimo Callboy released "We Got The Moves" last week, and my plan was changed. I became a fan of Eskimo Callboy after Zechonia sent Hypa Hypa in NSC 183, I really loved the mix of metal and hardstyle in that song, and I've bought Hypa Hypa t-shirts, and the Hypa Hypa Edition of the MMXX album, which features 6 cover versions of Hypa Hypa (including Vylkuzeme 187 artist Saltatio Mortis, Viola Per Sempre 82 and 105 artist The BossHoss, Saint Joe & Southgulfia 27 artist Sasha, and Zechonia 195 artist WBTBWB). And now, they've released a follow-up to Hypa Hypa. We Got The Moves is also a crazy mix of everything, they go all in with their videos, and I've seen them be called "the Little Big of metal" (which might also be helped by the fact that Little Big and Eskimo Callboy made "Nightlife" together). I think it's great, so my initial NSC 197 plan gets pushed to NSC 198 instead, and the NSC 197 entry for is Eskimo Callboy - We Got The Moves:

Also, this has nothing to do with "Moves Like Jagger", sorry about the clickbait headline. I just couldn't resist.

New spinoff happening as well, and this time is back. Couldn't miss the Slutfiesta. But I actually don't know which entry I'm in with, because I sent two (one of them was a backup in case the first one was taken), so you're just gonna have to wait until the LL to see what I've sent.

As for the Balearica Island 150 entries celebration, I haven't forgotten about it. But it will happen a bit later than I intended. Last weekend was the initial plan, but I was too busy. This weekend I won't be home, but the following weekend should be all good unless the side effects from my second vaccine shot get severe. So the plan is either Friday 17th or Saturday 18th, but this also depends on the NSC 197 LL.

 

[Morty]

I've got some bad news. Turns out finding the time for the 150 entries celebration has been a lot trickier than I thought. I also realized that I can't actually host a room on BeatSense without signing up, and for a one night show, the price was a bit high. Realizing this wasn't actually free has made me appreciate the LLs and Natiaclub even more tho.

However, I'm not going to just put the entire celebration on the shelf, as I always had a backup plan. Posting them in this thread, which also got a vote in the poll. So stay tuned for that, the first part will come soon.

 

[dogmeat]

How about hosting it on Veronika's channel? Afaik she only uses it for NSC.

 

[Sean]

Beatsense IS free though! It's just easier to use with more options on the paid version...

 

[Ana Raquel]

You don't have to pay for it? At least, I've never paid for mine.

There are also other free options there like cytube, pubby, watch2gether, turntable, etc.

 

[Morty]

Beatsense IS free though! It's just easier to use with more options on the paid version...

Doesn't look like I can create any rooms without subscribing. No option to create a room in My BeatZone either, which I would assume would be the place to go to do that...

How about hosting it on Veronika's channel? Afaik she only uses it for NSC.

You don't have to pay for it? At least, I've never paid for mine.

There are also other free options there like cytube, pubby, watch2gether, turntable, etc.

That could all work, but it doesn't solve my ongoing issues of finding time for it. :/

 

[Morty]

Re: Balearica Island hangs around (NSC 198)

"We Got The Moves" got an awesome result, and I'm still surprised. I didn't even expect it to qualify to the final, but it got 100 points in the semi, and ended up 3rd in the final. PQ was not an option I had imagined, not even when I went to bed halfway thruout the results show. So thanks again to everyone who voted for it.

The Covid-19 pandemic affected people in different ways. And I gotta admit, I've been very lucky. My life wasn't very different in 2020/2021 than in other years, apart from a lack of concerts, festivals and flea markets. Working in the Norwegian grocery business turned out to be pretty lucky when the restaurants and the border to Sweden was closed for a long time (all restrictions in Norway were lifted a couple of weeks ago, and the border reopened a couple of days ago). Sweden is a cheaper country than Norway, which leads to a lot of Norwegians usually shopping food there. I was also never in quarantine, and have never needed to be tested for Covid-19 either. So yeah, I've been lucky. But there was one thing that was taken away from me, that really bothered me. Social distancing and bondage didn't mix very well, especially when my "partner in crime" is in the risk group. It wasn't worth the risk.

And that leads me to the next entry, "Buz Gibiyim", made by Ceytengri, a drag artist from Istanbul. I found this on a playlist of possible entries, and since Tanoiro stole one of my former NF entries for NSC 112, and sent it to NSC 194, it's payback time. No, this was actually planned (and approved) before that, so if anything, NSC 194 was Tanoiro taking revenge on me. I've planned this entry for a pretty long time now, just waiting for the right time, and with all restrictions now being history, the time is now (was supposed to be last edition, but Eskimo Callboy happened, which means this is now suddenly a PQ entry). I'll just leave it at that with this video (which is the main reason I'm sending this, but the song is pretty cool too).

Alternative link for those who sadly can't watch age-restricted videos:

Which is also shorter, because the double feature video is actually Buz Gibiyim twice.

Spinoffs:
The entry I ended up participating with in the Slutfiesta was a song from my high school days, French Affair's "Sexy":

Alternative link:

A lot of age-restricting going on today.

It finished top half, which is a good result. If there's ever a Slutfiesta 2, I'll be going with my backup entry, which is more NSFW (altho probably still not as bad as "Make The Girlies Wet" tbh).

For the upcoming short songs spinoff, I don't know yet. Depends how short the songs need to be, but there is a chance I'll find something. If everything fails, I have a 5 second candidate.

And finally, first part of the top 31 of my 150 first entries coming tomorrow.

 

[Ana Raquel]

your revenge is better since you get a final placement

 

[Morty]

your revenge is better since you get a final placement

That was unintentional. But it does provide the song with a new challenge, instead of hoping to qualify to the final. Will this be my first PQ entry to finish top 20?

Ok, time to finally start counting down the best of the best in Balearica Island's NSC history. When I first started thinking about this, I had 30 entries that had qualified for finals, and that seemed like a good number. Then Ayumi Hamasaki became the 31st, which means we have 31 songs to go thru. Eskimo Callboy will follow at a later time, as this is to celebrate the 150 first entries, but they would have been in the top 10. The songs are ranked by the number of points they got in the final, and I'm putting all the videos in spoilers to make this page easier to load. Not sure if it'll actually make any difference tho.

Buckle up, here we go!

31:
Amaranthe - GG6 (2018 - NSC 179). 28th place, 63 points.

Swedish band. Performed in Emsfrynt.

GG6 is the only song in this list that got less points in the final than in the semi. 73 points in the semi. Got one 12 in the final, from Kamandé.

30:
Ayla - Ayla Part II (1998 - NSC 43). 26th, 71 points.

German producer, Ayla is an alias of Ingo Kunzi. Performed in Vegetaria.

My second entry to this contest, and this was a Reju qualifier, after finishing 18th in the semi. Got one 12 in the final, from Arjastan.

29:
Conjure One feat. Sinéad O'Connor - Tears From The Moon (Tiësto's In Search Of Sunrise Remix) (2002 - NSC 177). 26th, 81 points.

International mix of artists. Conjure One (alias of Nowell Rhys Fulber) is Canadian, Sinéad O'Connor is Irish, and Tiësto is Dutch. Performed in Calypso.

Of the 31 songs that qualified to finals, this is the only one that didn't get any 12s in the final. And until Ayumi Hamasaki in NSC 195, this was the only remix on this list.

28:
2 Unlimited - No Limit (1992 - NSC 54). 20th, 84 points.

Belgian/Dutch eurodance act, the producers (Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde) are Belgian, while the performing artists (Raymond Slijngaard & Anita Dels) are Dutch. Performed in Kostanovia.

2 Unlimited is the only artist that is featured twice in this list, and this was the first of my entries that got a top 10 result in a semi. Got 2 12s in the final, from QuiénDQ and Prasia.

27:
Evil Activities & Endymion feat. E-Life - Broken (2011 - NSC 77). 23rd, 86 points.

A lot of artists here. Evil Activities (Kelly van Soest), Endymion (Bart Revier, Bas Lint and Jelle Neys) and E-Life (Elvis H. de Oliveira) are all Dutch (E-Life is part Cape Verdean) and I think the uncredited singer Paola Verhagen is Dutch as well. Performed in Doire.

A shocking qualifier. Even tho I had qualified (and gotten an awesome result) with hardstyle a few months earlier, I never expected to be able to follow up with hardcore. Got 2 12s as well, from Bacchus and Vedatistan.

26:
Winter Kills - Deep Down (2009 - NSC 50). 12th, 88 points.

Dutch/American project, created by Josh Gabriel from San Francisco and Meredith Call from Amsterdam (who has moved to Texas). Performed in Bokia.

Reju qualifier, and one of only 2 songs that got the same place in both semi and final (the other one was a winner). 1 12 in the final, from Arjastan.

 

[Morty]

Let's continue. Moving on with the next batch of qualified entries. The countdown continues, with 25 to 21.

25:
Five Finger Death Punch feat. Rob Halford - Lift Me Up (2013 - NSC 109). 18th, 96 points.

American band from Nevada, featuring a legendary English heavy metal singer, from the band Judas Priest. Performed in Noizeland.

I've heard this one live, at a concert where both Five Finger Death Punch and Judas Priest played. But to my surprise, Rob Halford didn't join 5FDP on stage for this song. Got 3 12s in the final, from Biflovatia, Paperland and Zechonia.

24:
Solarstone & Clare Stagg - The Spell (Solarstone Pure Mix) (2012 - NSC 100). 20th, 105 points.

Welsh trance producer Richard John Mowatt and English singer/songwriter Clare Stagg. Performed in Illumia.

We're into the triple digits now. Clare Stagg originally wrote this song, then Solarstone picked it up, and they made an incredible pure trance version of the song. Also a surprising qualifier, since this is a pretty long entry. Got 3 12s, from Paperland, Prasia and Zechonia.

23:
Gabry Ponte - Geordie (2002 - NSC 150). 17th, 107 points.

All Italian. The producer is Italian, the label is Italian, and the genre is named after Italy. Not performed in Italy, but in Reym-L-Dneurb.

This actually gives me a lot of pressure for NSC 200, as I have managed to qualify in both NSC 50, NSC 100 AND NSC 150. This got 2 12s, from Calypso and Moisantia.

22:
Monoir feat. Ameline - Midnight In Norway (2019 - NSC 176). 14th, 110 points.

Romanian producer (Cristian Tarcea) and Norwegian Trondheim based singer Ameline (Julia Bognar Finnseter). Performed in Fervorosia.

The song is great, but what made this so incredibly special to me is that the video is shot entirely in my hometown Aure. And it's actually not the only NSC entry to be filmed there, Kimmystan's NSC 182 entry Wardruna - Lyfjaberg is also shot nearby (on the island of Tustna, between Kristiansund and Aure, part of the municipality of Aure since 2006). Got 3 12s, from Arva, Il-Bidu and the Waiting List, and it's the only of my entries to get the WL 12.

21:
Dune - Million Miles From Home (1996 - NSC 134). 18th, 111 points.

German act, at the time consisting of Oliver Froning, Jens Oettrich, Bernd Burhoff and singer Verena. Performed in Calypso.

Reju qualifier, and this was the best result one of my RJQ entries got. Got 1 12, from the nation with the longest name in NSC history, Waiting Iist of Shelley & Nici, Tanner & Josh, Tiffany & Krista, Denise & James Earl.

 

[theditz83]

Gary Ponte - Geordie is such a chooooooonnn!!

Was featured on an Italo Dance CD compilation I got when I was living out in Valencia and it was the soundtrack to my spring

 

[Morty]

We're in to the top 20.

20:
Autokarma - Fare, Fare Krigsmann (2012 - NSC 144). 19th, 112 points.

Norwegian band, with MMA-star Emil "Valhalla" Meek on guitar. Performed in Begonia.

Got 2 12s, from Artyomka and Zombira.

19:
2 Unlimited - Jump For Joy (1996 - NSC 146). 13th, 112 points.

The second 2 Unlimited song in this list, and they are still a Belgian/Dutch eurodance act. Performed on Pigeon Island.

Ranking this higher than Autokarma because it finished higher in the final. Got 3 12s, from Cherniya, Papendink and Roseland.

18:
Darude feat. AI AM - Beautiful Alien (2015 - NSC 167). 9th, 119 points.

Legendary Finnish producer (Ville Virtanen), Danish singer (Maia Daniella Andersen). Performed in Meilutya.

This is the style I hoped Darude would use in ESC. He didn't. Lowest score I've had for a top 10 entry. Got 3 12s, from Cherniya, Papendink and Roseland.

17:
Nigel Stanford - Automatica (2017 - NSC 151). 14th, 120 points.

Created by a Kiwi (New Zealand), music made by robots. Performed in Luzinia.

Also got 3 12s, from Biflovatia, Halito and Ugaly.

16:
Ayumi Hamasaki - Real Me (Megara vs DJ Lee Remix) (2003 - NSC 195). 13th, 120 points.

Japanese superstar singer, German remix duo (Nils Karsten and Michael-Lee Bock). Performed in Serenes.

Most recent final of the 150 first entries, and the best result I've ever gotten with a remix. Same tiebreaker as before, this finished higher than Nigel Stanford. Got 1 12, from Cherniya.

 

[Morty]

Moving on. Before we head into the top 10, here's 15 to 11.

15:
Tina Maze - My Way Is My Decision (2013 - NSC 117). 13th, 122 points.

Slovenian Olympic champion, world champion and world cup winner in alpine skiing, as well as singer. Performed in Prasia.

Best result I've gotten with an athlete turned artist. Got 2 12s, from Luxona and Zaprya.

14:
Gigi D'Agostino - L'Amour Toujours (1999 - NSC 83). 11th, 122 points.

Italian italodance legend. Performed in Rumia.

Last tiebreaker. A legendary song, maybe up there with Sandstorm as one of the best known electronic hits ever. Got 5 12s, from Arjastan, Cydoni-Gibberia, Greenfroze, Yaponesia and Zoidiac.

13:
Refuzion feat. Christian Carlucci - Follow Me (2017 - NSC 152). 12th, 126 points.

Norwegian hardstyle producer from Trondheim (Benjamin Sahba), Canadian singer. Performed in Emsfrynt.

A great streak for me, this was the 3rd entry in a row that managed to qualify to a final. Got 3 12s, from Biflovatia (who also sent Norwegian/Canadian hardstyle in that edition), Il-Bidu and Moisantia.

12:
Engine-EarZ Experiment - Kaliyuga (2009 - NSC 66). 9th, 130 points.

UK based live dubstep collective, formed by Prashant Mistry. Performed in Zaprya and Perryfornia.

My first top 10 result. Got 2 12s, from Rumia and Öösingimaed.

11:
2 Brothers On The 4th Floor - Never Alone (1993 - NSC 183). 7th, 134 points.

Dutch eurodance act, produced by brothers Bobby and Martin Boer, and performed by D-Rock (René Phillips) and Des'Ray (Désirée Manders). Performed in Moisantia.

My response to the Black Lives Matter movement, black and white dancing together. Got 2 12s, from host Moisantia (making this the only entry to get the host 12 in a final) and Tanoiro.

 

[Ana Raquel]

L'Amour Toujours not even top 10
i-

 

[theditz83]

 

[Morty]

10 to 6. We're almost at the top.

10:
Anders Nilsen - Salsa Tequila (2014 - NSC 112). 8th, 138 points.

Norwegian comedian and music producer, with very limited Spanish skills. Performed in Paperland.

Last non-PQ, the entire top 9 (top 10 tbh after Eskimo Callboy) got PQ results. This got 5 12s, from Dal Riata, Moisantia, Srivijaya & Sasentia, Yaaayland and Zombira.

9:
Within Temptation feat. Tarja - Paradise (What About Us?) (2013 - NSC 103). 4th, 145 points.

Dutch symphonic metal band featuring the Finnish lead singer of Nightwish for 9 years. Performed on Pigeon Island.

Lowest PQ score. Got 3 12s, from ChessLand, Reignland and Viola Per Sempre.

8:
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds & Kylie Minogue - Where The Wild Roses Grow (1995 - NSC 101). 5th, 153 points.

Mostly Australian, both Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue are Australian. The Bad Seeds are multinational, at the time this was made, they had Australian, German, Swiss and American members. Performed in Anselmsmumonia.

Best score I've gotten with an entry from the 90s. Got 3 12s, from ChessLand, Rumia and Viola Per Sempre.

7:
Little Big - Polyushko Polye (2015 - NSC 142). 5th, 154 points.

Russian rave band. Performed in Fervorosia.

A cover of a classic Soviet anthem, composed by Lev Knipper in 1933, with drone videos from Russia. Got 1 12, from Biflovatia.

6:
The Green Children - Norwegian Dream (2013 - NSC 115). 6th, 165 points.

Norwegian (Milla Sunde)/English (Marlow Bevan) electropop duo. Performed in Zaprya.

Cover of Jan Hammer's "Crockett's Theme" from Miami Vice, with Norwegian lyrics, and a video with Norwegian scenery. Got 3 12s, from Dal Riata, Denmark of Peace and United Huts of Haustor.

 

[theditz83]

Omg Salsa Tequila! Love that song

 

[Morty]

Before I go to my first big concert since the beginning of Covid-19, Coucheron and Alan Walker tonight in Trondheim, here are the most legendary entries. This is the top 5!

5:
S3RL feat. Lexi - Genre Police (2014 - NSC 127). 1st, 166 points.

Australian happy hardcore producer (Jole Hughes), German singer (Alexandra Röthel). Performed in Calypso.

My first ever win. Lexi's breakthrough as a happy hardcore singer, reaching the top 10 in the Norwegian charts. Got 4 12s, from Halito, Illumia, Yaponesia and Zombira.

4:
Alex Christensen & The Berlin Orchestra - Das Boot (2017 - NSC 158). 2nd, 170 points.

German DJ and producer, joined by The Berlin Orchestra. Performed in Blackmere.

Cover of U96's Das Boot (U96 was fronted by Alex Christensen until the revival in 2014) for a series of classical dance albums. My most recent PQ result (until Eskimo Callboy, and the period from 159 to 196 is the longest I've gone without a PQ result). Got 5 12s, from Aimūlli, Halito, Kamandé, Tír an Abhainn and Ugaly.

3:
Technoboy - Catfight (2010 - NSC 70). 2nd, 187 points.

Italian hardstyle DJ and producer (Cristiano Giusberti). Singer is uncredicted, but could be the Australian singer Shayla (Shayla Hasandic). Performed in Mooseland.

Possibly the most legendary Balearica Island entry. My first ever PQ result. Got 5 12s, from Angelic, Arjastan, Fervorosia, Halito and Zechonia.

2:
Lindsey Stirling - Crystallize (2012 - NSC 80). 2nd, 193 points.

American violinist from Arizona. Performed in 10 Regions of Mobius.

Held the Balearica Island points record for 50 editions. Got 3 12s, from Bacchus, Mooseland and Rumia.

1:
Giorgio Moroder feat. Britney Spears - Tom's Diner (2015 - NSC 130). 1st, 206 points.

Italian composer/producer/DJ legend from South Tyrol, featuring a well known American singer from Mississippi/Louisiana. #FreeBritney Performed in Hypjø.

My second and last win, and current Balearica Island points record holder. Cover of Suzanne Vega's MP3 defining classic "Tom's Diner". Got 5 12s, from Dal Riata, Halito, Il-Bidu, Orangualia and Waiting Iist of Shelley & Nici, Tanner & Josh, Tiffany & Krista, Denise & James Earl.

I have a bonus planned as well, but that will follow after the weekend, as I have about 24 hours of driving and 12 hours of partying to do this weekend. Stay tuned.