ESC 2004 - Istanbul, Turkey

[Mannone]

Selam!

Now you are wondering, maybe even muttering: why is he wasting time on those early millennium years? Believe me, I'm really starting to call that in question myself. I guess I have a couple of incentives for starting these threads:

1. I think every year deserve, if not their own sub-forum, so at least one dedicated thread where you can comment on anything.

2. I haven't actually listened at those songs since back then, and so it's like I haven't heard many of them before. Not much to discover, obviously, but that's what I'm doing - re-discovering. In other words, I'm trying to find (CD-versions only) something at least decent that my nowadays settled taste in music may approve of, as it has changed very much since I was a teenager.

3. Many of us also want personal rankings from every year. Why not start with the early 2000's.

Whatever your incentives to contribute to this thread - just do it! Post Your top 10 or simply vent your spite upon your unbearables.


-------------------------------------------------


Here is what I think.

Spontaneously it feels like a strong year, and when I've finished listened a first time, that is still my conclusion. But as I continue listening, barely any songs stand out as presumptive habits in the long run. Mostly they are all lacking that something extraordinarily.

Except for one, which is a result of why participants should never compromise when it comes to brute force in this contest. Ruslanas' Wild Dances is probably the most pure high-voltage dynamo that has hitherto been presented on an ESC stage, at least without lacking of finesse when it comes to rhythm and composition. I think this is one of the true masterpieces (first time I choose this word on here) within ESC. Don't really know what to add from there. It's just undivided killer instinct.

In total, this year is definitely above average, as if quality automagically stepped up from the introduction of semi-finals. This year is where the modern era of eurovision finally commences.


My favourites:

1. - Ruslana - Wild Dances

Superior. Just never gets old. That intensity is just... who I am.


2. - Blue Café - Love Song

The catchphrase is completely ridiculous and takes the sting out of the cozy, gently crazy, Zulu-like howling towards the end, which I'm a sucker for.


3. - Xandee - 1 Life

Clever beat and mighty pulse!


4. - Alexandra & Konstantin - My Galileo

And crazier it gets. Here with a semi-yodeling cowgirl from Belarus. Pleasant.


5. - Sakis Rouvas - Shake It

Pretty good rattlesnake pop.


6. - Lena Philipsson - It Hurts

Lena made our best entry since the turn of the millennium.


7. - Fomins & Kleins - Dziesma Par Laimi

Not very good, but definitely OK. Decent Baltic voice and pleasant language.


8. - Marta Roure - Jugarem A Estimar-Nos

Loads of syllables, and so a minor reminder of Crisalide. Less fatal though, and not near as good. Still decent.


9. - Toše Proeski - Life

Decent, but is rather soon treading water.


10. - Ramón - Para llenarme de ti

OK. I just wonder if Sakis Rouvas' composer wrote this piece too. A less good twin-tune.


My gutter squad:

36. - Fuad "Deen" Backovic - In The Disco - Oily, lousy and simply boring. Completely unimaginative to moan the word "music" 100+ times.
35. - Sofia Vitória - Foi Magia - I hate this beat. Truly despise it. So much junkie about it. Plus generic in a bad way.
34. - Piero & The Musicstars - Celebrate! - Should be forbidden to use the word "celebrate" in connection with ESC. They just never learn. Spain did it in 2002, Croatia in 2011 and sort of even Ireland in 2000. Punishment necessary here!
33. - Anjeza Shahini - The Image Of You - Stressful voice.


Many thanks to the ukrainian team behind Wild Dances! xsalute

 

[Impressive]

I listeden all final songs when Eurovision channel uploaded them a couple of weeks ago. I think 2004 has one of best host-country-entry. Atena's For Real is very different than usual Eurovision songs. Also Poland's and Ukraine's and The Netherlands' entries are still stucked in my mind.

 

[Mannone]

I listeden all final songs when Eurovision channel uploaded them a couple of weeks ago. I think 2004 has one of best host-country-entry. Atena's For Real is very different than usual Eurovision songs. Also Poland's and Ukraine's and The Netherlands' entries are still stucked in my mind.

Athena reminds a lot of Can Bonomo's act from last year. None of my favourites.

 

[Nicholas123]

Belgium? U can't be serious!

Ukraine was the best, followed closely by Serbia and Montenegro. Cyprus and Turkey were also very good.

Russia was another favorite of mine, but it was ruined by the hideous stage presence (painted dancers? WTF?)

 

[Mannone]

Belgium? U can't be serious!

Ukraine was the best, followed closely by Serbia and Montenegro. Cyprus and Turkey were also very good.

Russia was another favorite of mine, but it was ruined by the hideous stage presence (painted dancers? WTF?)

Thunder, dynamite and a clever beat. I'm way serious! The beat in "1 Life" simply works on me. Not wow, but makes me jive.

Serbia? Željko "The buttery serb" Joksimovic. Wouldn't think so. His tunes are just too much, and completely stationary in structure, "Lane Moje" as much as "Nije Ljubav Stvar". He aims to be impossibly celestial, but it just feels ingratiating all the way.

Cyprus is fine. Nothing special though. Never really lifts.

Russia is very much a templet-factory. The song titles are very similar and the english always a tiny bit flawed. The structure in many cases identical. "Solo" from 2000 is great, but then we have "Believes me" (2004), "Believe" (2008), "What If" (2013) etc. So I'm really not a fan of Russia since 2000. (Not a big fan of Sweden either though.)

 

[Mannone]

has really grown on me! I can totally ignore the unpleasant catchphrase today, and just love the other parts, and the fact that it is so pleasingly episodic. Up one rank...

 

[toinou03]

has really grown on me! I can totally ignore the unpleasant catchphrase today, and just love the other parts, and the fact that it is so pleasingly episodic. Up one rank...

I love it !

 

[Matt]

2004 was above average to me. After years of disappointing entries, the introduction of the Semi Final system really increased the quality of music, at least for the Final show.

Overall I was quite satisfied with the final outcome with a few exceptions. The Semi Final Qualifiers IMO were for the most part justified. I actually liked and but admit that neither of them lived up to my expectations live. And to this date I consider one of the weakest ESC entries.

I'll try to come up with a Top 10, I hope I don't miss any songs

Serbia & Montenegro (This song has something magical to it, my personal winner)
Cyprus (I loved the studio version but the live performance was too raw for my personal taste)
Spain (Just love it, it makes me happy)
Ukraine (Deserving winner)
Netherlands (Why is this one is so disliked?? I love accoustic music)
Albania (It's cheesy but so much fun)
United Kingdom (studio version is much better, live performance lacked the proper energy)
Turkey (just a good song)
Malta (cheeziest song eva....I tried to hate it but just couldn't help myself)
Sweden (it's not bad in the studio but live it left me cold)

The fact that Greece was so high up there made me sick to my stomach. I remember freaking out the entire time cause it was so close to winning the whole thing. Sakis is one of the worst singers the contest has ever seen (which is a really strong statement) and his whole persona and cocky attitude really was such a major turnoff for me. Plus I thought the song really sucked.

But overall a solid year.

 

[Nikkita]

Serbia & Montenegro (This song has something magical to it, my personal winner)

Lane Moje is an Eurovision cult for me.
Also i wanna put a heart here for For Real this was one of the best songs of Turkey.

 

[A-lister]

This was when Eurovision started to become good again after some pretty bad years!

My top. 10 - 2004:

(imo the best ESC winner to date!)
::cs




(if we would have sent the Swedish version instead it would have been my 10-pointer!)

 

[Mannone]

(imo the best ESC winner to date!)

Inclined to period that... (just that I haven't heard all the winners). Fantastic if we could agree on this though.

And thanks for not neglecting Xandee!

 

[A-lister]

Inclined to period that... (just that I haven't heard all the winners). Fantastic if we could agree on this though.

And thanks for not neglecting Xandee!

So, you agree or not? I'm a bit confused?

Oh, although a bit of a sloppy performance and the obvious faux- oriental-dancepop, Xandee still remains a party banger for me and was obviously highly overlooked that year... I guess had there been no Ruslana that year, Xandee might have faired a bit better.

 

[Mannone]

So, you agree or not? I'm a bit confused?

Oh, although a bit of a sloppy performance and the obvious faux- oriental-dancepop, Xandee still remains a party banger for me and was obviously highly overlooked that year... I guess had there been no Ruslana that year, Xandee might have faired a bit better.

Sure, I agree. Wild Dances is most likely my all time number one. So yes, definitely the best winner ever.

 

[A-lister]

Sure, I agree. Wild Dances is most likely my all time number one. So yes, definitely the best winner ever.

What ESC years have you heard the songs from (and I mean all the songs from a particular year)?

I did my research some years ago, and I still go back every now and the, and practically listened to ALL ESC entries from 1956-

But even with that knowledge, remains my favorite winner ever... to me this entry is just one of those ideal ESC entries... this is what ESC should be about, entries truly representing the countries but still manages to fusion between cultural and contemporary in a smart way.

 

[DanielLuis]

I can't get the passion for this year, I think it's pretty bad!
I'll try to make a top ten:
That song is simply beautiful, I remember watching the performance on the TV when I was a kid
Such a simple, yet effective song! What a great debut by Albania
I also remember watching this on on the tele, and I remember my dad saying immediately "This will win!" It was indeed a good winner!
::cs A classic
That microphone stand

From here it's harder to continue, as mostof the other songs were pretty "meh" for my taste.

Underrated entry!
I don't know why, I simply like that song!
R.I.P.


Just missing out and

 

[Mannone]

What ESC years have you heard the songs from (and I mean all the songs from a particular year)?

I did my research some years ago, and I still go back every now and the, and practically listened to ALL ESC entries from 1956-

But even with that knowledge, remains my favorite winner ever... to me this entry is just one of those ideal ESC entries... this is what ESC should be about, entries truly representing the countries but still manages to fusion between cultural and contemporary in a smart way.

I'm doing my research right now. I haven't been fanatic at all during adolescence. Even if I watched the show from 1999-2009, and snatched the music I appreciated (back then), I haven't made any top lists or something like that until 2011. So I will begin by rank my favourites from 2000-2012. And that's what I'm trying to accomplish in two weeks now. When that is done, my research plan is to penetrate the pre-historic era, 1956-1999, little by little before the contest in 2014. However, it will be difficult to retain "objectivity" (within my subjectivity) when it comes to editions that doesn't have studio recordings. I guess I have to judge them by sheer video-standard (which I don't prefer to do).

I can feel whatever superlative you choose about Wild Dances.

 

[A-lister]

I'm doing my research right now. I haven't been fanatic at all during adolescence. Even if I watched the show from 1999-2009, and snatched the music I appreciated (back then), I haven't made any top lists or something like that until 2011. So I will begin by rank my favourites from 2000-2012. And that's what I'm trying to accomplish in two weeks now. When that is done, my research plan is to penetrate the pre-historic era, 1956-1999, little by little before the contest in 2014. However, it will be difficult to retain "objectivity" (within my subjectivity) when it comes to editions that doesn't have studio recordings. I guess I have to judge them by sheer video-standard (which I don't prefer to do).

I can feel whatever superlative you choose about Wild Dances.

I see, well I can't say I was that good at ranking either back then when I started watching (although I always liked to rank things in my life for some odd reason so I guess I even did a little back then ).

I started my real "research" in a period of my life when I had lots of time basically, some 3 years ago... I found a good torrent where many of the songs are actually in studio versions (although some are in better quality than others and some simply being YT rips), but nevertheless that's what I had to work with and I prefer judging studio version over live versions (especially with the older tracks where the video clips doesn't have good sound at all).

 

[Smudy]

Very nice ESC, not just because of the songs, which were pretty good, also because of the amazing crowd. Lane Moje is the best song to date in Eurovision, 1 Life is the most underrated entry ever.

 

[Impressive]

I have just listened all 24 final songs.

This is not boring at all Spain usually sends such as attractive songs as I know (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011). This is just like them. So also there is nothing special either. I only rate as 7/10.

Well... As much as I know Austrian entries (2011, 2012, 2004 and 2005) I only like 2005 entry which failed in semi. This one simply makes me sleepy. :? 3/10 in the best situation.

He is attractive. Song is very underrated. This one is last? Unbelieveble. But obviously I would not want to play it again. Just a background song. So I would rate 4/10.

I want to be in my bed and sleep so deeply. Nothing effects on me :? 2/10.

::cs There is no word exists in any language to explain how much I hate Željko Joksimović. 2004, 2012, both of them make me sick! 0/10!

This is what I miss since is over! Attractive, funny, dynamic! 9/10!

This song is in my mind already! I love this song And after Joan Franka, the best entry in the all of I know. 10/10!

Germany used to be so much more different than current. I am not complaining for today but seriously, in the past sounds so impressive I would rate 7/10.

Albania knows how to train artists. She has respectable voice, she knows how to sing for sure. 1:30 - The electro gitar part is just perfect. Not as good as Juliana Pasha but I rate that 9/10.

Is there any word necessary to say anything? Stage performance - THE HIGHEST LEVEL; song - AS THE BEST! Awesome winner! 10/10!

A part is boring to be honest. But chrous parts know how to sound to ears. I am stuck between like or dislike. Let's say... 6/10 at best.

I remember this song. I have listened before. Nice disco song but not a big bomb at all. 5/10 even gets a little more.

She is not singing in live well even though song is nice. Studio version must be much better, she lost only because of live performance imo. Let's rate for just the song, 7/10.

Russia and the way they shout "Believe Me"! Dima Bilan was uber-super-overrated winner. This one's rainbow performance is crazy but really. This is like "Svetlana Loboda performance with the song Yohanna's". Very incompatible. Song connects to soul, performance is like I said before, just crazy. Anyways, respect the all performances and rate 6/10.

Stage performance and the song both are impressive I like it. 9/10.

I like Sakis Rouvas but I would rather "This is our night" This one is not bad either but not cool. 7/10.

I like Jónsi. He is in my top 10 in 2012. This one is more amateuric. Song is sort of boring. Also his sound is weak during the show. 4/10 is the best that I can, sorry.

He has interesting accent but song is not even close to my taste. Where is Jedward 2/10.

My favourite Polish entry belongs with Magdalena Tul but this one is just second. One of best of the night. This song might gives sooooo deeply feelings if you connect to it! I wish she wouldn't break this tune at 1:40. Let's say 9/10.

is close to me in my favourite countries in ESC. 2009 and 2012 are just impressive and this one is not different at all. 7/10 because also close to gets bore people.

I might like the song after the times maybe but in the first listening, I don't find anything special. (I remember when I listened first time Pernilla's song ( 2012) and did not like at all but after the again listenings, it just took a part in my heart - this one is not that peaceful to my heart).

I said that before, I think this song is very unusual for Eurovision and I believe this song could win in other years. My favourite for sure

She is wilder than Ruslana Romania has done better in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2005. This one is simply weak for Romania imo. Sorry, just 2/10 to that boring song.

I know that song. She looks like Linda Bengtzing. She deserved her top 5. One of my favourites of the night

So, here is my ranking of final:












Just missed from my favourites;

11.
12.
13.
14.

and the worst 5 of the 2004 final;

1. ::cs
2.
3.
4.
5.

 

[Nikkita]

36. - Fuad "Deen" Backovic - In The Disco - Oily, lousy and simply boring. Completely unimaginative to moan the word "music" 100+ times.

It's been my guilty pleasure these days
And here is my personal ranking:
::cs because as i said before,it's a cult for Eurovision.It's not a random disney ballad.It's definitely a shooter.
not because i love my country.Because i love Athena and ska music.Also because it's one of TRT's ''hey guys let's be brave'' times.
because it's campy,silly and catchy! First guilty pleasure of me from that year.
If we're talking about 2004,we should never pass this MILF out.Also,great lyrics.
it was one of the most different songs in ESC.Definitely unique and must have been in final!
it definitely has a good beat.But the performance of it at ESC was completely silly.
I love Poland at ESC because they usually send unique songs.That's one of them.
Who can hate a sexy twink with a silly bubblegum pop song?
SECOND GUILTY PLEASURE.
Ok,great performance.But that's just all to me.