Comments on: Europop 2008: Quarter Final 3 – France v Russia

By: Emmaline

Emmaline — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:26:46 +0000

Hi all! The babes are here! This is my best site to visit. I make sure I am alone in case I get too hot. Post your favorite link here.

By: jeff w

jeff w — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:17:20 +0000

That would guarantee my vote :)

By: Alyson Tamara Guard

Alyson Tamara Guard — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:34:53 +0000

Hee hee! Vive La France!

I think I’ve spent all my good material though! What a bugger! It could yet be Chantal Goya singing about hunting rabbits at this rate!

By: fernando

fernando — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:49:06 +0000

I’m surprised that no-one mentioned the sunship remix of the alsou track, which is just (as any other sunship remix of the time) massive

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:00:39 +0000

Ouch.

I would venture to say that Russia were better than this scoreline suggests.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:50:38 +0000

I will keep this open for another hour or so if anyone else wants to vote.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:59:19 +0000

Well, it doesn’t sound promising, but since I (probably) introduced Alyson to Najoua B in the first place, and would have certainly played it myself if I had France, I think I deserve a little credit nonetheless. It is very difficult to be playing against one of my own favourite songs.

By: jeff w

jeff w — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:29:11 +0000

Friday the 13th innit.

I like both of these, even if they’re both showing their age. Russia started the fasted (great intro!), but France has the stronger legs I think and ultimately wins my vote.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:47:43 +0000

The ref bounds on to the pitch with the pop-ball still intact. The crowd roar and heckle in equal measure, but sit back, assured that fair play continues.

By: Alyson Tamara Guard

Alyson Tamara Guard — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:31:02 +0000

Eek! indeed! Is it rooted! I think I was winning! Well, I’m guessing I was! Now I’m worried! Eats a baguette nervously!

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:16:20 +0000

I’ve no idea why the Greece-Italy poll has suddenly appeared there instead of the France-Russia one! Eek!

By: Alyson Tamara Guard

Alyson Tamara Guard — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:04:15 +0000

I think I’ve lost my game! Greece have invaded, just like the old days!

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:40:51 +0000

Two excellent tracks here. I agree with Kat that the French track sounds a lot like Infernal, and was actually thinking that it would be perfect for a boshing remix. The Russian track is good too, very US/UK sounding. I prefer the French vocals though, they’ve got something a little different to them.

A really tough call.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:26:43 +0000

Quick schedule update, cos I’m on holiday so not neccessarily posting much (this also affects Popular).

Greece-Italy will go up tomorrow.
This game ends on Monday.
Greece-Italy will end on Tuesday.
BOTH semi-finals will go up on Thursday 19th (I know this only gives me or Matt 1 day to find a track)
They will close on Monday 23rd and then the final will be on Thursday 26th with results on Monday 30th.

Easy!

By: koganbot

koganbot — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:49:56 +0000

From the Zephyr, from wind
You lie like an infant
And you flee up above
As soon as your sky splits

It is gratifying to confirm that I voted for a track that is UNUTTERABLE KITSCH!

By: Alyson Tamara Guard

Alyson Tamara Guard — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:41:38 +0000

Well this is all looking pretty good, so far! All we need now are more spectators! More votes!

Actually, maybe I should shut up, the Russian Mafia might make a come back!

By: Matt DC

Matt DC — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:18:18 +0000

Both of these could do with a bit of oomph I feel, the French production could do with being a bit more old-skool Britney, but it’s still my favourite by a clear distance. Especially the spindly guitar and overdubbed harmonies in the chorus.

It comfortably wins out over the Russian entry which just kind of trundles along. The French vocal performance is loads better as well. Deploying a free-roaming vocoder has not really worked for me in this tournament.

By: Alyson Tamara Guard

Alyson Tamara Guard — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:09:04 +0000

Completists may wish to enjoy the accompanying Belyclip, in which our heroine turns into a statue to…er…save someone else from being a statue!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aYIjHOPQzxg

And in the name of fairness, here’s Alsou, and a man running up a wall!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TiTCDDJllYg

Alyson (VLF)

By: koganbot

koganbot — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:50:43 +0000

Quite happy today.

France, I love the chord pattern, could be classic reggae, if they’d headed in that direction, and I kinda wish they’d gone for more of a reggae-like bass undertow; the melody isn’t striking; however the singer comes through admirably, pretty tones but with lungs rather than the usual French breathiness (not that I’ve got anything against French breathiness). Her short wails and fast vocal glints are terrific, focusing the energy, delivering excitement.

Russia. This sounds like the Russkies listened to ’80s U.S. even more than to late ’90s Max (the two hardly being exclusive of course): dark sexy larynx, Flashdance boots, crypto-Latin passion, Madonna wail. A fine style.

A hard one to pick; Najoua Belyzel’s ingenuity and expressiveness finally carry the French over.

But a tip of the hat to the Russians.

(Now to YouTube to find more Belyzel and Alsou.)

By: lockedintheattic

lockedintheattic — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:01:11 +0000

Cracking match this one – biggest pop injustice of 2001 (only scraped the top 30 in the UK) vs my favourite foreign language song of 2005 – and the first one where I know both contenders, which certainly doesn’t make it any easier to choose.

I adored the Alsou one at the time (although more familiar with one of its club remixes which basically just speeded up a bit, with the result this version sounds a little slow to me), and its got a great, catchy chorus.

I love the production on the Najoua Belyzel track, as well as her distinctive voice (I must admit though, it grates a little over the course of the whole album), and in the end it just swings it for me, as the Alsou one sounds a little dates in comparison.

By: Kat but logged out innit

Kat but logged out innit — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:24:55 +0000

Lightbulb moment! ‘Gabriel’ sounds very much like a track off the Infernal album!

By: Kat but logged out innit

Kat but logged out innit — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:20:34 +0000

A close match but France tips it for me – the way the striker gulps down her vocals is surprisingly un-annoying and even intriguing.

Russia’s tactics are instantly recogniseable even if the players themselves are unfamiliar!

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:51:59 +0000

Erm yes, now with actual tracks!