Comments on: Europop 2008: The Semi Finals https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals Lollards in the high church of low culture Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:56:43 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 By: admin https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-444173 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:56:43 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-444173 Even the FT server got over-heated in anticipation over this!

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By: Matt DC https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-444088 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:50:23 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-444088 I think I’ve actually danced to the Portugal track as well, once. It’s certainly very familiar, like something James Holden would play, just on the verge of when he starts to go wibbly midway through a set.

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By: Tom https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-444072 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:23:50 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-444072 You have a couple of hours left to vote in these!

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By: koganbot https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-443050 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:28:07 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-443050 Take up steps
For steps go down much lower
They do not have other choice

Clearly the Swiss advice to lift your leg up can come into play here, as well as the Austrian entreaty in the group round to raise your foot. One does not really have other choice.

So I voted for the French, though in my mind this match could come to the tiebreaker at the end. Excellent call-and-response excitement from the Italians. Italy has been in a couple of real barn burners, hasn’t it? This, and the match with Rumania.

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By: Matt DC https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-442993 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:32:53 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-442993 I can’t say for sure, but I *think* the place I heard the Swiss track is on a YouTube video montage of Didier Drogba/other African footballers doing cool dances by the corner flag. If so, how appropriate.

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By: Alyson Tamara Guard https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-442506 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:15:16 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-442506 Eek! This is tense! For all I know I could be losing 14-1 (I obv voted for me!). I found out today the english translation of the last verse!

Walk after step
It is necessary to hold the ramp
They must give example
Take up steps
For steps go down much lower
They do not have other choice

That’s BRILLIANT! That’s the best insight since Hilary Duffs “if the light is off then it isn’t on” – or was it a reference to STEPS the band? Who knows! Come on Sofia, get me the win!

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By: koganbot https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-442482 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:16:54 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-442482 Finally voted for Portugal, but it was tough having to slight the Swiss entry. Now I’m torn between France and Italy. The French gal’s inferiority to – say – Rihanna is a drawback, but that twisty Arab riff all through continues to touch me, as does that well-known melody. But the Italian track is growing on me, funny but not at the expense of force.

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By: jeff w https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-442340 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:02:23 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-442340 FR v IT seemed at first blush more one-sided, but the strengths of the French track do gradually emerge with repeat plays. Certainly the “comédie/spectacle musical(e) de Kamel Ouali, Cléopatre” looks like it might be a hoot based on that video.

The Italian track is endearingly silly, enjoyed it a lot on the first play… but its more annoying features are amplified with repetition.

I’m going to have to toss a coin, I fear.

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By: jeff w https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-442332 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:47:13 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-442332 CH
It’s the Lift Your Leg Up song! I know this! I’ve *danced* to this. No idea where and when
Me too! Me neither! Don’t recognise the ersatz steel drums though (could this be a remix? or a cover? or has someone else covered it?) – and not sure I’m convinced by the backing in the light of day.

PT
This is amazing. And scary! Until the microhouse beat finally kicks in around the 7’00” mark, it could have been some industrial electronica group from the late 80s.

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By: Michael https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441963 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:02:15 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441963 I think it’s like Umbrella the way Miley Cyrus’s song sounds like “Sunglasses at Night” – as in, I still really like it in spite of the obvious comparison. I’ve voted for France and Switzerland, the clash of the titans in the finale.

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By: Matt DC https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441833 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:11:30 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441833 Also, the France track really IS Umbrella, isn’t it? Needs MC Solaar or someone ruining the first minute though.

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By: Matt DC https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441832 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:10:35 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441832 Switzerland kick off, run the length of the pitch and immediately score. It’s the Lift Your Leg Up song! I know this! I’ve *danced* to this. No idea where and when, and it will bug me for ages now. There’s nothing wrong with Portugal’s slow build trancey minimal at all, but it can’t cope with the rush of gleeful ‘so THAT’S what it is!’ recognition at all.

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By: koganbot https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441821 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:49:17 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441821 The young striker is lithe, taut, slightly tempremental, and loves the umbrella formation of football.

Ah yes, the umbrella formation: I knew there was something specific that was grabbing me. I see that someone on YouTube is making the case for plagiarism. (If I were a jury I’d let this go, arguing that it’s just part of the pop process.)

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By: koganbot https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441808 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:24:00 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441808 France: Evocatively twisty little Arabic instrument evokes strange melancholy in an otherwise gentle* pop song. Subtle, nice.

Italy: Meanwhile, the Italians put on their party hats and dancing boots. Singer rides the line between song and rap, while backup boys drive tough-guy jeeps and girls stand on the back seats tossing flowers to the crowd and waving. This is a pisser.

I’m leaning France owing to the evocativeness, but Italians in the final wouldn’t be any kind of injustice, and I’ll listen some more.

Switzerland vs. Portugal is one of the matches of the tournament, up there with Poland-Portugal and Austria-Croatia. My hats off to the Swiss manager, playing the big boys to a standstill. Not yet able to say how I’ll vote in that one.

*Of course, since I don’t speak French, for all I know the lyrics are about biting goats’ heads off.

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By: koganbot https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441797 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:59:17 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441797 Holey moley, Switzerland vs. Portugal.

Switzerland: This is grand, the bass bearing down like the hardest American r&b, while steel drums from Fort de France are going all zoukey and covering everything in tinsel and candy. This is delicious, this is a slammer. Excellent confabulation of elements, even if the manager can’t tell the difference between the United Nations and the League Of Nations.

Portugal: Meanwhile, beats that have been hardened and made rich in volcanic depths claw their way to the surface, bats hum under their breath, stalagmites and stalactites compete for space, and cave walls perspire. Damn.

I really don’t know how to vote.

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By: Kat but logged out innit https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441667 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:51:39 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441667 The Turkish management absolutely approves of the ridiculous Italian tactics.

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By: Alyson Tamara Guard https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441543 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:06:38 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441543 I actually started off this under-estimating the competition and approaching it as a laugh, but now I really want to win! So I picked the song with my favourite outro of 2008! VLF!

Incidentally, for completists, from the comedy musical (I think?) Cleopatra – here is the lovely clip for Femme D’Aujourd’hui! “Woman of today” in the less romantic English!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DCyp1bopKfQ

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By: Pete https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2008/06/europop-2008-the-semi-finals/comment-page-1#comment-441539 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:57:53 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/?p=12016#comment-441539 Switzerland Portugal is a classic example of two tactical managers, spending ages trying to second guess each other, and then going with their gut feeling. Whilst its a battle which will polarise, its a fine battle.

Italy and France is a much tighter battle. I like Frances supple r’n’b licks, but the voice doesn’t quite do it for me. Italy has a chirpy confidence and Eat My Goal written all over it. But I predict this one might go into extra time. And maybe even penalties!

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