95. France 2002

RESULT: 95th

YEAR: 2002

COUNTRY: FRANCE

ARTIST: Sandrine Francois

SONG: "Il Faut Du Temps"

PLACING: 5/24". . . Je me battrais pour ça, ici et maintenant, moi, je n'ai plus le temps, j'ai qu'une vie devant moi . . . "

After lingering around the bottom of the table for a few years in the late nineties, France returned to form at the 2001 contest in Copenhagen in triumphant style, coming 4th. The French didn't rest on their laurels however and sent a song with a similar amount of fanfare to the next contest in Tallinn. Sandrine's moody ballad about fighting for love (well I think that's what it's about) garnered a similarly good reception from the televoters, ending in 5th position. I think I like this song less than a lot of other Eurovision fans, so it feels a bit weird championing it in 95th place, when lots of you (well the 3 people that might read this) probably feel it should place higher. I almost feel like I should explain why isn't higher. I don't love the staging. Sandine moves around quite a lot and I feel it would have been great if it had just been stationary. There wasn't much atmosphere on stage either, but I think a lot of that was to do with the general staging. When I think of the 2002 contest, I almost think of a cartoony stage and feel, whereas this could really have done with smoke machine! Definitely not suitable for Mlle Francois. Certainly the song is very strong and is the kind of timeless French entry that would be equally at home in next year's contest. Although it would probably end up 22nd.
The worst thing about this was the outfit. Sandrine, who is clearly gorgeous was dressed like some peasant extra from a High School version of Robin Hood The Musical! Over it.
Oddly enough my favourite Eurovision memory involving Sandine isn't "Il Faut Du Temps". Instead it was when Sandrine gave the French votes the next year and seemed pretty wasted. I love when Marie N talks over her and she puts her finger to her lips! Then she was totally sultry and all "Douze ponts - pour . . . la . . . . Belgique!". In 2002 she seemed so serious but apparantly the groupies that come with singing a Eurovision entry had loosened her up!

Best Bit: It was great to see both France and the UK back in the Top 5 in the same year. Clutching at straws much?

96. Iceland 2007

RESULT: 96th

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: ICELAND

ARTIST: Eirikur Hauksson

SONG: "Valentine Lost"

PLACING: 13/28 (Semi-Final)

"There is a reason why a haunted man remembers, one frozen night, his darkest day"

Somehow it felt very wrong putting that quote in purple italics.
The 2007 Semi-Final was ridiculous. Actually let's be bold and go further than that - the entire 2007 contest was ridiculous. No other word for it. 28 countries fighting for 10 qualification places, whilst total nonsense like Ireland and Armenia has pre-qualified for the final. It was always going to end badly. But out of the qualificationforwardslashresult chaos that ensued, we got the shiny new two semi final format which I love far too much. One of the most distressing casualties of the War and Peace Semi Final (™) was "Valentine Lost".
Two-time Eurovision artist, Eirikur Hauksson returned after 16 years to face semi-final failure and afterwards I kinda bet he wished he hadn't bothered. The indignity of being beaten by Moldova! This certainly was one of the most authentic rock performances of the decade. Sometimes a guitar appears at Eurovision and you think "Not one person on that stage knows what that is, never mind can actually play it" but complete with lovely long hair (um) and a steely expression, Eirikur gave a perfect rock performance. Normally anything with even the vaguest hint of rock gets me hatin' (I must assure you, I don't talk like that in real life), but I really enjoyed this. Also, man playing guitar in tank top and leather trousers - HELLO! Loved that. Although I was slightly distracted by the man on the drums who seemed like he'd got lost at the rehersals for Lithuania's next novelty expolit. As Dame Terry Wogan would have said "That boy's building his part".
This song was very unlucky to miss out on the final. 13th in the Semi-Final where nothing qualified from Western Europe after performing 5th, with another 23 countries (i.e. the entire 1999 contest!) coming afterwards. This song marked the 3rd time in a row that Iceland failed to qualify from the Semi-Final with a song that a lot of people thought would qualify. Thankfully Iceland weren't perturbed and came back fighting the next year . . . (that sounds like a lead in for Euroband being tomorrow's entry, but it's really not - they're much higher up the list!).

Best Bit: Tank-top/leather trouser man. Sorry Eirikur but if he was the leading man - you totally would have qualified.