Here is the second part of four of my countdown, i.e. from my least favorite to most favorite to win, for my Eurovision picks this year. (Read my previous Eurovision post for my picks 40-31.)
30. Czech Republic
Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta — Hope Never Dies
This definitely sounds like a Bond theme meets Nickelback song.
It’s the 60th year of the Eurovision Song Contest, and we’re #BuildingBridges to Vienna. While I’m a relatively new fan — the first Eurovision I watched in full is the Baku edition; forgive me, I’m not from Europe — I’m all for joining in the festivities.
Australia is joining for the first time, which might mean more points for the UK (they have to, right?). And the East seem to be upping their game this year, producing strong entries.
Here is the first part of four of my countdown, i.e. from my least favorite to most favorite to win, for my Eurovision picks this year:
40. San Marino
Anita Simoncini & Michele Perniola — Chain of Lights
Are we supposed to vote for this song? You get the answer within the first five seconds of this song: No! As Graham Norton (sarcastically) quipped during the 60th anniversary concert, Ralph Siegel’s songs are “classic.”
Amiciness is going to be live-blogging the 57th Grammy Awards here starting at 9:00 A.M. Philippine time. Tune in to this post for live blog updates on the winners and the performances.
Check out the full list of performers.
Ahead of the main show, these Grammy Award winners were announced:
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Say Something” — A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
Best Dance Recording: “Rather Be” — Clean Bandit (Grace Chatto & Jack Patterson, producers; Wez Clarke & Jack Patterson, mixers) Yey Fandits!
Best R&B Song: “Drunk In Love” — Beyoncé ft Jay Z (Carter, Diaz, Fisher, Harmon, Knowles, Mosely, Proctor & Soko, songwriters)
Best Song Written for Visual Media: “Let It Go” — Idina Menzel (Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: “Daft Punk” — Pentatonix (Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstin Maldonado & Kevin Olusola, arrangers)
AC/DC opens the show with a medley of their classic rock hits, including Highway To Hell.
Since we’re all sad from what went down at this year’s (or last year’s) Miss Universe pageant, the best remedy for our sadness is singing. Karaoke, in particular. If you’re in need of karaoke songs for maximum cathartic effect, here are 8 quintessential birit songs for you to sing:
8. Basang Basa sa Ulan (Aegis)
Drenched in the Rain, translated. This is everyone’s favorite karaoke song. The challenge is to sing the song in the same octave as it was originally sung. Birit moment: The key change
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA6SMDQoUtk]7. Through the Fire (Chaka Khan)
Chaka Khan! This song is far from chaka, because this is a birit classic. Birit moment: “Through the test of tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyj1uLacxtg]6. Listen (Beyoncé)
A favorite in singing competitions, singers auditioning sing this song to flaunt their range. This is the quintessential diva song in her catalog. Birit moment: “I’ve tried and tried to say what’s on my mind, YOU should have known oh”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGYEDhWuP_w]5. Through the Rain (Mariah Carey)
Classic music video. This was during Mariah’s Charmbracelet era. Birit moment: This is one of Mariah’s softer songs, but the song soars to birit levels by the last line of the bridge, then key change.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRNdmkH8zrI]4. When You Believe (Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey)
Diva showdown! This is from the animated film, The Prince of Egypt. Birit moment: The glorious bridge (“…says hope is very neaaaar”) and final chorus
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKaXY4IdZ40]3. Dadalhin (Regine Velasquez-Alcasid)
Will Bring, translated, as in The wind will just bring my dream away. The primera biritera of the Philippines, Asia’s songbird. Sad lyrics + epic melody = karaoke classic. Birit moment: “Ang lahat ng ito’y pinangako moooooo-oh-oh-oh-ohhh”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEE4N3Zg4RI]2. And I am Telling You I’m Not Going (Jennifer Hudson version)
Another one from the Dreamgirls soundtrack, for which Jennifer Hudson won her Grammy. Her performance in the movie was her breakthrough moment into stardom. Birit moment: “Tear down the mountains, yeah scream and shout…” to the end
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsiSRSgqE4E]This song was originally sung by Jennifer Holliday, who also gave us this iconic moment from American Idol. Slay!
1. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)
Arguably, the mother of all birit songs. Birit moment: “And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU](You may listen and sing along to all of the aforementioned songs in this Youtube playlist.)
What are your go-to karaoke birit songs? Share them in the comments below.
The Ransom Collective is a six-piece indie folk band composed of Kian Ransom (vocals, guitar, and owner of an awesome name), Lily Gonzales (keys), Muriel Gonzales (violin), Leah Halili (bass), Jermaine Choa Peck (vocals and percussion), and Redd Claudio (drums). I got to see them live in St. Paul College Pasig’s concert event Indayog: An OPM Music Festival during their school fair. That was the first time I heard of them, and I immediately fell in love with their sound. I loved it so much that I even bought their self-titled EP, which of course I got the band to sign. Their music reminds me of a lot of bands (and I confess to not listening to a lot), so I’m just going to drop their names here: Stars, The Lumineers, a folkier Bombay Bicycle Club (it makes sense in my head, okay). Other blogs have also made the Mumford & Sons connection, but I contest that it’s only because they’re both in the indie folk sphere that accounts for the similar sound.
The best track on the EP is Run. It starts with just the keyboard and guitar, then 30 seconds in, the drums kick in, then a short violin solo, and it just soars from that moment. Perfect to blast in your car and sing along to on a road trip. Although, I’ve got to say, The Ransom Collective is a much better experience to behold live. Their recorded stuff doesn’t do their sound justice. I heartily recommend watching them in concert and in gigs.
Follow the band on social media:
Buy their self-titled EP on iTunes, or stream it here: