Bundesvision 2012: Saxony

Maybe I'm just getting soft in my old age, but some of you may have noticed that I have been liking a lot of the Bundesvision entries for 2012 so far.  That is true - at least so far - and Saxony's entry, Laing and Morgens immer müde is no exception.

Described on their Facebook page as "Electric Ladysound", Laing mixes a very funky electronic dance beat with some undeniably rich female vocals.  Put together, Laing produces a sound that is both internationally appealing and unmistakably German.  Having listened to Laing's only release up to this point, their EP "030 / 577 07 886", they carry this sound from good to even better.

Prediction:  While their sound is different in many respects, and while some readers may reject this comparison, I tend to think that Morgens immer müde will appeal to many of the same people who also enjoyed last year's entry from Frida Gold.  That would put Laing comfortably in the top half of the pack, but still far from the lead.

Bundesvision 2012: Rhineland-Palatinate

This is my third (well, second and a half) year reviewing the Bundesvision Song Contest entries, and I'm beginning to notice a pattern.  Every year there is one band that I have never heard of before that plays a song that I really like.  Last year's surprise band was Kraftklub.  The year before that it was Blockflöte des Todes.  This year, I have fallen for Pickers with their song 1000 Meilen.

Now don't expect me to tell you much about Pickers.  They don't have any albums out, although they do have an apparently all English language EP out that I can't seem to get my hands on.  Fortunately, they do have a bunch of different live songs on YouTube so I can get my Pickers fix before they come out with their inevitable pre/post Bundesvision debut album.

"But what about their Bundesvision entry?" I hear you asking.  Well, think of early Arctic Monkey (Pickers lead singer Lutz Rodenbüsch sounds exactly like Alex Turner), and you have a pretty good idea.  It is high energy indie rock and roll with a driving beat and jangly guitars; just the sort of thing I need to blast out of my car speakers on the long commute home.  I am already hooked!

Prediction:  Just as they came out of nowhere to surprise me, I think Pickers will surprise Bundesvision with 1000 Meilen.  They might not win, but I think they may very well come close.  Then again, what I like and what the Bundesvision audience likes are often very different.

Bundesvision 2012: North Rhine-Westphalia

Next, in no particular rational order, we bring you North Rhine-Westphalia's entry to the 2012 Bundesvision Song Contest:  Luxuslärm with Liebt sie Dich wie ich?

As I have said many times before, I often don't get why people like certain songs over others.  For example, as a general rule, I cannot stand power ballads.  They just strike me as being the ultimate in self-indulgent blunt-force emotional manipulation.  But vast numbers of people around the world live for that kind of music.  Fair enough, I suppose.

That all having been said, it is nice when every once in a while a power ballad comes along that has enough depth and a decent enough musical hook that I can enjoy it along with the masses.  Luxuslärm brings us just such a song with Liebt sie Dich wie ich?  Maybe the difference is that it is an alt-rock power ballad rather than a dreaded metal power ballad.  Maybe the difference is that the singer, Jini Meyer, can really belt out a tune.  Maybe the difference is that this song goes deeper than simply trying to emotionally manipulate the listener in the most basic possible way, by having a musical hook that is enjoyable without being oppressive.

Prediction:  Luxuslärm's Liebt sie Dich wie ich? is not my favorite song in Bundesvision 2012 by far.  But it's pretty decent all the same.  I think it will appeal to a lot of listeners, and should propel Liebt sie Dich wie ich? into the top third.

Bundesvision 2012: Bavaria

Despite my oppressively busy schedule these days, in the interest of preserving my sanity, I though I should finally kick off my preview of the 2012 Bundesvision Song Contest.

Today, we start out in Bavaria with a refreshing change of pace: Fiva & Das Phantom Orchester with Die Stadt gehört wieder mir.

Now let me preface this preview by saying that - overall - I like rap and hip-hop.  Put together some good, clever lyrics and a fresh beat, and it is tough not to like the genre.  Heck, I'll even go so far to say that the stereotypical "gangsta" attitude has its place in the genre, as long as it is an organic outgrowth of the social milieu from which the artist comes.  But I quickly run out of patience, and more importantly interest, when the music becomes all about trying to mimic this "gangsta" stereotype, and not about being honest and taking the music to a new level.  I think this problem becomes particularly egregious when you have non-American hip-hop artists trying to pretend that they come straight out of Compton, when they actually come straight out of Heidelberg (or Osaka, or Montreal, or you name it).

Climbing off of my rickety soapbox, I come back to Fiva & Das Phantom Orchester.  Fiva is a rapper who is comfortable in her European skin.  She doesn't try to pose as some tough inner city thug.  Instead, with her backing band made up of DJ, percussion, and a string section, Fiva lays down an infectious jazzy groove and some engaging vocals, while never forgetting who she is or where she comes from.  I would rather listen to this than to European "gangsta" rap any day of the week.

Prediction:  As evidenced by the past two years' experience, just because I like something doesn't mean that the voting German public will agree with me.  I think Fiva & Das Phantom Orchester will find it's niche audience, but it will not be much more than a niche.  I predict Die Stadt gehört wieder mir will land somewhere in the bottom half of the field.