Editorials & Opinion

Xtra’s pick of the 21st Century

Welcome back to our daily series where we look back on the past at Eurovision and one of our writers picks a song they feel deserves some attention in 2015. On Fridays, we come right up to date and today Dan has chosen a song from the Eurovision of the new millennium for your listening pleasure.

Finland 2012: Pernilla – När Jag Blundar (DNQ – 12th place in SF1)


For my pick from the Eurovision Archives of the 21st century, I have chosen a song that I feel is one of the most under rated entries in recent years. In 2012, the contest was held in Baku and I think it’s fair to say we had the winner sealed and wrapped up within the first few weeks of the season.  Whilst Sweden’s Euphoria is fast becoming one of the most memorable songs in Eurovision history,  that year I was completely drawn into their neighbor country’s entry – which funnily enough was performed entirely in Swedish.
“När jag blundar” performed by Pernilla Karlsson translates into English as “When I close my eyes” and whilst my knowledge of the Swedish language isn’t great,  the charming melodies and instrumentation in itself was enough to transfix me and for those three minutes, take me to a place completely care-free.
The song managed to carry this feeling on to the stage as Pernilla performed with smiles and pure elegance, with very little to obstruct our focus. A double-bass player accompanies her and a sparkly gold backdrop adds to the song’s magical essence.
2012 was, in my opinion a very strong year with the first semi final in particular quite a difficult one to proceed from,  so deep down I didn’t expect Finland to qualify.  In some ways,  I see that as something positive –  it’s a song that I think a lot of people possibly haven’t given a second look since that performance 3 years ago and with that in mind, I know that now and again I can play it and feel the exact same feelings towards it as I did back then.

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