It’s nearly Christmas, and the air is full of traditional Christmas carols and festive standards. Slade, Bing Crosby, Wizzard, that one that asks you to Stop The Cavalry, they’re all trying to stop us enjoying the National Finals!
But some of our favourite Eurovision singers (and Johnny Logan) have made their mark with more than one song, and they all have some Christmas favourites in their repertoire. So if we were looking for a little collection of festive fun and games under the Eurovision mistletoe, who would we find?
It’s time for a very Eurovision Christmas here on ESC Insight (or you can tuck this YouTube playlist into the background as you wrap the presents for the big day).
All I Want For Christmas, Maria Haukuss Storeng
Rapidly turning into the song that everyone has to sing, Mariah Carey’s Christmas standard should keep the money coming in every December, both as the singer of the original and the composer of the song. So who shall we choose from the Song Contest to open up our Christmas disco? Let’s hold on with Norway’s Maria Haukuss Storeng (now of course Mrs Mittet).
Colindam, Colindam, by Paula Selling
How about a more traditional number from Romania, with the delightful Paula Selling. Any other year at Eurovision and the Playing with Fire singer would have brought home the trophy with Ovi, alas there was the small matter of a Satellite in the Telenor Arena. But we here at Insight have never forgotten Selling.
Let it Snow, by Alexander Rybak
And why were we at the Telenor? Because someone had fiddled towards a victory the year before, and ensured he’d be invited to every chat show in Europe. Alexander Rybak has been bouncing in front of the cameras of ever since (including a duet with Paula Selling) with a cheery and appropriate song. And if you appear anywhere at Christmas, you’ve gotta have a classic…
Light a Candle, by Sanna Nielsen, Shirley Clamp and Sonja Alden
This is a pure Christmas present for Eurovision fans. Sanna Nielsen (Melodifestivalen 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2011), Shirley Clamp (Melodifestivalen 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2011), and Sonja Alden (2006,2007, and 2012) together for a bundle of Christmas songs? It’s only a matter of choosing which one! Whatever the 2013 supergroup of Jenny Silver, Pernilla Wahlgren and Hanna Hedlund come up with in the future, this is going to take some beating!
Komdu um jólin, by Gunnar Ólason
Pulling double Eurovision duty in Two-Tricky and Sigurjón’s Friends, Gunna Olason is another singer who’s taken a swing at the festive music, and crafting a few classic songs that haven’t really made the jump into the international charts. When has that stopped us bringing you some classic tracks on ESC Insight?
It’s Christmas, by Dino Merlin
Also appearing twice at Eurovision (1993 and 2011) was Dino Merlin, and someone with a s long a recording career as the Bosnian legend is bound to have a Christmas number tucked away in the discography… yep, that didn’t take long to find!
Find my way to Bethlehem, by Carola
But someone has to be better and show up three times. TIme to call in the wind machines, the soaring lyrics, and the love of Christmas that is deep in the heart of Sweden’s Carola. Two schlager numbers in a Christmas list? Of course there are – sequins, glitter, tinsel, fake snow, there’s not a huge difference between a key change and a Christmas tree!
Happy Christmas (War is Over), by Johnny Logan
“I’ve won three times!” shouts the ego, at which point Terry Vision would like to remind Johnny Logan where ‘Terminal 3’ finished in 1984. Christmas is all about forgiveness and choices, so Mr Logan, we’ll forget about Terminal 3 if you promise to never sing a John Lennon song ever again. Deal?
Merry Christmas, Everyone, by Hotel FM
“Hello everyone, I’m David Bryant! I’m from Newcastle, but I live in Romania now, with my two best mates ‘Otel, and ‘EfEm. Which is handy, because that’s the name of my band! We sang at Eurovision, and now I do cabaret and The Voice. Do you know the music of Shakin’ Stevens? Let me and the show you how it goes…”
Silent Night, by Yohanna
Someone else who would like to appear at Eurovision again (and there are strong indications she’s lining up a run at tine 2013 Icelandic National Finals) is Yohanna. Now resident in Norway, but still pushing to wave the flag once more, the classic carol lets her showcase the voice that nearly made ‘Is it True?’ a winner.
Fairytale of New York, by Dustin the Turkey ft Dervla Kirwin
And finally, the Christmas song to top all Christmas songs. Many have tried to stand in the shoes of the legend that is Kirsty MacColl, but none have matched her. And of the handful of people who have tried to replace Shane McGowan, only one has come close, and it’s both a Eurovision star and a fellow countryman…
So, which Christmas cracker did we miss? Let us know in the comments, and have yourself a very Merry Christmas!
He’s not from Newcastle and that’s not how you spell some of those names. Merry Christmas!
Rambo, long story, but David introduced himself to the Insight team in Dusseldof with a hearty “Are you from Scotland? I’m from Newcastle. That’s next to Scotland.” And thus the comedy persona of David, ‘Otel, and ‘EfEm’ was born!
Ah, a press centre in-joke, always a good way to make new readers feel at home
It’;s Christmas, we’ll take one out of eleven 🙂