What comes to my mind...

For several weeks now I attend a course that is in the style of of body pump / hot iron. I wanted to do something for my back / shoulders since I sit in front of the computer the whole day. Until now, I always went to the pool to swim some 2 km every second day but stopped doing so since I couldn't stand the stench of chlorine anymore. So this training seemed to be a good replacement. And guess what? I like it even though it has some drawbacks. But let's start with the pros. The training is offered in a way that experienced and beginners can attend the same course. One varies the intensity of the training by choosing the weight for the barbell the sets and the number of repetitions is pre-defined. If one can 'dodge' the regular courses from time to time, this will neither lead to any problems for all other attendees nor for oneself. Therefore this sport has the same advantages as Spinning and not the disadvantages of team-sport like basketball. Since a coach pushes you to you limits an effect can be noticed quite soon.
So far to the pros, now the cons: One of the problems for such a course is that one can harm oneself. If you do the movements in a wrong way and with to much weight, you'll harm yourself quite easily. Since you are not alone, the trainer can't control the ways you move all the time. Furthermore, the training and especially the repetitions within a set and the number of sets is pre-defined by the music that will be used during the training. By this, you'll become sloppy and imprudent during the last repetitions or sets if you're not careful. And now I already mentioned the biggest disadvantage of this kind of sport: the music. It's not that bad to hear the same 60 to 120 minutes of music every week for several month if it's good music. Unfortunately, we never have the kind of music I prefer. Until now, we had a bunch of song from Pink, Kid Rock, and some others I don't know (and don't want to). Now you understand why this is the biggest flaw in the whole set up. The songs are a real pain in the ... . And if you have someone in the course who sings along you'll wish to stuff his mouth with the dumbbell. Until now, I was able to suppress the urge to do so.

I will do the course for the next month, since it really worked out for meand fits into my other activities like jogging and cycling. While the latter fight body fat and are good for the cardiovascular system, the former provides enhanced muscle formation. I guess my doctor's proud of me. Will tell you in a few months about my further experiences and if the music turns into something one can hear without any pain. I still have high hopes since the coach already mentioned to change the CD for the next courses....

Surprise, Surprise, Norway won.

I have to admit that 'Fairytale' was the best song and I expected it to win. Maybe it was a bit of Harry Potter's magic that helped. Alexander really looks like that wizard...

So, what did we see? First of all, a really lame beginning. Not Cirque du Soleil, they were flawless, as always. But next was that unbearable Dima. I still can't understand why anyone should still think that he won without cheating last year but that's another story. This time it became ridiculous. Dima running throught the barricades, Dima as an angel, Dima lifted of the ground. (I hoped, that loop (censored).) Even with Lyss Assia at his side, was a pain. Luckily, in the rest of Europe, he isn't successful at all.

But now to the current songs. What we saw was mainly the typical mainstream pop, no surprise here: Some funny girls, doing a revelry (Romania), a hip rapper with a beautiful name, preceeded by Andrew Lloyd Weber's song, some folk songs and even a Ronan Keating double. Sparkeled with some songs which were forgotten the moment the music stopped.

To be honest, this is what ESC is all about. Just like IDIC...

Which contestants do I remember:
Island
It was (is) such a beautiful song which I hope to hear more often. That girl had a nice voice, a beautiful gown, and bad luck. If it wasn't Norway, Island would've won.


Germany
A guy with a naked chest. Dita, a girl with an impressingly slim waist? Does she wear her corset all day long?? The song was not that bad but the second swing song within two years? Do they never learn?

Malta
Ok, compared to Dita she better keeps her clothes on, but that voice. I fell in love when she appeared a few years ago at the ESC for the first time and was ever so happy to hear her again. Have been on Malta (check my pictures) and got some CD there, here, you can't get her music. Luckily, now we have the Internet and her songs are available. Will post link and YOU have to check it out. Please!

BTW, if you are looking for some other music from Malta, try Winter Moods. They are sooo good. Unfortunately, ESC and Winter Moods last concert happened on two consecutive days, I couldn't attend Winter Mood's performance. It was superb, I was told.

France
France Gall won a few years ago, Patricia Kaas tried to do it this year. The song sent shivers down my spine. A Chanson in the Grand Prix d'Eurovision de la Chanson. I loved it an hope that France will continue to send such high quality music to the contest. I'm not so much into Kaas's music but she convinced me this time.

Great Britain
May I cite "jeffrey"? "I looked into the hell." (OK, that's not the exact phrase, can't find the play.) Jade's voice was wonderful. Britain has talent. But the song was the well know Webber-crap. I simply can't stand it. They all sound the same and they are more or less booooring. I wonder whether he is able to write something different someday.

Sweden
She might be a famous opera singer. She might be a good singer. But she is no pop singer. When doing her coloraturas, she showed her abilities. The rest was silence - or better would've been. Never knew that an opera singer could have such a narrow range.

Finland
A bloke with a beautiful given name. But that cap, coyly turned around?! Maybe it was to cover the fact that we was a bit too old to be a convincing rapper. Maybe it was to cover his baldness? The song? Forget it.

Baldness is a good word. Estonia (?) (have to check my notes) sent a singer with hat. Was it fashion or was it beginning baldness? (Yes, I AM mean).

Anti crisis girl. Hopping around with some half naked romans on a set of star gates. I hopeed they would open up an sucked in that girl and her dancers, sending her into the neares sun. If we had been lucky, Bilan would've tried to save her, failing miserably....




Norway
Harry Potter with a violin. I immediately knew that that was a big one. Not the guy but the song. I couln't get it out of my head (hello Kylie) for hours. A fine song, decorated with some blondes and some weired dancers, kicking hats. I still wonder what that was all about.


---will be continued---

HEY, what's this?
Tried to load some of the songs of the ESC and they are UNAVAILABLE? What's this all about? Do they have too much money? Why can't I buy the ESC songs from Malta, France etc? Same last year. Ireland's song of last year's ESC is still unavailable.
Guys and gals from the music industry - we're the customers! Give us what we want, you (censored)!

Small update to my notes: Some of the songs are availabe for download now. Not that this is of any importance but maybe you wanted to know.

Ok, my first entry. I guess Ishould start with something pleasent. According to my blog's title, this is about concerts I've attended. So let's talks about Winter Moods. Just a few weeks ago, they had their biggest concert ever. Unfortunately, it's over now. I'd love to go back in time to re-live it...

Never head about Winter Moods before? Don't be ashamed. They are big, they are huge, they have a gigantic fan base, but more or less only in Malta. Unfortunately. They deserved to be well known in more countries. Just listen to some of their songs on last.fm or iLike or iTunes and don't get fooled by those tags. Some are really stupid.

But now back to the concert.

It took place at Waterfront, Valetta, Malta. What a peculiar place for a concert, I thought. Funny enough, it was a perfect place, couldn't imagine a better one and my prejudices were just based on a lack of experience with Maltese weather.

It all started with Salt, a Maltese Band with quite a potential. The songs are a bit unpolished and need some re-work but I'm sure they learn quickly. Maybe, they will once be as big a Winter Moods. Before they will reach this level, they definitely have to change something in their manning (or better womanning). The female singer is somewhat of a disappointment in comparison to the keyboarder. HE is a real entertainer and I prefer the songs he performed much better than those sung by her. It might be because of her thin voice or maybe because of her nervousness. While being on stage, she nearly vanished. Absolutely no presence on stage and no ability to entrain the masses.
The complete contrary: the keyboarder. He really was able to reach the audience and his performance was fun. In my opinion, he is a much better singer than she is. And he prepared the ground for Winter Moods.

But what was that?

The opening fanfares (The last mohican) already had faded but no Winter Moods on stage for some very long minutes. Finally, Ivan Grech entered the stage and within seconds he entrained the masses. The lame start was forgotten immediately. I will not list all the songs Winter Moods performed here, only mention that some of them were done in English, some in Maltese (a language I don't speak / understand, unfortunately). I appreciate that Winter Moods stays grounded and doesn't target the mass market by neglecting their roots. After some up-tempo songs, Ivan did some songs only accompanied by the guitar and even without. Ivan and the masses sang along "...I can't help falling in love with you."

The song's statement, mood or whateever you want to call it, was supported by some spectacular light effects and videos on a video wall. Unfortunately, this vidwall was installed too low - or the drum kit was situated to high - most of the videos could be seen completely, diminishing the effect. But nevertheless, one could get a glimpse of what was meant.

After more than two hours, several encores, and some dress changes, Winter Moods concluded their concert, sending home the biggest mass of spectators for such an event, ever. It seemed to me, that all who attended this knew that wintermood made history. Just check the comments on www.wintermoods.net or those social network pages. What I read - and what was read to me, as I can't read newspapers in Maltese - those critics were exalted, too. And what I understood from those reports on t.v. even they were zealous, too.

So, you missed a great event.

And that from someone who is normally not into rock.