*** The Anouk "Birds" Flight to Victory Thread ***

n1 Henry. Fully onboard. I've taken as low as 10.5. A shout out to jr who flagged it up on entertainmentodds before the full version was out.
As I said on sofabet, if Europe get Lana Del Rey, then I see no reason why they won't get this.

It's not a Spanish power ballad (as much as I liked it) It has a very current feel.

Well said, big shout out to our JR aka Rob of entertainmentodds.

Anouk "there will doubtless be people who think its rubbish, but I am ready for them". I think they'll be heavily outnumbered Anouk.

As with all pop songs the lyrics aren’t Shakespearean but she sings in English, and in clear English, which is a big plus for Eurovision. And it has a simple and effective chorus.

Isolated from the outside
Clouds have taken all the light
I have no control it seems my
Thoughts wander off

Of the time when I tried to
Live life without you

Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride

If being myself is what I do wrong
Then I would rather not be right
Hopes turn into fear and with my
One wing I can’t fly

With sunrise embrace my
Dreams tight and that’s why

Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride
Birds

To a place without fear, with no moonlight
All I need are trees and flowers and some sunlight
Where memories are being made and where the old one dies
Where love ain’t lies

Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops

Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride
That’s why birds don’t fly

To those who think it sounds like Inchworm - I think it's rather more involved and flowing, nice though Inchworm is.

"“Birds” Traditionally orchestrated, arpeggios on harp, 2nd verse beautiful snare bolero figures, lower strings, bold harmonic turns, especially "no air, no pride" The bridge with contrasting chorus lines, lovely to the last chorus to with a slow waltz feel."

Nice one guys, liked this first time heard, but i'm usually way out of step with ESC tastes. 2nd hearing though, just though s0d it, its got to be backed.
Saw there was a 'phone in' version after the announcement and wished had noticed earlier, or read your site JR!

Over 400K views now. Looks like it's heading for 1M+

#1 on itunes in the Netherlands, which is hardly surprising given her 6 #1 albums. It would be nice to see it pop up in some top 10's in other countries.

Last matched at 8.4

Catching Norway 467K views which has been up for a month

I'm on board. Very catchy song and she has a great distictive voice. In fact the most catchy song I can remember for at least 10 years.

I’m not sure YT views tell us anything with Birds as I notice the comments are still overwhelmingly Dutch. Anouk is big in Holland, and a couple of her songs have 2.5 million hits, therefore we should expect big hits from her fans alone. Dutch fans. Who can’t vote for her in ESC. (Similar situation with Germany’s Cascada).

YT doesn't seem to provide geographical stats much any more.

Just can't get this song out of head the chorus is so catchy. If Anouk qualifies from the semis hopefully the same thing will happen to all the people that voted for her (so they'll be determined to vote again in Final).

It's a beacon of originality & musical quality in a sea of ESC dirge, scampi; just a question of whether enough televoters appreciate it.

Well IF the televoters don't surely  originality & musical quality is just the sort of thing that the jury panels are looking out for.

Won the 1st OGAE poll (Ireland) & expect it to win many more, which is likely to see the Netherlands price come in again.

OGAE Ireland:

    12 points - The Netherlands
    10 points - Denmark
    8 points - Russia
    7 points - Norway
    6 points - Germany
    5 points - Sweden
    4 points - United Kingdom
    3 points - Finland
    2 points - Ukraine
    1 point - Italy

It is a big drifter since it is a dull tedious song with no power about it. She will have the stats firmly against her as she bids to become the first solo lady who does nothing on stage to land the event since Nicole defied more than a touch of boredom way back in 1982. I will be hugely surprised if it wins. However, it may have place prospects at best. Denmark is a banker bet in many pundits' eyes and should be odds on in a couple of weeks according to my connections. Take a listen to Romania at 200/1, and you have a song with power and a wee touch of class. I am on at those odds along with Israel - thanks Johnny - she may not win but should tumble in price should she qualify.

Here are the Netherlands stats that matter

Here they are now.08 Eurovision Song Contest 2013 Semi-Final (1)
Tuesday, May 14, 2013  Anouk
view participant profile
Birds
Watch video
     
03 Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Semi-Final (2)
Thursday, May 24, 2012  Joan Franka
view participant profile
You And Me
Watch video
035 15
03 Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Semi-Final (2)
Thursday, May 12, 2011  3JS
view participant profile
Never Alone
Watch video
013 19
09 Eurovision Song Contest 2010 Semi-Final (2)
Thursday, May 27, 2010  Sieneke
view participant profile
Ik Ben Verliefd (Sha-la-lie)
Watch video
029 14
19 Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Semi-Final (2)
Thursday, May 14, 2009  The Toppers
view participant profile
Shine
Watch video
011 17
15 Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Semi-Final (1)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008  Hind
view participant profile
Your Heart Belongs To Me  027 13
10 Eurovision Song Contest 2007 Semi-Final
Thursday, May 10, 2007  Edsilia Rombley  On Top Of The World  038 21
17 Eurovision Song Contest 2006 Semi-Final
Thursday, May 18, 2006  Treble  Amambanda  022 19
09 Eurovision Song Contest 2005 Semi-Final
Thursday, May 19, 2005  Glennis Grace  My Impossible Dream  053 14
07 Eurovision Song Contest 2004 Final
Saturday, May 15, 2004  Re-union  Without You  011 20
22 Eurovision Song Contest 2004 Semi-Final
Wednesday, May 12, 2004  Re-union  Without You  146 06
14 Eurovision Song Contest 2003
Saturday, May 24, 2003  Esther Hart  One More Night  045 13
01 Eurovision Song Contest 2001
Saturday, May 12, 2001  Michelle  Out On My Own  016 18
02 Eurovision Song Contest 2000
Saturday, May 13, 2000  Linda Wagenmakers  No Goodbyes  040 13
11 Eurovision Song Contest 1999
Saturday, May 29, 1999  Marlayne  One Good Reason  071 08
18 Eurovision Song Contest 1998
Saturday, May 9, 1998  Edsilia Rombley  Hemel En Aarde  150 04
08 Eurovision Song Contest 1997
Saturday, May 3, 1997  Mrs. Einstein  Niemand Heeft Nog Tijd  005 22
15 Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Saturday, May 18, 1996  Maxine and Franklin Brown  De Eerste Keer  078 07
13 Eurovision Song Contest 1994
Saturday, April 30, 1994  Willeke Alberti  Waar Is De Zon  004 23
20 Eurovision Song Contest 1993
Saturday, May 15, 1993  Ruth Jacott  Vrede  092 06
23 Eurovision Song Contest 1992
Saturday, May 9, 1992  Humphrey Campbell  Wijs Me De Weg  067 09
05 Eurovision Song Contest 1990
Saturday, May 5, 1990  Maywood  Ik Wil Alles Met Je Delen  025 15
04 Eurovision Song Contest 1989
Saturday, May 6, 1989  Justine Pelmelay  Blijf Zoals Je Bent  045 15
07 Eurovision Song Contest 1988
Saturday, April 30, 1988  Gerard Joling  Shangri-la  070 09
12 Eurovision Song Contest 1987
Saturday, May 9, 1987  Marcha  Rechtop In De Wind  083 05
07 Eurovision Song Contest 1986
Saturday, May 3, 1986  Frizzle Sizzle  Alles Heeft Ritme  040 13
11 Eurovision Song Contest 1984
Saturday, May 5, 1984  Maribelle  Ik Hou Van Jou  034 13
11 Eurovision Song Contest 1983
Saturday, April 23, 1983  Bernadette  Sing Me A Song  066 07
16 Eurovision Song Contest 1982
Saturday, April 24, 1982  Bill van Dijk  Jij En Ik  008 16
11 Eurovision Song Contest 1981
Saturday, April 4, 1981  Linda Williams  Het Is Een Wonder  051 09
15 Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Saturday, April 19, 1980  Maggie MacNeal  Amsterdam  093 05
14 Eurovision Song Contest 1979
Saturday, March 31, 1979  Xandra  Colorado  051 12
11 Eurovision Song Contest 1978
Saturday, April 22, 1978  Harmony  't Is Ok  037 13
03 Eurovision Song Contest 1977
Saturday, May 7, 1977  Heddy Lester  De Mallemolen  035 12
08 Eurovision Song Contest 1976
Saturday, April 3, 1976  Sandra Reemer  The Party's Over Now  056 09
01 Eurovision Song Contest 1975
Saturday, March 22, 1975  Teach-In  Ding-A-Dong  152 01

Netherlands have not won the ESC since 1975 - that's 38 years ago.

That was a big part of the argument made against Germany in 2010 too, SH, yet Lena won easily. Being different & non-ESC can actually be a big positive for a song, as can a nation's perceived underdog status. Anouk has a great live vocal. But for 'Birds' to really fly they need to come up with some extremely compelling staging that suits the haunting, dreamy vibe of the song.

I can understand that stats do not tell the whole story mate, but with little background stuff to help her cause, the Netherlands song will struggle for votes from any of the younger generation, who as we all know, much prefer the sounds of the bouncier ditties such as Germany, Norway and Denmark. They adore the bubbly Cascada in the discos and go absolutely wild for her. I think she is somewhat underrated and overpriced as a result.

What do I know Johnny. I may have had my day in the Eurovision scene.

Don't say that Sunshine It is good to see you around again this year.
I'm very much in the jr camp when it comes to Netherlands tho
Lana Del Rey has hardly struggled to sell records in Europe. Or downloads as they are now. And this could easily be a song she would sing.
OK a fair amount of her success is down to her look and general image, but she has shown that it's not just me who likes a decent melancholic dirge

I always respect your comments Five Leaves since you a man of well above average intelligence and a nice man too.I rest my cases

So today is the day we get to see or hear from the bloggers a small idea of how this is going to come across live.
I'm confident of some positive reports today and throughout the week.

I love her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEcuAjaJKfQ

Less is more. Altho not all the time..

Bettius Dickius Workhouseius....you can share my bunk though fll so long as you don't fart or steal my boots

I backed on the song but I find her charming, funny and certainly would

She's nailed the performance from the tweets. (tweet tweet)
Everyone else has too it seems.

have to say I still find it very dull...good shout if she makes top 4 even but I just don't see it mid recession.

Top 4 is no good. We're going for the win.
Dying birds is just what we all need in these hard times. A nice crow pie. Mmmmm

If its dead crows you want a few have fallen down our chimney recently and flapped themselves to death....their death throws kept me awake the little buggers.

She won't be getting your vote then

Actually my last post was cheerier that her song

Birds falling down my chimney
I would like Anouk to rim me

Take your filth elsewhere GB
This thread is for serious music lovers

ok I'm off to cut my throat to Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen always cheers me up

Mmmmmm and I always thought of Hove as a rather gay place

How can you not find this uplifting?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPkFw9diPEg

Cohen is a bit like Tom Waites...I can never quite decide if they are talented or complete charlatans.  Fair play to Cohen in that he shagged virtually every woman in LA worth shagging.  Ooops a bit of filth crept in there

It will scrape into the final, but no chance of a top 10 finish

http://www.anouk.com/blog/anouk-in-spotlight-british-newspaper-metro/454

Not sure with holding a large green I entirely agree with this
"When you ooze class, who cares about douze points?"

Nor me
Altho I tend to disagree with the article. Not that Anouk is the class of the contest but that class isn't rewarded.
It tends to rewarded much more these days than the cheap, gimmicky and musically irrelevant. Which is 90% of the runners. Probably higher this year.

She needs to wear a space suit, be carried on stage by a giant and stand on a box containing a shadow dancer

And wear a dress that grows and grows. Then the bloggers would love her

Be nice if she wore something half interesting, looks like she just wandered in off the street at the minute

Birds still flying high. Let's hope the prods are kind and it closes the 1st half

I actually loved the way she was dressed,a refreshing change from the white dresses!!
I love this song the more i hear it. .....Will it win? I just don't know if people will either love it or hate it.

Marmite is a positive in Eurovision.

Good to see Loreen pick it out as her favourite song too. Much like Rybak did with Satellite and Lena.

http://wiwibloggs.com/2013/05/15/anouk-releases-official-video-for-birds/26618/

Bex will love it

Nice of her to release it a couple of days before the final

Album is out Friday too. I have ordered mine

A Russian/Ukraine flip flop in progress?

I don't mind, I layed Ukraine @1.7 earlier today

Our girl up for the fight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8odGsJM71NI

I'm on board now.Took the 33/1 E/W first 4 on the High St.

I like the look of its draw,sandwiched between 2 duffers,I thought it stood out as unique in the Semi-Final,and whilst undoubtedly marmite that can't be a bad thing in a field of 26.

The final factor in getting me on board was seeing bearcub put it first in his Top 4 prediction .

Odds are too high for this on BF imo, but I'm already too green.

Welcome aboard Hems

Totally agree Henry. Denmark over 40 times more likely to win? I just don't see it.

I'm strangely confident and unlike you I just keep backing it.

FFS Hems

100% the class of the field for me still.

Introduced it to a number of people and all of them have disliked it on first listen

Really can't see it working

It's clearly marmite. Needless to say I am with cider

Loved it on first hearing and still do. Got on at 12s initially and been topping up ever since. 

Musically very sophisticated which surely the juries will love. There should also be a significant number of viewers who will appreciate this musicality, possibly even to the extent of musical snobbery, and will be motivated to vote.   

As we have seen here, it divides opinion, but there are many in favour and they tend to be very strong in their views. I suspect this will translate into a significant number of viewers votes across the board. Whilst I don't expect it to provide a multitude of 12s and 10s from the viewers, I do think it could easily achieve a steady stream of medium points which when combined with the jury votes could be enough win outright, or at least run it very close indeed. 

An added plus is that there is no other song remotely similar to split this type of vote either.

Really struggling to understand the current prices available, but am using it to top up frequently :)

Good luck guys I'm confident that this can do better than Spain did for leaves last year.

I still loathe it but I'm obviously in the minority and with jury points assured and with the public like for it at least in western europe witnessed in i-tunes I think it can place. Hopefully along the way it may present a trading opportunity in the win market in running as 40 does seem over generous.

I have to say I much prefer Italy at the same odds (hide)

Netherlands & Italy are my 2 favourites and the price seems too good to be true! Not heard Italy as many times as the netherlands but really love this fellas voice.
I started backing Netherlands at about 12's so I also can't help topping up
I also think Georgia stand a good chance at the price.

Anouk nailed it going by the bloggers and hopefully tops the jury vote.

The only song I can listen to over and over again and never get bored (the fact she's so good looking and has got the best cheekbones ever might influence that decision however ;) ). Seriously though a beautiful song that deserves to win (none of the online polls I've seen ask which song "Deserves to win".) Hopefully it's a good omen that the producers chose to show her getting through last in the first semi and then decided to give her the best possible position in the singing order in the final!

Also a thing to note perhaps is the Netherlands had a very good record when it was jury voting only (so hopefully as an Anouk backer, since it's a decent song, the jurys will vote for a quality Netherlands song). I have to admit the Denmark song is good but I'm hoping the Ukraine song,which comes later in the running order & which to me seems a very similar style, will dilute the celtic-style-song Vote and leave Anouk to stand alone as a unique style song.