Eurovision 2020 - A Tribute To The Artists And Songs

Every year when the Eurovision song contest comes around, there will also be a two disc cd collecting all the songs that entered for that year. Along with a booklet that contains a brief message from the head of the contest. Plus photos and copyright info for all the songs.But this is not a usual year. Which is why the contest didn't go ahead.Nevertheless, here's the collection anyhow. Billed as a tribute to artists and songs.Songs are as follows:1: Albania. One of those I've been knocked down but will get up again bits of power pops. Pretty capable while it lasts.2: Armenia. Similar theme to the above. And also decent enough.3: Austria. Life affirming stuff. Just not as memorable as it could be.4: Australia: Don't break me. More on the same theme, but quite strong.5: Azerbaijan: Electro power pop comparing the singer to Cleopatra. For her strengths. Hopefully not for marrying and having brothers killed. Quirky and really rather good, as it does stick in the mind.6: Belgium: Good bit of dealing with a bad relationship music.7: Bulgaria: A song called tears getting sober, this is a little different and gentle and really rather good as a result.8: Belarus: one of those bits of pop sung in the native tongue that try the local flavour as well. That work in the respect of the latter but don't stick in the mind unless you speak the language. This is one such.9: Switzerland: more of the above. In their language though.10: Cyprus. Running from bad memories. Alright while it lasts but nothing more.11: Czech republic: a bit of just be yourself, in a reggae style. Quite pleasant and good.12: Germany. Single singer describing how free spirited the girl he is dancing with is. Nothing special.13: Denmark; a ballad about two people having found love. Of all the ones that try to get an emotional reaction, this one actually does. Nice music as well. My favourite of the batch.14: Estonia; a guy who has found love. A little too elaborate to be as good as the above, but pretty strong.15: Spain. Universo. No idea what the words mean as I don't speak Spanish, but very good while it lasts.16: Finland: Looking back at what has passed. Different and rather good.17: France: a lovely gentle little ballad. A pity it doesn't have the conviction to stick to one language, but really good.18: United Kingdom. Taking a breath in the chorus, all about sharing your last one. Like a lot of Uk entries, it's perfectly good but not the strongest song of the batch.19: Georgia. Singer shouts lots of questions asking why someone doesn't like him. Probably because he shouts. Irritating.20: Greece: Female empowerment that tries too many different styles and goes all over the place as a result.21: Croatia; another one in native tongue with native flavour and that's about it.Disc two:1: Ireland. life affirming be yourself pop. Really strong and good and well sung. Just slightly abrupt ending, but otherwise excellent.2: Israel: Native tongue stuff again but does make an impression.3: Iceland: Singer asks you to think about things. nice and quirky but doesn't quite stick.4: Italy: Good bit of Italian flavoured singing and tune.5: Lithuania. Guy talks about being on fire. Doesn't have the power to it I was expecting.6: Latvia: someone is still breathing. Reasonably powerful enough.7: Moldova: Someone wants out of a tricky relationship. Capable power pop ballad.8: North Macedonia: a nice bit of dance music. Not the more modern kind. Which is why it's nice.9: Malta: Someone wants to give all of their love. It's ok.10: The Netherlands: All about learning and growing. Quite nice.11: Norway: Someone wants attention. Not very memorable.12: Poland; power stuff about things going down in flames. Ok tune. nothing else memorable.13: Portugal; Sometimes they click even if you don't speak the language. This one does, thanks to nice words and singing and music.14: Romania: reasonably successful quirky little song.15: Serbia; girl power pop. Lots of power. Nothing more.16: Russia: a really quirky one about being ready for action. Will stick in the mind.17: Sweden. Swedish euro pop. As superb as they ever manage. Which is to say excellent.18: Slovenia: Loud ballad in native tongue.19: San Marino: Freaky dancing music. Ok while it lasts.20: Ukraine. Ok pop in native tongue.Perfect for the fans, both for the collection, and for wondering what might have been as regards who would have won. And if UK would have avoided finishing last. Too bad we will never know.

"Open Up" was an unfortunate slogan for Eurovision 2020, the year of lockdowns and travel bans. Still, of all the recent contests to have to sacrifice to a global pandemic, this year was the one we could pass on. So this CD is a momento of the contest that never was. And, even if the line up is missing some real future classics, these two discs are all the same a very easy listen. Only the Georgian shout-fest and the Latvian racket are likely to send the listener reaching for the skip button. The rest of the songs are quality pop: some ethnic (Ukraine and Israel), others obviously American influenced (Austria, Ireland, Germany, Sweden and Armenia). Highlights are the three quirky uptempo electronic entries with dance moves. These tracks, from Iceland, Lithuania and Russia, were all tipped to do well before the contest got cancelled, and one of them was surely destined to have won. Many of the artists on this CD we'll see at the 2021 contest with new songs. Until then, we have this very enjoyable collection of songs.

Phew its arrived on Eurovision Day - although a very different Eurovision Day to normal of courseAll the 2020 songs from an 'unforgettable' yearLOVE IT

Looks like a rush job!No track names (disc 2) on the discs and disc 1 reports as a totally different disc (pawn of the prophecy - disc 9).Quality of many tracks is bad and distorting?

All the songs from this years cancelled euro party.A shame it was cancelled as this crop of songs were above average.The irony now is the the favorite to win, in my opinion, was Iceland and now we have Euro vision :The Legend of Fire Saga. You couldn't make it up.

I can see why this album was delayed. The sleevenotes have kindly been updated to acknowledge that the contest had been called off. Listening to the songs and especially on the second disc, I can only think what might have been. Could Italy have got the sympathy vote (in a Zoom version) or maybe the host nation would have surprised us all again by winning twice in a row. Or how about Iceland which was a strong favourite could have clinched it. Ireland's entry smacks of Pink but that's a compliment!

Purchase Eurovision album each year. Pleased that artists had an opportunity to showcase their entries to the contest that never was through this album as TV 'tribute' did not give a fair chance to prove artistic worth. Thank you Amazon for ensuring the availability of this album which demonstrates a high level of talent and entertainment value.

A bit of a mix of tracks but I got it to support Euro vision