PragueBuzz!

You can watch every TV programs here < www.ceskatelevize.cz >.  The only problem is you can’t watch today’s program until tomorrow.

I don’t mind as I watch TV just to learn Czech.

From Russia with love! To many but apparently not to the Czech Republi

My two-year-long grievance had finally been heard as the Czech Republic sent Gipsy.cz to Eurovision
2009, only to be eliminated again for the third year…in the row.
Ouch! Can someone give these carefree, beer lovers a break!  They are
still infantile in theirEurovision growth, only three year in the
making.  Czech Republic almost withdrew from the competition due to
their low showing from the last two years. How bad were their last two
performances? Try last and second-to-last finish.

I don’t know
whether Czech’ lacking of experience is to blame or its small emigrate
population in neighboring countries to gather patriotic votes.  Germany
doesn’t reward 12 points to Turkey because it suddenly decides to
become Turkey’s new best friend even though::hush hush::it stills block
Turkey from joining the EU. Turkey has the huge minority Turkish
population in Germany to thank for the votes.  Additionally, was it
also because Europeans’ strong prejudice against the Roma people that
sent Czech’ all-gypsy band packing from Moscow?

Why talk about the Czechs as they are DOA when it comes to Eurovision?
Let talk about about other cool things which suck me into this booty
shaking, fleshing flaunting, lip moving Euro insanity year after year.

I missed yesterday semi-final::OMG::and
haven’t listened to many songs from other countries. From those I
heard, I am completely drawn to Israel’  “There must be another way”
sung in Hebrew, Arabic and English byNoa and Mira Awad ; the latter is
the first Arab-Israeli to represent Israel. The voice of these two
singers blend beautifully. By the time I finish this post, I probably
will have heard it no less thanthirdty times.

Will Russia
have any love for Israel? I’m afraid not much. Let forget the fact that
these girls can’t dance for a moment and focus on the bigger picture.
(1) The Eastern-bloc stickiness has irritated the heck out of me for
the last few years. By this factor,  Israel has little to zero chance
of winning. (2) Being the only Middle East country participating in a
European music club means there won’t be any neighboring votes for
Israel there. (3) This song and the collaboration between an Israeli
and an Arab-Israeli might be seen as a political gesture. This usually
doesn’t fare well. (4) The singers look too decent; they don’t show
naked legs, boob or belly button. Hell no, they don’t even try to shake
their bon bon.

It might be another disappointing final again
when you know in advance who will vote for whom, but maybe there will
be another 2006 Finland’s monster hard-rock “Hallelujah” surprise.

Olives and vodka anyone? Hallelujah!

This version is better than live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9-GrdHYLUM
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9-GrdHYLUM]

The singers don’t sing well in this semi-final version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N22ovj9HlU

A friend visited Prague and took the nicest food pictures. Too nice I behold them at one instance and pinch my butt out of jealousy for not being able to do the same

 
Czech Chicken at Hotel              Czech Pepa Cheese at Hotel
restaurant “U Divadlo”               restaurant “U Divadlo”

 
Ham and Potatao Pancakes       Beef Goulash
with sauerkraut

 
Ham and flour dumpling with     Potato dumpling with Sauerkraut
spinach

 
Boar steak and bacon                Grilled meat
dumpling

 
Risotto                             Black Squid with rice

Bread goulash

[Source]

I was deeply disappointed by the result of Eurovision final when Tereza Kerndlova was crowned the winner. So this is how Czech wants to be represented abroad: a country which can’t find anything better than a pretty face who doesn’t know how to sing.

Though Kerndlova’s “Have Some Fun” and her images are Eurovision materials: English song, catchy tunes, cheesy lyrics, and pretty costumes, they won’t save this young singer from the embarrassment of performing live in an important European event, under the scrutiny of a broad international audience. Her voice is utterly horrible, if not the worst from all participants. She was off-key in many occasions and failed to sync with the music. Of course, she “can” sing in her music videos with all the aid from technology, sound filter and so on, but this is a live performance, period.

How pathetic! Has last year’s bottom finish taught these Czechs anything? Unless Tereza attends more singing lessons or conceals her weak, off-key voice, I don’t see how she can go very far in the final competition in Belgrade. Kabat, Czech’ previous representative, is both right and wrong when commenting that the ability to sing doesn’t matter so much as long one knows how to uniquely present oneself. Singing well does not guarantee a satisfying position; however, I have never seen any singer or group with a half-ass voice make it to the top ten.

Gipsy.cz and Cechomor

It is yet another disappointing year for this unique and talented group of young Roma artists. They write their own songs with unmistakable beats, and their performances are funny and original. If they can change one thing, it is their casual jeans and t-shirts.

Cechomor is a well-known Czech semi-folk band which crafts beautiful and soulful songs. Their entry “Józef, mój kochany” is blended with Polish folk; some of the words are spoken in the Silesia region, comprising of Czech and Poland. Unfortunately, Eurovision in the Czech Republic is quite young, thus the audience and those who care to vote are teenagers and young people who don’t identify withCechomor’s music. Additionally, Cechomor’s style is a bit high-class for Eurovision , certainly they will not get to the top five. Their song reminded me of Ireland’s last year performance which ranked near the bottom.

Having watched and listened to Gipsy.cz and Cechomor and some other groups, I can’t not help but “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Stupid audience.” They have all these great performers, and they had to choose this girl. Normally I vote for the singer/band whose country I have some affiliation with, but this year,Tereza won’t get any SMS from me or from other voters either.

Tereza’s Have some Fun

Gipsy.cz’ Benga Beating


Cechomor’s Józef, mój kochany