"At the early age of 15, Eric Papilaya founded the band Milk"

The Spin

The child of an Indonesian father and an Austrian mother, Eric Papilaya was born on June 9, 1978 in Vöcklabruck and grew up in Laakirchen.

In late autumn 2006 Eric had managed to become one of the finalists among 2,486 competitors for the successful ORF Starmania format, and was the only "starmaniac" to sing his own composition during one of the shows (a ballad called "Alles, was du bist"). The stage is his elixir of life: At the early age of 15, Eric Papilaya founded the band Milk. It is obvious that Eric, born in Upper Austria, doesn't fit into any clichés, he's just too versatile to match a stereotype.

Eric Papilaya, one of the finalists of the 3rd season of the Austrian talent show Starmania, will hold the red-white flag of the country in Helsinki.
The 28 year old singer comes from Laakirchen, he's also guitarist and has theatrical experience. His song will be officially presented to the public on early March. For the first time there will be a co-operation with Life Ball, Europe's largest AIDS charity event, which annualy takes place in Vienna as Eric's song will be the official theme song of the show. Gery Keszler, the supervisor of the charity event stated: ''That is a great opportunity to send our message of the tolerance and joy of life to millions of Europeans''

The fact that the Austrian contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest is also the official Life Ball song represents an important sign and an additional personal motivation for Eric: "Tolerance for marginal groups and a pro-life approach are two of the messages of Life Ball. Due to the colour of my skin, I often experienced and had to fight against intolerance myself." Therefore, Get A Life - Get Alive is both a personal and a universal plea. As Eric exclaims, "I've completely internalized the pro-life statement of my song for Helsinki, and its message is also the motto by which I live my life: Don't let yourself be dragged down by the things that happen around you or in the world, never take anything for granted, and seize every opportunity. The song totally strikes a chord with me and has an amazing drive to it."

Get a life-get alive! was actually created for Anastacia, years ago, but unfortunately the popular singer was diagnosed with breast cancer at the time and she wasn't able to sing it. Eric will not be accompanied by his band in Helsinki and the costumes for the presentation of the song will be designed by high profile British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood in collaboration with Swarovski Crystal and the Life Ball committee.

The Singer
 
During the show in 2003 the queen of all queens Elton John appeared via the "miracle of video link" in Vienna promoting the "Life Ball" for Aids awareness, and every year since Austria have thought it appropriate to plug it mercilessly. As such the poor viewer has to endure the sight of innumerous camp wanabees and drag queens ruining the Viennesse medieval and baroque architecture behind them. So naturally this year, the song, the singer, the video, the little cards, everything will be focussing on reducing Aids in the Tirol. The pressure is on Eric to camp it up,

The Past
  
The real miracle really is that Austria have actually won the ESC. We all took pity on third timer Udo in 1966, thus giving Teutons something to shout about that year. Since then they've been either mid-table or shite, and often both at the same time. Thomas Forstner merits particular attention, doing it twice and coming 5th and then last. Both songs were absolute shockers. There's no Eurosong pedigree in Austria....their history is more like Aldi own-brand dog food. But remember, dogs like it.. They're back in 2007, after a year's sabbatical, an absence which was a shame really as Eurosong needs the western europeans to band together as one in this day and age.

The Song
 
After a year's absence, Austria have made their big re-introdcution with "get a life, get alive". So, how disappointed am I? Well for a start, "much" and "strut" don't ryhme. While not a crime in itself, you would at least expect Eric to be able to pronounce them properly, rather than try to make them sound alike. It's another lite-rock number this one which doesn't have a particular USP, barring perhaps his voice which is a cheesy pub singer type of sound. I picture soft cheese tumbling from his mouth as he sings this song, don't ask me why. It comes near the end of the semi-final which will help it's chances but overall I can't see it progressing.

Overall

Eric has "...completely internalized the pro-life statement of (his) song for Helsinki" which is admirable from one angle, but is dangerous when he shares his name with Mr Rudolph, a man who took the pro-life mantra somewhat extremely. Watch out for high camp presentation, with Eric & the stage bedecked in lashings of red velvet and thousands of crystals. Wowee, that's a Barbara Dex award waiting to happen. As for the song itself, I can't take it seriously, & I think it will bomb (ahem)

In a Nutshell
"Tests my tolerance for bad music"

the philosopher speaks
cause / effect {Ger. Ursache / Wirkung}} Distinction between the events involved in a causal relationship, where the occurrence of one (the cause) is supposed to bring about or produce an occurrence of the other (the effect). Although the correct analysis of causation is a matter of great dispute, Hume offered a significant criticism of our inclination to infer a necessary connection from mere regularity, and Mill proposed a set of methods for recognizing the presence of causal relationships. Contemporary philosophers often suppose that a causal relationship is best expressed in the counterfactual statement that if the cause had not occured, then the effect would not have occured either.
The cause is in "Getting a Life", the effect is to "Get Alive". Mr Papilaya exhibits a great grasp of belief in the implicit relationship between a positive mien resultant in beneficial social interaction. I can only hope he takes this into his week in Finland, as new friends will be the only aspects of note he can take away, positive thinking or not.

Get a Life – Get Alive

Living in this world can be a little too much
Don't let it get you down, get up and strut
If you ever get the chance, hold your hand out and take it
Make a promise to yourself, don't you break it

Oh, I tried to get up when I was upside down
Got to find a way to turn my life around

This is the time for us to get a life
Open your mind to a better life
There's no way of knowing where you're going
Get a life, a better life

Go out of your way and make a compromise
Alter your dreams and you will realise
If you don't understand it, don't take it for granted
Open your mind to a better life

Let's turn up the heat, start a ripple in the water
Wake the soul from its sleep, no particular order
You'd be wasting precious time, free your mind, are you willing?
Don't be afraid, do your dance and start living

I've got a vision in mind, I'm doing my time
I'm living my life 'cause I've opened my mind

This is the time for us to get a life
Open your mind to a better life
There's no way of knowing where you're going
Get a life, a better life
Go out of your way and make a compromise
Alter your dreams and you will realise
If you don't understand it, don't take it for granted

There's no way of knowing where you're going
This is the time for us to get a life

This is the time for us to get a life
Open your mind to a better life
There's no way of knowing where you're going
Get a life, a better life
Go out of your way and make a compromise
Alter your dreams and you will realise
If you don't understand it, don't take it for granted

This is the time to get a life
(This is the time) to get a life
(This is the time)
This is the time for us to get a life
Is he Jack Lester who has trawled around the lower divisions clubs, scoring occasionally and getting booked regularly
or is he Eric Papaliya who has trawled around clubs, scoring occassionally but failing to get bookings regularly
Prediction Semi Final 27th
Final -