"Thus the smallest child of the family made her way to Budapest….and the story began."

The Spin

Magdi Rúzsa, the 21 year-old Hungarian girl from Kishegyes (near the Hungarian border in Serbia) was discovered in 2006 thanks to the televised pop idol contest Megasztár in Hungary. She grew up in her hometown and studied in Subotica as a maternity nurse. After the high school, she wanted to go to Medical University, but as she could not afford it she decided to try her luck at the pop idol contest. Thus the smallest child of the family made her way to Budapest….and the story began.

What happened to Magdi from this moment on was a real fairytale. The very first appearance in the series predestined her to be the winner, from week to week more and more people fell in love with her true, passionate, unique voice. The whole industry praised her and claimed her to be the biggest happening in the last 30 years. She was singing like her big favourite Janis Joplin.

After winning the competition, her cover album with the performed songs in the finals went to triple platinum status and has sold to date around 80 000 copies. Her first artist album Devilish Angel was released on her birthday 28th November and has sold 36000 copies to date. These two records were the biggest selling releases in 2006 in Hungary. It was therefore no surprise that Magdi was voted New Talent of the Year, and therefore she has the chance to represent Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki, 2007. She picked her own song Unsubstantial Blues, in order to show her fantastic voice and express her emotions.

The Singer
 
Ms Ruzsa is a big star, a huge shining star, one of the biggest stars in the firmament of stars...well at least in Hungary. They are having another crack at it after one yerar's absence, and have thrown a guttural bluesy type of singer who can't pronounce her v's. She's got a Joplin/Parton voice, but only after swallowing a bowl of paprika. She's the type of act who you almost think is a bit too good for the Eurosong, a comment bordering on blasphemy I know.

The Past
 
After a brief dalliance with Eurovision in the 1990's, 2005 hailed a welcome return for Hungary. Ginger-curled Charlie put a lot of people off wanting them back after 1998, but time is a great healer, and with many cheap airlines flying into Budapest for fun, we cheered on Hungary and still have change for a plate of perch in a paprika stew. Sadly this delicacy was stolen away from us, as Hungary decided not to partake in 2006. Shame.

The Song

A couple of things stand out about "Unsubstantial Blues". One is that it is a quite mature piece of music, that the title isn't mentioned until the end which is quite unusual, and even the video is almost..well...professional looking. But the main focus is on the voice, a distinctive keen which may well land her with a final place. It's as shame she won't be able to re-enact the promo video, a rather nifty backwards in time show of Magdi demolishing a flat. Only at the end do we find that her swine boyfriend has been enjoying coital frivolity in her own bed. All men are bar stards.

Overall

One of the vocal highlights of the contest will be listening to Magdi say "believe it". You almost won't be able to. She's bombed in my predictions, but I have a sneaking suspicion that a 23rd finish is doing Magdi an injustice. Definitely a so-so, sitting on the fence about her chances, ambivalence personified, and I can't be any clearer than that.

In a Nutshell
"Wery worried for her woting wolume"
 

the philosopher says

catharsis Cleansing from guilt or defilement; hence, in Aristotle, the elimination of destructive emotions through appreciation of an aesthetic experience. The notion here is that vicariously experiencing strong feelings renders us less likely to be overcome by them in our own lives. Recommended Reading: Aristotle, Poetics, tr. by Malcolm Heath (Penguin, 1997)

The destruction of an unfaithful partner's property is a common consequence of anger and subsumed guilt. I have no doubt that ooh at least a handful of people recently cheated will gain emotional release in the sight of Magdi throwing a pot at a Central European print. I know her song helped me when I discovered my 18year old boy slave found solace in another aging transgender's arms.

Unsubstantial Blues

How many times have you fooled me and denied that?
It's her whom you love and it sure isn't me?
So now that it's over, I'll try and take it sober
Leave questions unasked, remember us laughing at the broken past
God, if I could make it on without you

You're such a casual man, oh wavin' an empty hand
I'm helpless and I'm lonely without you
Yes you're a casual man, lendin' an empty hand
Left me breathless with nothing more to lose

I used to dream we'd take it nice and easy
Get jobs, settle down in Jameson Town
If now you could see me, you'd think twice about leavin'
You said forever is the time you're gonna spend around So why did you leave me?
And why should I believe it?
You said goodbye
Oh why did you leave me?
Say why?

You're such a casual man, oh wavin' an empty hand
I'm helpless and I'm lonely without you
You're such a casual man, lendin' an empty hand
Left me breathless with nothing more to lose

Casual man, lendin' an empty hand
Left me breathless with nothing more to lose
Except an evanescent unsubstantial blues
Is it Pob who had some trouble enunciating "v"'s what with all the cotton wool jammed in it's cheeks
or is she Magdi who can't find room for cotton wool because of the razor blades.
Prediction Semi Final 23rd
Final -