This mini-pop version of the real thing has some through some changes and ups and downs over the years. However this year's contest feels different. Maybe it is because many of the contestants look and sound more mature, or that the songs feel more modern and less bubble gum or maybe it is down to the sudden jump in entry numbers and general media interest around Europe.
This year we some returnees after a break (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Serbia) as well as 3 brand new participating countries (Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia) With a mix of groups, solo acts, ballads and dance numbers, this year seems like an interesting if not hard year to judge. This is made a little more difficult as so few of the entries were chose through a live national final and many songs only have a generic pop video to judge on. However after a couple of days of rehearsal I do have a very small window to judge their vocal ability on...
1) BELARUS: Nadezhda Misyakova - Sokal (Falcon)
This is an odd little number, especially as an opening to the show. Nadezhda seems to have the spirit of a small Ruslana while looking like a mini Carola.
Vocally she seems to carry the song off well although I'm not too sure how well she can perform the elongated choruses with some of the nerves on the night. I like the fields motifs and the back ground and seems to echo the folky quality of the song.
The song itself has a pleasant feel and the chorus has a good ear worm. However I find that the song lacks light and shade - except for the end which doesn't work.
She seems to be styled more like an American Indian with the headband on!
2) BULGARIA: Krisia, Hasan & Ibrahim - Planet of the children
Considering the failure of the country in adult Eurovision, this return to jESC is a bit out of the blue - as is the standard of their entry.
This is a moody, if not quite adult, ballad sung by the tiniest little thing. The song has an almost classical feel and a this kind of song could easily have been an entry in the adult version This all said the musicality and professionalism of Hasan and Ibrahim must not be underestimated and I hope their role is not minimised too much on screen.
Krisia is obviously a very talented and passionate singer but rumours are that she has been sick this week and a poor vocal on this song will destroy its chances.
3) SAN MARINO: The Peppermints - Breaking my heart
My goodness, this is choreographed within an inch of it's life!
From watching the rehearsal I was really surprised how much a full show this is. Firstly they star on the floor, then do some stomping down the catwalks, duo dancing and dancing in a line. It's quite a full on show!
Vocally they are not bad. Considering they spend most of the song moving, I would expect a loss of energy near the end but they seems great from start to finish. If anything I would have liked to have heard more harmony in the chorus.
The song is a bit of a grower and the chorus gets inside your head really quickly and I think this could be a really good result!
4) CROATIA: Josie - Game Over
The title really says it all...
Poor Josie looks really out of her depth here. She is a cute petite little things and she looks really uncomfortable on stage, especially dancing. I would've preferred her being more natural and 'acting' with the dancers who show here up a little bit.
Josie also doesn't have the best of voices but also she looks *petrified* She could possibly get away with being a little bit small in the voice if she looked a little more girly and cute and smiley.
The song itself is not bad (with a great opening to the chorus) but needs much more power in the backing track. However she has the best background of the night!
5) CYPRUS: Sophia Patsalides - I pio omforfi mera (The most wonderful day)
And I thought Alanis Morrisette was Canadian...
For the video of this song, Sophia is surrounded by other dancers who do a lot of the moving to this song but on the stage she is alone. I didn't think this change would work but it really does. She has a great command of the stage and actually moves really well. She certainly looks the most mature and professional act on the stage and I hope it doesn't come across too polished or adult.
This is a very typical dance song of the moment but is not as repetitive as many of the songs in this year's contest. Sophia has a great voice and is one of the few who really interacts with the audience.
6) GEORGIA: Lizi Pop - Happy Day
This sounds nothing like Miley Cyrus's Wrecking Ball.... Honestly!
This is a very odd song. The structure and tune of the song sounds quite sad and melancholy yet you have this tiny child with a big mouth singing Happy Day. It just sounds a bit odd. Lizi does belt the whole thing out but it ends up feeling a little bit screechy and you need feel 100% confident that she's going to reach the high notes.
Like in the video Lizi is backed by 4 dancers, one of which sports a plaster cast/arm sling in one version. To be honest the whole thing just looks and sounds messy and disjointed and I would expect much, much more from Georgia.
7) SWEDEN: Julia Kedhammar - Du är inte ensam (You're not alone)
This entry could only come from one country... Dance-schlager has made it's way to jESC
Overall I am quite under-awed by this song and performance. The verses seem to low and tuneless and although the chorus seems perkier it still feels a bit pedestrian.
From rehearsals, it seems that she is backed by 4 dancers, possibly in an attempt to inject meaning and oomph into the song.
Unfortunately it falls flat for me as it just makes poor Julia look a bit stilted and nervous. The key change at the end is decidedly dodgy and needs a lot work. If I could offer ANY artistic direction, I would have liked to have seen something more like David Lindgren's "Skyline"
8) UKRAINE: Sympho-Nick - Pryyde vesna (Spring will come)
So finally, Zlata's "Gravity" gets the Junior treatment as sung by Feminem Juniors.
The trio certainly have their own style, physically and vocally, which will stand them in good stead. The girls seem very confident in what they do and seem to enjoy the song.
Like many of the national final routed songs, the performance looks to have changed very little in essence, although they have made good use of the catwalks at the start.
The song takes a little time to get going but then it gets into its stride. My main concern is that this is more 'muzak in a lift' than something a junior audience can comprehend and sing along with.
9) SLOVENIA: Ula Ložar - Nisi sam /Your light (You're not alone)
If hearing was believing, this might be a winner - just keep your eyes closed!
Ula has a great voice and is very pure and clean in the high notes, you'd think she couldn't get that high but she does with ease. The performance is very simple and actually she has an expressive face and expressive hands so the close ups should be quite interesting.
I do however have a couple of issues with her performance. Firstly she switched around the languages a lot during rehearsals and it would be nice to see here reduce the English part. Secondly STOP MESSING WITH YOUR HAIR and thirdly I hope that outfit isn't anything like what you will wear on Saturday!
10) MONTENEGRO: Maša & Lejla - Budi dijete na jedan dan (Be a child for a day)
After finally qualifying in Adult Eurovision, Montenegro have made the jump to jESC.
The song is quite Yugoslavian sounding, with echoes of "Rock Me" and "Hajde da ludujemo" about it but also have a slightly dated feel.
Maša and Lejla are together and go through a quite simple dance routine in the middle of the stage whilst blending the voices in harmony in the chorus.
Needless to say, it looks and sounds a little bit amateur, almost a bit seaside talent contest sounding, compared to the other entries but in this way it has a certain innocent charm and appeal that many of the over-polished songs don't have. Let's hope *some* countries give it points so they come back next year!
11) ITALY: Vincenzo Cantiello - Tu primo grande amore (Your first great love)
The only boy in the competition really is trying hard!
He has a very flexible voice with quite a range for a small boy. My only real issue with him is the fact that his style of singing can come across to diva-ish when I feel that having someone with a more gruff male voice would REALLY make him stand out from the crowd.
He is alone on stage, a bit like in the video but he has a very expressive face which will make a difference on the camera close ups. the song is a fairly standard dramatic ballad which doesn't really have much of a tune. The song is quintessentially Italian in style which may lose or gain it fans.
12) ARMENIA: Betty - People of the Sun
Possibly the most 'Junior Eurovision' song of the whole
night.
There have been many changes to the staging since the
national final which has done it some good. Betty is now on a platform which
gives her a bit more independence when it comes to moving and dancing, more
prominence on the stage but does move her away from the audience. The dancers
are really amazing!
Betty has an ok voice but the song is within her range. The
tune of the chorus is quite catchy. It's also a shame that jESC is in winter as
this is the most summery of the whole bunch. Stuck between a couple of similar
styled ballads may be to its advantage.
13) RUSSIA: Alisa Kozhikina - Dreamer
Another power ballad sung by a tiny child.
There is no doubt that Alisa can sing and that this song really shows off her vocal talents. But I also have to remind myself that this is a SONG contest and not all about the singer.
The song a little bit drippy and over-indulgent but this does not mean it is easy to sing. The official video is very well made and really reflects the meaning and tone of the song.
However she seems to be singing alone on the stage static and most of the movement will be done via the camera work. It is unfortunately quite forgettable if not over-saccharine. If it was nearer the middle, it would be time for tea...
14) SERBIA: Emilija Đonin -Svet u mojim očima (World in my eyes)
Tea time has just been extended...
This song, unfortunately, is just blandness personified. Maybe I was hoping for something a bit more Balkan a bit more Serbian rather than something from Vanilla Land. To be fair, Emilija has a good voice for piano ballads and seems to be well within herself when singing the song, it's just a shame that the song goes nowhere.
She is alone on stage and plays the piano for the first 2 minutes. Then she gets up and walks to the front of the stage. This point of the song either needs to be more dramatic in her stance or facial expressions or more interactive with the audience in the hall to gain votes.
15) MALTA: Federica Falzon - Diamonds
If operatic minipops did Bond themes...
I find this song a real love/hate affair. On one hand I love her voice in the top of her range and her vocal skill is amazing for someone of her age. The staging is very simple yet effective (almost similar is style to Conchita) and I feel this song will really stick out.
However in the verses, the song feels far too low and generally I cannot understand a word she says. She could be singing in Maltese for all I know! Plus she needs to stop doing the armography in the choruses - it doesn't look natural and you can tell she is thinking about it. Getting the feeling Malta want to do well but not win.
16) NETHERLANDS: Julia - Around
This is a modern, radio friendly ditty however this is almost it's problem.
It's a slick production and it looks like the whole thing is being transported as was in the national final to the jESC stage. It almost looks and feels to good to be true...
The song has a good structure with quiet and tuneful verses and a powerful, earwormy- chorus. Julia performs the whole thing well, vocally, although I worry she seems stilted and choreographically uncertain.
My main concern is that the chorus is too much - especially when you consider that literally the last 90 seconds is the chorus sung over and over and over again. It makes you wonder when it's going to bloody end!!!!
As for a winner - I have no clue. I guess it will come down to who performs the best and who the audience is most feels the most accessible and likeable. My favourite three are probably Bulgaria, San Marino and Cyprus but I wish them all the best of luck on Saturday night!