POLAND

The Polish entry was revealed on February 25th. During the TVP show Świat Się Kręci (The World Goes Around), the broadcaster announced they have internally selected the duo Donatan and Cleo to represent them in Copenhagen. The song they will be performing is "My, Słowianie" (Slavic Girls)

 

This song has already been a hit in Poland since its release back in November last year and its video has been a massive hit on youtube gaining over 40 million hits. They recently performed the song at an awards ceremony on a big (almost Eurovision-esque stage). This, along with their music video, which I have attached the English version, are the basis of what I am reviewing.

 

The song, as it stands, is very much reliant on its chorus. The beat of the song is quite slow, as mirrored by the dancing, but the speed of singing at times is quite fast. It has a very modern RnB stompy-clappy beat until the instrumental part which is full on folk accordion. The song from this point of view is quite steady it starts quite in your face but then doesn't really go any where. The unusual structure of the song keeps you interested, twinned by the tonal quality of the Polish language. Cleo's voice is nothing special and the song isn't really that stretching but she does do a good enough job at being just about screechy enough in the high parts to sound interesting rather than flat. A note of caution must also be added to the amount of backing on the track which will need to be provided to in the flesh.

 

The performance value here is most interesting. Nothing REALLY happens. Donatan is in the back somewhere being the DJ character, Cleo is dressed in a modern way with a very nice heavy side plait whilst the girls around her are in traditional dress if not a bit low in the cleavage area. A lot of the visuals of this song has come from the 'infamous' video. I would guess that something of this ilk will be used in Copenhagen, possibly maximised on the video screens.

 

Rumours are that the duo are planning some kind of dual language version for the Eurovision stage. Having seen the English language version of this song I hope they don't. My main concern is the amount of vocals needed to keep the performance value up. With 6 people maximum on stage, this leaves 4 people for backing vocals which I feel they will need. Hopefully they can find 4 girls who are not only fantastic Polish singers but also look good, can dance and can twirl about in a circular skirt without getting dizzy.

 

After a couple of years away, Poland will be hoping for a good show and a place in the final with this one. This song will get points from the Eastern European countries as well as from those with a large Polish diaspora. It is an odd song which does stay in your head. However a lot of this will depend on the quality of the singing and the visual performance - both of which need some work. I predict a qualification spot to the final and with a solid show a possible top 10.

 

Artist - Donatan and Cleo
Song - My, Słowianie (Slavic Girls)
Music - Cleo
Lyrics - Cleo
 

2014/07

Our first "Super Saturday" has been and gone and we are now 4 songs nearer the total of 34!
Only another 3 'wonderful weekends' until the deadline!

This SHOULD have been a podcast all about the songs chosen to represent Latvia, Hungary, Spain and FYROM but it all went a little bit to pot... The outcomes (although not quite final yet) of the Belgian and Lithuanian selections got me thinking and I came to the conclusion that Belgium may we have shot themselves in the foot... What do you think?

In honour of the ever developing cake theme there are songs from Russia, Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Luxembourg... can you guess what they might be...?

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SPAIN

The Spanish Final was  held on February 22nd at the TVE TV Studios in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, hosted by Anne Irgatiburu. The winner was chosen by televoting (50%) and an "expert" jury (50%). Due to a tie in the voting after all the votes, the televoting percentage took precedence. Therefore the winner was Ruth Lorenzo with "Dancing in the rain".

 

Due to having RTVE on satellite I was able to watch the final in full. Although it was a very small and relatively short final it seemed to be full of enthusiasm and passion. Each contestant was given a gift which made most of them cry or make the audience start clapping an chanting like a bullfight. The ending was slightly farcical as Ruth and Brequette ended up with the same point score. Brequette seemed to understand she had lost but Ruth had not cottoned on she had won. Once Anne Irgatiburu had explained the outcome, with eyes wide open, Ruth exclaimed questioningly "SOY YO?! SOY YO!?!" (It's me?!?! Is it me?!?)

 

Ruth Lorenzo 's performance was very simple. She was atop a small platform with 3 white clad backing singers and a pianist behind her. She was wearing a beautifully sculptured silver dress that creates a movement that isn't actually there. Although she gets quite passionate towards the end there is no body movement. All the movement is done my the camera. Ruth has a very powerful voice, which is shown off to its best in this song so I feel the less movement the better.

 

This a very much a modern style of ballad. A powerful tune with a slow but strong beat in the background. This beat keeps you in touch with the song and not let you just nod off. Although the title is in English, this is most definitely a dual language song. The verses are in Spanish whist the chorus is in English. This balance seems to work well but most of all you can see the ease in which Ruth has in singing in English - something not always second nature to Spanish speakers. Although a modern song it feels strangely Spanish. There is a lot of scope for passion and emoting, very much like Pastora Soler 2 years ago.

Although we are talking early days here, Ruth has to be one of the strongest singers put up to the job this year and I think no matter what happens she will do a good job in Copenhagen. The song is full of hooks and will appeal to a wide range of voters. There is quite a lot of repetition which will stick in people's heads and I think the quality of her voice will stand out. Her experience on the X-Factor in the UK has stood her in good stead for singing under pressure.

Thankfully it looks as though "Super Saturday" was one diverse weekend!

This song is a big, strong power ballad and any other country who decides to do something similar will have a fight on their hands. As Spain is in the big 5, they go straight into the final. I think this will do well. The juries will probably place this high, she will get points form a lot of countries (including quite a few from the UK!) and I think the euro fans will adore this and it will go big in the hall.

 

Artist - Ruth Lorenzo
Song - Dancing in the rain
Music - Ruth Lorenzo, Jim Irvin, Julian Emery
Lyrics - Ruth Lorenzo, Jim Irvin, Julian Emery

 

HUNGARY

The Hungarian Final will be held on February 22nd at the MTV Studios in Budapest, hosted by Gábor Gundel-Takács, Éva Novodomszky, Krisztina Rátonyi & Levente Harsányi. Before the final there were 3 quarter finals and two semi finals. During the final, the jury chose their top 4 from which the televptes chose their winner. Going to Copenhagen is András Kállay-Saunders with the song "Running".

 

I will admit that 'A Dal' has kind of passed me by this year and have really only been able to catch up though recap videos on youtube. As will my Hungarian finals and representatives in the past there was great amount of variety in terms of arts and song style. The Jury's top four were all very different and gave the televoting public a wide choice.

 

Kállay-Saunders is a solo artist although he is not on stage alone. He is backed my 2 female backing singers, 2 secretly hidden dancers and a female pianist who the song seemingly revolves around. The sense of story telling here is quite elements and the staging has been cleverly designed and choreographed to rally emphasize the story of the song. In this way I think this act is really strong from a visual point of view. It is almost like you could pick this up and plop it straight onto Eurovision Island.

 

The song is full of different parts. Although the tempo is quite constant the beat before the tempo runs at different speed which make sit feel like the song is changing pace. The verses are mainly piano lead and emphasise the words in the song. During the bridge parts segue between the beat changes although sometimes it is speeding up sometimes slowing down. The choruses are quite in your face and up-tempo with the quick drum and bass sound and the repetition of the title really fits this change of pace.

 

Out of all the songs chosen for Eurovision, this is the one that feels most ready. It feels like it is almost there, feels like I've seen what's going to be on stage in May. I think that the song has almost nowhere to go and to me that might be the problem. Everybody else has space to grow but I'm not sure how this could be improved. Maybe they will surprise us and come up with a brand new representation but I would be shocked it they did - unless they utilised a feature of the Copenhagen stage.

 

This song is a welcome diversion from the "Of Monsters and Mumford" genre we've seen so much from. It sounds modern, he looks modern but I also think the story telling aspect of this will reel in the views. However, is this song they type of song people will vote for? Strangely I think this will gain more favour from the juries than those at home. Plus the fact that Hungary has no true 'Eurovision friends' means that Kállay-Saunders will have to work doubly hard for his final spot.

Artist - Kállay-Saunders
Song - Running
Music - András Kállay-Saunders, Krisztián Szakos
Lyrics - András Kállay-Saunders, István Tabár

 

 

LATVIA

The Latvian Final was held on February 22nd in Ventspils, hosted by Eriks Loks & Nauris Brikmanis. Before the final there were two semi-finals where the list of 24 was reduced to a field of 12. The winner will be chosen in two rounds of voting - firstly to select the top 3 and then to select the winner. The voting in both rounds will be a mixture of televoting (50%) and an "expert" jury (50%). The winning song was "Cake to bake" by the group Aarzemnieki.

 

Being chosen on Super Saturday meant I only caught parts of the final. The final three of Dons, Samanta Tina and Aarzemnieki could not have been more diverse and I think the winning act could not have been more surprised. Although very much an 'underdog' at the outset, it was quite obvious that the song's childish charm and catchiness seemingly overrode its simplicity and this raked in the viewer votes.

 

The four piece guitar/violin combo also do all the singing. To say they are 'freeform' is a bit obvious, one could almost say 'untamed' or even 'unrehearsed'. Right now they seem a bit like 4 friends having a good time - this now needs to turn into a Eurovision final qualifying act! They seem quite inexperienced at this kind of thing and I would suggest that they spend the next 3 months honing the act and song so that it is as slick and catchy as popular, without losing its charm.

 

The song is very minimal - no drums no bass just strings and voices. The song has a very straightforward structure which is very repetitive and there are plenty of things to get stuck in your head. The chorus really emphasise the name of the song and you will be singing it within minutes. The "cep cep kuku" bit does go on for a bit but gives another chance for people to join in whatever language they speak or just clap along. The sentiment of the song is very clever and isn't really about cakes...

 

The problem that really need ironing out with this song are the vocals. Although they are not bad singers the lyrics do seem too garbled and therefore the true meaning of the song is well and truly missed. Therefore it turns into another novelty song - about cakes.  I don't think anybody would have predicted this song winning the Latvian final, however it does feel very Latvian. It has the carefree nature of Brainstorm, the madness of Arnis Mednis and the catchiness of Pirates of the Sea - a cake mix in itself!

 

I would have preferred Dons to have won the ticket but you cannot disagree with public feeling!
Now starts the hard work. As it this has very little chance of qualification but with some polishing, a bit of reworking and well needed practise it might turn into a song Latvia can be proud of. It is in quite a 'friendly' semi final and probably will get votes from Estonia, Russia ,Sweden and Iceland (at a push). But let's face it no serious Eurovision jury will touch this with a barge pole...

 

Artist - Aarzemnieki
Song - Cake to bake
Music - Guntis Veilands

Lyrics - Guntis Veilands

FYR MACEDONIA

The Macedonian song was presented on February 22nd during "The Hit Of The Month" show hosted by Aleksandra Jovanovska and Marko Mark. Back in August MRT announced that Tijana Dapčević had been internally chosen to represent the Balkan nation. During the show she presented two versions of her song - one in Macedonian "Tamu kaj sto pripagjam" (There where I belong) and one in English "To the sky"

 

I did not watch this presentation live as there was already enough going on during this first Super Saturday. However from the comments I have looked at regarding this performance this song is not really in her typical style but seems to have garnished some quite favourable reviews.

 

The performance was a little odd. Tijana was dressed quite smartly and plainly in black. She has a very striking presence on stage although I'm not sure this visual suited the style of the song. Firstly she mimed both versions of the song which didn't give us any idea about how well she can sing these songs. Secondly there was very little set up for the performance as she was all alone standing on a small stage flanked by some steps. There will need to be other people on stage to do the backing vocals. As the song is powerful and strong it will need much stringer visuals. Although Tijana looked very much like she was enjoying performing and obviously is quite an outward performer it will need a much bigger show in Copenhagen.

 

The song has a lot of memorable parts - the introduction is quite in your face and gets you into the song straight away. It's a shame this bit isn't made more of. The tempo seems to shift from fast to slow which keeps you engaged but can make it feel a little disjointed. The bridge part after about 2 minutes is quite interesting, would she be able to get that note? Also it would be nice if they made more of the drumming part too. However this part is just too long for an instrumental and Tijana looked lost at this point. The ending is very poor and just ebbs away without any punch or definition. It must be noted that Tijana has a lovely velvety low voice which I felt showed itself off more in the Macedonian version than English.

 

My main concern here is that the performance level needs to be bigger. Although this was only a presentation it would have been nice to have more of an idea of what they might have had in store for Eurovision. Also it is not clear which language she will be singing at Eurovision. I feel it sounds better in Macedonian but will be more accessible in English. Unfortunately the English lyrics are not really that good. Plus another 10 seconds needs to be shaved off the song (the bridge part?)

 

This is not a bad entry from FYROM. Their entries of the past have not been very noteworthy and I think this may well be their best entry yet. Proof will be needed to see if she can sing and perform this live. Macedonia don't really have many friends in their semi final and so will really need to make people want to vote for it. Considering it is so different to the songs already chosen this may well give her a fantastic advantage.

 

Artist - Tijana Dapčević
Song - Tamu kaj sto pripagjam (There where I belong) / To the sky
Music - Darko Dimitrov, Lazar Cvetkoski

Lyrics - Elena Risteka

 

 

ICELAND

The Icelandic Final was held on February 15th at Háskólabíó in Reykjavik, hosted by Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir & Guðrún Dís Emilsdóttir. Before the final there were 2 semi-finals where the list of 10 was reduced to a final of 6. The winner was chosen in 2 rounds of voting - the first to select the top 2 and the second to select the winner. In the first round the voting was 50% televoting & 50% "expert" jury while in the second round the winner was chosen by televoting alone. Wining the ticket to Copenhagen was the group Pollapönk with the song "Enga fordóma" (No prejudices)

 

I did not watch any of the Icelandic shows but did follow a lot of the comments and reactions through twitter and the Eurovision website. I did also watch replays of the acts in the final on you tube. Mot of he songs were what I would call typical Icelandic fayre with some folky and rocky numbers (and even a rogue operatic turn!) However the stand out track was definitely the winner although many would say it stood out for the wrong reasons.

 

This rock/pop number is a welcome change to the entries chosen so far, which cannot be a bad thing. The 4-piece band, all playing instruments, are backed by 2 backing singers. The set up is quite striking as the guys all wear different colours. Yes, it looks like they ARE the Icelandic Wiggles... Although they are playing instruments they end up doing a lot. There is some armography, audience participation hand capping and some Status Quo-esque dad dancing. Think Inculto but with electric guitars.

 

During the Superfinal, the two acts were required so sing the song in the language they would perform in Copenhagen. Up to now, the song had been in Icelandic all the way but for this final performance the last minute or so was in English. The song has a feel of 90s Brit Pop and makes me feel strangely nostalgic - not sure why. The 'na-na-na' parts are extremely catchy and the chorus has a very memorable tune. They also blend together really well in the singing. The English parts don't work as well and feels like they've struggled to fit the words they want into the pace of the tune. All Icelandic would have worked better.

 

The problem is that it does come across as a bit of a 'joke' entry. They look a bit funny, the stuttering parts make it sound weird and the dancing is a little bit cringe worthy. It was quite obviously when the votes came in a lot of the Eurovision fans were not at all happy with this result. However beneath this exterior this is a really catchy and enjoyable song waiting to come out.

 

I think this was the best choice and will do well. It will certainly get enough votes from the semi to get into the final and considering some of the songs that we've already got will be a breath of fresh air. I think this will appeal very much to the "Radio 2" type person and I predict this will do much, much better than people think. I may be going against the grain here but this may well be my early guilty pleasure!

 

Artist - Pollapönk
Song - Enga fordóma (No prejudices)
Music - Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson

Lyrics - Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson, Haraldur F. Gíslason
 

 

2014/06

Another week - another podcast - and a busy one at that!

In the news we catch up with the goings on in Greece, Spain and Denmark.
Then a look at the heats and semis in Estonia, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Hungary and a disappointing Sweden.
Finally I take a brief look back at the Icelandic entry that most people seem to hate... Do I feel the same...? In addition there will be a review of this song on the website in the next 48 hours!

I also talk about tweeting Dustin the Turkey, seeing Brainstorm at Sochi and some of today's songs make me have a 90's throwback to Sash! and Supergrass.... all will be revealed...!

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2014/05

I know I said I wouldn't do one until half term but there was so much news - it couldn't wait!

Lots to catch up on this week with finals in Malta and heats in Hungary, Lithuania, Iceland and Sweden. We also catch up on song choices in Portugal and Ireland as well as the line up for EMA in Slovenia.

I open the show with  a few words on the EBU voting irregularities but as you will learn it all feels a little too little too late... Also features music from Norway, Ireland, Israel and Albania.

Finally I 'promote' my tweets, tell you all about my busy week and why 11th February will always be synonymous with me, in the ice and snow, standing at a border post in Belgium...

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MALTA

The Maltese Final was held on February 8th at the Malta Fairs & Convention Centre in Ta' Qali, hosted by Gianluca Bezzina, Ira Losco & Moira Delia. There was a semi-final on February 7th where 20 songs were reduced to 14. After a mix of "expert" jury (6/7) and televoting (1/7), Firelight singing "Coming Home" was announced as the winner.

 

Although I did not watch the Maltese final (or semi-final) the comments and reactions in social networks to the shows and results were very interesting and have made this review a little mixed. Generally the songs were of a very wide range, although a lot of the singers are almost veterans to the Maltese Eurovision qualification scene. There were a few stand out songs of differing genres including that of the winner.

 

The set up of the song is very simple with the band sat around playing their instruments and an Appalachian mountain dulcimer of all things! It seems a very coherent group and considering there are already 5 on stage there is probably room enough for another backing singer but no need for dancers. The staging of the song, as well as the name of the song, has brought comparisons to Iceland's 2011 entry of the same name. The style is similar, the band set up is similar and the style isn't far off either.

 

The thing about this one is that the blending of the voices and the harmonies from all the participants on stage is the key to the success of this song. All of the singers are good singers and the blending of their voices at times is just sublime. They also look like they are enjoying themselves and that the song is within their normal ranges. Main singers, Richard Edwards & Michelle Mifsud, are Maltese preselection veterans - the former coming a close second in 2011. Obviously if under the pressure of a semi-final they get nervous and it is just that little bit off, it could sound bloody awful.

 

There are however many concerns with this song. Obviously there are, and have already been, comments about its similarity to Mumford & Suns and especially to the Gary Barlow song "Let Go" which the chorus almost becomes. I am not sure how well this style would go down with the whole of Europe.

Another problem occurs when you see that both Malta and Switzerland have chosen basically the same song AND are in the same semi-final. As DR will be in chare of the running order I would hope that there 2 are placed as far away as possible, for their own good. Personally, although Firelight are the better and more polished singers, Sebalter's song is far superior. Looking forward, I am now hoping that there will be the ONLY two songs of this genre in the competition. If there end up being even more, then there may well be a further problem to look into.

 

There was a lot of discussion on social media regarding the seemingly unfair voting system used to choose this song. The televote mark only represented just over 14% of the scoring. However, looking back at the Maltese finals over the last 3 years, the voting weighting has always been highly in favour of the jury rather than the televote (between 14 and 33% weighting in different contests) Although I understand how this can seem unfair, it is at least consistent.

 

A slightly surprising choice from Malta, moving that folky sound from last year in a different direction. Not sure if it will grab the hearts of Europe or get them singing along. Purists will like this as a song and as a technical piece of singing but more is needed to make people pick up their phones.

 

Artist - Firelight
Song - Coming Home
Music - Richard Micallef

Lyrics - Richard Micallef

 

 

ITALY

On 25th January, it was announced that the Emma Marrone  will be representing Italy at Eurovision. It was also revealed that she will be singing her self penned song "La Mia Citta" (My City)

 

This year RAI decided not to choose their entry via San Remo but through an internal selection. The song appears on her latest album and she has performed this on several television show of which videos have appeared online. It is from these I will review this entry.

 

Her song is an up tempo rock pop number, said to be inspired by 80s rock, which you can see and hear. Her style seems to shine during these types of numbers and obviously like to express herself outwardly. She is backed by an all male band which helps with the rock feel. As I watched it felt slightly similar to Amandine Bourgeois from France last year, especially the parts where she went a bit mad and screamy.

 

The song starts with a thumping drum beat, which although ear catching does go on for a bit too long, she has a very energetic performance and engages with her band as well as the audience really well. She does a lot of jumping about and in this performance in particular she is playing much more to the fans and the audience than she is to the cameras. Her voice suits this style of music and I think the style will stand out on the Eurovision stage. I also seem quite confident that she would be able to perform this well live and under pressure.

 

There are two main issues for this song - one which can be fixed and one which possibly can't. Firstly, it is a good 37 seconds too long. Even by omitting the long drum intro something would have to give somewhere else in the song. Secondly there are just no hooks or memorable moments to hang onto. The only true memorable part is the intro and I think that will have to go! This rock style will appeal to the Eastern and Baltic states but I am not sure if this is enough to get it more than about 3 points per country, if any.

This is quite a disappointment. She is a much better singer and performer than this song allows her to be. I don't even think a language change would change their fortunes. Emma should be grateful she's already in the final because I would not fancy her chances to have succeeded in the semi-final

Artist - Emma Marrone
Song - La Mia Citta
Music - Emma Marrone

Lyrics - Emma Marrone

2014/04

Recap number four!

After a couple of week's rest we have loads of Eurovision news to catch up on!
Although there have only been 2 finals since I last podcasted, there have been quite a lot of heats, song reveals, artist reveals, song snippets and plenty of gossip.
The Finnish and Swiss finals already have been reviewed on the website and I promise that a review of the Italian song will go up soon.

I think I got slightly delirious by the end!!!

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SWITZERLAND

The Swiss Final was held on February 1st at the Bodensee Arena in Kreuzlingen, hosted by Sven Epiney. After combining the televoting (50%) and an "expert" jury (50%) votes, "Hunter of stars" by Sebalter was announced as the winner.

The 6 finalists were chosen through the sub-divisions of the French, German and Italian speaking communities as well as the internet voting. Unfortunately this final was not a good one in my opinion. The songs (and performers) were of varying quality. After seeing the recap of the songs during the final it seemed a bit of a foregone conclusion that this had to win (although I would have had places 2 and 3 the other way around).

The song and performance obviously take their cues from Mumford and Sons and the folk/country/bluegrass genre. From a Eurovision viewpoint is feels like a sped up version of Sjonni's Friends or even "Fairytale part 2". Seb is backed by a similarly styled 5 piece band. Most of the focus is on Seb and he certainly does have a very engaging singing style and personality. When he's not singing he's whistling and it he isn't whistling he's playing the fiddle. His singing style is, well, unconventional but then again so is the song.

Seb IS the show. There is not that much movement by the band - most of the moving is done by the camera and by Seb's eyebrows. However because the song is made up of so many different verses, bridges, choruses, slow bits and fast bits his stance and character makes you feel like a lot of moving is happening. He has a decent connection with a camera and you genuinely feel he is enjoying himself. The song is really catchy an you find yourself singing, clapping and/or whistling along. It is nice to see whistling making a comeback to Eurovision since the heady days of "Straatdeuntje" and "April, April"

However I do have some technical concerns about this song

1) He doesn't seem to keep on time during the quieter parts of the song either going to fast or too slow. This could have just been a issue with his earphones.

2) His accent and pronunciation are very odd. Although this does bring character, energy and memorable qualities to the performance - your connection to the song is lost. You have no idea what he's singing about.

3) Can he whistle that well under pressure?

If these concerns can be worked through, this could be an early contender. Although there are aspects that need work I feel that the song is a very well made piece of work with lots of memorable parts. His personality is unforgettable and the whole thing has a certain charm about it which could work to its favour.

Artist - Sebalter
Song - Hunter of stars
Music - Sebastiano Paulessi

Lyrics - Sebastiano Paulessi
 

FINLAND

The Finnish Final was held on February 1st at the Barona Areena in Espoo, hosted by Anne Lainto & Ile Uusivuori. Before the final there were 3 semi-finals. The winner, chosen by televoting (50%) and an "expert" jury (50%) was "Something Better" by Softengine.

 

I didn't really pay too much attention to this year's UMK mainly because I was still smarting for last year's frankly upsetting result. Therefore I distanced myself and just hoped a good song would win. Due to the scheduling of the final I was able to watch the results coming in as well as the recaps of the songs during voting time. I thought that once again the range of songs was impressive from rock to folk to dance to weird! Each song had its merits as well as having reasons to be Finland's Eurovision entry.

 

Softengine is a very contemporary group. They look a bit like Frank Ferdinand, sound a bit like Coldplay but end up being a bit like The Killers. The singer is not exactly the most technically brilliant or show-stoppingly confident but he seems to pull this song off quite well, especially the strong choruses. Obviously the earworm-y 'oh-oh-oh-oh-ing'  and "all these words"- accompanied with well timed fireworks. As you will see, there is not a lot to say about this... for many reasons.

 

Being a typical band of 5, they stand (and jump about) for 3 minutes. The flashing red background used in their final performance worked well as it gave colour to their dark set and clothing but also punctuated the song during the lively parts. By the end two of the guitar players were getting a little more active, dodging about aimlessly. On the small stage it looked a bit uncomfortable and a little silly. On a bigger stage, and choreographed a bit better, it might actually help emphasise the performance towards the end.

 

This does sound like a song you could easily hear on Radio 1 or 2 which is a good thing, however  if any was to say it was a Eurovision song  think they would be pretty surprised. This is NOT exactly what people see as their stereotypical Eurovision fayre Although it has peaks and troughs and many, MANY earworms - there is no key change, no dance routine and certainly no time for a change of costume. This was more a performance to the crowd than a performance to the viewer. I feel this engagement to the camera and the connection to the voters all over Europe will need to be the thing they work on next.

 

I feel pretty positive about this. Firstly it is a good song and something that would work well outside the ESC. It's the kind of thing that if released Europe wide (especially Nordic, Baltic and western Europe) would do it the world of good pre-Eurovision. My main concern is this contains none of the formulaic traits we expect to see in a Eurovision songs. There are no gimmicks - it is a straight forward, honest, contemporary song.
Is this what Eurovision really needs?

 

Artist - Softengine
Song - Something Better
Music - Topi Latukka

Lyrics - Topi Latukka, Henri Oskár