CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech entry was revealed on March 10th via the Ĉeska Televize website and on soundcloud. Representing the Czech Republic in Vienna will be the duo of Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta singing "Hope never dies".

After a break of 6 years, CT announced they were returning to Eurovison in 2015 and that their entrant would be chosen by an expert panel of jurors as in the past they had chosen using a national final. In January the act, song title and production team were announced but the song was not going to be formally revealed into March.

The song seems like a very typical eastern European dramatic rock ballad with dramatic overtones. During the song they sing separate parts, sing in harmony and also shadowing each other. Their voices work quite well together but singing after each other can sound a little jarring because their voices feel so different. The song builds well until the end. I was half expecting a key change but didn't get it. I then expected a bit dramatic flourish at the end but got a bit of pan pipe instead. At times it feel like the tune at least sounds a bit like something Metallica might have been offered... and turned down.

Marta's career has mainly focused around Czech Republic and Germany, where she had lived for 15 years. She is the lead singer of metal band Die Happy and in 2007 she teamed up with Ooomph! to win that year's Bundesvision Song Contest. Vaclav started off as a rock singer too but has also appeared in a number of musicals and is known for his singing and acting skills. He is also the co-writer of the Eurovision entry.

As the release was just an audio track one can only imagine and speculate what they might have on offer in Vienna. From the way the track is laid out is seems that they don't need backing singers but also it's not a song that I think would suit dancers. I would guess that the song is going to require a more intimate performance between the two singers on stage with a lot of close ups and steady cam work to create movement. I could also imagine them being dressed up in a quite gothic way, almost Game of Thrones like, which would also be an interesting theme for a back drop.

This is possibly the most accessible Czech Republic entry so far in their Eurovision history, but that is not saying much. The song itself has some good qualities but it doesn't quite reach the heights you hope it will. They have been drawn in the first half of semi 2 which is the tough as there are already 2 other duets in that section and with quite a few rocky ballads in the semi it could be hard for them to stand out enough to get the votes required. The likelihood of this song qualifying is almost nil although they should be commended for sending something half decent for a change. I also fear that another poor performance (i.e. bottom 3) might mean them withdrawing once again.

ARTIST - Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta 

SONG - Hope never dies

MUSIC - Václav Noid Bárta

LYRICS - Tereza Šoralová