SAN MARINO

The San Marinese entry was announced on March 9th after an online vote. A few days previously former contestant Senhit was revealed to be re-representing the principality. A vote on which of the two songs should be taken to Eurovision was held on Senhit's website between March 7th-8th. The winning song was "Freaky!"

The video is very fast moving, extremely colourful and sees Senhit in many different situations with the 5 backing singer/dancers. A close ensemble piece like this could look very different to some of the songs that we have had up to now, as well as feeling quite 'Eurovisiony' and slightly retro. Some of the sets might have come in useful for Eurovision as might some of the styling choices (keep teh big hair!!)

The song starts with a slowish intro before quick going into a retro bassy disco beat with a slightly sung/spoken refrain on top. It runs seamlessly into the chorus which I think is probably the part of the song that is lacking just because the tune is much lower and harder to listen to than the rest. This then revert to the intro again but this time used a bit like a bridge and slows the pace down before kicking back into gear. This time instead of a verse this goes into a kind of refrain/second chorus which is much more catchy than the chorus itself but also ends with the 'freaky freaky freaky' tag line and then runs into the chorus proper. Verse two starts up, which is rather short but repetitive before afinal extended version of the refrain. The ending is father bizarre as the backing track finishes before the singing does.

This certainly follows up Serhats 'success' with low-key disco success and certainly has some feel good factor about it. The presentation is really fun although questions might have to be asked about how Senhit can be at the same time as singing or can any of her great backing team sing and dance at the same time. I suspect that this would have done well on the televote but less so with the juries just down to favouring more contemporary entries. I think this would have made a positive respite in the final but I doubt it would have made it.


Artist - Senhit
Song - Freaky!
Composers - Nanna Bottos, Gianluigi Fazio, Henrik Steen Hansen
Lyricists - Nanna Bottos, Gianluigi Fazio, Henrik Steen Hansen

SAN MARINO

The San Marinese song was unveiled in a press conference on March 7^th before the video and song were released online. Back in January it was announced that former representative Serhat was going to try again for the principality and his song is called “Say na na na”

The video for the song is very busy and has a huge cast of dancers. There is a large video backgrounds which creates the atmosphere for the road scene that the video is set which reminds me slightly of Blade Runner but his song is much happier than that! At times the screen also shows shots of Serhat singing. The video has a lot of energy and action but I am rather puzzled as to how they could recreate the atmosphere which a smaller number of people. Serhat is wearing a number of suits all in the same style but in different colours but no sign of his signature hat!

The song is a disco euro-dance song with a very repetitive chorus and a predictable structure. The song starts with the backing singers going ‘na na na’ before Serhat joins in his signature deep talkative tone which actually suite this style of song. He does 2 verses before going straight to the chorus. This repeats the ‘na na na’ line several times and really does gets your head. The structure of the chorus is also interesting as the first part of the chorus as a slightly different tune to the second and almost feels like it has a key change. After another verse and chorus there is an interesting all and response part with the backing singers that I think the audience in the hall would totally get behind before a final last chorus.

Let’s be honest, Serhat is not the best singer and this isn’t the best song however it does know what it is and that is a feel good dance number. If anything, this is something more stereotypical for Eurovision and there is something quite wholesome and feel-good and enjoyable about this. It’s doing what it says on the tin and is doing a really good job and doing what it needs to well. I do have some concerns about what the act might look like on stage. I feel like he will need at least 2, maybe 3, good female backing singers which would then leave 2 or 3 space for backing dancers, which possibly should be male, unless he can find 5 mixed sex backing singers who can do a full on dance routine or vice versa. We must also be reminded that Serhat is Turkish and will get and extra fan boost from the diaspora in the voting countries.

This as a fun entry in a sea of ballads and high-concept entries. Maybe voters will find this too old fashioned and not vote or maybe this is something light-hearted and accessible that the people at home will vote for. My heart would love this to qualify but like his last attempt “I didn’t know” this might just miss out.

ARTIST –  Serhat

SONG –  Say na na na

MUSIC -  Mary Susan Applegate, Serhat Hacıpaşalıoğlu

LYRICS - Mary Susan Applegate, Serhat Hacıpaşalıoğlu