As the competition was via the website and based on video
clips of all the entries there is yet a live version of the song, although
there are a few live performance videos around on youtube if you search for
them. The video for this song is very basic, with most of the shots taken by
hand held phone cameras. It chronicles the lead singer, who is singing towards
the camera in different places in his apartment. Although it is not a narrative
I could see being replicated on the Eurovision stage it does prove that the
lead singer, Albert, has pretty good chemistry down the camera lens.
The song is a mid tempo electro pop song with a slight soul
feel. The first verse is slightly more low key than the rest of the song which
allows the song to build, albeit too slowly for my liking. The second verse has
a much clearer beat which fits in better with the mood of the song. The chorus
is the star of the show in this song. The tune is repeated over and over again
as well as the phrase ‘friend of a friend of a friend of a friend’ at the start
of each cycle and sometimes at the end too. The sequence is then repeated but
as an instrumental. By the first time you hear it, it is totally stuck in your
head although the actual words take longer to become embedded. In my opinion
they could do with cutting down one, or both of the verses to possibly have an
extra repetition on the sung chorus either after the first or second verses.
The ending is a little curt but because of the electro style of the backing it doesn’t
come across as too sudden.
Because of the way the Czech selection did, we see that this
did equally well with the jury and online vote. With in international jury, mainly
made up of past contestants, this came equal first and was second in the public
vote. This might be seen as a slight negative but because we know that anybody
around the world could vote in the selection this shows that overall this was
liked, no matter where the votes came from. Although this was my favourite of
the selection I am a little cautious of singing its praises. I think I will and
a better gauge of how good they are when performed live and what show they
decide to bring
The fact of the matter is Mikolas broke the glass ceiling for
Czechia and to follow that is going to be a big job. This has a different vibe
but a modern enough one to be a radio hit even if it doesn’t hit the higher placings
at Eurovision. I’d love to see this qualify but if Europe is one again looking
for something different and quirky, it could miss out.
ARTIST – Lake Malawi
SONG – Friend of a friend
MUSIC - Jan Steinsdoerfer, Maciej Mikolaj Trybulec, Albert
Čern
LYRICS - Jan Steinsdoerfer, Maciej Mikolaj Trybulec, Albert
Čern
