#eurovision song reviews

[suchamiracle-does-exist]

2023 Tumblr Top 10

1. 334 notes - May 10 2023

Let's sign Cha Cha Cha with Käärijä MIGUEL💜 on TikTok

2. 173 notes - Mar 14 2023

3. 159 notes - Apr 1 2023

Evolution of Conrad Veidt 🎬 Thanks @matthew-garth for suggesting the idea and music 🫰🏻 Such a miracle does exist on TikTok

4. 63 notes - May 8 2023

5. 60 notes - May 8 2023

6. 49 notes - Apr 27 2023

Sua vain yli kaiken mä rakastan 😭 Music: Vaasan kaupunginorkesteri 2nd violin trio "Romanssi" (2020) Such a miracle does exist...

7. 46 notes - Feb 11 2023

8. 44 notes - Aug 8 2023

9. 43 notes - Jun 9 2023

10. 42 notes - Oct 19 2023

Ancora 💋 Music: Mina ”Ancora ancora ancora (Mark Ronson Remix)” (2023)

Created by TumblrTop10

#tumblrtop10 #2023 tumblr top 10 #unofficial my year in review #käärijä #miguel💜 #felix kammerer #austin butler #bafta 2023 #conrad veidt #lyhdynkantajat #kivimiehet #stone men #eurovision song contest #eurovision song contest 2023 #polls #das boot #das boot 2018 #das boot 2024 #rick okon #klaus hoffmann #favourite movie meme but different #mina #ancora ancora ancora #2023 was crazy & party and heavy sad but lovely #own gif #own video #own post

[tsatsuma69]

EUROVISON SEMI FINALS PT.1

welcome to my heaviliy biased reaction/review :)

its a long one

CROATIA 7/10:

these old men dance funky and fuck nasty

its tacky. its camp. its eurovison

mama ;)

love mr missile man

!STRIP!STRIP!STRIP!STRIP!

vocals could have been stronger + old men could have been more naked

7/10

FINLAND 10/10:

Finland slays as always

VERY cunty

FINLAND WINS LITTLE MISS HEAVY QUEER TECHNO RAVE

love the lil crab dance

wonderful human centipede reference

i know who im voting for in the final

!!!!CHA!CHA!CHA!CHA!CHA!CHA!CHA!!!!

now this is eurovison

10/10 !!CUNT!!

GERMANY 9/10:

GAY GLITTERY VIOLENCE SO SLAY

they rlly got a latex vampire and fucking balls to the wall went for it

scream for me bbgorl

capitol fashion vibes

very eurovison

9/10

ITALY 3/10:

the first of the ballads

very eurovison /neg

(trampolies had me giggling)

glitter doesnt = slay. get better.

he did put his whole pussy into that

it wasnt enough tho

3/10 sure was a ballad bb

NORWAY 7/10:

it's giving Anne boylen????

odd take but slay

solid banger

a whistle note doesnt get u a win bb

eurovison approved :)

7/10

SERBIA 6/10:

go, twink! go!

serbia bringing the drama, slay

hewwo? game owver ;)

i see ur vison. its euro.

I liked his little giggle at the end

6/10

MALTA 4/10:

busting out some sexy sax

are those cardboard cut outs???

bitch dress fancier this is eurovison

!! road trip with the boys !!

theyre having fun in ikea

DID HE JUST DAB

4/10

LATVIA 2/10:

immidaitly funky

ew nevermind

okay wait…?

ew no

mid.

this is eurovison bring the pizazz or go home

2/10

PORTUGAL 8/10:

OH ITS GIVING !! SOMETHING!!! HELLO !!!!

portugal bringing the drama

red <3

could have gone harder. still slayed

7/10

IRELAND 2/10:

please dont be a ballad

fuck. okay. thank god.

stop making eye contact, twink

nice flares its giving knock off glitter elvis

drummer is having fun :)

i didnt like it

2/10

SWITZERLAND 1/10:

ew ballad :(

famously neutral country singing about not wanting to be being a soldier and war casulties

okay…. of all the countries… bbgorl

fun lil outfits.doesnt save u

unfortunatly i think eurovison wil eat this shit up

1/10

FRANCE 6/10:

NEVERMIND france brought the drama

oh the GLAMORE oh the DRAMA oh the EUROVISON

that sure is a Dress

!!SHOULDER PAD ALERT!!

mmmm its good but falls a little flat 4 me

wait where did her dress go

6/10

ISRAEL 4/10:

immidiate DRAMA

ourple :)

unicorn. we're sticking with that…. okay.

guys i think we wanna see her dance

4/10

MOLDOVA 6/10:

u were so good last year dont let me down

okay pop off king

hehe eyeball

love the drums and the headpieces :)

!! HELLO FUNKY FLUTE MAN !!

a bop

6/10

SWEDEN 5/10:

i want her to scratch my back with those nails

……im getting abba vibes???? sounds a little bit like the winner takes it all at the beginning

sweden, sweden, sweden smh

OH the drama of a hydrollic press

cracking vocals crickey well done

5/10

AZERBAIJAN 2/10:

pippin and merri made it to eurovision and theyre indi twinks now

its.okay.

was….that….it….?

2/10

CZECHIA 5/10:

oh this is fun

pink <3

swing em babes

uncanny clone doll vibes /pos

they know their audience (its me and i love barbie)

feminism :)

5/10

NETHERLANDS 2/10:

i just know ur gonna let me down

lo and behold i was right

another fucking ballad

STOP MAKING EYE CONTACT

ew straight people at eurovison

nevermind i think theyre lesbains

but that wont save them

god uses she/her pronouns :)

2/10 forgettable

ballad count: 3

best: Finland

worst: Switzerland

who made it thru:

Croatia :P

Moldova

Switzerland >:(

Findland !!!! :D

Czechia <3

Israel

Portugal :)

Sweden

Serbia (go!twink!go!)

Norway

final thoughts:

GERMANY WAS ROBBED!!! ROBBED !!!!!!!!!!!

i am being so normal about this <3

#eurovision #eurovision 2023 #eurovision song contest #eurovision review #i am so normal about this #dont judge me too harshly for judging harshly

[eurovision-del]

The results are in, and Aiko will be representing Czechia this year with Pedestal! Personally, I’m not too enthused with this result. Even as a studio cut, I wasn’t overly impressed by Pedestal as a song. The pop rock sound is kind of up my street, and I like the overall energy, but it’s also nothing I haven’t heard before. The chanting chorus doesn’t work for me, even recorded it sounds shouty, and live it was really rough. Aiko really needs to work on her breath control before May, but that wasn’t the only thing going wrong with her performance vocally. Changing the choreography would definitely help, personally I think they should just scrap everything from the ESCZ performance and rework staging from the ground up at Eurovision. You can’t rule anything out, especially this early in the season, but if Aiko delivers a performance anything like the one we saw last week, Czechia will really struggle to qualify.

It was a shame to see such a huge gap between the international and Czech votes. Unless I feel particularly strongly about the song, I prefer it when the artist who wins the local vote wins overall, and between the two I liked Elly’s song more, although I wasn’t all that fussed by either. Maybe Pedestal will grow on me over the coming months, but I’m not expecting much.

#eurovision #esc2024 #nf winner #czechia #it's a bit of a shame that my first national final winner review this year is so negative #ah well they can't all go my way #I never want to be mean but I also don't want to hold back on my honest opinion #still there are plenty more songs to come #not sure why the announcement was first thing this morning #no issue with it I guess it's just been a slightly messy national final #and it meant that I had to do a full day of work before I could get home and do this write up #the joys of being an adult...

[raylazuko]

So I listened to every Eurovision 2024 song and here are my rankings and reviews!

1. Slovenia: Veronika-Raiven 10/10

Holy shit, my jaw is on the floor! This is easily my favorite song this year with only Mustii coming close. This girl’s voice is insane. I am obsessed with dark songs and…this climax. It’s actually insane. The background vocals had me climbing up the walls, this is INSANE. I JUST WISH THE SONG WAS LONGER! It’s so good that my only complaint is wanting more of it!

2. Belgium: Before the Party’s Over-Mustii 10/10

Holy shit, this is incredible! I have a strong affinity for dark pop and songs that build in intensity over time. It starts out as a fairly by the numbers ballad but gains a lot of momentum. Mustii has incredible vocals and the atmosphere is insane. The lyrics aren’t anything special but the delivery and mood of the song more than makes up for it. That final chorus with the choir legitimately gives me chills.

3. Norway: Ulveham-Gåte 10/10

Okay, this is incredible. Mixing old Norse folk songs with a hard rock vibe is excellent and the vocals are incredible! This is the perfect blend of beautifully traditional and kickass! This is another band I’ll definitely be checking out after this!

4. Switzerland: The Code-Nemo 10/10

Seeing a nonbinary artist making a song that’s blatantly about queer joy makes me absolutely thrilled, and the blend of rap and opera is insane. Their vocals are absolutely insane and I really hope this wins.

5. San Marino: 11:11-Megara 10/10

This is my first introduction to Megara and wow, I’m obsessed lol. I love hard rock especially female-fronted and I’ll definitely be checking this band out. This is just a really kickass hard rock banger with some electronic elements! There’s not much else to say expect the flamenco breakdown was really cool and actually fits well.

6. Latvia: Hollow-Dons 10/10

Yeah, I love dark stuff with this kind of vibe, it’s right up my alley. (Daylight and Arcade do this sound BADLY) this song does it WELL and I give a lot of credit to Dons for this insane performance. I could see this shrinking on me but for now, it’s hitting the spot! Anthemic shit like this is my cup of tea!

7. Serbia: Ramonda-Teya Dora 10/10

As far as ballads go, this is about as perfect as you can get. Teya’s voice is gorgeous, and the instrumental is perfectly spare leading up to a big crescendo. The final chorus gives me chills with the incredible layered vocals.

8. Czechia: Pedestal-Aiko 9.5/10

We love pop punk girlies! This song is so fun. It’s a great kickass self empowerment anthem about not needing no man! I’m a big fan of this sound and Aiko has a nice voice. The only reason it’s not a 10 is because I find the song a bit short.

9. Luxembourg: Fighter-TALI 9.5/10

Welcome back, Luxembourg! This is pretty much a perfect pop song and totally how you do a pop song lol. It’s catchy without being annoying, has all the production elements in the right place, a mix of languages, and a great performance by TALI. This one won’t get out of my head!

10. Croatia: Rim Tim Tagi Dim-Baby Lasagna 9/10

This song is very fun and peak Eurovision to me. The energy reminds me a lot of Kaarija last year. It’s extremely campy while still sounding pretty awesome and having that hard rock chorus. The anxiety of growing up and moving out is real so even if the lyrics are cheesy I enjoy them quite a bit. It’s just a bit cheesy for me to listen to regularly but it is such a banger.

11. Poland: Grito-iolanda 9/10

I’m not much for ballads but this one has some nice swell to it and a really pleasant melody as well as great vocals! What’s not to love?

12. Finland: No Rules!-Windows95Man 9/10

As goofy as this is, I can’t help but love it. It puts a huge smile on my face and it has a nice positive message. Also the whole Windows95 aesthetic is awesome lol.

13. Ireland: Doomsday Blue-Bambie Thug 9/10

Okay, yeah, thanks for the discovery! This gives me BIG Ashnikko and TeZAtalks vibes and I am here for it. Also more nonbinary representation! Definitely the most unique song of the year! I love the aggro rap and hard rock juxtaposed with the acoustic chorus. Very cool!

14. Estonia: 5MINUST, Puuluup-(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi 8.5/10

This title is way too long lol. I had no idea how to rank this, but yeah, this is fun and just embodies Eurovision for me! It’s such a bop!

15. Albania: TiTAN-Besa 8.5/10

I love everything about this from Besa’s vocals to the anthemic mood, to the handclaps to the synth explosion of the final chorus. My only problem is how the first part of the song is kind of boring and the lyrics are woefully generic.

16. Azerbaijan: Özünle Apar-Fahree, İlkin Dovletov 8/10

This song is really gorgeous. The vocals are beautiful, it has a relaxing ethnic vibe, I love the stings and backing vocals, and this definitely strikes me as a unique entry!

17. Moldova: The Middle-Natalia Barbu 8/10

I’m not really sure why people hate this one. It’s really unique and has a great orchestral vibe to it. Sure, the lyrics are generic, but the vocals are great and I love the combination of the more orchestral vibe and the dance beat. It’s a really nice vibe!

18. Australia: One Mikali (One Blood)-Electric Fields 8/10

I like this one a lot. It has a nice message and a really great crowd pleaser vibe. The vocals are great and it’s an electronic sound with traditional and ethnic elements. I really love the synth riff, that’s some delicious stuff. I just find it a bit cheesy to be one of my top choices.

19. France: Mon Amor-Slimane 8/10

I’m not usually much for ballads, and this isn’t something I’d listen to all that often, but this man has some pipes and his vocals absolutely carry this song.

20. Italy: La Noia-Angelina Mango 8/10

This is a really fun ethnic song with good vocals and a nice instrumental that makes me want to dance. I like these type of songs a lot.

21. Cyrpus: Liar-Silia Kapsis 8/10

This one is strange for me, since it has tropical house elements and is extremely generic which I both hate. This kind of reminds me of Solo from last year, but better. Idk what it is about this girl and the song but it’s so catchy and I have a lot of fun with this despite its shortcomings.

22. Armenia: Jako-Ladanavia 8/10

This is probably the most ethnic sounding song on the list and I find it to be quite repetitive. This seems more like a novelty song than one I’d listen to a lot, but I can’t deny how fun and upbeat it is! This is a very unique entry in the lineup!

23. Greece: ZARI-Marina Satti 8/10

I was not feeling this at first, but it’s really grown on me. It’s incredibly infectious. Yes, it can get annoying after a while, but I listen to a lot of noisy music so I’m sort of immune. I like the ethnic sound and party vibe but I do think it has the potential to shrink on me really fast.

24. Malta: Loop-Sara Bonnici 8/10

This is a really solid and fun pop song with nice vocals, there’s not much else to say about it!

25. Georgia: Firefighter-Nutsa 7.5/10

I really wish I liked this more. Iru was absoltuely robbed last year and I can’t help but feel that this one also has very generic lyrics and messy production. However Nutsa is a good perfomer and I really like the “I see it in the air” chanting and the song has a nice build to the chorus. Considering I listen to a lot of K-pop with similarly messy production, this doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it would for some.

26. Netherlands: Europapa-Joost 7/10

This one has grown on me a lot since I first heard it. It kind gives me similar catchy energy to “Who the Hell is Edgar” from last year and it’s a fun song about Europe with a fun beat that I enjoy.

27. Ukraine: Teresa & Maria-aloyna aloyna, Jerry Heil 7/10

I think this song has a great message and an absolutely gorgeous chorus, however I find the rap to be very out of place and it sounds like an entirely different song to me and really takes me out of the experience.

28. United Kingdom: Dizzy-Olly Alexander 6.5/10

This is one that I can see a lot of people liking, and it isn’t bad! It’s not a nice chill electronic vibe and I wouldn’t turn it off if it came on. I just don’t find it all that interesting, sorry!

29. Austria: We Will Rave-Kaleen 6.5/10

Austria went with 00s eurodance this year and the song is pretty decent. The title is certainly accurate as this would go off hard at a rave. I think it will be a crowd favorite. I don’t find the vocals to be that interesting and the song is incredibly repetitive, however.

30. Poland: The Tower-LUNA 6/10

This one is also really boring for me. It’s a nice synthpop song, but not much else. It’s not dark or exciting enough for me to latch onto. Also LUNA’s vocals remind me of Halsey which is cool I guess.

31. Germany: Always on the Run-ISAAK 6/10

This feels like a very generic Imagine Dragons-type song. ISAAK has a good voice and the song is very anthemic and uplifting, but I don’t like how generic the lyrics and melody are.

32. Denmark: SAND-Saba 6/10

Another woefully generic but well-produced entry. Saba’s vocals are quite good, but yeah, it can’t get much more generic than this.

33. Sweden: Unforgettable:-Marcus & Martinus 5.5/10

I unfortunately find this song very forgettable. It’s just generic evil woman lyrics, the vocals aren’t anything special, and while the beat is fun, there’s just not much to come back to.

34. Spain: ZORRA-Nebulossa 5/10

This song sounds like early 2010s schlock and is just not that well produced and the performer doesn’t do much to elevate it.

35. Lithuania: Luktelk-Silvester Belt 5/10

This one is just pretty generic to me. I could see why people like it or find it fun, but I’m not getting much from this.

36. Iceland: Scared of Heights-Hera Björk 4/10

Man, this is so generic. I don’t even know what to say other than that this sounds like a 2009 song and that’s not a compliment. Yes her voice is good, but you can’t get more generic than this shit.

#eurovision #eurovison song contest #eurovision 2024 #ranking #song review

[euroquision]

PRODUCTION UPDATES//Eurovision 2024: In Review!

Hey loves!! Firstly, thank you to everyone who has watched/shared my video essay. I couldn't have had even half the impact I've had without your help, kindness, and thoughtfulness. Thank y'all for being here and plz keep up all efforts you've got to support a Free Palestine.

Next, onto business details! I'm super duper happy to share with y'all my April Production Schedule! More details in my wonderful lil graphic:

The online article for April is gonna be the Eurovision 2024: In Review, but don't worry, my articles every other month aren't gonna be so enormous I publish them in little chunks, lol.

So if you're already a Patreon member, the first batch of reviews are there for you to read! I hope you enjoy my comments, designs, and scores! The rest will be publicly shared everywhere on Wed. and Sat.

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON!

#eurovision #esc #eurovision song contest #eurovision 2024 #free palestine #free gaza #palestine #ebu #esc 2024 #in review #production schedule #update #reviews

[lageografiademicamino]

UMK 2023 Song Review - Käärijä

The hype is very real around Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the Finnish national selection for Eurovision and the race to Liverpool continues with ..... I don’t know what this is actually! 

Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha 

Most of Finns had never heard of Käärijä before the artist release of UMK23 a month back. Including me. So zero expectations. I didn’t know the language he was gonna perform, I maybe expected some dancy sounding tune based on the title. However, he described his song that “this track combines all three big Finnish loves together: party, pop and heavy music”. Should have known something crazy will be coming up ever since I read he’s a ESC Verka Serduschka fan (Ukraine 2007).  

Cha Cha Cha gets your attention from the first second untill the last one. You know right away that you have something in here. The song kind of starts with rap, there’s techno sounds also, the darkness reminds me of Hatari (Iceland 2019) the chorus is aggressive almost violent but catchy and memorable as hell. The music video is a perfect fit to this! Be prepared to be knocked out by some Cha Cha Cha!

There’s no one like this in UMK or in Eurovision. Then when you think you’re figured out the song everything turns upside down and the song becomes this pop-folk banger. I can hear Verka here actually! A definite late night dancefloor hit in a Finnish bar! The ending is explosive, just pure fireworks and you’re like WTF did I just hear. 

There’s a wide selection of genres here, just take your pick while trying to put this guy into one box.

Käärijä likes to confuse people and traditional sounds aren’t his thing. This is definitely clear! Cha Cha Cha will surely test boundaries, push some people away as it will cheer up and encourage others. This will surely cause a reaction and sometimes that’s all it’s needed from a decent hit and Eurovision song. In the end lovers count more than the haters. This is by far the most played and watched UMK entry this year in all the platforms. Foreigner ESC bloggers have been mostly excited about this and highlighting how Finnish language fits these hard sounds perfectly. 

I can definitely see this advancing to ESC (I don’t think even a bad UMK staging might stop people from voting for this!) and put my money on it that Europeans will this time around understand a piece of Finnish crazyness! 

What do you think of the fifth UMK23 track and would you vote for Käärijä’s Cha Cha Cha to go all the way to Liverpool? UMK final takes place on February 25th!

#UMK2023 #uudenmusiikinkilpailu #uuden musiikin kilpailu #eurovision #Eurovison Song Contest #eurovisionsongcontest #euroviisut #eurovision 2023 #songreview #song review #yle #Finnish Music #finnish #finland #Suomi

[arabela25]

Duje, Albina & Familja Kelmendi - Festivali i Këngës | Albania, Eurovision Song Contest 2023

#eurovision #eurovision 2023 #esc #albania #albina & familja kelmendi #albania '23 #nfs 2023 #these have been sitting unfinished for a couple of weeks #but I decided to put the effort and complete them today cause we're getting a new song tonight!! how fun!! #and I have heard nothing of the belgian songs (I do remember the initial reviews weren't very good) #anyway back to albania/albina #I haven't delved into their story but I guess main lady there is albina and she's surrounded by her parents and her siblings and or in-laws #and or maybe cousins idk #and albina is a pro #she's giving it her all #and the family is doing their best too but they're not as experienced #they seem nervous and some keep glancing to the side #and listen I get it. I'd probably be like that too

[recliningpair]

We cover Eurovision 2023, Sprung (Prime), The Great (Prime) and The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari (Netflix).

There's a musical quiz, and Ben chronicles the woes of Acme glue and rubber roofs.

So come in, warm yourself by our fires and throw off the shackles and stresses of modern living.

#podcast #podcasters #podcasting #british humour #eurovision #eurovision 2023 #eurovision song contest #the great hulu #catherine the great #elle fanning #sprung #mental health #autism #autistic adult #tv review #tv shows

[escmemesandstuff]

Song Review: Australia

Good evening Europe and good early morning(?) Australia.

Voyager - Promise

Personal opinion: Voyager were my favourite to win Australia Decides last year, so I was excited to see them as this year’s representant! This song might not be as good as Dreamer, but I love it nevertheless. It ticks all the boxes of a great rock entry with its explosive chorus, catchy melody and amazing instruments. It also has the same mixture of electronic and heavy sounds that made me love their last entry. Some people might find the song a little bit too messy because of the combination of genres, but I just love the way it keeps surprising the listener with its many twists and turns. Clearly not a formulaic song from Australia!

Prediction: This will easily qualify. We know that rock entries aren’t always guaranteed finalists (see Bulgaria last year), but this song is a strong representative of its genre and will surely catch the attention of those viewers that seek something heavier than the usual europop. Plus, we know that the band can pull off a great performance, so there’s no need to worry in that regard, either. A final top ten placing could be in the cards.

#eurovision #eurovision 2023 #esc 2023 #esc australia #escmemes reviews #honestly this song is so good and i dont understand why the fandom is being so negative #then again that might be just twitter fans #i see a lot of positive comments on youtube #finns and Norwegians on facebook are also loving it #but then again thats a given

[bencgtravels]

My Top 10 Songs of 2022 - #1 - MARO - "Saudade, Saudade"

#1 - MARO - "Saudade, Saudade"

Portugal's 2022 Eurovision entry. My words at the time were... "just when I think I've gotten bored of this contest, it produces a song so far up my street, it's banging on my own front door!" A gorgeous sun-kissed guitar sound with a mixture of English and Portuguese lyrics about the loss of her grandfather during the pandemic - while also managing to pull off some nation branding in the title.

'Saudade' is an untranslatable Portuguese word meaning something like... a sense of longing for and missing the past or something that's been lost, being sad that something is gone, while still being happy you ever had it to begin with.

I added an unplugged performance of the song below, which I wholly recommend for you to get the true feeling of this song beyond the Eurovision stage.

#youtube #music #top 10 songs #songs of the year #year in review #2022 in review #eurovision #eurovision song contest #portugal #maro #saudade #saudade saudade #portuguese music #world music #singer songwriter

[escinsight]

Eurovision Insight Podcast: Our Final Daily Pod From Liverpool, Sunday 14th May

Eurovision Insight Podcast: Our Final Daily Pod From Liverpool, Sunday 14th May

That was the Eurovision that was. As always, so many points have been brought up by the Contest to discuss over the summer. Before that, its time for our traditional epilogue podcast recorded as the team leaves the host city behind and heads back to what some call ‘real life’. Eurovision Insight Podcast: Our Final Daily Pod From Liverpool, Sunday 14th May Fin Ross Russell is joined by the O.G.…

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#epilogue #esc #eurovision song contest #käärijä #Liverpool #loreen #mae muller #Podcast #review

[thateurosite]

🏳️‍🌈Book Review: Fireworks or feeling? A holistic view of Eurovision in Catherynne Valente's "Space Opera"

🏳️‍🌈 To close out Pride Month on That Eurovision Site, Shiloh reviews Catherynne Valente's "Space Opera", which takes #Eurovision to the stars--and speaks some truth about the contest along the way.

It should come as no surprise to Eurovision fans that there have been books written about the contest–especially after the 2019 movie. However, maybe not everyone has heard of Catherynne Valente’s Space Opera, her 2018 science fiction novel that takes Eurovision out of this world. Beware, spoilers below! Space Opera was recommended to me by a friend after the 2021 contest, following a discussion…

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#book review #catherynne valente #editorial #esc #eurovision #eurovision song contest #space opera

[tsatsuma69]

EUROVISON SEMI FINALS PT.2:

SPAIN 5/10:

strong start ngl

bb them boots slay the house down

pandering to me (i <3 red)

fun lil dancy dance :)

5/10

ARMENIA 3/10:

straight people? at eurovison?? ew.

she works hard, smoke machine works harder

ngl bored me

3/10

DENMARK 3/10:

there so many twinks this year wtf

its giving charlie from heartstopper

mid tier pop song

3/10

ESTONIA 2/10:

hehehoho magic piano :P

first ballad of the night

u bore me

2/10

CYPRUS 2/10:

yass howl for be bb

!!MUSTACHE ALERT!!

get wet, coward 💦

mid at best tho

2/10

ROMANIA 4/10:

GUITAR PENIS YEEEEEEAAAAAAH !!!!

get ur knees out, slut

loving the smocks

bbgorl has a growl i like it

!YES!CHEST!OUT!

oil him up ;)

song was. decent

4/10

GREECE 1/10

okay twink steve irwin, sing for me

no his vibes rancid actually

the beige, straight, version of romania

greece bb step up ur game u always dissapoint me

1/10

SLOVENIA 6/10:

okay discount harry styles

ooh song is fun would have done great in 2014

DONT LICK THE CAMERA

if u cloned harry styles X5 and it got worse each time youd get this act

not bad

not winners

6/10

SAN MARINO 6/10:

bbgorl went SO hard with stripper last year what do u have for me

HELLO GLITTER DILF

does not even come close to last year but. not bad

fun song + good vocals

6/10

BELGIUM 6/10:

ngl not off to a great start bestie what is that hat ????

i take back my slander, slay

funky + dancable

could go harder

catchy tho

YES VOGUE <3

6/10

ICELAND 7/10:

oh god please dont be bad

!!!LETS GO LESBIANS!!!

did she just do a flip

empowering :)

love her vibes

damn she put her whole pussy into that

7/10

ALBANIA 8/10:

ALBANIA BROUGHT THE DRAMA

oh that outfit slays

theyre having a wonderful time :)

this song goes hard

adore the strings mixed with electric guitar

!!FIRE!!

8/10

UK 3/10:

its ….okay

chorus could have gone way harder

visuals are fun i guess

eurovison has me so unpatriotic

(not that im otherwise patriot fuck facist terf island)

mid as usual, mid as expected

did she just meow? slay.

3/10

AUSTRALIA 8/10:

interesting start

!!!!SHOULDERPADALERT!!!!

'stralia getting heavy with it <3

yes flirt with the camera

wish they would have screamed more

the guitarist is slaying it

WAIT OH MY GOD THEYVE GOT A KEYTAR

8/10 (mostly bc keytar)

UKRAINE 5/10:

phantom of the opera vibes?

okay no

wait kinda? hear me out

oh he looks so slay tho

sexy robot :)

solidly good song 💛

but not stand out for me

5/10

GEORGIA 7/10:

sprinting start babes goddamn

drums go hard

background is giving human centipede poster vibes …. why is this a running theme this year

ooh this is fuuun tho

7/10

POLAND 0/10:

nepo baby cheat

jann was fucking robbed

where is twink supreme ??? :(

"what goes around comes around"? sure fucking hope it does >:(

0/10 nul points

AUSTRIA 9/10:

i.fucking.love.this.

THIS IS SO CAMP

edgar slayllan poe✨

outfits? slay.

visuals? slay.

go austria giving us the most random shit i love it

now THIS is eurovision

they got silly with it :3

9/10

LITHUANIA 3/10:

please no dont end with a fucking ballad

mm still boring for eurovison

like its not a bad song but. mid

was that it???

3/10

best: Austria

worst: Poland

blanllad count: ugh

who made it thru:

Albania 🔥

Cyprus :/

Estonia

Belgium

Austria :3

Lithuania

Poland >:(

Australia :)

Armenia

Slovenia <3

final thoughts:

semi bc thats as hard as most of these songs went

JANN WAS ROBBED!!! ROBBEDDD!!!!!!

like fr why was this round so mid????

frothing at the mouth for the final >:)

#eurovision #eurovision 2023 #eurovision song contest #esc 2023 #eurovision review #teamjann #jann #esc semi 2

[whenitsdarkweilluminate]

Vienna 2015 – Grand Final

Host: Austria Slogan: “Building Bridges” Participants: 40 Voting method: 12-point system (50/50 system - combined) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 5 + host + AUSTRALIA Winner: Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes Country: Sweden Points: 365 (78.0% of highest score possible) Language: English General Overview: It's the 60th edition of Eurovision! Which marks the end of an era – the last contest to use the old points system (ie. where each country's jury and televote points were combined into a single aggregate score). It's also the longest Grand Final up to this point, with a run time of almost exactly 4 hours. The preceding years were roughly 30 minutes shorter. And it's remained around the 4-hour mark to this day. Needless to say, I'm pretty worn out by the end of it. Indeed, this is a long opening sequence. It starts with the Vienna Philharmonic in an outdoor venue; culminating in a group of people holding torches in a circle. Then, the rainbow blobbed infrastructure reappears. Followed by an edit of Conchita's winning moment and a long montage of various local activities. After all that, we transition to the live stage, where a violinist leads Austria's two winning songs. The wall opens up to reveal an orchestra, just like in the semi-final. Soon after, Conchita emerges from the floor, looking like a giant. She performs the theme song “Building Bridges”, where the 3 hosts arrive to “sing” along. As well as a children's choir and rapper Left Boy. The song changes to a hip-hop beat for the latter. Finally, the hosts lead the Parade of Nations. But wait, there's still a montage of people “transferring” objects or people between split screens, set to the soundtrack of “What If” (Russia 2013). That has not aged well. The presenters are Arabella Kiesbauer, Mirjam Weichselbraun and Alice Tumler. The dialogue is very scripted, but they're a likeable trio. The stage consists of the usual circular platform with an LED screen behind it. But with an additional archway constructed from numerous horizontal light tubes. There's also a collection of orbs hanging from the ceiling that move up and down in wave patterns. The Green Room is a raised platform in the back, with a walkway cutting through the audience that connects it to the stage. The postcards start with the artists greeting the camera, while a heartbeat pounds. This is followed by footage of the artists receiving a package in their home countries. They look at the gift, then look upwards to see someone greeting them and suddenly they're in Austria. They then partake in a local activity. The sequence concludes with the artists displayed on a billboard.

The interval act is the Percussive Planet Ensemble, which (unsurprisingly) features a wide variety of percussion. During which, the artists make heart shapes in the Green Room. There's also people holding art pieces on their heads and a classical choir joining in. Later on, Conchita performs the inspirational ballad “You Are Unstopped” and the piano house number “Firestorm”. She is a superstar! There's also a montage of winner reaction moments. The results are very top-heavy this year. Going by percentages, 2015 has the strongest top 3 of the “12-point era”. And 10th place only received 53 points. I'm guessing the Grand Final suffered from ballad fatigue. The entire 2nd half is basically slower tempo songs. The voting graphics show a nighttime globe that “builds bridges” to Vienna; with Vienna written in that country's language (although not the country name itself). The voting procedure is a messy one. Austria lost connection to three countries (Portugal, Estonia and Georgia), who were called back at the end. But what's truly surreal to re-watch in 2022 is... how Russia was leading for so long. It honestly looked like they had won it. And the audience was NOT here for it, despite the “anti-booing technology”. Conchita was even defending Polina in the Green Room. The crowd went NUTS when Sweden finally overtook on country #27. And the Russian spokesperson jokingly giving 12 points to his own country did not go over well. Also of note: the winner was announced early again. Slovenia: Maraaya - Here for You France: Lisa Angell - N'oubliez pas Another serious message song from 2015. “N'oubliez pas” commemorates the 100th anniversary of WWI, which resulted in nearly 2 million French people losing their lives. In the song, Lisa describes what it must've felt like at the time. To have your entire sense of security and peaceful lifestyle uprooted. She narrates about a village that was “erased from the maps and memories”. It was once a welcoming place with “children laughing” and “harvest celebrations”. But then the invading forces arrived with large numbers and weapons. The “words of hatred” line could apply to WWII as well. Lisa's message is “don't forget” about history. In the chorus, she declares “I am there” to show perseverance. They will rebuild. The instrumental starts very faint, with the guitar, piano and strings. It's a grieving and disheartening mood; as if standing in the rubble aftermath, too numb to speak. While the screen displays destroyed buildings and white doves. The piano emerges more in the first chorus. While the drums join in the second verse. And Lisa's vocals intensify from the second chorus. She sounds very passionate and emotional; particularly during the invading forces stanza. The strings become more pronounced too. For the final stanza, four marching band drummers come on stage (with plenty more on screen as the village rebirths). It's such a dreary song though, and the melody isn't that instant. Israel: Nadav Guedj - Golden Boy This needed to be 2nd half lol. Estonia: Elina Born and Stig Rästa - Goodbye to Yesterday United Kingdom: Electro Velvet - Still in Love with You And another mixed gender duet from 2015. Boy was this a low point for the UK. A campy entry that feels cynical, outdated and out of touch. The song combines 1920s Vaudeville with a rave. There's swinging violins, with a glitchy, techno soup beat attached that doesn't really belong. While the old-timey stage design switches to neon lights at times. There's also break dancing and commands for us to dance. In the song, the duo exchanges dialogue. Alex warns Bianca about her vacation and she responds to calm his worries. He cautions about wrong trains, old plains, and nasty diseases; while she tells him to take his medication. Alex is also worried of other suitors. She assures she'll be faithful. He tells her to not stay out late or drink too much. She says he needs to trust her. And she flicks her finger at him when saying the song title (to put him in his place?) This guy sounds very insecure and controlling. He blames it on her being “gorgeous” (eye roll). Bianca doesn't sound annoyed by it, as the song goes for a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek tone. But it seems toxic. Otherwise, the song has a bouncy rhythm and the lyrics rhyme a lot. Especially that “-ize” stanza. Which is a bit silly. But the violins and the scatting are annoying. As are the “d-d-dance” / “everybody dance” / “oh yes” bits. Moreover, this entry seems like a parody or a joke. The smiles are too much. Armenia: Genealogy - Face the Shadow Lithuania: Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila - This Time The kiss went on too long and they missed their cue. And that part is used in the recap... Serbia: Bojana Stamenov - Beauty Never Lies Norway: Mørland and Debrah Scarlett - A Monster Like Me Sweden: Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes (winner review below) Cyprus: John Karayiannis - One Thing I Should Have Done RIP with this running order slot. Australia: Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again The top 5 placement seems driven by the hype of their debut. And by being an energetic song amongst the ballads. So Australia selects one of their biggest acts – Guy won the inaugural season of Australian Idol and he's topped the ARIA charts 6 times. “Tonight Again” is also a brass-heavy song right when “Uptown Funk” was everywhere. It starts with a moderately paced piano, as Guy suggests leaving behind your problems for tonight. The pre-chorus then escalates via the “do what you what you what you want” x3 build up + the horn yanks. While the chorus confidently struts forward in a free-flowing manner. It halts on the “forget tomorrow” bit; followed by an “oh ah oh” post-chorus from the backing. In the second verse, Guy mentions people judging this lifestyle. The title implies this avoidance is a cycle. But he's happy. For the bridge, the beat disappears then expands, as the pyro goes off and Guy ad libs. The performance ends with fireworks. On stage, there's a series of street lamps, while the screen shows a city street at night. It's like they're walking down it. The choreo is fluid too, with fist pumps, pointing, and Guy shuffling his legs. He's a professional performer who shows off his vigorous vocals. Which helps him sound eager. Overall, it's a slick entry with a catchy pre-chorus, and the horns keep things afloat. But it's kinda lacking in substance. Belgium: Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside Austria: The Makemakes - I Am Yours The first host entry to receive 0 points. Many of the upcoming ones will be towards the bottom of the scoreboard as well. Perhaps “I Am Yours” was too eccentric. The big gimmick is when singer Dodo lights the grand piano on fire midway through. Which could represent his burning passion. The song sounds like a 1970s rock ballad, similar to Elton John or Paul McCartney. The performance begins with a dark, shadowy stage. The verses are piano-driven, with a wistful and lonely atmosphere. The guitars and drums enter during the first chorus as the stage lights up. Said chorus has a rocking back-and-forth or fist-pounding rhythm, which conveys persistence. Dodo also changes to falsetto on the closing line. He gets scream-y towards the end too. In the song, Dodo says that if this person is willing to give him a second chance, he'll drop everything to be with them again. He's ready, willing, and able. The ball is in their court now. Each stanza also ends with the offer “anytime, any place, I’m yours”; as if it needs to be repeated. Otherwise, the “you're the one I belong to” hook is okay, and Dodo sounds sweet and committed. But this entry doesn't really stand out enough. The “oooooh” bridge is flat too. Greece: Maria Elena Kyriakou - One Last Breath Montenegro: Knez - Adio Germany: Ann Sophie - Black Smoke Germany started the 2010s with Lena and ended it with a bunch of bottom 2 placements. Including “nul points” this year. Although Ann Sophie didn't win the national final. That was Andreas Kümmert with “Heart of Stone” (he declined). Anyways, “Black Smoke” is a retro jazzy number filled with snapping percussion flicks, and a tickling piano riff. After the muffled intro, the instrumental stays pretty consistent. The drum rhythm is breezy for a break-up song. The bridge, meanwhile, is carried by the warm backing, followed by the song shying away and Ann releasing a big note. “Black Smoke” is about a relationship that should end. Ann notices her lover has changed. She tries to convince herself things are fine. But it's not worth forcing it. They can't even say the three words (“I love you”) anymore. The chorus surmises the situation by saying the “flame is running out” and all that's left is “black smoke”. It can't be rekindled. The lyrics are reasonable and the tone feels assured with her decision. Although the chorus sounds like a plea. The staging involves spotlights behind the singers and smoke puffs on screen. They also wear black outfits and Ann sings the first verse standing backwards for some reason. She has some sensual movements too. But the staging is kinda “meh” and the melody is so plain (“you said you'd never let me go”). Fun fact: Ella Eyre co-wrote this. Poland: Monika Kuszyńska - In the Name of Love Latvia: Aminata - Love Injected Romania: Voltaj - De la capăt Spain: Edurne - Amanecer Spain selects a... female ballad composed by Thomas G:son. But unlike 2012 and 2014, “Amanecer” fell short of the top 10. It probably suffered from ballad fatigue in the 2nd half. Still, the atmosphere is super melodramatic. The forlorn strings create an expansive soundscape. It's like a desolate desert or being consumed by sadness. The orchestra begins low-key and distressed. While the verse melody hangs on each line. The stage is a dark setting, featuring raindrops and water ripples on the floor. Edurne is concealed by a red cloak; sitting next to a passed out man. The drums and strings take over from the first chorus. And the drums punch hard from the second verse on like an unrelenting desire. Or endurance. Meanwhile, Edurne's long train flows in the wind. She also sheds a tear. Her train gets yanked off when the second chorus hits to reveal a sparkling white dress. She also holds her hands out (as if conjuring a spell) when singing the main hook. And there's an elaborate duo's dance routine during the instrumental break. The final chorus further adds thunderclaps. In the song, Edurne's lover left without knowing she loved them. And she feels very intense about wanting him to return. To “restore the dawn”. Overall, the staging is great, and the song is very atmospheric. But that “E-yeah E-YEAHHHH oh” hook, while instantly catchy, dominates things to the point of monotony. Hungary: Boggie - Wars for Nothing Georgia: Nina Sublatti - Warrior The infamous smoke machine malfunction. You can't even see her in the wide shots! Azerbaijan: Elnur Hüseynov - Hour of the Wolf Russia: Polina Gagarina - A Million Voices Albania: Elhaida Dani - I'm Alive The most underrated entry of 2015? Italy: Il Volo - Grande amore The song that held the televote record until 2022. If the juries had been more favourable towards Italy, they would've won. I didn't understand the massive hype 7 years ago, since classical opera has never been my thing. But the chorus is immensely powerful. It represents the “Great Love” you want to shout to the whole world. It's a glorious and overwhelming feeling. The song is about letting go of one's fears and reservations in confessing your feelings. The narrator has doubts; asking this person for reassurance that they'll never leave and only choose them. The build into the chorus is the biggest highlight though. The song begins more restrained. There's just a piano and a rising verse melody, set against a dark stage. The pre-chorus intensifies (the “Dimmi perché...” x3 bit) with the quick, jabbing percussion booms that approach and close in. While Piero unleashes an operatic vocal. The trio then yells “GRANDE AMORE” as the chorus explodes. The vocals bellow (“DIMMI CHE MAI”), as the drums steady the pace and the stage brightens up. It releases tension. The chorus ends with heavy strings. In the second pre-chorus, the trio rotates lines, with each one walking into the camera frame. Overall, II Volo are top class performers and vocalists. There's also Roman sculptures on screen. Fun fact: this song took 12 years to be picked up by any artist. The Winner: Sweden achieves their 6th victory; putting them one step away from Ireland's record. I imagine it's only a matter of time until they match or surpass it. “Heroes” is also the biggest winner of the 2010s, going by percentage of possible points. Although that's largely because of the juries. It had a 114-point lead(!!) over the runner-up in the jury vote (which was Latvia). Incidentally, this is the first time that the televote winner did not win the contest. The song redefines the term “hero” for the modern age (ie. “of our time”). Where we have personal “demons in our minds”, but we do our best. Which turns this into an anthem for the anti-heroes. Måns starts by explaining that he screwed up and he's avoiding punishment. That heroes are being eradicated. And he relays his father's advice about not dwelling on things. In the second verse, he says that modern heroes are greeted with crickets. That he inspires people (“I make worms turn into butterflies”). And he mentions his father's undying support. The song is an inspirational message directed to the listener. But the lyrics are so awkwardly phrased and trying too hard to sound deep. The “Sing it like a hummingbird” line doesn't make sense either, since I don't associate exclaiming an anthemic chorus with hummingbirds. Plus, Måns's words come off as self-important. The “What if I'm the only hero left” and the “butterflies” lines in particular. Like it's his duty to lead this message. The musicality is better than the lyrics though. The song was written by Joy Deb and Linnea Deb, who also composed “You” (Sweden 2013), “Monsters” (Finland 2018), “Adrenalina” (San Marino 2021) and “Voices” (Sweden 2021). It begins with a sawing guitar that's reminiscent of a Western film. It's been compared to David Guetta's “Lovers On The Sun” (which unofficially featured Avicii) – a huge hit in Europe the previous year. It signals an oncoming showdown; a scene of antiquated movie heroes. The first verse is also like a confession. The song then slowly builds into the chorus. Måns exclaims out loud with extended pauses, as the synths simmer below the surface. Soon enough, the drums escalate things, and the grinding synth swells leading to the drop. Finally, the main chorus envelops the arena. The second verse returns to the guitar, but this time the drums and the string pokes ease the pacing. While the second chorus jumps straight into the drop instead. Following this, there's a short (but effective) bridge. The backing repeats it underneath the final chorus to add an extra hook. The chorus sounds like a big anthem where the whole world could join in. And that “Hero-oh-ohs / oh-oh-ohs” hook is catchy. But... the way it stretches out one word makes it feel empty too. Otherwise, the staging is creative and innovative. It's a showcase of modern technology, where Måns interacts with a projection board as he “manipulates” the images. The stage is kept dark black for the illusion. He starts by siting on a bench. He then snaps his finger and a chalk outline kid appears. He slides over to make room on the bench, as the kid copies his movements. Following this, Måns conjures up a misty swirl that turns into a 3D rainfall effect. In the second verse, he motions that rainfall into a comet-like thing that he captures. He releases it; and it turns into butterfly wings behind him (matching the “butterfly” lyric). He then rotates the dots in a 3D motion during the “turn this world around” line. Afterwards, a school of chalk-outline kids appear on screen. They tilt in unison with Måns. He gives a fist-bump. And his heart glows red. The bridge also shows a chalk outline of Måns's face that morphs into his actual face. During the chorus, the stage lights flash in a frenzy, while he energetically bounces in the center. Måns brings insane charisma and star power to this performance. But it's to the point of self-indulgence with those smug smiles. Which is why I've never been able to love this entry. “Heroes” is not a bad winner at all - but it's not one I get that excited by. It's too calculated. It's not on the same level as “Euphoria” either. And the fact that Måns keeps reappearing at Eurovision year after year doesn't help. As for Melfest 2015, “Heroes” was very much a landslide winner there. The final also featured the first appearances of Jon Henrik Fjällgren and Mariette, who both placed top 3. Guilty pleasure icons Samir & Viktor also made their debut. Verdict: The very bottom of “B” Tier. My Ranking: Grand Final: 01. Latvia: Aminata - Love Injected 02. Estonia: Elina Born and Stig Rästa - Goodbye to Yesterday 03. Slovenia: Maraaya - Here for You 04. Belgium: Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside 05. Norway: Mørland and Debrah Scarlett - A Monster Like Me 06. Montenegro: Knez - Adio 07. Italy: Il Volo - Grande amore 08. Albania: Elhaida Dani - I'm Alive 09. Georgia: Nina Sublatti - Warrior 10. Australia: Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again 11. Serbia: Bojana Stamenov - Beauty Never Lies 12. Lithuania: Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila - This Time 13. Azerbaijan: Elnur Hüseynov - Hour of the Wolf 14. Sweden: Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes 15. Greece: Maria Elena Kyriakou - One Last Breath 16. Hungary: Boggie - Wars for Nothing 17. Spain: Edurne - Amanecer 18. Germany: Ann Sophie - Black Smoke 19. Israel: Nadav Guedj - Golden Boy 20. France: Lisa Angell - N'oubliez pas 21. Austria: The Makemakes - I Am Yours 22. Poland: Monika Kuszyńska - In the Name of Love 23. Romania: Voltaj - De la capăt 24. Cyprus: John Karayiannis - One Thing I Should Have Done 25. Armenia: Genealogy - Face the Shadow 26. United Kingdom: Electro Velvet - Still in Love with You Full Ranking: 01. Latvia: Aminata - Love Injected 02. Estonia: Elina Born and Stig Rästa - Goodbye to Yesterday 03. Slovenia: Maraaya - Here for You 04. Belgium: Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside 05. Norway: Mørland and Debrah Scarlett - A Monster Like Me 06. Montenegro: Knez - Adio 07. Italy: Il Volo - Grande amore 08. Albania: Elhaida Dani - I'm Alive 09. Georgia: Nina Sublatti - Warrior 10. Australia: Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again 11. Ireland: Molly Sterling - Playing with Numbers 12. Serbia: Bojana Stamenov - Beauty Never Lies 13. Lithuania: Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila - This Time 14. Azerbaijan: Elnur Hüseynov - Hour of the Wolf 15. Sweden: Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes 16. Greece: Maria Elena Kyriakou - One Last Breath 17. Hungary: Boggie - Wars for Nothing 18. Switzerland: Mélanie René - Time to Shine 19. Spain: Edurne - Amanecer 20. Moldova: Eduard Romanyuta - I Want Your Love 21. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Daniel Kajmakoski - Autumn Leaves 22. Germany: Ann Sophie - Black Smoke 23. Israel: Nadav Guedj - Golden Boy 24. Czech Republic: Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta - Hope Never Dies 25. Belarus: Uzari and Maimuna - Time 26. Malta: Amber - Warrior 27. France: Lisa Angell - N'oubliez pas 28. Iceland: Maria Olafs - Unbroken 29. Austria: The Makemakes - I Am Yours 30. Portugal: Leonor Andrade - Há um mar que nos separa 31. Poland: Monika Kuszyńska - In the Name of Love 32. Romania: Voltaj - De la capăt 33. Cyprus: John Karayiannis - One Thing I Should Have Done 34. Denmark: Anti Social Media - The Way You Are 35. Netherlands: Trijntje Oosterhuis - Walk Along 36. Armenia: Genealogy - Face the Shadow 37. United Kingdom: Electro Velvet - Still in Love with You 38. Finland: Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät - Aina mun pitää 39. San Marino: Anita Simoncini and Michele Perniola - Chain of Lights “S” Tier: “Euphoria”, “Fairytale”, “My Number One” “A” Tier: “Every Way That I Can”, “Only Teardrops”, “Wild Dances”, “Rise Like a Phoenix”, “Hard Rock Hallelujah”, “Satellite” “B” Tier: “Molitva”, “Heroes” “C” Tier: “Fly On The Wings Of Love”, “I Wanna” “D” Tier: “Everybody”, “Believe”, “Running Scared” “F” Tier: none!

#eurovision review #eurovision 2015 #eurovision song contest

[rapha-reads]

EUROVISION - J-4 !!! GET READY FOR MAY 10th !

(And remember to block the tags if you don't want to get flooded by us crazy Europeans. Gay Christmas is coming.)

Previously on "let's rate the ESC 2022 songs"...

Part 1: Spain, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway

Part 2: Poland, San Marino, Finland, Estonia, Netherlands

Part 3: Albania, Montenegro, Germany, Australia, Denmark

Part 4: Serbia, Ireland, Romania, Switzerland and Moldovia

Part 5: Belgium, UK, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Austria

Part 6: Slovenia, France, Croatia, Greece and Sweden

Part 7: Portugal, Israel, Malta, Iceland and Cyprus

We are now at the last part of this two-month long meandering musical rambling with : Georgia, Armenia, Czech Republic and Azerbaijan.

Georgia : Circus Mircus, Lock Me In

OOooooooh, Mama! Right off the bat, great band name, great song name, and those VIBES. Immaculate. You know these guys went craaazy in lockdown and haven't recovered from it yet.

Love the aesthetic of the cover, they might be amazing live on the big stage.

Pros: immaculate vibes, relatable lyrics. Cons: no live video and it's all in English. Overall: 8/10.

Armenia : Rosa Linn, Snap

Nice country folk vibe, with the finger snapping sound effects. For a power ballad, it's a very nice song. Sadly, you are so good that you belong on an Indie/Alt playlist on Spotify, not the Eurovision big stage.

Pros: really nice voice, really nice folk/indie music. Cons: too neat, in English, not very original. Overall: 7/10.

Czech Republic : We Are Domi, Lights Off

Electro sound like that makes me miss nightclubs... Also the video is cool, very sci-fi/dystopia, very relatable.

Pros: electro, relatable, makes me wanna dance. Cons: in English, and not exactly innovating. Overall: 8/10.

Azerbaijan : Nadir Rustamli, Fade To Black

Oh, COME ON. We had the absolutely brilliant Efendi last year, and this is what you send this year? I expected better from you, Azerbaijan. You usually bring the fire, this is just a sad ballad. I mean, the song is objectively good, and I'll definitely like it in the dead of winter when depression hits, but not right now.

Pros: good voice, objectively good song. Cons: another ballad, yey, as if that's what's missing. Overall: ... okay, for the last one I'll be nice, 7/10.

Well, guys, we did it! So many great picks this year, I cannot wait to see everyone on the big stage! Let's hope there are some burning pianos this year.

I'll make a recap/score table of all my reviews on the eve of the first semi-final.

#eurovision #esc #eurovision song contest #eurovision 2022 #esc 2022 #song review #georgia #armenia #czech republic #azerbaijan #my old followers: you know the drill #my new followers: be warned i go completely raving mad on esc night and post 100+ posts in two hours #so if you do not care for eurovision and do not want your dash to be spammed - block the tags now #rapha talks

[lageografiademicamino]

UMK 2023 Song Review - Benjamin

The hype is very real around Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the Finnish national selection for Eurovision and the race to Liverpool continues with another banger! 

Benjamin - Hoida Mut

Benjamin is a fairly well known popstar in Finland who has released hit songs mostly in English and now quite recently switched back to his native Finnish. He also made a name to himself by winning Dancing with the Stars last year. He is now competing in UMK with his song Hoida Mut (do me). 

UMK apparently is something he’s been eager to do for a while but has felt the Finnish music industry as less ESC-friendly so he’s pushed his participation for years. He’s being seen now as the main competitor for another UMK23 artist Robin who more or less represents the same genre as him. 

Benjamin’s 80′s disco pop tune Hoida Mut is an erotic, solid banger which he wishes to break some of the male sexual stereotypes by singing about surrendering to someone. Despite of the 80′s vibes in here which have been compared to Weekend, the song sounds fresh and current. 

The lyrics are hot and steamy and so is the video. Benjamin’s dance moves come accross definitely and there are some very high expectations now to be met with his live performance in UMK final on February 25th. I don’t think of him as much of a vocalist though but the song fits perfectly for his voice and vocal capacity. I hope he’ll be able to execute this well vocally too when on stage.  

Hoida Mut is one of the four UMK23 entries in FINNISH this year. As Finnish I cannot imagine how the language sounds like for a foreigner but the international reactions have been utterly positive. If this wins the ticket to Liverpool, I really hope and pray they won’t be changing the language. There are a few English verses in here and they feel natural and on spot. 

This is catchy as hell and might be on the road to become the next Ram Pam Pam (UMK22). Even without winning UMK the publicity, visibility he is receiving will surely lift him to hights of the Finnish pop music scene. Out of all the seven UMK23 entries, this is probably what I enjoy listening the most. I’m defintely hooked. However, the song offers a lot of foreplay but does it actually get to the climax? They could have added a trick or two in here to spice up the things even more (musically I mean!). Anyway, in a another ESC selection, Finnish or elsewhere, in 2023 or before - this could win the whole lot!

What do you think of the second UMK23 track and would you vote Benjamin’s Hoida Mut to go all the way to Liverpool? UMK final takes place on February 25th!

#uudenmusiikinkilpailu #uuden musiikin kilpailu #umk #umk23 #umk2023 #eurovision #Eurovison Song Contest #eurovision2023 #eurovision 2023 #euroviisut #benjamin #yle areena #yle #finland #finnish #finnish music #song review #review