Review: Bulgaria | Intelligent Music Project | Intention

 

Bulgaria

Artist: Intelligent Music Project

Song: Intention

Bulgaria managed to beat Albania to the punch this year by becoming the first nation to announce its entry for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest. The Intelligent Music Project will perform the song Intention in the hope that it will return the country to the Top Five for the first time since 2017.  

If last year's winner is anything to go by, to excel at Eurovision you need to stand out from the crowd through either sound or visuals, but ideally both. Måneskin had each in spades, along with a kind of undefinable charisma and passion. Bulgaria's supergroup follows the Italians' rock path although they veer off in a more conventional direction with a perfectly acceptable slice of classic rock that wouldn't sound out of place circa 1981.   

Intention is constructed very much in a way one might have expected a single release from Rainbow or Whitesnake back in the day. Some crashing guitars, thumping drums and a raspy lead singer, this time in the form of the seasoned Ronnie Romero who has enjoyed time with the aforementioned Rainbow. 

While one can't fault the professionalism and undoubted experience of the group, in many ways the track sounds out of place for a Eurovision song, although many could have said the same thing about Måneskin's offering. By comparison, though, it doesn't feel as if it ticks all of the required contemporary/modern boxes, instead appealing to the more mature "Dad" vote.

 

While the power of Zitti e buoni felt like a metaphorical fist to the stomach, Intention feels more of a stern slap on the wrist. Not as edgy nor as gritty. Intelligent Music Project has proven skills, both musically and vocally, but it's fair to say that this entry may struggle to gain universal appeal.

What do you think?