Eurovision 2019: Abbreviated Song Reviews

Armenia  

Srbuk: Walking Out 

Strong chorus, weaker middle section. Srbuk gives a dynamic performance. Likely to be one of the casualties from semi-final 2, though.

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Austria

Pænda: Limits

Kate Bush meets Ellie Goulding. In any other environment, this would do well - but the Eurovision Song Contest doesn't feel like its natural home. Perhaps too delicate for the competition and another entry that could fail to qualify.

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Azerbaijan

Chingiz: Truth

Contemporary, catchy and radio-friendly. Combines ethnic flavours with modern Western sounds. Likely to qualify easily and, if there's any justice, climb high on the left-hand side of the scoreboard.

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Belarus

Zena: Like It

Typical Euro dance-pop delivered by a pretty young singer and which should bring the stadium to life in Tel Aviv. Whether that will translate to enough votes to allow it to qualify is debatable. Generic Eurovision fodder, though. Borderline qualifier.

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Belgium

Eliot: Wake Up

Another credible entry from Belgium although Eliot's vocal sounds rather laboured. It feels as if the song is about to take off but then suddenly stalls, the chorus somehow not rescuing it. It's good, just not spectacular. Likely to qualify, but could struggle at the Final.

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Croatia

Roko: The Dream

Roko sings The Dream well and the song possesses a stirring chorus. Nevertheless, it sounds like a failed national final entry from the 1980s. Got to hand it to Roko though, he has the balls to wear a pair of ridiculous wings. Sadly, they only add to the overall out-of-date whiff of stale cheese. Non-qualifier.

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Cyprus

Tamta: Replay

Cyprus continue the club theme already offered up by last year's Fuego. In some respects, it is a better example of the genre with its brass riffs and mesmerisingly catchy chorus. This should perform very, very well but it could hinge on the staging and Tamta's live vocal abilities. Easy qualifier and could finish in the Top 5.

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Denmark

Leonora: Love is Forever

One of the early front runners, Denmark has dipped back in the betting. Not surprising, really. The song is way too twee, formulaic and safe. Leonora is a little difficult to watch as well. Sitting on a oversized chair/platform high above the stage, I'm not sure if her fixed stare is from the fear of falling or the fear of failing. Very borderline.

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Finland

Darude ft Sebastian Rejman: Look Away

House music come to Eurovision courtesy of the highly successful DJ/record producer. If you've heard his Sandstorm then you kinda know what to expect. Unfortunately, this is way too repetitive but could still qualify from a weaker semi-final 1 (or from his credentials, alone). Can't see it doing too well in the Final, though.

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Georgia

Oto Nemsadze: Keep On Going

Already touted as the entry that will be stuck to the bottom of the scoreboard when all is sung and done. It goes without saying that Oto may have an uphill struggle to garner many votes - particularly from the public. The song is a dark, dramatic ballad sung at full tilt - there's no denying Oto has a set of lungs on him - but the song may suffer from being TOO ethnic as well as TOO difficult to love (and comprehend)! An easy non-qualifier, I feel.

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Greece

Katerine Duska: Better Love

Compelling voice, compelling vocal and compelling production. Co-written by Fame Academy winner David Sneddon, Better Love feels as if it has a Top 10 finish about it. As long as the ideas behind the video translate well to the Tel Aviv stage then Greece can expect a ton of votes. Compelling (of course!)

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Hungary

Joci Pápai: Az én apám (My Father)

Joci returns to Eurovision with a mid-tempo ballad that captures elements of Hungarian folk music. Enhanced by his plaintive vocal, the song relates the joy and sadness of his boyhood memories. It's one of the few entries to be sung in a native language, thus could accomplish a reasonable result. Joci achieved ninth in 2017 and this latest effort could do as well or better.

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Iceland

Hatari: Hatrið mun sigra (Hatred Will Prevail)

One of possibly two entries with its own USP (possibly Portugal as well). BDSM techno/punk comes to Eurovision and it has really divided listeners/viewers. Very much a Marmite song, Hatari try to deliver shock visuals - writhing women in chicken wire together with sex shop rubber gear - alongside snarling shouty vocals over an, admittedly, irresistible backing rhythm. Entries with bizarre USPs tend to do well these days, although how the more conservative voters in Eastern Europe will react is anyone's guess. Could do very, very well or fall flat on its face!

Listen here

Thanks for reading!

Qami / Sevak Khanagyan / Armenia | Review

Do Armenia have the Wind behind them this year? Sevak Khanagyan

Since their Eurovision debut in 2006, Armenia has enjoyed seven Top 10 placings out of ten attempts and is often considered to be long overdue its first - and perhaps justified - triumph. Could Qami (English: Wind) by Sevak Khanagyan be the song to do it in Lisbon? Well, it's a powerful ballad featuring modern production values and performed in its native language by a talented and potent singer.

Still, I’m not entirely sure. While the Armenians present an undeniably accomplished product, this entry is certainly not as instantaneous as it should be to win the Contest. As a matter of fact, it took some time before I could recall how it went, even within a few moments of playing it. Several previous strong contenders have also been thwarted by this problem - think Francesco Gabbani with Occidentali's Karma last year - and were largely overlooked by the majority of televoters.

I don’t feel that this song is likely to score too badly though. Like some of its predecessors, it’s practically a shoo-in to end up somewhere in the final Top 10, but I don't think it will be distinct enough to register the required range of national televotes to triumph - even if the juries love it.

Its potential may also depend on the running order this year. If it is featured within the first dozen songs, I have a feeling that people won't remember it when it comes time to choose their favourites. Nevertheless, Armenia usually put a lot of work into their entire presentation - including the visuals - so I'm sure they’ll devise something of note to improve their prospects.

Overall, Armenia have only ever failed to qualify once and there’s little doubt that Qami should make the Grand Final and could easily rank very highly within its own semi-final.

Armenia 

Artist: Sevak Khanagyan

Song: Qami 

Semi-Final 1 | Second Half

Eurovision 2016: Review: Armenia: Iveta Mukuchyan: LoveWave

Iveta: Riding the wave for Armenia

It's been more than six months since Armenia announced that Iveta Mukuchyan would be their representative in Stockholm. Finally, at the beginning of March, the song that she will sing was revealed as LoveWave - a co-composition with Lilith Navasardyan, Levon Navasardyan and Stephanie Crutchfield.

With six top ten placings since the country debuted in 2006, Armenia has long felt like a participant that’s getting ever closer to grabbing a well-deserved first victory. But can LoveWave succeed where other Armenian entries have failed?

In short, it's very unlikely. Even though Iveta has one of the better voices in this year's competition, the song is lacking the type of unforgettable hook that is usually required for a Eurovision victory. Actually, it takes several listens to the song before one can even vaguely recall how it went a few minutes after hearing it.

This is mainly so because LoveWave has no natural beginning, middle and end. It starts off with the spoken word before it transitions into a softly sung introduction: a beginning that bodes well. However, the listener is suddenly slapped around the face a number of times as Iveta is transformed into a wild banshee, hollering unintelligibly - all of which is interspersed with oooh-oohs that sound as if they may have been lifted directly from Michael Jackson's Earth Song. Then, just as suddenly, it's all over.

While this entry may not stick in people’s memories, Armenia is nevertheless one of those countries which tends to benefit from a widespread and far-flung diaspora. With televotes in the bag then, most probably it'll be down to the juries as to whether LoveWave qualifies from Semi-Final 1. Most likely, that will happen. But Iveta will then have a struggle to impress in the Final.

However, were this a beauty pageant, she'd win - hands down!

What do you think?

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6 More For the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015

Over the past few weeks several more entries - which will participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in November - have been revealed. These six form part of a larger group of seventeen nations which will compete for the title in Sofia, Bulgaria.

So, let's take a look at what the following countries have to offer:

Armenia

Mika: Love

Mika

Earlier in October, the Armenian delegation presented their song for the JESC, a throwback rock'n'roll number sung by Michael Varosyan - who will be performing under the name Mika for the competition.

As anticipated, Love  is a 2015 take on the energetic styling of 1950s/1960s rock. Mika sells it well - for one so young he radiates the performance techniques of a seasoned professional.

That's a requirement for this song. After all, it's a positive, upbeat tune which should have no difficulty in attracting a lot of votes. Think Lulu and Shout! and you have some idea of what to expect.  8/10

See the official video here

Australia

Bella Paige: My Girls

Bella Paige

Australia returns to the Eurovision stage for the second time this year, as the Land DownUnder has been invited to make its début in Junior Eurovision. It's a very promising start, with the country represented by Bella Paige singing a Delta Goodrem-penned song called

Bella is another reality TV graduate having secured a runners-up slot in the 2014 series of the Austrlian version of The Voice Kids. For a 13-year-old, she possesses a powerful and emotive vocal style which is well-suited to My Girls - described as an upbeat electro track.

In fact, the song has a The Voice  connection itself. Originally scheduled as Anja Nissen's winner's single, it was suddenly withdrawn, even failing to secure an intended spot on her début album. Was this done because of its quality or for some other reason?

The answer is unknown, but this modern ballad - which has more than a hint of Alicia Keys' Girl on Fire - is certainly more than satisfactory for the Eurovision stage. Indeed, it would hold up well at the main Eurovision event, probably finding itself in the Top 10. For that reason, this one gets a 9/10.

See the official video here

Georgia

The Virus: Gabede

The Virus

An unfortunate name for the four-piece group which will represent one of Junior Eurovision's more successful nations: Georgia. Nevertheless, Helen Kezhrishvili, Lizzie Tavberidze, Tako Gagnidze and Data Pavliashvili put on an infectious performance as The Virus, no doubt hoping their song will spread among Eurovision fans and voters alike.

It has a good chance of doing so. Gabede is a lively, bouncy and enthusiastic entry with plenty of catchy, repetitive chants all of which is staged in a fun, wacky and eye-catching way.

All positive, but Georgia is unlikely to make 2015 its third winning year. Gabede should score well, but there are better selections this time around.  7/10.

See the official video here

Italy

Chiara and Martina Scarpari: Viva

Chiara and Martina

Last year's victors are represented by twin sisters Chiara and Martina Scarpari singing the song Viva. They travel to Sofia having won the Italian public vote quite convincingly on the TV show Ti Lascio Una Canzone (67%) in a final round against Giovanni Sutera Sardo.

Viva is pretty good: tight vocals and harmonies are spurred on by a catchy mid-section which has a naggingly familiar refrain. There's also a splendid Eurovision key change as the song enters its final thirty seconds which will do it no harm in pulling in a few more votes.

As with all things Eurovision these days, the staging and live performance will be all important because Viva is not as strong as it might be. For that reason 7/10 seems fair.

See the official video here

Macedonia

Ivana and Magdalena: Pletenka

Ivana and Magdalena

Following a year away from the competition, Macedonia returns with the female duo of Ivana and Magdalena and the song Pletenka (tr. Braid).

Both girls are 13 and were internally selected by Macedonia's national broadcaster, MRT. Having seen the video and listened to the song, they seem to have made a good choice.

Pletenka, a song about unity, happiness and peace (aren't a lot of Eurovision sings?) flies along at a rhythmic pace with an electric keyboard accompaniment that will immediately transport you back to the 1980s. Its chorus is catchy and you'll soon find yourself humming along to it - even if you don't want to.

Fortunes may be more promising for Macedonia this year, then. The country has often struggled to impress on the scoreboard, with two fifth places its best showing. Ivana and Magdalena could improve on those.  7/10.

See the official video here

Serbia

Lena Stamenković: Lenina pesma

Lena Stamenković

Serbia returns to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest hoping to improve on their tenth place in 2014. This year the Balkan nation has internally selected Lena Stamenković, an 11-year-old with a big voice.

Obviously talented, she impressed many on a Serbian TV talent show and has also contributed to the composition of Lenina pesma, her song which will compete at the JESC 2015.

Translated as Lena's Song, it's a powerful ballad which carries a message of optimism and hopefulness. Its reminiscent of Serbia's entry at the main Eurovision event earlier this year and young Lena possesses a similar vocal style to that of Bojana Stamenov.

Although it appears to have secured much online support due to Lena's incredibly mature singing voice, the song is somewhat less dynamic.

Eurovision has always been about making a positive first impression - her vocal may achieve this, but her song lacks a hook to draw in the listener.  6/10.

See the official video here

More Junior Eurovision song reviews to come...

Review: Armenia: Eurovision 2015 | Genealogy

Undeniably Genealogy: the Armenian representatives

Not only was Armenia's Eurovision song, Face the Shadow (formerly Don't Deny), revealed last week, but also the line-up of six Armenian singers who have combined to create the "supergroup", Genealogy. As a result, the country has now accomplished it's initial aim in assembling a body of vocalists, all relatives of the survivors of an April 1915 Armenian genocide. They are: Inga Arshakyan, Essai Altounian, Tamar Kaprelian, Vahe Tilbian, Stephanie Topalian, and Mary-Jean O’Doherty Vasmatzian.

The number of performers is significant. The overseas singers represent the Armenian diaspora caused by the massacre - their forebears fleeing globally to each of the five continents - while also symbolizing the petals of a the forget-me-not: the flower that is the motif of the country's centennial memorial. Its sixth member, a native Armenian, denotes the centre of the flower.

The context is pivotal. The anniversary is a remembrance of the Ottoman empire’s decimation of its Armenian minority, which is still denied by modern-day Turkey. Hence, the symbolism in the former title of the song. Amid complaints from both Turkey and neighbours Azerbaijan that Don't Deny (now Face the Shadow) politicizes the Eurovision Song Contest, the song may yet suffer the fate of Georgia's 2009 entry and be disqualified.

Should it remain, it's highly possible that it won't stay around for too long, anyway.

While the entire concept may have been sound, the reality is that this combination of voices just doesn't work. Essai Altounianis begins the track with some appalling pronunciation problems and he is followed by a clunky transition into some operatic phrasing from Mary-Jean O’Doherty Vasmatzian. It's not until the song has finished its first minute that it begins to improve with the start of the first chorus.

Unfortunately, that recovery does not last too long, as the last third of the track hits you with a cacophony of voices and percussion. These layers of sound combine to attack your senses in the most unfortunate of ways, leaving Face the Shadow memorable for all the wrong reasons.

It's a shame because Armenia has produced some better-than-average stuff in the past. However, by fielding this grating shambles, the country looks to have gone from Eurovision hero to Eurovision zero in the space of twelves months. Consequently, their trophy prospects look bleak this year, but expectations of the proverbial "early bath" appear more feasible.

What are your thoughts?

Eurovision 2014: Armenia: Not Alone

Aram MP3

Armenia has finally revealed its Eurovision song for this year and I have to say that it's turning out to be one of my favourites.

Aram MP3 (a silly pseudonym for Aram Sargsyan) brings us Not Alone, a powerful ballad that has its fair share of dubstep thrown in for good measure.

It starts off quietly with piano and strings and builds throughout its three minutes. With the addition of drums and brass, it becomes quite intense as the song progresses. In some respects, it feels as if it needs more time to give the listener a credible ending. It just stops. Having said that, it is powerful and kinda reminiscent of Michael Jackson's The Earth Song in its construction.

However, it's another of those songs which is very dependent on how well its staging and live vocals turn out to be in its semi-final. It already has some traction among hardcore Eurovision fans, but how the performance will translate to the casual viewer is anybody's guess.

I'm hoping they will allow it to qualify for the final, where I can see it doing very well. A top 10 (or even 5) placing is not out of the question.

Image: Clubbing.am [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Eurovision 2013: Armenia: Lonely Planet

Gor Sujyan

This year Armenia will be represented at Eurovision by the song Lonely Planet, performed by the group Dorians. Like Albania, Armenia brings rock to the 2013 Contest with a track written by Vardan Zadoyan and Black Sabbath guitarist, Tony Iommi.

With such renowned talent behind the song, you'd hope that it will do well. But is Eurovision really ready for several forays into the world of rock? If the songs are good enough, then it should be.

Lonely Planet is very much a "grower". On first hearing it, I didn't give it much of a chance. However, after several plays, it's now become something of an earworm. But is a tune that is a "grower" enough to take it through to the Final. I don't think so. The average Eurovision viewer will not have had the benefit of hearing the song regularly, so is unlikely to vote it through.

Armenia will perform in eleventh place of the second semi-final on May 16.

What do you think of Lonely Planet and its chances?