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 Sadly, they only add to the overall out-of-date whiff of stale cheese.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!

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Thanks for reading!

Our Choice / Ari Ólafsson / Iceland | Review

Ari Ólafsson: the right choice for Iceland?

Good old Iceland tend to create an appealing approach to Eurovision, but usually end up way down the list once the scores have been finally revealed. Ever since Yohanna’s runners-up position in 2009, each and every Icelandic effort has wound up no higher than fifteenth place. In fact, over the past three years the island nation has failed to graduate from the semi-finals.

Our Choice by Ari Ólafsson is likely to maintain this miserable tide of bad fortune and it's fair to assume that it could rank quite badly. It’s possibly the most bland Icelandic entry in some time; while youthful himself (he's nineteen), Ari doesn't possess much of a ‘pop music’ tone, although no-one can deny that his vocals are powerful and smooth. The track resembles something that could well have been sung by the likes of a more mature Aled Jones, possibly featuring during an emotional segment on Songs of Praise. It sounds rather old-fashioned and - while the lyrics may be intended to be heartfelt - it all feels a little smug and affected.

Unfortunately, this is not the type of thing I normally listen to, so it wouldn't be the type of entry that I would champion anyway. I'm sure it will be well staged and well performed, but is it likely to stand out among the more up-to-date songs in the first semi-final? Unlikely. Aside from anything else, the Icelandic team will now have an uphill battle following the announcement of the semi-final running orders: they have been drawn to perform in second place - the 'death' spot.

On the other hand, am I being too harsh about Our Choice? Is it really the kind of middle of the road track that everybody will forget by the end of the evening? It's sung well, it's meant to be inspirational and Ari's boyish good looks will definitely appeal to certain sections of the audience.

Having heard much of the hardcore fan feedback, this one should be easy to call. Obviously, it would be an outright shock if Our Choice were to provide Iceland with their first triumph. What may be easier to predict is the song's chances at the semi-final stage: 14th or worse perhaps?

What do you think?

Iceland 

Artist: Ari Ólafsson

Song: Our Choice 

Semi-Final 1 | First Half

Eurovision 2016: Review: Iceland: Greta Salóme: Hear Them Calling

Greta Salóme will Hear Them Calling in Stockholm

You can always count on Iceland to provide Eurovision with an appealing contribution. The trend continues this year with Hear Them Calling sung by Contest "veteran", Greta Salóme.

Although Greta's previous experience of Eurovision was not as auspicious as it should have been - 2012's Never Forget with Jónsi deserved much better than its 20th place - hopefully, her time in Stockholm will prove more fruitful.

Over the past few years, none of Iceland's entries have managed to match Yohanna's second place in 2009, but Hear Them Calling could pluck the country out of the middle of the pack and lift them into a more satisfying position on the scoreboard.

While the song was not always the most popular throughout the Icelandic selection process, over time its reputation was enhanced by some compelling support from within the Eurovision bubble. In fact, at the time of its selection, Hear Them Calling was considered the best of the (then current) bunch.

It's not hard to appreciate why. Greta is now a seasoned artist who possesses impressive vocals and, with the help of some back projection imagery, she not only sings the entry but also acts it out as well. This makes for some understandable comparisons to last year's Swedish package which accompanied the winning song by Måns Zelmerlöw.

It's not just the graphics, though. There are parts of the Icelandic entry which have clearly been influenced by both Heroes and Loreen's Euphoria, as well as portions of David Guetta's and Aviici's back catalogues. Inevitably, this mélange combines to make the drama of Hear Them Calling into something which seems naggingly familiar; a lively toe-tapper with a strong melody and a memorable refrain.

Marry up all these elements and it's going to sound good and look impressive on stage - even if the symbolism of the pseudo-Gothic imagery is difficult to grasp. Of course, for a lot of Eurovision entries the presentation is half the battle for points but whether Greta's over-exaggerated movements, combined with the confusing graphics, will act as a disconnect with the audience is up for debate.

If it's all seen as a positive, then a berth in the upper reaches of the scoreboard seems assured for Iceland this year. If there's any justice, the song alone should guarantee this. Perhaps a Top 5 finish is a possibility?

What are your thoughts?

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2009: Yohanna: Is It True?

It Should Have Won

Iceland: Is It True?

The UK's prospects of victory in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest lay with Jade Ewen's It's My Time, a song specially composed by theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd-Webber and songwriter Diane Warren. Although it achieved the country's best placing since 2002, this year's competition was really about Alexander Rybak and which songs could realistically catch him on the scoreboard.

Norway's Rybak had been favourite to win for some months and it became evident early on in the voting that 2009 would be his year.

While Ewen's effort breezed into the Top 5, it was Yohanna's beautiful pop ballad, Is It True?, which came the closest to Norway's final points tally.

Yohanna Wins Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 

As has been customary with Iceland's song selection, the country opted for a national final - this time composed of four semi-finals and a grand final. Yohanna's song was one of a quartet of entries showcased in the first semi-final in early January, seemingly progressing with some ease. It's not difficult to appreciate why.

What's not to like about a beautiful young woman singing an emotionally charged song with recognisable commercial potential? Nothing. And the Icelandic public agreed: Yohanna was the comprehensive winner of Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009 (the name of the island's national final) receiving approximately 9000 more votes than her nearest rival.

On to the Eurovision Finals 

This enthusiasm for Is It True? followed Yohanna to Moscow, as savvy Eurovision fans had already recognised the promise that this memorable tune possessed. It also translated to plenty of votes from viewers of the Contest who, it later transpired, pushed the song to the top of the scoreboard in the first semi-final - albeit in a close tussle with the Turkish entry.

Yohanna at Eurovision

Turkey's Düm Tek Tek was yet another favourite and, like Alexander Rybak, received a plum draw in the running order of the Final (18th and 20th respectively). Yohanna was not so lucky. Selected to sing in seventh position, this early performance did not bode well for Iceland's chances.

However, it seemed as if viewers refused to forget the lovely Yohanna's three minutes on stage.

The focus may have been on Norway's continuous stream of top scores, but almost unnoticed, Iceland was pulling in a consistent amount of points.

Although Norway may have won with a record-breaking 387 points  - a figure which trounced the rest of the field - Iceland's 218 points in second place could easily have given it a victory in any other year.

A Significant Chart Success 

Although the song was ignored in several parts of Europe, not surprisingly Iceland sent it to the top of their charts.

Scandanavia and other territories close by also loved it. It figured highly in the music charts in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, but perhaps what was more unexpected was the response of Greek, Swiss and Belgian consumers: they bought and downloaded enough copies of the track for it to make a significant impact in each of their Top 20s.

Even the UK and Ireland pushed it into their Top 50s, helping it to become the second best-selling Eurovision song of the year.

Iceland Continues to Wait 

Still, in spite of Yohanna's remarkable success, Iceland remains the only nation in Northern Europe not to have won the Contest.

Sadly, even the strength, attraction and beauty of the entire 2009 Icelandic package was not able to change this.

Review: Iceland: Eurovision 2015: María Ólafsdóttir

María Ólafsdóttir to sing for Iceland

After a couple of semi-finals, twelve competing songs and a super-final, it was announced on Valentine's night that 21-year-old María Ólafsdóttir will take the song Unbroken (Lítil skref) to Vienna in an attempt to secure Iceland's first win at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The two semis had discarded five songs, so it was all to play for when the remaining seven artists gathered in Reykjavík before a typically enthusiastic crowd of supporters.

Pollapönk and the first three of the acts had already warmed up the audience by the time María (who also performs by the name of María Ólafs) took to the stage. She was joined by three backing singers, as well as two dancers who really added no great appeal to the overall performance. They seemed to be there just to make up the numbers. Unlike the song, thankfully.

With so few of the forty national songs already chosen, this effort has become one of the more memorable so far. There is obviously a strong Disney influence going on with more than a nod to the company's Frozen franchise (ideal for Iceland, I guess). Moreover, María is also being marketed as a pop princess, dressed as if she has just stepped out of the movie, while the song is the type of power ballad that one might expect to hear on the soundtrack.

It's all very 'musical theatre' to me, though. Not really surprising as that appears to be María's background. Stints in shows such as The Sound of Music, Annie and The Lion King have honed her superior vocals. Consequently, she evokes more Idina Menzel than she does say, Meghan Trainor or Kylie Minogue.

That's not to say that she or the song are bad. They're not. This entry has all the required elements of a catchy pop song: melodic and memorable enough that you could easily catch yourself humming it after a few plays. It's only real problem is its repetitiveness, both lyrically and musically.

However, Iceland has produced some high quality songs over the years and this is another it can add to its roster. It's not as strong as, say, Yohanna's entry in 2009 or even Greta Salóme and Jónsi's from 2012, but at the moment its competition is relatively weak.

Nevertheless, it has a very good chance of qualifying from the second semi-final, where it can be likely assured of some high value votes from both Norway and Sweden.

What do you think?

Eurovision 2014: Iceland: Enga fordóma

Pollapönk

Iceland's Söngvakeppnin 2014 came to a close last night when the group Pollapönk triumphed over Sigríður Eyrún in a public televote and will now represent the island nation in Copenhagen with the song, Enga fordóma (No Prejudice).

Pollapönk is labelled as a punk group which is a little difficult to accept when you consider the age and look of its members.

I guess the Icelandic public are more accepting of them. There is no doubt that the message of the song is an important one and it may have been this that contributed to their win. The subject of prejudice is a wide one, but Pollapönk's chanting appears to concentrate on the stigma suffered by those who stutter, if the translation of the lyrics is correct. There are throwaway lines about racism, but the thrust of the song appears to be about those who are troubled by this speech disorder.

It's intention is noble; no-one likes to see anyone bullied. But, these type of protest songs never work well at Eurovision, especially when they're presented by Iceland's answer to the Power Rangers. Fluorescent track suits in various bright colours were always a fashion faux pas back in the day and they look even more ridiculous now. Yes, Pollapönk is primarily a kid's band (the members are teachers), but I feel the voters across Europe will not get them. Sorry.

With so few qualifying for the final, I can't see this one getting there.

What do you think?

Eurovision 2013: Iceland: Ég Á Líf

Eyþór Ingi (or Eythor Ingi) will be travelling to Sweden to sing Ég Á Líf (I Have A Life), the Eurovision song entry for Iceland.

Ingi is 23-years-old and looks like a renegade from an Icelandic heavy metal band, not the singer of this ballad that deserves to be heard across Europe. In fact, his bio mentions that he was a member of a Deep Purple tribute, as well as playing in a Freddie Mercury Tribute Show. It therefore sounds like he has the chops to sing well live.

As is usual, one can expect a very good song from Iceland and this year is no exception. It's a big ballad that builds across its three minutes. With hints of Irish flavouring and a late chord change, listeners will be able to hum along to this one easily - even if they don't understand what the song is all about. My understanding is that it will be sung in the native language; the first time this has happened since 1997.

Just a warning about the video: It features Eyþór Ingi gutting fish. I know Iceland's economy depends on its fishing trade, but really? Sorry to disappoint anyone expecting a full blown romantic few minutes but Eyþór only loves his fish, it seems.

Iceland will hopefully qualify from the second semi-final on May 16 where it performs in eighth place. Not the winner this year, though.

What do you think?



Image: Albin Olsson / CC BY-SA

Eurovision 2012: Hungary, Iceland, Norway Decide

Three nations decided upon their representative songs for Baku yesterday, with Hungary, Iceland and Norway each completing their National Finals.

1. Hungary has chosen the group Compact Disco, a name which sent up red flags to begin with, but having heard the song, it's not what one might think. The entry is Sound of Our Hearts and the recorded version sounds pretty good. However, the live vocals were a disappointment, so they're going to have to get those sorted out before their semi-final.

As for the song, think of sub par Gary Numan and Ultravox circa 1981 and you'll get an idea of the content. It's not bad, but it's not that great: 6/10.
(Listen here)

2. Iceland's winner is Gréta and Jónsi singing Mundu Eftir Mér, which Google Translate tells me means Remember Me. Iceland generally have no trouble in choosing a decent song for Europe and this year is no exception. This time the island nation serves up a male/female duo with fine voices. Backing singers enhance the feel of the song. In fact, the entry has a very dramatic atmosphere to it, with some Celtic sounding violins added for good measure. It wouldn't be out of place at the Irish National Final of, say, fifteen years ago. Hoping for an English version. Nevertheless, good song: 8/10.
(Listen here)

3. Norway has chosen the song Stay sung by Iranian-born, minor TV personality Tooji. If you remember Sweden's Eric Saade from last year, then you have got a pretty good idea what to expect here.

Tooji is almost a carbon copy lookalike to Saade, but while his song Popular had an almost instant hook, Stay does not have that appeal. Yes, it's an electronic-style dance tune with some Middle Eastern styling (no doubt included to appeal to the host country and its immediate neighbours), but I can't see it being as popular as...Popular: 7/10.
(Listen here)