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Sweden, Malta and France

Sweden – Cornelia Jakobs: Hold Me Closer

As a bitter Finn I naturally crave to say something negative about our “always better at everything”-neighbour Sweden, but I must admit I really like this song from the first listening – a rare jewel in Eurovision song contest! I like the appearance of the video, the slightly hoarse voice of Cornelia Jakobs and the catchy melody. It is a marvel, because I have a pre-decided and thus unfair tendency to dislike any breakup or goodbye songs (this song very literally fitting in the latter category). The very nice and not too repetitive lyrics written by Jakobs herself probably hit too close home with me due to my very recent move to Australia and might bias my perception on the song. But I stand by my statement, this is a really pleasant song and definitely one to make it to the finals.

Review by Sanni Silvasti

Malta – Emma Muscat: I Am What I Am

This song attempts to make an undeniably important point of individuality and the need of people to recognize and accept diversity in others. But jeez, what a Disney song… The only difference is that the songs in cartoon movies would never ever be this boring. The video could have saved a lot; the start was kind of good but towards the end the whole scheme got at least as corny as the song was boring. My suspicion is that this piece will be forgotten by the audience at the very instance the last tunes of the too much repeated “I am what I am” fades and thus it will not make its way to the finals. Props for at least having diverse people in the music video, though.

Review by Sanni Silvasti

France – Alvan & Ahez: Fulenn

The song starts by building a mental image of mystical women in a forest dancing to ethnic beats in torch light, and by the first chorus I am completely hooked! The whole performance is mesmerizing and hilarious if you read the translations of the lyrics at the same time.  Shadow spirits, beasts, lust, and heat are mentioned! It is very refreshing, however, that even though the theme of the song perhaps implies some pagan sex fest, the music video is not relying on overly sexualized naked women. Rather, vocalists are dressed in black and gold and are doing a good job at singing and being mysterious while a single dancer is there to add to the atmosphere of a near satanic rite. The song is catchy and definitely entertaining – I assume this one will make it to the finals but will not take the victory this year. I dance with the devil, so what!

Review by Sanni Silvasti

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Sweden, France and Slovenia

Sweden – Voices by Tusse

I sure like the magenta velvet smoking jacket Tusse is wearing in the video, but, boy, does he drag out every note of this song…’can you heeeeeeaaaaaaaar a million voices’. I guess he needed to make it to the 3 minute mark. Not even the customary key change cheered me up.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

France – Voilà by Barbara Pravi

OMD (oh mon dieu) – France is going old school on us with a classic chanson, Piaff style. By 1’07” I developed cravings for Gauloise and cheap Beaujolais, contemplating the existential crisis of my life. Send help ….. or Denmark’s Fyr Og Flamme.

Review Mariella Herberstein

Slovenia – Amen by Ana Soklič

Featuring the mother of all key changes, Ana scales an impressive vocal range into a massive crescendo ably supported by a gospel choir. But without any of the usual trashy gimmicks, I doubt it will it be enough.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

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Sweden & Romania

Sweden

John Lundvik: Too Late For Love

Grammatical issues notwithstanding, John Lundvik’s “Too Late For Love” is a safe, straightforward dance ballad from this Euro-powerhouse. It’s true to recent form for Sweden, and to be honest if you played any of their last dozen entries over a clip of slow-motion rain I doubt whether viewers would be able to differentiate them. The strategy is effective enough having secured a top 10 finish for most of the last decade (we don’t talk about Bergendahl), but it doesn’t make for compelling listening. Get weird Sweden!

Review by Tom White

Romania

Ester Peony: On A Sunday

An incongruous county-blues guitar hook kicks off this gloomy electronic piece from Romania’s Ester Peony. In the great tradition of edgy alternative bands there is no hint as to what the title “On a Sunday” actually refers to, but the song carries the usual theme of love and the tremendous price it extracts from us all (are we thinking of the same thing?). The real star of the accompanying video is Ester’s husky companion, whose glossy coat, playful eyes, and regal attitude steal the show. I would very much like to scratch it behind the ears and rubs its belly, and I do hope Romania leans heavily into the canine theme for the live show, since the song and human performers are otherwise forgettable.

Review by Tom White

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Ukraine and Sweden

UkraineMelovin: Under the Ladder

The live-rehearsal version of Melovin’s “Under the Ladder” is the story of man’s desperate search for a key, which doesn’t bode well for this X-Factor Ukraine alumnus come crunch time. The moody (and shaky) verse builds to a punchy chorus that admittedly has some pick-up and an appropriate number of “woah oh oh uh”s, but it’s too little too late for my money.

Review by Tom White

SwedenBenjamin Ingrosso: Dance You Off

The pressures of Eurovision are well known to select for mimetic extremes, yet the fidelity of Benjamin Ingrosso still took me by surprise. In a direct channelling of Justin Bieber & The Weekend, with a dash of Daft Punk underneath, the 20 year old Swedish national delivers the electro-pop banger “Dance You Off” (a threat? a promise?). The vocal style isn’t for everyone, such as me, but the rolling funk-bass is worth the price of admission, and there’s no denying the piece is on trend. I predict another strong finish for Sweden this year, but not enough to really stand out from the crowd.

Review by Tom White

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UK, Montenegro, Sweden

UKNever Give Up On You by Lucy Jones

The UK are perennial underachievers at Eurovision and that was before Brexit, I’m not sure that the British voters realised what the Eurovision implications would be. This year’s entry Lucie Jones is, wait for it …… Welsh, she is from Cardiff, a bit of Wales that voted to stay so perhaps she should play on this a bit. The song is a rather breathless effort, it you are watching the broadcast I recommend it would to be a good 3 minutes and 14 seconds to make another drink or load the dishwasher.

Review by Matt Bruce

 

MontenegroSpace by Slavko Kalezić

Slavko Kalezić seems to split his time more or less evenly between the hairdresser, the gym and wherever you get manscaping done in Montenegro. He wants to take you to space so you can be as one, where he will, presumably, unleash some more of his thinly veiled innuendo.

Review by Matt Bruce

SwedenI can’t go on by Robin Bengtsson

The backup dancers in this number wear skivvies, dance with their hands in their pockets and drive Volvos. One of those things isn’t true. National stereotypes aside, Robin Bengtsson should do pretty well, I Can’t Go On is the kind of generic urban offering that seems to be quite popular these days and stands out against a procession of Euro-ballads. Finals for me.

Review by Matt Bruce

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Moldova, Montenegro and Sweden

Moldova
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Falling Stars by Lidia Isac

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So, I love anything astronomical, and Lidia serves up swirling galaxies on a bed of Balkan disco beat. I predict this will be on rotation at Club Med all around the Black Sea this summer (sadly Moldova has geographically been denied access to the Black Sea). Just a word of warning: listening to this more than three times will open a black hole in your heart!

Review by Mariella Herberstein

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Montenegro
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The Real Thing by Highway

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Is this the real thing? Oh….that is quite disappointing then. The best thing about this performance is the dancer: a resolute, if not slightly angry young woman who, like I, seems to be quite disappointed with this entry from Montenegro.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

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Sweden
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If I were sorry by Frans

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Where was the Swedish Tourist Board when this video was made? Sweden has never looked so derelict.  Frans will attempt to win Eurovision glory back to back for Sweden, but I don’t know if teenage emo with a bit of ‘meh’ will win over the voting grandmothers of Eurovisionland.  Even if Frans is not sorry,  I surely am!

Review by Mariella Herberstein