We are back for another season of Eurovision, and this year we are heading to Malmö, Sweden 🇸🇪. As countries begin to select their songs, I'm going to do a brief recap of what I think of the 'current' songs.
For this recap, I'm going to chat about (in no particular order): France 🇫🇷, Czechia 🇨🇿, Albania 🇦🇱, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Ireland 🇮🇪, and Luxembourg 🇱🇺 (where have they been?)
Like last year, I'm gonna do follow this mode of attack:
Review songs in batches of 5 or 6 rather than doing a country-by-country recap.
Watch the national selection final (or internal selection) once or twice.
Not constantly listen to the songs until we get into semifinal week.
Reasons 1-2: For this edition, I don't have time to write 35+ posts (one per country) before getting into the actual contest. Also, what's the point of doing an in-depth or half-assed review (depending on how much free time I have) before the delegations either revamp the song and/or the performance? Reason 3: I don't want to get tired of the songs before the contest. A couple of Eurovisions ago, I noticed that I was pretty much over the songs that were released early in the national final (January/February) season by April.
Kwame's Current Rankings:
Like always, I'll use my cheezy Eurovision meter to rate the songs.
Ok, so this is not a live performance of the song (in the technical sense), but word on the street says the video is a live version of song. I know that we are only six songs into the season, but I have a feeling this one is going to stay in my top 10 (maybe even in my top 5 or 3). There is no question that Slimane has an AMAZING voice. But for me, it’s the rawness of his voice that pulls me into the song/performance. This definitely is song that you feel rather than listen to… or at least it is for me. I think the rawness in and power of his voice really drives the emotions of the song home. In fact, I have to listen to this 2-3 times in a row before moving to the next one. Actually, I kind of wish that France released the song later in the season, so it would have a greater impact. That said, France definitely set a high bar with the first song of the ESC2024 season. Actually, since Slimane is a popular artist in France, lemme check out some of his other music.
Ok on to the next.
Albania 🇦🇱: Besa — Zemrën N’dorë (Heart in Hand)
National Selection Performance – Festivali i Këngës (link: ***)
A few seconds into the performance, she seemed really nervous, which affected her vocal. Ok, we have a little bit of a rap/spoken word bridge with an uptempo beat. I dunno. During my first listen, this “rap” seemed a bit out of place, but I think it can work here. Also, it kind of elevates the typical ballad by adding a something somewhat unique. She might have to consider another outfit because she almost tripped on her dress, BUT she recovered very well. I wonder if she is going to have more folks on the stage for the actual Eurovision performance. Overall, great job from one of my favorite counties in the contest. I guess it’s one of my favorite countries, because they always send someone (male or female) who screams . . . and I do love a controlled (or even an uncontrolled) scream. 😉 In fact someone made a Youtube video about, you guessed it, Albania Screaming for 4 Minutes in Eurovision.
Czechia 🇨🇿: AIKO — Pedestal
National Selection Performance – Selectiva Nationala (link: ***)
I think the sound quality of venue where the national selection was held is a bit raggedy AF. Unfortunately, this snafu does not really highlight AIKO vocals. Ok, girlfriend needs to work on her breath control or stop jumping around so much. Wait, is she saying “f*ck myself on a pedestal”? I might have to look up these lyrics. Oh, nevermind, she said I need to learn to put myself on a pedestal. Hey, and she’s right. We all need to put ourselves on pedestals. ;) In the performance, she is doing too d*mn much for no d*mn reason. Also, why does the song ends so abruptly? It looks like the performance is about 2:30, so she has 30 seconds to add some things . . . or take some things out like that random off-key scream. In its current state, the song is a bit of an erratic mess, which necessarily is not a bad thing. BUT they have some time to work out the rough edges and elevate the staging a bit. Actually, since it gives garage rock band (IMO), perhaps, they don’t need to elevate the staging that much. The sound reminds of my Jack and coke / CBGB’s NYC days. Perhaps, I should have had a PBR or a Miller High Life while watching the video to enjoy the song more.
Slovenia 🇸🇮: Raiven — Veronika
Awww shucks. We don’t have a live vocal for this one, so my 3 hearts probably would have been 4 hearts. I’m kind of speechless . . . in a good way. Why? I don’t know exactly what to think about this one, but I definitely can work with it. While the song isn’t mind blowing (IMO), I was captivated by the visual of the video so much that I wasn’t paying attention to the song that much. I think this will be a case where the staging will have to carry the song through the semi finals.
Ireland 🇮🇪: Bambie Thug — Doomsday Blue
National Selection Performance — Eurosong 2024 (link: ***)
What in Elvira Mistress of Darkness hell is this? I’m sorry, but this really isn’t my cup of tea. I just . . . don’t . . . get . . . it. Is she gonna sing at some point, or are we doing spoken word for three minutes? Then again, I guess one really doesn’t really have time to sing when you are going for something a bit counterculture . . . I think. While the song clearly is not for me, I will give Bambie Thug an A+ for the creativity and uniqueness in this video. Then again, clearly I’m missing something because most folks in the fandom really likes this song and performance. I will give Ireland props for thinking outside of the box for this one. Since they have not qualified for the final since Eurovision 2018, maybe Bambie Thug and her alternative performance will get Ireland to the final.
Luxembourg 🇱🇺: Tali — Fighter
National Selection Performance – Luxembourg Song Contest (link: ***)
First, welcome back to the contest, Luxembourg. Luxembourg last time in the contest was during Eurovision 1994. Overall, I think Fighter is a mid-level song because of the decent vocals, staging, and dancing. While it’s nothing that we haven’t seen in the contest, I think it’s moderate enough to qualify (coupled with Luxembourg returning to the contest…well, maybe). Also, Tali has plenty of time to clean up the vocals and some of the choreography. I noticed that she had some breath control issues with the singing and dancing especially with the uptempo french, french, french, french part. Ok, I looked the lyrics for the really fast part: J’avoue, j’avoue je sais pas. J’veux tout et rien à la fois. J’finirai complètement folle. Et voilà (I admit, I admit that I don’t know. I want everything and nothing at the same time. I’ll end up completely crazy. And that’s it). HA! That sounds like me when I visit the the kitchen for late-night snacking.
Up Next:
That’s it for now, let’s see what the next batch of songs will bring. Looking at the national selection final calendar, it looks like the next batch will include: Ukraine 🇺🇦, Norway 🇳🇴, Malta 🇲🇹, Spain 🇪🇸, Israel 🇮🇱.
