Preface:
Now, that we are ramping up to ESC2022 (I believe that we are less than 30 days away), I figure that I could quickly mention a few songs that have grown on me over the past few months (actually over the past few days/weeks). This is the first time that I’ve experienced growers before ESC because it is my first year following ESC during national selection season. In the past, I pretty much only listened to the songs during the semifinals and final rounds so my growers would happen after ESC. It’s kind of funny that I’m beginning to love the songs that I originally hated (or rather, that I did not care for) and vice versa. So here are my top growers.
Andromache – Ela – Cyprus 🇨🇾
I do not know; this song is just a vibe for me.
Cornelia Jakobs – Hold Me Closer – Sweden 🇸🇪
I will be honest that I did not like this song because it seems like everyone automatically falls in love with anything (good or bad) that Sweden sends to Eurovision. After forcing myself to listen to this one, it definitely reminds me of a time when I was in a relationship that my a** had no business being in. It’s a sappy song without being too sappy.
Krystian Ochman – River - Poland 🇵🇱
This song always has been in my top 10. After hearing his live vocals at a few of the pre-Eurovision parties/concerts, this song is firmly cemented in my #1 spot. At these parties/concerts, he did an amazing job with very limited staging and sound, so I’m sure he will kill it on the big stage in Turin.
S10 – De Diepte – the Netherlands 🇳🇱
This is a very recent grower for me. By very recent, I mean that I really started getting into De Diepte this past Tuesday. This song had me texting family in the Netherlands for some help in translating. Yes, I could have looked up the Dutch to English translation on my own, but it gave me an excuse to say hello on my Ghanaian family’s Whatsapp group chat . . . even if I sent the message at 9 pm (NYC time), which is 3 am in Amsterdam.
Sam Ryder – Space Man – United Kingdom 🇬🇧
No words about how much I really enjoy this song. Word on the street is that he is going to some amazing staging for ESC2022.
Amanda Tenfjord – Die Together – Greece 🇬🇷
There’s just something about her voice that keeps this song in my head. Also, the song is kind of different because there is no music for the first part of the song. I do worry that my opinion might change once I hear a live version of this song. Also, I wonder how she is going to do the audio modulation with her voice at ESC2022 since performers cannot use special vocal effects in the contest.