Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) – Czech Republic 🇨🇿

We Are Domi - Lights Off

Random question: Are we supposed to use Czechia instead of Czech Republic

Vocal:

For some reason, her voice reminds me a bit of Dua Lipa’s. Perhaps, I need to listen to it again because the voice sounds very familiar, but I cannot put my finger (or ear) on it. Never mind, her voice reminds me of an uptempo Lana Del Ray.

Musical Arrangement:

It took me a little while, but I definitely caught myself bopping to the beat especially when the song switched to an upbeat tempo. It sounds pretty general to me like something you would hear clothing store, which is not a bad thing because this type of music is played so folks will buy things. I guess in Eurovision you are trying to “buy” votes from the public and national juries. That said, nothing really stood out in the song that made me want to put this song on repeat.

Staging:

Seems pretty generic; perhaps, they’ll add extra lights and smoke effects for the revamp. I do love her laid-back yet confident stage presence. Sometimes extra lights, smoke effects, backup dancers/singers enhance a song, but I think the simplistic nature of the staging works for this performance because one will focus more on the song itself.

Final thought:

While the song is not 100% my cup of tea, I think that it will qualify and maaaaybe finish in the top 1/3 of the finale . . . depending on the other national selections. Also, I think this type of sound will do well with 18 – 30 age group, which probably are most of the folks voting in the public vote during Eurovision.

Czechia in last year’s Eurovision:

Benny Cristo – OMAGA

Semi-final results: 15th place out of 17 performances (23 total points – 23 jury and 0 public votes), which means he did not qualify for the final.

This was a grade A mess. There was nothing really to write home about this performance. So little to write about that I did not bother searching for a full performance. Pretty much from the beginning to the end of three minutes, he was off-key and unnecessarily scream-singing “OH MY GOD yeah, yeah. You’re so BEAUTIFUL”. Actually being that he has earned many mixed-martial arts titles, I was surprised that he was so winded during his semifinal performance (maybe it was nerves). Also, I was not a huge fan of the staging (e.g. the backup dancers’ costumes) because it was pretty basic and uninspiring. I dunno, it looked like something that they put together on the plane/train while commuting from Prague to Rotterdam. I know that’s not the case, but I’m just being sassy. Sometimes, I wonder if some countries send subpar performances to Eurovision to ensure that they will not have a chance of winning. That way, the country will not have to have shell out a bunch of money to host the following year’s song contest. That’s actually something my cheap a** would do.

Eurovision Song Congest (ESC) – Albania 🇦🇱

Ronela Hajati - Sekret

Vocal:

I will say that I love her voice because I have a preference for female singers that sing in a lower register. Although she seemed a bit nervous at the beginning, I was loving the sass and the attitude with the vocal. Ok, Ronela. I see you with the vocal run at 2:57 – 3:05 (even if it was a bit strained).

Musical Arrangement:

I’m kind of on the fence, I love the musical variety (especially with the percussion and ethnic vibes), but I feel like there is TOO much going on in the song. Also, there seems to be a nearly 60-second intro, which is a bit long (IMO) for a 3-minute song. Since so much is going on with the musical arrangement, it was a bit difficult for me to get into on the first listen. I was like ok we’re doing a ballad; oh, now it’s more ethno Albanian; oh, now we’re doing hip hop/dancehall rhythms.

While I do not know any Albanian, I think the song needs more lyrics for the revamp. Maybe after the revamp, there will be a better balance of lyrics and the instrumental. Since the song is about 3:45 right now, they’ll have to shave off about 45 seconds for compliance with the 3-minute rule.

Staging:

While I liked the troupe of dancers, the orchestra, and backup singers, I doubt we’ll see this many people on the stage. For Eurovision, I think performers can have 4-6 folks on the stage. I do not know if the performance will have the same effect with only Ronela and four to five people on the stage, but I guess that we’ll see.

I’ll give it 3 stars, which means (IMO) that it will qualify to the final round. Actually, I’m on the fence between 3 or 4 stars. After a few listens, I would give it 4 stars, but I’m basing this review on my first viewing

Albania in last year’s Eurovision:

Anxhela Peristeri - Karma

Unfortunately, YouTube only has the video of her 2nd rehearsal. From watching the semi and the final on TV, the visual and lighting were on point, which are not really seen in this video clip.

Semi-final results: 10th place out of 17 performances (112 total points – 74 jury and 38 public votes), which means she barely qualified for the final. The top ten from each semi qualify to the next round. Also, you do not know the placement in the semifinal until after the contest.

Final results: 21st place out of 26 performances (57 total points – 22 jury and 35 public votes)

While the song did not perform that well in the final, it was one of my favorite ESC 2021 performances. This song has been on a few of my running playlists since May. I wish that she had something else going on (eg a dancer or two) to supplement the performance because it seemed very basic with only Anxhela and random smoke effects. Oh, I loved whatever she did with her voice at 2:13 and 2:33 AND the hair flip at 1:17 because it was right on the beat.

Random Trivia: Some say that her placement in the final was due to the contest’s running order (she was the 2nd performer of the night). People believe that the 2nd and 16th performances are cursed. The 2nd performer because that’s when folks take their bathroom breaks. Pretty much most folks are going to preparty a bit before the show starts, then you have the opening ceremonies, followed by the flag “march”/performer introductions, then the first performer. By the time you get the second performer, you might have been putting off the call of nature for some time. For the past 10+ years, the second performer has never finished within the top 1/3 of the final. Not sure why the 16th place running order is bad luck – maybe another bathroom break.

Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) – Bulgaria 🇧🇬

Intelligent Music Project - Intention

Since Måneskin (Italy 🇮🇹 ) won last year and Blind Channel (Finland 🇫🇮) came in 6th place in Eurovision 2021 with their rock-themed songs, I wonder if multiple countries will send rock anthems to Eurovision this year.

From my understanding, this was an internal selection, so the Bulgarian public did not vote to send this song to ESC. Thus, we have a music video instead of a live performance for Bulgaria’s national selection. I wonder why some countries do internal selections instead of allowing their citizens to vote on the song especially since the total points in Eurovision are partially determined by public voting

Vocal:

I guess he has a decent voice, but it’s a bit too general for me.

Musical Arrangement:

I kind of like the instrumental (maybe 70/80s rock vibe), but the lyrics and chorus are a bit flat for me. There’s really drawing me to put this song on repeat even though the song itself is a bit repetitive. Clearly, there would have to be a revamp to make this song more competitive. However, I do not know what changes can be made that will not completely change the song.

Staging:

I wonder if they will be able to translate the concept of the video into a live performance or will it just be the band playing their instruments on the stage

Final thoughts:

Well, let’s see if the band/song makes it to the contest. Word on the street is that the Spanish police is looking for the lead singer for noncompliance with a restraining order.

Image courtesy of Global Happenings

I’m gonna go with a non-qualifer for this one.

I think 90% song is pretty forgettable especially being one of the first songs released. Also, if other countries submit rock songs, I think this one will get lost in the mix.

Bulgaria in last year’s Eurovision:

Victoria – Growing Up is Getting Old

Aint’ that the truth, Victoria. ; )

Semi-final results: 3rd place out of 17 performances (250 total points – 149 jury and 101 public votes).

Final results: 11th place out of 26 performances (170 total points – 140 jury and 30 public votes). Technically, this performance received the same number of total points as Greece, but Greece was given 10th place because it received more public votes.

I will admit that I did not care for this song during the semi, but I did understand why it qualified to the final. While I did not like the song too much at first, I thought the staging was absolutely beautiful, and Victoria has a pretty decent voice. While watching the semi, I was like: Damn, Bulgaria spent some money on this sh*t. After a few listens (once ESC2021 was over), I really started getting into it. I’m so into the song that it appears in most of my long-run playlists. I just love how she ends the song: If your world is breaking and growing up is getting old. Know that you’re worth saving, and getting up is all you’ve got.