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Last Active 12-27-22 12:13 am
Joined 09-12-10
Review Comments 30,018
| Eurovision 2023 Early Preview
This is a bit early considering the finals are 2 months away, but with the final national selections being made we now know nearly every song for Liverpool 2023, and I've gotta say this is the 3rd year in a row since the cancellation of Eurovision 2020 that I believe the standard of music to be pretty high.
Recent winners, including 4 of the last 6 having been sung primarily or entirely in a non-English language, have enabled more experimentation in the pool. If you compare the quality and diversity of music to even 5 years ago it is night and day and 2023 might yet be the best I have ever seen. This is my allocation de points so far | | 1 | Luke Black
Samo mi se spava
Serbia
Serbia do like to weirden it up a little. This one could yet be another fan favourite with it's rap-whispered verses and grinding electro bass. Personally, it's missing a bit of meat when it's coming to the choruses and there are other songs I'd rather dance to on this list, but it's a decent effort.
Language: Serbian
National final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeIVwYUge8o
Verdict: Un point | | 2 | La Zarra
Evidemment
France
After last year's Breton-dance banger was undeservedly maligned in the standings, the French selection has reverted back to the formula that was so successful in 2021 with “Voila”, mixing the tradition of chanson with bombastic, catchy and modern production. This is probably the weakest and most generic of the last three French entries but it's still pretty good.
Language: French
Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWfbEFH9NvQ
Verdict: Deux points | | 3 | Let 3
Mama SC
Croatia
I have to include this just for how unhinged it is. Clearly an anti Russia song, this band are apparently very well known and choatic punk rockers in the former Yugoslav states. I still don't really know what to make of this so I'll just leave the links below.
Language: Croatian, ŠČ
National final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isZ_4AnCTnA
Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyKj8jA0Qoc
Verdict: ŠČ points | | 4 | Joker Out
Carpe Diem
Slovenia
Don't let the name fool you, this is a pretty decent indie/pop rock song in the vein of bands like Interpol. Bonus points for singing in Slovene. In semi final 2 but may get lost in the noise in the final.
Language: Slovene
Live showcase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfTiuZaESKs
Verdict: Quatre points | | 5 | Voyager
Promise
Australia
Australia's first forays into Eurovision haven't met with much outstanding success, despite enthusiasm and a wealth of talent. I had never heard of Voyager and with no national final to boost hype I nearly missed this, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear Australia go slightly rogue for the first time with a prog metal band. “Promise” is closer to Journey or Nightwish than Tool though, and that's fine. This song starts slow but it isn't too shabby at all; the chorus is big and glorious and I love that big sexy bridge. I hope this surprises people cos Australia isn't really on people's radar at the moment.
Language: English
Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqtu2GspT80
Verdict: Cinq points | | 6 | Teya & Salena
Who The Hell Is Edgar?
Austria
There seem to be a fair few songs this year that straddle the border between hip hop and dance pop and do so pretty well. This particular...homage, is a catchy, well produced and tongue in cheek critique of the music industry. Any other year it could be placed a bit higher but it does waver a bit cheesy for me. Expected to sail through the semi final 2 as most of the favourites are in semi final 1 and could be a fan favourite.
Language: English
Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMmLeV47Au4
Verdict: Six points | | 7 | Loreen
Tattoo
Sweden
The bookies' favourite, returning winner Loreen. I think I might actually like this song more than the one that won it. It is what you would expect from Loreen and Sweden; a majestic voice that emanates in a live setting, immense stage presence and production quality. Sending this is almost cheating but it remains to be seen if the stage design seen in Melodifestivalen is even replicable come the grand final.
"Tattoo" is a darker song than "Euphoria". There is no dancing to this one, but it might just win it. Not my favourite though.
Language: English
Verdict: Sept points
Melodifestivalen semi final - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7mCELuFz5I | | 8 | Pasha Parfeni
Soarele si Luna
Moldova
Moldova is one of those countries that always seems to hit it out the park for goofy and party, even if they constantly send the same 3 artists. I don't actually remember this singer's last entry in 2012, but this one certainly levels it up a gear for Moldova. Definitely check this out if you were a fan of Ukraine's Go_A a couple of years ago. This song bounces like a party coach down the Carpathian mountains. This is the sort of thing I'd expect to hear at those midnight forest LSD raves southern French kids love to host in the Summer. I would like to learn Romanian just so I too may Soarele this Luna.
Language: Romanian
National Final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I0we0lhDic
Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jatc6dNgpjs
Verdict: Huit Points | | 9 | Vesna
My Sister's Crown
Czechia
Feminist folk dance rap and it fucking slaps? I shouldn't even be surprised at this point. The lead is doing that half rap/half sing thing and her voice really fits it, and like many songs this year that groovy production is here in spades. And then the chorus hits you. Could be a sleeper pick for the winner if the stage performance elevates it.
Language: various
Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y78qgDlzAM
Verdict: Dix points | | 10 | Kaarija
Cha Cha Cha
Finland
Anyone order Rammstein K pop fusion for this year's winner? With a dose of rap and a banging electro (*cha-lectro) refrain? Too bad. This has everything I want in a Eurovision entry. Irreverent, hilarious, heavy??? and catchy as all hell. And then there's the stage performance that elevates it to a whole new level. This absolutely steamrolled a strong line up in the national final. You just have to see it...
Language: Finnish
National Final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJHe-iZ5HSI
Verdict: Douze points | |
anarchistfish
03.14.23 | Others
Switzerland: im tired of ballads man
UK: supremely meh
Norway: lots of hype around this but I feel like I've heard this song from Norway before and better
Poland: controversial because of apparent nepotism in the selection process. also terrible
Latvia: actually a pretty decent indie rock but might get lost in the noise
Ukraine: sounds like a D tier Weeknd song tbh. Would be surprised if it won
Germany: pretty generic metal track but it's alright
Spain: very good track in the vein they've gone for lately. Could do well
Georgia: song comes out in two days and has lots of hype around it. | mkmusic1995
03.14.23 | Finland sounds insane! They got my vote | anarchistfish
03.14.23 | Yeah it's not even close lol | Egarran
03.15.23 | Subscribe | Sinternet
03.15.23 | so far this has actually been the best set of songs in a long time, and finland absolutely steals the show | anarchistfish
03.15.23 | Tempted to put a bet on them tbh | Pangea
03.19.23 | Great list! glad to see someone else that listens to all the songs beforehand haha. Agreed with most of your picks, i'm only not really into Sweden. Great vocals but i'm not into the song as much. My current favourite is latvia, which i think is great indie rock song, but this year is overall very solid. Portugal i also love
my top 10:
1 Latvia
2 Portugal
3 France
4 Moldovia
5 Czech Rep
6 Serbia
7 Finland
8 Austria
9 Australia
10 Estonia
My country the netherlands is alright, just a little dull | anarchistfish
03.20.23 | Yeah I don't usually listen to them beforehand but I guess cos it is in UK this year I'm more aware. I didnt really pay attention to eurovision at all during the 2010s. So many boring ballads and generic jury-bait.
Netherlands was my favourite song last year! Actually a really good ballad | Pangea
03.20.23 | oh yeah i love our song last year! I actually heard her album from last year recently as well, i should add that to the database |
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