I’m sorry this is a bit late, but I’m still kind of buzzing about EUROVISION. I’ve always been a Eurovision fan, but this year I think it’s ended up becoming somewhat of a special interest, and I’ve found myself playing multiple songs on repeat (and at least two or three new artists that I’m obsessed with, and many that I’ll certainly be checking on for new music, from time to time). I thought it’d be fun to share my thoughts on the Eurovision Song Contest of 2023, hosted in Liverpool – but first, let me just provide some context:
What is Eurovision? Eurovision is an annual international song contest, beginning in 1956. It involves each country submitting an original son to be performed live, and the winner being chosen through a combination of public votes and votes from each country’s ‘jury’. The whole idea is to celebrate new music, and I suppose also strengthen the relationships between countries in Europe, though there’s often controversies, particularly about politics between nations coming into the voting process, or being expressed within songs.
What’s so special about the 2023 contest? I suppose there isn’t anything particularly special, except that it was being held in the UK, who came second last year, because of the war in Ukraine (who were the winners – and therefore would normally be the hosts). It being held in the UK, where I live, also means, as a country, we’re promoting it more heavily.
My thoughts on the countries who made it to the grand final (along with my friend, fellow reviewer, and Eurovision fan):
🇦🇹 Austria | Teya & Salena – Who The Hell Is Edgar? – we love the song, because it’s a weird TUNE, but question if flamboyant enough – 8 and 8.5.
More detail: it’s very fast paced and the sardonic lyrics are GREAT. LOVE IT. Random holy chants. There’s a few different Eurovision stereotypes and this fits ‘just WEIRD’. Something about being inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and being a star. EXCELLENT. Pumping beat is fabulous. Would like some Austrian though, so docking a point for that. However, does get points for dance moves, and culture references. The performance, in terms of dancing, etc, is quite plain, for this kind of song, however.
🇵🇹 Portugal | Mimicat – Ai Coração – groovier than we remembered but a bit difficult to get into; liked the flamenco-ness – 4 and 3.5.
🇨🇠Switzerland | Remo Forrer – Watergun – pure emotion and depth, gives you the feels as we already knew – 9 and 8.
🇵🇱 Poland | Blanka – Solo – this is surprisingly funky though no one realises there’s more to it and cheers before the end – 7 and 6.5.
🇷🇸 Serbia | Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava – still don’t quite understand why he is a finalist, doesn’t even seem to sing in tune, and his song is meh – 1 and 3.
🇫🇷 France: La Zarra – Évidemment – France proving that 1. Serious and dramatic can still be a banger and 2. That you can sing all in your own language and still have a hook.
🇨🇾 Cyprus | Andrew Lambrou – Break A Broken Heart – really great, solid performance, though verses feel heavy compared to the epic chorus, and definitely gets better with time – 7.5 and 7.
🇪🇸 Spain: Blanca Paloma – Eaea – sounds like Arabian nights, gets worse with time…this was never going to get a good score – 1 and 2.
🇸🇪 Sweden | Loreen – Tattoo – definitely grows on you, Tattoo is a typical love song, but it IS good – 5.5 and 6.
🇦🇱 Albania | Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje – this was just a bit meh, as previously thought – 2 and 3.
🇮🇹 Italy: Marco Mengoni – Due Vite – beautiful voice and performance, but not a memorable song – 3.5 and 5.
🇪🇪 Estonia | Alika – Bridges – the way she sings BRIDGES is stupendous, we like it a lot – 6.5 and 7.
🇫🇮 Finland | Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha – THIS IS CRAZY DRINKING SONG, better than last time, and woah it has a dance move, who knew (?) – 10 and 8.5.
More detail: Finland do usually do something ‘out there’, and THIS YEAR IS NO EXCEPTION! THERE’S CHANTING AND A BOX. THIS SOUNDS ANGRY AND RANTY AND RAVEY! CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA! I’m not exactly sure what’s going on but YES, YES, YES! I’m stimming out, aaah! I’m living in the moment, and escaping, and ahh, in the words of Käärijä, ‘it’s crazy, it’s party’!
🇨🇿 Czechia | Vesna – My Sister’s Crown – a feminist, dancey song, better in concept than actuality, lacks a strong chorus. Choreography and harmonies spot on though – 5 and 6.
🇦🇺 Australia | Voyager – Promise – crazy strong chorus and bridge, works well live, but for some reason doesn’t stick in your head like others – 6 and 7.
More detail: come on Australia, please! I really want you to do well (as an Australian citizen, though I understand why people are confused that the country, not being in Europe, is in Eurovision). It’s very upbeat with odd synthesizer sounds, but kind of works? I like the emotion and power when they hit ‘it’s gonna be alright’, but overall, I don’t feel like it’ll be super popular. Was much better performed live than the music video though!
🇧🇪 Belgium | Gustaph – Because Of You – just as fun as remembered, this has a good beat, and feels jazzy – 7.5 and 8.5.
More detail: THIS JUMPED STRAIGHT IN. IT’S GROOVY, C’MON, PARTY-LIKE. Clapping beat in the background. Wonderful outfits. CELEBRATE. Because Of You! I CARRY ON. Love this, really jazzy and Eurovisiony – anthemic and self lovey, and Discoey. Wish there was more Belgish (this is not a language). Excellent.
🇦🇲 Armenia | Brunette – Future Lover – this is elegant and heartfelt, and I like how the verses are a bit irregular, but it’s not AS memorable as other songs – 6 and 7.
More detail: this is kind of solemn, haunting, more stripped back. Suddenly jumped into a weird hip hop rap song…felt a bit meh AND THEN IT HIT THE BE GOOD DO GOOD CHORUS AND I SUDDENLY GOT IT! WOAH! I LOVE IT! THIS IS A TURNAROUND FOR THE BOOKS! Encapsulates the drama and theatricality of Eurovision, though could’ve been cheesier.
🇲🇩 Moldova | Pasha Parfeni – Soarele ÅŸi Luna – just very ‘meh’ – 0.5/10 and 1.5/10.
🇺🇦 Ukraine: TVORCHI – Heart of Steel – a ‘catchy enough’ line from the chorus, but generally a slow, subdued kind of odd song – 3 and 3.5.
🇳🇴 Norway | Alessandra – Queen of Kings – emotional anthem sung by a beautifully silver voice, AND ITS POWERFUL – 8.5 and 8.
More detail: I REALLY LIKED THIS!! It had a quirky rhythm and tune, and I liked the whole power woman feel to it. THE SINGER IS STUNNING TOO. AND IT FELT VERY NORWAY-Y. I liked the references to the Northern Lights and the Northern and Southern Seas.
🇩🇪 Germany: Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter – one of the more ‘out there’ songs of the year, but he pulls off the screamo elements and crazy outfit well, and the chorus is genuinely a SHOUT – 7.5 and 7.
🇱🇹 Lithuania | Monika LinkytÄ— – Stay – in Graham Norton’s words, ‘a perfectly nice song..needs something to make it stand out’ – 3.5 and 8.
🇮🇱 Israel | Noa Kirel – Unicorn – she’s a bloody amazing singer but the song, controversially, is NOT a stand out – 5 and 5.
🇸🇮 Slovenia | Joker Out – Carpe Diem –a very cute group of boys singing a groovy pop ditty, and we did enjoy – 8 and 6.5.
ðŸ‡ðŸ‡· Croatia | Let 3 – Mama Å ÄŒ! – it’s very odd, a bit of a mess, and you’re not sure if they realise it themselves, but they seem to be doing their own thing, and 50% of us like it – 6 and 4.
More detail: Mama SC? I have no idea how to pronounce this. Has a very different vibe, there’s just tinny drums in the back at the start..and now some weird aggressive sounds. WHAT IS HAPPENING? THEN THE DISCO HITS. This felt a bit like it was trying too hard to be crazy and out there.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song – very poor performance on the night, but this was a catchy enough song, and a good effort, for us – normally a 6.5 but on the night, a 4, and normally a 7, but on the night a 3.
After seeing all the performances, I also had some extra thoughts:
Germany’s song was great live, but not as great as the recording.
Solo was remarkably BETTER live, a real groove!
Norway’s was also a bit better live!
Tattoo was much improved live!
Bridges is POWERFUL.
There was a weird bit at the end with Liverpool iconic songs like Imagine and You’ll Never Walk Alone.
I loved it when Australia got 12 points and were busy eating sandwiches because they did not expect it to happen!!
I’m sorry to join in with the controversy, but while I’m happy for Sweden, who won, I REALLY believe Finland should have (there has been much controversy that the jury vote was fixed, giving Sweden an extreme lead that even with a shockingly high public vote, Finland could not surpass)!
And, a couple weeks after Eurovision, and after listening to the playlist constantly on repeat, I had a few more thoughts:
WHY DOES EVERYONE HATE WATERGUN – I STILL DON’T GET IT?
I am obsessed with Joker Out and Käärijä.
Mama SC has grown on me, woah, I actually think it’s gone from trying too hard to trying so incredibly hard they clearly don’t care about trying too hard, and I love the themes.
The emotional power of Italy’s is finally getting through to me.
I also cannot believe Greece, Azerbaijan, Poland, and Malta, all didn’t make it to the final. I thought they were all absolutely amazing!!??
Everyone who participated genuinely seems so kind and genuine (I have enjoyed watching many clips of interviews etc – in particular videos of Käärijä and Bojan (from Joker Out) together).
My top of the year:
Finland and Norway
Switzerland and Austria
Honourable mentions to Slovenia and Germany, of those who made the final.
Honourable mentions to Greece and Poland, of those who didn’t make it to the final.
Did you watch Eurovision? What were your thoughts?
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