I LOVE EUROVISION, and it’s one of my special interests, so for another year, I wanted to share my initial reviews to the 37 Eurovision songs, before the final, which in my usual late fashion, I am watching NEXT weekend – a week late! I’ve never been too fussed by dates and certain ‘days’ – it’s still special to me!
(Big Five)
United Kingdom: Remember Monday – What The Hell Just Happened? Slightly country-like, this is a fun synth pop song, about supporting eachother and getting through life? Got a lot of twists and turns and is generally quite a sweet, light, happy, energetic sound, with a bit of reflection, and feels very tween, but it’s nice? It might grow on me, but I think you finish wanting more from it, like it never grows or expands. 6.
France: Louane – maman – another sad French song, but they convey emotion so well! This is a little lighter than some of their previous number; a song about moving on, and a mother-daughter relationship. Actually quite an uplifting chorus. Subtly builds. Beautiful, but a tad understated. Is it stand out enough? 6/10.
Germany: Abor & Tynna – Baller – a brother and sister duo sing a chanty repetitive dancey pop about broken hearts. It’s kind of upbeat, very electronic pop, and while I think they both have beautiful voices, it does nothing for me. I just kind of rock my head to it, but that’s it. 1/10.
Italy: Lucio Corsi – Volevo Essere Un Duro – plays with themes of masculinity and self image, this is GORGEOUS. It gives me Beatles/Bowie reflective vibes, with a chorus that you want to rock your head and throw your body to in a field of daisies – it’s light and romantic and playfully pretty! I like how it’s got a few funny twists and is subtly beautiful, and is about not living up to expectation..AND ACHIEVES ALL OF THIS IN ITALIAN. 9/10!
Spain: Melody – ESA DIVA – a catchy, fun pow ballad, dancy, I like how much is in Spanish. It’s a little bit funky electronic for me but does build…I guess it’s just I see nothing unique, but I do like the little Spanish guitar bits here and there, and I do want to dance. Kind of classic. 6/10.
Host – Switzerland: Zoë Më – “Voyage” – emotional, sweet, about spreading kindness among all the disconnection, sad, hate. It’s pretty, it’s light, I like it. Almost romantic. All French too, yet so different to France’s entry! This one grows on me more and more, I love the layered vocals and how ‘in wonder’ and innocent she sounds, and yet the bridge takes you to a climactic powerful ending, almost demanding kindness! 8.
(From Semi Final 1)
Norway: Kyle Alessandro – Lighter – about not telling yourself fall and pushing on, this is a power ballad, with all you could ask for – storytelling verses in sultry smooth tones, a building prechorus that draws you in, and a punchy chorus line that leads to a catchy refrain ‘I’M MY OWN LIGHTER’. Addictive. A bit synthy, but there’s cool baroque elements, and I think it’s great, even if the lyrics are a bit generic. 6 or 7!
Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm – electronic/alternative pop but also very folky? I love the folky instruments and how it’s all Albanian, but I just don’t find it memorable, and I don’t like the weird rap bit. The bridge has some wow. It just doesn’t seem to go anywhere, and while I’m getting a feeling of fighting on and determination and pushing through pain, its all very flat. 3/10.
Sweden: KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu – RIGHT HERE WE GO EUROVISION. Unusual for Sweden, it’s not a huge emotional ballad but a EUROVISION catchy pop DANCE, electronic, comedic, all about Finnish sauna culture, and it’s just funny and I like it. Simple. Maybe that’s all Eurovision needs to be. 8 or 9!
Iceland: VÆB – RÓA – WELL THIS THROWS YOU IN. It’s a fun boppy silly dance jumpy number, both jaunty and disco and with traditional instruments, which are great, and then some kind of shouty bits? Apparently its about going through rough seas, and hey, I am kinda getting that vibe. It’s repetitive, BUT I CANNOT STOP SINGING IT. Somehow, this is getting a fun 7! I think the energy and hopefulness are FAB!
Netherlands: Claude – C’est La Vie – talking to his younger self, this is a classic pop song, starts off quite elegant, piano, stripped back, and then builds into a bop! It’s quite reflective, a little dark, almost melancholic, but its cheerful too, and has an infectious chorus. Not amazed, but it’s nice! Impeccably sung too -he has a very smooth voice. I feel like it will grow on me over time, but maybe lacks initial impact. 6/10.
Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – GAJA -about the power of women, inspired by Greek mythology and Slavic mantras, this is an alternative pop ballad, with a strong, commanding sound, combined with almost hip hop, some screams, and traditional instruments? I think I like it? There’s a random VERY hip hoppy dance break, but it doesn’t feel out of place, and although I don’t love it, I’m a little spellbound. 5/10.
San Marino: Gabry Ponte – Tutta L’Italia – a dancey DJ number, this feels like a eurodanc tune, kind of light and fun with a chant and a ditzy sound, but it’s also got a thump to it and electric sound. It’s got me moving my feet and will probably stick in my head, but I don’t think it does enough to win. Has a cool San Marino sound. 6 or 7.
Estonia: Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato – rapping, traditional instruments, synchronised dancing!? It’s a dancy bop making fun of the wealthy with very swinger vibes. It’s quite fun ‘life may give you lemons…no need to be depresso!’. Humorous. This one could grow on me, though there’s no like, big finish? Still, a 6 or 7 out of 10!
Portugal: NAPA – Deslocad – oooh, indie music!! Speaks deeply about Madeira Island, capturing the feelings of living displaced on the mainland of Portugal, and talks about coming home and a feeling of not belonging. It’s a little ditty with guitars and lots of nostalgic soft rock reflection-on-lifeness. I don’t think it’s Eurovisiony, but I want to rock my head and wave along to it. 7.
Ukraine: Ziferblat – Bird of Pray – tells the story of Ukrainians who been separated by the war, especially since the Russian invasion in the country since 2022, THIS IS BOLD. It’s got everything, guitars, a classic pop beat, almost choral calls and haunting elements, emotion, chanting, the melody jumps around, but throughout it draws you in with lyrics of pain and surviving. THE REFRAIN ‘IM BEGGING YOU IM BEGGING YOU’. Very very different, very interesting, and though I don’t think it’s catchy enough for Eurovision, deserves credit. 7!
(From Semi Final 2)
Latvia: Tautumeitas – Bur Man Laimi – another folky sound, this is kind of ethereal, woodland? It’s apparently the first song written entirely in Latvian to represent the country since 2004, woop, and is about..summoning happiness. It’s very pagan feeling, and the costumes are beautiful. UNIQUE. Mix of haunting SOUNDS and chanting, and I guess I wanted to like it..more than I did. Maybe goes over my head. 3/10.
Armenia: PARG – SURVIVOR – a kind of half chanted, alternative, grungey, rock song with an anthemic pop chorus and some rapped verses, some shouted and spoken bits…it jumps around a lot, and I don’t get it. Wanted more musically, instrumentally, and from the lyrics. 0/10.
Austria: JJ – Wasted Love – very emotional. STUNNING OPERATIC VOCALS. Real big climax. A personal song about unrequited love. I wanted to call this generic, with such a title, but THOSE VOCALS. ITS HAUNTING AND POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL, and needs nothing extra, although for some reason it goes a little electronic at the end? Still, didn’t ruin it. 7.
Greece: Klavdia – Asteromáta – quite a solemn start, this is all in Greek, and features Greek music and instrumnets. It’s about pain and letting go. It’s a mix of power and haunting emotion, and feels very ‘human spirit’ and ‘life’. Her voice soars, and I think this is a beautiful slow burner! I feel like she’s calling upon us to listen. HAUNTING definitely is the word. 8/10.
Lithuania: Katarsis – Tavo Akys – explores the emotions of sadness and sharing that with someone, very brooding..wasn’t sure about the sound? Quite a slow song, building as it goes on with heavier drums, more layers, and emotional notes..and even some shouting. I feel his pain, but it doesn’t quite work for me. 3/10.
Malta: Miriana Conte – SERVING – apparently the song had to be changed from the title ‘KANT’, but still, it’s all about ignoring people’s judgements and doing what you want. It’s a gutsy pop balled with sass! It’s edgy and fun and not usually my kind of thing but I love her girl power, with some awesome belted choruses that make you want to clap and pop and just get into it too. Could’ve been even bigger? Brings me back to like, mid 2010s ‘cool’! 7/10.
Denmark: Sissal – Hallucination – pop with soulful vocals, about that deep love when you’re not sure what’s happening to you, when you’re on the edge of reality and fantasy. Bit of an electronic/dancey edge. Really builds and layers. It’s catchy and she does really belt it in the chorus, but there’s not much else there. Good. Just good. 5.
Luxembourg: Laura Thorn – La Poupée Monte Le Son – ooooh this is all doll themed!! A sweet pop bop with a message – in a tongue-in-cheek way it points out how women are seen by some men: like dolls that can’t make their own decisions and only exist to be playthings. It’s fun and dancey and yes it could’ve been edgier, but I think it’s great! The bridge has sass and I think they’ve gone for the more uplifting route, power woman, rather than fuck men! Which is also valid! Catchy too. 8/10!
Israel: Yuval Raphael – New Day Will Rise – another ballad, emotional, powerful, ‘life will go on’, ‘don’t cry alone’. I think it’s quite a heartfelt anthem of resilience and love, nice piano, rhythmic, but nothing WOW. Lyrics a little generic. 4 or 5.
Finland: Erika Vikman – ICH KOMME – a weird mix of punk and classic rock song and 80s and 90s sound, this is a weird disco groove, and a bit of an ear worm? She feels so angry but she also sounds so celebratory!? It’s a blend of Finnish and German lyrics and carries a deliberate double meaning. While it can mean simply ‘I’m on my way’ in everyday German, it is also widely recognised as a sexual innuendo, adding a provocative edge to the performance. I think the whole song is a fun song of rebellion! I kind of like it? I DO KEEP SINGING ICH KOMME! 8.5/10!
(Knocked Out of Semi Finals)
Slovenia: Klemen – How Much Time Do We Have Left – a song about his wife and when she was diagnosed with a serious illness. Electro/synth pop, a lot of emotion, beautiful lyrics, although they are English. I feel really close to it’s lyrics. That feeling of crisis and questioning. It’s not a crazy song and there’s not loads to it, but I LOVE IT. I personally don’t think it needs more, but..this is Eurovision. 8.5/10!!
Belgium: Red Sebastian – Strobe Lights – EDM. Feels like some adventure night out, about living in the moment. There’s some high notes but it feels very rave club party, with nothing TO IT. Not for me. 1/10.
Azerbaijan: Mamagama – Run With U – a love song with a bit of a groove, this is quite electronic and synthy, and just never gets away from that or seems to go anywhere. Just okay, nothing much there, really. Very generic. 1/10.
Cyprus: Theo Evan – Shh – this is a kind of crazy at the start, but then descends into pop ballad? It feels a bit arrogant, and I’m not sure about the meaning? Is he some kind of God trying to hide away? It doesn’t resonate with me. It’s also just generic pop, for a LOT of it, with a dance beat. Meh. 1/10.
Croatia: Marko Bošnjak – Poison Cake – this song is very unexpected, it’s got some alt-emo vibes, and changes tempo a lot, ‘it’s not my fault I got carried away, I lost control when I started to bake’ but there’s also some weird yelly bits, and I just think it doesn’t quite work, even though I do like some bits. Is it about revenge? There’s some kind of gothic vibes along with pop..but I think it tries too hard, and just rambles a bit, in the end. 2/10.
Australia: Go-Jo – Milkshake Man – a song about self-expression, about being the ‘loudest and proudest’ version of yourself, this is a disco dance very jokey song. To be honest, the innuendos are a bit weird, and it doesn’t quite work for me as other comedic songs we’ve had in Eurovision..I think the exact sound isn’t quite landing? Maybe too electronic and nightclubby? Sorry Australia, 2/10.
Montenegro: Nina Žižić – Dobrodošli – feminist ballad about the expectations on women. Starts off strong, kind of cinematic, it’s quite a serious ballad, with soul, and some strong drums. Not sure how memorable it is, but I think it’s emotional, and a little haunting. AND NO ENGLISH! 7/10.
Ireland: EMMY – Laika Party – this gave me Nordic vibes, it’s got silvery lyrics, a fun dance beat, and is that kind of sickly sweet pop you can’t get out of your head, with some soaring calls. Turns out the group are Nordic! It’s about an endless party and being happy despite sad things, maybe, or ignoring the haters, I don’t know, that’s what I get, but it’s not too serious. I like it, but I don’t love it. It IS catchy. 5 or 6.
Georgia: Mariam Shengelia – Freedom – very anthemic, emotional ballad, a mix of almost classic operatic traditional with some ethnic elements. Didn’t seem very memorable to me, and even though the lyrics said about freedom, I wasn’t feeling much. Just okay. 2/10.
Czechia: ADONXS – Kiss Kiss Goodbye – chorus is powerful but this just doesn’t speak to me, like the lyrics don’t match the passionate sound or the songs tone, and how it’s all about human failure, emotional pain, one’s own imperfections..the dance break bit feels odd too, and doesn’t fit. It’s okay if I don’t think too much or listen too intently. 1/10.
Serbia: Princ – Mila – apparently about his cat, but this is emotional and open. He’s calling for his cat and there’s a nice mix of more traditional guitars and piano, but overall, the focus is his voice. It really builds, and I think it’s a pretty strong love ballad! Not the best of Eurovision, but good! 5 or 6/10.
Do you like Eurovision? Did anyone you like get knocked out in the semi finals?
I also made these reviews into square images!! Right click and open in new tab to view them!
