Happy Eurovision week everybody!
Now that we've got the first semi-final covered, it's time to take a look at what the second semi-final has in store for us. The same logic applies here: I am not familiar with these songs or performers yet so the reviews are based on first impressions, the songs are listed according to the running order, and they will be rated on a five-star scale. Here we go!
Senhit - Adrenalina (San Marino)
First off, we've got San Marino with Senhit and... Flo Rida? I'm not sure if we really need those pesky Americans up in our Eurovision gig but work I guess. I was just about to make the predictable joke about San Marino running out of people to send but then I took a look at Wikipedia and, I mean:
Too real. The song itself is a moderately catchy tune with a danceable rhythm so it should work quite well in the ESC. Lyrically, it sounds like the whole song was written with the working title "Gasolina" which was then swapped at the last minute when they realised such a song already exists.
"Adrenalina" is a decent effort that probably won't emerge as the top dog of the yaas-queen-on-the-dance-floor category but will easily get people moving to its beat for a good three minutes – or six, should it qualify. The song is accompanied by a fun music video with all sorts technicolour wiggery and Instagram-filtered close-ups.
The Flo Rida section is unnecessary, though, and I wonder how they are going to make that work live. Can you be partially live, partially live-on-tape? Will they have to wheel out a massive Skype screen? Only time will tell.
★★★
Uku Suviste - The Lucky One (Estonia)
Next up, we've got Estonia. "The Lucky One" is a throwback to that synth-laden 80s pop sound that has been very in for a couple of years now. I can't say I'm a huge fan of this particular attempt, however. The rhyming triplets (e.g. "unbelievable / unbeatable / a miracle") feel forced and awkward, whatever momentum is built up during the first verse is cut off by the dragging pre-chorus, and the chorus itself is drowned in a muddy, reverb-ridden wall of sound.
Maybe this will work better live, and it's not an awful entry by any means, but the song really could've done with clearer mixing and a more dynamic structure.
The melodramatic music video strives for relatability points by reminding the viewer that the rich, lavishly living, and conventionally attractive people can have romantic hardships too. All love lives matter.
★★1/2
Benny Cristo - Omaga (Czech Republic)
This year's Czech entry is called "Omaga", which is a quirky spelling of the expression 'oh my god' from what I gather. It's a fun, fresh pop tune that makes you want to get up and dance. Lyrically, it's a story about a man who has done "a lot of dumb shh..." but who, instead of being sorry and promising to learn from his mistakes, wants his irked lover back because
"I'm like, "Oh my God, you're so beautiful"
Why don't you come over and have it?
Why don't you let me have it?"
Fuckboy alert! It might be best not to give too much focus to the lyrics. Anyway, I'm sure "Omaga" will be an entertaining, energetic performance that should win it a fair share of votes. The music video is a fun three-minute easter egg hunt for all you movie/TV geeks out there.
★★★
Stefania - Last Dance (Greece)
Representing Greece, we've got Stefania with "Last Dance". The entry starts as a dramatic power ballad and then in the first chorus, a beat kicks in, giving the song some new propulsion. I rather like songs that juxtapose dark and melancholic sounds with a dance beat (there's something appealing about the contrast to me) so this definitely ticks a box in that sense. Having said that, the tempo is a little odd – I think that a slightly higher tempo would give the song more urgency. This could also help with extending the last chorus that ends quite abruptly.
The music video has Stefani stopping at the traffic lights (we stan a law-abiding citizen) and then dreaming up an apocalyptic scenario of rising sea levels. But fear not, a black pegasus swoops in to carry her to a mythical realm, where she saves the day by... making a non-suspecting Atlas holding up the earth vanish into thin air, changing into a party dress, and then breaking out some dance moves while Atlas's pals dissolve into white light as their realm is flooded with the draining waters of our world? Uh, rude.
★★★
Vincent Bueno - Amen (Austria)
Wait, we have two songs called "Amen" this year? Prison, honey. Well, who sang it best?
The Austrian entry does pack more of a punch with its thumping mid-tempo beat and more diverse instrumentation so my vote goes to them (not that the songs are that similar outside of their titles and ballad-y genre). The lyrics describe a break-up story as experienced by the betrayed narrator, comparing the end of a relationship to a funeral: "No, I never thought you'd bury me and you / No, I never thought we'd die".
"Amen" does not take you all the way to heaven, though. This type of a chorus would lend perfectly for some serious vocal riffing and ad-libbing, but unfortunately we are getting none of that. Instead, Bueno sings the chorus as if he was mortified of the idea of diverging from the pre-written melody, following it slavishly like someone playing SingStar. That, along with the harsh, almost strained-sounding vocal mixing, kind of takes away from the emotional impact of the chorus.
There is potential for the song to soar higher with a more powerful and committed live rendition, so I'm really hoping that Bueno is has the pipes to deliver that. A more varied vocal performance would also help breathe life into the repetitive structure of the song. Another thing I wish they fixed in the live version is that weird silent moment before the first chorus where the audio cuts off completely. Even a faint echo would be better. (Yeah I'm not sure why I'm so triggered by that.)
★★★
Rafał - The Ride (Poland)
You know that one douchey guy at the club who never takes off his sunglasses because they are supposedly cool? That guy who sits pompously in a VIP booth with a bottle of cheap bubbly in the cooler for him and his "entourage"? And who in his free time takes photos next to fancy cars and/or houses that he doesn't own? Yes, that guy. Well, "The Ride" is pretty much what it would sound like if that guy fancied himself a musician.
Now, the Eurovision Song Contest is no stranger to the occasional filler pop track or fifteen but this one just might take the cake of the most disposable one yet this year. I'm sure Rafał himself is charming and all in real life but this song is simply not it. The 80s synth-pop sound may have been very much in vogue as of late but that is not enough to save this Dua-Lipa-reject-sounding entry from being utterly disappointing.
The song comes with equally disposable lyrics about literally who cares what, and even if Rafał were a talented vocalist (which, as a disclaimer, he could very well be), you wouldn't know since his voice is so auto-tuned and buried under layers of louder sounds. Perhaps that's for the best. A future Eurovision classic this is not.
★1/2
Natalia Gordienko - Sugar (Moldova)
Thankfully, we'll then get a pretty sweet palate cleanser in the form of "Sugar", this year's Moldovan entry. Channelling her best Britney-meets-Gwen-Stefani kind of vocal delivery, Natalia Gordienko begs her lover to give her some sugar in this relatively simple but still very catchy song. It's a sultry number that any early-to-mid-2000s pop vixen would've been happy to add into their discography.
In a surprising twist, the track doesn't really have a proper chorus, which I find a little odd. Although I'm usually not a fan of the all too common 'song title + post-chorus breakdown' formula, here it actually wouldn't have hurt to sprinkle a couple of "sugar sugars" over the otherwise vocal-less (post-)chorus bit. But you know, obvious dance break is obvious.
Speaking of surprising twists, the Katy Perry-esque confectionery of a music video turns unexpectedly gory when the singer suddenly decides to rip a man's whole jawbone off and then goes to town on it. Did not see that one coming.
Even if I would love a true chorus, at the end of the day, "Sugar" is a genuinely infectious tune that bops reasonably hard, meaning that it should be able to qualify and do quite well in the grand final. A lot is riding on how successful the inevitable dance break is, of course.
★★★★
Daði og Gagnamagnið - 10 Years (Iceland)
Disco and synths really are in this year, huh? Whereas some years have been very ballad-heavy, this year is shaping out to be all about the dance floor - a trend that I do not mind, provided that the music is good. Thankfully, "10 Years" is a fun, retro-esque tune that stands out on its own.
The singer Daði Freyr has a very interesting voice, one that despite its softness and smoothness doesn't really hit the spot for me personally. The song and the vocals both have a quirkiness to them, which is further elaborated on in the music video featuring dorky dance moves, head-to-toe teal outfits, a string section that's literally only there for the intro, ridiculous keytars with added pyrotechnics, a child choir, and all in all an approximated 50 % of the total Icelandic population.
This will certainly be a favourite among the televoters (especially in the north/west) and should qualify with ease. I don't necessarily see this as a winner, but I'm sure it'll land somewhere on the left side of the final scoreboard, maybe around the top 10–15.
★★★1/2
Hurricane - Loco Loco (Serbia)
If you like your dance pop, you won't be left with a lot of opportunities for bathroom breaks this year. Sadly for Serbia, their entry is among the weaker entries in that genre. I do appreciate the fact that they are singing in their native language, but while the track might find success among the Balkans, I feel that it would need stronger hooks and crisper instrumentation to really have widespread appeal. It's just too forgettable and dated for such a highly competitive genre.
★★
Tornike Kipiani - You (Georgia)
Finally, your dancing feet will get some rest. Listening to the Georgian entry was a bit of ride to me. First, you've got the spacey intro, almost sounding like an excerpt from the Blade Runner soundtrack. Fascinating! Then the first verse turns into just another cutesy guitar-and-voice kind of an affair. But don't let that fool you - the song eventually grows into this beautiful, soaring number that could very well be a lost indie-folk gem from the late noughties (think something in the vein of Akron/Family). The last minute or so starting from the "My love, my love" part is particularly gorgeous.
"You" is a very intriguing track. The unusual song structure consists of three verses and an outro. There's not a chorus in sight; yet there is change, there is dynamism, there is (e)motion. I would love it if the ethereal sounds of the intro were woven into the soundscape of the song more, but this is just a minor observation of mine. The minimalistic lyrics (I think I counted 73 words) appear to be an ode to the environment.
There is no doubt that being a calm, somewhat subtle piece of music that opens ups slowly instead of offering you instant gratification, this will go largely overlooked by the general Eurovision fans. But that is what the juries are for, and I hope that they do their job. I also really hope that Georgia succeeds in creating a staging that complements the song and allows it to flourish on the Eurovision stage. "You" grows with every listen and I'd be absolutely delighted to see this go through to the grand final.
★★★★
Anxhela Peristeri - Karma (Albania)
At this point, Albania is virtually synonymous with powerhouse female vocalists who are not afraid to go high and loud. True to their style, "Karma" brings the drama and serves it with a hefty side of Balkan flair. Strong vocals and traditional instrumentals take centre stage in this song, while the bridge spices things up with some more modern sounds.
Another characteristic of Albanian entries has been their tendency to revamp national preselection winners into English with varying degrees of success (never forget how they butchered the powerful, Bond-theme-ready Përrallë, I'm still salty tbh). Out of curiosity, I had to take a look at the original version of "Karma", and thankfully this seems to be one of the better revamps – they've even kept it in Albanian.
It's a very classic Balkan power ballad, and it is true that it sounds like an entry you could've heard in the contest five years ago, or ten, or twenty. That is to say that it doesn't feel particularly 'fresh', which will probably hamper its chances to an extent, but I'm sure the live vocals will elevate the track.
★★★
The Black Mamba - Love Is On My Side (Portugal)
Continuing with a different kind of classic sound, here is Portugal with "Love Is On My Side". The song has a bluesy, vintagey vibe to it; a stylistic choice which is driven home with the band's outfits and the initial grainy black-and-white visuals of the video. It's all a little on the nose, but it's a pretty, timeless tune.
I can't say I care massively for the singer's vocals, though. To me, it almost sounds like he's putting on a character voice as opposed to singing naturally, which takes away from the sincerity of the storytelling. This is not helped by the already a tad costumey outfits.
Personal preferences aside, the juries will likely warm up to this and I'm expecting it to get a decent share of the televote as well.
★★★1/2
Victoria - Growing Up Is Getting Old (Bulgaria)
This year, Bulgaria has opted for Victoria and "Growing Up Is Getting Old". This entry is a cutesy chamber pop ballad that, if you did not know better, could easily be mistaken for a song by some Scandinavian indie singer from the past decade. The song starts small and ultimately grows into an orchestral climax, complete with an angelic choir, which will surely make for a spectacular performance.
The ever so relatable lyrics tell about dealing with anxiety and the pressures of growing up. This narrative is further reflected in the music video depicting the singer reconnecting with her younger self. It even features what I assume to be real home video footage from her childhood to really highlight the nostalgic feel.
I can see "Growing Up Is Getting Old" being a big hit not only with the juries but also the televoters, especially during a year where dance pop is a crowded category but there is a relative lack of ballad (compared to a lot of recent years). This is a clear qualifier in my books, and likely a contender for the winner of the second semifinal as well.
★★★★
Blind Channel - Dark Side (Finland)
Being Finnish myself, I have to admit that this entry I had in fact heard before (even if I did not watch UMK this year). "Dark Side" is a nu metal track that I can see gaining traction among the Eurovision voters – rock is rarely a crowded category, the rough sound should stand out nicely in this lineup, and the tribal "hu, hu, hu, hu" chanting would be a fun audience participation... if there were an actual audience, that is.
But the lyrics. My goodness, these lyrics. Dripping with the defiance of youth, the lyrics are scattered with *edgy* lines such as "Just another night in my pitch black paradise", "Don't waste your prayers, they can't save us", and "I'm living that life on the dark side / Like the 27 Club, headshot / We don't wanna grow up". And then there's the opening line of the chorus about putting your middle fingers up, a forbidden gesture which they intend to circumvent with painting their middle fingers red. Cringe, honestly.
But then, when have song lyrics ever mattered that much in the context of this show? Blind Channel is a very probably qualifier nonetheless.
★★★
Samanta Tina - The Moon is Rising (Latvia)
A genre that on the other hand is quite crowded this year is that of diva bops and female attitude anthems – and it just got a bit more packed with the Latvian entry. "The Moon Is Rising" is this odd, theatrical trap number with a lot of swagger that the song itself doesn't really justify or match. The production sounds dated, but not temporally distant enough to feel like a throwback in the good sense. Also, the song is pretty much devoid of melodic hooks which does not bode well. It's a bit of a mess really and I have a hard time seeing the reign of this self-proclaimed "queen of the night" lasting longer than three minutes during the Thursday evening.
The music video celebrates the diversity of womanhood which of course is a terrific message. But strip that court of ladies down to five and suddenly, the live setting will look rather austere (unless the background graphics are extravagant enough to distract the viewer).
★1/2
Gjon's Tears - Tout l’Univers (Switzerland)
The second semi-final features a couple of quite unique male voices, my favourite of which belongs to Gjon's Tears. Starting as a tender piano ballad, the song grows throughout its duration as it introduces more and more instruments. The singer spends a lot of time in falsetto while making his way through the beautifully written melodies and I bet the final note of the bridge leading into the last chorus will be particularly impressive live.
This is one of those songs where a mediocre vocal take will just not cut it, it has to be flawless. But if it is, I can see "Tout l’Univers" hitting hard among the juries and the televoters alike. The song might be a bit too similar stylistically with our previous winner "Arcade" to end up on the top spot, as consecutive winners tend to represent different genres and sounds. (They'd better not bring a grand piano to the stage.)
Nonetheless, it's a gorgeous piece that, with a great live performance, will undoubtedly launch Switzerland well into the top 10 come Saturday, perhaps even top 5.
★★★★1/2
Fyr & Flamme - Øve Os På Hinanden (Denmark)
I previously referred to the recent disco revival and how you could hear it in this year's song selection, but Denmark's entry sounds like it was literally dug up from that era. It's such a time capsule musically that it comes across as kitschy in all of its 70s disco/80s schlager retro glory – it's clear that the songwriters had no interest in bringing the sound to 2021. And that is their prerogative, of course.
For me, on the other hand, it's a campfest that I can't bring myself to enjoy. Sure, it's fun if you take it for what it is (which, ironically, is how I explain my Eurovision enthusiasm to others), but it's just too much of a direct pastiche for me to warm up to. Kudos to Denmark for sending a song entirely in Danish for the first time since the 90s, though. And there is something endearing about how happy-go-lucky that country just seems to be from one year to another. Good on them.
★★
So, who is going to qualify?
Well, those two lists turned out almost identical! I don't think we really have any 'automatic' finalists in this bunch (even Greece has failed to qualify a couple of times in the recent years), which makes for a much more interesting semi-final. Again, I'm not going to full-on ESC geek and start analysing voting patterns, but here are my predictions:
- There are a handful of songs in the calmer, more ballad-oriented group here. Of these, Bulgaria and Switzerland are clearly the strongest entries and their qualification is a no-brainer.
- Portugal will likely have the juries on their side and go through.
- Personally, I love Georgia but I can see it being a tough sell to the average viewer. If it were to qualify, that would require an absolute killer of a staging and would happen largely thanks to jury votes. But realistically, I wouldn't bet money on it.
- Austria is also competing in the same genre. I don't think his vocals are soulful and strong enough the match the chorus, and the entry will probably be overshadowed by Switzerland in particular.
- The Czech Republic and Iceland both have fun dance tunes that are catchy and distinct enough to qualify.
- In the category of female-sung 'bops', I expect San Marino to qualify most comfortably.
- If their performance is staged well enough, Moldova should make it as well. Again, a lot depends on that dance break.
- Serbia is lacking in substance to make Europe go crazy for them.
- Latvia is eclipsed by catchier and more fresh-sounding entries.
- Finland is the sole representative of its genre in this semi-final and should be a decently safe qualifier.
- I haven't been particularly impressed by Estonia's vocals, so I have a hard time seeing them getting a whole lot of votes.
- Poland's ride will be cut short this year.
- Denmark has a stellar slot in the running order but that is not enough to get them to the final.
- Greece will be doing some more dancing on Saturday.
- This leaves us with Albania. I'm honestly not sure what to make of it. On the one hand, it risks sounding dated and passé. On the other hand, it is perhaps the most 'traditional' entry in this lineup, so it just might have enough of a niche to get through. I have no doubt that the live vocals will be spot on which should help. Let's say that Albania is the tenth qualifier.
I'm definitely looking forward to the live performances because as we know, they can make or break a song's chances.
Do we have the winner in this lineup?
I don't think any song yet has given clear winner vibes. In this semi-final, I think the entries that stand out the most belong to Bulgaria and Switzerland. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the two won the semi-final, which of course would be a promising sign going into the grand final as well. Out of these two, Switzerland is somewhat similar to the previous winner which may very well hinder its winning potential. Therefore, I would say Bulgaria might be one to keep an eye out on.
These were my musings – what say you?
Stay safe and enjoy the contest – it's been a while in the waiting!
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