Ireland

May 9, 2023May 9, 2023

Ireland, Switzerland and the Netherlands

Ireland: We Are One by Wild Youth

Love the beats. Lyrics just blew my mind. Hijacks my heart. Incredible presentation. Love the way they cover their faces and remain covered until the song finishes. What more can I say? Have to create new words for ‘great’. “We are one in one and thousands of the world if exist. Music has the power that can hold everyone in the world and beyond the world together in one frame. Ireland, and this song are definitely the winner for me. Listening to it and trying to get all the energy the song carries.

Reviewed by Shatabdi Paul

Switzerland: Watergun by Remo Forrer

The beats and music are just the thing that caught my attention when I heard it for the first time. No gun, no war, just peace। The desire of this song lies in peace. I feel like this song is a song dedicated to all and has the potential to make connections with many people.

Reviewed by Shatabdi Paul

Netherlands: Burning Daylight by Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper

I can feel the grief in their soft, slow pitch and repetition of the words “goodbye old life”. When listening to this song, I feel like this is my life. Constantly losing here, stumbling, getting knocked back again and again. There is no joy anywhere in life, if there is no joy there is no peace. Life is a burning day, a terrible night. Maybe this song gives sad vibes to some other people, I am getting energy from this song, good for my type. Hope for the best, let’s see how far it can go.

Reviewed by Shatabdi Paul

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023

Ireland, Germany, Finland

Ireland: We are one by Wild Youth

I am usually an absolute sucker for songs that are anthemic and uplifting; with soft vocals with a simple beat and riff that lead to an absolute belter of a chorus that encourages everyone to shout out the lyrics. However, a great anthem needs to work for it, a catchy but refined first verse with enticing lyrics to keep you waiting for that intense chorus. We Are One by Wild Youth fails to create that enticing build-up, which then makes the chorus, with the key change and the newly introduced lead guitar and synthesizer fall flat. Wild Youth really tries to hone in on the key anthemic sounds toward the end by repeating the chorus with an added bass drum, but just feels rushed and unsatisfactory without enough effort or thought into the verse that needs to lead into the more emotionally serious chorus.

My feelings about “anthemic” pop songs aside, lyrically it’s cliche in all the fun ways. Focusing on unity and accepting differences without any substance that challenges any political point of view. Despite my issues with this song, I still know its going to be stuck in my head for a few days before I end up adding it to my listening playlist anyway.

Reviewed by

Chris Irving

Germany: Blood and Glitter by Lord of the Lost

I am 1000% backing this entry to win (even though I doubt they will). Lord of the Lost are what I expect to happen if a bunch of drag queens had babies with Marilyn Manson and I can’t even express how happy this makes me!

Blood and Glitter is a catchy tune, a mix of a sweet lullaby interlude with screamo metal, and is a joy to behold! This clip (which I’ve played about 4 times in a row this morning) gets better with every viewing. The spandex outfits, the glitter lips and monobrows, the intense staring into your soul, the half-naked group worshipping blood shower – I want to meet these guys and talk philosophy with them so bad!

Do your eyes and ears a favour and watch the video clip IMMEDIATELY! Es ist sehr gut!!!

Reviewed by

Georgina Binns

Finland: Cha Cha Cha by Käärijä

Ballroom dancers, be warned – this is not that kind of Cuban Latin cha-cha-cha… on the contrary, it is something far better: an utterly addictive techno-beat with plenty of synth, autotune and a bit of Mario Brothers. The genius is that the fairly abrasive and hammering opening gives way to melodic disco sounds whilst keeping the relentless tempo. Coupled with excellent green puffy sleeves (which I hope will make it onto the stage in Liverpool), this could go far!

Reviewed by

Mariella Herberstein

May 11, 2022

Estonia, Ireland, Montenegro

Estonia – Stefan: Hope

Estonia is going full country on Eurovision! Surely bringing a spaghetti western to Italy is nothing short of genius! Stefan has the right voice and attitude to carry this off and he can even ride a hose (a white one, of course) – certainly the video is high class. Could be the dark horse of the competition?

Review by Mariella Herberstein

Ireland – Brooke: That’s Rich

Surrounded by solid 80s synth, and dressed in pyjamas, Brooke’s cheeky girl-pop is audacious and fresh. I, for one, highly appreciate the departure from the folk-inspired songs that Ireland likes to throw at Eurovision (as well as the occasionally turkey). Brooke won’t win Eurovision for Ireland, but she will definitely do better than recent years when Ireland came last in the semis. You go girl!

Review Mariella Herberstein

Montenegro – Vladana: Breathe

Following a period of hiatus, Montenegro has decided to come back to Eurovision with a classic Balkan ballad. Vladana, probably a vampire, laments the fragility of life with an impressive vocal range. Undoubtedly, Montenegro’s best performance to date, yet the song lacks a catchy chorus to hook into and to propel it into the finales.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

May 22, 2021

Georgia, Ireland and Latvia

Georgia – You by Tornike Kipiani

This is the perfect sleep music including low frequency delta waves. People on the tubes like it, not sure Eurovision will, though! ‘Nice’ might just not be enough when the stakes are high and glitter.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

Ireland – MAPS by Lesley Roy

Evoking an orienteering theme, Lesley’s soul is a map and her heart is a compass and boy can she run! She is literally running the length of Ireland (dressed in green – very en pointe). The violine to electropop transition is very well done, and even when the dense soundcloud swallows up Lesley’s voice she keeps going. Hope she gets there.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

Latvia – The Moon Is Rising by Samanta Tīna

Get ready for high drama – Samanta and her army of blond and brunette ponytails are reclaiming power! While the melody is rather annoying, the song is indeed empowering encouraging everyone to crown themselves. No longer content with being a song writer, Samanta wants to be a Queen! Not sure Eurovision is ready for that, though.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

May 12, 2019May 12, 2019

Ireland & Finland

Ireland

22 by Sarah McTernan

Sarah McTernan brings us a laid back catchy pop-tune that will at least get some decent radio play, if not rack up a decent amount of points this year. It’s a solid toe tapper but perhaps not enough to blow the socks of the global audience. If Ireland want to keep their record of most Eurovision wins they are going to have to start bringing their A game before Sweden finally re-unite ABBA and go after the title once and for all. In which case Ireland’s only defence may be in engineering a bionically enhanced Johnny Logan to return to the stage and claim his third finals victory. Who knows what 2020 could bring…

Review by James O’Hanlon

Finland

Look away by Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman

The 90s we’re great weren’t they? Scrunchies we’re in, Santana was making a comeback, Twitter hadn’t been invented yet, all was well. So is it time to relive the glory days and bring 90s music back into fashion? Maybe not. This year Finland revisits the late 90s and brings us a track littered with synth beats and boy band harmonising reminiscent of 90s pop music. Sadly, like most 90s pop music, it is instantly forgettable and unlikely to fare well at Eurovision this year.

What isn’t forgettable however is the abomination of a soul-patch Darude appears to be sporting. The image of this flavour savour landing strip has been semi-permanently burned into my retinas. I know, facial hair shaming isn’t cool, but let’s just hope that this trend doesn’t catch on like fork beards, pencil moustaches, chin straps, and all those other unsightly attempts at fancy facial hair styling. As the song title begs, ‘Look Away’.

Review by James O’Hanlon

May 8, 2017

Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, Romania

Dying to Try by Brendan Murray

Rumour has it that, as a young child, Brendan Murray’s cheeks were pinched so vigorously by passing octogenarians that he required reconstructive surgery. They say he is paid entirely in crocheted doilies and lemon tea-cakes, and is banned from releasing a Christmas album amidst fears that it would induce a mass attack of the vapours across the British Isles.

With good looks and titanium-reinforced cheekbones Brendan Murray brings dollops of gorgeousness to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. His melancholy tune about struggling to maintain relationships has one of the most impressive key changes of this year’s line up, and has left women across Europe wondering why their daughters can’t find themselves a nice young man like Brendan. His eyebrows alone are guaranteed to get him as far as the semi-finals.

Review by James O’Hanlon

IcelandPaper by Svala

Svala has been granted sabbatical leave from the Borg to represent Iceland this year. The song ‘Paper’, precisely crafted to suit the musical requirements of the assimilated masses, is unsurprisingly mediocre. Nevertheless you will vote for Iceland, resistance is futile. It’s robotic rhythms and synth melodies are perfect listening for the next time you are cruising through the grid on your light cycle. Keep an eye out for the key change goose-step late in the song – a well-timed and subtle build to… nothing at all. Clearly key-changes do not compute.

Review by James O’Hanlon

PortugalAmar Pelos Dois by Salvador Sobral

Salvador Sobral was orphaned on the streets of Lisbon as a child. Thankfully a flock of canaries took him in and raised him as one of their own. Years later he was discovered working in a mineshaft – cramped inside a small cage and entertaining the workers with his gentle melodies. Now a full grown man and successful performer, Salvador collaborates with his sister Luisa – who wrote this song and most definitely isn’t pissed about Salvador getting all the credit.

Surprisingly this song, ‘Amor Pelos Dios’ is one of the most coherent Eurovision efforts we have heard from Portugal since, well, ever! The orchestration is tasteful, the soft piano melody is whimsical, and the singing is, believe it or not, in key. Portugal, you have surprised us all and have done well! Maybe you should get Salvador and Luisa to look into your national debt problems, it’s not like they could do any harm.

Review by James O’Hanlon

Romania

Yodel It! By Ilinca feat. Alex Flora

It’s Eurovision! Of course there is yodelling! I’m proud to say that Romania have inspired my latest tattoo. The phrase ‘Yodel It!” has been carved into my chest and sits nicely in between my “#YOLO” and “Frankie Says Relax” tatts.

Equal parts East 17, Aqua, and von Trapp family, Romania pairs a seductive yodeller in a leprechaun suit with a tone-deaf rapper to create this year’s abomination. Seriously it’s terrible. Me thinks the novelty value won’t float this boat very far and Romania are likely to sink early on in the quarter finals.

Review by James O’Hanlon

May 13, 2016

Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania

Ireland

Sunlight by Nicky Byrne

Former Westlifer Nicky Byrne – better known as Ireland’s second sexiest man 2014 – is carrying the hopes of the Republic this year with the pop-ballad ‘Sunshine’. It’s pretty standard fare, but there’s the hint of a foot-tapping groove, and I enjoy the irony of an Irishman singing about sunlight (note the lack of location-shots in the accompanying video). It’s an outside chance.

Review by Tom White

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Bulgaria

If Love Were a Crime by Poli Genova

If love were a crime, then Poli Genova would be in jail for beating that lyrical conceit to death. She’d be sharing a cell with her weird necktie thing, which is surely committing a fashion crime. Otherwise, this entry is totally forgettable generic Eurotrash; here’s hoping the song doesn’t make bail or the finals.

Review by Scott Fabricant

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Lithuania

I’ve Been Waiting for This Night by Donny Montell

I specifically want to review the music video version, because honestly that party looks pretty dope. As in, all the dope they probably lit up before filming. I think I just saw a girl blow a handful of popcorn at the camera while over in the corner people are stroking each other’s furry coats. Neither is a euphemism. Feelingly clearly overwhelmed by all the sensory stimuli in their current drug-addled state, the singer and his lyrically mandated date roam the streets, wave sparklers in each other’s faces, blow smoke in each other’s mouths, and eat kebabs as come-down munchies. So, another night in King’s Cross Lithuania I guess.

Oh you wanted me to review the song? It’s decent I guess. Typical bubblegum boy-pop. It’s pretty catchy, like crabs in a King’s Cross nightclub. He’ll do alright for himself, on the scoreboard and the afterparty.

Review by Scott Fabricant