Tag: Malta

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Australia, Ukraine, France, Malta

Australia: Promise by Voyager

I first saw Voyager in 2014, when I took my now-partner to ProgFest in Melbourne for our third date. I think they were headlining, and I disliked them immensely – they seemed too poppy and really full of themselves on stage, and after a couple songs I walked out to grab a drink instead. 

Fast forward to 2023 and the ads for Voyager representing Australia have been played on SBS nightly, and every time I roll my eyes and think: “Yep, they’re perfect for this”. But I just watched the official video for the first time and listened to the song in full, and honestly – they could actually be strong contenders this year! There is no key change in Promise, which will hold them back from winning I reckon, but if they have a wind machine to help them whip their hair around on stage, then the lack of key change could possibly be overlooked. Simple and catchy lyrics, synth notes and metal guitar riffs, big eyebrows and a keytar – what more could we ask for?

Reviewed by

George Binns

Ukraine: Heart of Steel by Tvorchi

Ukraine is defending their title this year with a very different act to represent them – Tvorchi are two very cool looking dudes telling us all to say what we think and to be brave about it. They look like club bouncers that you need to be super nice to, lest they throw you out on your ass. The clip is poignant and opens with the pair looking into a bright doorway from the dark, with black ash falling about them – and the song is clearly a staunch ‘middle finger in the air’ in the form of an early 00’s RNB club banger. I am SO here for this song, even without a much-needed key change! The beat is defiant and sexy, and I want to be bravely grinding on the dance floor now please.

I backed Ukraine to win last year, and I’m not as certain this year, but regardless – SLAVA UKRAINI!

France: Évidemment by La Zarra

It’s evident that La Zarra from France doesn’t hide her ability to sing behind those new-fangled voice manipulation doohickeys. She has elegance, a beautiful voice, simplicity and lack of excess (although only when viewed from a Eurovision frame of reference; naturally there is no shortage of strings, sequins and synchronised lights). I didn’t understand the lyrics, though that might have been because she was singing in French. I’ve also no idea what the audience will think of her because she sings like a singer instead of a pop star, but I liked it.

Reviewed by

Jim McLean

Malta – Dance (Our Own Party) by The Busker

The Busker from Malta have put together a nice tune with a catchy rhythm. It almost got me boppin’ (almost)! Nice to see a Eurovision entry that doesn’t take itself too seriously (ok, they take themselves pretty seriously, but in a light-hearted way). In a refreshing change, some of them can play their instruments, too. I don’t know the Eurovision rules, but I guess there’s a minimum quota of glitter and sequins that all entrants must meet, which explains a couple of the scenes. Possibly not a big crowd pleaser, but I didn’t mind listening to it.

Reviewed by

Jim McLean

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Sweden, Malta and France

Sweden – Cornelia Jakobs: Hold Me Closer

As a bitter Finn I naturally crave to say something negative about our “always better at everything”-neighbour Sweden, but I must admit I really like this song from the first listening – a rare jewel in Eurovision song contest! I like the appearance of the video, the slightly hoarse voice of Cornelia Jakobs and the catchy melody. It is a marvel, because I have a pre-decided and thus unfair tendency to dislike any breakup or goodbye songs (this song very literally fitting in the latter category). The very nice and not too repetitive lyrics written by Jakobs herself probably hit too close home with me due to my very recent move to Australia and might bias my perception on the song. But I stand by my statement, this is a really pleasant song and definitely one to make it to the finals.

Review by Sanni Silvasti

Malta – Emma Muscat: I Am What I Am

This song attempts to make an undeniably important point of individuality and the need of people to recognize and accept diversity in others. But jeez, what a Disney song… The only difference is that the songs in cartoon movies would never ever be this boring. The video could have saved a lot; the start was kind of good but towards the end the whole scheme got at least as corny as the song was boring. My suspicion is that this piece will be forgotten by the audience at the very instance the last tunes of the too much repeated “I am what I am” fades and thus it will not make its way to the finals. Props for at least having diverse people in the music video, though.

Review by Sanni Silvasti

France – Alvan & Ahez: Fulenn

The song starts by building a mental image of mystical women in a forest dancing to ethnic beats in torch light, and by the first chorus I am completely hooked! The whole performance is mesmerizing and hilarious if you read the translations of the lyrics at the same time.  Shadow spirits, beasts, lust, and heat are mentioned! It is very refreshing, however, that even though the theme of the song perhaps implies some pagan sex fest, the music video is not relying on overly sexualized naked women. Rather, vocalists are dressed in black and gold and are doing a good job at singing and being mysterious while a single dancer is there to add to the atmosphere of a near satanic rite. The song is catchy and definitely entertaining – I assume this one will make it to the finals but will not take the victory this year. I dance with the devil, so what!

Review by Sanni Silvasti

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Malta, Moldova, Poland

Malta – Je Me Casse by Destiny

Destiny has no patience for stereotypes, being pushed around and similar shenanigans – she is out of here! Teaming up a huge voice with some attitude and a roaring 20s beat works a treat, top 10 for me! I do fear for that half naked man trapped with Destiny on stage., though.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

Moldova – SUGAR by Natalia Gordienko

Oh sure, I’d dance to this at 3am after plenty of G&Ts….but probably regret it the next morning.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

Poland – The Ride by RAFAŁ

This song is mostly about the sunglasses…. borrowing heavily from 80 pop synths the song is benign and perhaps a bit catchy…apparently everyone in Poland hates it. Maybe Eurovision will love it…maybe not.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

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Austria, Hungary & Malta

Austria

Limits by PÆNDA

Despite shouting her name, PÆNDA is a vulnerable woman who whispers a breathy and emotional account of turbulent times. No doubt, it is honest, and I might even have listened to it outside Eurovision (nah…..just kidding), but will it garner favor with the audience and judges? Chances are that PÆNDA will punch a tiny hole into our hearts, through which she will slip into the finals.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

Hungary

Az én apám by Joci Papai

Another tearjerker by Eurovision veteran Joci – unfortunately, I am fresh out of tears, thanks to Austria’s PÆNDA. The song is stripped to its bare essentials: a man, his guitar, a handsome studded black leather jacket, a manly top bun, a dilapidated building, and a young lad dressed like an Ewok. Joci delivers a solid performance in Hungarian with excellent whistling and a bleak video that appears to lack approval by the Hungarian Tourist Board. Good enough for the finals!

Review by Mariella Herberstein

Malta

Chameleon by Michaela

This is more like it! Malta’s Michaela delivers classic Eurovision gold – a thumping beat, nonsensical lyrics, and all of Ricky Martin’s songs homogenized into one! The stage show will be crucial for entry into the top 10 – wind machines, wild dancers with heaps of legs, and pyrotechnics. Mind you, the combination of wind machines and open flames may bring Malta’s hopes to a traumatic end.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

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Hungary, Israel and Malta

HungaryAWS: Viszlát Nyár

AWS will be shouting at us in Hungarian to the background of heavy metal music. The performance contains all the endearing metal characteristics:  brutal guitar riffs, relentless drumming and mid-pitch screaming. Whist true to the genre, AWS manages to squeeze in a Eurovision-style keychange – impressive. I think the bio description says it all: “The band wrote their Eurovision entry, Viszlát Nyár, themselves”

Review by Mariella Herberstein

IsraelNetta: TOY

‘Pam pam pa hoo, Turram pam pa hoo’ – no truer words have been sung at Eurovision. Admittedly, the lyrics are senseless (even Wonder Women can’t rescue them), but the song is catchy, poppy,  quirky and could be, dare I say it,  a winner! Not since Dana International (in 1998) was Israel the favourite for Eurovision, so I have high hopes for Netta – douze points from me!

Review by Mariella Herberstein

Malta Christabelle: Taboo

Christabelle’s song is set in a dystopian future, where ruthless tyrants stage brutal fights and go ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha (in that tyrannical fashion). Despite being savagely oppressed, Christabelle keeps her soul intact and travels to Lisbon for Eurovision. Sadly she does not make it through the Semi-finals, which will probably not bode well for her upon returning to Malta. End of story.

Review by Mariella Herberstein

 

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Denmark, Malta and Ukraine

Denmark
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Soldiers of Love by Lighthouse X

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As the piano starts and a serious, well-groomed man stares intensely at the camera you get the feeling that Soldiers of Love by Lighthouse X may develop into something special. Excitement builds by the time the second and third singers start and you begin hoping for some classic boy band magic. But then, for me, confusion sets in. The song choice and hairstylist felt they were stuck in the 90s, but costume and dance moves seemed modelled on more contemporary male groups. Lighthouse X’s casual style of dressing (looking the same without being identical) and less scripted choreography left me feeling like I was watching what happens when One Direction loses another band member, develops a pseudo-social conscience and ages 10 years.

Despite this, there is nothing offensive about the song, the band or the set. And there is enough fist clenching earnestness to hold everything together. Throw in a well timed key change, some bursts of fire and some golden confetti and it all feels very Eurovision. Overall, it’s good enough to make the grand final, but not spectacular enough to stand out.

Review by Fran van den Berg

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Malta
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Walk on Water by Ira Losco

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‘No touch’ touching – that is, being unbelievably close to someone and acting like you are going to touch them but not actually making contact makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable. Given that, Malta’s entry Walk on Water sung by Ira Losco left me squirming in my seat. While Losco stands and delivers her catchy dance tune, a man in black emerges from the shadows to dance around her, showcasing an exemplar of no touch touching.

Is repeatedly singing “I feel like I can walk on water”, while evidently failing to do so in the official clip reflective of delusions of a Eurovision win? Definitely so, but Losco’s powerful voice, plunging neckline, sequined dress, and a dancer with rather impressive animalistic gyrations will mean that Malta will probably be swimming somewhere near the top of the Eurovision pool this year. I just wish that the dancer spent less time invading Losco’s personal space.

Review by Fran van den Berg

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Ukraine
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1944 by Jamala

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After an understandable absence from the Eurovision stage in 2015, Ukraine has returned in a big way, with Jamala singing 1944. This song details the plight of the Crimean tartars out of their lands by Joseph Stalin in 1944, near the end of World War 2. This song was seen as controversial by the Russian as it believed Ukraine to be taking a swing at them and trying to gain supporters to the current Russian-Ukrainian war. But the judges deemed it fine as Jamala made mention that it details her family’s personal history during the Crimean war.

But is it worthy of this attention? Well maybe, although Jamala does not move her body on the stage, her arm movements and her intense voice, draw in the listener to the song. Nice Middle Eastern Flavours, as well as a chorus sung in Crimean tartar, which will surely impact on the Ukrainian voters. But as to the wider European and worldwide audience, the message and presentation are lost in the lack of physical movement and there is no hook.

It will definitely attract a lot of sympathy votes, but I do not think it will be enough to reach the Top 10 on the scoreboard.

Review by Nicole O’Donnell

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