Romania - The Humans - Goodbye
Cristina Caramarcu (30) fronts the band that includes also Alexandru Cismaru, Alexandru Matei, Alin Neagoe, Adi Tetrade and Corina Matei. They have been together only for a year but already here they are! The song is sort of radio friendly pop-rock and I was a bit surprised it won the Romanian national selection. The performance was rather shaky and I never cared for the song either. And it still gives me nothing. It leaves me totally indifferent and that's propably worst that can happen in Eurovision, isn't it? 2/10
Serbia - Sanja Ilić & Balkanika - Nova deca
Sanja Ilić (67), a composer, keyboardist and architect created Balkanika in 1998 but he started his career already at the age of 12 when his first composition was released, sung by Dragan Laković. His first Eurovision link comes when he was 16. In 1976 his song placed 3rd in the Yogoslavian national final. Now, 42 years later he is finally here with Balkanika. The mission of the group is to preserve, revitalize and modernize Serbian medieval and byzantine music traditions and that's what Nova deca does. Like Greece this is old school ethnic Eurovision pop at its best. For me this is a qualifier, love it and the melody's been playing in my head since I heard this. I only wish the beat would have been a bit more daring and modern but this is my cup of tea. 8/10
Hungary - AWS - Viszlát nyár
Ants With Slippers, or simply AWS as they like to call themselves these days is formed by Bence Brucker, Dániel Kökényes, Örs Siklósi, and Áron Veress and they have been together already for 12 years while Soma Schiszler is a later addition to the line up. Three studio albums to their credit so far. The live version leaves one breathless with so much energy. I wouldn't propably normally listen to this but here it sticks out and makes me wanna go headbanging to the rhythm and scream along a little. English version doesn't really add anything to the mix but makes clearer the song's message. Thumbs up for Hungary for being again adventurous and going for its own way, and once again I believe it will pay off and this will go quite far in the final. 8/10
Georgia - Ethno Jazz band Iriao ირიაო - For you
(Sheni gulistvis შენი გულისთვის)
David Malazonia leads Iriao, the band known for their unique style due to the combination of traditional Georgian polyphonic singing and jazz. The band has seven member and only five are in the promotional photos and only three performed in the promotional events.... Let's see what they come up in Lisbon. This certainly needs some digestion being totally different from the rest with its unusual way of singing for our western ears. I have no idea where this will end up....? Being in the second semi this has a chance of qualifying though. Not sure how much I like this but no means I dislike it. Therefor 5/10
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