Finland - Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman - Look away ****
Is it in my head? Is it in my head?
Look away Look away, hey, no-o-o
Finland tries for the second time with internally chosen artist and after difficulties to find anyone (and YLE's people can take a long hard look at the mirror for that and think why?) they managed to get Darude aka Ville Virtanen (43) aboard who's claim to fame is Sandstorm 20 years ago. That's pretty much what he's known about even if he has continued making music and perform ever since non stop. However, that one song still gives him living. He took his friend actor and singr-songwriter Sebastian (41) as his vocalist and together they have also written this song that won the three songs final (I still may have preferred Superman though). The staging is great as is song's message but honestly who cares about the message? Somehow the whole doesn't fullfill the expectations and remains rather anonymous and sadly forgettable in the line up and I'm afraid voters and juries both will indeed look away when it's time to vote and we might end up in bottom-3 in the semi-final.... And it feels unfair. Once again.
Poland - Tulia - Fire of Love (Pali się) ****
Sitting on an iceberg Waiting for the sun
Hoping to be rescued Cold and alone
Now something else. These ladies are fierce and really hit my Slavic soul and Carelian roots. Joanna Sinkiewicz, Dominika Siepka, Patrycja Nowicka and Tulia Biczak form the group that has existed only since 2017 but has already won in Poland most very award. Their concept of covering big hits in their own traditional folk sound has proven succesful. Add national costume inspired look and powerful staging taking lead from tradition as well and we have something special. Something hypnotic. I wouldn't be surprised if this fire would burn with the juries and at last most of the Eastern Europe's televoters and we would find these girls on the left side of the scoreboard come early Sunday morning....
Serbia - Nevena Božović -Kruna ****
Kruna je tvoja LJubavi moja
Želim da znaš Da tebi pripada
The crown is yours My love
I want you to know I belong to you
Nevana (24) is already an Eurovision veteran. She has done Junior Eurovision 2007 (3rd) and Eurovision 2013 as a member of Moje3. Back then they missed the final placing 11th in the semi-final but now with her self written Kruna she is, I think, one of the most underrated ones by the fandom. The running order really makes her stand out and her song is the strongest ballad of the year with Balcan melancholy without being too obvious. And she performs it with feeling and passion. If she nails it when it counts Serbia could be what Austria was last year. Wake up fandom!
Estonia - Victor Crone - Storm ****
A storm like this
Can break a man like this
Ok, I admit, I didn't like this at all at first. Also on purpose as it's sung by some random Swede with no connection to Estonia. Why? There are no singers in Estonia?! This put aside and the song left in rest (I hardly ever listen to the chosen songs until the Eurovision is getting closer and it's time to review and rank, like now) And all of sudden this song co-written by Stig Rästä sounds catchy and fresh and they have the staging gimmick, too. Victor (27) may not be the best singer in the contest and his sound is so Swedish you'd know he's Swedish even if you didn't. The song is also very Swedish Avicii Light. Why this wouldn't succeed? Because of Victor, like France's Bilal he is the weakest part of the package vocally....
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