EUROVISION 2023: CROATIA - DORA 2023 REVIEW

Croatia's national final for Eurovision song contest Dora 2023 on Super Saturday February 11 features 18 entries chosen among 196 submissions, among them the unlucky Damir Kedžo who won in 2020 only to see later the contest cancelled. Divlji vjetre was one of my favorites that year but this time he goes English with Angels and demons that makes you think about Dan Brown and Tom Hanks right away but is it any good? Let's have a review of the entries:

Barbara Munjas - Putem snova **

A kind of way of singing and voice that you either love or hate, I suppose. Rather underwhelming effort in the end even if may have promised a bit more at first... Somehow this reminds me of those artistic entries in the good old Intervision song contest and similar in the East.

Boris Štok - Grijeh ****

A very nice song, at the same time very Balcan but also very Finnish. This could be a Finnish radio hit some major artist, or become a cover version in the future. I also like his voice and the arrangement. But not strong enough for Liverpool I'm afraid.

Damir Kedžo - Angles and demons ***

Sadly this one's not on top like the one he had for 2020. Maybe if in Croatian this would sound better. Sounds like a mix of several past Eurovision entries (and not only). I want to like this a lot more than I do. I don't like the chorus arrangements/sound at all.... Shame.

Đana - Free fallin' **

A lot happens here and the song keeps developing and changing beats and space but in the end I don't know what happened. Quite nice but confusing.

Detour - Master blaster **

Probudi me, but this isn't ENI of 1997 that I loved with all its chaotic charm. Chaotic this one is, too, And even older sounding; the melody and all. Somehow this would fit nicely into Benidorm Fest rather than here.

Eni Jurišić - Kreni dalje ***

Nice atmosphere, classy sounding song, but not maybe very original nor memorable, is it?

Hana Mašić - Nesreća ****

The real Balcan Eurovision ballad! Love this. Heard a zillion times, yes, but we need one like this in the line up in my opinion and this goes straight to my playlist for sure. Beautiful, a hint of ethnic sound, a bit of drama, nice voice. It's all I need.

Harmonija Disonance - Nevera (Lei lei) ***

Apparently the fan favorite. But then again here once again we hear how the Balcan and Carelian music shake hands. I don't warm as much to this as for example Go_A's entries and I feel a bit like this is fishing on their success. I doubt this would do as well in Liverpool if chosen. This sounds old and heard, Go_A was modern and exciting. This is lukewarm.

Krešo and Kisele Kiše - Kme kme *

Yawn....

Let 3 - Mama šč! *

Traktor yawn.

Maja Grgić - I still live *

I feel no connection whatsoever. Just couldn't keep the concentration and started thinking other things.... Maybe if in Croatian this would have something interesting going on?

Martha May - Distance *

Errr... no. All I can say. Demoish arrangement, annoying lyrics. Can't relate.

Meri Andraković - Bye bye blonde ****

This needs better production, better English (or rather Croatian) and energetic and fun staging and we might have something going on here. Kitchy in a good way.

Patricia Gasparini - I will wait ***

Totally unoriginal and nothing extraordinary but somehow this works and might come alive on stage if she delivers. Then again this could be basically from any country, very anonymous.

Tajana Belina - Dom **

Starts off interesting but loses the grip towards the end when new beats are added. Good ingredients but the cake didn't come out good.

The Splitters - Lost and found **

I have never been fan of these Beatlesian pop rock songs and this is no exception. Nice nostalgia and arrangement with violins kicking in but sadly that's not enough. Three long minutes.

Top of the Pops ft. Mario 5reković - Putovanje **

More nostalgia straight from the cruise ships cabaret restaurant. Wasn't this Yogoslavia's entry in 1976? Her voice is very nice, in an Italian way.

Yogi - Love at first sight ***

Oh dear, yet another nostalgia one? Is this what happens after you are lost and found on a cruise and wake up to the morning sun in a wrong cabin? Extra point for that and bossa nova vibes!

Comments

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Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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