Ireland will have its Eurosong 2023 final on February 3 and the winner will be chosen via professional national jury, international jury and televote. These six made it to the final out of 330 submissions. Is there one to secure their 8th record breaking win and first since 1996?
No. I ended up giving a middle of the road three stars to most every one as none is really bad, nor very good. Most of them feel like demos and not finished versions, I hope that'd be the case as there's material but it's not fully developed. One song, the most unthinkable one, in the end shines above the rest and could be worth the risk as none other will go very far I'm afraid. It might. Maybe. Who knows?
Adgy - Too good for your love ***
Nice, atmospheric verse but the chorus is a let down. Trendy arrangement but nothing original or new. The verse is so much better, nice voice. Then nothing really happens and the song ends. Good effort but .... Needs a total revamp and stellar staging to make through the semis if chosen. Weak *** as this could be worked into something more interesting and powerful.
Connolly - Midnight summer night ***
Echoes of Enya. Again nice atmosphere that makes you curious what's in store. Less is more in this case. Again a nice effort but the staging and lice will be crucial. And once again the song doesn't go anywhere but just stops before you're ready for it. Again *** as this has potential but as it is it's a non qualifier if chosen I suppose.
Wild Youth - We are one **
Your standard boy band song. Shouty and noisy. Heard a zillion times before. Apparently they do have some following so might win in Ireland, but in Liverpool they'd struggle. This could have made it in the 90s but it's 80s that is pop and cool these days I'm afraid.
Leila Jane - Wild ***
The Irish-Finnish-Estonian effort. And talking about 80s here's a bit of it. I'm a sucker for that intro piano and the clumsy video is funny, at this point it seems she's got zero stage presence but I hope I'm wrong. Then again also this song's been heard many times before and better. Another weak *** but I hope the live will be explosive!
K Muni and ND - Down in the rain ***
This recalls early Craig David but that was a long, long time ago. At least this stands out but not sure if for right reasons. I kinda enjoy this but it's hard to see this in Liverpool and if so going anywhere there. As it is it still has time to add another 30 seconds and make this work or add an exlosive last chorus and also this one just stops without notice. What's this new trend? Today's people's streaming patience? Strong ***.
Public Image Ltd - Hawaii ****
Now this is surely something else yes, but not at all what I expected. Strangely I like this quite a lot. In fact against all odds this is my favorite. Don't know how this translates to stage and what it will sound like there but otherwise this is soothing, calm, silly and somehow adorable. Oh Johnny what have you done! Beats Monaco's Coco dance for sure! If and when this wins it'll be a mystery how it does in Liverpool. Somehow I tend to think it would end rather well..... or a complete disaster, no in betweens!
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