Estonia - Elina Nechayeva - "La Forza"
Semi final: 1
My score: 9/10
Chances of qualifying: 8/10
Can it make the top 10? Yes.
Can it win? Yes.
In a year of national finals not going my way, Estonia's Eesti Laul was a rare exception. La Forza hit my like a truck at first listen and I've been obsessed ever since. With such a powerful studio cut, I was intrigued/concerned to see if she could replicate the same magic live. Turns out, this is even more impressive live, with crystal clear vocals and excellent staging (including a light up dress - my favourite).
Currently one of the main fan favourites (/'fan wanks') of the year, I hope the juries don't tank this like they have past opera entries. Although, I'm hoping Elina's performance will give this the credibility it needs to win jury support. If it can, this could do very well indeed...
Iceland - Ari Ólafsson - "Our Choice"
Semi final: 1
My score: 3/10
Chances of qualifying: 2/10
Can it make the top 10? No way.
Can it win? Absolutely not.
After 2 consecutive (and undeserved, imo) non-qualifiers, it appears that our Icelandic friends are going for the hat trick...because this song is absolute garbage. Despite having possibly the weakest national selection of the year, they still managed to swerve 5 better options by picking this dated mess.
Though admittedly well-sung, that's pretty much the only thing to note here. The song is dated as hell and the lyrics are trite - just your standard, empty call for world peace. It's a shame because Iceland is one of those countries I want to root for, but this year they've made it very difficult...
Israel - Netta - "Toy"
Semi final: 1
My score: 9.5/10
Chances of qualifying: 8/10
Can it make the top 10? Yes.
Can it win? Quite possibly.
Despite the song title, Israel didn't come to play this year. Even Eurovision casuals know about Netta - the official video currently has over 9 million views on youtube, is charting on iTunes in multiple countries and is the top of the odds by a landslide.
Israel - Netta - "Toy"
Semi final: 1
My score: 9.5/10
Chances of qualifying: 8/10
Can it make the top 10? Yes.
Can it win? Quite possibly.
Despite the song title, Israel didn't come to play this year. Even Eurovision casuals know about Netta - the official video currently has over 9 million views on youtube, is charting on iTunes in multiple countries and is the top of the odds by a landslide.
Having delved into her previous work, I was HYPED the moment she won HaKokhav HaBa (A.K.A 'The Next Star' - the Israeli selection show). Once details of the song began to emerge closer to the reveal, I knew we were in for a banger. And what a banger it is; distinctively Netta, distinctively Netta, punchy lyrics, impactful delivery, instant hook, chicken noises - this has it all.
Russia - Julia Samoylova - "I Won't Break"
Semi final: 2
My score: 7.5/10
Chances of qualifying: 8/10
Can it make the top 10? Yes.
Can it win? Oop...maybe ?
Full disclosure: I had very low expectations for this entry once I saw that confirmation that Julia would be returning. I didn't rate 'Flame Is Burning' last year, and I rated Julia's vocal capabilities even less. That said, I was glad to see the Russian delegation stuck to their word in terms of letting Julia represent them this year.
This turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. I mean, my expectations were low, her English hasn't exactly improved and her diction certainly hasn't...but this is the kinda basic Sia-esque bop I was waiting for. As long as they beef this the fuck out with an army of [loud] backing singers, this could actually be pretty good in Lisbon...
San Marino - Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening - "Who We Are"
Semi final: 2
My score: 6/10
Chances of qualifying: 1/10
Can it make the top 10? Nope
Can it win? Not a chance in hell...
Ah, San Marino. San Marino remind me of that friend, you know, the one that constantly makes destructive and nonsensical life decisions despite your attempts to steer them on the right path. You know the one. Sometimes it's entertainment (in a cheap 'drama!' sorta way), but most of the time it's just a bit tragic.
San Marino were literally presented with the best chance of them ever getting a top 10 finish (in the form of Sara de Blue's glorious 'Out Of The Twilight'), and what did they do? Fuck it all up, of course. I mean, I can appreciate a trashy white girl rap now and again, but this is pushing it for me...
Serbia - Sanja Ilić & Balkanika - "Nova Deca"
Semi final: 2
My score: 8/10
Chances of qualifying: 5/10
Can it make the top 10? HIGHLY doubt it.
Can it win? No.
From a shit show of a national selection, to one that surpassed all of my expectations. Despite having 17(!) songs in their final (only 2-3 of which were actually good), Beovizija 2018 was one of the most well-produced, entertaining and enjoyable selections of the year. Of course, it helped that my favourite act won.
Proudly Serbian, unique and spiritual, but also fun and danceable; 'Nova Deca' is an absolute delight and exactly what I want from Serbia at Eurovision. The fact that the act contains 6 people is unfortunate, because the staging could do with a dancer or two (fun fact: the EBU only permits a maximum of 6 people on stage per entry). Regardless, I'm hoping this manages to qualify because it would add a long to the grand final line up, both linguistically and genre-wise.
Updated ranking:
Semi 1 (by chances of qualification)
1. Israel - Netta - "Toy" - 9.5
2. Czech Republic - Mikolas Josef - "Lie To Me" - 8
3. Estonia - Elina Nechayeva - "La Forza" - 8
4. Belgium - SENNEK - "A Matter of Time" - 8
5. Bulgaria - EQUINOX - "Bones" - 7.5
6. Azerbaijan - Aisel - "X My Heart" - 6
7. Belarus - Alekseev - "Forever" - 4.5
8. Albania - Eugent Bushpepa - "Mall" - 4.5
9. Iceland - Ari Ólafsson - "Our Choice"
Semi 2 (by chances of qualification)
1. Norway - Alexander Rybak - "That's How You Write A Song"
*2. Denmark - Rasmussen - "Higher Ground" - 9
*2. The Netherlands - Waylon - "Outlaw In 'Em" - 9
*4. Australia - Jessica Mauboy - "We Got Love" - 8
*4. Russia - Julia Samoylova - "I Won't Break" - 8
6. Moldova - DoReDos - "My Lucky Day" - 7.5
7. Romania - The Humans - "Goodbye" - 6
8. Serbia - Sanja Ilić & Balkanika - "Nova Deca" - 5
9. San Marino - Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening - "Who We Are" - 1
Overall ranking so far (by personal score - ties broken by preference)
1. Israel - Netta - "Toy" - 9.5
2. Estonia - Elina Nechayeva - "La Forza" - 9
3. Belgium - SENNEK - "A Matter of Time" - 9
4. Denmark - Rasmussen - "Higher Ground" - 8.5
5. Bulgaria - EQUINOX - "Bones" - 8
6. Serbia - Sanja Ilić & Balkanika - "Nova Deca" - 8
7. Moldova - DoReDos - "My Lucky Day" - 8
8. Australia - Jessica Mauboy - "We Got Love" - 7.5
9. Azerbaijan - Aisel - "X My Heart" - 7.5
10. Russia - Julia Samoylova - "I Won't Break" - 7.5
11. Albania - Eugent Bushpepa - "Mall" - 7
12. Czech Republic - Mikolas Josef - "Lie To Me" - 7
13. The Netherlands - Waylon - "Outlaw In 'Em" - 6
14. Belarus - Alekseev - "Forever" - 6
15. San Marino - Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening - "Who We Are"
16. Romania - The Humans - "Goodbye" - 4
17. Norway - Alexander Rybak - "That's How You Write A Song" - 3
18. Iceland - Ari Ólafsson - "Our Choice" - 3
Read the rest of my ESC 2018 song reviews:
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