Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #8

This is it, the final part of our "Pocket Size Previews" as we attempt to rate this year's Eurovision entries in as few words as possible. How do we rate Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.


SERBIA - SANJA "GOODBYE"

Elliot - Not a fan of topics like these in Eurovision as feel cant dislike the song due to the message, but damn the woman can sing! 7.5/10

Noa - Amazing vocals skills by Sanja and such a powerful song with a strong message 9/10

Emily - in love with this! I wasn't so sure at first but after seeing her pre-party performances, I think she could even be a winner. Strong singer, strong song, lovely personality. 10/10

James - A tad cheap in terms of lyrics but I do love the emotion and message of the song. Not a bad choice, but it's not a troublemaker to the big guns at Stockholm. 6/10

Rob - Now I love a Balkan ballad, but this just isn't Balkan enough for me I'm afraid. 6.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 39/50

SLOVENIA - MANUELLA "BLUE AND RED"

Elliot - Meh, what else can I say, boring 5.5/10

Noa - It's alright, kinda catchy but nothing special! 6/10

Emily - Not a fan of this one. I don't like country music and her voice isn't to my taste. 3/10

James - It's rather strange but could be a guilty pleasure to many. Unfortunately, I'm not as keen.4/10

Rob - I don't hate this as much as some people, it's very inoffensive and might sneak into the final. 6/10

TOTAL SCORE: 24.5/50

SPAIN - BAREI "SAY YAY!"

Elliot - Fun, funky, fresh makes me wanna dance! Love it! 9/10

Noa - Such a fun and cacthy song, love it! 8/10

Emily - Such a feel good song! She pulls it off so well, and her footwork really adds to it. 9/10

James - Absolutely brilliant! The revamped version filled any missing gaps this song had. Barei's vocals are on point, I love her style. I would love to see this Top 5. 9/10

Rob - Fun and catchy - what more could you want? This will look insane on stage and go big in the arena. 8.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 43.5/10

Barei will sing 'Say Yay!' in Stockholm

SWITZERLAND - RYKKA "LAST OF OUR KIND"

Elliot - Very average song, left a bit bored by it - 5.5/10

Noa - I love this one! Very moderen and edgy and Rykka really improved her vocals live so sounds good 9/10

Emily - I liked this at first, but now I feel as though it's a little bit bland. Live version is better than the studio version though, which is a good sign. 5/10

James - Rykka is just fabulous. I love the song but I do worry for how it will stand out at Stockholm. But I do think Rykka is constantly improving, so very exciting!  7/10

Rob - Dull, dull dull. I'm also not very sure she'll be able to deliver live vocals on the night. 5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 31.5/50

SWEDEN - FRANS "IF I WERE SORRY"

Elliot - It's grown on me since Melfest but still head over heels for it - 6.5/10

Noa - They could send something so much better, this is kinda boring. 6/10

Emily - I don't despise it as much as I did when it won melfest, but I still find it a little bit dreary. It's the same sort of sound throughout and doesn't really go anywhere/do anything for me. 5/10

James - I like the beat but I find Frans' voice irritating. I think it's highly overrated too. 5/10

Rob - Sweden Sweden Sweden, from such a great song last year to something so so average. 5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 27.5/50

UKRAINE - JAMALA "1944"

Elliot - Don't like this song, her vocals and wailing really make me want to hit mute, like a bad Rona Nishliu - 3.5/10

Noa - Well the message is strong and her vocals are good but a little bit weird for the ear. 5/10

Emily - This one is in the middle for me. It's sort of catchy in that you can pick up the melody after one listen, and I love that she's introduced Tatar to the contest, but I'm not sure I like her voice overall. 6/10

James - Some people understand it and love it, but unfortunately it just sounds weird to me. 5/10

Rob - The message of this song is obviously very important - I'm just sure she has to wail it! 4/10

TOTAL SCORE: 23.5/50

Jamala will sing in Crimean language

UNITED KINGDOM - JOE AND JAKE "YOU'RE NOT ALONE"

Elliot - Inoffensive pop song, good song for the UK but not causing any upsets in Stockholm - 7/10

Noa - nice catchy pop song , I guess it's alright , not something that blows my mind.6.5/10

Emily - I'm very proud of our boys this year! They're such a blast to hear live, they clearly enjoy themselves and I think they deserve to do well! Their song is very well sung, their harmonies sound great and I think they can appeal to a teenage audience. 8/10

James - This is the 2nd biggest music export in the world? Why am I hearing the most generic and unfinished pop song then? Even Albania can produce a better pop song than this (with a lot of work, of course). 5/10

Rob - A huge improvement from the UK this year and a brilliant catchy chorus. The boys will do fine in Stockholm. 7.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 34/50

Don't forget you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too, and stay tuned to find out our final leaderboard from Eurovision 2016.

Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #7

This year's Eurovision Song Contest is just a couple of weeks away, and we're nearing the end of our "Pocket Size Previews". Today we look at The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia and San Marino.

THE NETHERLANDS - DOUWE BOB "SLOW DOWN"

Emily - I’m not a huge fan of country music, but I don’t mind this. It’s sweet and Douwe seems like a nice guy. I’d like to see how they stage this. Overall, I like it. 6/10

Elliot - Reminds me A LOT of R.E.M. lead vocalist, good singer but a dull, forgettable song in a field of 18. 5.5/10

Noa - Catchy song , reminds me of their entry in 2014 I like it , but nothing special 7/10

James - It's okay, but just isn't what we're used to hearing from Douwe, so I guess I'm just underwhelmed. 6/10

Rob - This song could go either way - either a non qualifier or a top ten in the Final. 7/10

TOTAL SCORE: 31.5/50

NORWAY - AGNETE "ICEBREAKER"

Emily - Absolutely love this one. Wasn’t sure on it at first as the transition from verse to chorus felt unnatural to me, but I still loved it. Strong song, strong performer with so much potential! 9/10

Elliot - Jarring verse to chorus change, shaky vocals in NF and seriously broken English in the song, not fan. 5/10

Noa - Lately this song really growing on me , I love it ! I like how uinique it is and how it changes in the Chorus 9\10

James - I'm in love! Agnete is gorgeous and the song and her vocals are a match made in heaven! But, I do think the song should be kept at a more consistent tempo as it sounds like three songs all into one. 8/10

Rob - When I first heard this I thought this could be a potential winner - I just hope Agnete is fully recovered. 9/10

TOTAL SCORE: 40/50

Agnete took part in the Norwegian version of Strictly Come Dancing

POLAND - MICHAL SPZAK  "COLOUR OF YOUR LIFE"

Emily - This has grown on me so much. I’m a big fan of Poland this year; the chorus is so catchy, Michal is a great guy and I think they should do very well! 8.5/10

Elliot - Sweet proper male ballad, would like it to do well but not holding my breath for its chances due to NF drama. 6.5/10

Noa - Perfectly made ballad , his vocals are very strong and the message is really beautiful. 8\10

James - It's dated & boring but Spzak has a lovely voice which was demonstrated well in Poland's National Final. 6/10

Rob - Not my kind of song at all - the lyrics are nice but just not really a fan. Sorry Poland. 4/10

TOTAL SCORE: 33/50

RUSSIA - SERGEY LAZAREV "YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE"

Emily - Another one I love. Probably my favourite Russian entry, very easily my number 2 after France. Cheesy, great looking guy, catchy. All I need in a song! 10/10

Elliot - Lot like Moldova, cheesy old school track but just performed a lot better, wouldn't be a contendor if wasn't Russia though 8/10

Noa - Really strong song ! a potential winner . his vocals are pretty strong live as well , he surely got it all !!! 10\10

James - It's catchy, gay-friendly, radio-friendly... PERFECT for Eurovision. But, I wouldn't say this is an absolute winner. 8/10

Rob - Back in the mid 2000s this was a definite winner - this will content with France for the 2016 edition. - 9/10

TOTAL SCORE: 45/50

Sergey attempted to represent Russia in 2008

SAN MARINO - SERHAT "I DIDN'T KNOW"

Emily - The joke entry of the year, yet somehow I really enjoy this, especially as they transformed it from the ballad to the disco version. It’s strange but I like it. 7/10

Elliot - Well...the disco makes it less dated, but its always a worry when your backing vocalists have more life and outshine you. 2/10

Noa - Well at least the changed it to the disco version and I found it very entertaining but a huge no . 3\10

Emily - Just very strange! But I have to say, the disco version does make it much more bearable. Still terrible nonetheless. 3/10

Rob - Well there isn't much to say about this is there? 2/10

TOTAL SCORE: 17/50

Our current top 3...
1) France - Amir "J'ai Cherche"

2) Russia - Sergey Lazarev "You're The Only One"

3) Iceland - Greta Salome "Hear Them Calling"


Keep a look out for the final part of our Eurovision Pocket Size Previews on the way soon, and don't forget you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too. 

Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #6

This year we're giving the 2016 Eurovision entries the "Pocket Size Previews" treatment, and reviewing them in as few words as possible! Up next Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova and Montenegro...


LATVIA - JUSTS "HEARTBEAT"

Elliot: Song is ok but Supernova staging was dull and needs a massive change before Stockholm 6.5/10

Emily: Definite grower for me! So modern with a memorable hook. Loving it, 9/10

Noa: Love it !! Catchy but at the same time brilliant! Justs got it all! a powerful voice and the look too. 9/10

James: This song sounds unfinished to me... The beat is quite modern, however. But, vocally it sounds strained and I worry for Latvia's qualification since they will be up first in the running order. 6/10

Rob: A good modern sound, this will stand out amongst the other songs this year. 7.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 38/50

LITHUANIA - DONNY MONTELL "WAITING FOR THIS NIGHT"

Elliot:  Loud, generic song, too much noise not enough substance lyrically 6/10

Emily: Very cheesy. Live vocals are a little bit weak but not a bad song or performer. 7/10

Noa: I really love his voice but apart from that I found it hard to me to connect to the song 6/10

James: This song comes across too cheesy and I think it isn't the best that Lithuania can produce. It also comes across a bit like generic pop song and I think out of the 'generic' bunch, in the contest, it's one of the weakest. 5/10

Rob: Much better than "Love is Blind" and when this first came out I really thought it could be a contender... 7/10

TOTAL SCORE: 31/50

Donny Montell sang "Love is Blind" in Baku in 2012.

MALTA - IRA LOSCO "WALK ON WATER"

Elliot: Better than Chameleon but not blown away by it, strong vocally however - 7/10

Emily: Another modern song that will no doubt do well. She’s a good live performer and I know Europe will love her if she ends up with good staging. 8/10

Noa: Wise choice to change the song! Catchy pop song and I like it 7/10

James: This song is alright, it has a nice tune but the sound at the beginning sounds a bit cheap and all I can hear is a copy of the song 'Hunger' so i'm a bit unconvinced. 7/10

Rob: This is great! I wasn't happy when I heard her original song would be revamped, but this is almost perfect. 8/10

TOTAL SCORE: 37/50

MOLDOVA - LIDIA ISAC "FALLING STARS"

Elliot: Guilty pleasure, style of song that made me love Eurovision 7/10

Emily: A very Europop song. I feel as though the higher notes aren’t as strong as they could be, but overall the song and performance is ok. 6.5/10

Noa: I love her voice but I found the song very trashy and basic . 6/10

James: I really like this song! It's perfect for Eurovision! It's fun and I think Lidia's vocals are going to keep improving. 8/10

Rob: Good old fashioned Eurovision cheesy - in the mid 2000s this could have won. 7/10

TOTAL SCORE: 34.5/50

Lidia Isac is off to Stockholm with "Falling Stars".

MOTENEGRO - HIGHWAY "THE REAL THING"

Elliot: See what they're trying to do, but it just comes off creepy, misogynistic and down right no. - 3/10

Emily: I struggle to think of anything good about this song. I’m really not a fan of the sound, and hearing it live at LEP reassured its 43rd place in my ranking as it bores me. 1/10

Noa: Nope,nope ,nope. Looks like they tried too much with the song and it turned up very bad! 3/10

James: It just sounds a mess. I don't understand the arrangement of the song at all. They do get 3 marks for their eye candy, however! 3/10

Rob: Just horrible - I don't even get what they're trying to do. 2/10

TOTAL SCORE: 12/50



Our current top 3...
1) France - Amir "J'ai Cherche"
2) Greta Salome "Hear Them Calling"
3) Cyprus - Minus One "Alter Ego"

Keep a look out for Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #6 on the way soon, and don't forget you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too. 

The Euro Trip's BIG Eurovision Party: We need you...

Lets be honest, we're all SO excited for Eurovision!

The world's favourite music competition is back in just a couple of weeks time, and to get you all in the mood we're throwing the biggest and best Eurovision party - want to know the best bit? You're all invited!

The Euro Trip's BIG Eurovision Party will be broadcast on Saturday 7th May, building up to this year's contest with interviews, gossip, this year's entries and so much more. 

But where do you come in?

Well obviously we want you to tune in on the night, get a pizza in and enjoy the wonderful world of Eurovision.

But that's not all...

We want you to be part of the show, by letting us know which songs you'll be supporting this year. Send us a short recording of you telling us WHO you are, WHERE you live, WHICH country you're supporting, and WHY? (Ideally around 10/15 seconds!)

You've got till Sunday 1st May to send over your recordings, and the best of them will be included in the show! 

Send them over to theeurotrippodcast@gmail.com and in the mean time, make sure you're following us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news about the show.

x

The Euro Trip interviews Greta Salome

Earlier this month Elliot got the chance to interview one of this year's favourites for the Eurovision title, Iceland's Greta Salome. She's already represented Iceland before, but what does she make of her chances this year?

Firstly, you competed back in 2012 with Jonsi, but what made you want to return to Eurovision and Songvakeppnin?           
                                                                                                                                                                                  Eurovision is such an amazing opportunity and a once in a lifetime thing that thankfully I get to experience twice.

2 - Where did the idea for Hear Them Calling come from?

I wrote the song and the lyrics in September and the message is about how we are exposed to negative voices and influences in today´s society and how we should focus on listening to the positive voices because they are the ones that will take you home, or wherever you belong.

3 - Does the song have any personal meaning to you?

 I think we can all relate to the message of the song so it is in a way a personal song.

4 - Can you reveal any changes to the staging, cameras, or even outfit from the national final for Eurovision?

We will stay true to the message but we will take the staging ever further on the big stage so be prepared for some pleasant surprises.

5 - You're competing in the first semi final - touted as the harder of the two, how are you feeling heading into Stockholm?

My only goal is to get the message of the song across so positioning is not the most important part to me.

6 - The tweaks for Hear Them Calling caught everyone off guard, but what made you decide to add and edit parts of the backing instrumentation?

I had the opportunity to record with the North Iceland Symphony orchestra and the amazing producer Þorvaldur Bjarni and Ash Howes. We decided to take the song to a different level and I´m so happy with the result.

7 - Both Never Forget and Hear Them Calling are reflectively dark and passionate songs, would you say that is your style when it comes to singing?

 I am a very passionate performer so I think that translates to my music.

8 - Iceland have never won the Eurovision Song Contest, but placed 2nd as recently as 2009, are you hoping you can do one better in Stockholm?

 I am only hoping that my song will reach or help at least one person with its message. Then I will feel like a winner.

9 - Can we expect any new music from you after Eurovision or concerts you wish to tell us about?

Yes, I am working hard on new material that will be released after Eurovision. I will be returning to Disney in June and then doing my shows.

10 - Finally, Hear Them Calling is proving extremely popular and a fan favorite all over Europe with the Eurovision fandom, espcially on social media, do you have any words or a message to our readers and supporters?

Thank you so much for your support and lets not listen to the negative voices around us and focus on the positive ones and be a positive voice to others.

Don't forget you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too. 

Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #5

In the run up to this year's contest we're reviewing each song in as few words as possible, hence the "Pocket Size" previews... Up next is Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel and Italy.

HUNGARY - FREDDIE "PIONEER"

Elliot: Powerful song and vocals, diction isn't all there in parts however 7.5/10

Emily: So vocally strong with an extremely catchy song. Definite qualifier for sure. 9/10

Noa: His vocals are just so powerful and the song as well !! this song is amazing! 9\10

James: I love this one! Such a powerful song and such an atmospheric song! This could be a dark horse to win. 8/10

Rob: I don't really get the hype when it comes to this song, very average when compared to some others. 6/10

TOTAL SCORE: 39.5/50

ICELAND - GRETA SALOME "HEAR THEM CALLING"

Elliot: LOVE!!!!! Winner of Eurovision 2016 for me, love everything about it 10/10

Emily: Another one of my favourites. I love the interesting performance and her live vocals are just like the studio version. 9/10

Noa: It's very catchy and addicting! although after a few times sounds very basic and becomes a little bit boring 7/10 

James: Amazing. It's so powerful and it's different to everything else this year. Another dark horse! 8/10

Rob: Very different and very very good! Loving the blatant copy of Mans with the screen art too. 7/5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 41.5/50

Greta Salome represented Iceland in 2012

IRELAND - NICKY BYRNE "SUNLIGHT"

Elliot: Generic, inoffensive, nice, bit bland however 5/10

Emily: I loved this at first but it went down in my rankings when I first heard the live vocals, which were quite weak. I enjoy the song itself and I hope that Nicky gives his all when it comes to Stockholm. 6.5/10

Noa: A very basic pop song, they could send better. 5\10

James: It's catchy, it's fun, but it's not special. It's also a tad dated. Nonetheless, a radio-friendly and enjoyable tune. 7/10

Rob: Having heard the live performance from Nicky I'm very unsure whether this will be able to qualify. 6.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 30/50

ISRAEL - HOVI STAR "MADE OF STARS"

Elliot: Best revamp of the year. think the song is beautiful and the final minute is everything - 9/10

Emily: Hovi is such a lovely person with a beautiful yet simple ballad. I really hope it qualifies. 7/10

Noa: Hovi's vocals are amazing !!! I think the revamp did very well to the song !!! 8\10

James: A solid & beautiful ballad! But, it's quite forgettable which could hinder its chances. Still could easily qualify! 7/10

Rob: The final thirty seconds of this song are beautiful, it's just a shame about the rest... 6/10

TOTAL SCORE: 37/50

Hovi Star will sing "Made of Stars"

ITALY - FRANCESCA MICHIELIN "NO DEGREE OF SEPARATION"

Elliot: Meh, it's ok, good singer but she just sounds and looks bored in the video also, not a big fan 5/10

Emily: I loved this at first but I don't think the English part fits with the rest of the song. I do like it though. Vocally good. 7/10

Noa: Love this one ! such a beautiful meaning ! and she has a cute voice. 8\10

James: A lovely song. But, like Israel, it's a tad forgettable and a bit bland. Bonus points for Francesca's voice though! 7.5/10

Rob: Maybe Italy's worst song to date? Very disappointed in them this year. 6.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 34/50

Our current top 3...
1) France - Amir "J'ai Cherche"
2) Greta Salome "Hear Them Calling"
3) Cyprus - Minus One "Alter Ego"

Keep a look out for Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #6 on the way soon, and don't forget you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too. 

Noa looks back on "Israel Calling" 2016

Israel's first ever Eurovision Pre-Party took place last week in the city of Tel Aviv, plenty of Eurovision stars were in attendance, as was our own Noa! Here's what she thought...

Before the Eurovision Contest itself we cannot forget the tradition of the pre parties taking place in several locations like Amsterdam , London etc. In those Pre parties we can actually feel the excitement and get a taste from the live performances of each country just like the big thing in May.

On the 12th of April 2016, the first Israeli pre party of Eurovision Song Contest  " Israel Calling " took place in Tel Aviv - City of Culture in Israel.18 acts have preformed their songs for Eurovision 2016 held in Stockholm. After a lot of hard work I managed to get a ticket and get in to the pre party and this is my review for this amazing personal experience.   

Overall all 18 acts really impressed me and the show was incredible!
 

Vocally I got Impressed the most by: Hovi Star from Israel - it was so pleasant to hear him sing, he has got a really powerful voice.  Eneda Tarifa from Albania - she sounds exactly like in the studio version it's insane! Rykka from Switzerland - which improved her vocals a lot, she sounds amazing! And Michal Szpak from Poland - he has such an amazing and pleasant voice.

If we talk about the best performance visually I must mention Sergey Lazarev from Russia, who even brought his dancers and made us feel like he is actually the winner! Sanja from Serbia also impressed, I could tell she really giving all she got in her performance and she nailed it!

More performances that I have to mention are by Amir from France, Poli Geneva from Bulgaria and Zoë from Austria; those three really gave their love to the crowd and they were so fun to dance to! 

Amir has impressed in the run up to Eurovision

I don't think there were any "bad" acts, all of them were great and the singers gave all they got in their performances!

After the show, some of the singers came to greet us and I got to meet Rykka, Zoë and ManuElla - it was one of the highlights of this evening! They were very sweet to meet and talk to. Rykka even recognized me from Twitter which was amazing, an absolute sweetheart!

The experience of "Israel calling" was one of the best I've ever had in my life and I think it was a success! Hopefully it will continue to next year as well and I wish all of the acts good luck in the contest!

Feel free to tweet me @Noag99 and tell me what was your thoughts and opinions are on the "Israel Calling" event! 

The Euro Trip Interviews: Zoe from Austria!

Earlier this month our own Elliot Harris had the chance to chat with Austria's entry for Eurovision 2016, the lovely Zoe from Austria.

Here's what she had to say, and as you'll be able to tell - she's very excited about Stockholm!

So Zoe, you competed in the Austrian selection in 2015, what made want to come back in 2016 and when was the decision made?

Zoe: Last year, I never would have thought to come that far in the contest , and when I almost was chosen to represent Austria I finally realised how close I was to my dream, so I immediately made the decision to work hard and try out again the following year. When you really believe in something you must fight and work for it. I will always stand up and follow my dreams no matter what comes in my way.

Your song - Loin D'ici is a beautiful and sweet song, but do you have any personal connection or similarities to the song and it's message?

Zoe: I wrote the song together with my father so of course I have a strong connection with it. The song is about an imaginary paradise , a place where you feel happy ,for me it is being on stage , but the great thing is that everybody has his own interpretation. What we would love to achieve with the music is to make feel good when listening to the song, I would love to spread the love and energy I feel while singing my song.

What direction are you going to take your Eurovision performance from where it was at in Austria?

Zoe: The main things that will be different for the Eurovision , are the background and the dress , but we're still working on all the changes , so nothing is definite for now :) What I can tell you is that I'll be alone on stage , no dancers will be with me , and the background singers will stand on the stage.

Carrying on with the live performance, whose idea was it for the moving background and how did that come about?

Zoe: My father and I had the idea of a yellow-submarine-like background, something very retro. Sadly we were not able to do that for the national finals but we will certainly try our best to apply the idea for the semi-finals and hopefully the final :)

A lot of people on social media across Europe say your outfit in Vienna looked like a princess or a video game damsel, is your style going to stay the same for Stockholm or have you got new ideas?

Zoe: The style is going to change , but we're still looking for the perfect dress that will fit with the song and also for the big stage in Stockholm!

What is your background in music and how did and when did you decide singing in French would be your style and staple and which artists inspired you to become a singer/songwriter?

Zoe: My father is a musician and has had a band for 20 years, so I've always been surrounded with music, and I always dreamed of writing music and performing with him . My father and I , we've both been in a French school and for that matter learned French at a very young age . When my dad and I first tried to write music together , I started singing in French, it was just by coincidence , I think I just came home from school and the language was still stuck in my head.  Somehow it felt natural to me , I really felt confident and good with the language and so we decided to write French lyrics :) I could never pick out a few  artists that inspired me , because inspiration is everywhere, music simply inspires me every day.

Do you have any favourite Eurovision songs from years gone by?

Zoe: I loved Euphoria from Loreen, and I loved Mans performance from last year and of course Conchita will always be the queen of Austria ;)

And finally, what are you personally hoping to achieve at Eurovision?

Zoe: I will work hard and put love in everything I do, I think that all of the contestants will do that, so I can just do my best and hope for the best. Of course I would love to reach the final ... but we'll see in May :)

Thank you for your time Zoe and good luck in Stockholm!

Don't forget you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too. 

Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #4

In the run up to Stockholm we're reviewing all of this year's songs in as few words as possible. In part four we review France, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Germany and Greece...

FRANCE - AMIR "J'AI CHERCHE"

Elliot - Catchy, fun, a really good effort from France! Potential top 10 - 8.5/10

James -  An excellent, solid pop song that is perfect for Eurovision and also for the summer! 9/10

Emily - What can I say! My #1 of the whole contest: an enthusiastic singer, a catchy and upbeat song with lots of potential! Absolutely stunning 10/10

Noa  - Such an improvement France, way to go! Very catchy pop song, I have a good feeling it will reach the top 5. 9/10

Rob - Catchy, fun and Amir is so charismatic. The song is infectious and I hope it does so well. 9.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 46/50

FYR MACEDONIA - KALIOPI "DONA"

Elliot - Not bad, very Belinda Carlise "Not Alone" sounding to me but not loving it - 5/10

James - Dated & disappointing from Kaliopi. I don't think her music is right for the nature of the contest in 2016. 5/10

Emily - One of the only non-English songs this year and I have to say it's grown on me. Quite strong song and singer, I think she'll almost definitely qualify. 8/10

Noa - It's very different and she is a strong singer but I don't feel like it fits Eurovision. 6/10 

Rob - They had the chance to stand out with a non English approach, but this is just horrible. 4/10

TOTAL SCORE: 28/50

Kaliopi represented FYR Macedonia in 2012

GEORGIA - NIKA KOCHAROV & YOUNG GEORGIAN LOLITAZ "MIGHTNIGHT GOLD"
 

Elliot  - The revamped last minute is better but still the rest is trash and struggle - 2/10

James - A solid rock song! Different & enjoyable to listen to. This was an impressive revamp. 8/10

Emily - The revamp made it slightly better but it's just sort of dull and doesn't go anywhere. 3/10

Noa - I like this kind of rock kind of pop song but It ain't catchy and for my opinion it won't do well . 5\10

Rob - This song doesn't really deserve a review, but fair play for being experimental I guess... 3/10

TOTAL SCORE: 21/50

GERMANY - JAMIE-LEE "GHOST"

Elliot - Adore Jamie-Lee and this song! Want this to do so well 9/10

James - Jamie has a nice voice but I find the song dull and unappealing. I can't see it doing a great deal in Stockholm. 6/10

Emily - Jamie-Lee is adorable, and her voice is very soothing. The song is great and again, has potential 9/10

Noa - Jamie-Lee is so lovely! And the song is very dark and has an amazing meaning! Her voice is very relaxing but strong ! 9\10

Rob - This song is different in a very good way, wouldn't be surprised if this finishes top 5. 8/10

TOTAL SCORE: 41/50

Jamie-Lee is just 17 years old

GREECE - ARGO "UTOPIAN LAND"

Elliot - CANNOT be positive about this, waste of 3 minutes, sorry Greece this is just dire in all aspects 1/10

James - This is fun, quirky and actually has a powerful message in the response to the Refugee Crisis. I quite like how all of these things have made it the song that it is. I think this could even get top 10. 7/10

Emily - I have no clue what to say about this other than its a bit of a mess. The chorus is sorta memorable but the Greek rap is dire 3/10

Noa - Well It has a different vibe and the chorus is catchy but other than that it's very basic. 4\10

Rob - The ethnic sounding backing track is nice, but it all gets ruined when they start singing. 4/10

TOTAL SCORE: 19/50


Our current top 3...
1) France - Amir "J'ai Cherche"
2) Cyrpus - Minus One "Alter Ego"
3) Germany - Jamie-Lee "Ghost"

Keep a look out for Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #5 on the way soon, and don't forget you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too. 

Emily takes a look at Eurovision in Concert 2016

On the 9th of April 2016, the 8th edition of Eurovision in Concert took place in Amsterdam, the capital city of The Netherlands. A total of 26 acts performed their song for Stockholm, a record number that just beats the previous record of 25 in 2013. Agnete from Norway and Iveta from Armenia were due to perform but withdrew at the last minute due to illness and war in their home country.

I didn’t personally make it to the event, though I did have the joy of watching interviews from other sites and recorded performances. Here I will give an overview of what I saw of the concert. The hosts Hera Björk (Iceland 2010) and Cornald Maas introduced the acts, as well as Hera performing some songs herself including Je Ne Sais Quoi, her own Eurovision song.

 In terms of best performances, France really strengthened their 1st place position in my top 43. As well as his catchy bilingual song “J’ai Cherché”, his live vocals are almost just like the studio version. His song is so feel-good with a catchy hook in the chorus, his stage presence is so lively and he seemed to enjoy every minute. The crowd loved Amir, and I feel as though people watching in front of their TV screens will feel the same way in May. 

Another performance that wowed me was Iceland’s Greta Salome with Hear Them Calling. She started off with a short yet impressive violin solo and transitioned into her song. This is another artist that sounds similar live and in the studio versions of her song, which I find is impressive and something to look for in a performance. She had her silhouette dancers projected onto the screen behind her which I think added some excitement to her performance, yet just like Amir, she goes full-out and seems to enjoy herself, which is the best thing to watch out for.

One performance that surprised me has to be Serbia’s Sanja with “Goodbye (Shelter)”. She’s so vocally strong, yet I prefer listening to the live version over the studio version of her song. You can see how much emotion she puts into her song, and is such a strong and confident performer. This song has really grown on me after seeing the live performance as opposed to the preview video.

Unfortunately, along with the good performances there were a few “bad” ones. One that wasn’t particularly bad, but I found underwhelming was Croatia’s Nina Kraljic with “Lighthouse”. It’s a song with so much potential, but I feel as though her vocals are a little weak, especially on the higher notes and so it doesn’t have as much impact. It’s certainly not a bad song though. As well as Croatia, I think that Slovenia’s ManuElla with “Blue and Red” was outshone by some other performances. Her performance wasn’t too bad on its own, but I’d say it was one of the least interesting ones in the line-up.

ManuElla will represent Slovenia this year.

Overall, Eurovision in Concert continues to be a major success for the artists in that they got their songs heard by thousands, as well as having that extra experience of being on stage and working on different aspects such as live vocals and stage presence. Their performances are still available to watch on YouTube for you to judge for yourselves. Before the Amsterdam event, there were pre-parties in both Riga and Moscow, yet we still have “Israel Calling” in Tel Aviv, Israel, and the “London Eurovision Party” in London, United Kingdom to go!

Emily x

Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #3

In the run up to May's big Eurovision adventure in Stockholm, we're reviewing all of this year's songs in as few a words as possible.

CYPRUS - MINUS ONE "ALTER EGO"

Emily - Love this one! It's one of the best rock genre songs I've heard in a while, it's catchy and so very well made! 9/10

Noa - Never tired of listening to this song! It's rock though very catchy! Good job cyprus 8\10. 

James - Not my cup of tea, but a really strong song and a perfect demonstration of rock. Wishing Cyprus all the best this year! 8/10

Elliot - My god, a non dated rock song! Done very well and sung well, good job Cyprus! 8.5/10

Rob - An excellent rock and pop song, this will suit a lot of Eurovision fans on the night. 7.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 41/50

CZECH REPUBLIC - GABRIELA GUNCIKOVA "I STAND"

Emily - One of few female ballads this year. Lovely vocals and artist; Czech Republic is going in the right direction in the contest compared to what they used to send. 8/10

Noa - Good but I feel like it doesn't go anywhere and a bit boring although her vocals are great !  7/10

James - I absolutely love this entry! So emotional & powerful. One of my favourite songs this year. 9/10

Elliot - Strong singer and performer, like the song although does get dull and repetitive - 7/10

Rob - The definition of average, the song's fine but nothing special. 6/10

TOTAL SCORE: 37/50

Gabriela Guncikova will represent the Czech Republic

DENMARK - LIGHTHOUSE X "SOLDIERS OF LOVE"

Emily - Very much like their 2015 entry but a lot better. Good live vocals and can carry out the performance well. 7.5/10

Noa - Very catchy! And the guys are great live, but I feel like something is missing and it doesn't stand out from the other songs. 6\10

James - It's actually not a bad song! But, it's a bit dated and a bit cheesy. It could struggle to qualify, but wouldn't be a bad filler for the Grand Final. 6/10

Elliot - Generic boy band song but sung well so can't fault them, finalist but not making any challenges for the title - 7/10

Rob - Catchy as hell and it'll go big in the arena. A massive step up from last year. 7.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 34/50

ESTONIA - JURI POOTSMAN "PLAY"

Emily - Very dark... Yet memorable. He's got the looks, the performance and the voice. 8/10

Noa - Very unique style, great vocals, love this one a lot! very impressed. 8\10

James - This song sounds unfinished to me. It doesn't have enough oomph and for me it sounds like a budget and toned down version of Rolling In The Deep by Adele. 6/10

Elliot - Love it, sounds like George Ezra's soulful moody Estonian cousin, the slow tempo is a nice change also in this contest 9/10

Rob - I like what this song is trying to do, and think it COULD do really well. Not my taste though. 7/10

TOTAL SCORE: 38/50

Juri won Eesti Laul 2016 in Tallinn

FINLAND - SANDHJA "SING IT AWAY"

Emily - Upbeat pop for Finland this year. The only problem with this is that I can't remember the performance much and the vocals weren't so strong in the NF. 7/10

Noa - Catchy song, yet not outstanding one , much better then the song from last year though. 7.5/10

James - A disappointing entry. Sure, it's upbeat, but it sounds dated and a bit irritating. This one does not quite cut it as an enjoyable, upbeat song. 5/10

Elliot - The girl can perform and is so sassy its amazing! Song doesn't match what she gives out though which is a shame. 7/10

Rob - Very forgettable, unfortunately I don't think Finland will be qualifying again this year. 6.5/10

TOTAL SCORE: 33/50

Our current top 3...
1) Cyprus - Minus One "Alter Ego"

2) Australia - Dami Im "Sound of Silence"

3) Bulgaria - Poli Genova "If Love was a Crime"

Keep a look out for Eurovision Pocket Size Previews #4 on the way soon, and don't forget you can find us onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram too.