Reviews of new releases by Eurovision artists.
Victoria (Bulgaria 2020/2021)-The Worst
More upbeat than her 2021 Eurovision Growing Up is Getting Old. There's something nostalgic about Victoria's music that I like. The backing vocals are nice, but the lyrics are vengeful. Interesting transition to the bridge. I like the percussion-it gives the song some umph.
Rating: 5/10
Arilena Ara (Albania 2020) ft. Gjon's Tears (Switzerland 2020/2021)-Dance Me
Robotic vocal effects. Thumping beat. The robotic voice returns in a stripped chorus. Gjon's Tears enters the second verse with...French and falsetto? They join together in the second chorus. Gjon's Tears starts the bridge in a lower register. The song is not bad. However, I like I would like this song more if it was in a lower register.
Rating: 4.5/10
Il Volo (Italy 2015)-Il Volo Sings Morricone (reviews based on Spotify previews)
Ecstasy of Gold (from "The Good The Bad and The Ugly)-Triumphant sounding, the flute sounds cool
Your Love (from "Once Upon a Time in the West")-Sentimental, strings, Christmassy
Nella Fantasia ft. Andrea Griminelli (from "The Mission")-The flute returns. Italian. Their voices are so nice to listen to. Beautiful harmonies
Se ft. Hauser (from "Cinema Paradiso")- sera a cena")-Maracas? A bit of Latin flavor?
Se ft. Hauser (from "Cinema Paradiso")-Dramatic. Piano. Sounds Christmassy.
La Califfa ft. David Garrett (from "La Califfa")-Strings. Got lost in the sound for a second
Conradiana (from "Nostromo")-Instrumental section with strings and horns.
E piu' ti penso (from "Once Upon a Time in America/Malena")-Slow tempo.
Se Telefonando-More upbeat. Guitar and piano. Switches up a bit instrumentally. Horn solo with strings in the background.
Come Sail Away (ft. Chris Botti)-More strings!
Would He Even Know Me Now? (from "Cinema Paradiso") In English. Sentimental. Musical theatre-y.
Amalia Por Amor-Not much to say.
Here's to You (from "Sacco & Vanzetti")-A lot more upbeat
I Colori dell'amore-Slower. Key change. Swaying.
Jeangu Macrooy (Netherlands 2020/2021) ft. Pete Philly-A Little Greener
His voice is so soulful. Claps in the chorus. Slightly funky, but the lyrics are repetitive. Chorus sounds like a chiller version of Embers (UK 2021). Pete's rap is surprisingly melodical.
Westlife (member Nicky Byrne represented Ireland in 2016)-My Hero Oh my god these lyrics are so cheesy (You've seen the long nights...You don't know how you're saving my life tonight 'cause I feel like you are my hero"). Reminds me of Jesse McCartney's new music-lyric wise. Sounds different though-more harmonies, more like a ballad. Too bad I'm a sucker for this sound...but I would not put this on my playlist.
Robin Bengtsson (Sweden 2017)-If I Was You-Pop, guitars. Backing vocals. Catchy, but the lyrics are cringey ("If I was you I'd be on my mind right now". The backing vocals/call and response add a nice element. Despite the cringey lyrics, this is going on my playlist. The guitar solo is cool.
Alsou (Russia 2000)- Я люблю тебя (I Love You)
ALCY! I mean-ALSOU (I can kind of read Cyrillic-please forgive my lizard brain)! I just discovered her music this year. Song sounds nostalgic. Her voice sounds good during the chorus-I'm not sure about the first verse. Song sonically sounds Russian-not language wise-musically (like the scales the song uses-there's something distinctive about Russian pop) The guitar solo is so nice. I wasn't sure about the beginning, but this is a great power ballad. Potentially going on my playlist.
Gaia (ft. Francesca Michielin (Italy 2016) & Margherita Vicario)-Ginga (Swings)
Italian and Portuguese or Spanish? Steady rhythm. Somewhat chill. Lyrics are a bit repetitive. The song is fine, not what I usually listen to.
MC Roger, Benny Cristovao (Czechia 2020/2021) & Savara-Regina
A bit of autotone and R&B vibes at the beginning. Rhythm picks up and has more of a African/Latin influence (or as wiwibloggs.com says, Brazilian funk carioca). Benny Cristovao's part is okay-I like the R&B elements more. Picks up again around 2:40. Interesting song, I'm not sure of what to make of it yet.
Aurela Gace (Albania 2011)- Djali im i keq (My Bad Boy)
Albanian ballad. I'm not a huge fan of her voice. Chorus picks up, but not enough.
VOSTOK (Kristian Kostov Bulgaria 2017)-Alice
Expecting something creepy. Creepy piano/chimes. Nice beat. Glad to hear Kristian Kostov making music again. The "break down" in the second verse is nice, as well as the background vocals. The prechorus vocals are creepy. The instrumental in the bridge is interesting. Slightly industrial sounds at the end. I think this is going on my playlist.
Timebelle (Switzerland 2017) ft. Alejandro Reyes (Swiss National Final Die Entscheidungsshow 2018)-Barba (Beard)
As a general rule, I do not like beards. However, I do like Timebelle-Apollo was one of my favorite 2017 songs (along with Beautiful Mess by Kristian Kostov). Latin pop vibes. Catchy. Alejandro sings during the second verse. Some percussion is added. Timebelle and Alejandro sing the chorus. However, Alejandro sounds more prominent. Timebelle sings the bridge and backing vocals in the final chorus. Not anything new, but it's catchy.
Sofi Marinova (Bulgaria 2012)-Zlato Moe (My Gold)-Vocals sound very Albanian/Balkan/Arabic (has that "waver"). Acoustic guitars or something similar. Instrumental chorus. The song is okay. Doesn't grab my attention.
Alfie Arcuri (Australia Decides 2019)-Devils Lips
Sounds good from the beginning. Synth pop song. Chorus sounds too short. For whatever reason, the second chorus sounds longer. I like how the bridge is layered.
Favorites of the bunch (in no particular order):
Il Volo-Il Volo Sings Morricone
Robin Bengtsson-If I Was You
Alsou-I Love You
MC Roger, Benny Cristovao & Savara-Regina
VOSTOK-Alice
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