Eurovision 2017 - My Top 20, Part Two
Part two of my Eurovision series is here! In this week’s article, I talk about my top ten songs of the competition. If you haven’t heard any of the songs, I have you covered!
10. BULGARIA: Kristian Kostov – Beautiful Mess
Kristian Kostov is the young 17-year-old, who is hoping to get Bulgaria the win in this year’s contest. Born in Moscow to a Bulgarian father and Kazakh mother, Kostov is the youngest contestant in this year’s contest, and the first ever to be born this millennium. ‘Beautiful Mess’ is such a moving and powerful song. It has a dark, and haunting feel towards it which is portrayed through the sounds in the song, as well as Kostov’s vocals. The chorus brings an ethnic feel through the sounds of stringed instruments which draws me in very well. I believe that Bulgaria could potentially win this year’s Grand Final, especially picking up the huge Russian diaspora vote after Russia withdrew from the contest.
09. FYR MACEDONIA: Jana Burčeska – Dance Alone
For the first time in five years, F.Y.R Macedonia could be back in the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Since 2012, the country has failed to produce any good songs that connect with both the jury and audience. However, this year they have hit jackpot. ‘Dance Along’ is a very fun song with a disco throwback feel, but made contemporary. The song has 2017 European hit written all over it. Despite it being a fun and a song to dance to, it does have dark undertones to the song in the music video. Burčeska’s vocals in the song have been experimented with using effects to make her vocal’s give a thicker volume and texture to the song which make the song really stand out. However, this is also the downfall of the song when sung live as the country’s team haven’t been able to get these effects to then convert on stage. Fingers crossed FYR Macedonia can resolve this issue, or this could be one of the favourite flops of the contest this year.
08. DENMARK: Anja Nissen – Where I Am It’s another Aussie! The Voice Australia 2014 winner, Anja Nissen is representing Denmark in this year’s contest. The half Danish, half Aussie singer is bringing the drama with her powerful up-tempo ballad ‘Where I Am’. Nissen isn’t new to the Eurovision scene as such, as she came second in the Danish National Final last year in what was a robbery for Anja. SHAME DENMARK. However, ‘Where I Am’ shows off Nissen’s huge vocals in every part of the song. The song is a typical cliché song, but Nissen takes it to another level that makes it stand out so much for me. The last bridge and chorus is where Anja belts it out with out of the world runs to finish the song. All that comes to my head is WOW. It will be a real shame if this song doesn’t make it out of her Semi-Final. But, I have faith Nissen’s vocals will take her to the Grand Final, and possibly close to the Top 10.
07. AZERBAIJAN: Dihaj – Skeletons
This is a banger! Dihaj explores experimental Pop and Electro sounds mixing them together to create what is a masterpiece. The song discusses a relationship and the troubles it ultimately brings Dihaj. Along with the sound, the lyrics also bring the dark tone to the song. Despite it’s dark undertones, it is very up-tempo and grabs the audience’s attention from Dihaj’s first note. The verses have a mixed of falsetto and chest tones, progressing in to powerful and emotional tones sang in the chorus. I expect this song to do very well, possibly going top five, breaking Azerbaijan’s bad position run in the past few years.
06. CYPRUS: Hovig – Gravity Cyprus continues to step up their Eurovision song game with ‘Gravity’. Following Minus One’s ‘Alter Ego’, Hovig brings us dark soul and electro sounds along with syncopated beats. Produced by Thomas G:Son, who also produced Eurovision 2012 winning song ‘Euphoria’, ‘Gravity’ brings a unique and contemporary sound to this year’s contest. The song’s message for Hovig explores the feeling of wishing to be his family’s balance in life, and to be their literal ‘Gravity’. The song has caused some controversy as it has similarities to Rag’n’ Bone Man’s ‘Human’. However, Hovig takes this song away from the comparisons with the brassy tones of his voice with the slick production showcasing Hovig’s voice to the maximum potential.
05. ISRAEL: Imri – I Feel Alive
Thank god Israel delivered us a song that Eurovision 2017 was missing! ‘I Feel Alive’ is the party song that I was worried we wouldn’t get with so many ballads being brought to the competition. Everything from Imri’s vocals to the slick sound production makes the song one of my ultimate favourites. Imri begins with smooth low tones in the verse, gradually building in pitch with the changing tempo. The chorus adds more flavour to the song along with the drop and Imri’s falsetto notes complementing the beat of the break. However, what attracts me to the song even more is the instrumental bridge break where Middle-Eastern flavour sounds are mixed together to create an infectious dance break. Don’t underestimate Imri and his song this year as he was a backing singer for Israel the past two years.
04. FRANCE: Alma – Requiem
Oo La La France! After major fails for entries the past few years, France bounced back in 2016. They have continued the right track with the amazing French/English sang song. One way to describe this song is French-Pop as it has a huge French identity. The song instantly became one of my favourites when it was first released due to the uplifting beat and the fact the song was sang mostly in the country’s language! I love me a good native language song. ‘Requiem’ explores love and life in a very bright way. Alma’s vocals are unique, and sound great in a way that she does not need to belt to create beautiful tones. Expect a top ten, and ultimately a top five finish for France.
03. SWITZERLAND: Timebelle – Apollo
I did not see this coming at all! ‘Apollo’ was the winner of the Swiss national final back in February and was hanging around in my top 15. I always found the chorus infectious but didn’t find the rest of the song appealing. However, Timebelle delivered a huge revamp of the song last month and it did them wonders! ‘Apolo’ jumped straight into my top three as I couldn’t stop singing the song. The revamp didn’t take away the power and emotion that the song had, but instead expanded on the sound and made it even better and more contemporary and diverse to attract bigger audiences. From the syncopated snaps, to the introduction of synth percussion sounds, to the acapella like first chorus, the song has it all. The track continues to build in texture as the song progresses. But, the song also has its quiet parts in the bridge, where Miruna, the lead vocalist sings in a falsetto tone, that leads to a powerful ending chorus. Switzerland lately does not have a good track record of qualifying. It will be a crime if ‘Apollo’ does not qualify for the Grand Final, and I will be very sour.
02. HUNGARY: Joci Papai – Origo
What a piece of art. I love this song so much! Everything about it appeals to me. ‘Origo’ is a very ethnic and traditional sounding song which plays to my heart very much so as I have always been a sucker for ethnic beats. ‘Origo’ follows Papai’s story of being a Romani (gypsy) man in Hungary and the discrimination the Romani people face in what is a very heartfelt story. His emotion is brought out in the song through the way Papai sings the song. You can tell that Papai is in pain and it creates an amazing storytelling song on stage as well. What makes the song even more unique is the rap after the second chorus. The rap is even more emotional and heart felt than the tones in Papai’s singing, and it brings a power that rap has never been able to do in previous Eurovision songs that included rap. Did I mention the violin that brings the strong ethnic sounds? Amazing. I would truly be so happy if ‘Origo’ becomes the dark horse and ultimately wins this year’s contest.
01. ITALY: Francesco Gabbani – Occidentali’s Karma
Namaste, Ale! If you haven’t heard of this song, you are living under a rock. It is the song that has been and still is the runaway winner in the odds, and has also surpassed 100 million views on YouTube! Besides the 34-year-old singer being very charismatic and having a dancing gorilla on stage with him, the lyrics of the song are very smart. The song discusses the themes of science and philosophy as well as the way of Westerners. This song is a winner. Gabbani’s charisma and energy on stage, mixed with his vocals and the feel of the song as well as the dance moves with his dancing gorilla creates magic! There’s a reason this song has been well received by the world and is tipped to be the winner.
Eurovision kicks off in just three days with Semi-Final One! For Australia, this is the schedule of when Eurovision is airing:
Wednesday 10 May
5:00am – Live Semi Final 1 - Australia is performing and we can vote!
Friday 12 May
5:00am – Live Semi Final 2 – We can’t vote in this semi
7:30pm – Repeat of Semi Final 1
Saturday 13 May
7:30pm – Repeat of Semi Final 2
Sunday 14 May
5:00am – Live Grand Final – Australia can vote even if we don’t qualify for the final!
7:30pm – Repeat of Grand Final – Good luck trying to avoid spoilers if you don’t intend waking up early!
