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Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury #7 Written by on April 29, 2014 | 10 Comments

Two Juke Box Juries to go, including this one. The final episode will take on the Big 5 and our hosts, Denmark, and will be posted before Tuesday next week. In the meantime the final songs from the semi-finals are up in front of one experienced Juke Box Judge, and one who is new to the show.

I suspect there are going to be some strong opinions on this one, so head to the comments.

…and be sensible out there!

Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury #7
with Donald McNaughton and John Hodgkiss

Portugal: Quero Ser Tua, by Suzy
Sweden:
Undo, by Sanna Nielsen
Russia:
Shine, by The Tolmachevy Sisters
Poland:
My Slowianie, by Donatan ft. Cleo

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About The Author: Ewan Spence

British Academy (BAFTA) nominated broadcaster and writer Ewan Spence is the voice behind The Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast and one of the driving forces behind ESC Insight. Having had an online presence since 1994, he is a noted commentator around the intersection of the media, internet, technology, mobility and how it affects us all. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, his work has appeared on the BBC, The Stage, STV, and The Times. You can follow Ewan on Twitter (@ewan) and Facebook (facebook.com/ewanspence).

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Have Your Say

10 responses to “Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury #7”

  1. Kevin says:

    Isn’t Ace Wilder older than Sanna Nielsen? Glad to finally hear some love for Undo here. Totally agree with Donald and John.

  2. Peter says:

    Another week where my likes mostly disconnect with what I think the song will do.

    Portugal – Miss. I like the song, it’s fun. But it’s too cheap, too Tesco Value, too 1980s to make anyone care enough to pick up the phone.
    Sweden – Maybe. Totally agree with Ewan’s analysis, totally. The song is dull if and anyone other than Sanna got this, it wouldn’t have left the heat. It will struggle in the SF as there won’t be enough Melodifestivalen fans around who can vote for her just on her name alone, because the song itself doesn’t deserve it.
    Russia – Miss. They should just go home now and save themselves the trauma of getting booed off stage. The only reason why they won’t get 0 in the SF is because they probably have enough “friends” left who will vote them into the final, scared in case mad Vlad decides to invade them as well.
    Poland – Hit. No. Just no. Awful tacky mess. But people will still vote for it for some strange reason?

  3. Harriet Krohn says:

    Portugal – this won’t get out of the semis, but I like it on a weird level. I haven’t heard Suzy not sing it badly once, but I hope for her sake she’ll do better on the two nights that count (meaning the jury semi and the real semi, not the final, obviously), just so Portugal won’t come last.

    Sweden – thank you, Ewan. I don’t often agree with you like this, but you’re spot on with Sweden. But it will easily get into the final because in the semis, you’ve got enough die-hard fans voting for whatever Sweden sends. It might also do well in the final, I think it’s sooo hard to predict this year, but I find it dull and unengaging – it doesn’t feel genuine to me, and that’s why I would never vote for it. Others clearly disagree.

    Russia – I’m almost ashamed to say I really like this song. Totally harmless and mediocre, of course, but it sort of works its way into my head every time and I find myself humming and singing the chorus hours later. I hope those girls won’t get booed off the stage, they’re not even old enough to vote yet. If Mr. Kirkorov was on stage … but he isn’t. I’m still quite confident it will qualify, because there are still lots of Russians voting for their home country in lots of neighbouring states, and if Crimea is still voting within the Ukraine you have a huge peninsula of Russians considering themselves to be living in Russia who are allowed to vote for their own country, which they will of course do. And can you see the Azeri jury putting this last? I certainly can’t.

    Poland – oh my god, so tacky! I much, much prefer this in Polish, if only because “now shake what your mamma gave you” does not fit the music AT ALL and makes me cringe every time. But Poland also has a lot of compatriots living across Europe (in Germany for example, which is voting in this semi), so who knows. I wouldn’t miss it in the final, although I’d like to wish all returning or unsuccessful countries luck. If only they sent better stuff …

  4. Shai says:

    Portugal-dated and kitsch, a combination that doesn’t work well.-MISS(though the fact it’s one of the few up tempo song in this semi may work for it)

    Sweden – I with you Ewan on this one.I also think that it get too much credit because it’s a song from Sweden.Otherwise it would have been butchered. Between MAYBE and a MISS.

    Russia- the other spectrum of dated and kitsch-MISS

    Poland-I admit not to get it.Maybe I’m too old for it-MISS

  5. dicksbits says:

    Portugal: MISS
    Sweden: HIT (3rd-10th in the final)
    Russia: MAYBE (qualify, but 9/10th) (18-26th in final)
    Poland: HIT (7/8th) (12-26th in final)

    My parents are from Aberdeen and Huntly btw

  6. Stephen Colville says:

    The Portuguese song has been critically panned, and yet it gets a positive reaction on JBJ? This is staying in the semi.

  7. PurpleK says:

    I’m with Ewan on Sweden. It’s a nice song, but I agree that it’s cold and calculated compared to certain other ballads competing this year, and I don’t see this top 5 either.

    Portugal: One of my guilty pleasures of the year

    Russia: lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame

    Poland: It’s totally epic, but I’m scared that the juries will tank it completely

  8. Portugal – MISS. It’s lively and will be fun to watch (Suzy is easy on the eye) but it is one of the weakest acts this year, it won’t qualify.

    Sweden – HIT. It will get to the Final easily, her vocals annoy me but it is polished, lyrically solid, sounds good and will be in the top 5 on May 10th.

    Russia – MAYBE. It should make the Final as the twins can sing well but what with the country’s unpopularity and the ridiculous staging that has been used in their two rehearsals, they might not make it.

    Poland – HIT. This will make the Final as it is fun and different in a good way. It will look great and Cleo sings superbly live. It won’t challenge the top 5 but it will do well for Poland’s return.

  9. Inca says:

    Whatever happened to JbJ nr 8?

  10. Ewan Spence says:

    Still in the editing bay!

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