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Slightly delayed due to some technical issues, it’s the final round of Junior Juke Box Jury for 2016. Recorded before the rehearsals start, who can walk away with the most hits while avoiding a dreaded miss?
Eurovision Insight Podcast: Junior Juke Box Jury #3
With Sharleen Wright, and Andrew Main.Russia: Water Of Life, by The Water Of Life Project.
Cyprus: Dance Floor, by George Michaelides.
Albania: Besoji, by Klesta Qehaja.
Georgia: Mzeo, by Mariam Mamadashvili.
Israel: Follow My Heart, by Shir & Tim.
Italy: Cara Mamma – Dear Mom, by Fiamma Boccia.
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I agree with (two of) the jury that Russia’s is an absolutely cracking song. Had this gone into Adult Eurovision and they had somehow married this number with Sergei’s rubber LED screen, Russia would have been home and hosed. The running order draw does this no favours though. And while the singing from all 4 girls seems strong, their singing is obviously a lot better than their dancing. This was my pre-contest favourite for the win but now I’m not so sure.
Cyprus is an example of an inferior (by what goes down well at JESC) song (i.e. lacking a melody) which is helped enormously by the running order and the staging – which could translate a bottom 3 into a top 10.
Albania – I can’t believe you guys!! Any more of this and I’m deserting you for Wiwibloggs. In my humble opinion the video is wonderful (from Adult we know that Albania excels at song videos) and based on the video performance this pips even Russia. Problem is first time I saw this it was the national final performance and it was Klesta alone on stage and there was something about the Primary 1 end of term performance for parents about it. Klesta’s ”awkward’ performance, for me, is real and engaging but she does tend towards shouting. The JESC performance needs to bring some of the elements of the video to get its message – how war affects children – across, but it seems that Albania are just putting Klesta on stage by herself. If only the budget had stretched to a few cute but sad looking children and a handful of cardboard props!
Georgia – Like Sharleen I can’t see a rather boring and repetitive stage musical song going down well at JESC. I’d be amazed if this got anywhere near the top 5.
Israel – I find this bland and dated and from the rehearsals one singer sounds stronger than the other.
Italy – I don’t see this winning but if you are going to put a cheesey song to your mother on an ESC stage its better to go with Fiamma than Axel Hirsoux.