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Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury 2020 #1 Written by on March 15, 2020 | 4 Comments

The musical sun has risen on our traditional eight steps of adventure. ESC Insight puts all 41 songs looking to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in the dock to be judged. You can listen to Juke Box Jury and the ESC Insight podcast online, add the RSS Feed to your favourite podcast application, or click here to follow us in iTunes and never miss an episode.

And so it came to pass once more, that the family of three decided to act as one. Hit, miss, and maybe, all returned to the surroundings of Court Number 12. 41 songs lay before them, the pool of jurors ready to be selected, and a public ready to listen to the proceedings.

Welcome… to Juke Box Jury.

Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury #1
with Ross Middleton and Laura Clay.

Ireland: Story Of My Life, by Lesley Roy.
Cyprus: Running, by Sanro.
Poland: Empires, by Alicja Szemplińska.
Sweden: Move, by The Mamas.
Greece: Supergirl, by Stefania.

As May draws closer, you can stay up to date with all the Song Contest news by listening to the ESC Insight podcast. You’ll find the show in iTunesGoogle Podcasts, and SpotifyA direct RSS feed is  available. We also have a regular email newsletter which you can sign up to here.

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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4 responses to “Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury 2020 #1”

  1. Shai says:

    In these very abnormal days, it’s good to have something normal to do. JBJ is back.

    Ireland-
    It’s different from what they have sent in quite some time but on the other hand they created so much hype and expectation, and this doesn’t live up to these expectations.
    It’s not fresh or current. I don’t see the gay appeal in this entry and I don’t see the mass appeal of this one – MISS

    Cyprus-
    It seems they were trying to make a current dance track. Unfortunately, they managed to create an uninteresting song. Something went wrong while making the song and it doesn’t work at all – MISS

    Poland-
    It’s a ballad, a bit over produced if I may add. I heard her live rendition and she can sing this live. Base of past experience, this can do well by the jurries, if staged well and has no hiccups in the live performance. The televoters will kill it chances of winning-MAYBE

    Sweden-
    For a soul song, it has one problem. It is lacking of any soul what so ever. I will remind those who have already forgotten that last year they had already a kind of soul song, which didn’t do that well by the televoters, so I don’t see this even close to win the whole thing. And I am in the opinion that in the same semi of Sweden, there are better songs than this one(even in the same genre, Malta anyone). But it is Sweden so it bounds to do well, I for once hope, they manage to stay in the semi. -MISS(for me)/Somewhere between MAYBE and HIT(for the contest)

    Greece-
    It’s a bit childish. Isn’t it? It wouldn’t be out of place on the JESC podium. And as someone on the podcast said, it has been done before, probably in a better way. It has a potential, if they get the staging right and let’s hope she can sing this life- MAYBE

  2. Eurojock says:

    Really glad you’re continuing with JBJ. We need something to cheer us up in these worrying times. I agree a lot with Shai`s comments especially about the soulless soul of Sweden.

  3. James says:

    North Macedonia
    -I think this is quite nice. One way to make this a sure qualifier is if the live performance comes alive on screen. Given the clutter of baaahps, it’s a tough field to be able to stand out.

    For me, it’s a MAYBE.

    Romania
    -Unusual choice for Romania. This could have likely potentially cancel out Bulgaria had they been in the same semifinal. As an ESOL speaker, I didn’t mind the English lyrics even though it’s odd see some 2020-era words being used here. It’s a strong song which could pair well with strong staging. I can see where the Billie Eilish-comparisons coming from but I hear more of Roxen for the most part.

    Bulgaria
    -Well, speaking of. Being co-written by Boris Milanov, you can expect him to really go experimental and go unusual (Dark pop is his specialty it seems). While I can see the Billie’s “The Party’s Over” similarities that people saw in here, upon first listen, that was not what I had in mind. This would sound real good when paired with a live orchestra.

    Here, it’s a HIT.

    Moldova
    -“FREEZER!”

    She delivered it well live but the song is just Eurovision-by-the-numbers, which you can expect when you have the “Dream Team” penning your entry. English lyrics are fine,as it’s written by a native speaker of the language, but everything here is just…expected. The national final performance gives me a good of a laugh though so I give them credit for that.

    MISS as in MISS.

    Spain
    -Me encanta. I can see Spain investing in pretty good staging to allow the song to really shine the way it deserves. I didn’t think last year’s staging was that bad but it didn’t deserve the placement it go. Had Rotterdam 2020 happen, I can see this getting a modest result.

    It’s a HIT.

  4. James says:

    Oh crap, I posted on the wrong page. Dang it. haha

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