Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury 2020 #2 Written by
Ewan Spence on
March 21, 2020 | 5 Comments
With the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 cancelled, many have asked what will happen to Juke Box Jury. Put simply, it’s going to continue, even if it’s going to come from an alternative universe where Rotterdam 2020 is still going ahead… 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.
Billie Eilish (photo: MTV International / Wikimedia)
Yes, Eurovision 2020 is not working out as planned, and some things change. But some things will remain, such as Juke Box Jury. After all, we started last week, so we’d better keep on going.
Think of it as our way to honour the songs.
Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury #2 with Ellie Chalkley and Scott Reid.
North Macedonia: You, by Vasil.
Romania: Alcohol You, by Roxen.
Bulgaria: Tears Getting Sober, by Victoria. Moldova: Prison, by Natalia Gordienko. Spain: Universo, by Blas Cantó.
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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Can’t disagree much with the panel here. Romania is class but suffers in comparison with Bulgaria which would have been my tip for the jury win and probably the overall win.
It’s strange to comment on JBJ when you know the 2020 edition is cancelled. But right now there is nothing else to do, so here i go.
North Macedonia-
Sounds more like a product made according to a recept, than a song made to excite or move you. It’s not really an exciting composition, and it ends and I can’t even remember the song -MISS
Romania –
I love this song. It has something that draw me into the song from first listen. And for a dark song it’s has something catchy that you remember after first listen. They revamped the song in the last 30 seconds and placed a key change there , which was totally unnecessary for me. And that sentence”Alcohol you when I am drunk”, is for me the sentence of the year. This would have ended high, probably top 5 and I wouldn’t have mind if this have won – HIT
Bulgaria-
There is something very simple in the composition and it’s almost Disney like song, with the difference that this is darker in tone than what Disney will ever allow. The strength of the song lies in the quiet tone it is been presented. It’s pleasant enough for the ear but for me it a less strong song than the one from Romania. I can totally get why this was one of the favourites for the win and it wouldn’t be bad winner either – HIT(but slightly less than Romania)
Moldova-
It’s not a good song, isn’t it. It’s based on one musical sentence , which repeat itself over and over again and they try hide this behind all kind of musical decoration. It’s just not working – MISS
Spain-
Where do I start?- I think he has an irritating voice and somehow they mange to have song that doesn’t seem to fit his voice. It also a very repetitive song. Someone should have told the writers that repeating a word and/or a musical sentence, without a built up or a change , is not to be considered as a good writing. – MISS
Romania has it over Bulgaria in my opinion. Song has a cutting edge and soul that Bulgaria lacks, however musically attractive a composition “Tears Getting Sober ” is. The rest are all also-rans!
Repost:
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.
Moldova would have done excellently with the return of Pasha Parfeny. But it is a widely held opinion in Moldova after the fact that Kirkorov pulled an “Edward Romanyuta” and someone effectively bought the win. No one has any problem with Natalia, as an ESC Alumna herself, but the song is just lame. “My Wine” would have been right up there in the same vein as “Lautar”, and who didnt love Pasha then? Of course he penned the incredible “O Mie” as well, and served as delegation head a few times. He earned 2 11th places effectively. Such a tragedy.
Can’t disagree much with the panel here. Romania is class but suffers in comparison with Bulgaria which would have been my tip for the jury win and probably the overall win.
It’s strange to comment on JBJ when you know the 2020 edition is cancelled. But right now there is nothing else to do, so here i go.
North Macedonia-
Sounds more like a product made according to a recept, than a song made to excite or move you. It’s not really an exciting composition, and it ends and I can’t even remember the song -MISS
Romania –
I love this song. It has something that draw me into the song from first listen. And for a dark song it’s has something catchy that you remember after first listen. They revamped the song in the last 30 seconds and placed a key change there , which was totally unnecessary for me. And that sentence”Alcohol you when I am drunk”, is for me the sentence of the year. This would have ended high, probably top 5 and I wouldn’t have mind if this have won – HIT
Bulgaria-
There is something very simple in the composition and it’s almost Disney like song, with the difference that this is darker in tone than what Disney will ever allow. The strength of the song lies in the quiet tone it is been presented. It’s pleasant enough for the ear but for me it a less strong song than the one from Romania. I can totally get why this was one of the favourites for the win and it wouldn’t be bad winner either – HIT(but slightly less than Romania)
Moldova-
It’s not a good song, isn’t it. It’s based on one musical sentence , which repeat itself over and over again and they try hide this behind all kind of musical decoration. It’s just not working – MISS
Spain-
Where do I start?- I think he has an irritating voice and somehow they mange to have song that doesn’t seem to fit his voice. It also a very repetitive song. Someone should have told the writers that repeating a word and/or a musical sentence, without a built up or a change , is not to be considered as a good writing. – MISS
Romania has it over Bulgaria in my opinion. Song has a cutting edge and soul that Bulgaria lacks, however musically attractive a composition “Tears Getting Sober ” is. The rest are all also-rans!
Repost:
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.
Moldova would have done excellently with the return of Pasha Parfeny. But it is a widely held opinion in Moldova after the fact that Kirkorov pulled an “Edward Romanyuta” and someone effectively bought the win. No one has any problem with Natalia, as an ESC Alumna herself, but the song is just lame. “My Wine” would have been right up there in the same vein as “Lautar”, and who didnt love Pasha then? Of course he penned the incredible “O Mie” as well, and served as delegation head a few times. He earned 2 11th places effectively. Such a tragedy.