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Another year of Juke Box Jury comes to an end… which means we’re all off to Turin an this year’s Eurovision Song Contest!
Eurovision Insight Podcast: Juke Box Jury #8
with Ross Middleton and Donna Sluggett.Denmark: The Show, by Reddi.
Malta: I Am What I Am, Emma Muscat.
Italy: Brividi, by Mahmood and Blanco.
San Marino: Stripper, by Achille Lauro.
Austria: Halo, by Lumix feat. Pia Maria.
Stay up to date with all the discussions, news, and reviews as the ESC Insight team heads to Turin and the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. You’ll find the show in iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. A direct RSS feed is available. We have a regular email newsletter which you can sign up to here., and you can support us on Patreon here.
Denmark: MISS. Starting off as a piano ballad and moving into a rock number is a promising way to begin the song. Unfortunately, the slightly more interesting lyrics are at the beginning at the piano. Once the rock begins, the band all look like they’re having a grand time but it’s all too safe and repetitive. It needs some bite to it to be memorable. I don’t think it will qualify.
Malta: MISS. I think this is the first time since 2012 that a song that won a national final has been changed and it not being stronger than the original song. Would this have actually won MESC? I also don’t understand why you’d choose a song with a title and theme so close to one of the other entries in the same semi. From what I can see, Emma lifts this when she sings it live. However, it’s so repetitive and cliched that I don’t think she will lift it out of SF2.
Italy: HIT. Now here’s a song with some beautiful and well-written lyrics. I love how their voices sound when they sing together and the soaring nature of the chorus. Yet another wonderful entry from Italy, who are certainly never predictable. I think this will likely be top 5 and be in the running to win. I don’t think it’s an obvious winner but not impossible.
San Marino: MAYBE. I’m not sure how much I really like this. The song feels a bit rushed and unfinished but Achille himself brings it to life and squeezes every last drop out of what’s there. He has the unpredictable feel of a punk singer. The national final stage really reigned him in; I think he’ll relish being on a much bigger stage. I think there’s enough that it could qualify but the juries could tank it.
Austria: HIT. My favourite entry from a DJ with a featured singer we’ve had. It’s also a classic EDM track and a well-needed banger for the contest. Austria took forever to make their decision so I’m hoping that they have found some way to replicate it live and keep it decent. Unless it’s a car-crash live then I think it should sail to the final where it could make the top half.
Denmark-
Starts as a ballad, which strangely enough, I like(although the music at the end of the chorus sounds very familiar to me and I have no idea where it coming from). And half way through it changes to a (semi)rock number and what I liked on the 1st half, just vanish and change to a dislike. In the process they lose both camps, those who love a good ballad and those who love a rock song – MISS
Malta-
You spend money on a national final, you let the public spend money and vote and when you don’t like the song, you just dump the song and change it(yes, I know it states in the rules, it doesn’t make better, though) to something you think is better than what the public has chosen and at the end you are left with an anonymus song which miss all he marks of a good song. Cliché text, which meant to be inspiring but actually is boring-check. A music which suppose to be anthem music but is just cliché after cliché in the writing. In the process you also made your singer sounds like she has no personality – MISS
Italy-
If this a song which is suppose to be emotional and draw me in , why am I left cold and distance. The composition is really good but it just misses that one thing which will make me not only feel it but also shed tears from my eyes. It’s just not happening. It’s a bit calculated too much, to the point I am left quite disappointed. I know some people think this will makes the double for Italy, I am not so sure-MAYBE
San Marino-
You know me, I don’t get along with rock numbers. Than I listened to his stripped back version of the song(watch it on YouTube, during Eurovision House Party) and I liked it a lot. So if he would have performing the Stripped back version I would call it a hit but the rock version really doesn’t do anything for me- This is at best is a MAYBE
Austria –
The DJ in the background, playing his record table and the singer in the front is something which doesn’t really work well in Eurovision(exceptions exist) and let’s just hope that it will work in this case because this song brings much needed energy to the stage which is missing in this year line up. It’s the kind of song that televoters will vote for and the jurries will fail to understand or reward.
It is also the type of song which doesn’t really translate well to a live Eurovision performance.
I really hope she can sing this live because otherwise it will miserably fail. A very questionable HIT
I know all the above is true, but still I absolutely love Malta. I get goose pimples when the clapping bit starts at the end. I am reminded of Ding-a-Dong in 1975, when I made an epiphanic decision not to be swayed if everyone else was deriding something I like. That sentiment has served me well as Eurovision fan. I think Emma Muscat will do better than expected. For a start, she’s singing a happy song and looking like she’s enjoying doing so. A welcome break from the parade of sadness we’re getting this year. Thanks for another super year of JBJ.
Whether you like the song or not, Italy still has to be judged as a hit with it being a No1 hit in Italy and charting in other countries. Also it is likely to be top 5 at esc which no host country ever achieves in modern times. So not sure by the definition of your own show by these facts how this can be a maybe. My point is, it doesnt matter if you like this or not, it is a hit. Whilst San Marino does not have the quality of Italy so not sure what the judges are listening to.
Denmark – The Humans failed for Romania a few years back with a similar two-paced approach and a far better song.
Malta – When they needed a replacement for ‘Out of Sight’ they clearly reached for this year’s intended Junior Eurovision entry.
Italy – Borza, I wouldn’t get too steamed up about it if I were you. Ewan and his little gang have a habit of being contrary. Just look at the way they casually dismissed the chances of the quality Greek entry this year. What was that? The Eurojury jury poll results? Sorry Ewan, I’ll never question your expert judgement again.😢
San Marino – I was listening to this on the PC when the wife came up behind me. ‘Is that Maneskin’, she enquired? And, before I could reply, she added, ‘Gosh, what’s happened to Damiano’s voice?’ And therein lies the problem with this as a competitive Eurovision entry.
Austria – According to official figures there are 4.05 million women in Austria. When Lumix required a female vocalist to deliver his club banger, why oh why did he choose one who can’t sing?