Welcome back to this year’s previews! Time for our very last set of three entries, after which we’ll take a look into our crystal ball. Då kör vi for one last time this year!
4. Spain – Blanca Paloma – EAEA
The Song: This is the most difficult one to (p)review in separate elements because everything is so intertwined. It feels like the heiress to the Spanish entry of 1983, which I absolutely hated. But somehow I don’t mind this. It feels more put together, more focused as a song and as an overall package. It’s also something completely different from the rest of the field, which is the third direct finalist I’m saying this about ànd the second Spanish entry in a row. Are they finally learning? Side note: I love how the title of the entry is the part we get to hear the most, even if it is phonetic, instead of something contrived.
Standout line: “A little shelter for your grief” Make mine a double.
The Voice: Much like with her 1983 predecessor, the peculiar sounds don’t really manage to seduce me. But unlike said predecessor, they don’t want to make me jump off a bridge either. She’s a pro and it shows.
The Style: That NF performance was so powerful and is what really sold the entire thing. Let’s hope they don’t change a single thing for Liverpool. Nada, niente, zip. Gracias a todas.
In one line: Una paloma blanca, I’m just a bird in the sky!
PERSONAL TOTAL:
Why it will win: Europe wants something out of the box.
Why it won’t win: Loreen.
5. Ukraine – TVORCHI – Heart Of Steel
The Song: Lyrically and thematically quite unsurprising, but what did we expect? It strikes a completely different tone than last year’s song, much colder and hardened by reality in both lyrics and production. Don’t think this’ll manage to strike the sympathy chord as easily as Stefania, but that doesn’t matter. It deliberately strikes another chord and I admire it for that. But, and it’s a big but, if this were an entry for another country in any other year…you know how to finish that sentence.
Standout line: “Sometimes you just gotta know when to stick your middle finger up in the air” Exactly.
The Voice: It’s not the most challenging of songs to sing, so this should fine. It’s more about the attitude, and they seem to have that down.
The Style: I don’t think this needs more than the circumstantial setting they had for the NF, to be honest. Something not too polished, but rather stripped back and – dare I use the word – basic will suffice.
In one line: Better to have a heart of steel than no heart at all.
PERSONAL TOTAL:
Why it will win: We both know the answer to that, unfortunately.
Why it won’t win: Loreen.
6. United Kingdom – Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song
The Song: What’s this? A second consecutive UK entry that doesn’t sound terribly middle of the road? Contemporary sound, sassy lyrics… Gotta pinch myself! This is from the school of Dua & co and is the perfect home entry and the perfect closer of the show. I could to with a slightly fresher beat and a chorus that felt slightly less half-arsed, but I’m nit-picking. I preferred her 2022 hit single Better Days but that might be too laid back for ESC, and I’m not gonna be too fussy now that the UK managed to actually sound like they’ve finally entered the 21st century.
Standout line: “My mother would be so proud” Wish I could say the same about my mum.
The Voice: Mae has already survived touring as the opening for Little Mix’ stadium tour, I guess she can deal with ESC. Is what I wrote before videos of her performing at Eurovision parties in Spain and Poland popped up. Emergency, paging Dr. Beat. I’m deducting a star now. Pity.
The Style: The vibe of the video is quite cool, let’s hope they manage to translate it to the stage. It’s probably redundant advice but: step away from the giant Styrofoam trumpets.
In one line: Now thàt’s how you write a song, but how do you sing it?
PERSONAL TOTAL:
Why it will win: Making up for last year.
Why it won’t win: Fine, I’ll say it one more time – Loreen.
So…who will lift the trophy on May 13th?
In case you missed it: Loreen. For obvious reasons. But it would be lovely to finally have another 2-time winner (as an artist) in the ranks, and a female artist at that. I’d personally prefer other songs to win over Tattoo, but all things considered it would be the logical and maybe even desirable outcome for this contest.
If by some chance she doesn’t manage to pull it off, I’d love to see Austria or Czechia take the trophy. the former for the sheer genius of it all, and the latter because it’s so catchy in all its sisterhoodness (and Czechia winning would make for a cute headline or two). I don’t think Finland will be able to go all the way as it’s a bit too edgy for that, which makes me root for it to win anyway so go figure. And though I love France I think it might be a tad too wannabe bourgeois to take the crown…erm…trophy.
And if something totally left field would manage to sneak in for the win, my bet would be on Spain. *cue dramatic wailing*
FINAL DIMIVISION STANDINGS
CZECHIA – FRANCE
SERBIA – SWEDEN – BELGIUM – SLOVENIA – AUSTRIA – AUSTRALIA – GERMANY
NORWAY – AZERBAIJAN – NETHERLANDS – FINLAND – DENMARK – LITHUANIA – SPAIN – UKRAINE – UNITED KINGDOM
MALTA – LATVIA – PORTUGAL – CROATIA – SWITZERLAND – ISRAEL – MOLDOVA – ARMENIA -ESTONIA – CYPRUS – ICELAND – GREECE – POLAND – GEORGIA – ITALY
IRELAND – ROMANIA – SAN MARINO – ALBANIA
Dimivision 