#damir kedžo

[mirai-desu]

if there's nothing left of you and me there's nothing left of me: An Ode to the Amazing Songs We Lost in the Eurovision National Final Season 2023

YouTube Playlist Here

National final season always means that we lose some fantastic songs that won’t ever get to grace to the big ESC stage, but I can memorialize all the other tracks I love here. This list contains the songs that got away, as well as some of the guilty pleasures, and songs I simply enjoy listening to, from the NF season of 2023.

Note that this is my personal taste, so I might be missing something you jive with. Songs are arranged by flow, not in a ranking. Some videos I likely will have to replace with another upload at some point. I went with studio recordings to be consistent (barring the bonus track).

This playlist is in no way meant to put down the actual winners.

Playlists for past years: 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022

Tracklist below:

Ulrikke Brandstorp – “Honestly” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Kristín Sesselja – “Terrified” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North feat. Adam Woods – “Where Are You (Sávečan)” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Patty Gurdy – “Melodies of Hope” (Unser Lied für Liverpool - Germany 🇩🇪 )

Harmonija disonance – “Nevera (Lei, lei)” (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

The Starlings – “Rollercoster” (Eurosong 2023 - Belgium 🇧🇪 )

EYJAA – “I Was Gonna Marry Him” (Dansk Melodi Grand Prix - Denmark 🇩🇰 )

Damir Kedžo – “Angels and Demons” (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Eline Thorp – “Not Meant to Be” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Neon Letters & Maiko – “ときめき (Tokimeki)” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Rūta Mur – “So Low” (Pabandom iš naujo! - Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

KRUTЬ – “Колискова” (Vidbir - Ukraine 🇺🇦 )

Vanesa Sono – “Aroma jonë” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Tril – “Break It” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Janek – “House of Glass” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Colapesce, Dimartino – “Splash” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

m els – “So Good (At What You Do)” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Gebrasy – “Saw Your Ghost” (Pabandom iš naujo! - Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Nordman – “Släpp alla sorger” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Maria Celin – “Freya” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Rovena Dilo – “Motit” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Moisei – “I'm Not Alone” (Vidbir - Ukraine 🇺🇦 )

Lazza – “Cenere” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Nicklas Sonne – “Freedom” (Dansk Melodi Grand Prix - Demark 🇩🇰 )

Megara – “Arcadia” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Erma Mici – “Kozmosi i dashurisë” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Steven Roho x Gabriella x Formația Albatros – “LELE” (Selecţia Naţională  - Romania 🇷🇴 )

Princ – “Cvet sa Istoka” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Melanie Wehbe – “For the Show” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Angelina – “Stronger” (Vidbir - Ukraine 🇺🇦 )

René Miller – “Concrete Heart” (Unser Lied für Liverpool - Germany 🇩🇪 )

Boris Subotić – “Nedostupan” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Emil Henrohn – “Mera mera mera”  (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

JONE – “Ekko inni meg” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Fifi – “Stop” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

ELYSA – “Bad Philosophy” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Đana – “Free Fallin'” (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Agoney – “Quiero arder” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Enxhi Nasufi – “Burrë” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Chérine – “ça m'ennuie pas” (Eurosong 2023 - Belgium 🇧🇪 )

Benjamin – “Hoida mut” (UMK: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailuun - Finland 🇫🇮 )

Stefan Shy – “Od jastuka do jastuka” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Dominik Dudek – “Be Good” (Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hity na Eurowizję - Poland 🇵🇱 )

RODAN – “Introvert Party Club” (ESCz  - Czechia 🇨🇿 )

INGER – “Awaiting You” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Ocean Drive – “Take You Home” (Selecţia Naţională  - Romania 🇷🇴 )

Victor Crone – “Diamonds” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Lelia Jane – “Wild” (Eurosong 2023 - Ireland 🇮🇪 )

The Starlings – “Oceanside” (Eurosong 2023 - Belgium 🇧🇪 )

Eirik Næss – “Wave” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Meler – “No nos moverán” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Hunter Falls – “Ooh La La” (Eurosong 2023 - Belgium 🇧🇪 )

Famous – “La Lola” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Markus Riva – “Forever” (Supernova - Latvia 🇱🇻 )

Filip Baloš – “Novi plan drugi san” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Marcus & Martinus – “Air” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Kuba – “You Do Me” (Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hity na Eurowizję - Poland 🇵🇱 )

Tananai – “Tango” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Melodajn Mancaku – “Gjysma e zemrës sime” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Kate Gulbrandsen – “Tårer i Paradis” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Mr. Rain – “Supereroi” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Alfred García – “Desde que tú estás” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Sara Kapo – “Para teje” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Sandra Lyng – “Drøm d bort” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Edmundo Ináico – “A festa” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Nađa – “Moj prvi ožiljak na duši” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

CONNOLLY – “Midnight Summer Night” (Eurosong 2023 - Ireland 🇮🇪 )

Markéta Irglová – “H A P P Y” (ESCz  - Czechia 🇨🇿 )

Anduel Kovaçi – “Malli” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

José Otero – “Inviernos en Marte” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Atle Pettersen – “Masterpiece” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Cugini di Campagna – “Lettera 22″ (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Tennessee Tears – “Now I Know” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Swing’it – “Prohibition” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Amia – “Puppet” (Selecţia Naţională  - Romania 🇷🇴 )

Pam Rabbit – “ghosting” (ESCz  - Czechia 🇨🇿 )

SISSI – “Lighthouse” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Alicja Szemplińska – “new home” (Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hity na Eurowizję - Poland 🇵🇱 )

Agnè – “New Start” (Pabandom iš naujo! - Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Andrei Duțu – “Statues” (Selecţia Naţională  - Romania 🇷🇴 )

Justs – “Strangers” (Supernova - Latvia 🇱🇻 )

James Louis – “DREAM” (MESC 2023 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Andrada Popa – “No Time for Me” (Selecţia Naţională  - Romania 🇷🇴 )

Iole – “Sul tetto del mondo” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

Toms Kalderauskis – “When It All Falls” (Supernova - Latvia 🇱🇻 )

Patricia Gasparini – “I Will Wait” (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

maia maia – “Beautiful Bullshit” (Dansk Melodi Grand Prix - Demark 🇩🇰 )

Paola e Chiara – “Furore” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

Paulina Paukštaitytė – “Let Me Think About Me” (Pabandom iš naujo! - Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Wiktoria – “All My Life (Where Have You Been)” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Elodie – “Due” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Brooke – “Checkmate” (MESC 2023 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

April Ivy – “Modo Voo” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Adriana Moraru – “Faralaes” (Selecţia Naţională  - Romania 🇷🇴 )

Loulou LaMotte – “Inga sorger” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

LDA – “Se poi domani” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

Gabrielius Vagelis – “Šauksmas” (Pabandom iš naujo! - Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Daniel Schuhmacher – “Skin I'm In” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

KUUMA – “Ylivoimainen” (UMK: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailuun - Finland 🇫🇮 )

Eliana Gomez Blanco – “Guess What” (MESC 2023 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Casanovas – “Så kommer känslorna tillbaka” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Manjola Nallbani – “Duaj” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

AIDAN – “Reġina” (MESC 2023 – Malta 🇲🇹 )

Ronela Hajati – “Salvaje” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

Robin Packalen – “Girls Like You” (UMK: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailuun - Finland 🇫🇮 )

Fabrizio Faniello – “Try to Be Better” (MESC 2023 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

XGIOVE – “Fuoco e benzina” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

Siderland – “Que esclati tot” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Maja Hyzy – “Never Hide” (Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hity na Eurowizję - Poland 🇵🇱 )

Le Deva – “Fiori Su Marte” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

Frida Gold – “Alle Frauen in mir sind müde” (Unser Lied für Liverpool - Germany 🇩🇪 )

Signe and Hjördis – “Edelweiss” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Sigga Ózk – “Dancing Lonely” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Jessika – “Unapologetic” (MESC 2023 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Kiana – “Where Did You Go” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Tijana Dapčević – “Mamim” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Smash Into Pieces – “Six Feet Under”  (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Felivers – “Never Back Down” (Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hity na Eurowizję - Poland 🇵🇱 )

Sunstroke Project – “Yummy Mommy” (Etapa Naţională  - Moldova 🇲🇩 )

CHEGI & Braća Bluz Bend – “Svadba ili kavga” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Will Church – “Hold On” (Unser Lied für Liverpool - Germany 🇩🇪 )

BRAGI – “Sometimes the World's Against You” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Maria Sur – “Never Give Up”  (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Aliona Moon – “Du-mă” (Etapa Naţională  - Moldova 🇲🇩 )

Frajle – “Neka, neka” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Elov & Beny – “Raggen går” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Milan Bujaković – “Fenomen” (Pesma za Evroviziju 23 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Theoz – “Mer av dig” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Esse Povo – “Sapatos de Cimento” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Paul Rey – “Royals” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Bonus Track: BEDWETTERS – “Monsters” (Live @ Eesti Laul - Semi Final 1 🇪🇪  )

[lotlvision]

Dora 2024 first(ish) listens!

Alen Đuras - "A tamburitza lullaby" I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm always biased against songs in English, but I have to admit that it's pretty catchy - I'm also a big fan of the actual backing. It does feel a little bit more special than a pop song, so I'll give it 7/10

Baby Lasagna - "Rim tim tagi dim" I'm immediately taking back my English bias, this is SO fun. I think the staging will be really important to sell this as a winner, but I can hear the Cha Cha Cha influence so I already adore it. 9.5/10

Barbara Munjas - "Nepobjediva" Not a fan of her vocals... I assume they're a stylistic choice? The song feels like a mishmash of several genres and not in a cohesive way. I mostly zoned out of listening to it, so it's not bad background music if nothing else! 4.5/10

Boris Štok - "Can we talk" I'm not sold on this song. Sad white man singing about a break up without the Taylor Swift pizzazz I like in my breakup songs. Useful lyrics to steal for fic titles, but that's about it. 5/10

Damir Kedžo - "Voljena ženo" Song five and FINALLY some Croatian! That said, it's not my personal preferred style. It's definitely got strong vocals, and with the right staging it could do well. I'm not sure how the Dora votes are split, but if it's 50/50 Jury and Public then it'll do well with Juries! 8/10

Erna - "How do you love me" Immediately back to singing in English... I hate the breathy whisper-singing, and the song itself doesn't really have anything special about it. Sorry Erna, but this is not a song for me. 5/10

ET - "Pametnom dosta" Time for the (apparently) mandatory club song! It doesn't really build or climax the same way similar Eurovision songs have (thinking Lights Out), and it doesn't feel like there's anything particularly special about it. 6/10

Eugen - "Tišine" Not my style again, however I am reaching for my phone to turn the light on and wave my arm slowly back and forth. I think it could do well with Juries, and well with the Public too. It's got a nice build toward the end. 8.5/10

James Night - "Nebo plače" This is definitely just a pop song. The vocals don't seem as strong/polished as some of the others so far, however these are all recorded rather than live, so there's no telling how they'll sound on stage. It's not super special, but it's an earworm and I'm enjoying it. 6.5/10

Lana Mandarić - "More" This song is definitely a builder. I'm not a huge fan of the style, but I can understand the appeal behind it. Staging will really make or break this. 7.5/10

Lara Demarin - "Ne vjerujem ti" I was enjoying myself and then some guy started rapping over Lara's lovely singing. I don't feel like that added anything - more it just detracted from what was a nice song. 6.5/10

Let 3 - "Babaroga" Let 3 are already back! This song isn't anywhere near as good as Mama ŠČ!, and having heard them live the autotune stands out even more than it does just listening. They sound more like dolphins than humans. However, I love the weird shit in Eurovision, so this is right up my street. 8/10

Lu Dedić - "Plavi leptir" This is not my vibe for listening to on a regular basis, however as a standalone song for one night it really could be my winner. With the right staging, lighting, costumes, choreography I could want this to win. It gives me the same vibes as I get during the wedding in Miss Saigon (this is an AMAZING thing, it's so soft and beautiful). 9/10

Marcela - "Gasoline" I do really enjoy this song. It is in English, and it is just a pop song, but the vocals are really strong and the lyrics are very catchy. It might not do well, but it'll be going onto my playlists. 7.5/10

Mario Battifiaca feat. Robert Ferlin - "Vodu piti trizan biti" When a song on eurovisionworld has a 1.5 star rating you're either in for a treat, or you're going to listen to something truly awful. This is just boring, and slow, and the longest 3 minutes of my life. 2/10

Misha - "One day" This song isn't very special. It's a pop song, but without the really upbeat and fun nature of a pop song. It's catchy, but that's about it. 5/10

Natalie Balmix - "Dijamanti" This is a fun song! I think the current rating is maybe a little bit high, but there's a lot of potential and I think it could be a contender with the right staging. For now, 8/10

Noelle - "Baby, baby" It's just a pop song. It's nothing special, there's nothing that makes it a real Eurovision entry, but there's nothing overtly bad about it either. 6/10

Pavel - "Do mjeseca" I am SO upset at the low rating for this. Sure, the vocals aren't the best, but the song has such an ABBA vibe to it! It's so fun! This is the guilty pleasure song of the 2024 NF season, I'm calling it now. 7/10 and everyone giving it less can (affectionately and light-heartedly) go fuck themselves! (My vote on the website took the song from 1.6 stars to 1.8 stars my power omfg)

Saša Lozar - "Ne plačem zbog nje" The song isn't very memorable to me, it doesn't really stand out. The only noteworthy thing I can think of saying is that this guy looks like if Fred from KEiiNO got hit by a car. Which is maybe quite rude but oh well. 5.5/10

Stefany Žužić - "Sretnih dana dat' će Bog" Another fairly unremarkable song. A lot of the songs later in the list online seem to be rated quite lowly. Another 5.5/10

The Splitters - "Od kad te sanjam" I'm quite conflicted about how to rank this song. I feel like, even as I continue to listen to it, it's growing on me and I'm wishing I gave it a higher rating on Twitter than I did - but I've already sent the tweet and submitted my vote. The song is, objectively, not the best, but it makes me feel more than the other pop songs I've rated similarly so I feel like I should've ranked it higher? But it's not that good! Argh! I'm conflicted! 6.75/10

Vatra - "Slatke suze, gorka ljubav" This song is like exactly my taste, however I also recognise it's not objectively the best in this line up and that it's not a Eurovision song in the slightest. I'm going to enjoy it, but I'll give it a hopefully unbiased 6/10

Vinko - "Lying eyes" In the least insulting way possible, this sounds like Lin Manuel Miranda trying to cover a Coldplay song: Fix You specifically. Honestly, the guy even looks like a Coldplay/LMM lovechild. I'm not a fan. 5/10

[thateurosite]

🇭🇷 24 Finalists for Dora 2024

🇭🇷 Today, HRT has revealed the 24 finalists and 4 reserves for @HRTDora, their selection for #Eurovision2024. What do you think of the artists? #ESC2024

Today, HRT has revealed the 24 finalists and their songs that will participate in Dora 2024. Who are the finalists? After starting with about 200 song submissions, HRT’s selection committee has whittled this down to 24 finalists and 4 reserve songs in case of any withdrawals. Among the list are last year’s representatives Let 3 as well as 2020’s Damir Kedžo, who would have represented Croatia…

[aijamisespava]

Croatia's Dora 2024 Artist Reveal

After finishing 13th in Liverpool with Let 3, Croatia has released the list of artists that will be competing in their National Final along with song titles. HOWEVER, the songs aren't out quite yet, so you are all spared a 2nd ranking in a row.

Of the 24 artists, I recognized 2 names right off. One of them being the aforementioned Let 3, hoping to defend their title journey over to Sweden with their song "Babaroga."

The other name I recognized was Damir Kedžo, who was slated to represent Croatia in 2020, but never got the chance to because of the pandemic. And I'm going to say this as a blanket statement for all of the artists slated to perform in 2020 that never got the chance to in 2021 that I want to see them all on the big stage (more than an interval act, so yes, Diodato from Italy still counts!). Damir's song is called "Voljena Ženo"

[eurovision-del]

Continuing my way through the finals on the 11th of February, today I’m ranking Croatia’s songs!

Detour – Master Blaster

Eni Jurišić – Kreni dalje

Krešo & Kisele Kiše – Kme kme

Harmonija Disonance – Nevera (Lei, lei)

Barbara Munjas – Putem snova

Let 3 – Mama ŠČ!

Hana Mašić – Nesreća

Meri Andraković – Bye Bye Blonde

Tajana Belina – Dom

Yogi – Love at First Sight

Đana – Free Fallin’

Damir Kedžo – Angels and Demons

Boris Štok – Grijeh

Patricia Gasparini – I Will Wait

The Splitters – Lost and Found

Top of the Pops ft. Mario 5reković – Putovanje

Martha May – Distance

Maja Grgić – I Still Live

It’s an interesting selection! On the whole I think this year’s Dora is good, there are a lot of songs I enjoy, however nothing stands out as obviously superior to the others.

I’ve got a group of five at the top that I all enjoy pretty much equally but in very different ways. They were hard to rank, and I’d be happy with any of them winning! In the end I put Master Blaster first just because it was the one that I found stuck in my head a few days after listening to these songs for the first time – that retro beat is addictive! Kreni dalje is the exact sort of ballad I like, moody and dramatic. Kme kme has such a great energy to it, it gets me hyped and I love the guitar section (no surprises there!). I also tend to enjoy folk/electronic fusion, and Nevera (Lei, lei) does it really well, although I could actually do even more energy from it – I hope that comes across live. Rounding out my top five is Putem snova, which hooked me from the opening beat then went in a completely different direction to what I was expecting! It’s got a pretty unique sound, there’s a lot going on there, but I think it works.

I have no idea what Croatia should send to Liverpool, but they definitely have options. Something could easily pull ahead of the pack with a strong performance and/or staging concept. I reckon a lot of these songs would see them through to the final, though how well they’ll do there is another matter.

[eurovisionpanorsk]

Baby Lasagna vinner Dora 2024

Nytt bidrag klart!

Nok et bidrag er klart til Eurovision Song Contest 2024, og Kroatia valgte til slutt Baby Lasagna med låta Rim tim tagi dim, som er blitt en storfavoritt i den kroatiske utvelgelsen, og ligger også nå høyt opp på oddsen til Eurovision. Resultatet for kvelden endte slik: Baby Lasagna – Rim tim tagi dim ( 321 poeng) Vinko – Lying Eyes (82 poeng) Let 3 – Babaroga (79 poeng) Damir Kedžo – Voljena…

[darkerthanblack-666]

If someone's interested in seeing Baby Lasagna's performance, the 2nd semi-final of Dora starts in 10 minutes and you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsSp5OpY0dc

running order:

Lu Dedić - "Plavi leptir"

James Night - "Nebo plače"

Lara Demarin - "Ne vjerujem ti"

Alen Đuras - "A Tamburitza Lullaby"

The Splitters - "Od kad te sanjam"

Boris Štok - "Can We Talk"

Baby Lasagna - "Rim tim tagi dim"

ET - "Pametnom dosta"

Vatra - "Slatke suze, gorka ljubav"

Damir Kedžo - "Voljena ženo"

Natalie Balmix - "Dijamanti"

Marcela - "Gasoline"

[sztansescheadache]

i finally had the time to listen to supernova, the luxembourg nf and dora songs. here are some silly little revives!!

supernova - well like every year it’s extremely mediocre, but this time i fell like there’s no sudden lights to save them (in terms of the artistic genius that aija brought us last year) i feel like dons with “hallows” could give latvia a chance at qualifying tho. this song alongside “kur?” by Vēstulēs are my favourites

luxembourg nf - well maybe i expected something more but objectively it’s a really solid nf!! like there’s not a single bad song. some of them sound like melodifestivalen rejects (which they probably are, seeing g:son on the credits) but they have some good ones to choose from. my favourite is probably Krick with "Drowning In The Rain" (save us elsie bay). i’m glad that luxembourg is back.

dora - for some reason i always forget that dora exists😭😭 this is the one token nf that i simply don’t care about. but i gave a listen to some of the songs. let 3 are chaotic as always, but i don’t think they should go after only one year. there are some powerful balkan ballads from for example Damir Kedžo (who was supposed to go in 2020) and ofc some ok girlie pop. but the one that stands out the most is Baby Lasagna with "Rim tim tagi dim". like you’re telling me that this was on the reserve list and almost didn’t make it?? i absolutely dig this song, like someone wise has once said - it’s crazy it’s party. i really hope we’ll se it in malmö

[jadro311]

Dora - Evrovizija - Sramota

Dora – Evrovizija – Sramota

Evo, preslušavam ovogodišnje kandidate za Doru. Šta reći? Damir Kedžo – toliko očiti plagijat, da mi nije jasno dokle ta glupost može ići, nakon prošlogodišnje pobjednice, koja je također teški plagijat i sramota. Ali i te kako mi je jasno. Hrvati – kradljivci. Ne mogu sami niti pjesmu komponirati. Pa nije valjda da smo toliko nekreativna nacija. A i vidim u popisu autora, da ima poprilično…

[maschasrankings]

2020: Top 41

Italy: Diodato - Fai Rumore

Malta: Destiny - All Of My Love

Lithuania: The Roop - On Fire

Switzerland: Gjon's Tears - Répondez-Moi

Norway: Ulrikke - Attention

Portugal: Elisa - Medo De Sentir

Poland: Alicja - Empires

Israel: Eden Alene - Feker Libi

Belarus: VAL - Da Vidna

Sweden: The Mamas - Move

Netherlands: Jeangu Macrooy - Grow

Australia: Montaigne - Don't Break Me

Germany: Ben Dolic - Violent Thing

Croatia: Damir Kedžo - Divlji Vjetre

Ukraine: Go_A - Solovey

Iceland: Daði og Gagnamagnið - Think About Things

Armenia: Athena Manoukian - Chains On You

Belgium: Hooverphonic - Release Me

Bulgaria: Victora - Tears Getting Sober

Serbia: Hurricane - Hasta La Vista

Russia: Little Big - Uno

North Macedonia: Vasil - You

Finland: Aksel - Looking Back

Azerbaijan: Efendi - Cleopatra

Denmark: Ben & Tan - Yes

Latvia: Samanta Tīna - Still Breathing

Slovenia: Ana Soklič - Voda

United Kingdom: James Newman - My Last Breath

Spain: Blas Cantó - Universo

Albania: Arilena Ara - Fall From The Sky

Romania: Roxen - Alcohol You

Georgia: Tornike Kipiani - The Way I Am

Czechia: Benny Cristo - Kemama

Ireland: Lesley Roy - Story Of My Life

San Marino: Senhit - Freaky!

Moldova: Natalia Gordienko - Prison

Austria: Vincent Bueno - Alive

Greece: Stefania - Superg!rl

France: Tom Leeb - The Best In Me

Cyprus: Sandro - Running

Estonia: Uku Suviste - What Love Is

[mirai-desu]

And soon I'll be happy with drowning in the rain: An Ode to the Amazing Songs We Lost in the Eurovision National Final Season 2024

YouTube Playlist Here

Disclaimer: I do not believe that a certain country should be allowed to participate in ESC due to the genocide that they are engaging in. Here are resources to help the people of Palestine 🇵🇸

National final season always means that we lose some fantastic songs that won’t ever get to grace to the big ESC stage, but I can memorialize all the other tracks I love here. This list contains the songs that got away, as well as some of the guilty pleasures, and songs I simply enjoy listening to, from the NF season of 2024.

Note that this is my personal taste, so I might be missing something you jive with. Songs are arranged by flow, not in a ranking. Some videos I likely will have to replace with another upload at some point. I went with studio recordings to be consistent (barring the bonus track).

This playlist is in no way meant to put down the actual winners.

Playlists for past years: 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023

Tracklist below:

Krick – “Drowning In The Rain“ (Luxembourg Song Contest 🇱🇺 )

Dotter – “It’s Not Easy to Write You a Love Song” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Annalisa – “Sinceramente” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

Bodine Monet – “Tears Like Rain” (Das Deutsche Finale 2024 – Germany 🇩🇪 )

KEiiNO – “Damdiggida” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Elly – “The Angel's Share” (ESCz  - Czechia 🇨🇿 )

Cecilia – “FOMO” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Angy Fernández – “Sé quién soy” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

MIIA – “Green Lights” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

No Maka ft. Ana Maria – “Aceitar” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Leona – “Undream You” (Das Deutsche Finale 2024 – Germany 🇩🇪 )

Hristina – “Bedem” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Olimpia Smajlaj – “Asaj” (Festivali i Këngës 62 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Ryan Hili – “Karma” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Damir Kedžo – “Voljena Ženo“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

CeaseTone – “FLOW” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Margaret Berger – “Oblivion” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Erica-Cody – “Love Me Like I Do” (Eurosong 2024 - Ireland 🇮🇪 )

Annika Wickihalder – “Light” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Lynsay Pace – “Fireproof” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Sigga Ózk – “Into The Atmosphere” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Anet Vaikmaa – “Serotoniin” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

MYDY – “Red Flag Parade” (ESCz  - Czechia 🇨🇿 )

AVÉI – “Mine (Supernova - Latvia 🇱🇻 )

MARCELA – “Gasoline“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Maria Sur – “When I’m Gone” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

ANKA – «Палала» “Palala” (Vidbir - Ukraine 🇺🇦 )

Dominic Cini – “Bewsa” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Dellacruz – “BESO EN LA MAÑANA” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Besa Krasniqi – “Esenciale” (Festivali i Këngës 62 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

AISTAY – “YOU” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Emma – “Apnea” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

YONNA – “I Don't Know About You” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Lenny – “Good Enough” (ESCz  - Czechia 🇨🇿 )

Eliana Gomez Blanco – “There’s Only Flowers” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Melodajn Mancaku – “Nuk jemi ne” (Festivali i Këngës 62 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

LEFT. – “Volto a Ti” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

eugen – “tišine“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Tiri Gjoci – “Në ëndërr” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Ryk – “Oh Boy” (Das Deutsche Finale 2024 – Germany 🇩🇪 )

Stivi Ushe – “Askush si ty” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Nathan – “Ghost” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Diodato – “Ti muovi” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

Eldis Arrnjeti – “Një kujtim” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Miguel Bonello – “Better Off Alone” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Traffic – “Wunderbar” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Sofia Coll – “HERE TO STAY” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Clara – “Diamanti grezzi” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Filip Baloš – “Duga je noć” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

SHÉPA – “SUPERNOVA” (Vidbir - Ukraine 🇺🇦 )

Baltos Varnos – “In The Night” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Ingrid Jasmin – “Eya” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Valleria – “RULE (Rai Di Ri Di)” (Etapa Naţională  - Moldova 🇲🇩 )

Antsud – “Vetevaim” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

YAGODY – “Tsunamia” (Vidbir - Ukraine 🇺🇦 )

ERBA' – “Sirena” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

AILSHA – “GO TOBANN” (Eurosong 2024 - Ireland 🇮🇪 )

KRYLATA – “Queen” (Vidbir - Ukraine 🇺🇦 )

Farida – “Heartache” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

INGA – “No Dog On A Leash” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Antoine Wend – “Say No More” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Ingmar – “Dreaming” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

CHAiLD – “Hold On“ (Luxembourg Song Contest 🇱🇺 )

Fredrik Halland – “Stranded” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Daniel Levi – “Over The Moon” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Janus Wiberg – “I Need Your Love” (Dansk Melodi Grand Prix - Demark 🇩🇰 )

st. Pedro - Dos Extraños (Cuarteto de Cuerda) (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Vidar Villa – “MER“ (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Elisa Lindström – “Forever Yours” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Maria Christina – “Moving On” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Laura Põldvere – “Here's Where I Draw the Line” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Mantra – “Me vas a ver” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Silver Jusilo – “Lately” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

SANTI FRANCESI – “l’amore in bocca” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

Roger Padrós – “El temps” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Nemanja Radošević – “Jutra bez tebe” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Kleansa Susaj – “Pikturë” (Festivali i Këngës 62 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Nena – “Teorias da Conspiração” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

ANITA – “Downfall” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Danny Saucedo – “Happy That You Found Me” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Jorge González – “Caliente” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Zejna – “Najbolja” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

MÉLOVIN – “DREAMER” (Vidbir - Ukraine 🇺🇦 )

Alekss Silvers – “For the Show” (Supernova - Latvia 🇱🇻 )

Mahmood – “Tuta gold” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Bashar Murad – “Wild West” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Lérica – “Astronauta” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Annprincess – “Save Me” (Melodi Grand Prix - Norway 🇳🇴 )

Marlena – “Amor de verano” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Eden Baja – “Ajër” (Festivali i Këngës 62 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Bojana x David – “No No No” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Quique Niza – “Prisionero” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Ewert and The Two Dragons – “Hold Me Now” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Yoly Saa – “No se me olvida” (Benidorm Fest - Spain 🇪🇸 )

Irma Lepuri – “Me prit” (Festivali i Këngës 62 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Patrīcija Spale – “Heaven's Raining Down on Me” (Supernova - Latvia 🇱🇻 )

Monika Marija – “Unlove you starting tommorow” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Oxygyn – “Cloudmaker” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Agnė Buškevičiūtė – “Puppeteer” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Haley Azzopardi – “Tell Me That It’s Over” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Lisa Ajax – “Awful Liar” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Mr.Rain – “Due altalene” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

Saša Lozar – “Ne Plačem Zbog Nje“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Christian Arding – “Bellus” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Il Volo – “Capolavoro” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

Kyle George – “Arrows” (MESC 2024 - Malta 🇲🇹 )

Denis Midone – “Back to Me” (Etapa Naţională  - Moldova 🇲🇩 )

Petras – “Run” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Adam Woods – “Supernatural” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Festina Mejzini – “Melos” (Festivali i Këngës 62 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Sara Siipola – “Paskana” (UMK: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailuun - Finland 🇫🇮 )

BigMama – “La rabbia non ti basta” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Jasmina Hako – “Ti” (Festivali i Këngës 62 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

The Kolors – “Un ragazzo una ragazza” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

One Last Time – “Devil in the Detail” (Luxembourg Song Contest 🇱🇺 )

Smash Into Pieces – “Heroes Are Calling” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Cyan Kicks – “Dancing With Demons” (UMK: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailuun - Finland 🇫🇮 )

Erina & The Elementals – “Jetën n’Skaj” (Festivali i Këngës 61 - Albania 🇦🇱 )

Žalvarinis – “Gaudė Vėjai” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Vēstulēs – “kur?” (Supernova - Latvia 🇱🇻 )

Nele-Liis Vaiksoo – “Käte ümber jää” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Maninni – “Spettacolare” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )

Clara Klingenström – “Aldrig mer” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

MAIAA – “Break away” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Uudo Sepp & Sarah Murray – “Still Love” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

Rita Rocha – “Pontos Finais” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Ricchi e Poveri – “Ma non tutta la vita” (Festival di Sanremo - Italy 🇮🇹 )  

Reghina Alexandrina – “Contrasens” (Etapa Naţională  - Moldova 🇲🇩 )

Cazzi Opeia – “Give My Heart a Break” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden ����🇪 )

AISTÈ – “We Will Rule the World” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Cătălina Solomac – “Fever” (Etapa Naţională  - Moldova 🇲🇩 )

Marie Reim – “Naiv” (Das Deutsche Finale 2024 – Germany 🇩🇪 )

Natalie Balmix – “Dijamanti“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Jacqline – “Effortless” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Queens of Roses – “Walk Through Fire” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

BOOOM! – “Dance Like This” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

The Roop – “Simple Joy” (Eurovizija.lt – Lithuania 🇱🇹 )

Max Mutzke – “Forever Strong” (Das Deutsche Finale 2024 – Germany 🇩🇪 )

Boris Štok – “Can We Talk“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

La Rua – “Governo del cuore” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

Kim Cesarion – “Take My Breath Away” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Alen Đuras – “A Tamburitza Lullaby“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

MELA – “Água” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Valeria Pasha – “Anti-Princess” (Etapa Naţională  - Moldova 🇲🇩 )

Noelle – “Baby Baby“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Blankiflúr – “Love you” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Lana Mandarić – “More“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Peter Põder – “Korra veel” (Eesti Laul - Estonia 🇪🇪 )

LIAMOO – “Dragon” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Nadia – “Sudari” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

James Night – “Nebo Plače“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Heiðrún Anna - Þjakaður af ást” (Söngvakeppnin - Iceland 🇮🇸 )

Agnese Rakovska – “AI” (Supernova - Latvia 🇱🇻 )

Kida – “Invincibile” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

Lu Dedić – “Plavi Leptir“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

Mila Dores – “Afia a Língua” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Zorja – “Lik u ogledalu” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Jalisse – “Il paradiso è qui” (Una Voce per San Marino - San Marino 🇸🇲 )

Martina Vrbos – “Da me voliš” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

FILIPA – “You Can’t Hide” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Džordži – “Luna Park” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Albin Tingwall – “Done Getting Over You” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Rita Onofre – “Criatura” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Vatra – “Slatke suze gorka ljubav“ (Dora - Croatia 🇭🇷 )

João Borsch – “… Pelas Costuras” (Festival da Canção - Portugal 🇵🇹 )

Dušan Kurtić – “Zbog tebe živim” (Pesma za Evroviziju 24 - Serbia 🇷🇸 )

Medina – “Que Sera” (Melodifestivalen - Sweden 🇸🇪 )

Bonus Track: Björnzone – “Still The One” (Live @ Melodifestivalen Final 🇸🇪  ) (skip to 2:30 for the song only)

[arabela25]

Nᴏ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ᴀɴ Eᴜʀᴏᴠɪsɪᴏɴ 2020 ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴅᴏᴡɴ ‘ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ

Divlji Vjetre  - Damir Kedžo, Croatia 🇭🇷      [x]

[aijamisespava]

My Ideal Eurovision 2024

Well, we've had all of the competing songs for a while now. We've ranked them, we've pit them against the 2023 songs, we've even commiserated over the Semi-Final Running Orders.

But...there is one question that I've noticed is in most Eurovision fan's head, myself included: What if MY National Final Winners Won? And that's what I'm here to share. Below, as you can see from the title, is the Eurovision 2024 had all my National Final winners were selected.

DISCLAIMER: This is not a ranking. I'll have conclusions toward the end of the post. Countries are listed in alphabetical order. I won't change internal selections because that takes up way too much time that I really don't have. And, since this is FOR FUN, if a country has 2 songs that I liked equally, I include both. LET'S GO!

Albania: "Jetën N'skaj" by Erina & The Elementals (unknown placement) Armenia: "Jako" by Ladavina (Internally Selected) Australia: "One Milkali (One Blood)" by Electric Fields (Internally Selected) Austria: "We Will Rave" by Kaleen (Internally Selected) Belgium: "Before The Party's Over" by Mustii (Internally Selected) Croatia: "Rim Tim Tagi Dim' by Baby Lasagna (1st in NF)/"Voljena ženo" by Damir Kedžo (4th in NF) Cyprus: "Liar" by Silia Kapsis (Internally Selected) Czechia: "Red Flag Parade" by MYDY (3rd in NF) Denmark: "Sand" by Saba (1st in NF) Estonia: "My Friend" by Ollie (2nd in NF) Finland: "Dancing With Demons" by Cyan Kicks (4th in NF) France: "Mon Amour" by Slimane (Internally Selected) Georgia: "Firefighter" by Nusta (Internally Selected) Germany: "Naiv" by Marie Reim (6th in NF) Greece: "Zari" by Marina Satti (Internally Selected) Iceland: "Scared Of Heights" by Hera Björk (1st in NF)/"Wild West" by Bashar Murad (2nd in NF) Ireland: "Love Me Like I Do" by Erica-Cody (4th in NF) Italy: "Tu No" by Irama (5th in NF) Latvia: "Heaven's Raining Down On Me" by Patrīcija Spale (NQ in NF Semi) Lithuania: "Luktelk" by Silvester Belt (1st in NF) Luxembourg: "Drowning In The Rain" by Krick (2nd in NF) Malta: "Wild Card" by Gail (11th in NF) Moldova: "In The Middle" by Natalia Barbu (1st in NF) Netherlands: "Europapa" by Joost Klein (Internally Selected) Norway: "Heart On Fire" by Myra (NQ in NF Semi) Poland: "The Tower" by Luna (Internally Selected*) *I know some songs were released, but it was an internal selection* Portugal: "You Can't Hide" by Filipa (10th in NF Semi, NQ) San Marino: "11:11" by Megara (1st in NF*) *I didn't rank the NF songs since UVPSM happened in a literal blink* Serbia: "Ramonda" by Teya Dora (1st in NF)/"Duga je noć" by Filip Baloš (10th in NF Semi, NQ) Slovenia: "Veronika" by Raiven (Internally Selected) Spain: "Sé quién soy" by Angy Fernández (3rd in NF)/"Here To Stay" by Sofia Coll (7th in NF) Sweden: "Awful Liar" by Lisa Ajax (11th in NF) Switzerland: "The Code" by Nemo (Internally Selected) Ukraine: "Teresa & Maria" by alyona alyona/Jerry Heil (1st in NF)/"Dreamer" by Mélovin (3rd in NF) United Kingdom: "Dizzy" by Olly Alexander (Internally Selected)

Conclusions: Even with my NF winners, it still would have been a stacked year (bad bias joke, you can laugh now). But being honest, I think out of all of these, Belgium still would have been my winner. Serbia still would have scored well. The only threat I see to Belgium would be if Luxembourg had chosen Krick.

[eurovision-del]

After a very full on weekend last week, we’ve got a much less busy weekend coming up, with only San Marino actually selecting their song this Saturday (which I probably won’t be ranking in advance). However, Croatia are also selecting their entry this weekend with Dora starting tomorrow evening, finishing with the final on Sunday. The songs have been out for quite a while, so here’s my ranking of them all:

Barbara Munjas – Nepobjediva

Baby Lasagna – Rim Tim Tagi Dim

Let 3 – Baba Roga

Damir Kedžo – Voljena ženo

Lana Mandarić – More

Noelle – Baby, Baby

Natalie Balmix – Dijamanti

Vatra – Slatke suze, gorka ljubav

Lu Dedić – Plavi leptir

Erna – How Do You Love

Alen Đuras – A Tamburitza Lullaby

James Night – Nebo plače

Stefany Žužić – Sretnih dana dat’ će Bog

Lara Demarin – Ne vjerujem ti

Pavel – Do mjeseca

Vinko – Lying Eyes

Marcela – Gasoline

Eugen – Tišine

ET – Pametnom dosta

The Splitters – Od kad te sanjam

Mario Battifiaca ft. Robert Ferlin – Vodu piti trizan biti

Boris Štok – Can We Talk

Misha – One Day

Saša Lozar – Ne plačem zbog nje

The overall quality of this selection is pretty high, it's the rare selection I might find myself throwing on the playlist of all the entries for casual listening in the future – there's nothing I really dislike, my worst criticism of any song here was 'forgettable'. That said, while I like a lot of the songs here, I actually don’t think there’s an obvious standout.

I think my favourite song here is actually Nepobjediva by Barbara Munjas – I ranked her entry last year pretty high too, there’s something about her sound that appeals to me. Nepobjediva combines electronic pop with a bit of rock influence in an interesting way. The rhythm of the guitar in the chorus is great, I vibe with it so much. The song goes through quite a few different ideas in that it feels more like a train of thought than a strictly structured song, but I like that, it feels like I’m going on a journey with it – before I was properly familiar with it I wasn’t sure where it was going to go next but every time I was excited to find out. I also really like Barbara’s voice, she’s got a proper rock vocal with the power and attitude she can sing with – I wasn’t surprised when I looked her up to find that apparently she’s fronted a couple of rock bands before.  

I much prefer when I can do all these rankings completely blind, even though I might have a guess at which songs might be fandom favourites I don’t look at any fan polls or odds until after I’ve finalised my ranking – but unfortunately with these songs being out for so long before I got round to it, I’m aware that Baby Lasagna is the clear favourite here. It’s put me in a weird position, because I feel like I should really like Rim Tim Tagi Dim, and I do like it, the general sound of it is right up my street, but I do have reservations that mean it’s not quite my favourite. I love the pace and energy of it, it hits exactly the right note to get you hyped up at the start, but if anything I want even more! It feels like it sits on one level, and while it’s a good level, I wish it shook it up a little more. In direct comparison to what I was saying about Nepobjediva it’s got a pretty standard structure – first verse, chorus, shorter second verse, chorus, instrumental break, chorus, chorus. After you’ve heard the first chorus you’ve heard pretty much the entire song – though to be fair when it sounds good that isn’t always a bad thing.  

We’ve also got a couple of artists who’ve won Dora in recent years back again. I really enjoy what’s going on in Baba Roga, Let 3 continue to tread their own path and I appreciate them for it, but I don’t want to see them back at Eurovision so soon, not when there are a couple of other songs here I prefer. On the other hand, I would actually love it if Damir finally got his chance to properly represent Croatia at Eurovision. I’m so glad he’s gone back to a ballad after not really feeling his song last year. He knows how to do passion, and I think Voljena ženo builds really nicely as a song – I love how it picks up at the end, it nails the key change. I think Voljena ženo would have real potential to do well at Eurovision, especially since we’re a little low on ballads this year, but I think Rim Tim Tagi Dim could also do well for Croatia too if staged in a way that captures and sustains the energy it has in an interesting way. I’d also be absolutely thrilled if Barbara somehow won on Sunday, but I think I might be in more of a minority in loving Nepobjediva.

[eurovisionpanorsk]

16 deltakere klare for finale i Kroatia

Søndagens finalefelt er på plass!

Semifinalene i Kroatia er over, og alle finalister er kåret. 16 av totalt 24 deltakere har vært med i to semifinaler denne uka, hvor åtte har gått videre fra hver semi. Det utgjør altså 16 deltakere som skal konkurrere om å representere Kroatia i 2024. Disse åtte gikk videre i kveld: Alen Đuras – A Tamburitza Lullaby Natalie Balmix – Dijamanti Vatra – Slatke suze, gorka ljubav Damir Kedžo –…

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