Eurovision 2023

[dom]

So impressed with the 20 year old Estonian entry. Such poise and presence.i'm sure if I'd been wearing that dress attempting to cover the stage like she did, I would have fallen over

[dom]

Finnish entry had me laughing. Pretty sure it was intentional

[Slim]

Finland - what fresh hell is this? Can this hot, spicy garbage really be one of the favourites? Preposterous performance and even for the brief period when it morphs into something approximating a song, it's utter wank. It gets a huge response from the crowd. Easily the worst of the night though, a 2.

Czechia, or if you prefer, the Czech Republic. It's a trite girl power message based on Eastern European power-folk with a quasi-rap element. And yet somehow it works. 6.

[The Picnic Wasp]

Voyager - I wonder if the old Sounds magazine adage about ER bands will still hold true.😁

[dom]

Voyager a bit of a poppy Muse

[dom]

Boy George crossed with Simply Red = Belgium

[Slim]

Australia - well it's a rhythmically interesting '80s radio style soft rock tune. Rhythmically it reminds me of Love Like Blood by Killing Joke which is a belting tune, I wouldn't say this is though. But I did quite like it if I'm honest. It's a 6.

Belgium - has an early '90s disco feel, accoring to Graham Norton. And I think that's right. I didn't hate it but it really sounds derivative to me, I'm sure I've heard that hook before - but I have to say I really dig the jazz / soul feel in the chorus. Can I give it more than a 6? I .. I don't think I can.

[Slim]

Armenia - boring song, charismatic performer though. 5.

Moldova - eccentric power-folk with a nice flute part. It's not a good song, got to be a 5.

[dom]

Moldova - entertaining and catchy

[dom]

Ukraine reminds me of Youssou N'Dour. Not a bad thing but unexpected

[Slim]

Here comes the likely winner, Ukraine. I might be a bit Eurovisioned out at this point but I was just bored. Two chord tedium, 4.

Norway - well for what it is, it's a decently spirited little tune but I can't really get excited. Pretty standard Eurovision fare. 5

[Slim]

Germany - another stinker; ridiculously overwrought, utterly hackneyed cheese. This is what happens when you leave glam rock on the radiator. Awful. 2.

Lithuania - think this might be the highlight of the night, if only for the chorus which does have a nice energy. I don't think it's quite a 7. It's a 6. Nothing particularly original or interesting but I liked it.

[dom]

It does get quite tough to judge 26 songs you've never heard before

[Slim]

Israel - she sings well and she's quite the dancer as well but I feel like I've already heard this song twice tonight. How did all this serious po-faced over-earnestness come to dominate popular music? 5.

I haven't actually been keeping count but I wouldn't be surprised if every single one of tonight's tunes was in a minor key.

Slovenia, it's another improbably camp "rock" tune complete with guitars being used merely as props. 4.

[R6GYY]

Croatia.

Words fail me.