Poled Over
So Poland pick their entry this Saturday, with 10 songs in the running for the chance. Poland have had an irritating last few years at Eurovision. After achieving a 7th place in 2003, they only finished 17th the year after, and have been in the semi-final for the last two years finished eleventh on both occasions! Gargh! So hopefully, they’ll find a song that can get them out of the semi-finals and win them the contest for the first time.
Here are the songs in contention:
1. “OPEN YOUR MIND” – Ania Szarmarch
It’s funky, it’s hip, it’s contemporary – this wouldn’t sound out of place on US radio! Her voice is a bit odd though, and it’s not the catchiest of tunes in the world… however, if you’re looking for what one may call “street cred”, then this song could be for you! You don’t mind many songs like this in Eurovision pre-selections! Particularly in Iceland.
2. “EMILY” – Charizma
Now this sounds like more of the stuff that Iceland like, more’s the pity. It’s a rocky tune sung by a male, obviously, but it’s not bad at all, and the chorus is quite good. Reminds me a bit of Maroon 5 or Orson! But this is just not the sort of stuff that they go for in Eurovision usually. It’s perhaps not “stand-out” enough to win the Polish national final, but it’s a pretty good song all the same.
3. “ON MY MIND” – Button Hackers
This is a sort of lounge-funk based song (can’t believe I just described a potential Eurovision song as lounge-funk, but there you go). It’s got nice brass, tranquil twiddly bits and generally a nice vibe to it. Again, not your usual cup of Eurovision tea, but then again Lordi won the ESC didn’t they? Stranger things have happened… I’d chill out to this little tune!
4. “COME IN MY HEART” – Vino
Well this is very My Chemical Romance. It’s a dark gothic rock piece, but it’s gentle – I even heard a cello somewhere! It’s rather dull though and doesn’t go anywhere of particular interest. If you’re a fan of morbid guitar music, this is for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother.
5. “NO SECOND CHANCE” –Moleda
Oh, it’s a lovely ballad! Now these are a rarity in modern Eurovision, but you only have to look at the 2005 results to see that they can still score exceedingly well. This is a male duo, two brothers I believe, singing a very nice song that I believe could score well at Eurovision. It reminds of 1990s Michael Jackson, and it’s very smooth, very soulful… yeah, I like this a lot, definitely my favourite so far!
6. “TIME TO PARTY” – The Jet Setters
R&B in Eurovision? The verses to this song are rather funky, very contemporary, sung by a female vocalist with some male rap thrown in for good measure. Reminds me of something by Nelly Furtado! The beat begins to swing in the chorus with a more 1940s sound. It’s a compelling mix, and is perhaps the dark horse in this competition. It’s very different, but it seems to work quite well. Perhaps they shouldn’t have rhymed ‘party’ with ‘party’ though.
7. “I LIKE IT LOUD” – Natasza Urbanska
This song’s first lyric is “Hey Mr DJ, have you got a record for me” – sounds familiar to me! Again, this is very contemporary, but I’m not finding it particularly brilliant I’m afraid. It’s sort of rocky and brassy, very inyerface, but I’d rather it got out of my face to be honest.
8. “REGROUP” – Hania Stach
This is a quirky little upbeat song with a cute little bassline and lots of little noises dispersing themselves throughout this track. There’s something odd about this, can’t put my finger on it though. It’s again very commercial summery pop, but it just lacks that hook that could make it just that little bit better.
9. “LOVE IN THE AIR” – Mikael Erlandsson
This guy has tried to represent Sweden before, but now he’s pinning his luck on the people of Poland. “Love Is In The Air” is a sort of 60s pop song in a modern style, lots of nice harmonies, and it’s a pretty perfect pop package – you can tell he’s had experience in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, let’s put it that way! It even has a funky little piano break before the final choruses! A very enjoyable listen, reminded me of “Sing For Me” by Andreas Jonsson, third place in last year’s Melodifestivalen. Very good indeed.
10. “DON’T JUDGE ME” – Bikini
“Don’t Judge Me” is a pop/rock song with female vocals, sort of poppy Vanilla Ninja really. It’s not too bad, but it’s a bit shouty and is a tad forgettable. Also, calling your band Bikini, and then asking the public to not judge you seems rather a lot to ask.
So there’s my review. And don’t forget that, unlike many other Eurovision countries, this is the only show that Poland will have! 10 songs, 1 winner. And this is my ranking of the songs with 1 meaning ‘Lordi’, and 10 meaning ‘Arsenium’…
1 NO SECOND CHANCE – Moleda
2 LOVE IN THE AIR – Mikael Erlandsson
3 TIME TO PARTY – The Jet Setters
4 EMILY - Charizma
5 ON MY MIND – Button Hackers
6 OPEN YOUR MIND – Ania Szarmarch
7 REGROUP – Hania Stach
8 DON’T JUDGE ME – Bikini
9 I LIKE IT LOUD – Natasza Urbanska
10 COME IN MY HEART – Vino
I’d be happy with any of the top three to win, let’s just hope “rock” hasn’t got the better of the Poles and they pick Vino…
Here are the songs in contention:
1. “OPEN YOUR MIND” – Ania Szarmarch
It’s funky, it’s hip, it’s contemporary – this wouldn’t sound out of place on US radio! Her voice is a bit odd though, and it’s not the catchiest of tunes in the world… however, if you’re looking for what one may call “street cred”, then this song could be for you! You don’t mind many songs like this in Eurovision pre-selections! Particularly in Iceland.
2. “EMILY” – Charizma
Now this sounds like more of the stuff that Iceland like, more’s the pity. It’s a rocky tune sung by a male, obviously, but it’s not bad at all, and the chorus is quite good. Reminds me a bit of Maroon 5 or Orson! But this is just not the sort of stuff that they go for in Eurovision usually. It’s perhaps not “stand-out” enough to win the Polish national final, but it’s a pretty good song all the same.
3. “ON MY MIND” – Button Hackers
This is a sort of lounge-funk based song (can’t believe I just described a potential Eurovision song as lounge-funk, but there you go). It’s got nice brass, tranquil twiddly bits and generally a nice vibe to it. Again, not your usual cup of Eurovision tea, but then again Lordi won the ESC didn’t they? Stranger things have happened… I’d chill out to this little tune!
4. “COME IN MY HEART” – Vino
Well this is very My Chemical Romance. It’s a dark gothic rock piece, but it’s gentle – I even heard a cello somewhere! It’s rather dull though and doesn’t go anywhere of particular interest. If you’re a fan of morbid guitar music, this is for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother.
5. “NO SECOND CHANCE” –Moleda
Oh, it’s a lovely ballad! Now these are a rarity in modern Eurovision, but you only have to look at the 2005 results to see that they can still score exceedingly well. This is a male duo, two brothers I believe, singing a very nice song that I believe could score well at Eurovision. It reminds of 1990s Michael Jackson, and it’s very smooth, very soulful… yeah, I like this a lot, definitely my favourite so far!
6. “TIME TO PARTY” – The Jet Setters
R&B in Eurovision? The verses to this song are rather funky, very contemporary, sung by a female vocalist with some male rap thrown in for good measure. Reminds me of something by Nelly Furtado! The beat begins to swing in the chorus with a more 1940s sound. It’s a compelling mix, and is perhaps the dark horse in this competition. It’s very different, but it seems to work quite well. Perhaps they shouldn’t have rhymed ‘party’ with ‘party’ though.
7. “I LIKE IT LOUD” – Natasza Urbanska
This song’s first lyric is “Hey Mr DJ, have you got a record for me” – sounds familiar to me! Again, this is very contemporary, but I’m not finding it particularly brilliant I’m afraid. It’s sort of rocky and brassy, very inyerface, but I’d rather it got out of my face to be honest.
8. “REGROUP” – Hania Stach
This is a quirky little upbeat song with a cute little bassline and lots of little noises dispersing themselves throughout this track. There’s something odd about this, can’t put my finger on it though. It’s again very commercial summery pop, but it just lacks that hook that could make it just that little bit better.
9. “LOVE IN THE AIR” – Mikael Erlandsson
This guy has tried to represent Sweden before, but now he’s pinning his luck on the people of Poland. “Love Is In The Air” is a sort of 60s pop song in a modern style, lots of nice harmonies, and it’s a pretty perfect pop package – you can tell he’s had experience in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, let’s put it that way! It even has a funky little piano break before the final choruses! A very enjoyable listen, reminded me of “Sing For Me” by Andreas Jonsson, third place in last year’s Melodifestivalen. Very good indeed.
10. “DON’T JUDGE ME” – Bikini
“Don’t Judge Me” is a pop/rock song with female vocals, sort of poppy Vanilla Ninja really. It’s not too bad, but it’s a bit shouty and is a tad forgettable. Also, calling your band Bikini, and then asking the public to not judge you seems rather a lot to ask.
So there’s my review. And don’t forget that, unlike many other Eurovision countries, this is the only show that Poland will have! 10 songs, 1 winner. And this is my ranking of the songs with 1 meaning ‘Lordi’, and 10 meaning ‘Arsenium’…
1 NO SECOND CHANCE – Moleda
2 LOVE IN THE AIR – Mikael Erlandsson
3 TIME TO PARTY – The Jet Setters
4 EMILY - Charizma
5 ON MY MIND – Button Hackers
6 OPEN YOUR MIND – Ania Szarmarch
7 REGROUP – Hania Stach
8 DON’T JUDGE ME – Bikini
9 I LIKE IT LOUD – Natasza Urbanska
10 COME IN MY HEART – Vino
I’d be happy with any of the top three to win, let’s just hope “rock” hasn’t got the better of the Poles and they pick Vino…
posted by ESCChris at
9:02 AM
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