The Eurovision Song Contest is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. From opera singers to metal bands, there’s something for everyone (but mostly pop music lovers). Today we’re comparing two very different songs from the Czech Republic and Germany. It’s almost unfair to compare them but, after all, it is a contest. It’s “omaga” by Benny Cristo versus “I Don’t Feel Hate” by Jendrik.
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Let’s hope Benny Cristo doesn’t have to revamp.
Honestly, I was underwhelmed by “Kemama” last year. This song suits my tastes more and I like the musical choices in this song.
A similarity between this entry and the one from Germany is that they play with the instrumentation in the song. I am pretty happy with the choice in instrumentation for “omaga.” My favourite part is probably when that rumbling bass comes in the first chorus. I also like the bass guitar licks that pop up from time to time.
“omaga” also varies nicely in form and texture. Any section that doesn’t contain the bass line seems really thin in texture which creates a nice contrast. For example, there’s a halftime section in the song right after the rumbling bass section is introduced. Also notice how that section is skipped entirely in the second verse. The song effectively subverted my expectations. The bridge also has no bass line, giving the listeners a small break before the final chorus.
The thing I’m most concerned about with “omaga” is that the song isn’t as memorable in terms of lyrics. The only parts I remember from the song are when he sings “omaga” and “There ain’t no apocalypse / Long as you’re here on my lips.” However, like Eden Alene, he does manage to sprinkle a bit of his native language into the song. Hats off to him.
I hope Jendrik’s tap break is in the live performance.
While the Czech Republic chose a more mainstream pop entry, Germany decided to go for a more theatrical song. I’ve heard comparisons to SpongeBob SquarePants in the comments section.
Like Benny Cristo’s song, I appreciate the variety of instrumentation in “I Don’t Feel Hate.” The song changes from ukelele and whistling to electric guitars and brass instruments for a complete change in energy and texture in what I think is the post-chorus. That’s a wide range of instruments that surprisingly goes well together. However, I find the transitions to be a bit too jarring. Then again, that’s probably what the song was going for.
On top of playing with instrumentation, the song also varies in tempo and rhythm, giving it a theatrical flair. My favourite part is the chromatic ascension in the second verse. It builds up the tension until we get a cool horn solo (and tap break).
Personally, I’m not a fan of songs about self-love that put other people down. It’s a very specific dislike. “Toy” by Netta falls into this category, which is part of the reason why I didn’t care much for it. I get that “I Don’t Feel Hate” is “just a song” and it’s meant to be a quirky bit of fun. I just can’t get behind songs that lump haters into this homogenous group of people and talk about them as if they’re a subhuman species.
Who has my vote (for now)?
I’m gonna have to give it to the Czech Republic. While I think “omaga” flows better than “I Don’t Feel Hate,” I’m still wary about it being winner material. We’ll just have to wait and see if Benny Cristo can outperform the other contestants.