- “That’s Rich” by Brooke (Ireland)
- “Boys Do Cry” by Marius Bear (Switzerland)
- “Trenulețul” by Zdob şi Zdub & Fraţii Advahov (Moldova)
- “Miss You” by Jérémie Makiese (Belgium)
- “Space Man” by Sam Ryder (United Kingdom)
That’s Rich – Brooke
I just really like Brooke’s delivery of the lyrics. I think that’s the strongest part of this song. While it’s probably not the most impressive entry I’ve heard, I can’t think of any points against it. “That’s Rich” is not too bad a song. I wonder if they pitched up the line “Now you want me?” or if she’s just speaking in a higher pitch (could also be both). Either way, I think it’s a really clever way to build up to the final chorus while also making Brooke sound angrier.
Boys Do Cry – Marius Bear
This song is reminiscent of “Amar pelos dois” by Salvador Sobral. It must be because Marius Bear has a very soulful voice (or that the songs are in the same key). I’m really into the cadence of the lines in “Boys Do Cry.” It also has a nice repetition to it. But I’m rather indifferent to the lyrics. Is it because I’m not a boy? The lyrics are alright, if a little cliché. But that seems to be the style Marius Bear is going for.
Trenulețul – Zdob şi Zdub & Fraţii Advahov
Moldova really know how to have fun with their entries, huh? This song makes me want to square dance (polka? hora?). I have a feeling the performance for “Trenulețul” is going to be epic. It might even make it to the finals. But as for the song itself, I don’t know if I would go out of my way to listen to it. It’s not really the style of music I gravitate towards.
Miss You – Jérémie Makiese
I was a little worried when I didn’t hear any percussion. I wasn’t sure what direction this entry was going in, but “Miss You” is a pretty standard trap/R&B song. Even then, this entry has an interesting mix of instruments. From the strings and bass drum, to the hi-hats and electric guitar. On top of that, Jérémie Makiese has this nice rasp to his voice, especially when he hits that high note in the chorus. I’m not sure if this song is a winner, but like “That’s Rich,” it’s not bad.
Space Man – Sam Ryder
Again, kinda worried when I heard the beginning of this song. It’s because I’m not really a fan of songs where the vocals are predominantly in the higher register. But I really like the line “I’m up in space, man!” Still, the chord progression makes the song too predictable and works against it. I heard this arpeggio hitting every beat at the beginning of “Space Man.” I think if they had added percussion to this arpeggio, it would have made this entry a bit more interesting. Not sure how that would have fit the concept, but I think it would be doable.
Who has my vote (for now)?
This week was a little odd (not just because I posted this late). Even though I liked this round of entries in general, I didn’t feel as strongly about any of these songs. None of them really screamed “Winner” to me. That being said, Brooke had an entry that felt the most complete to me. Some of these entries just needed a slight tweaking, but “That’s Rich” is fine as it is. As a side note, I would love to see Zdob şi Zdub & Fraţii Advahov go to the finals. Alright, see you Monday (I hope)!