Today’s lineup is truly an unconventional bunch. We have Victor Vernicos (Greece), Let 3 (Croatia), Lord of the Lost (Germany), TuralTuranX (Azerbaijan), Pasha Parfeni (Moldova), and Brunette (Armenia).
Lyrics: Well you know what they say
First of all, are you okay Victor? Second of all, I love how upbeat this song sounds despite its bittersweet lyrics. It reminds me of “Maps” by Lesley Roy. Victor makes liberal use of enjambments, which basically means that his lyrical phrases continue beyond the musical phrase. It’s a little excessive at times because it becomes difficult to keep track of the lines. Other than that, it’s a beautiful song. “Future Lover” by Brunette was also notable for its lyrics this round. That fantasy of drinking smoothies in cafés was oddly specific but relatable. I only wish the rest of the song had been just as specific or that the more specific details in the first section were interspersed throughout the song.
Music: The sun, the moon, and the stars
I wonder if anyone has counted how many countries sent entries in their native language this year. One of favourites has to be Moldova. Pasha Parfeni is back and ready to go toe to toe against Loreen with his cosmic rave of a song. I hear there’s also a certain Croatian song getting a lot of attention. Let’s talk about the different sections of “Mama ŠČ!” by Let 3. There’s the tractor section, the alphabet section, and the psychopath section. If you listen to them separately, maybe you wouldn’t see how they work together, but they manage to blend together so nicely. The alphabet section has to be my favourite. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have “Tell Me More” by TuralTuranX. The music is so pleasant while the singers are going through so much turmoil. This one gave me some cognitive dissonance, not gonna lie.
Vocals: We’re so happy we could die
Who knew we were going to get more than one song with elements of metal this year? The lead singer of Lord of the Lost looks like a star, shines like a star, and sings like one too. He has very clear enunciation, something I wasn’t expecting from a metal band. I also like the variations in rhythm throughout the song. It makes listening to it all the more exciting.
Check out all of the entries reviewed here: