As we all know by now, sadly the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 has been cancelled because of the Covid-19 crisis. This week, the semi-finals and final were supposed to take place in Rotterdam. Followers of this blog know that I do review the show’s performances every year. I decided to honor this year’s contestants by reviewing them and ranking them, contest or no contest! I picked the top 10 of my rankings of the first semi final and the second semi final and put them together with the big five and host country for the final top 26!
26. France – Tom Leeb – The Best In Me
The French entry gained immediate hype in Dutch media, but it wasn’t because of the song. Tom Leeb’s good looks were the talk of the town. Unfortunately, his song ‘The Best In Me’ isn’t exactly a home run. Some experienced Eurovision composers came together to create this song, but it never really gets past the vibe of a talent show winner’s first single about fifteen years ago. The lyrics are drenched in clichés and they attempted to make the song sound bigger with a bombastic production, but I was left strangely underwhelmed. Unfortunately one song has to take the last place and in this case it has to be France.
Full review here.
25. Portugal – Elisa – Medo De Sentir
I have to admit the Portuguese entry took me a few spins to fully appreciate, which of course is not a good sign in Eurovision. Elisa’s ‘Medo De Sentir’ is not the type of in your face ballad that unveils all its strengths on the first listen. The track is mostly subdued and quiet with warm vocals by Elisa. There is something cute and endearing about the track and that soaring melody line in the chorus might eventually find its way into your unconsciousness, but it would probably have been too slow for a Eurovision success. I will keep playing it for the months to come however!
24. Greece – Stefania – Superg!rl
Greece was smart about their choice for 2020, selecting Dutch-Greek singer Stefania who lives in the Netherlands. The 17-year-old was supposed to perform the cute bop ‘Superg!rl’. The pre-chorus has a strong hook and the post-chorus drop would have been an ideal moment to show some stunning choreography on stage, but overall, I think the track would have been a bit too light for big Eurovision success. The Greek broadcaster already decided Stefania will represent the country next year so she has quite a few months to come up with an even stronger entry!
Full review here.
23. Serbia – Hurricane – Hasta La Vista
Serbia found their very own version of The Pussycat Dolls who were going to represent their country with the Eurovision-by-the-numbers bop ‘Hasta La Vista’. It all sounds like it could have been released about fifteen years ago as well, but that chorus sure is an ear worm. ‘Hasta La Vista’ could have easily become one of those songs that the Eurovision fandom loves while the general public completely ignores it, but it is the type of sassy uptempo tune every edition of Eurovision deserves.
22. United Kingdom – James Newman – One Last Breath
I really wanted to put the United Kingdom higher in this list, because I do applaud the fact they finally came up with a more contemporary sounding Eurovision entry that could actually be played on the radio as well. James Newman brings the catchy slice of singer-songwriter pop ‘One Last Breath’ and the chorus sure has something going for it, although the whole track just flies by with only 2.35 minutes running time. It is a big step up from some of their previous entries, but in a competition with 25 other songs, it just does not stick with me as much as I hoped for.
Full review here.
21. Albania – Arilena Ara – Fall From The Sky
Arilena Ara from Albania was supposed to win over both juries and televoters with her undeniable voice as she would belt out the power ballad ‘Fall From The Sky’. She sings about other people trying to hold back her wings, but she is destined to fly. The message is served with the right level of drama, some violins and big notes and it totally works. Albania’s entry wasn’t among my initial favorites, but could have easily soared with a beautiful staging. She deserved at least a spot in the final.
Full review here.
20. Belarus – VAL – Da Vidna
It might be surprising to some that I even made Belarus qualify for this final, but I have a soft spot for the cute electro bop that is ‘Da Vidna’. Although it is performed in Belarusian, it is instantly catchy and the instrumental drop is just so satisfying. Sure, their performance needed some work, but we are judging the songs here as some countries only had a music video ready by the time the contest got cancelled. Bookmakers and fans did not expect Belarus to qualify, but I would have loved to see it. This is a bop and did not deserve to be so underrated.
Full review here.
19. Ukraine – Go-A – Solovey
Ukraine opted to send the band Go-A with their tune ‘Solovey’, which would have easily stood out among the 40 other competitors. The song mixes elements of Ukrainian folk with contemporary beats and prominent percussion and lead singer Katerina Pavlenko’s vocal style is very traditional and unusual to these ears. You would not expect it to be the most accessible entry on first listen, but it is catchy and swinging enough to leave a proper impression. ‘Solovey’ is not necessarily one of my personal favorites, but I believe it could have been Ukraine’s ticket back to the Eurovision top 10.
Full review here.
18. Armenia – Athena Manoukian – Chains On You
Armenia’s Athenia Manoukian meant business at this year’s Eurovision. Her pop and hip hop hybrid ‘Chains On You’ with seductive percussion sections is catchy, contemporary and asked for a big stage performance with a big choreography break in the middle-eight. Manoukian oozes confidence on stage and it is a shame we will never see this whole thing at Eurovision. ‘Chains On You’ is one of the most modern and divisive entries of this year and could easily have made it far with the right stage show.
Full review here.
17. The Netherlands – Jeangu Macrooy – Grow
Host country The Netherlands opted for a totally unsuitable song for the contest and that might actually be why it could have worked on the Eurovision stage. ‘Grow’ by Jeangu Macrooy is a completely stripped back, slow burning soul ballad about growing up. Only in the last minute, the track builds up to a gospel inspired finish in which Jeangu belts away. It would have been a big risk in Eurovision which could have easily meant a last place as well as a top 10 result. We will never know, but at least the Netherlands sent another class act with pitch perfect vocals. I can’t wait to hear what he comes up with next year.
Full review here.
16. Belgium – Hooverphonic – Release Me
You can always count on Belgium to send something classy to Eurovision. Hooverphonic, a band I have been following for years and is definitely worth checking out, presented the cinematic slow jam ‘Release Me’. It is moody and dramatic, like an old school James Bond soundtrack. The tone of Luka’s voice fits the suspenseful and grand orchestral instrumentation perfectly. I am pretty sure the juries would have ate this up and so did I. A class act with a class anthem.
Full review here.
15. Malta – Destiny – All Of My Love
Junior Eurovision winner Destiny was selected to represent Malta once more, but this time in the adult edition. I am not sure if she could have won again, but a top 10 placement was definitely within reach with ‘All Of My Love’. Written by the team that also wrote Eurovision successes for Bulgaria, this thunderous gospel anthem sure has a broad appeal and all the dramatics that could have been underlined with a spectacular staging. Please bring Destiny back next year with another anthem that does that massive voice justice, Malta!
14. Czech Republic – Benny Cristo – Kemama
Czech Republic had a completely unique sound within this year’s contest. ‘Kemama’ is an unapologetically upbeat and swinging tune that mixes pop, hiphop and strong African rhythms and beats. The message of the lyrics is just as uplifting as the melodies and it is almost impossible to get this tune out of your head after you heard it for the first time. Benny Cristo proved himself to be a charismatic performer with some moves up his sleeve. I think the Czech entry this year was completely overlooked and could have been of the big surprises with a potential top 10 finish.
Full review here.
13. Spain – Blas Cantó – Universo
Spain sent Blas Cantó to the contest with the perfectly crafted pop anthem ‘Universo’. The chorus is larger than life, the production sounds modern and Blas has a massive voice which reaches an incredibly high note in the last chorus. These are all elements which usually help at Eurovision, but I am not entirely convinced Spain would have made it into the left half of the scoreboard this year. Either way, ‘Universo’ is one of my most played entries of this year and I am glad we can welcome Blas Cantó back next year!
Full review here.
12. Azerbaijan – Efendi – Cleopatra
Azerbaijan was this year’s deliverer of the bonkers Eurovision bop I could not help but stan for. The lyrics are all over the place, the production is completely over the top, but there is no denying that Efendi’s ‘Cleopatra’ faces all the Eurovision ethnic bop cliches and takes them to the next level. Out of all of this year’s entries, this is one that I just can’t seem to get enough of. It is a shame we will never get to see what kind of larger than life staging Azerbaijan had in mind for this.
11. Iceland – Daði og Gagnamagnið – Think About Things
Iceland easily had the most pre-contest buzz with the song ‘Think About Things’ by Daði og Gagnamagnið. Although it is not my personal favorite and the viral hype somewhat surprised me, I do believe that this would have been the one to beat in this year’s contest. The song is insanely catchy, has a swinging funky rhythm, an undeniable chorus, both 80s synths and trumpet action, and a joyous, carefree vibe. Even the message, directed at the singer’s young child, is beyond adorable. The performance and choreography is very memorable and TikTok-friendly. Every ingredient for success was there!
Full review here.
10. Denmark – Ben & Tan – Say Yes
The Danish are the masters of generic pop in Eurovision and they proved they excel at the art with this year’s entry ‘YES’ by Ben & Tan. The folky pop song is a border on cheesy declaration of love, but the uplifting and euphoric vibe is completely irresistible. The chorus is massive and a complete ear worm too. Both Ben and Tan are excellent vocalists with enough charisma and chemistry. This is another song that not a lot of fans and bookmakers were expecting great things of, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if televoters totally ate this up. I’ll be (attempting to) belt out the chorus for the months to come.
09. Israel – Eden Alene – Feker Libi
Israel certainly wasn’t playing around after hosting last year, sending Eden Alene with the absolute bop ‘Feker Libi’. The track is a colorful, cultural melting pot, performed in four languages. The rhythm is dictated by African drums most of the time, but serves some 90s house beats in the chorus and middle-eastern strings in the post-chorus. Every single part is as catchy as the other and the whole thing is simply carefree and uplifting. It would have been such a joy to watch Eden perform this on the Eurovision stage. Hopefully we will get another potential summer hit from her next year!
Full review here.
08. Germany – Ben Dolic – Violent Thing
Germany went all funky and uptempo for Eurovision 2020. Ben Dolic was supposed to perform the slick and catchy ‘Violent Thing’, co-written by a team of songwriters that brought Bulgaria Eurovision success before. A song with such a funky bass line and trumpet action going on desperately needed a flashy staging with some strong choreography going on and then it could have easily made its way into the top 10. ‘Violent Thing’ is one of those tracks I could have seen become at least a minor hit after the contest as well.
Full review here.
07. Romania – Roxen – Alcohol You
Romania is serving some proper word play with Roxen’s ‘Alcohol You’, with the lyrics ‘I’ll cahall you when I’m drunk’ as the main hook. The track itself is a classy, yet contemporary ballad that does not rely fully on a big finale with massive notes, but manages to captivate throughout. Sure, the lyrics are somewhat clunky at times, but I can’t help to find the whole thing completely addictive. Roxen has a beautiful tone to her voice and ‘Alcohol You’ suits her very well. Romania’s broadcaster has already confirmed the young pop star will try again next year. Hopefully she will keep working on herself as an artist and will come back slaying!
Full review here.
06. Lithuania – The Roop – On Fire
Poor Lithuania doesn’t have a great track record in Eurovision and the one time they actually belong to the favorites to win, the contest gets cancelled. The Roop’s ‘On Fire’ had huge potential to slay on the Eurovision stage. This instantly catchy synth pop banger goes all the way off in the instrumental break and would have caused a major party in the arena. The rhymes in the lyrics might be lousy at times, but this track more than makes up for that with hooks in all the right places. And those dance moves by the lead singer were a TikTok sensation waiting to happen… This would easily have become on of the most talked about and played songs of the contest.
Full review here.
05. Australia – Montaigne – Don’t Break Me
Australia’s Montaigne might not have been considered as one of the favorites for the win, but her ‘Don’t Break Me’ sure turned out to be one of the tunes with the most longevity in my books. This pop anthem is powerful and fragile at the same time and the nervous energy she channels in the verses creates a beautiful tension with the belting, Sia like choruses. The hooks are undeniable and the song sounds contemporary and powerful enough to be a hit in its own right. The national final performance was messy, but judging by the studio version this is easily one of my favorite songs of this year’s Eurovision.
Full review here.
04. Italy – Diodato – Fai Rumore
Does Italy ever disappoint in Eurovision!? Not really! They always bring classy entries that actually play a role of importance in the results as well and this year would probably have been no different. The first time I heard Diodato’s ‘Fai Rumore’ I was swept off my feet. This ballad may have a traditional feel, but that chorus is absolutely timeless. ‘Fai Rumore’ is an epic cry for love and wastes no time to grab you which is ideal for Eurovision. I don’t see a Eurovision 2020 without Italy in the top 10 and probably top 5 even.
Full review here.
03. Norway – Ulrikke – Attention
Norway was about to steal the show at Eurovision 2020 with the absolutely gorgeous power ballad ‘Attention’, written by Ulrikke herself and Mørland (Eurovision 2015). The song is all about dealing with a toxic relationship and being unable to break free from it. ‘Attention’ mixes the traditional with the modern with the bare instrumentation in the verses and then the violin driven climax in which Ulrikke belts her heart out. It is all we want from Eurovision and more. Norway deserved another top 5 result with this one!
Full review here.
02. Switzerland – Gjon’s Tears – Répondez-moi
Switzerland internally selected singer-songwriter Gjon’s Tears who created a beautifully melodic and elegant ballad in French. The verses are driven by a haunting melody and Gjon’s emotive, raw and compelling vocal performance. The chorus is big enough to live up to the expectations created in the verses, without being too bombastic or predictable. Gjon belts for his life with insanely high notes in the last chorus, which make for a grande finale of ‘Répondez-moi’. In the lyrics, Gjon asks all the big questions about life from the point of view of a guy from a family with an migrant background. This is a truly special song that would have deserved all the douze points coming its way. Gjon’s Tears is back next year so all other countries better prepare something outstanding to match him.
Full review here.
01. Bulgaria – Victoria – Tears Getting Sober
Bulgaria was among the favorites to win this year’s Eurovision and it is not hard to hear why. Victoria sings the totally captivating understated ballad ‘Tears Getting Sober’. The lyrics are about the process of healing after a dark period which could be relatable to virtually anyone. The vibe of the song echoes the subtle vocal work and sparse instrumentation global super star Billie Eilish is known for, but ‘Tears Getting Sober’ adds some Disney magic with its build up and little choirs while the way the last chorus kicks in is pure Eurovision euphoria. If the live performance would have been as captivating as the music video (cue the fireflies) Bulgaria could have snatched their first victory. Victoria will be back next year so we already know Bulgaria will be in it to win it.
Full review here.