Re: SAN MARINO 2018
The full songs are out (apparently they're still all a work in progress):
https://www.globalrockstar.com/ click on the candidates' pages, there a player below the amount of money collected.
My ranking at first listen:
1)
Sara De Blue: Nice enough arrangements with chords and piano, but not quite as great as I expected: the drums need to be heavier and it lacks dirty electric guitars to play with the Evanescence vibe the song gives me. Please revamp it! I want that second verse and bridge to be fired up! It's a bit too calm as it is imo. And the backing vocals are too girly, they should sound more ominous.
2)
Camilla North: it's actually better than I expected, there are modern elements in it and it's not as Spanish-sounding actually. It may grow on me.
3)
Tinashe Makura: Nice reggae tune, now I catches my attention. Me likes it! Good job!
4)
IROL: That moment when IROL's song ends up being better than Jessika's. I like the mood going on, and Basti sounds good here too. Me likes! IROL rules!
5)
Jenifer: Nice modern version of the song, it's way more radio-friendly now. Too bad the chorus is hella repetitive. The song could have used some tweaks melody-wise.
6)
Jessika: the rapper is a woman, don't know who she is.
I'm not really fond of the instrumental at first listen: it's loud but not really powerful: I'm kinda disappointed, it lacks energy and refinement.
Hopefully it'll improve live and there'll be some tweaks coming.
7)
Basti: melancholic pop version of "Stay", the song sounds pretty decent this way, even though it remains bland and forgettable. Good job for making something out of it though!
8)
Giovanni: Typical Italian pop arrangements, which obviously fit the song. Since I'm not fond of the song itself, I can't say it's doing much for me.
9)
Emma: "Diamonds" has been re-worked melodically and lyrically. The arrangements of the verses are unexpectedly original and good, but... what is that cheap Europop chorus!? Ew, please change that asap! It ruins the song for me. :? Hopefully, she'll fix it.
10)
Franklin Calleja: unexpected orchestral interpration of "Stay". It's way too cheesy and Maltese for my taste though. Please don't send this!
11)
Judah: Maybe the most middle of the road version of "Stay" because it's a mix of the other versions. The singing is neat, but it's cheesy and dated. No thanx.
Overall though, I think the productions are pretty good and varied.
I hope they all still work on improving them though.
Jessika disappointed me while Camilla and Tinashe did THAT! I look forward to their performances.
Jenifer is ok, I think the song needed to be re-worked composition-wise.
Emma should fix her choruses because it's cheap compared with the verses imo.
Sara should plan to obtain an edgier, rougher sound a la Evanescence, it's half-baked atm.
Basti is ready both for his solo entry and duet with IROL.
I don't care about Giovanni, Franklin and Judah.