The 2015 “Expert” Panel – GREECE

The ESC United “Expert” Panel is back once again reviewing all Eurovision songs and rank them accordingly.

You are probably asking yourself on how we pick our panel and the criteria. We looked at people from all walks of life to bring together a unique group of panelists with a wide range in taste. They all bring different skills and tastes to the table so who are they?

Anselm – The Alternative Guy
Arie – The Professional Musician
Daniel – The Noob
Katja – The Schlager Queen
Mike – The Smart One
Olivia – The Journalist

You can read more about them HERE

Disclaimer: While we picked, what we perceived individuals with a wide range in taste, it is subjective to a certain degree so just enjoy their thoughts and if you don’t agree, feel free to post your comments below.

Greece always qualifies for the Finals, at least so far. Will “One Last Breath” continue this winning streak? Let’s see what our Panel thinks.

Arie – The Professional Musician
One last breath, my ass!  Maria takes more breaths in this song than dying roadkill, which unfortunately really hurts the musical lines.  I can barely understand what she’s saying!   This song has so much (yes, the ever overused term) potential!  When I speak Iof potential, it is not to say the song is bad.  I actually think this song could be one of my favorties.  The melody/rhythm are really powerful and the words (though ocassionally melodramatic i.e.  “You killed me and I’m done…without a gun), are actually well composed.  This song needs a REAL orchestra to support the singer’s Celine Dion-esque diva voice.  It needs the epic sweep of a full orchestra.  With a little musical direction and some real instrumentation, this song could soar…but for now it’s just bobbing in the water.
Points: 6/10

Mike – The Smart One
For the semiotician in me it is hard not to see Greece’s song as a political statement. In lieu of very attractive young men and women singing interesting songs reflective of Greek culture we have a vaguely Nordic woman doing a ballad with one last breath.  It is hard not to see how failed economic policies that are a legacy of U.S. economists and now rejected here if not in Europe have failed parts of the EU.  While the ballad is another very nice one, it doesn’t stand out in any way and has a chance of not making the final.
Points: 6/10

Olivia – The Journalist
Well this is a classic Eurovision ballad. It rises and falls in all the right places, and has a strong finish, punctuated with staccato violins and vocal trills. It actually reminds me a bit of Azerbaijan’ s beautiful ballad from last year. Understated, moving, with a burgeoning roar. However, the big but – this is considerably more bland than Azerbaijan’s.  It just lacks any identity, or oomph. But fortunately, one thing that does work well is Maria’s voice – it’s beautiful, and the husk to her voice is extremely sexy. If the power of her voice on record is anything to go by, then I imagine she will be a strong presence on the stage. So in all good, but not going to cause a storm
Points: 6/10

Daniel – The Noob
Oh come on, this is getting boring. Eventually, this leads to a point where I’m getting sick and tired of all those “my life is a freaking mess so I have to sing emotionally about it”-performers. They’re redundant and it’s starting to feel repetitive. Don’t get mad at me but I’m fed up with that. At least I found something positive about “One Last Breath”. Beside the obvious things (she is gorgeous and quite a good singer), she also finishes with a grand finale. It’s nothing compared to Albania but it’s still nice to hear.
Points: 3/10

Katja – The Schlager Queen
No, no, no, no. This is basically a rehash of “Rak bishvilo”! And I liked Moran’s song, considering how there was a diva keychange and some big ad libs, but this just leaves me totally cold. The last time Greeks sent a ballad, was in 2003 with Mando, only that this entry is far less powerful and far more lacklustre. Nope. Greece, next year I want my dose of bouzouki pop or something totally bonkers (your 2013 entry, for instance) back.
Points: 4/10

Anselm – The Alternative Guy
Oh, I keep forgetting Greece has an entry this year… this is what it is: a dated paint-by-numbers Eurovision ballad with all the necessary ingredients. It’s not bad per se but there’s absolutely nothing about it that would excite me or catch my attention. I don’t think it will struggle to qualify though.
Points: 2/10

Overall: 27 Points

Oh my, Greece definitely did not leave a good impression with our Panel. Highest score is a six so could this be Greece’s first non-qualification? What do you think? Let’s see the current ranking.

Do you think that the panel got this right?!? Share your thoughts below and join the convo on our Forum. See yah soon!

 
https://affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk/gp/associates/network/build-links/individual/get-html.html?ie=UTF8&asin=B00UZJLEOM&marketplace=amazon&quicklinks=1&subflow=sp_