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.
This Time Lithuania wants to qualify for the Finals. But let’s see if our so-called experts think it deserves it. Here we go
Katja – The Schlager Queen
Another duet, this time from Estonia’s Baltic brothers. There has been quite some controversy in the Lithuanian selection, one of the finalists even pulled out due to allegations of vote rigging. But I think, unlike last year, the end result is quite pleasant. It’s very happy and nice and it sounds like a sequel of last year’s Maltese entry, “Coming Home”. I think the running order doesn’t really work in its favour though, as we’re about to get entries, which are far more crowd pleasers than this one later on. May struggle to qualify, but a nice entry overall
Points: 7/10
Daniel – The Noob
Let me get this straight: My former rankings may have left the impression that I hate love songs but that’s not the case. Lithuania sends those two singers with a love song to Vienna and they do it properly. Thank you, Lithuania for showing how to do it right. It’s dynamic and it’s about cheerfulness not about a depressive person being lovelorn. What is great about these two singers is that they go very well together. You literally see they are fond of each other which creates a great atmosphere. However, they will have a rough ride in Vienna. All the best for them!
Points: 7/10
Arie – The Professional Musician
This Time – I like it! Does it have problems? Yes, but I’m willing to look away if you are. What is it that I’m looking away from? Over-repetition, cheesy lyrics, and a weak vocals from Monika. Thank goodness for Vaidas for saving the song! Sorry, I know I shouldn’t like this song as much as I do, and yes, it sounds like an anthem in a Pepsi commercial, but it makes me happy and want to dance.
Points: 8/10
Olivia – The Journalist
You could forgiven in mistaking the first few bars of this song for being that of Malta’s entry from last year. Except this is a big improving. Uplifting, feel good, and which definitely leave you with a smile. This song has a wonderful folk element to it. The vocals are tight and their voices are well matched. This is drastically better than
Lithuania’s previous, and dare I say, disasterous dance-electro-dub-step experiment. This will instantly appeal to families around Europe, and those in need of a happy clappy tune! If you’re wanting musical sophistication, this song is lacking. It’s simply too safe, predictable and based around a few chords. So I predict a low score from the jury. BUT it’s a song that will no doubt capture the popular imagination! And if the staging is creative and tenacious, this should certainly qualify!
Points: 8/10
Mike – The Smart One
As the only new Baltic nation not to win Eurovision since its independence from the Soviet Union it surely thought it had the winning formula this year. Take a very attractive and appealing young woman and man, give them a song about love, let them kiss on stage (and this fits in the lyrics) and give each other a tight hug at the end. Let the song be upbeat and coy with just enough flirtation with an appealing refrain, even if it is a bit banal. Give them tight harmonies and give them both a riff when the accompanying singers take over the refrain. Finals? Probably not. Trumped by both Estonia and Latvia once again.
Points: 7/10
Anselm – The Alternative Guy
Ah, yet another duet. The whole thing is way too cheesy and sugary for my liking but for some reason I don’t mind it thaaat much. I appreciate the folksy instrumentation and the song is definitely catchy as well. It’s obviously nothing special or innovative but it works really well on stage. Vaidas & Monika seem to have a great chemistry going on between them and manage to come across as very likable.
Points: 6/10
Overall: 43 Points
To some, this may be a surprising score but Lithuania appears to have something that our panel finds endearing so they’re now ending up with 43 points which is shared with 4 other countries already.
| “Expert” Panel Ranking |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Country | Act | Song | Points |
| 1. | Norway |
Mørland & Debrah Scarlett | A Monster Like Me | 49 |
| 2. | Australia |
Guy Sebastian |
Tonight Again | 47 |
| 3. | Estonia |
Elina Born & Stig Rästa | Goodbye To Yesterday | 44 |
| 4. | Sweden |
Måns Zelmerlöw | Heroes | 43 (9,9) |
| 5. | Hungary |
Boggie | Wars For Nothing | 43 (9,8,8,8) |
| 6. | Austria |
The Makemakes | I Am Yours | 43 (9,8,8) |
| 7. | Germany |
Ann Sophie | Black Smoke | 43 (9,8) |
| 8. | Lithuania |
Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila | This Time | 43 (8,8) |
| 9. | Italy |
Il Volo | Grande Amore | 41 (10) |
| 10. | Israel |
Nadav Gudej | Golden Boy | 41 (8) |
| 11. | Albania |
Elhaida Dani | I’m Alive | 40 (10,8) |
| 12. | Denmark |
Anti-Social Media | The Way You Are | 40 (10,7) |
| 13. | Serbia |
Bojana Stamenov | Beauty Never Lies | 40 (8,8) |
| 14. | Belgium |
Loïc Nottet |
Rhythm Inside | 38 (10) |
| 15. | Romania |
Voltaj | All Over Again | 38 (8) |
| 16. | Montenegro |
Knez | Adio | 37 |
| 17. | Iceland |
Maria Olafs | Unbroken | 36 (10) |
| 18. | Belarus |
Uzari & Maimuna | Time | 36 (8) |
| 19. | Russia |
Polina Gagarina | A Million Voices | 36 (7) |
| 20. | France | Lisa Angell | N’oubliez pas | 35 (9) |
| 21. | Portugal |
Leonor Andrade | Há um Mar que nos Separa | 35 (7,7) |
| 22. | The Netherlands | Trijntje Oosterhuis | Walk Along | 34 |
| 23. | Ireland |
Anti-Social Media | The Way You Are | 33 (9) |
| 24. | Czech Republic |
Marta Jandová & Václav Noid Bárta |
Hope Never Dies | 33 (7) |
| 25. | Armenia |
Genealogy | Face The Shadows | 32 |
| 26. | Poland |
Monika Kuszyńska | In The Name Of Love | 29 |
| 27. | Greece |
Maria-Elena Kyriakou | One Last Breath | 27 |
| 28. | Moldova |
Eduard Romanyuta | I Want Your Love | 26 |
| 29. | San Marino |
Anita Simoncini & Michele Perniola |
Chain of Lights | 23 |
| 30. | Finland |
PKN | Aina mun pitää | 21 |
Do you think that the panel got this right?!? Share your thoughts below and join the convo on our Forum. See yah soon!