Montesong 2024: ESC United Reviews Part 2 of 2

All opinions expressed in this article are those of the person quoted and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the other team members or ESC United as a whole.

September 1 marks the beginning of the Eurovision season, but the rubber really hits the road when the first national selection rolls around.

And this year, we have Montenegro’s Montesong 2024 to thank for the honor of first of the season selection, and we here at ESC United thought we’d give our own thoughts to the 16 entries vying to represent the Balkan nation at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

16 acts are duking it out at the Voco Hotel in Podgorica, Montenegro on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, and five ESC United writers and editors have given us their thoughts.

From Belgium, we have resident curmudgeon who’s really a sweetheart, Boris Meersman. From Romania by way of Denmark, we have resident curmudgeon who’s definitely a curmudgeon, David Popescu. Giving us the regional perspective the other four can’t, we have Croatia’s Jasmin Prišć. And from the United States, we have newly minted curmudgeon Sam Siegal and ESC United’s dodgy uncle James Maude.

In order of appearance at tonight’s national selection, here are our thoughts, such as they are, on the second batch of 8 of the 16 entries for Montesong 2024.

Nina Žižić – “Dobrodošli”

Boris – 6 – “I still respect Nina. “Igranka” was the best Montenegrin entry of all times and is one of the most robbed non-qualifiers ever. Nina swanning around in a visor with more personality than a double-decker of Swifties combined was a huge part of that. But we also have to contend with Darko Dimitrov, a man who has made a living out of channelling his pathological aversion to fun into decrepit anti-bangers. The result is an empty vessel of a song where Nina could perhaps do fun Nina Things, leading into Montenegro potentially scraping together a strong 27th place on my 2025 ranking.”

David – 4 – “Much can happen in 12 years’ time, lovely to hear Nina being capable of delivering a strong vocal performance. Emotions are well in play here, both vocally and musically, which is even felt with the heartbeat intro, a great example where music is a universal language. Despite all my praise, this is not music that I would normally listen to.”

James – 6.5 – “All sturm but little drang. Great atmosphere, even if the bass veers a little too uncomfortably into the brown note, with a few fantastic vocal moments. It’s like listening to an argument between a couple who are professional orators go back and forth with grand language to only find out they’re arguing about what setting of the dishwasher the husband put on before leaving the house. It’s missing something to tie the excellent parts together.”

Jasmin – 9 – “I’m in love with the spooky vibes this song is giving me. It’s not only intriguing but also sensual and emotional at the same time. It has a potential to be grand on stage. Nina sings great as well. Overall, my favorite of this selection! Great job!”

Sam – 5.5 – “It’s pretty but a tad forgettable. If sung and staged well the live performance could really sell it – the drama needs to be played up to the max. Vocals in the studio version sound promising. This is the other song I could see maybe, if the stars align, being a shock qualifier at ESC.”

Total: 31 points (Average = 6.2)

Neonoen – “Clickbait”

Boris – 5 – “I am already SO looking forward to James trying and failing to make sense of this ♥ “Clickbait” rhymes itself with “Responding to hate” and “gay or straight” and that’s all I need to know. I would consider looking up the lyrics to see whether we’re dealing with Kastro Zizo nonsense or Alabama Watchdog nonsense, but do I really? It’s still nonsense anyway. There’s a chance NeonoeN will attempt to ham up their shenanigans to make their stupid song work work even a bit. That’s what I’m looking forward to. Fortunately, I doubt Neonoen are witty enough to meme they way into winning Montesong and that’s amazing because a “Clickbait” win would grow stale within SECONDS even with the best possible humorous effort.”

David – 4 – “Just a feeling, but I think, I would HATE this song, if it was in English. I can hear there are a few words in English, so I’m getting an idea what this might be about. Thankfully, I don’t, so it keeps its charm that way. Music however, is actually quite awesome. Just don’t ever let me know, what the song is about.”

James – 5 – “With both the band and song names promising an incompetent and lame novelty song that serial defilers of taste like ESC Gabe and Roy Postema would promote on their social media endlessly, “Clickbait” is ultimately a disappointment. It’s not interesting enough to grab your attention, but also too competent and professional. I guess in that sense “Clickbait” works: it hints at setting a dog turd on fire, but you end up with an art house group noodling about in a Podgorica coffee shop. With no obvious hook and a budget the cost of whatever a Montenegrin version of a flat white is, this is doomed.”

Jasmin – 4 – “Unconventional and different but not for the masses even though we had some unique entries in the past that caught the attention of many people. Not into the lyrics of the song either… Yep, not for me. Appreciate the stronger instrumental by the end of the song and points for originality I guess.”

Sam – 2 – “I stand by my belief that Eurovision needs its wacky, out-there entries. Unfortunately, “CLICKBAIT” is somehow too gimmicky for Montesong and not bold or interesting enough to be a gimmicky Eurovision entry. It falls flat on every level. Next.”

Total: 20 points (Average = 4.0)

Isak Šabanović – “Ljeto, ljeto, ljeto”

Boris – 7 – “A Montenegrin take on the Viktor Apostolovski style Dorky Beta Male. Sure, I am into that. Isak calls his love interest his summer, summer, summer over the daddiest of dad rock tracks and it’s lame in the just right doses for it to be more authentic than cringe. I think it has base charm. But it’s not a winner.”

David – 3 – “Bro is just throwing himself out there with this song, and I can’t hate on that. The song has some catchiness to it, of course it’s a bit dated overall, perhaps a bit awkward even, but it sounds like Isak is giving it all he got, and you gotta respect that, at least for what it is. Respectable, but not a banger… or anything close to that.”

James – 4 – “Do better, cheese farmer!”

Jasmin – 8 – “Isak has a rich vocal and a song like this requires a strong vocal delivery. The chorus is catchy and even non-native speakers will find themselves singing or at least humming ljeto, ljeto, ljeto … overall, I am positively surprised. I didn’t expect to like the song at first, but by the end I got into it. Looking forward to the live performance.”

Sam – 3 – “Leto svet! Leto leto svet! Bold of Isak to think the world has forgotten Estonia’s 2008 banger. This discount version isn’t fooling anyone, Isak. Could be fun live in any case.“

Total: 25 points (Average = 5.0)

Glumci Bend – “San”

Boris – 6 – “One of those ‘Falls Just Short’ experiences. “San” builds up drama very quickly, retains the tension during the chorus, has a VERY cool bridge where everyone is talking over one another and then just… ends without closure. It’s a shame. Acceptable FiK Filler is the finale verdict, then”

David – 1 – “I wish to point out the great problem first, which is the vocals. It sounds like too many are trying to sing over each other, with contradicting vocal reach, which takes my focus away from the song. Overall, it becomes very loud, without anything pleasantly to remember from the song. Arrangement really needs something else here.”

James – 4 – “Cacophonous vocals ruin what might have been a competent symphonic rock entry.”

Jasmin – 6.5 – “Six vocalists for a song like this is unnecessary in my opinion, especially because their voices don’t really blend perfectly. This style of music is very represented in my playlists but somehow I’m not feeling this one because of the vocal clashes which I hear… anyways, it stands out and some people will surely pick up the phone for it. I hope for a dark and cool staging.”

Sam – 4.5 – “Yet another 80s synth. This time to production overpowers the vocals, which are weak to begin with. Still one of the more compelling entries overall.”

Total: 22 points (Average = 4.4)

Dolce Hera – “Repeat”

Boris – 6.5 – “You’ve got to hand Dolce Hera some credit for actively trying to recite EVERY word in the Montenegrin lexicon that rhymes with “Repeat” (pronounced: “ribbit”). This against a HIGHLY aggressive trumpet that tries to outnoise her. Fortunately, the verses are calm and soothing, and balance out the silly shenanigans of the chorus just enough for me to enjoy it.”

David – 2 – “When you think you’re about to get some smooth jazz, which then get’s a sprinkle of pop. Interesting combination, but does it work? It’s two very contrasting genres we’re dealing with, and it is felt that, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The singing however, very dull and questionable performed.”

James – 7 – “No way in hell this jazzy pop number with a slick brass solo makes it out of Montesong, but this is what your national selections are for – a Quality Street collection tin on bon bons to showcase the range of what your country offers. This will be the coffee crème for most people’s taste, though.”

Jasmin – 4.5 – “This song sounds a bit too experimental for my taste. I am not a fan of laid-back songs with the mid-tempo beat. Jazzy vibes are a refreshment in the NF line-up but this style is not for me. Spoken singing style doesn’t help either. Good for diversity, but far from my favorites.”

Sam – 5 – “It’s one of the catchiest songs in the contest, and a pretty cohesive song compared to some of the others. It reminds me of something I would have heard playing in a Starbucks in 2002, which is a nice nostalgia factor for me, but others may feel differently.”

Total: 25 points (Average = 5.0)

Baryak – “Dva srca”

Boris – 9 – “Baryak have what will probably become one of the more intriguing songs in the season. In what is otherwise a miscellaneous medley of Balkan NF Filler entries, “Dva srca” stand out with its unique sound and build-up: It starts as ethereal pop and then seamlessly transitions into softrock. The crisp combinations between the male and female vocals keep it fresh and retain my interest. It’s a sound you very rarely hear unless you actively search for it, and that makes me favour it.”

David – 2 – “Errrrrm… okay? It is very loud and… yeeea? I don’t know, there nothing here for me. The song comes out empty, I just don’t know what to expect nor what I’m really listening to. There was an effort, so that’s something, right?”

James – 6 – “Works better as a three minute lead into a seven minute song than as a self-contained piece. It’s too stop and start, and feels like something that would get going five minutes in and not in the three minutes allotted. Eurovision needs barnstormers, not slow burners.”

Jasmin – 8.5 – “For sure, I’m intrigued by what they will do on stage. The song seems intense and elements of atmospheric rock and hints of ethno go great together. This has a great potential, I enjoyed it a lot.”

Baryak – 3.5 – “Overall, the song is fairly boring and plodding, although a step up from Stop War. The live performance could really elevate it – the last 30 seconds could lend themselves to some epic staging.”

Total: 29 points (Average = 5.8)

Verica Čuljković – “Čuješ li”

Boris – 4 – “Just another ballad we can chuck on the “exists and doesn’t offend” pile with a mild shrug.”

David – 2 – “I was quite intrigued in the start, but eventually, I started to care less and less. I was feeling for something deep and more dramatic, but instead, it became more closer to a ballad. Lovely voice, but everything else, just lost me.”

James – 5 – “For those worried that this selection, which has been above average thus far, would be FiK-Lite, then well, this is the entry to justify it. Not an interesting composition.”

Jasmin – 6.5 – “Another heartfelt piano carried ballad with a decent vocalist. The song has unusually long intro of 30 seconds which I didn’t expect. The arrangement is nice and the build-up is well done. I’m curious about the staging and the live performance. I am not completely sold on the vocal, but it’s good.”

Sam – 5 – “I have a soft spot for this entry. This is a better version of “To ljubav je “- a pretty melody elevated by strong vocals and pacing that builds a sense of drama. In no universe would this make it out of a Eurovision semi-final, but it could turn out a decent live performance.”

Total: 22.5 points (Average = 4.5)

Milena Vučić – “Škorpija”

Boris – 7.5 – “One of the better FiK-like filler songs in Montesong. Milena is having the Kaliopi time of her life and I’m (moderately) into it. ‘Wine mom belting about her scorpion’s sting over the lamest 90s rock riffs (ft. the world’s most mute guitar solo)’ isn’t really an ESC archetype, and perhaps it should be.”

David – 7 – “Okay, who doesn’t like a badass woman?! This screams badass! It’s up there, but not quite. What I enjoy about the song, is how it catches you immediately and then the song doesn’t let you go. Just like a scorpion, the song just stings next to your ear, and it is definitely felt. Vocal is great and fits really well.”

James – 9 – “This is “Hit me with your best shot” for the Balkan set, I suppose. It’s stupid in the way rockers with female protagonists who use animal metaphors usually are, and that’s fine. Eurovision should have more daft and liberating female songs, especially if they go down well with copious amounts of pinot grigio.”

Jasmin – 7 – “The beginning of the song catches one’s attention for sure. However, I don’t see the connection between that intro and the rest of the song. I expect to see a dance break before the final chorus which makes me believe there could be dancers in the live performance. The song is catchy but requires a strong live performance.”

Sam – 5 – “Of course we end on the 80s banger to end them all. I’d believe it if someone told me this song was originally composed in 1988. I’m kind of into it, but it needs more oomph. This is one of the songs that could benefit most from a revamp to reach its full potential. It’s also the most Eurovisiony-sounding song in the contest, for whatever that’s worth.”

Total: 35.5 points (Average = 7.1)

And after two review articles, who do we think should represent Montenegro at Eurovision?