Belgium BELGIUM 2020 - Hooverphonic - Release Me

[escYOUnited]

 

[Uto]

Lol.

Lara on Twitter

“loosely translated - Hooverphonic’s response to criticisms of their song”

twitter.com

It's a bit unfair if stuff is taken out of context. They are making two points here:

1. People who whine don't watch Eurovision and even if it's not Eurovision-y, a pearl for the swines is still a pearl and it will stand out.
2. Those whiners are wrong. Eurovision has changed considerably and quality gets rewarded.

Nothing wrong with those assessments, if a bit aloof.

 

[AliceEsc]

Oh no, here we go.

 

[Nemo89]

The last time I was so extremely captivated by a song was in March 5, 2017, when I woke in my bed, read the news about Portugal and listened to "Amar pelos dois" for the first time. I needed 10 seconds to warm up with that song but then I couldn't let it go.

This time, with the Belgian entry, the very first note already got me. I am not bound to be released and I don't want to. I submit myself to this song forever.

Do you submit to a song called "Release me"? It's an oxymoron! Aside from my joke, I'm happy to read messages like yours instead of acid messages

 

[Leydan]

lel. It would be prudent to take the criticism on the chin instead of standing high on a pedestal calling the critics outdated.

"in this circus of bad taste, there is room for a pearl". Jog on please.

you can't please everyone.

 

[Miloutchi]

It's a bit unfair if stuff is taken out of context. They are making two points here:

1. People who whine don't watch Eurovision and even if it's not Eurovision-y, a pearl for the swines is still a pearl and it will stand out.
2. Those whiners are wrong. Eurovision has changed considerably and quality gets rewarded.

Nothing wrong with those assessments, if a bit aloof.

You have a point here and I usually don't mind someone standing up for what they believe in, but they could have chosen their words a bit better. They say Eurovision has changed and that quality gets rewarded, but at the same time they call it circus of bad taste. Which one is it? And to dismiss criticism based on the fact that people are stuck in the past, comes across as quite arrogant (also calling your own song a pearl). What is wrong with saying: look we disagree with the criticism, because we want to offer a different taste - one that is usually not found at Eurovision. We believe that Eurovision is ready for a quality song like ours.

I agree with what they say and I don't know if they said it exactly like that though, so I don't mind that much, but I can see why people would fall over this. I like it that they kept their authenticity though. People who complain about that should listen to France's song and tell me what they like better.

 

[RevNet]

THE GOOD:
-Everything here just fits, really.
-I also like the "James Bond theme" vibe that this song has.

THE BAD:
-It's a bit boring, but this is minor.

THE VERDICT:
Wasn't this group literally the first thing announced for this contest months ago? Well, safe to say that this song was worth the wait. The song is very well executed, which I feel like you need to do if you're going for this type of song. Sometimes the notes don't need to be belted out, and this song is a good example of such. I'll admit that this is not the most exciting entry ever, but it's a very good song nonetheless. 10 points

 

[Leydan]

You have a point here and I usually don't mind someone standing up for what they believe in, but they could have chosen their words a bit better. They say Eurovision has changed and that quality gets rewarded, but at the same time they call it circus of bad taste. Which one is it? And to dismiss criticism based on the fact that people are stuck in the past, comes across as quite arrogant. What is wrong with saying: look we disagree with the criticism, because we want to offer a different taste - one that is usually not found at Eurovision. We believe that Eurovision is ready for a quality song like ours.

I agree with what they say and I don't know if they said it exactly like that though, so I don't mind that much, but I can see why people would fall over this. I like it that they kept their authenticity though. People who complain about that should listen to France's song and tell me what they like better.

I think this probably puts it perfectly, and really in parts of it they're accurate and 100% right but the execution (as seen in the translation) is not way the to go about it, and some other comments well I don't blame people if they're offended by them. I was never a fan of Salvador but I think he truly alienated a lot of his fans with his comments after he won. A but of humility can go a long way. I think the same applies here. Although there is every chance the translation isn't quite accurate or portraying their intent correctly.

 

[Mrm]

@hunty73

I do prefer these "Release me"s!

 

[hunty73]

@Mrm me too.Belgium's entry is a terrible contest song.If i was being strangled while listening to it id be hoping my death came before the 3 minutes was up.I dont see how they can make this interesting even with amazing staging.

 

[Ana Raquel]

how to drop to zero in a day huh

if circus was bad britney spears wouldnt have released an album called circus

 

[BorisBubbles]

lel. It would be prudent to take the criticism on the chin instead of standing high on a pedestal calling the critics outdated.

"in this circus of bad taste, there is room for a pearl". Jog on please.

you can't please everyone.

Alex Callier, meet Ashley Wright
Ashley Wright, meet Alex Callier.

Alex has a high opinion of himself and his music. That's why a certain amount of people have responded negatively. It has little to do with the song, but with their distaste for his personality.

And of course he reponds to that, etc, before you know it you are sucked into the ourobouros of toxicity.

 

[grazy2266]

I'm afraid I'm slightly disappointed with the song,maybe it will grow on me.

 

[Uto]

And of course he reponds to that, etc, before you know it you are sucked into the ourobouros of toxicity.

Using ourobouros as a figurative word like that. I've never seen it before but it's brilliant.

 

[Zonne147]

No personal strong effect from the song on me for sure, despite the fact that I slightly appreciate the instrumentation, its pleasant vibe and her voice, not anything else tbh.

I need a few more listens but my first impression was not really good... The melody is not strong enough for me. The sudden transition is intriguing in a bad way - the end needed more power imo too...

Sadly is in the best semi, so I don't think its chances of qualifying are high atm... This will have some fans but I'm sure it's not appealing enough to easily make it... hope I'm wrong but in the last 2 years I wasn't... I'm afraid this will get lost

Hope the live can save this from my "low" mark... points but I think this will grow on me...

 

[Sammy]

Finally I had time to listen to it. I kinda like it, it's not a winning song for me and it doesn't have the "Calm after the storm"-vibes but it's a good entry. At the moment I'll give it a

 

[Ezio]

I am not gonna worry about this song because Hooverphonic are pros, unlike Paenda who killed herself onstage due to her nerves with her equally bold and beautiful Limits.

I am bit pissed about the mediocre scores though. Everything this year has been so meh so far and then people can't truly appreciate the Belgian song? C'mon.

 

[Realest]

This is such a strange comment to make since most of us seem to award the song 6 to 10 points which I would describe as average to positive reviews but a hype?
It will definitely find its fans but it doesn't scream #1, Fanwank or OGAE favourite to me.

Most Votes are a 12. There is your Hype. Its already the 3rd Year in a Row where gets imo questionable good Scores.I guess I have again to wait 3 long Months until Justice happens.

 

[Uto]

I am not gonna worry about this song because Hooverphonic are pros, unlike Paenda who killed herself onstage due to her nerves with her equally bold and beautiful Limits.

I am bit pissed about the mediocre scores though. Everything this year has been so meh so far and then people can't truly appreciate the Belgian song? C'mon.

People are on the fence. It's clear that the craftsmanship here is not in doubt, but where is the impact? When I listen to this I feel nothing. This is Eurovision, you have 3 minutes to blow me away and make me vote for you. Not 3 minutes to prove that you are a decent band worth a listen some time. Staging can completely solve this however.

 

[QwaarJet]

8 points. Finally some real quality in this contest. Only Italy is ahead of it right now.

What did people expect? It's Hooverphonic. The songs they make are hardly energetic. I'm so glad they didn't give in and do something specifically for Eurovision.

 

[Ezio]

Most Votes are a 12. There is your Hype. Its already the 3rd Year in a Row where gets imo questionable good Scores.I guess I have again to wait 3 long Months until Justice happens.

2018, Belgium was a fan favourite that performed a ship wreck in the notorious semifinal of death. Sennek looked like a Ghost and did not deliver a compelling performance, but there was nothing questionable related to the voting here.

2019, they came up with pop song with a contemporary feel, but a very young performaner and a very incompetent staging. The songs was reasonably nice but only garned 14.1%

I would not consider 16% of 12 points a "hype" at all, nor questionable. Songs that did really poorly in the contest received higher ratings.

My stance is that Release Me has a very high chance this year, because it has an out-of-the-Eurovision-box appeal that Eurofans don't get but casual viewers and listeners will. I called Calm After The Storm the favourite to win in 2014 when the bookies didn't even give them a chance to qualify. It does not follow melodic patterns and chords which makes it interesting, but it is not off-putting like Portugal 2019 or disconnecting like Austria 2019.

My bet is on Belgium right now, and besides that, neighbour wins are the best in Eurovision anyway.