Belgium BELGIUM 2024 - Mustii - Before The Party's Over

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[Etanna]

The London performance gave me Belgium 2019 flashbacks I hope it was due to some external influence (alcohol?), because I love this song and I'd like it to do well

 

[MopManMoss]

The London performance gave me Belgium 2019 flashbacks I hope it was due to some external influence (alcohol?), because I love this song and I'd like it to do well

He told wiwibloggs in an interview on Sunday afternoon that he had one hour sleep between Barcelona pre party and London and that he was only alive to red bull

Hopefully it's just that although for the most part pre parties have been lackluster for him

 

[ESC94]

Today it was time for at the ESC kompakt songchecks 2024.

ESC-Songcheck kompakt 2024 (24) – Belgien: „Before The Party’s Over” von Mustii - ESC kompakt

Er war der erste Act, der für den diesjährigen Eurovision Song Contest offiziell feststand: Multitalent Mustii aus Belgien. Nachdem der Nation beim letzten ESC in Liverpool mit Gustaph ein Überrasc…

esc-kompakt.de

The verdict of the bloggers:

Benny - It's very conventional for two minutes, but when you're already worried that the song will end nowhere, then comes the bombastic finale. And this is where Mustii really grabs me. Good concept! But: Everything really has to work live, vocally and stage-wise.

Berenike - I don't really warm to the song and find it quite boring. The choir is far too overshadowed by the instruments. And I don't find the melody particularly exciting. Only drags on three minutes for me.

Douze Points - I would like to like the song a lot more. It doesn't hurt, it's somehow modern and in the end it's a bit forward. Overall, it's more of a soundtrack than an eye-catching ESC contribution. Nice.

Florian - A very powerful and energetic track. Especially in this eidition, I like the slightly more mystical, darker note that Mustii brings here. It takes a while for “Before The Party’s Over” to really get going, but the build up to then is coherent and well arranged. But I don't get a real "wow moment"; that would perhaps require more depth, but that could still come from the live performance.

Manu - My personal “Actually… but” contribution this year: I like the rolled out sound tapestry of the song and the sound of Mustii’s voice. “Before The Party’s Over” is well written, cleanly produced and the build-up strolls pleasantly towards the dramatic. But it's a shame that at the musically very good climax only the song name is repeated. The music video may be aesthetic, but it doesn't add any value to me; Also, “Before The Party’s Over” doesn’t affect me emotionally. So for me, despite a good song, potential remains wasted.

Max -Yes, as is well known, the song takes a long time to finally get out of the quark, and the last third is terrific. The voice and song fit like a glove here. But will the “good part” come too late and perhaps not be able to capture the audience again at the end? We will see…

Peter - “Before the Party’s Over” picks up pace relatively defensively. The introduction to the magical chorus is actually too long for an ESC song blockbuster, but Mustii has a strong charisma and strong voice, so this instant appeal “handicap” may not be convincing. More drive would certainly have been desirable, but are still appropriate for the intensity of the performance and vocal power.

Rick - Belgium's entry stands out due to its unusual structure, but at the same time the (initially) indefinable style of the number also makes it difficult for me to find a direct approach. Of course the finale of the song is great, but I think it's a shame that this convincing part comes so late. But Mustii himself is a really interesting artist and I think he has a vision for the ESC staging of the song.

 

[rasmuslights]

He told wiwibloggs in an interview on Sunday afternoon that he had one hour sleep between Barcelona pre party and London and that he was only alive to red bull

Hopefully it's just that although for the most part pre parties have been lackluster for him

He'll do a performance on the voice belgium soon, so we'll judge that.

 

[gingerale]

He'll do a performance on the voice belgium soon, so we'll judge that.

Juding on that performance I can't see the impact I was hoping for. The studio version gets me emotional but his live performances so far didn't.

 

[BorisBubbles]

Juding on that performance I can't see the impact I was hoping for. The studio version gets me emotional but his live performances so far didn't.

I was always a huge sceptic of the song, so take my comment with a grain of salt, but... the song doesn't work.

It's hard to pinpoint how and why, but my hypothesis a combination of slow build up, mediocre end and the lyrics - they're sung with full clarity and unfortunately that exposes that they're kind of... nebulous, if not outright nonsensical.

ARE YOU STILL PLAYING THE GAAAAAAAAAAAME OR BREAKING THE RUUUUULES?!

like what does this mean? (other than that Mustii's parties end like my boardgame nights do, after I've won at Risk).

And because the song complicates matters by not being transparent in its intent, the EPICNESS that Mustii tries to accomplish doesn't feel earned. He's confident, but I think he's too confident.

I GOT A SOUL ON FIRE
I'M GONNA MAKE MOVES TONIGHT.
I GOT A SOUL ON FIRE
I'M GONNA MAKE MOVES TONIGHT.
I GOT A SOUL ON FIRE
I'M GONNA MAKE MOVES TONIGHT.

I, I, I, ME, ME, MEEEEE. Too many sentences in the first person singular. It comes across as vainglorious. Which is a HORRIBLE vibe to channel if you want to appear likeable for strangers.

Also um, Unfortunate Singing Face.

But judge for yourself:

If you like this performance, feel free to vote for Belgium in the semi on 9 May. We will absolutely need every vote we can get. But Mustii wouldn't do bad for himself if he injected a bit of humility into his body language.

 

[BorisBubbles]

Additionally, I've also been told by people that interviewed Mustii that he's overworking himself, barely sleeping, constantly singing and performing, without much rest. He needs to be careful. There's a non-zero chance he's going to flame himself out of the competition exactly like his song predicts he would.

 

[Jupiter]

The lyrics aren't an issue at all IMO, they're actually among my fave english lyrics this year. I haven't read a single Interview, but to me the song is about the tendency most people have to hide they're pain (or any negative emotion) behind a fun facade, party to hide your sadness, feeling like you have no time to contemplate and have to act fast etc. "Are you still playing the game, or breaking the rules" = playing along and pretending you're fine when you're not, or admitting what you actual feel. Just my personal Interpretation ofc tho.
And I loooove the "I can see all the pain in the way that you move" & "I got a soul on fire" parts =D

The live tho... it's not working in that form for me either. In the recording, there is a certain control, calmness, something comanding in Mustiis voice in the first 2 minutes. It's missing live. Instead he sounds more nasal and... Kind of weak-ish. And he's not over-performing the beginning as much here, but it somehow still doesn't fit. The mystery isn't there. I don't think it's too arrogant... it's the wrong kind of arrogante. Needs more Regal, less kinda smug.

Probably a weird take for some, but I think this song would be much better with background dancers. It's a Party. Pain in the way you move, yadda yadda. Like obviously very calm & slow dancing at the start, but still... something like the dancers standing still and only moving like a mirror image of Mustii when he's facing them or something. This has great staging potential IMO, and I hope they still make that work. Otherwise it would be a shame

 

[Realest]

So he finally lost his Status as potential Jury-Winner?

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

The song isn't bad, but I don't enjoy watching him perform. It's all a bit too try hard and cringey.

 

[jatojo]

The ending is simply epic.

Yeah, but after several listens, I still can't remember what comes before that.

 

[Looren]

I'm getting kind of worried here, his performance in The Voice Belgium was not bad per se but I expected way more, let's hope he can fix this in ESC

 

[njdevils94]

Mustii shirtless for his Europop.

 

[Biste]

Mustii shirtless for his Europop.

Looks like a stripper with those golden shorts.

 

[Stankaaa8]

This song has a great moody atmosphere, however it takes a bit too long for the song to develop, but when it does it really hits nicely. However the live performance is sadly not ideal, but I would still rate it as

 

[Rocket man]

The staging looks VERY cool, classy but modern at the same time. I disagree with the comments about Mustii stage presence, I think he sells the song really well on stage and gives a lot of passion and energy.

 

[Seregil Korit]

The song is really quite a non event that picks up way too late.. I was hoping for an eye-catching performance but whatever charisma and edge the video had, this doesn't seem to have, judging from the pictures at least. I would be worried.

 

[Lumina]

12 points. Awesome! One of my favourites this year. I agree the last part is the one that justifies the 12 points because it’s INSANE but the rest of the song isn’t bad either.

 

[Milos-BC]

Not one of Mustii's best songs but I do like it. I hope the live performance will be more convincing.

6 points.

 

[Shadowfuxcs]

Semi 2 will have a least a shock NQ and at this point it seems to be Belgium. Unfortunately he doesn't have the range to do runs and adlibs so the final minute will sound repetitive as there is but a single lyric.