Czech Republic CZECH REPUBLIC 2020 - Benny Cristo - Kemama

[escYOUnited]

 

[njdevils94]

I'm waiting to hear Benny Cristo's song but my favorites are Olga and Pam with Barbora as a strong 3rd. I think Karelll may have a shot at winning this. That chorus can easily get stuck in your head though.

 

[Etanna]

these songs are sooo much better than last year's! WAP's song is surprisingly good, I hope they will deliver live as well. Elis Mraz and Čis T's song is amazing, too. It's cracking me up that it's a Czech and Slovak song sung in English and Spanish. I must also commend the delegation for letting the artists do professional-looking videoclips for a change. It makes the songs that much better. And the origami idea is pretty cool, too. Overall, I'm very happy with this year's NF so far except for the messy organization.

 

[EscGeek]

I voted for Pam on my phone. We haven't heard such a killer dubstep chorus since Igranka. I think Pam knows my music taste better than I do. The georgian in her did this. She brought her A-game again, despite having a song that's completely different than from last year.

I also voted for Elis & Čis T on my tablet. It would be unfair if I ignored this. It's revolutionary for eurovision! The music video is fantastic! The song is fun af!. I always loved fast talking in czech entries. + She's saying na na na.

"Lie to me" is my 2nd favorite entry ever and it's in danger by both. (Nothing will ever beat "Aven Romale")
Another perspective: Blasted, Pam, Elis & Čis T and Raylee are my hottest favorites of the season so far.
I call this a tie, but on the other hand, Pam's "Get Up" has agresivness of Blasted, fast talking part just like Elis & Čis T and she's naming animals in the lyrics like Raylee.

I also love the song by "We All Poop" but it's a solid 3rd. They should rename the song to just "Blood"

 

[Mainshow]

Wow! After so many letdowns in terms of quality, I think thst this preselection is bloody brilliant! All songs sound contemporary and mesmerising.
I did vote for We All Poop because it's the most interesting one, in my opinion, and a song which could gather jury as well as Televoting points.

Dubstep's days are gone and Barbora had a better song last time (her new entry is good as well, though).

 

[Schlagerman1]

Here is my ranking with some quick thoughts:

1. Barbora Mochowa - I like this better than last year, it is very unique, Like Lana Del Rey meets space basically.
2. Benny Christo - A song that shouldn't work but it does for me. I really like the melody.
3. Pam Rabbit - A stronger song than last time, but still lacks something to work fully.
4. Elis Mraz & Cis T - Pretty catchy and fun song, but doesn't go far enough to get me vote for it.
5. We All Poop - A good song, but feels a little anonymous for me.
6. Karelll - Decent ballad.
7. Olga Lounova - Pretty boring and predicteble ballad.

With all these songs I feel that they are pretty good songs, but I have a hard time seeing any of them work in Rotterdam. Barbora may be my fave, but this is a really weird song that I am not so sure that the televoters will understand. But maybe the juries might, so she might be the best choice after all.

 

[Mainshow]

I voted for We All Poop. This is Top 10 material.

But seriously, all songs are a 7/10 or higher for me. What an incredible NF!

 

[Koori]

So Ben has the worst song...How predictable
Really hope that he's not gonna win because of the name...I mean come on, this is typical mish-mash with african motives, it's not gonna qualify at ESC
I'm still thinking on how to vote, cuz other songs are pretty nice

 

[Loindici]

My coins on the songs:

They're solid and professional (nothing sounded like a pure demo experience), can be said as sure tickets to the grand final. However, I also worry these will have a big chance of lopsided support (just like their former two entries).

"White and Black Holes" - This is a curse. How can you make an ambient entry that is this beautiful? It has progress, progress, and climaxed into a good ending. I'm voting or this one.
"Wanna Be Like" - probably going to hijack my parents' phone and vote for this one also. It's the most promising radio hit out of the two we have. It's fresh, tropical, flavorful, and of course, not the-midtempo-reggaeton-entry-that-has-a-buildup-to-a-dance-drop
"Get Up" - I adore this one. I love the amount of angst and directness of it. Plus, it's groovy, too. Although the 12/8 signature is not my favorite, it might work on the stage better than expected.
"Dark Water" - I feel it's solid, but not revolutionary in any means. The verses are better than the choruses, but the choruses is also an earworm on its own, so I won't cut its chances.
"Kemama" - It's really catchy and club-oriented (we can see the audience jumping with this one) but really risky and prone, like a two-edged sword -- it could do really-really well, or gets chopped down by the juries. I feel it's also trickier to stage this particular one, but this is Benny Cristo so he'll probably slide easily with it. I also have problem with how weak it's buildup is - I can't really notice a prominent chorus in it.
"At Least We've Tried" - This is decent, but it's easy to swallow inbetween the other finalists. I also don't really like Karelll's voice, kind of screechy at some point.
"All The Blood" - it sounds okay-ish? I expected coincidental punk pop to be more explosive than this, but this is also decent. The question is probably how will they stage this? I mean, you can't graphically show blood on the stage.

 

[RainyWoods]

Last year my vote went to Barbora because I wanted to give you what I thought would be your best chance. This year I think I'll be giving it to Barbora simply because I believe her song to be head and shoulders above almost all the others. I'm not enthralled for the entire 3 minutes as it's one of those floating in the middle of nowhere melodies I generally just don't particularly care for but the structure does change and those final 40 seconds are worth indulging the rest of the song to get to. I've got to compliment the music video as well. I adore that aesthetic. It's stunning!

I do appreciate Pam Rabbit's song too but unsure how much at this moment. I won't vote just yet just in case I switch. I really, really wanted her to go down more of an R&B route though this year with something like her song Try. I feel like we're still missing a bit of a trick with her.

The rest of the songs are mostly solid and I think could potentially do quite well at Eurovision, they are just far away from being my kind of thing. We All Poop have a cool direction with that horror themed music video (kept making me think of the game Evil Within) but the song.. ah I just don't think I particularly care for it. Elis Mraz & Cis T and Benny Christo both seem like solid choices but I don't like either song (both would be welcome additions to Eurovision though for the sake of variety). Olga Lounova's song is nice enough and could be a jury magnet (probably my third choice after Barbora and Pam) but it's very predictable for Eurovision. Karelll I think is the only hard no here. I don't actively dislike it, but it feels very much the weak link.

Overall a really strong NF, if lacking a bit for my own personal tastes, but that's ok. Not every NF can have seven Serhats. I love how Czechia have been doing their NFs and letting us all take part. That's so cool!

 

[Gera11]

Woah Pam Rabbit and Barbora delivered. "White & Black Holes" has a very mysterious vibe, nostalgic even. The music video is perfect. And the last 30 seconds or so, wow. Fab. As for "Get Up" it is right up my alley of chill. Reminds me a bit of BANKS.

Does anyone have a link for Benny? Can't find it anywhere.

Gosh I don't know who to vote for.

 

[HayashiM]

Woah Pam Rabbit and Barbora delivered. "White & Black Holes" has a very mysterious vibe, nostalgic even. The music video is perfect. And the last 30 seconds or so, wow. Fab. As for "Get Up" it is right up my alley of chill. Reminds me a bit of BANKS.

Does anyone have a link for Benny? Can't find it anywhere.

Gosh I don't know who to vote for.

Benny's song is only in the app for now, it's premiered here at 3PM.
I have same the problem as you with voting, I will have to wait for the unplugged versions. I'd immediately go for Barbora but I am a little worried whether she can sing those last 30 seconds live.

 

[Kaz]

If Elis Mraz wins then I think the Czech Republic might officially claim Moldova’s reputation as the “fun” entry every year, except unlike our dear Moldovan friends, the Czech songs stand alone much stronger.
Barbora’s song isn’t as impactful for me as True Colors, although that being said, B+WH creates a much more complex atmosphere and has great potential. I’m unsure if it’s suitable for an ESC audience however, and even I did get a little snoozy throughout the song.
Overall this is a really good NF. Good job Czechia!

 

[elanyvx]

 

[Mrm]

Ben Cristovao!!

 

[Mrm]

If Elis Mraz wins then I think the Czech Republic might officially claim Moldova’s reputation as the “fun” entry every year, except unlike our dear Moldovan friends, the Czech songs stand alone much stronger.
Barbora’s song isn’t as impactful for me as True Colors, although that being said, B+WH creates a much more complex atmosphere and has great potential. I’m unsure if it’s suitable for an ESC audience however, and even I did get a little snoozy throughout the song.
Overall this is a really good NF. Good job Czechia!

Without jury last year Czech republic will maybe stay in semis..

 

[HayashiM]

Without jury last year Czech republic will maybe stay in semis..

That's why it placed 5th in the semi's televote

 

[Mrm]

That's why it placed 5th in the semi's televote

Yes I know I wrote this in a hurry, this is a hectic esc day..sorry..

But in final it would fop HEAVILY with 100% televoting..

 

[HayashiM]

Yes I know I wrote this in a hurry, this is a hectic esc day..sorry..

But in final it would fop HEAVILY with 100% televoting..

No offence taken, you do have a point in a way. I understand it's not a perfect song, but I still partly blame the running order for the televote result in this case. Anyway, I've made my peace with those 7 points by now, it's time to look into the future. The year when we find the right winning formula must come, be it 2020 or 2050

 

[Alaska49]

so czech republic shows once again how it's done when you have little money. what is your excuse, insert half of europe here?

i am now glad lake malawi defeated barbora last year because white and black holes is even better than true colors and the word of jesus the christ on this earth and it must win. failing that, pam rabbit and benny cristo have delivered incredible uptempo songs that would easily take czech republic to their third consecutive final. we all poop band has delivered a good song but it's well behind the other three AND i wouldn't want czech republic to kind of repeat the branding of the act - leave that to cyprus. olga is delivering monika marija 2019 realness and would be a standout in weaker rosters but here she gets lost in her own dark water. elis mraz has a fine summer hit but it's never my sort of thing (though how can czech rep get a legit hit like this and the uk cannot?) and karelll is kind of boring and easily the worst of the seven but would still be fine i guess.

czech republic is likely to be one of the best countries in rotterdam this year and i hope they keep being rewarded for their effort - and one day they need to place better than they did with ickolas lol

 

[Mrm]

No offence taken, you do have a point in a way. I understand it's not a perfect song, but I still partly blame the running order for the televote result in this case. Anyway, I've made my peace with those 7 points by now, it's time to look into the future. The year when we find the right winning formula must come, be it 2020 or 2050

Well, I rally don't care for televoting and jury, I even think I usually prefer jury voting..
Tamara is my no1 of 2019!
But I wanted to point this out because of Kaz's statement..