Denmark DENMARK 2024 - Saba - Sand

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[jatojo]

This song tastes like a slice of plain bread.

I would say like sand cake. Very nice if there's a tasty glaze. Without it: extremely bland.

The out-of-tune moments may provide us with some entertainment though.

 

[cassio]

buuuuuuhaaaaaa we are in the wrong semi

 

[jatojo]

buuuuuuhaaaaaa we are in the wrong semi

True - it's as if semi 1 would be a breeze, but in semi 2 Denmark will have to knock out a couple of pre-favourites.

 

[ESC94]

I think I was a bit too generous to the song and just downgraded from to , it´s really bland radio pop in my opinion.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

I think it's a NQ. I'm just not seeing an audience for it

 

[ESC94]

I think it's a NQ. I'm just not seeing an audience for it

I read in the comments under the ESC kompakt songcheck about 2024 that the geographic proximity to NDR isn´t good for them.

 

[ESC94]

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

ESC-Songcheck kompakt 2024 (20) – Dänemark: „Sand“ von SABA - ESC kompakt

In diesem Jahr soll es endlich wieder mit dem ESC-Finaleinzug klappen: Dafür schickt Dänemark SABA mit ihrem Song „Sand“ über die Öresundbrücke nach Malmö. Sie setzte sich damit beim Da…

esc-kompakt.de

The verdict of the bloggers:

Benny - "Sand" is Vanilla radio pop and appears relatively uninspired. Additionally I think that SABA looks a bit inaccessible and the performances in the national final and especially at the Pre-Parties didn´t covince me. Will rather end up in the grey midfield at the ESC. Having said that: I don´t know why but meanwhile in my private life I really like listening to the song in the audio-only version. And since the personal opinion is asked here and not a prediction.

Ps: Please, please no sand painter!!

Berenike - Sadly I find "Sand" very boring. It lacks a melody. With Screaming and a few drums they try to improve the song, but it get worse with it instead of better. It always gives me the impulse to fast forward to the next song.

Douze Points - When everyone says that the German entry is radio pop par excellence, then "Sand" is in no way inferior -only that the sound sounds a bit more like 2024. A song about sand, that doesn´t happen often, but it works here. I´m afraid I have to see this as a guilty pleasure.

Flo - The Dansk Melodi Grand Prix didn't produce a big musical sensation in 2024, but it was definitely entertaining. SABA also contributed to this, as she rightly won with her likeable charisma and and appeared, despite her status as a newcomer, extremely confident. “Sand” has a good drive, the beat takes you straight away. A round number that is probably not enough for the big leap forward, but at least the longed-awaited finals should be possible again.

Manu - “Sand” was the best choice in the Danish preliminary round for me, so I was happy for SABA. Compared to the rest of the entries this year, the song falls down a lot for me. Heartless generic pop that you can listen to while passing by- but sorry, I can't give more than here.

Max - A lot of average in the semi-finals and very average what Denmark presents again. The country always walks the fine line between good mainstream pop and lack of imagination. “Sand” is not a bad entry at all, but it lacks that special something for me. As if it wasn't enough for Mello - but for Denmark. A pity.

Peter -Another grower and the best song from Denmark in several years. Strong is the musically trained voice of SABA , especially in the anthemic passages of this catchy pop hit. I also like that the text contains many personal elements that SABA can convey convincingly if the staging is right. The competition is strong, but a final place could narrowly be possible.

Rick - In fact, I really like “Sand” every time I hear it – although I often forget that the song is even there. So Denmark is once again sending a good mainstream song that sounds high quality and catchy, but doesn't really stick in your memory AND is also pretty bland. The corners and edges are missing to vote for, and it will certainly be difficult for SABA to reach the ESC final. Still, I really enjoy listening to the song when it's playing.

 

[Looren]

If this makes it to the final I think it'll get a good jury score, however I'm not very optimistic about it's semi televote already

 

[jatojo]

I'm not very optimistic about it's semi televote already

No :-( ... If you look at all the songs, Denmark does appear to be in a respectable middle position, but when you look at which other countries Denmark has to beat in the second semi to go through, you get the feeling it will be tough. At the moment my prediction is that people will perceive the live performance as slightly underwhelming, and that will prove fatal in this field of songs.

Denmark has made progress in the odds during the last weeks, but that mainly reflects the chances if the songs qualifies. If you take the average odds for semi final 2, Saba is currently 11th - meaning a NQ.

 

[jatojo]

I read in the comments under the ESC kompakt songcheck about 2024 that the geographic proximity to NDR isn´t good for them.

It's true that the German and the Danish songs are quite similar in genre and sound. And it's not a genre and sound that screams Eurovision top 10 at all.

 

[Laepo1]

If this makes it to the final I think it'll get a good jury score, however I'm not very optimistic about it's semi televote already

Why would you think that? She's is not that great live. No way she would get a good jury score.

 

[Looren]

Why would you think that? She's is not that great live. No way she would get a good jury score.

Dunno it just gives me that vibe of jury friendly song, well I guess we shall see if she manages to make it to the final (which I still don't really believe in )

 

[jatojo]

Dunno it just gives me that vibe of jury friendly song, well I guess we shall see if she manages to make it to the final (which I still don't really believe in )

And it did get a higher jury score than televote score in the national contest. It it wasn't for the juries, she wouldn't have won. Not sure the juries liked it because of her vocal performance - I think it was more because it was the most Eurovision-like song.

 

[DonHamstre]

I always have 1 song that I love every year and somehow almost nobody else seems to. This is the one this time!
Stuck in my head in a good way. And I don't really see why people complain about the sand when it's actually pretty decent lyrics compared to many others.

 

[0scar]

I'm still voting for this one in semi 2

 

[Romeo]

Johnny was the best choice

 

[jatojo]

Johnny was the best choice

I thought so too. And the televoters did the same. But the traditional Eurovision lovers went for the more Melfest-like entry.

 

[jatojo]

The first line sounds like a yellowhammer.

Yellowhammer Song

The Yellowhammer is fast becoming the forgotten sound of the countryside, with hedgerows disappearing daily and an extra bit of gorse taken out each year to ...

youtu.be

 

[jatojo]

The biggest gap in the odds is currently the one between Georgia and Denmark (68 vs. 38 %). That includes both semi-finals, and all the way from first place to last place. So even though Georgia (and Estonia) are only 10th and 9th in semi-final 2, SABA doesn't really threaten them.

I know - we haven't seen any of them on the stage in Malmö yet. But there has been several live performancen to assess, so the bookmakers know quite well how well the artists can be expected to do in the main show.

 

[Romeo]

I thought so too. And the televoters did the same. But the traditional Eurovision lovers went for the more Melfest-like entry.

It’s the age old debate… should the juries have the power or the people? But when it’s 100% televote we had complaints because only eastern countries did well… then 2023 can counter that argument/

There is never going to be a way to make everyone happy. So I will use my voice to protest here that the jury should not have been used but in Estonia only just should have been used. I’m fickle - I just want my favourites to win