Norway NORWAY 2021 - TIX - Fallen Angel

[escYOUnited]

​

What can I say?
I can't make her stay
When I know that she's so far above
How could she ever love someone like me
She's out of reach

Here in the dark inside the hole in my heart
I'm fighting all of my demons tryna tear me apart
And I'm still not sure what you ever saw in me

No, I'm a, I'm a fallen angel
And no matter where my heart is
There's no way I'll ever
Reach up to heaven
To you

She's so far out of this world
No way I could ever be with her
'Cause I know heaven's your home
That's where angels belong
And it wouldn't be fair
If I keep you down here

Here in the dark inside the hole in my heart
I'm fighting all of my demons tryna tear me apart
And I'm still not sure what you ever saw in me

No, I'm a, I'm a fallen angel
Tryna fly, but I'm not able
And I need you to know
That it's okay to let me go
'Cause no matter where my heart is
There's no way I'll ever
Reach up to heaven
To you

I'm a, I'm a fallen angel
Yeah I'm a, I'm a fallen angel
And I'm still not sure
What you ever saw in me

No, I'm a, I'm a fallen angel
Tryna fly, but I'm not able, so
Just let me go (I'm a, I'm a fallen angel)
'Cause no matter where my heart is
There's no way I'll ever
Reach up to heaven
To you​

 

[rasmuslights]

On the ESC level, I advocate for existence of a jury but with diminished weight - 1/3 or 1/4 of total points. Even when those people are professionals, there is only around 200 of them, in contrast with 200 million viewers. True, not all of the viewers vote, but the resulting power of a single jurymember is still too big in comparison. Or, to put it in another words, the audience is now much bigger in numbers and should be given more importance.

true but you have to look beyond that. Since the introduction of the juries the quality of the contest has massively improved, without them we would still have a contest full of joke entries. It may not seem moral, but it is the better choice, because there is no other way to make sure that quality acts win.

 

[HayashiM]

Back to the topic - I think Rein has delivered and is quite probably a contender. My ranking:

Absolute favourite, ESC classic, my soul is slain, send them already: KEiiNO

I enjoy the song and probably wouldn't be mad for too long if it won over KEiiNO: Raylee

I enjoy the song but please don't win over KEiiNO: Rein Alexander, Emmy, Blåsemafian, Jorn

I don't really care: TIX

I don't really care but I am super afraid you'll win: TIX's staging

I don't really care and I don't think you'll win: everyone else

 

[HayashiM]

true but you have to look beyond that. Since the introduction of the juries the quality of the contest has massively improved, without them we would still have a contest full of joke entries. It may not seem moral, but it is the better choice, because there is no other way to make sure that quality acts win.

I don't agree with that point and other similar arguments like the juries alleviating the blockvote, especially not once they failed to prevent Mordor the worst joke ever from winning 2018 anyway. Also I say I don't want to get completely rid of the juries, just don't give them so much power - but I feel like I have made this discussion way too many times here already so I'll just agree to disagree

Edit: btw, ideally all joke (by joke I mean joke, not 'sincere quality fun') entries would already get stopped by the juries in the nf, or by the broadcaster selecting internally. In which case there's little need to do that again on the ESC level.

 

[RainyWoods]

01. Maria Solheim - Nordlyset 10/10
02. Jorn - Faith Bloody Faith 9/10
03. KEiiNO - Monument 9/10
04. Kaja Rode - Feel Again 8/10
05. Big Daddy Karsten - Smile 8/10
06. RIVER - Coming Home 7/10
07. Ane.Fin - Walking in My Sleep 7/10
08. Beady Belle - Playing with Fire 7/10
09. Rein Alexander - Eyes Wide Open 6/10
10. Ketil Stokkan - My Life Is Ok 6/10
11. TuVeia - Bli med meg på gar'n 6/10
12. Daniel Owen - Psycho 6/10
13. Royane - Circus 5/10
14. Raylee - Hero 5/10
15. Stina Talling - Elevate 5/10
16. Landeveiens Helter - Alt det der 5/10
17. Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup - Pages 5/10
18. Ole Hartz - Vi er Norge 5/10
19. Emmy - Witch Woods 4/10
20. KiiM - My Lonely Voice 4/10
21. Blåsemafian feat. Hazel - Let Loose 4/10
22. TIX - Ut av mørket 4/10
23. IMERIKA - I Can't Escape 4/10
24. Atle Pettersen - World On Fire 3/10
25. Dinaye - Own Yourself 2/10
26. Stavangerkameratene - Barndomsgater 2/10



I think this year's selection is much better than 2020. Eight songs here that I actually have a good time with. Nordlyset remains my favourite. It's just a shame about the tacky staging and styling. It takes the song into fairy girl clutching crystals walking barefoot through forrest territory where it just doesn't need to go. You can literally smell the potpourri. Faith Bloody Faith remains awesome. Was very tempted to give it a 10/10. And Monument is still great. Guess I've got to place my hope here with KEiiNO unless Jorn can win that bloodbath that's going to be the second chance round. Whoever wins that actually I feel like will have a humongous boost in the final and could be a real contender.

 

[Mrm]

@RainyWoods

We don't agree this time, I want KiiM or TIX to take the trophy..

 

[GianlucaTomoe]

In a normal world, Kaja Rode, Raylee, Emmy or Blåsemafian ft. Hazel should landslide this selection, but it's the Eurovision-bubble, where no song outside of the stereotypes can win any selection, so we have to settle with KEiiNO, Crapexander or Shitx (who I prefer to the other two though).

 

[RainyWoods]

@RainyWoods

We don't agree this time, I want KiiM or TIX to take the trophy..

In fairness to KiiM, I think he's actually getting an unfair reaction from fans. You know, the same people that were all hot under the collar for Duncan Laurence. The song is pretty much Arcade 2.0 with a stronger vocalist. Dare I say I know why the reaction isn't as positive. I enjoyed neither song though. Both leave me cold.

 

[Sammy]

In a normal world, Kaja Rode, Raylee, Emmy or Blåsemafian ft. Hazel should landslide this selection, but it's the Eurovision-bubble, where no song outside of the stereotypes can win any selection, so we have to settle with KEiiNO, Crapexander or Shitx (who I prefer to the other two though).

What „stereotypes“ are you referring to? I mean the diversity of genres and songs is particularly big inside the Eurovision-bubble. I can see no stereotypic pattern when I compare winning songs like "Hard Rock Hallelujah", "Amor Pelos Dois", "1944", "Only Teardrops", "Toy" or "Rise like a Phoenix". And if you look at the Norwegian Eurovision bubble you have the same thing. Or where would a stereotypical pattern be between "Attention", "Fairy tale", "A monster like me", "Silent storm" "Grab the moment" or "Spirit in the sky".
I don't really get what you mean by "outside of the stereotypes", when there is no recognizable pattern which song wins.

If there was, you could tailor-made the winning song accordingly which has not been achieved so far. Even Sweden who is so desperately searching for the "winning formula" hasn't found it yet.

 

[Jacco]

Love this NF!

1. Witch Woods
2. Circus
3. I Can't Escape
4. Own Yourself
5. Hero
6. Let Loose
7. My Life is OK
8. Eyes Wide Open
9. Vi er Norge
10. Pages
11. Elevate
12. Coming Home
13. Feel Again
14. Faith Bloody Faith
15. Psycho
16. Smile
17. Monument
18. Playing with Fire
19. Nordlyset
20. My Lonely Voice
21. Walking In My Sleep
22. Alt det der
23. World on Fire
24. Ut Av Mørket
25. Barndomsgater
26. Bli med meg på gar'n

 

[njdevils94]

@Jacco You weren't feeling the Barnyard noises?

 

[A-lister]

true but you have to look beyond that. Since the introduction of the juries the quality of the contest has massively improved, without them we would still have a contest full of joke entries. It may not seem moral, but it is the better choice, because there is no other way to make sure that quality acts win.

We also see the juries mostly supporting safe dated radio Pop in English while the public are more open minded (and I don't mean joke entries now). The juries might have meant something initially, now they are actually just blocking good and interesting songs and kill songs with national flavor in favor of Melodifestivalen rejects, so i'm not sure what it's bringing to the contest tbh more than discouraging broadcasters from taking chances and staying true?

 

[RainyWoods]

Also, can we please talk about this man's glow up? He went from.... last year to silver fox of 2021. He looks so dashingly suave now clutching his walking stick, hat and gloves, and that little (hopefully fake) fur collar on his lovely jacket. What a gentleman.

I keep going back to Eyes Wide Open for the "let's put the politics aside" line. The way he sings it all sultry is the funniest moment of 2021 so far. This entry works as a whole so much better for me than One Last Time. Much more of a natural fit for Rein's theatre roots. It's already growing on me.

 

[Jacco]

@Jacco You weren't feeling the Barnyard noises?

Nope, not at all

 

[Neo]

Well that was quite an underwhelming song. Like already pointed out, somebody has surely been watching James Bond films. It's Ok, but nothing to threaten KEiiNO

That's seriously his entry? It's so silly and I can totally see a performance like

That's hilarious. A classic.

01. Maria Solheim - Nordlyset 10/10
02. Jorn - Faith Bloody Faith 9/10

Quite a diverse top two. For me it's Jorn and KEiiNO.

We also see the juries mostly supporting safe dated radio Pop in English while the public are more open minded (and I don't mean joke entries now). The juries might have meant something initially, now they are actually just blocking good and interesting songs and kill songs with national flavor in favor of Melodifestivalen rejects, so i'm not sure what it's bringing to the contest tbh more than discouraging broadcasters from taking chances and staying true?

Exactly this

 

[Mimmon]

Check out my team's review for Semi Final 5

 

[BorisBubbles]

What on EARTH is Rein Alexander thinking?

If you had told me "Eyes Wide Open" by Rein Alexander wasn't the real deal, but a parody of every bad Eurovision cliché I would have believe it instantly. Because seriously, this song is not good. In fact it is so bad that the first intuitive response that I had was to laugh out loud at how incredulously awful it is.

Honestly, I think it might be time somebody checked up on poor Jacques Houdek. Because like in a true horror story, I think he might have died and his soul (or whatever Negaverse equivalent there is of a 'soul'), after spending months aimlessly wandering around Europe for a bit of altar boy on the side, possessed the first vessel large enough to house all of its primeval evil (Rein).

The delusions of grandeur, the self-righteousness,the ABSURD triptych of upbeat Tom Jones Schlager chorus and grim bell-ringing verses straight from a Hotel Transylvania-inspired musical set to stern 'Listen To My TED-Talk On How To Improve The World' lyrics. I just can't. I just can't believe actual people listened to something so grotesque and thought it was a good idea when even its most BASIC structural components (rhythm, vibe, text) don't go together.

Then, the 'branding'. Any song having its own branding goes off like a car alarm of wrongness. If you need to dunk your entry in try-hard symbolism, all you're telegraphing is a complete lack of confidence in your song, your message, your concept. If your song is good, it will sell itself. Hell, even songs that are notably NOT good, but are still highly entertaining because of the gimmicks they come with, sell themselves. (and this list is inexaustive for Eurovision: Toy, both Roop entries, anything sent by Moldova in the past 15 years,...) Not a SINGLE song by my knowledge used a fucking LOGO to convince the critics of its goodness, Eurovision or otherwise.

(it's honestly the same reason why I have such an instinctive dislike for 'KiiM'. Anyone who styles their name like that must be fully aware of how fundamentally uninteresting they are, right? Irrespective of 'My lonely voice' being the waking embodiment of the word 'uglycry.')

But nope, Rein resorts to having a composite of Eye of Horus, the World Ash (Yggdrasil) AND an Ourobouros as his symbol for... reasons? To signify what, exactly? I would assume some dogshit combo of 'truth, longevity and eternity' but how about I get those ideas from listening to your song buddy, a song sung in a language I am supposed to fucking understand, instead of wasting my time looking at a contrived symbol whose very existence defecates on THREE different mythologies and trying to pick apart any sort of descernible meaning.

It's exactly the SAME sort of #PretentiousRubbish we saw when 'Equinox' revealed their song (the equally empty vessel 'Bones') at the 'start of the astronomical Equinox' blah blah BLAH, because heaven forbid we come up with any original ideas by ourselves. It's not music, it's the same sort of New Age neophyte NONSENSE used by tv astrologers - If you make it sound vague and ominous enough, if you create enough smoke to maintain an air of mystery, then the casuals and sheeple won't immediately find out how fucking full of shit you truly are.

This is not a song. It's not even a concept. It's a misconcept.

Personally, I have yet to decide whether I like it ironically or not. I can muster some -academic- appreciation for it if I can just point and laugh at how awful and contrived and stupid it is, with the caveat that others are in on the joke as well. 'My Friend' may be the biggest war crime to come out of the Balkans since the genocide but I can at least laugh at the hilarious duality of the drop-dead seriousness with which Houdek served his complete bullshit insincerity. It was a joke! I know it, you know it, we all laughed. It's an established fact *everyone except for Jacques* feels the same way we do, and that makes it possible to stomach.

Rein may follow a similar trajectory, but ONLY if he's in on the joke. Or if he takes a turn for something so incredulously absurd and popmous I can't not laugh at it and makes him a joke by proxy.

But if he seriously thinks *this* is a Meaningful And Good Attempt At Eurovision, then it's an arms race between him and 'KiiM' for the bottom of my ranking, in the bloodiest shade of red.

May the best KEiiNO win.

 

[Mimmon]

What on EARTH is Rein Alexander thinking?

If you had told me "Eyes Wide Open" by Rein Alexander wasn't the real deal, but a parody of every bad Eurovision cliché I would have believe it instantly. Because seriously, this song is not good. In fact it is so bad that the first intuitive response that I had was to laugh out loud at how incredulously awful it is.

Honestly, I think it might be time somebody checked up on poor Jacques Houdek. Because like in a true horror story, I think he might have died and his soul (or whatever Negaverse equivalent there is of a 'soul'), after spending month wandering aiming Europe for a bit of altar boy on the side, possessed the first vessel large enough to house it (Rein).

The delusions of grandeur, the self-righteousness,the ABSURD triptych of upbeat Tom Jones Schlager chorus and grim bell-ringing verses straight from a Hotel Transylvania-inspired musical set to stern 'Listen To My TED-Talk On How To Improve The World' lyrics. I just can't. I just can't believe nobody listened to something so grotesque and thought it was a good idea when even its most BASIC structural components (rhythm, vibe, text) don't go together.

Then, the 'branding' that this song received. Any song receiving its own branding goes off like a car alarm of wrongness. If you need to dunk your entry in try-hard symbolism, all you're telegraphing a complete lack of confidence in your song, your message, your concept. If your song is good, it will sell itself. Hell, even songs that are notably NOT good, but are still highly entertaining because of the gimmicks they come with, sell themselves. (and this list is inexaustive for Eurovision: Toy, both Roop entries, anything sent by Moldova in the past 15 years). Not a SINGLE song by my knowledge used a fucking LOGO to convince the critics of its goodness, Eurovision or otherwise.

(it's honestly the same reason why I have such an instinctive dislike for 'KiiM'. Anyone who styles their name like that must be fully aware of how fundamentally uninteresting they are, right? Irrespective of 'My lonely voice' being the waking embodiment of the word 'uglycry.')

But nope, Rein resorts to having a composite of Eye of Horus, the World Ash (Yggdrasil) AND an Ourobouros as his symbol for... reasons? So signify what exactly? I would assume some dogshit combo of 'truth, longevity and eternity' but how about I get those ideas from listening to your song buddy, a song sung in a language I am supposed to fucking understand, instead of wasting my time looking at a contrived symbol whose very existence defecates on THREE different mythologies and trying to pick apart any sort of descernible meaning.

It's exactly the SAME sort of #PretentiousRubbish of 'Equinox' revealing their song (the equally empty vessel 'Bones') at the start of the astronomical Equinox, because heaven forbid we come up with any original ideas by ourselves. It's not music, it's the same sort of tea-reading BULLSHIT used by tv astrologers - If you make it sound vague and ominous enough. If you create enough smoke to maintain an air of mystery, then the casuals and sheeple won't immediately find out how fucking full of shit you truly are.

This is not a song. It's not even a concept. It's a misconcept.

Personally, I have yet to decide whether I like it or not. I can muster some -academic- appreciation for it if I can just point and laugh at how awful and contrived and stupid it is, if others are in on the joke. 'My Friend' may be the biggest war crime to come out of the Balkans since the genocide but I can at least laugh at the hilarious duality of the drop-dead seriousness with which Houdek served his complete bullshit insincerity. That and the fact that it's an established fact *everyone except for Jacques* feels the same way I do.

Rein may follow a similar trajectory, but ONLY if he's in on the joke. Or if he takes a turn for something so incredulously absurd and pomous I can't not laugh at it and allows himself to become a joke, then too.

But if he seriously thinks *this* is a Meaningful And Good Attempt At Eurovision, then it's an arms race between him and 'KiiM' for the bottom of my ranking, in the bloodiest shade of red.

May the best KEiiNO win.

What a rant....

 

[NikolaiMoller]

The final is gonna be very strong imo can't wait for the show

My top 9:

VERY VERY GOOD
1. KEiiNO - "Monument"
2. Emmy - "Witch Woods"
3. Blåsemafian feat. Hazel - "Let Loose"
4. Raylee - "Hero"

I ENJOY THEM
5. Atle Pettersen - "World on Fire"
6. TIX - "Ut av mørket"
7. Kaja Rode - "Feel Again"

NOT FOR ME
8. KiiM - "My Lonely Voice"
9. Stavangerkameratene - "Who I Am"

 

[HayashiM]

What on EARTH is Rein Alexander thinking?

If you had told me "Eyes Wide Open" by Rein Alexander wasn't the real deal, but a parody of every bad Eurovision cliché I would have believe it instantly. Because seriously, this song is not good. In fact it is so bad that the first intuitive response that I had was to laugh out loud at how incredulously awful it is.

Honestly, I think it might be time somebody checked up on poor Jacques Houdek. Because like in a true horror story, I think he might have died and his soul (or whatever Negaverse equivalent there is of a 'soul'), after spending month wandering aiming Europe for a bit of altar boy on the side, possessed the first vessel large enough to house it (Rein).

The delusions of grandeur, the self-righteousness,the ABSURD triptych of upbeat Tom Jones Schlager chorus and grim bell-ringing verses straight from a Hotel Transylvania-inspired musical set to stern 'Listen To My TED-Talk On How To Improve The World' lyrics. I just can't. I just can't believe nobody listened to something so grotesque and thought it was a good idea when even its most BASIC structural components (rhythm, vibe, text) don't go together.

Then, the 'branding' that this song received. Any song receiving its own branding goes off like a car alarm of wrongness. If you need to dunk your entry in try-hard symbolism, all you're telegraphing a complete lack of confidence in your song, your message, your concept. If your song is good, it will sell itself. Hell, even songs that are notably NOT good, but are still highly entertaining because of the gimmicks they come with, sell themselves. (and this list is inexaustive for Eurovision: Toy, both Roop entries, anything sent by Moldova in the past 15 years). Not a SINGLE song by my knowledge used a fucking LOGO to convince the critics of its goodness, Eurovision or otherwise.

(it's honestly the same reason why I have such an instinctive dislike for 'KiiM'. Anyone who styles their name like that must be fully aware of how fundamentally uninteresting they are, right? Irrespective of 'My lonely voice' being the waking embodiment of the word 'uglycry.')

But nope, Rein resorts to having a composite of Eye of Horus, the World Ash (Yggdrasil) AND an Ourobouros as his symbol for... reasons? So signify what exactly? I would assume some dogshit combo of 'truth, longevity and eternity' but how about I get those ideas from listening to your song buddy, a song sung in a language I am supposed to fucking understand, instead of wasting my time looking at a contrived symbol whose very existence defecates on THREE different mythologies and trying to pick apart any sort of descernible meaning.

It's exactly the SAME sort of #PretentiousRubbish of 'Equinox' revealing their song (the equally empty vessel 'Bones') at the start of the astronomical Equinox, because heaven forbid we come up with any original ideas by ourselves. It's not music, it's the same sort of tea-reading BULLSHIT used by tv astrologers - If you make it sound vague and ominous enough. If you create enough smoke to maintain an air of mystery, then the casuals and sheeple won't immediately find out how fucking full of shit you truly are.

This is not a song. It's not even a concept. It's a misconcept.

Personally, I have yet to decide whether I like it or not. I can muster some -academic- appreciation for it if I can just point and laugh at how awful and contrived and stupid it is, if others are in on the joke. 'My Friend' may be the biggest war crime to come out of the Balkans since the genocide but I can at least laugh at the hilarious duality of the drop-dead seriousness with which Houdek served his complete bullshit insincerity. That and the fact that it's an established fact *everyone except for Jacques* feels the same way I do.

Rein may follow a similar trajectory, but ONLY if he's in on the joke. Or if he takes a turn for something so incredulously absurd and pomous I can't not laugh at it and allows himself to become a joke, then too.

But if he seriously thinks *this* is a Meaningful And Good Attempt At Eurovision, then it's an arms race between him and 'KiiM' for the bottom of my ranking, in the bloodiest shade of red.

May the best KEiiNO win.

I don't agree with your opinion at all - except for the conclusion - but man, do i enjoy the way you put it into words here

(The only thing I miss for the story to become perfect is Jacques Houdek turning the Eurovision trophy into one of his Horcruxes )

 

[BorisBubbles]

Come now, I think I've established Rein is the Horcrux.