Heat 1 of A Dal 2013 (Hungary)

So as I watch A Dal 2013 and Melodifestivalen 2013, I can tell the budgets are a bit disparate between the two.  Still, I think tonight’s show did a great job.  It’s a bit more hands-on in the sense that the jurors provide feedback for the artists.  But at the same time, it makes it come off as a bit like “X-Factor” or “Pop Idol”

The jurors will select three.  The voters will select three more.  We get the juror scores immediately.  Nice!

Fehér Zoltán : Nincs baj (No Problem)
As noted in my review of the songs, this song did not stand out to me much.  The fact that it drew the first spot may be a blessing or a curse.  A good thing if it’s the first thing that stands out to the voters; a bad thing if it’s overshadowed by later entries.
SCORES: 7,7,7,8,8; TOTAL: 37

Mrs Columbo : Játszd újra (Play it Again)
A jazzy number.  The lead singer is wearing an odd layered skirt. Or are those shorts?!  It’s a bit cabaret.  The scat bit is enjoyable though.  And I’m a fan of the instrumentation.  The song is very chill, which unfortunately is not what Eurovision is looking for I think.
SCORES: 7,8,8,8,7; TOTAL: 38 

Baricz Gergo : Húz (Pull)
A nice pop-rock song but it didn’t seem to go anywhere.  Easily forgettable.  And the performance didn’t help when he sat there on the steps for a good portion of it.  I just wanted to pluck those feathers off his blazer!
SCORES: 9,8,9,8,9; TOTAL: 43 (Well, they’re the expert jurors, not me! Maybe I’m wrong!)

Bogi : Tükörkép (Reflection)
The references to Mod and Austin Powers fit perfectly with the song.  When i first reviewed this song, I wasn’t sure how this would be performed.  For me, the staging was goofy but kept my interest.  A couple rough notes, but a fun performance overall.
SCORES: 8,8,7, 7,7; TOTAL: 37

Palcsó Tamás : Ezt látnod kell (You Have to See This)
Well hello! How you doing!?  This is a bit corny, with his prancing and strutting about.  The images in the background with butterflies and falling leaves are killing me too!  I remember liking the song earlier this week without the visuals.  Now I’d be a bit embarrassed to say I like it.  Good thing I’m shallow and him being cute saves it somewhat! 🙂
SCORES: 7,7,7, 7,7; TOTAL: 35

Background : Neonzöld (Neongreen)
Remember that article I wrote about songs that sound better in studio form as opposed to live?  This song needs to be added.  The lead singer is a bit off-key and going back and forth between being restrained and being a crazy performer.   This is a mess.  It’s almost like they didn’t take this seriously at all!
SCORES: 7,7,7,7,7; TOTAL: 35 (I’m beginning to see that a 7 is really a nice way of saying you weren’t that good)

Gyurcsik Tibor : Örök harc (Battle Forever)
Earlier, I called this the Hungarian “We are the Heroes” (Belarus 2012).  In live form, it lacks the performance punch that Litesound had in their National Final and in Baku.  I’m really bored.
SCORES: 8,8,8,8,9; TOTAL: 41

Keresztes Ildikó : Nem akarok többé játszani (I Don’t Want to Play Anymore)
I mentioned in a previous post that I liked this song but figured the live performance could make or break it.  I can’t really tell yet what this performance is doing.  I’m content, just content, with it.  She’s doing a good job, but I was just expecting more of a stage show.
SCORES: 10, 10, 9, 9 , 9; TOTAL: 47 (I guess she made it!)

Rácz Gergo : Csak állj mellém (Just Stand Next to Me)
Started off a bit iffy for me, but it really got better as it progressed.  This is my favorite of the night hands down.  It’s a bit of something old and something new at the same time.  I could see this at Malmo easily.
SCORES: 8, 9, 9, 10 , 9; TOTAL: 45 

Agárdi Szilvi & Pál Dénes : Szíveddel lass (See With Your Heart)
Getting the last spot wasn’t just an accident.  I have a feeling that this is a frontrunner. The Voice:Hungary winner and his Knockout round competitor sound great together.  There is some great chemistry.  I love how attentive he is to her.   This is a definite qualifier to the next round.
SCORES: 9, 9, 10, 10 , 10; TOTAL: 48

So our three qualifiers via jury are:
1) Keresztes Ildikó : Nem akarok többé játszani (I Don’t Want to Play Anymore)
2) Rácz Gergo : Csak állj mellém (Just Stand Next to Me)
3) Agárdi Szilvi & Pál Dénes : Szíveddel lass (See With Your Heart)

The last three qualifiers (via televoting) to come, but first, the interval act!
We had AIDA on Melodifestivalen and GREASE on A Dal.  It makes sense as some of my friends have said that Eurovision performances remind them of Broadway, but on steroids.

So our three qualifiers via televoting are:
1) Baricz Gergo : Húz (Pull)
2) Gyurcsik Tibor : Örök harc (Battle Forever)
3) Palcsó Tamás : Ezt látnod kell (You Have to See This)