All opinions expressed in this article are those of the person quoted and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the other team members or ESC United as a whole.
September 1 marks the beginning of the Eurovision season, but the rubber really hits the road when the first national selection rolls around.
And this year, we have Montenegro’s Montesong 2024 to thank for the honor of first of the season selection, and we here at ESC United thought we’d give our own thoughts to the 16 entries vying to represent the Balkan nation at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.
16 acts are duking it out at the Voco Hotel in Podgorica, Montenegro on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, and five ESC United writers and editors have given us their thoughts.
From Belgium, we have resident curmudgeon who’s really a sweetheart, Boris Meersman. From Romania by way of Denmark, we have resident curmudgeon who’s definitely a curmudgeon, David Popescu. Giving us the regional perspective the other four can’t, we have Croatia’s Jasmin Prišć. And from the United States, we have newcomer Sam Siegal and ESC United’s dodgy uncle James Maude.
In order of appearance at Wednesday’s national selection, here are our thoughts, such as they are, on the first batch of 8 of the 16 entries for Montesong 2024.
Anastasija Koprolčec – “Kraj”
Boris – 4 – “Sometimes the ballad is just boring, mate.”
David – 3 – “Alright, there is potential here, there’s a strong voice behind the song, it is quite well produced, but if I have to be honest… I’m bored. There’s not really anything that captures my attention, so what am I listening to? I can appreciate it, but would I voluntarily come back to this song? No chance! Very much in one ear, then out the other.”
James – 6 – “The production seems cavernous and swallows up Anastasija rather than be a platform for her considerable vocal talents, as if she’s playing this modern Balkan ethno-ballad inside Shai Hulud’s arsehole. Shai Hulud is, alas, a bad analogy as this song lacks spice.”
Jasmin – 5.5 – “It took a bit too long for this one to develop. My thoughts have not changed despite listening to it several times. The chorus has the power it needs but the song overall just doesn’t catch my interest too much.”
Sam – 2 – “This song sounds like someone played all the other Montesong 2024 entries for an AI bot and then had it generate its own. In a contest full of bland, samey entries, this is the blandest. It’ll be long forgotten by the end of the show.”
Total – 20.5 points (Average = 4.1)
Tina Džankić – “Nova”
Boris – 7 – “Fewer things about Montesong have been more delightful than wrapping up my reviews on the previous song (forgot its name) as the auto-shuffle starts the next song in the minimized tab. SUDDENLY, a stout, short-haired lady drawls a sultry, breathy “YOU ARE MY EEEELIIIIXIIIIIIR :panting:” into my ear canal, before segueing into pure mom disco. I’m pouring one out for you, Tina. I’m having the High Heels In The Neighbourhood time of my Thursday. PROTECT HER FROM DAVID AT ALL COSTS. ”
David – 4 – “Damn, this is how you spell “Attitude”, this song just speaks its own language, and completely owns it! You have your own and unique audience with this song, and are they in all the way, you bet they are. I’m just not part of that audience, I’m acknowledging this songs potential, but I’m just not its target.”
James – 7 – “Reminds me of that style of jazz that was floating around on ‘90s movie soundtracks, such as Stanley Clarke’s criminally underrated score for Passenger 57. Smooth bass work and judicious use of horns and guitar, and a joyful and confident vocal turn by Tina. Sadly, this song is about as trendy as Bruce Payne’s mullet from Passenger 57, and is unlikely to land in Basel next summer. Still, a fun three minutes.”
Jasmin – 8 – “The beat at the beginning of the song is too dominant in my opinion. Later on, the song develops nicely and I enjoy in the chorus. The music is uplifting, and to my surprise, the choice of instruments is not what you’d expect in a standard pop song. The more I listen, the more I like it.”
Sam – 3.5 – “I do appreciate the 70s disco vibe – a nice change from the 80s/90s synths that seem to predominate in Montesong 2024, but this is unfortunately giving Hera Bjork (2024, not 2010). It leans toward dated, rather than retro. Pretty good vocals though.”
Total: 29.5 points (Average = 5.9)
Nemanja Petrović – “Među zvijezdama”
Boris – 4 – “A yawn is a silent shout and boy, did Nemanja’s song have me SHRIEKING. Yeah, Inje 2.0 ain’t for me. It’s a ballad with belting and orchestration, and objectively better than whatever the hell “Stop War” and “Clickbait” are, but there’s non-zero odds those two will attempt to meme towards the sun, whereas we are close to a 100% chance that Medu Zvijezdama will leave me colder than a Hell’s Kitchen steak.”
David – 2 – “Far too dramatic for my taste, powerful voice, but really just not for me. It takes quite a while before the song reaches the buildup, and my interest is gone before we get there. I mean, when you only have 3 minutes, you just can’t let someone wait, otherwise most of your time is already gone by then.”
James – 7 – “In space, no-one can hear you scream, but among the stars, Nemanja gives it a go. This is a dark, brooding and ultimately boilerplate Balkan ballad done well. If he nails it live and has a few ounces of charisma, he could be a challenger. But one warble and a wooden delivery and he’s going to be swallowed up into a black hole.”
Jasmin – 7.5 – “The dark atmosphere around this song is simply enchanting and I’m looking forward to see the aesthetics of the live performance. Nemanja’s vocal is powerful and fits the song. The contrast between the chorus and verses adds to the change of pace which keeps you engaged in the song. Giving standard Balkan power ballad and I feel most people are here for something like that if executed well.”
Sam – 3 – “The most impressive thing about this entry is Petrović’s vocals, which are indeed very impressive (at least in the studio). It’s a shame they’re wasted on this song, which plods along and ultimately goes nowhere.”
Total: 23.5 points (Average = 4.7)
Bend 9 – “Stop War”
Boris – 5 – “STAP WHOOOOARRRRRRR ::barrage of noise:: I cannot wait for James AND David to eviscerate this one alongside their 1/10s. I suppose that makes me the Good Cop by default? “Stop war” is simultaneously THE WORST and THE BEST entry in Montesong. It’s objectively very bad (it’s CLOSE to the “It’s Just Noise” catalogue of punk,) but at the same time… add in pyros, red LEDs, good costumes, powerful vocals and you’re left with an entry that could potentially leave a live impact. How unfortunate that I have next-to-no faith in Montenegro’s ability to make it work.”
David – 1 – “Imagine someone kicking your door up, at start screaming in your face “Stop War”, while just going nuts on some instruments. That’s how I felt listening to this song. The guys seem cool, but the song… bruh, this is how you START a war!”
James – 7 – “It sounds like Max Cavalera’s bongwater escaped during Soulfly’s “Prophecy” and “Dark Ages” sessions with the guys from Balkanika and formed its own band and recorded “Stop War” in Phil Anselmo’s underwear hamper while the Pantera tour bus was parked behind the original Del Taco in Barstow, California. And given Montenegro’s budget for Eurovision is less than a Del Real Deal meal, I have no hope for improvement. I could nit-pick this to death but I won’t because the mere presence of a low-rent vaguely ethno-metal headbanger makes me like it automatically and slap a “dobro!” label and a 7 score on it.”
Jasmin – 6 – “This is… heavy. It’s a bit too fast-paced type of rock song for my taste but I still find it enjoyable. I wonder what that’s going to sound live as they are all singing at some point. The instrumental break sounds like it could be in the action movie or war video games. There is potential here, but I feel it’s too much for the general audience.”
Sam – 4 – “This is the most distinctive song in the competition, and it still isn’t interesting enough. Someone should remind them that there’s no law prohibiting heavy metal songs from having a melody. It’ll be funny for this to follow Nemanja Petrović’s very self-serious power ballad.”
Total – 23 points (Average = 4.6)
Tamara Živković – “Poguban let”
Boris – 4 – “See, this is an example of a FAKE ASS BALLAD I spoke about. ‘Epic’ (generic) Instrumentation whips up a storm of drama out of nowhere and it’s the most forced, trite artifice ever. WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING, TAMARA? Are you trying to mime emotion, or are you merely ticking off “must belt” off the checklist your composer handed to you?”
David – 4 – “Powerful in both vocal and song, mixes really well together for this overall composition. I am however, a bit lost, because the song never felt like it reaches its full potential. It’s easy to get back into the song, if you feel left out eventually, but my interest just drops multiple times in this short amount of time.”
James – 6 – “The keyboards sound chintzy, which along with the beats let Tamara down. What should be moments of high drama are let down by poor instrumentation. There’s definitely better ballads available at this selection.”
Jasmin – 8.5 – “Another ballad that explodes serving the Balkan realness in the instrumental. The vocal is strong and competent which is extremely important for a song like this. The song has a beautiful message and the whole song is a metaphor in itself which I really like. I see the potential in this one!”
Sam – 6 – “This is my favorite entry. It’s a simple-yet-effective, paint-by-numbers power ballad but it works for me as a listener. If her live vocals are strong this could do well. It’s also one of the only songs I think would have any chance at all – however slight – of qualifying for the final…but only if 2025 turns out to be an especially weak year for Eurovision.”
Total: 28.5 points (Average = 5.7)
Luka Radović – “Kada dođe maj”
Boris – 8 – “In a classic ‘Boris Is a Whore For 80s Synths’ moment, I’m just going to hand this man his eight points, and refrain from further comment.”
David – 5 – There is something here! The song has a nice start, nice build up and then we’re on the way! It’s actually very catchy. It’s the song perfect, no, is the song horrible, no. It’s just a very pleasant song, something about it, which just makes me happy. Vocally, it could need some more power, but it’s enjoyable.
James – 9 – “If a Balkan uncle was doing Depeche Mode inspired sets at the Ferret & Machete in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, this would be what it would sound like. Higher registers can work with almost goth-like synths, providing a stark contrast which paired with appropriate lyrics can have quite the effect. This could be a cat among the pigeons if done right at Eurovision and qualify (recall how Dons was written off last year). Or it could start another fist fight between Gary and Phil at the bar again. Luka’s destiny is in his own pipes.”
Jasmin – 6 – “At first, I expected this song will be dark and moody but it turned out to be just another loud pop song. The vocal is competent, however, in my opinion, the song would be more impactful if the vocalist would have naturally deeper voice. By the end of the song, the chorus got stuck in my head what could be a good sign for Luka in the end.”
Sam – 4.5 – “A lot of songs in the competition seem to have an 80s synth vibe, and this one does it more boldly than some of the others which I appreciate. Unfortunately, the rest of the song doesn’t quite live up to its production. This could be a fun live performance.”
Total: 32.5 points (Average = 6.5)
Đurđa – “To ljubav je”
Boris – 8 – “If Less Is More was a song, this would be it. “To ljubav je” is a refreshing slow song, with clear inspirations taken from both Viennese waltzes and the French chanson. What gets me hooked is the disarmingly honest tone while Durda unloads her stream of consciousness; ballads often come across as FAKE to me (especially BALKAN BALLADS), but this authentic ode to love has a je ne sais quoi about it that can make it surprisingly appealing with the right approach to staging.”
David – 3 – “This would go REALLY well for a romantic musical, this is VERY much not me, but the song has some charm, it’s cute and touchy. Well performed and composed. However, I can appreciate it when the song is there, but no, I would absolutely not bother listening to this kind of song. I could see some minor changes could be needed, in order to really elevate this song.”
James – 8.5 – “Minimalist, elegant and beautiful. Just a piano, strings and guitar drive this, with Durda passionately getting her point across. Unlike some of the other ballads in this selection, the composer knows to allow Durda to dominate. A little bit of creativity and whimsy in staging, this could be a dark horse for qualification.”
Jasmin – 7.5 – “A lovely ballad with a tasteful and simple production that appeals to many people but might not be “impactful” enough to get votes. For this, staging and overall atmosphere are crucial. Listening to this song, I can clearly imagine it being a soundtrack in a heartfelt scene of some Disney cartoon (complimentary).”
Sam – 5 – “It’s a very pretty song. A nice change of pace from the all the synths. That said, it’s no “Amar pelos dois” – I feel like it needs a little more oomph to really make an impression, and I’m also not sure her vocals are quite strong enough to carry it. Perhaps a revamp?”
Total: 32 points (Average = 6.4)
Kejt – “Obala raja”
Boris – 8 – “When that one cringehead commented that “KEJT IS THE BEST ONE BUT YOU SHOULD REVAMP HER SONG” and Montesong replied with the stonecold “what is revamp?” ♥ Like yeah, drum & bass is a dated as f*ck genre of music, but you can make it work (especially since the MOST RECENT ESC WINNER had a d&b song). I think “Obala Raja” is one of the better anthems in Montesong; KEJT makes it work and throws everything into the song even in studio version, and that makes me what she can do with a live performance. Do bear in mind that “Obala raja” is 100% bobblehead bait, and therefor an underwhelming finish will always be in the cards.”
David – 2 – “I feel sorry for saying this, despite all the power and emotions that are put into the song, I’m actually left bored. It fails to captivate me, the song takes off, but it does on its own. Before I understand what kind of song I’m dealing with, I’m just lost. Well sung at least, but more than that… not quite for me.”
James – 5.5 – “A whisper in the wind is an appropriate simile as this is another ballad where naff instrumentation and dodgy effects drown out the vocalist.”
Jasmin – 8 – “Somehow I expected this song would develop into a true power ballad. However, the beat after the first verse disappointed me a bit. Adding English to the song didn’t have a strong impact on me, it caught me off guard but that’s about it. Vocal seems to be good.”
Sam – 4.5 – “Yet another 80s synth, this one vaguely reminiscent of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.” It’s the best thing about this song, which somehow lacks cohesion – as if it was stitched together from bits and pieces of other songs. Vocals could be impressive live. (Or not.)”
Total: 28 points (Average = 5.6)
So after our first round, this is how things stand with the ESC United crew.
- Luka Radović – “Kada dođe maj” – 32.5 points (Average = 6.5)
- Đurđa – “To ljubav je” – 32 points (Average = 6.4)
- Tina Džankić – “Nova” – 29.5 points (Average = 5.9)
- Tamara Živković – “Poguban let” – 28.5 points (Average = 5.7)
- Kejt – “Obala raja” – 28 points (Average = 5.6)
- Nemanja Petrović – “Među zvijezdama” – 23.5 points (Average = 4.7)
- Bend 9 – “Stop War” – 23 points (Average = 4.6)
- Anastasija Koprolčec – “Kraj” – 20.5 points (Average = 4.1)
Join us tomorrow as we review the second batch of eight.
What do #YOU think of Montenegro’s national selection? Let us know your favorites in the comment below, on our social media, or in our forum.
