Ah, Denmark giving me a break with writing long and detailed comments because of another subpar selection which doesn't require them... At the same time grateful xD... and very sad ^^' I'll fill the space by giving an update on my current top if that may interest you because there's just not much to say about this selection unfortunately... I'll say I agree with your top so I have nothing to say about the places and just to have a word about the winner... Yeah... I thought it was decent live but the song is really just a bland scandi-pop song with meh lyrics and you almost get confused why she's yelling ''SAAAANNND SAAAAANNNND'' at the end xD This feels like a free NQ for Denmark again. Personal current top of the countries by their selected entry : 1.) Italy 2.) France 3.) Slovenia 4.) Norway 5.) Latvia 6.) Ukraine 7.) Lithuania 8.) Spain 9.) Poland 10.) Malta 11.) Albania 12.) Estonia 13.) Moldova 14.) Luxembourg 15.) Ireland 16.) Germany 17.) Denmark 18.) Czechia 19.) Finland
Since this selection wasn't really worth talking about, let's talk about your top instead. Am genuinely happy with the top two. I'd extend it to four but I'm not fully sure how I feel about Slovenia yet. I need more time with it. I respect it but I'm not connecting with it yet. It could happen. Ukraine looks about correctly placed for me. More realistic than where some are putting it. I think from my ratings you can see the two I'd move up considerably are Estonia and Ireland, but they're supposed to be divisive so it doesn't hurt too much to see them low here. I'd have them up top and put Poland and Latvia down towards the bottom, but I understand why you have them where you have them. If Poland was down there, I'd be onboard and buying stock in your bottom three. I don't know where you're putting Belgium after it was released, but on your list, I'd be putting it near Ukraine. Will see what you think tho!
@@kaleproject3495 Yeah, it's sad tbh but I agree with some comments I saw down there. Denmark feels like it's becoming the weakest Eurovision country. Even countries like Ireland, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, etc, feel like they're improving/trying to improve or at least trying to have some quality and/or interesting songs in their selections, while Denmark feels like it's gotten worse and worse and mostly gives us generic scandi pop or ''normal'' pop songs which are in turn as well feeling very uninspired and not genuine. Your first place in the video is fine but it'd probably have struggled to qualify and I agree with the comment there's just something off with the tone of the song so it could really make people turn their back on it and when I'd say it was the most ''professional'' entry of your selection, there's really an issue there. Like, it makes me sad to say that but there is almost no good things to say about this selection, apart that, as you did mention, the live performances at DMGP are most of the time pretty good but the entries presented are simply not it. It just makes me sad to be that negative so that's why I didn't want to say much but yeah ^^' Anyway, about my top. I see, I do think Slovenia might be off-putting at first listen which slightly worries me. I wasn't really sure at first listen but I kept it consistently high in my top because there's some real epicness, a real vision, some great ideas and quality here imo. I really enjoy this entry and it feels pretty unique which is a really good thing imo. Yeah, I'd say Ukraine should be in the upper half of tops right now but I already don't see it shaking the top 5, there are better songs or acts that have more potential to captivate people's attention to me, like Estonia or even Ireland for those who love/like it. Still do think overall Ukraine might end up in my top 10 or slightly under once every entry has been chosen/released. It's good, but it really lacks something to make it feel complete. I have Ireland low because it doesn't work for me, I feel like it's messy and unlike you I think, I don't feel like the different parts of the song work together. The transitions are very sudden and rough in my honest opinion, it doesn't work. Independently, I think they do work fine but together I don't feel like it's cohesive. It also probably does suffer from being a type of music I wouldn't like unless I consider it's really, really well-done. I still have it above the likes of Germany or Denmark because there is something interesting in Ireland's entry though. I'm afraid it's just not for me :( For Estonia I explained why on the video you've made on the selection so probably not useful to repeat it here but as for Ireland, for an entry that I personally don't like, I still gave it a decent placing I feel like because I recognize there is something there. It's just too messy for me once again, especially performance-wise. The song itself has potential and imo more than Ireland's. I guess that would be a resume of my take on it. About Latvia, I think it will be the ''Bridges'' of this year between you and me, where we stand at the exact opposite end of the bridge haha xD I connect to Dons' Hollow and you don't seem to, unfortunately. There's so much to love here for me. Dons is serving vocals for days and also has great camera contact, his gaze is piercing. He also does serve emotion both through his voice and performance to me. Finally, the song is good and well-produced and, while I do wish it had more to its instrumental, it's just very solid. The instrumental is why I put it where I put it because songs above are great songs but they do have better instrumentals and/or are more interesting than Hollow in my opinion. I would likely say the most obvious comparison would be with France as both are sad-themed male ballads and France is better because of its instrumental imo, otherwise I'd say both Dons and Slimane are doing the right things with their respective entries. It all could be even better with a better staging and I pray for Latvia to actually bring a great staging because that's very often an issue for them >.< For Poland though, I could see myself bringing it down. I was actually pretty unimpressed when I first heard it and what I felt like was ''It's very middle of the road'' literally, but I felt like there was some quality there although the lyrics are not great x) That's why I put it there and I have not listened to it since... Which might be a sign that I put it too high xD I need to listen to it again and make up my mind but yeah I just feel like it didn't have much impact on me, nothing really good nor bad, it feels like that type of entry to me atm. Well, as a Belgian, I am proud of our entry ^^. I also think you'd be pretty close to where I'd rank it but I'm not sure atm because my top does shake up slightly xD For example, I'm unsure if I'd want to drop Norway slightly and put Belgium just above Latvia, just because I vibe less with Norway but Norway is great if you love it so it's a bit hard actually xD By personal standards Norway would be a bit more down the list but yeah, I try to be as objective as I can be and not put an entry at the bottom just because it's not for me if there's real, undeniable quality there. So I'd say Belgium might sneak through Norway and Latvia in my top, ending up fifth for now but I'm not totally sure. Realistically though, I feel like our entry feels more like a top 10 entry at the actual contest, if everything works as intended, that's how I feel about it right now at least. I'm thrilled though because I believe it's a better song than Gustaph's and thus, if Mustii can manage to serve emotion and at the same time be as likeable as Gustaph in his own way and that of course fits the song, managing to connect with the viewers, maybe it could come top 5 ? Might be stretching it but idk, I'd hope juries would respect it in the final xD For now though, I don't see it being top 5 of course but I think there's potential in our entry and we shouldn't NQ unless something goes terribly wrong, yay ^^
surprised you aren't a fan of sand. personally ive had it stuck in my head for a hot minute at least. the reception ive heard for it is overwhelmingly positive - altho maybe thats just cuz its denmark not submitting something embarrassing for once
When there's a weak selection, I don't know why the general gravitation is towards the "least bad" song as opposed to the ones that could actually get televotes come May. XD I don't really think of Denmark as a country with "embarrassing" entries, just mediocre, bland and unadventurous....and wow, that's what they've got again!
@@kaleproject3495You cannot deny that the Eurovision performances of Reddi and especially Reiley recently were embarassing though. Saba is at least a good singer who has stage experience
@@ketsunoalex4600 In Reddi's case, I don't think the performance was the big problem. They probably outperformed what was a dreadful song, to be fair. In Reilly's case, they knew what they were getting into. Nobody thought he could sing that song but they sent him anyway. Make it easier for him or send somebody else. Just don't be surprised when what happened, happened. Just sad that Denmark's goals are a NQ song, with a passable singer trying not to embarrass themselves. They're only 12 years out from winning the whole contest.
@@OSCAR-ic7tf Haha. San Marino is the only one I do half measures on. I'll probably make a video covering the second chance round and the finalists! I will do a ranking/rating of the top 129 and put it on the spreadsheet (I have done it in the last two years) but honestly, there's just not enough interest in the San Marino selection to warrant the mental anguish that editing a top 129 video would cause. XD
Given the choices Denmark had, "Sand" isn't too bad ig. I won't lie, I cringe a lot when I see people commenting "Denmark getting back in the finals now" because, let's face it, "Sand" sounds like NQ from 2016 or something. Most likely, still a NQ, but probably, a less embarassing result than Reiley last year lol. I do think it felt like the most polished package of the night so I understand why it was picked. Good job, Denmark (??)
Reiley's entry was embarrassing because he couldn't sing his actual song lol. I don't think the entry itself was anything that deviated too far from the sort of thing that Denmark likes to send. I just don't think Sand offers you a chance of qualification because there's nothing individual or authentic about it. There's no juries to pat it on the back and give it sympathy points for *almost* sounding like a passable Swedish song. At least with entries like The Chase or Mirror Ball Of Hope, some people could be moved to vote for it.
My thoughts exactly. I think the televoters knew what they were doing. I still don't really understand a superfinal with juries. In what way is that a superfinal?
08. Sign Here (05/10) 07. I Need Your Love (05/10) 06. Mirror Ball Of Hope (07/10) 05. The Chase (Zoom Zoom (08/10) 04. Planetary Hearts (08/10) 03. Johnny (08/10) 02. Real Love (09/10) 01. Sand (10/10)
Hi! Unfortunately, Danish entries really went down for me after being in my top 10 annually since 2018 for 5 years.. This years choice is better than Reiley (my last of 2023, I can't get how he was in any sense better than Eyjaa), but it's still not my favourite. I love Denmark in Eurovision for their camp, light-hearted, atmospheric entries ("Higher Ground", "Love is Forever", "Yes", "Cliche Love Song", and others), not for their safe pop-ballad songs, like "Where I Am", even though "Sand" is still quite good. My winners from the beginning were Ublu and after this performance I settled on them. I see your point, but with this performance, it went away for me. Still not on the level of my fave Danish entries, but would have probably been my 15th or smth like that.
The songs you listed are actually pretty much the reason I don't like Denmark at Eurovision. LIF and Yes are my last places in their respective years. Those sort of entries were why I was kinda expecting "Real Love" to be the choice here. At least it feels like a Danish Eurovision entry and something separate from their neighbours. Sand is just a Melodifestivalen 6th place in its heat song. Again with Ublu, I think on the positive side, you would find people who like it. It's not particular good but it would appeal to some.
This must have been a tough selection to rank... so much mediocrity. Anyway, I'm not complaining about Denmark's choice. Like how often does the fan favourite win DMGP? As a Greek though I preferred the following acts to represent Denmark for non-musical reasons: 1. *Chu Chu:* the singer's stage name is a slang word for *small penis* in Greek. It would have been super awkward for our commentators in May... 😅 2. *Janus Wiberg:* the singer looks identical to *Pantelis Pantelidis,* a famous singer here who passed away tragically in 2016 after a car accident. Long story short, I like the Danish entry more than the previous years, though I still think the grand final will be hard to reach. At least the Greek televote could have helped towards that direction with the other 2 acts I mentioned.
I mean, I've heard many reasons to support an acts but Chu Chu might've gained fans in a way I would never have expected right there. I didn't like Denmark's entry much last year but I at least understood what they were trying to appeal to when choosing it. I didn't understand Reddi and I don't understand selecting "Sand" if we're talking about trying to qualify.
Is it the moment when we can start calling Denmark THE weakest Eurovision country? I mean, even Malta put some effort this year... Johnny was my favorite as well, twice in a row now the Danish public's choice gets snubbed
Possibly looking at a 4th NQ in a row. Off the top of my head, I can only think of, maybe Latvia or Ireland who can match that level of consistency and Ireland are at least going for it this year sending an entry with some sort of hook. Latvia also sent an all-time fan favourite last year in Sudden Lights, so you'd have a compelling argument against Denmark if you want to make it.
All praise Denmark, the only country capable of providing an all "semifinal last place + NQ + ratio" selection of songs 🙏💯
They are doing the Lord's work. 🙏
Ah, Denmark giving me a break with writing long and detailed comments because of another subpar selection which doesn't require them... At the same time grateful xD... and very sad ^^' I'll fill the space by giving an update on my current top if that may interest you because there's just not much to say about this selection unfortunately...
I'll say I agree with your top so I have nothing to say about the places and just to have a word about the winner... Yeah... I thought it was decent live but the song is really just a bland scandi-pop song with meh lyrics and you almost get confused why she's yelling ''SAAAANNND SAAAAANNNND'' at the end xD This feels like a free NQ for Denmark again.
Personal current top of the countries by their selected entry :
1.) Italy
2.) France
3.) Slovenia
4.) Norway
5.) Latvia
6.) Ukraine
7.) Lithuania
8.) Spain
9.) Poland
10.) Malta
11.) Albania
12.) Estonia
13.) Moldova
14.) Luxembourg
15.) Ireland
16.) Germany
17.) Denmark
18.) Czechia
19.) Finland
Since this selection wasn't really worth talking about, let's talk about your top instead.
Am genuinely happy with the top two. I'd extend it to four but I'm not fully sure how I feel about Slovenia yet. I need more time with it. I respect it but I'm not connecting with it yet. It could happen.
Ukraine looks about correctly placed for me. More realistic than where some are putting it.
I think from my ratings you can see the two I'd move up considerably are Estonia and Ireland, but they're supposed to be divisive so it doesn't hurt too much to see them low here. I'd have them up top and put Poland and Latvia down towards the bottom, but I understand why you have them where you have them.
If Poland was down there, I'd be onboard and buying stock in your bottom three.
I don't know where you're putting Belgium after it was released, but on your list, I'd be putting it near Ukraine. Will see what you think tho!
@@kaleproject3495 Yeah, it's sad tbh but I agree with some comments I saw down there. Denmark feels like it's becoming the weakest Eurovision country. Even countries like Ireland, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, etc, feel like they're improving/trying to improve or at least trying to have some quality and/or interesting songs in their selections, while Denmark feels like it's gotten worse and worse and mostly gives us generic scandi pop or ''normal'' pop songs which are in turn as well feeling very uninspired and not genuine.
Your first place in the video is fine but it'd probably have struggled to qualify and I agree with the comment there's just something off with the tone of the song so it could really make people turn their back on it and when I'd say it was the most ''professional'' entry of your selection, there's really an issue there.
Like, it makes me sad to say that but there is almost no good things to say about this selection, apart that, as you did mention, the live performances at DMGP are most of the time pretty good but the entries presented are simply not it. It just makes me sad to be that negative so that's why I didn't want to say much but yeah ^^'
Anyway, about my top. I see, I do think Slovenia might be off-putting at first listen which slightly worries me. I wasn't really sure at first listen but I kept it consistently high in my top because there's some real epicness, a real vision, some great ideas and quality here imo. I really enjoy this entry and it feels pretty unique which is a really good thing imo.
Yeah, I'd say Ukraine should be in the upper half of tops right now but I already don't see it shaking the top 5, there are better songs or acts that have more potential to captivate people's attention to me, like Estonia or even Ireland for those who love/like it. Still do think overall Ukraine might end up in my top 10 or slightly under once every entry has been chosen/released. It's good, but it really lacks something to make it feel complete.
I have Ireland low because it doesn't work for me, I feel like it's messy and unlike you I think, I don't feel like the different parts of the song work together. The transitions are very sudden and rough in my honest opinion, it doesn't work. Independently, I think they do work fine but together I don't feel like it's cohesive. It also probably does suffer from being a type of music I wouldn't like unless I consider it's really, really well-done. I still have it above the likes of Germany or Denmark because there is something interesting in Ireland's entry though. I'm afraid it's just not for me :(
For Estonia I explained why on the video you've made on the selection so probably not useful to repeat it here but as for Ireland, for an entry that I personally don't like, I still gave it a decent placing I feel like because I recognize there is something there. It's just too messy for me once again, especially performance-wise. The song itself has potential and imo more than Ireland's. I guess that would be a resume of my take on it.
About Latvia, I think it will be the ''Bridges'' of this year between you and me, where we stand at the exact opposite end of the bridge haha xD I connect to Dons' Hollow and you don't seem to, unfortunately. There's so much to love here for me. Dons is serving vocals for days and also has great camera contact, his gaze is piercing. He also does serve emotion both through his voice and performance to me. Finally, the song is good and well-produced and, while I do wish it had more to its instrumental, it's just very solid.
The instrumental is why I put it where I put it because songs above are great songs but they do have better instrumentals and/or are more interesting than Hollow in my opinion. I would likely say the most obvious comparison would be with France as both are sad-themed male ballads and France is better because of its instrumental imo, otherwise I'd say both Dons and Slimane are doing the right things with their respective entries. It all could be even better with a better staging and I pray for Latvia to actually bring a great staging because that's very often an issue for them >.<
For Poland though, I could see myself bringing it down. I was actually pretty unimpressed when I first heard it and what I felt like was ''It's very middle of the road'' literally, but I felt like there was some quality there although the lyrics are not great x) That's why I put it there and I have not listened to it since... Which might be a sign that I put it too high xD I need to listen to it again and make up my mind but yeah I just feel like it didn't have much impact on me, nothing really good nor bad, it feels like that type of entry to me atm.
Well, as a Belgian, I am proud of our entry ^^. I also think you'd be pretty close to where I'd rank it but I'm not sure atm because my top does shake up slightly xD For example, I'm unsure if I'd want to drop Norway slightly and put Belgium just above Latvia, just because I vibe less with Norway but Norway is great if you love it so it's a bit hard actually xD By personal standards Norway would be a bit more down the list but yeah, I try to be as objective as I can be and not put an entry at the bottom just because it's not for me if there's real, undeniable quality there. So I'd say Belgium might sneak through Norway and Latvia in my top, ending up fifth for now but I'm not totally sure.
Realistically though, I feel like our entry feels more like a top 10 entry at the actual contest, if everything works as intended, that's how I feel about it right now at least. I'm thrilled though because I believe it's a better song than Gustaph's and thus, if Mustii can manage to serve emotion and at the same time be as likeable as Gustaph in his own way and that of course fits the song, managing to connect with the viewers, maybe it could come top 5 ? Might be stretching it but idk, I'd hope juries would respect it in the final xD For now though, I don't see it being top 5 of course but I think there's potential in our entry and we shouldn't NQ unless something goes terribly wrong, yay ^^
Nice top and I do somehow agree with your opinions :)
Thanks so much!
I wish I could be a bit more positive about this lineup of songs, but it is hard to. ;;
surprised you aren't a fan of sand. personally ive had it stuck in my head for a hot minute at least. the reception ive heard for it is overwhelmingly positive - altho maybe thats just cuz its denmark not submitting something embarrassing for once
When there's a weak selection, I don't know why the general gravitation is towards the "least bad" song as opposed to the ones that could actually get televotes come May. XD
I don't really think of Denmark as a country with "embarrassing" entries, just mediocre, bland and unadventurous....and wow, that's what they've got again!
@@kaleproject3495You cannot deny that the Eurovision performances of Reddi and especially Reiley recently were embarassing though. Saba is at least a good singer who has stage experience
@@ketsunoalex4600 In Reddi's case, I don't think the performance was the big problem. They probably outperformed what was a dreadful song, to be fair.
In Reilly's case, they knew what they were getting into. Nobody thought he could sing that song but they sent him anyway. Make it easier for him or send somebody else. Just don't be surprised when what happened, happened.
Just sad that Denmark's goals are a NQ song, with a passable singer trying not to embarrass themselves. They're only 12 years out from winning the whole contest.
@@kaleproject3495 on an unrelated note, are we to expect a top 129 from san marino? i know i would be eternally grateful for it
@@OSCAR-ic7tf Haha. San Marino is the only one I do half measures on. I'll probably make a video covering the second chance round and the finalists!
I will do a ranking/rating of the top 129 and put it on the spreadsheet (I have done it in the last two years) but honestly, there's just not enough interest in the San Marino selection to warrant the mental anguish that editing a top 129 video would cause. XD
Given the choices Denmark had, "Sand" isn't too bad ig. I won't lie, I cringe a lot when I see people commenting "Denmark getting back in the finals now" because, let's face it, "Sand" sounds like NQ from 2016 or something. Most likely, still a NQ, but probably, a less embarassing result than Reiley last year lol. I do think it felt like the most polished package of the night so I understand why it was picked. Good job, Denmark (??)
Reiley's entry was embarrassing because he couldn't sing his actual song lol. I don't think the entry itself was anything that deviated too far from the sort of thing that Denmark likes to send.
I just don't think Sand offers you a chance of qualification because there's nothing individual or authentic about it. There's no juries to pat it on the back and give it sympathy points for *almost* sounding like a passable Swedish song. At least with entries like The Chase or Mirror Ball Of Hope, some people could be moved to vote for it.
Sand is solid, but I feel like Johnny was the best choice. It was easily the. most authentic song in the line up
My thoughts exactly. I think the televoters knew what they were doing. I still don't really understand a superfinal with juries. In what way is that a superfinal?
08. Sign Here (05/10)
07. I Need Your Love (05/10)
06. Mirror Ball Of Hope (07/10)
05. The Chase (Zoom Zoom (08/10)
04. Planetary Hearts (08/10)
03. Johnny (08/10)
02. Real Love (09/10)
01. Sand (10/10)
Those are some kind ratings at the top there.
@@kaleproject3495 yes I thought I hated this selection but after the life performances they all grew on me !
@@vincentesc The live performance in Denmark always make things slightly better. Now imagine if they had good songs in the first place!
Hi! Unfortunately, Danish entries really went down for me after being in my top 10 annually since 2018 for 5 years.. This years choice is better than Reiley (my last of 2023, I can't get how he was in any sense better than Eyjaa), but it's still not my favourite. I love Denmark in Eurovision for their camp, light-hearted, atmospheric entries ("Higher Ground", "Love is Forever", "Yes", "Cliche Love Song", and others), not for their safe pop-ballad songs, like "Where I Am", even though "Sand" is still quite good.
My winners from the beginning were Ublu and after this performance I settled on them. I see your point, but with this performance, it went away for me. Still not on the level of my fave Danish entries, but would have probably been my 15th or smth like that.
The songs you listed are actually pretty much the reason I don't like Denmark at Eurovision. LIF and Yes are my last places in their respective years. Those sort of entries were why I was kinda expecting "Real Love" to be the choice here. At least it feels like a Danish Eurovision entry and something separate from their neighbours. Sand is just a Melodifestivalen 6th place in its heat song.
Again with Ublu, I think on the positive side, you would find people who like it. It's not particular good but it would appeal to some.
This must have been a tough selection to rank... so much mediocrity.
Anyway, I'm not complaining about Denmark's choice. Like how often does the fan favourite win DMGP?
As a Greek though I preferred the following acts to represent Denmark for non-musical reasons:
1. *Chu Chu:* the singer's stage name is a slang word for *small penis* in Greek. It would have been super awkward for our commentators in May... 😅
2. *Janus Wiberg:* the singer looks identical to *Pantelis Pantelidis,* a famous singer here who passed away tragically in 2016 after a car accident.
Long story short, I like the Danish entry more than the previous years, though I still think the grand final will be hard to reach. At least the Greek televote could have helped towards that direction with the other 2 acts I mentioned.
I mean, I've heard many reasons to support an acts but Chu Chu might've gained fans in a way I would never have expected right there.
I didn't like Denmark's entry much last year but I at least understood what they were trying to appeal to when choosing it. I didn't understand Reddi and I don't understand selecting "Sand" if we're talking about trying to qualify.
Is it the moment when we can start calling Denmark THE weakest Eurovision country? I mean, even Malta put some effort this year...
Johnny was my favorite as well, twice in a row now the Danish public's choice gets snubbed
Possibly looking at a 4th NQ in a row. Off the top of my head, I can only think of, maybe Latvia or Ireland who can match that level of consistency and Ireland are at least going for it this year sending an entry with some sort of hook. Latvia also sent an all-time fan favourite last year in Sudden Lights, so you'd have a compelling argument against Denmark if you want to make it.
Don't forget San Marino.
If Ireland keeps stepping their game up then yeah, I think Denmark is a fair pick for weakest tbh
Latvia is probably weakest esc country for years! Latvia failed qualify to final since 2016, but San Marino qualified 2 times@dimidrugg9592
@andza5086 Latvia has sent better songs since last year though.