Song 19. Benny Cristo- Omaga
This is such a catchy dance number! It’s upbeat, fun, cheeky and adorable all at the same time- I love Benny’s voice in this, and the way he’s able to sound dorky and sexy at the same time. It’s a hard balance to find, but this song gets it just right. The lyrics are playful and flirtatious, whilst also sweet, and the ‘Omaga’ hook works well, a nice subversion of the typical ‘Oh my god’ you’d hear. The percussive instrumental drives this song forward, and the bass is just divine throughout. I love the pre-chorus line, and the drop into the chorus packs a punch, taking the energy up another level. On the first listen, I was able to sing along to the final chorus, it’s that catchy. This entry feels extremely current, and I can see this playing in nightclubs all over Europe this summer- it’s infectiously fun. The song also strikes the perfect balance- the lyrics take centre stage in the verses, and then the chorus lets the dance-break instrumental shine. Still, I’m singing along everywhere. An upbeat, instantly catchy pop song with cute lyrics and an amazing instrumental- what more could I ask for? This is awesome, and I can’t wait to see it live next week.
Prediction: This should qualify- I’d be shocked if it didn’t. If the staging is able to keep that adorable cheekiness, and give us something well-polished but full of fun, I can’t see this failing. Yes, it’s early in the running order, but hopefully juries will like the current feel to this, and televoters will like the fun. If it qualifies- which it absolutely deserves to- I wouldn’t rule out a top 10 overall finish. I’d predict 8-12.
Photo credit: David Turecky
20. Belgium- The Wrong Place
21. Croatia- Tick-Tock
22. Norway- Fallen Angel
23. Denmark- Øve Os På Hinanden
24. Latvia- The Moon is Rising
25. Sweden- Voices
26. United Kingdom- Embers
27. Romania- Amnesia
28. Ireland- Maps
29. Serbia- Loco Loco
30. Poland- The Ride
31. Greece- Last Dance
32. Australia- Technicolour
33. Germany- I Don’t Feel Hate
34. Albania- Karma
35. Austria- Amen
36. Slovenia- Amen
37. Georgia- You
38. Estonia- The Lucky One
39. Portugal- Love is on my Side
The Euro-Vine 