Song 11. Cyprus- El Diablo
This is easily one of the best pop songs this year, and one of the most memorable. Yes, it does sound a little bit like ‘Bad Romance’, but it’s still distinct and a brilliant song on its own legs. I love the use of the chorus to introduce us to the song, instantly grabbing me, before the drop into the contemporary verse. We do need to address the lyrics, however- the chorus lyrics are repetitive but work, but some of the lines in the verses are unforgivable. ‘All this spicy melts my icy’ versus ‘taco, tamale.’ Which is cringier? They’re both pretty bad, and could so easily have been changed to fit the song’s sensual tone- this just makes me snacky. Still, the pre-chorus is memorable for using the breath as an instrumental, which works very well for the song’s sensual mood, but again, the lyrics are just not fitting the mood. But moving on, the drop into the chorus is extremely powerful and the chorus itself is simply superb. It’s loud, powerful, sexy, memorable, and just plays again and again in my head all day. It’s one of the best choruses this year in my opinion. The bridge is jarring on the first listen, and is a little creepy, but I think this works- this isn’t a passionate love song, but a song about falling in love with someone who you know will hurt you. The twisted nature of the bridge hammers that home, and leads nicely into the final chorus. Those two breaths before- are they sounds of excitement? Fear? Both? I just wish the whole song followed this clever, ambiguous approach rather than list Mexican food. Still, that last chorus is sensational, and I love the outro with the whisper. It’s unique, daring, and leaves us all hanging as we wonder what El Diablo will do next. This song may have its problems, but it absolutely makes up for them in the instrumental and the chorus. Sultry, daring, mysterious- this pop song is a wild ride from start to finish, and I for one don’t want it to end.
Prediction: This is definitely qualifying. Unless there is some absolute catastrophe with the staging, this is sailing through. Televotes will love Elena like Tamta and Eleni Foureira, and juries will back a current sounding pop song. If the staging is strong, this could place in the top 10. Easily. I’d say 6-10.
Photo credit: Panos Giannakopoulos
12. Azerbaijan- Mata Hari
13. Netherlands- Birth of a New Age
14. Switzerland- Tout L’univers
15. Moldova- Sugar
16. Iceland- 10 Years
17. Spain- Voy a Quedarme
18. Israel- Set Me Free
19. Czech Republic- Omaga
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 