Song #4- Lithuania- Discoteque
Bring on the best pop song of the year! Lithuania has given us an absolute treat with Discoteque, and again, I have a story about this song. The first time I heard it, I was on the train, and thought I was alone in the carriage. So I did not hide my joy one bit- I boogied in my seat, shimmied my shoulders, and bopped along to this…well, this bop. However, I didn’t realise the conductor had entered the carriage…. I was very embarrassed and felt very silly, but the song is so brilliant I couldn’t not feel happy.
Right, review time! This song is one of the catchiest this year, a solid pop song, yet so wonderfully original and joyful. There’s a real sense of intrigue with this song- we get that funky bassline and the special effects in the first verse, where everything starts to build, as Vaidotas’s deep, lush vocals entice us into The Roop’s party. It’s immediately very cheeky, and I love the mood they create. I love the repeated ‘dance alone’ section- it’s slightly spooky, getting us all hooked and ready for the chorus. And what a chorus it is! The drop into it is easily the best drop of the year, and it gets the party started. I love the monosyllabic lyrics, and it feels like the instrumental and vocal are weaving around each other, complimenting each other perfectly. The breathy tones add a sensual tone to the song, while the lyrics remain mysterious, yet cheekily optimistic. Easily, this chorus is the catchiest this year, and then the dance break just screams fun fun fun! It’s infectious and just makes me want to get up and dance like nobody’s watching, just what we’re being encouraged to do in the lyrics. Even without the words, the instrumental tells us what to do. It’s just so perfect for these lyrics! The bells are a little bit jarring, and the breathy tones, but that just keeps the listener on their toes- this song is anything but predictable, and that’s one of the things I love most about it. Then there’s the bridge, where everything is completely stripped back, ready for that phenomenal final chorus- those underlying synth chords just hammer home this song, and keep me hooked until the ending. This is, on the whole, an absolute banger- unique, catchy, instantly memorable, with phenomenal lyrics and one of the strongest instrumentals of the year. This is just sheer perfection, and I can’t stop listening to it. Bravo, Lithuania. This is your best entry yet.
Prediction: Prediction: This has to qualify. It has to. The televoters will rally behind this, I know, but I worry whether juries might miss the mark slightly. Still, I would be absolutely shocked if this didn’t get through. I think it’ll easily get top 10 in the final- it absolutely deserves to.
Photo credit: Vaidas Jokubauskas
5. France- Voila
6. Russia- Russian Woman
7. Ukraine- Shum
8. Malta- Je Me Casse
9. San Marino- Adrenalina
10. North Macedonia- Here I Stand
11. Cyprus- El Diablo
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