Top five for you

Finally, it’s under one week to the Eurovision final and thus it’s time for my top five songs this year!

5. Iceland
Hera Björk - “Je ne sais quoi”
Reaction: Of course, I have to put the schlager song in my top five. Formulaic as the genre tends to be, this hits all the requirements for a satisfying experience. It’s more “This is my life” (Iceland 2008, not Sweden this year) than “Someday” , with an uplifting dance beat.
Best Part: Last chorus
Rating: 5/5

4. Ireland
Niamh Kavanagh - “It's for you”
Reaction: It’s a little similar to Norway’s song this year, but this is the better ballad (after the bridge it becomes a power ballad). The chorus feels a little “different,” adding a little mystery and personality to this traditional ballad. Like Iceland, it hits all the requirements in its genre, except these requirements include big strings and a smooth key change.
Best Part: Last chorus
Rating: 5/5

3. Azerbaijan
Safura - “Drip Drop”
Reaction: What good things can be said about this song that haven’t already been said. In short, it sounds like a modern major hit. It’s a little reminiscent of “Believe,” but only because both are slickly produced ballads, hooks all over the place, a little American-sounding (even though “Drip Drop” has Swedish writers). This sounds more 2010 than any other song in this year’s contest.
Best Part: “You smell like lipstick”
Rating: 5/5

2. Armenia
Eva Rivas - “Apricot Stone”
Reaction: This and Greece are the only “ethnic” dance songs this year, and this has the added benefit of being sung in a beautiful voice by a beautiful woman in (hopefully) a beautiful outfit. The lyrics are unique and interesting: instead of being about romantic love, they’re about love of country and self-determination. The chorus is very strong, and gets stronger with the added vocal acrobatics at the end.
Best Part: Final chorus
Rating: 5/5

1. Serbia
Milan Stanković - “Ovo je Balkan”
Reaction: Last year I was kind of wishy-washy with picking a favorite, but this year I’m back to a definite favorite. Yes, Keith Mills isn’t the only person to give this song their top marks! I’m not familiar with much of Bregovic’s work but after this song I might have to be. In a year seemingly filled with ballads, this is the most joyous and fun. Someone on ESCNation described this song as having “farty brass” but I wouldn’t change anything about the brass parts. They build and build until the song is full of energy. The chorus is instantly memorable, and Milan’s vocals are perfect. There are some silly parts (“Balkan Balkan Balkan!”) but instead of ruining it they make it even more fun. My favorite Serbian song since “Molitva” and my favorite song of Eurovision 2010!
Best Part: “Samo malo samo malo” to the end
Rating: 5/5

Tomorrow or Tuesday morning I will post my predictions for the first semifinal!