Easy As A-A-B-B-E

This week brings the part of my Eurovision ranking with songs I actually enjoy listening to, but not as much as the 25 songs that follow, obviously. Coincidentally, all the countries featured this week are at the beginning of the alphabet.

30. Albania
Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko - "Identitet"
Reaction: This is a competent Balkan rock song, with a bit more of a hook than entries in the genre a few years ago from countries like FYR Macedonia and Montenegro. The instrumental solos are a lot more interesting than the vocal parts, which do drag on by the end. However, I'm writing about the longer 4 minute version, and as of now I don't know what changes are made for the 3 minute version.
Best Part: Instrumental part at end
Rating: 3/5

29. Belgium
Roberto Bellarosa - "Love Kills"
Reaction: Defying expectations, this turned out to be a pretty decent midtempo pop song. It takes a little bit too long to get going, but also goes on a little too long.
Best Part: Bridge, whose dubstep break attempt definitely places this song among its peers this year
Rating: 3/5

28. Austria
Natalia Kelly - "Shine"
Reaction: This is the part of the ranking where the commentary tends to be "competent but nothing special" and nothing exemplifies this sentiment this year more than "Shine." It's got a pleasant melody and a catchy chorus, but there's a few similar songs this year, and this one just doesn't connect with me. I can see it having a fine result, but I just can't make myself listen to it over and over.
Best Part: Key change/final chorus
Rating: 3/5

27. Bulgaria
Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankoulov - "Samo Shampioni"
Reaction: It's not as good or groundbreaking as their song from 2007. But it has all the right elements: repetitive lyric and strong drum beat. There's even a dubstep wub-wub-wub in here too!
Best Part: Chorus
Rating: 3/5

26. Estonia
Birgit Õigenmeel - "Et uus saaks alguse"
Reaction: This pretty country-pop ballad has a little air of "Melodifestivalen reject" about it, but maybe that's the fangirl part of me talking. It's a sweet melody performed by a sweet voice. It's weaknesses are the false stops after the choruses.
Best Part: "Et uus saaks" sounds like "It all sucks" (this realization is the best part, the song does not in fact all suck)
Rating: 3/5