Eurosunday 2014 is Open

It's the first Sunday of 2014 – time to start the Eurovision on-season discussion on this blog.

Not much usually occurs before the new year. This year there have been two national finals. Like last year's preselection season, I'll be highlighting one song that missed out on the win, or qualification if that week held a preliminary selection round.

Ukraine picked “Tick-Tock” by Maria Yaremchuk. In fifth place was “Courageous” by NeAngely, one of the first songs I heard of this season and one of my favorites of the whole thing, I predict. It's a schlager co-written by Alexander Bard – enough said. The unique deep voices of NeAngely are the icing on the cake.

Albania picked “Zemermi I nje nate” by Herciana Matmuja. One of the other competitors was Luiz Ejlli, who went to Eurovision in 2006 with the underrated (by me too) "Zjarr e ftohtë"

His song for this year “Kthehu” is a strong ballad that kind of gives off the feel of “Kuula” of Estonia 2012. Also, despite the similarity in title, it is not about Cthulhu.

Also notable is “Me ty” by Klodian Kacani, which sounds really close to “Let It Go” from the new Disney film, Frozen. Millions of little girls missed their chance to hear “Me ty” on repeat and sing it over and over.