Eurovision 2019 Song Ranking Part 7

10. Slovenia
Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl - "Sebi"
Lo-fi chill beats to fall in love and believe in yourself to. This is way more ambient than the usual Eurovision song, but in a fresh, youthful 2019 way. I have loved many of Slovenia's trashiest entries but this is pure coolness and it's just as good. The spacey synths are the standout, and unlike many electronic songs in the contest in recent years, Zala's vocals are warm and intimate. The introvert anthem of the year.

9. Spain
Miki - "La venda"
The jolt of energy in this year's contest is ska! Or at least it was until the revamp, but those horns and that ending don't lie. With a positive almost progressive message hidden in the lyrics, this is feel-good all around. One of their best songs in a while that genuinely gets the party started and the audience standing.


8. Azerbaijan
Chingiz - "Truth"
Symphonix International keeps churning out hits with little connection to the local music scene (with some exceptions) and I am here for it. This song is very house-influenced, especially with that vocal chorus. The influence from last year's American-Bulgarian Trey Campbell, the best part of Equinox, is obvious. The chorus sounds like he's singing it, which is far from a bad thing. The vocal samples preceding the introduction, verses, and final chorus ("I don't need the truth") sound hard to replicate live but intense in a vaporwave way.

7. France
Bilal Hassani - "Roi"
Bilal is a pure cinnamon roll who must be protected, the rare Youtuber who stays free of drama and shows positive behavior. His song is a sweet gem too, by my favorites last year Madame Monsieur. The bilingual mix of French and English feels effortless and natural, much like teens in a casual conversation, in a way that songs in this venue often aren't. The positive self-affirming message flies in the face of haters and hopefully inspires viewers outside of France.

6. Czech Republic
Lake Malawi - "Friend of a Friend"
Can you hear it? It sounds like the Czech Republic/Czechia is finally coming into its own in Eurovision. Unlike last year's fresh sound, this year is a peppy throwback, a Bill Wurtz-esque bouncy synth pop with slightly unusual lyrics. The instrumental riff in the post-chorus, punctuated by the "I'm only a friend" sample, is one of the catchiest moments this year. The theme is unlike any other in this contest or maybe in any of them, and illustrates what I like to call the 2019 Eurovision Horniness Matrix. The axes of performance and lyric should be directly related, with most close to zero in both. Switzerland isn't as high as it thinks it should be, and the gone but not forgotten Ukraine is off the charts in both. Something interesting happens when the two variables aren't directly proportional. For example, Iceland is exceedingly horny in performance and dress, but the lyrics are about chaos and destruction, the Eurovision equivalent of Soul Calibur. The reverse occurs with the Czech Republic, a group of clean-cut guys happily bopping around the stage and screen, but there's no ambiguity in the lyrics: this song is about eavesdropping on your neighbors having sex and trying to reassure your partner you aren't enjoying it. Not very horny performance, very horny lyric, and for the second year in the row. Keep up the good work CZ.