UMK 2018 – Saara Aalto and the Eurovision Song Contest National Qualifications of Finland
My feelings about this are kinda complicated because YLE is very clearly scrambling after several bad years, there actually was an entire external storing device full of music from a lot of artists which they then just dismissed due to said scrambling…
Note, I know zero actual musical terminology and can’t tell notes apart to save my life. These are just my opinions based on what I feel listening to these songs. Although granted, I’m the sort of person whose party trick involves naming the country and the year of an Eurovision song if encountered somewhere (though generally only from 2006 onward).
So yeah, anyway, about the songs.
Candidate 1: Monsters
I honestly think this is a bit boring. It’s missing that oomph a catchy Eurovision song needs. Like yeah, the chorus kinda gets faster but isn’t actually catchy and doesn’t interest me. Somehow it feels flat… like there isn’t much variation/life in the levels and the feel of the music. And it somehow feels like the music doesn’t pop out enough. The chorus music needs something that this doesn’t have. I’ve never been a 100% lyrics person (most songs sound like mush, because I either need written lyrics or a lot of concentration or really clear singing to make them out) and here I just can’t. And I’m not interested enough to google the lyrics.
Also somehow the orange moustache and blue lipstick is super distracting. Doesn’t go with the rest of it at all and just glares out like spotlight. Who did the makeup?
My rating: the monster could have been scarier.
Canditate 2: Domino
Okay this one I actually like. Musically it’s more to my taste, lively, and it’s got more “levels” than Monsters, at least to my ears. And I was actually interested while listening to the lyrics and I could make them out. Granted, “I’m falling like a domino” sounds… weird? It’s hard to explain, but it somehow sounds cheeky and “yeah we couldn’t think of a better phrase lmao” to me. So I kinda don’t know what to think of it.
Somehow this make me think (musically) of Australia 2016 Dami Im’s Sound of Silence except not as bombastic. Granted, it might be that in a live performance. I generally get better vibes from lives anyway, unless tech fails or something.
My rating: falling just kinda like domino.
Candidate 3: Queens
Well this is definitely the most fun. And because I’m one of those people who loves a dash of weirdness and fun in her Eurovision playlist, this is pretty much right up my alley. Varying lyrics (yes, I listened to them a bit!) and music, not to mention even weirder outfits. I have no clue what to say about that one outfit I can’t even name. You know, the one with the super stiff bodice. Also hello empowering message :D
No clue how well it would actually do in Eurovision, but this would be my pick based purely on my music tastes.
My rating: this is the way I want it.
Whatever happens, the UMK show on the 3rd is going to be interesting :D
