DIESMA 2013: REVIEW OF THE SONGS

The team of oikotimes.com is listening the Eurovision bid entries for the national finals across Europe and review the songs for each national final when available. Today we present you the review of our website for the Latvian entries for the Latvian national final (Dziesma) of 2013.

YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE SONGS HERE

SEMIFINAL 1 SONGS
GIVE ME A TRY
Very modern up tempo song reminding me international hits (no plagiarism) which is a good thing. This is a very modern tune which cal truly appeal in the Eurovision Song Contest viewers. Give me a try would be a nice message for everyone now days. The dream electro sound in the background of the song makes you wanna travel while listening. Very good entry (8/10)

UPSIDE DOWN
Totally internationally and it’s only the second song I am listening to. Perfect US tune with international perspective I could see the video clip of this song on MTV without any doubt. The modern pop rock uptempo song is also a great choice for Latvia (8/10)

I AM WHO I AM
A very positive message and a song full of optimism. It is one of the few times I pay so much attention to the lyrics and it is clear that this pop rock song is made just for this reason: to spread a message. I also like the music structure and the sound which shows that there was a lot of professional work underneath. (9/10)

LOVE
Well at some point it had to end; I am talking for the 4th song of the first semifinal. This rock entry which has many disco elements in it could be very well presented on stage or very bad performed. It all depends on the performance of the singers on stage. I think it’s on the edge for me. Somehow I like it but something is wrong here (6/10)

PHOENIX FLY
Hmm, a very interesting tune and a wonderful intro for this one. The chorus gets even greater and the song is absolutely one of the best I heard so much. I am so impressed on the work Latvian singers and authors did this year, they really have a great quality of songs. Well done guys (9/10)

JOEY
Well this is something average but not in a bad way; what I actually mean is that this is a song that can easily go high in any scoreboard because it sounds so innocent but at the same time its sweetness and the gimmick with the positive title is making it a very interesting entry. (8/10)

LET THE NIGHT BELONG TO THE LOVERS
Now we listen to a very smooth ballad with just a guitar and a viola in the background. Simple and effective and totally unique for a Latvian entry if it goes to Eurovision Song Contest. Totally in quality levels this one can landslide in jury voting. The song evolves all the time throughout its three minutes of duration. Love the lyrics as well (8/10)

NEVER LET ME GO
Very interesting tune and very interesting vocal performance although just an audio presentation. In some parts I feel this is a Christmas song. Interesting would be to see the stage presentation of this song. That’s why I am cautious on the future course of this entry in the national selection. For now I am averagely satisfied. (7/10)

LOVE RESPONDER
This is a tune which can easily represent the United Kingdom. The voice of the female singer is quite interesting and the song although smooth mid tempo bidder, sounds interesting. But after so many good entries I wouldn’t pick this one to represent the country although it’s not bad at all. (7/10)

ONE
Electro intro for this song and lots of dance perspective from the very first moment. The song is performed by a man (it sounds a bit weird). I am not sure but this entry is very similar somehow to “Manboy” by Eric Saade. The tune is very interesting when it goes to the chorus and could be a good entry for the cameras – it will work perfectly in the monitors. Still it sounds no original but I love it anyway. (8/10)

HIGHER & HIGHER
At this point the up tempo songs in the usual international popish style is starting to bother me. I like this song, it would be good if it qualifies to the Latvian final, the tune and the structure sound very interesting but I admit it’s one of the same. Though if the female singer can actually pull out the high notes in the chorus every time, it could be more unique than I think now. (7/10)

GOOD WOMAN
OK something should have gone wrong today and the last entry of the first semifinal is for sure the worst I heard today. I am not sure exactly of what type of music this singer is trying to approach. Afro style? Street music? The song is not nice and I am sorry to end my reviews with such comments. (3/10)

SEMIFINAL 2 SONGS
COLD HEART
A song in a oldie jazzy style that reminds me of Caro Emerald in a way, but a bad version of her. The singer is trying really hard to reach the fiting voice for this song. I am not sure if it will qualify for the Final but it’s definetly not a winner. (5/10)

NOW OR NEVER
Now this fooled me a bit! After the trance start I was expecting a dance entry, but it turns into an average rock song. It could qualify for the Final if it’s well performed as I think that a strong vocal performance will help this song a lot. (6/10)

SAD TRUMPET
This is a nice ballad. Not great, but innocent. A female voice would’ve been more suitable but this boy sounds good enough and I think he can do well. The trumpet instrumental helps the song a lot and makes it stand out. I will take it as a sure qualifier. (8/10)

HERE WE GO
A very bad pop-rock entry. Nothing special. It seems like I heard this song million times before. I am not saying it’s plagiarism, it’s just that it didn’t invent anything that the pop-rock music hasn’t shown already. Definetly out of the Final. (4/10)

BETTER THAN YOU
This sounds interesting. It’s just that I don’t know wich genre is the song trying to aproach, probably jazz, but somehow a modern type of jazz. I can tell that this girl has good vocal techniques. It could be a dark horse. (9/10)

THE ONE
A very nice pop-ballad with good lyrics. Very modern and I think it can do very good. To bad for the rock-ish part in the midle. (7/10).

HEY, HEY!
Now this sounds really good. A really nice growing entry. A country-ballad I would say but I am not sure. I think it has really great vocals, both male and female. I think it can do really well. (8/10)

FOOL IN LOVE
I was really wondering when an entry like this will appear. A typical Eurovision entry and I must say that latvian artists have outrun themselves this year. (8/10)

I NEED A HERO
Wow! Another good one! A very strong ballad reminding me of Yohanna. Very good lyrics and chours. This could do really well. I can tell that this girl has strong vocals and I must say that this is the best song I’ve heard so far. (10/10)

HERE I AM
This is also a good ballad, but not as good as the one before. Somehow it reminds me of Taylor Swift wich is good. It will definetly qualify for the Final and if it will be performed well it might win the ticket to Malmo. (9/10)

TIRPINI
What is this meant to be? It has nothing to do with any of the songs I’ve heard so far and I believe it’s sung in Indian (?). A bad ballad and a bad entry overall. I won’t say it can’t reach the Final but I can say it’s not a winner. (3/10)

WHEN YOU’RE WITH ME
And we end it with another jazzy entry. Not good, not bad, just average. I don’t know what it can do, but I believe it won’t qualify as we have other jazz entries better than this one. (6/10)

so that’s our review for the Latvian entries in the Dziesma 2013 – lets us known what do you think about them as well by posting your own comments below