There is just one month left until the great world music event: the Eurovision Song Contest . This year, 2023, the contest has a double host, with Ukraine as the winner of the last edition and the United Kingdom as the organizer due to the war that ravages the winning country. Over the last few months, the different proposals that aspire to win the crystal microphone on May 13 have become known. For this reason, at Discordia we have made a ranking of the 10 songs that our team has considered most relevant, analyzing them one by one.
10. Future Lover by Brunette (Armenia)
After the global success of Armenia's last representative with SNAP , the country returns strong this year with a powerful proposal in the form of a constant crescendo. At first, the lyrics are addressed to a future lover: “ Oh, future lover, I hope it all comes naturally / I hope our love is quiet outside, but loud inside .” But, progressively, the piano in the background transforms and the song becomes a rap where the artist exposes her insecurities: “ Lord, what I'm gonna do, my pain just attacks .” For its part, the chorus opts for repetition and the outro says goodbye from the high point sung in Armenian. Without a doubt, it is one of the best candidates of the year she combines the delicacy of her voice and the melody in the first half with the desperation and intensity of the second.
9. My Sister's Crown by Vesna (Czech Republic)
The proposal from the country of origin of this group, whose name in Eurovision has been updated to Czechia, seems to pay tribute to the two hosts of the year. The song presents up to four different languages in its lyrics : the native Czech of its members, English , Ukrainian and Bulgarian , a language that we did not think we would hear again at Eurovision due to the country's recent withdrawal from the festival. The six members of Vesna stand out for their vocal versatility on the song, combining recited verses with a very catchy chorus with an anthemic air. The video clip of the song, in which its protagonists appear turned into court jesters , bears good faith of the powerful message of female empowerment hidden in its lyrics.
8. Due Vite by Marco Mengoni (Italy)
Ballad, own language, emotion, intensity and a lot of musical reminiscence of the country . Italy is not taking risks, but it doesn't need to. In the end, authenticity is a component that should be highly valued in Eurovision, and there is nothing more authentic than the Italy- Due Vite tandem . The winning song of the prestigious San Remo Festival draws attention for its sensitivity and strength , something that Mengoni transports perfectly on stage thanks to her vocal power and her captivating gaze . Yes, it is a sober performance, but of undeniable quality.
7. I Wrote A Song by Mae Muller (UK)
The country that hosts Eurovision in 2023 has decided to play it safe, internally choosing an artist who is well known in its territory. Mae Muller comes to the contest with the experience of having given voice to songs by electronic producers such as Sigala or Neiked, and following the dance trail that characterizes her. I Wrote A Song may seem like a very generic pop song, but the truth is that it innovates musically with the subtle incorporation of Latin rhythms embodied, among others, in some Spanish guitar chords present in some of its verses. Mae sings about overcoming a breakup through her own music and also sends a spoken message to that old love.
6. Evidemment de La Zarra (France)
Like Italy, France is also committed to the country's traditional music: Évidemment is an effective French chanson with a conventional structure that works, a production perfectly adapted to the voice of La Zarra , changes of rhythm that offer dynamism and a climactic closing of the song (with high note included). Furthermore, the chorus is inevitably catchy , and it seems difficult not to dance to the rhythm of lyrics about maturity and uncertainty.
5. Queen Of Kings by Alessandra (Norway)
Norway's proposal largely follows the line of that defended by Vesna at the head of the Czech delegation. Alessandra makes it clear in this song that, in a world still ruled mostly by men, a queen is needed to conquer everything. To get her message across, the artist with Italian roots uses a sober staging in which the entire spotlight falls on her , the true queen of kings, and this is also attested to by her golden outfit. In addition to Alessandra's vocal power, the song's powerful electronic production makes it an anthem that will not go unnoticed on the Liverpool stage.
4. Who The Hell Is Edgar? by Teya & Salena (Austria)
The most demanding song of this edition of Eurovision comes from the Austrian candidacy, defended by the duo formed by the singers Teya and Salena. Through an acid criticism of the established system , the artists denounce the democratized idea that, behind a woman's talent , there must always be a man . The male figure chosen is that of the American writer Edgar Allan Poe , whose name is insistently repeated in his chorus, and who appears in caricatured form in the video clip. But their criticism is not limited only to machismo, but also delves into the problems that musicians must face to make a living from their passion: “0.003, give me two years and your dinner will be free ,” they say, in reference to the very poor economic amount that platforms like Spotify pay artists.
3. Cha Cha Cha from Käärijä (Finland)
Risk and win” seems to be the motto of Finland, which this year is one of the undisputed favorites to win the Crystal Microphone. It is an electronic proposal , different , original and not suitable for all audiences, but no one can deny the captivating personality of the artist, his crazy staging with characteristic dance included, the ostentatiousness of his costumes or the catchyness of his chorus. Käärijä takes over the stage and the second part of the song elevates what the first anticipated: Cha Cha Cha emerges from the gloomy to move through party and sincerity until culminating in a fun madness .
2. Tattoo by Loreen (Sweden)
This year, Loreen has performed for the fourth time at Melodifestivalen and has achieved her second victory after Euphoria , with which she won Eurovision 2012, establishing herself as one of the best performances in the history of the contest (not to say directly the best ). Now she is looking for a new victory with Tattoo , a less emblematic but equally competitive song . If Euphoria was a hymn to romanticism, this song narrates with great maturity how difficult love can be : “ I don't wanna go / But baby we both know / This is not our time / It's time to say goodbye ” . An exquisite production and a well-measured musical evolution are the perfect complements to Loreen's charisma in front of the cameras and the original and ideal staging , which places the artist between two platforms that liberate her.
1. EAEA by Blanca Paloma (Spain)
The 2023 Eurovision proposal that has received the best rating from the Discordia team plays at home , in addition to having received the almost unanimous approval of music critics. Blanca Paloma tried her luck again at the Benidorm Fest , the Spanish Eurovision preselection, and the second time was the charm for her. EAEA is a true Lorca journey to the sentimental depths of the singer, captured in a lullaby where her roots come to light, not only musical, but also vital. But not only the song itself is exciting, but also its staging: the predominance of red and an obvious prominence of the figure of Blanca Paloma turn the Spanish candidacy into a complete pack that arrives in Liverpool with a thirst for victory.
