The viewer's winner, if it weren't for the jury this song would've won the competition. Part of my Eurovision Special. Amazing graphics in both the staging of the Grand Final as well as this music video. Sergey Lazarev had an amazing production team behind him, everything was on point, perfect for Russia to win. Yet they came a close third with 491 points. The song is what let them down, it's weak on first listen, but ever so catchy nonetheless. Sergey Lazarev is getting excited as he claims that you are the only one, his only one, in this extremely visual video that's sexy, dangerous and amazing!
Sergey Lazarev is a Russian singer, dancer, actor and TV presenter. He started his music career with Vlad Topalov in duo Smash!!. At the height of their career, they disbanded and Sergey Lazarev pursued a solo career. A total success in Russia, Sergey Lazarev has had hit after hit, music award after music award. It's unsurprising why this did so well, apart from the amazing visuals, Russia sent one of their top artists, a risk that was pulled off to perfection. Russia wanted to win this year, and hell did they do their best. Russia chose Sergey Lazarev through internal selection. The song was written by Philipp Kirkorov, Dimitris Kontopoulos, John Ballard and Ralph Charlie.
Directed by Konstantin Cherepkov this video is amazing, out of this world, surreal and definitely stands out. This is a game changer when it comes to music videos. Ultimately brilliant and completely unforgettable.
Using 3D imagery, editing and mapping, thanks to Illuminarium3000, this awesome video must've taken hours upon hours to make and edit. This is perfection personified. Produced by Irina Morozova, with 3D mapping by Yuri Pelin and Evgenia Godunova, with DP by Anastasiy Mikhailov. As well as the beautiful Vladislava Evtushenko, who is a model and was runner-up for Miss Russia 2015, and represented Russia in the Miss Universe competition, plays the love interest, I hope she appears in more videos in the future, as she's stunningly beautiful and is a great actress on the set.
The narrative works perfectly adding thunder and lighting within visuals. This easily messed with my head, the 3D imagery is beautiful and well crafted. Sergey Lazarev and Vladislava Evtushenko perform to perfection, every detail is included.
Confusing the hell out of the viewers, it's hard to imagine that all of this is imagery. Such a complicated set, yet works effectively. I love the narrative, I love the design, and I hope many more music videos use this idea over green screen, as it more than works. Catchy song, perfect vocals and an amazing visual, what more can you want?
Bulgaria retuned after a two-year absence and did extremely well with Poli Genova. Getting fourth with 307 points, Bulgaria did much better than we all expected. Poli Genova was definitely the dark horse in the race.Now a part of my Eurovision Special. No stranger to reality TV, she was a judge on The X Factor Bulgaria series one, and appeared on the fourth series of Your Face Sounds Familiar (Bulgaria Version). Poli Genova is fighting to get her music heard, and I'm sure she'll be globally known soon enough. Poli Genova watches memories of a love she has in a torturous chamber claiming she'd be a criminal if love was a crime.
Poli Genova is no stranger to the Eurovision Song Contest, she represented Bulgaria back in 2011 with "Na inat" which failed to make it past the semi-finals. Returning stronger than ever, Poli Genova was selected by internal selection, this was the song that gave Bulgaria their shot at winning. The only problem they have is doing just as well next year. As for what the future brings for Poli Genova, she has a chance to ride the success of this song, whilst promoting a new single or album, but whether that is on the cards just yet is something no one knows. Her vocals are amazing and she has so much love and passion for this song, it's clear she means ever word she is singing. The song was written by Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Arman, Joacim Persson, Johnny K. Palmer and Poli Genova.
This music video relates perfectly to the song, the not-so black and white visual gives a haunting effect that really works to add depth and meaning into this video.
Poli Genova sits down and watches memories of loving someone, instinctual moments that put people into a state of euphoria. These moments can't be shared with a single person apart from your lover. It has a Clockwork Orange feel to it, as if this is some sort of punishment if love was a crime, therefore making her a criminal.
Other scenes in the same effects suggests how these two meet. Poli Genova is a photographer at an event where her future lover is possibly famous. She gets up and sings at the event and he whisks her off her feet at the end. Sweet, romantic and everything I want, but I can't sing so that happening to me can just stay in my dreams for now.
Performance wise, Poli Genova is on it! She works the camera to her ability, and we can't keep our eyes off her. Everything is a distraction that fails to capture our attention, because her beauty, her vocals and her performance vibes keep us glues to her. Perfection personified.
Overall a great faultless music video, haunting like the song, very deep and meaningful. A beautiful narrative with an extremely strong performance. Poli Genova has a new fan in me and in a lot of other people too. If she never becomes internationally famous, Bulgaria will be lucky to have her all to themselves.
Alan Walker is back with another banging tune. This new release is one of those songs that will do well on the UK chart, especially after the amazing previous hit "Faded". Alan Walker wastes no time, keeping up with his style, this follow-up single to "Faded" is just as good, if not better. Another search is on, set in Hong Kong, with freaky visual tones, everything is not as it seems, Alan Walker collaborates with Iselin Solheim once again for this perfect tune, that won't be singing me to sleep.
Alan Walker hit the charts hard with single "Faded", but the question on everyone's lips is whether he will be a one hit wonder. Guess this English/Norwegian star has proved everyone wrong. This tune is just as good and although may not chart as well as the previous single did, it will still make a global impact. The vocals come from Iselin Solheim, once again. This is quite the team and her vocals perfectly matches the song. She is a singer in her own right in Norway, but this collaborative effort might bring more popularity to her.
The music video was directed by Rikkard & Tobias Häggbom. It features four actors who are Shahab Salehi, Zenobia Hamrin, Henry Tang and Yam Wai Sang.
The video is weird, and difficult to follow as we navigate the streets of Hong Kong. Four characters are clearly on a mission, They are scouted to meet somewhere, to which they connect some unseen items that brings light to the city.
If that isn't confusing enough, scenes are distorted either through infrared or a visual waver. These characters are seeing something different to us, and at times it looks like someone is following them. Although this never is the case.
Overall it's a confusing narrative that fails to connect to the song. This could literally be paired with any song and it wouldn't make a difference. However, it is clear that Alan Walker has a theme going on when it comes to his music videos... Or maybe it's just the directors' ideas, guess we'll have to see what happens in future music videos.
A more than catchy song, this was the bookies early front runner, it managed 257 points, placing 6th overall in the Eurovision competition. Amir is now a part of my Eurovision 2016 Special. An inspiring story that is shown throughout a perfect melody and video. Amir performs happily in this video, whilst the narrative is beautifully acted out, an inspiration to us all.
Amir, known as Amir Haddad, real name Laurent Amir Khlifa Khedider Haddad, is an Israeli-French singer. He appeared on Kokhav Nolad but only advanced four stages in the competition. He finished third in The Voice: la plus belle voix, which definitely kick-started his career. France chose Amir to represent them at Eurovision 2016 through internal selection, and it proved to be a good choice. The song is written by Amir Haddad, Johan Errami and Nazim Khaled.
The video is both narrative and performance based. Amir is totally relaxed in this performance, he is so happy to be a part of Eurovision and representing his country and everything that goes with it, that he is clearly enjoying every minute of it. He performs the song perfectly, making the viewers feel relaxed too. He did a much more powerful performance in the Grand Final.
The narrative is extremely inspirational. This is exactly what people need to watch to continue to fight for their dreams and to go after what they want. This video proves that people can do what they want to do in life, if they try their very best at it.
This video inspires me, something I'd watch to encourage myself to keep writing. I've been hoping to make a career out of what I love to do, and at times I am at breaking point, where I just want to give up as I don't think I'm getting anywhere. But that is not true, opportunities are slowly coming my way, and I've got to continue going after my dreams. Only the fighters make their dreams come true, and I am prepared to fight.
Overall an inspiration to us all, a happy sweet music video with some darkening sides to it. The song is more suggestive of there being someone there to keep us fighting, yet the video gives us these people in a visual to inspire us. If they can do it, we can right?
This was my second favourite after Barei's "Say Yay!". This was slated online, clearly they weren't expecting it to do so well. But this is a TUNE! Coming in at 10th with 181 points, Laura Tesoro did amazingly well for the opening act. I am an official fan now, and obviously she's a part of my Eurovision 2016 Special. No doubt she'll reappear on my blog some time in the future. Laura Tesoro asks What's The Pressure in this choreographed danced music video that is performed to perfection.
Laura Tesoro, actress, singer, dancer & presenter, and all just at 19 years old, is there anything she can't do? She is known for playing Charlotte in Flemish soap opera Familie. She also came second on The Voice van Vlaanderen (The Voice of Flanders) season three. Getting tenth in the Eurovision Song Contest isn't that bad, and she can definitely make a big impact globally if she keeps promoting worldwide. I am definitely a fan of hers! This song is very catchy, pretty much a mash up of Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" and Fleur East's "Sax", it really works. The song was written by Sanne Putseys, Louis Favre and Birsen Uçar.
A total performance based music video, this is directed well. This is controlled and performed to perfection, Laura Tesoro is on form.
The choreography is performed on point by Laura Tesoro and her backing dancers, all in sync. However it's lacking in visualisation, engagement and technicality.
It fails to keep the audience interested. Regardless Laura Tesoro performs with amazing vibes, she clearly loves this song and recording the music video, and all the attention she is receiving.
Amazingly produced and performed. This is an all right music video that feels similar to Fleur East's "Sax" especially since the songs sound similar. Laura Tesoro is hot right now, and I'm sure she'll bring out another banger in the future that will have us all talking about her.
