It's a Thursday, and that means it's revisit time, and I'm so glad I get to look back on one of Triana Park's classic songs, because this is just as good as "Line", and proves that over time this band has stayed true to themselves. I truly believe that Triana Park is leading the way for electronic rock bands, and will continue to be a force within the music world. Watch Triana Park perform in this gritty music video that clearly displays life in all its ups and downs in this music video for "I Like".
Triana Park has had quite the longevity when it comes to music. They have released a number of singles, a debut album and an EP. The band was formed by Agnese Rakovska and her father Aivars Rakovskis. Back when this song was released, the line-up may have been different to what it is now, as far as we're aware. Regardless, Triana Park has tried, unsuccessfully, to compete in Eurovision for Latvia several times. It wasn't until 2017, after a five-year break, they gave it another shot and they won Supernova 2017 - a different national selection show, that had been brought in a few years ago. However, they failed to make it to the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, with their song "Line", but still managed to gain plenty of fans all around Europe and the world. Personally, I'm excited to see what they release next.
This music video was directed by Ivars Burtnieks. It's more of a performance-based piece, with scenic shots of life and how hard and difficult it can be all the while showing the ups as well.
There are so many great scenes in this visual, that truly shows off the song and the location and the people in it. Triana Park looks spectacular throughout, and the gig scene is raw and intimate.
There isn't a lot to this music video though, it's clear there wasn't a lot put into it, and at times, it just looks like a random set of scenes all collaborated together. Regardless, the song is pure fire and it's definitely something I shall be downloading when I finally have iTunes credit.
If there was one amazing vocalist and song that deserved to have been in the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, it was totally Albania's entrant Lindita, with her song "World". However, many Eurovision fans weren't impressed with the revamp of the song for the contest, I have to agree, I much preferred "Botë", on the other hand, "World" is just as powerful, if not more so because of the English lyrics. Unfortunately, Lindita placed 14th in the first semi-final with 76 points, 38 from the jury vote and an additional 38 from the televote. This deserved the Grand Final, but many people thought she oversung it on the night. Watch Lindita perform her Eurovision 2017 song "World" in a futuristic world destroyed by war, where there is a serene forest, many clocks and machinery space ships.
Lindita, full name Lindita Halimi, is mostly known for competing on the fifteenth series of American Idol. It wasn't the first Idol she took part in, she came tenth in Ethet (Albanian Idol) during the third series. She also took part in Top Fest, twice, and in 2009, she won it. Then, she decided to give Eurovision a go, by entering the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës where she came third; she later tried again in the 55th edition of Festivali i Këngës, winning it this time around and going on to represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. Unfortunately, she didn't get through to the Grand Final, but she gained many more fans, including myself, who will certainly help her on her way to success, because a voice this great should never be lost to the world. The song was written by Lindita, Big Basta, and Klodian Qafoku.
Directed by Kleidi Eski, this music video is a pure performance piece, only with a subtle narrative placed throughout. Lindita is in a futuristic world, that has been destroyed by war. Her acting throughout is superb all the while completely bringing it for the performance.
Within the visual, Lindita totally proves that she's a future star. It's such a shame she didn't have more of staging on the Eurovision 2017 stage, they could've easily put her in one of the spaceships. Regardless, they replicated some of the imagery onto the backing LED screen, which was a nice added touch.
Overall the video is cool and interesting. I love how different Lindita looks in each of the scenes, whilst easily getting the meaning of her song across and fitting in nicely within this war-destroyed future setting. It's big and engaging just like this song is.
Well, how this didn't make the Eurovision Song Contest 2017's grand final, I do not know; she may have been overshadowed, to be fair, but she gave a brilliant performance on the night; and just look at how high of a quality this music video is, just wow! Representing Macedonia, also known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R. Macedonia), was Jana Burčeska with her song "Dance Alone" gaining 65 points in the second semi-final, 29 from the juries and 40 from the televote. The music video is out-of-this-world, literally, good, like you need to watch it! Taking virtual reality headsets to the next level, watch Jana Burčeska as an old woman, fantasising about dancing with her man through a VR set in this Eurovision 2017 song "Dance Alone".
Jana Burčeska first came to prominence in the first series of Macedonian Idol, where she came fifth, back in 2011. Zoom forward five years and she was announced, through internal selection, as the Macedonian entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, with this song. She may have only come 15th in the second semi-final, but she'll always treasure this day, because, broadcast live for the world to see, her then-boyfriend pulled out a ring and proposed to her. This news made headlines all over the world, and I guess it's a small consolation prize for not winning the contest or even making the grand final. This song was written by Joacim Persson, Alex Omar, Florence A. and Borislav Milanov.
Now, this is what you call a music video, a narrative and performance piece combined together through a virtual reality headset. The narrative slightly reminds me of Chad Kroeger in the Avril Lavigne music video "Let Me Go" which features him as an old man before looking in a mirror and seeing his former self. In this one, an old woman puts on a headset and turns into her younger self, the person we now see as Jana Burčeska.
During the virtual reality scene, Jana Burčeska is dancing with a guy, flirting and teasing with a guy, who, unfortunately, isn't her new fiancé - although they do look similar.
Outside of the VR headset, the old woman can be seen doing household chores, such as washing up. She's clearly alone, and it's quite saddening to see. There's a clear connection between the song and the music video, and these scenes are edited well. It really does tell a brilliant story.
The best part of the video is the ending scene as it switches from young Jana Burčeska to the old woman; it's the exact same room, the exact same picture of the man, but there's a coloured distortion and just proves that they are the same person. This music video is amazing, and so much better than the stage production of the song; although, the song itself is brilliant as well.
How this didn't make the Grand Final, I do not know. Svala friken nailed this on the night, just like Måns Zelmerlöw said she would, it was a magical performance, but she didn't get through. Regardless, I now get to showcase it on my Eurovision Song Contest 2017 Special, so I'm glad I get to do that at least. For Iceland, Svala singing "Paper" gained 60 points overall; 29 from the juries and 31 from the televote. She deserved way more than that. The song is catchy, without a doubt, and her voice is powerful, for sure. Why did this not make it? Watch Svala perform this progressive song in this engaging performance-based music video for her Eurovision Song Contest 2017 song "Paper".
Svala, full name Svala Björgvinsdóttir, is already a pretty big name, having managed to chart on the US Billboard Chart with her song "The Real Me". She later released an album under the same name. She has been included in many projects, including three-piece electronic group Steed Lord who has had pretty big successes in the music industry. Later she formed a duo with her husband named Blissful, who's first single, "Elevate", has received lots of plays on Spotify as well as other streaming sites. She competed in Söngvakeppnin 2017, Iceland's national selection to Eurovision, and won with her song "Paper". It's such a shame she didn't make the Grand Final because she totally nailed it on the night. The song has charted at number one in Iceland. It was written by Svala Björgvinsdóttir, Einar Egilsson, Lester Mendez, and Lily Elise.
Directed by Einar Egils, the music video is another pure performance piece, which is what we usually expect from Eurovision music videos, although we all much prefer something different, since we are going to see them perform the song on the stage. Her semi-final performance can be found below.
This isn't as good as her stage performance, it's too laid-back for the song itself, never mind the whole production. She doesn't look like she's feeling the words or meaning any of them; however, that could all be down to the editing of the video.
Regardless, she looks stunning throughout, even in that wintry red puffed-up coat. She has style and totally rocks it. She looks quite sassy and confident in all the right ways, which is a great interpretation of the song since she's telling a guy how he makes her be. I also like the blue filtering which literally translates the lyrics onto the visual. Clever and cool, very cool; but, not engaging and not as good as Svala's performance on the night.
It's Chart Mondays again, and breaking up my Eurovision Song Contest 2017 Special is French Montana and Swae Lee with "Unforgettable". Once again the UK top 10 is open to my Chart Mondays review since Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber is number one with "Despacito (Remix)", which doesn't have a music video; annoyingly, the original does but that is illegible to chart since the remix is what propelled it to number one, even though in the iTunes chart both tracks are in the top 10. Regardless, it has allowed me to watch this incredible music video, which I probably wouldn't have seen otherwise. Watch French Montana and Swae Lee perform in Uganda with a bunch of kids who have the biggest smiles and can dance better than all of us in this music video for "Unforgettable".
French Monatana, real name Karim Kharbouch, has quickly become an established hip-hop artist. He first came to my attention when he collaborated with Miley Cyrus on her most-recent album, he later topped the UK charts as a featured singer on will.i.am's "Feelin' Myself". Now he's made it all by himself, getting into the top ten with this song, which is actually really catchy. It's a collaboration with Swae Lee, real name Khalif Brown, who is mostly known for being in Rae Sremmund, who had a worldwide hit with "Black Beatles". Now, he's gone solo and he's doing an amazing job so far, especially featuring on this track and totally grabbing the spotlight in this music video. The song is currently at number eight in the UK; it was written by Karim Kharbouch, Khalif Brown, Michael L. Williams II, Christopher Washington, McCulloch Reid Sutphin, and Aujla Jagvir Singh.
Directed by Spliff TV & French Montana, the music video is a full-on performance piece, filmed in Kampala, Uganda. It's so endearing to see these children with massive smiles on their faces, dancing like they have no problems in their world.
As I previously mentioned, Swae Lee totally takes the spotlight in this music video, he exudes a confidence and a swag, totally stylish throughout out, the viewers are just drawn to him from the get-go; so much so that he makes this song look like his own. Regardless, French Montana gives as much as he can and doesn't fair too badly in the visual.
What really stands out are the kids, they know how to dance. Throughout, they're in-sync, totally nailing the choreography and dance sequences where they need to. It's so great to see them filled with so much joy in the video, especially since it's a place we don't hear from often, but we know that many African countries aren't doing so well.
Overall, kudos for French Montana truly showing Africa in a positive and energetic light. This is truly a remarkable and unforgettable music video, which definitely deserves the highest of ratings. It's one that will be embedded in my mind for years to come, and I will most definitely watch again and again.
