Eurovision 2023: Every song ranked, from Albania to the UK

The countdown has begun. This Friday marks 40 days till Eurovision week kicks off with a “turquoise carpet” opening ceremony in Liverpool.

All 37 songs have now been submitted, with lyrics addressing every little thing from demonic possession to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As all the time, the standard’s about as constant as a vat of jelly, however there are some gems amongst the inevitable onslaught of energy ballads.

What follows is a extremely subjective try to rank all of them. You will undoubtedly disagree, and I’ve inevitably snubbed somebody’s favorite. However that is the great thing about Eurovision: Everybody will get a say, and my opinion is not any extra necessary than anybody else’s. (Additionally, I’ve a horrible monitor report in predicting the winner, so there’s that.)

With that in thoughts, let’s have some enjoyable. You may pay attention together with an alphabetically-sorted playlist on Spotify, on Apple Music or on YouTube.

In a quirk of typographical synchronicity, Albina is Albania’s consultant for 2023.

A former runner-up on The Voice, she’s performing Duje, a dramatic ballad about households being separated, and the influence that has on youngsters. The efficiency usually ends with Albina collapsing to her knees in tears.

Albina’s impassioned verses construct to an interesting refrain, that includes background vocals from her household – however general, it is fairly heavy-going.

Prediction: Backside half of the leaderboard

“I simply wanna make artwork, learn books and simply discover somebody who likes me sufficient to kiss my face.”

Brunette is the stage identify of 21-year-old Elen Yeremyan, whose obtained an enormous following in Armenia. She wrote this craving ballad, a couple of lover she has but to fulfill, particularly for Eurovision.

Pairing a fairly, lilting refrain with an anxiety-stricken rap verse, it is surprisingly compelling.

This could possibly be Australia’s remaining yr in Eurovision – because the nation’s participation settlement runs out after Might.

For his or her final roll of the cube, they’ve gone with pop-metal quartet Voyager, who’ve been campaigning to signify their nation since 2015.

Their tune provides off unmistakable Duran Duran vibes, with an anthemic “woah-oh” refrain, and a wibbly guitar solo that sounds just like the theme to Beverly Hills 90210 – which is both a blessing or a curse, relying in your emotions about Jason Priestley.

It ought to go down properly within the enviornment, as Voyager draw on their twenty years of dwell expertise to get the group pumped.

The very best tune you may ever hear about being possessed by the ghost of nineteenth Century horror author Edgar Allen Poe.

Daft because it sounds, the tune is a pointed commentary on how onerous it’s for feminine songwriters to be taken critically. Claiming demonic possession, Teya & Salena recommend, would acquire them extra kudos than simply being themselves.

The mid-section, in the meantime, is directed at Spotify’s royalty charge of $0.003 per tune. “Give me two years and your dinner will likely be free“.

A wildly ingenious Malicious program of a pop tune. What’s to not love?

Prediction: An actual contender. High 5.

TuralTuranX are twin brothers Tural and Turan Bağmanov, who’ve been making music ever since they found a piano in school and skipped classes to practise songwriting.

Their entry takes the type of a voicemail, left on an outdated lover’s telephone, reminiscing about their time collectively and hoping for a reunion. “Simply name me again while you get this message,” the brothers sing over a fragile chord sequence that remembers Sixpence None The Richer’s Kiss Me.

It is all very candy till they resolve to discover their emotions by way of the medium of clumsy white-boy rap. Ed Sheeran has rather a lot to reply for.

Prediction: Knocked out within the first semi-final

Fasten your seatbelts tight, we’re going again to the 90s.

Gustaph’s joyous membership stomper As a result of Of You is festooned with chunky piano chords and wobbly synth traces that reference home classics like Kym Sims’ Too Blind To See It and Crystal Waters’ Gypsy Lady (La Da Dee).

The 42-year-old dedicates his tune to the chums and allies who represent his “chosen household, which occurs rather a lot within the queer world”. And whereas Eurovision is awash with songs about overcoming derision and stereotyping, Gustaph sings it like he means it.

His outfit, in the meantime, will please anybody who’s a fan of frills and outsized hats.

Prediction: Decrease half of the leaderboard

Shock-rock band Let 3 are extremely well-known throughout the Balkans for his or her provocative, avant-garde performances. For Eurovision, they’ve entered a thinly-veiled assault on Vladimir Putin, which absolutely exams Eurovision’s ban on political lyrics to the restrict.

The “mama” of the title refers to Mom Russia and moustachioed frontman Damir Martinović repeatedly sings “Mama kissed a moron“, an obvious criticism of Russia’s political class for his or her continued help of Putin’s regime.

Musically, although, it is a travesty. The primary minute is basically the Macarena stripped of any appeal or guile. That is adopted by a bewildering cod-operatic part, and a cacophonous finale that seems like 10 songs being performed without delay whereas somebody has their chest hairs plucked out one after the other.

Prediction: Let 3 ought to qualify for the ultimate, simply.

Twenty-four-year-old Andrew Lambrou beforehand entered Australia’s choice contest in 2022, coming in seventh place. However his Eurovision journey did not finish there.

Lambrou’s efficiency made such an impression on Cypriot broadcaster CyBC that they supplied him the possibility to go to Liverpool in Might.

He arrives within the UK with Break A Damaged Coronary heart, a profoundly vanilla ballad about “rising from the ashes” of a break-up.

Stuffed with unnecessarily busy manufacturing prospers, it is rescued solely by Lambrou’s hovering multi-octave vocal.

Prediction: Liable to being eradicated in semi-final two.

Czechia, also called the Czech Republic, has a poor monitor report at Eurovision, solely qualifying for the ultimate 4 occasions since they joined in 2007. My Sister’s Crown ought to change that.

Carried out by the all-female Czech-Slovene-Russian band Vesna, it is a tune about sexual equality and feminine empowerment, with frontwoman Patricie Fuxová declaring: “We’re not your dolls.”

Fast and intense with a robust Balkan flavour, it stiches collectively at the least three (perhaps extra) ludicrously catchy hooks in its all-too-brief run-time.

Its success will in the end be decided by the staging: Throughout Czechia/Czech Republic’s choice course of the band stored issues pretty easy however, with an honest price range, you could possibly think about their marionette dance routine being one of many night time’s highlights.

Prediction: Locked on for the highest 10.

Breaking My Coronary heart has a chequered historical past.

Reiley, a 25-year-old Danish singer who’s signed to US report label Atlantic, first wrote the tune a few years in the past within the midst of a poisonous relationship. Nevertheless it languished on a tough drive till his supervisor instructed he enter Eurovision, at which level it was dusted off, spruced up and put ahead for Denmark’s choice course of.

However within the run-up to the present, it was found he’d carried out the tune earlier than (particularly at a live performance in South Korea final yr) – which is towards the principles.

In the long run, an exception was made, and Reiley went on to win the competition. You may see why they had been eager to maintain him in. Breaking My Coronary heart is a strong, trendy pop tune – the type of factor you could possibly think about the Jonas Brothers having a crack at.

Nevertheless it falters via over-repetition of the refrain and, crucially, the 25-year-old’s wobbly dwell vocals.

Prediction: Will wrestle to qualify for the ultimate.

There is a second on this tune the place Alika Milova sighs, and it appears like probably the most despondent second in the entire of Eurovision 2023.

Why does each tune have to be a daring assertion of self-actualisation? She sounds exhausted and, truthfully, that is the type of content material I can get on board with.

Predictably, although, it builds to a rousing remaining refrain about “constructing bridges” and changing into “sturdy sufficient” to beat your demons. Disgrace, as a result of for a second there I had a kindred spirit.

Prediction: Backside finish of the leaderboard.

The tune that solutions the query: “What if Gangnam Fashion, however Finnish?”

Carried out by 29-year-old Jere Pöyhönen, dressed as Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber, it took me on fairly a journey. Listed below are the verbatim notes from the primary time I performed it.

“Feels like a spoon in a blender, solely much less melodic: A cacophony of thrash guitars, offensively low cost synths and unintentionally hilarious Euro-rap.

“Sudden handbrake flip into catchy J-pop melody. This could be superb on Dance Dance Revolution.

“Oh God, I prefer it now. What’s going on?”

This has been taking place a storm with dwell audiences, notably with the audience-participation cha, cha, chanting. And due to this fact….

May La Zarra be the individual to interrupt France’s 45-year shedding streak? Perhaps, simply perhaps…

The 25-year-old has conjured an intoxicating mix of smoky jazz vocals and subdued disco beats for her Eurovision entry. It is quietly attractive, like a type of Sunday morning Dua Lipa.

Prediction: Potential winner.

Iru Khechanovi gained the fifth season of The Voice Georgia after performing Loreen’s 2012 Eurovision tune Euphoria.

Now, she will get her personal shot at Eurovision, and comes up towards…. Loreen, who’s doing a victory lap for Sweden. Ooops!

Iru describes her tune a “combat for love”, however the lyrics appear to have been written by an AI chatbot. “Love is a wordless”? “I really feel I am progressed”?? “Factor is thought”???

The manufacturing is crammed filled with navy drums, EDM synth blurts and James Bond strings. However in the end, it is as hole as a Kinder egg (different chocolate eggs can be found).

Prediction: Decrease half of the leaderboard.

A dreary thrash steel dirge that is presumably supposed to subvert Eurovision’s shiny, completely happy aesthetic. It was enjoyable when Lordi did it 2006 however absolutely issues have moved on since?

That mentioned, Lord Of The Misplaced are seasoned dwell performers who just lately toured with Iron Maiden; and their most up-to-date album – additionally referred to as Blood And Glitter – topped the German album charts in January.

That have and publicity, coupled with their capability to face out from the countless windswept ballads, may tip the scales of their favour.

Prediction: Mid-table at finest.

Greece’s Victor Vernicos has adopted the odd vocal tics of Dermot Kennedy and Tom Walker, the place it sounds such as you’re chewing vowels for breakfast.

However hey, these singers are wildly profitable, and this tune lands squarely of their ballpark: Drums crash, vocals crack, and feelings meet sleeves upon which they’re worn.

Annoyingly, Vernicos flubs the ultimate refrain, slicing the rhythm monitor for what I suppose is meant to be a hands-in-the-air, “Radio Gaga” second. As a substitute, it sucks the vitality out of what may have been an exciting finale.

Prediction: Eradicated within the second semi-final.

Throbbing with a Scandi-pop synth pulse, Diljá’s tune is in regards to the realisation that you just, and no-one however you, has energy over your life. Or, in her personal phrases: “Do not let the trauma take the wheel”.

The refrain is precision-tooled to stay in your head with its insistent “p-p-p-pick up a Penguin” chorus*; however, alas, it’s extremely a lot Eurovision by numbers.

Prediction: I can not see this being a robust vote-winner. May end within the low teenagers.

(* not the precise lyrics, clearly)

The type of music they put in banking commercials: A greedy, aspirational hymn to togetherness, with lyrics Coldplay would have rejected for being too twee.

Wild Youth? They’re about as rowdy and unpredictable as a facecloth.

Prediction: Eradicated within the first semi-final.

Noa Kirel has been referred to as Israel’s greatest pop star – she’s scored 4 primary singles, gained 5 MTV Awards and been a choose on Israel’s Received Expertise, all whereas serving a obligatory two-year stint within the Israeli military.

Her choice comes after Israel did not qualify for final yr’s Eurovision remaining – an embarrassing flip of occasions for a rustic that is gained 4 occasions.

The state broadcaster was so eager to get her on board that they introduced Noa’s identify earlier than she’d totally signed up, resulting in a clumsy four-week interval the place her participation hung within the stability.

The 21-year-old ultimately accepted, with a tune that seems like Katy Perry after one too many vodka & Purple Bulls.

Bonus factors for together with a drumbeat that seems like a galloping unicorn. Bonus bonus factors for inventing the phrase “femininal” (rhymes with “phenomenal”). A enjoyable distraction.

Prediction: Higher half of the leaderboard.

Marco Mengoni is an enormous deal in Italy. Since successful The X Consider 2009, he is topped the album charts seven occasions, and scored 29 high 40 singles.

However for all of the success, he is a reflective, considerate musician, who’s spoken overtly about his struggles with psychological well being and physique dysmorphia.

His Eurovision entry known as Due Vite (Two Lives) and it explores the facility of goals to nourish our day-to-day lives.

“It’s a tribute to life and an invite to take pleasure in even probably the most boring moments, those who appear to show us nothing however cover concepts for the long run,” he advised Vainness Truthful.

Sung with searing sincerity, it is one in all this yr’s standout ballads.

Aijā is the Latvian phrase for “lullaby” – and this tune is meant to be a soothing treatment to the horrors of recent life.

Now, perhaps I am lacking some necessary cultural context right here however, in my expertise, lullabies aren’t stuffed filled with guitar suggestions and glitchy, jumbled drumbeats that sound like somebody pushing a cabinet of saucepans over a cliff.

The quiet-verse/loud-chorus dynamic suggests Sudden Lights are college students of the Nirvana/Pixies college of songwriting, however they lack both band’s ferocity or chew.

Prediction: Ok to make the ultimate, however poor possibilities thereafter.

These of you who take note of the lyrics will uncover that Monika Linkyte has been via rather a lot. She’s carried unhappiness together with her since she was 16. She’s tasted failure and had her goals damaged. The hearth that burned inside her has been extinguished.

However she’s reaching out for assist, pleading together with her family members to remain by her aspect whereas acknowledging “it ain’t straightforward to like somebody like me“.

It ends with the repeated phrase “čiūto tūto” – an outdated Lithuanian folks mantra that is supposed to assist individuals reconnect with nature and their true selves.

Monika, who beforehand entered Eurovision in 2015, says the tune relies on “a time once I did not really feel comfy in my physique”, and you’ll hear the desperation in her supply. Solely a stony coronary heart could be unmoved.

Prediction: Simply exterior the highest 10.

Taking its cue from 2020 Eurovision icon Daði Freyr, this can be a slab of socially-awkward disco funk, that includes the long-lasting line: “I really feel higher/in my sweater“.

Delightfully bonkers, and cheesier than a wheel of brie.

Prediction: Unloved by followers and bookmakers, this will likely drop out after the semi-finals. An actual disgrace.

Pasha Parfeni began his musical profession on the age of seven, learning classical piano, and beforehand entered Eurovision in 2012, when he took eleventh place.

He is again this yr with a piledriving home monitor that options an unexpectedly pretty nose-flute breakdown.

Lyrically, it is a wedding ceremony tune infused with pictures of nature symbolising the concord between the married couple. Musically, it is the type of factor the producers of Quick & Livid would dub on to an Japanese European nightclub scene.

Good antlers on the backing dancers.

Prediction: Backside half of the leaderboard.

The one duet on this yr’s contest, Burning Daylight is, on first impression, a boilerplate Eurovision piano ballad.

However co-writer Duncan Lawrence is a former winner, and he is aware of the worth of a sluggish burning build-up.

After Mia and Dion spend two minutes exploring their melancholy (he cannot “discover pleasure anymore” and he or she’s stopped believing in God) the tune explodes right into a implausible, heart-tugging decision: “Goodbye, outdated life!“

It’s going to be fascinating to see whether or not the duo have the requisite chemistry to tug it off, although. In interviews, Dion has made it very clear they had been solely put collectively for Eurovision.

“We are available in as two separate artists,” he advised one interviewer. “That is additionally why we’re Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper and never [2014 Eurovision runners-up] The Widespread Linnets.”

An electrical jolt of Euro-pop, with a baroque refrain most artists would kill for, and a sea shanty breakdown that feels very pandemic-fever-dream.

Lyrically, the tune has a robust message about self-acceptance.

“I’m bisexual and once I lived in Italy I needed to cover who I used to be as a result of a few of my buddies and family wouldn’t approve,” says Alessandra. “So I feel it is necessary to just accept who we’re, with out caring in regards to the opinion of others.”

Alessandra additionally has the most important vocal second of the night time, reaching a excessive E be aware that is basically a whistle tone. Guess they put that within the montage.

Prediction: Hovering across the high 5.

A disarmingly easy monitor, Solo has a reggae-pop lilt and a sing-song refrain you could possibly think about Zara Larsson chucking out as a b-side.

It has appeal in abundance, however singer/mannequin Blanka Stajkow hasn’t been the strongest vocalist in Poland’s televised choice course of, so she’ll must work on her supply earlier than Liverpool.

Prediction: Eradicated within the semi-finals.

Marisa Isabel Lopes Mena, aka Mimicat, brings the Moulin Rouge to Eurovision. All castanets and flamenco skirts, this can be a massive, ballsy cabaret quantity about love driving you loopy. “My physician mentioned there’s nothing to do / Misplaced case, I noticed him writing, too,” she sings (in Portuguese).

Mena gained Portugal’s choice course of regardless of having pharyngitis, so think about what she’ll be able to in Liverpool.

Prediction: Will endure compared to France’s stylistically-similar entry.

I feel that is the one tune in waltz time this yr… Not that it helps. “Do not you simply wanna sit proper subsequent to me / Together with your favorite costume on the ground and your goals?” asks Andrei, to which the reply is clearly, “Ugh, get away from me”.

Conceptually, the tune describes a poisonous relationship and the wrestle to decide on between ardour and self-preservation.

Andrei, who’s simply 18, inhabits the psychodrama, sounding alternately doleful and sleazy and remorseful and indignant. However when he sings traces like, “I am begging you, take off your garments and step on me“, it is genuinely upsetting.

Prediction: Eradicated in semi-final one.

San Marino’s entry begins promisingly sufficient with a twisty, sinuous guitar riff, however it rapidly goes downhill. “C’mon child, I can scent you want an animal,” growls singer Andrea Lazzeretti, deploying one of many ickiest chat-up traces in historical past.

He later claims to have “butterflies in my ears”, elevating the terrifying chance he was rising caterpillars in there first.

When you can ignore the phrases, the tune’s a stable sufficient glam-pop stomper. However you may’t ignore the phrases.

Prediction: Eradicated in semi-final one.

“I simply wanna sleep ceaselessly / I prefer it higher once I dream,” sings Luke Black on this trippy, unsettling electro banger.

The tune dates again to 2020, and the lyrics are very a lot rooted at the hours of darkness days of lockdown.

“I spent the final years very alienated from the world, particularly all through the pandemic,” Luke advised the Eurovision Enjoyable web site. “I immersed myself into my mattress, video video games and anime and that is how the tune was created.”

Musically, he conveys the oppressive vacuum of isolation completely – however may it’s too experimental for Eurovision?

Prediction: Simply exterior the highest 10.

Self-styled “shagadelic rock band” Joker Out are what the world will get for tolerating Maroon 5 for the final twenty years. Carpe Diem seems like rock music, it strikes like rock music, and when it finishes, you should have no reminiscence that it ever occurred.

Some of the musically intriguing entries this yr, EAEA is all flamenco handclaps and Arabic vocals traces, underscored with a pulsating synth line.

The 33-year-old wrote the tune to honour her roots: The art work encompasses a {photograph} of her late grandmother, Carmen, who launched her to flamenco, and he or she performs with 5 backing singers, representing the facility and power of her feminine ancestors.

Lots will journey on how Blanca’s melismatic vocal efficiency may be recreated dwell. If she wins, anticipate plenty of “Una Paloma Blanca” headlines.

Returning to Eurovision as a former winner is a dangerous technique – a proven fact that wasn’t misplaced on 2012 champion, Loreen.

“They popped the query, the reply was, ‘It is not gonna occur'”, she advised the BBC’s Eurovision podcast. “It took me 4 weeks [to decide]. It was extra like, ‘What can I say on this? Do I’ve something to provide once more?'”

The reply is a powerful sure. Tattoo is a stormy trance anthem that sweeps you up like a hurricane. The opening melody makes a intelligent nod to Abba’s The Winner Takes It All, and the staging is spectacular.

Already the bookies’ favorite to win, it presses all the suitable buttons, in precisely the suitable order, like a superb Eurovision raise concierge.

Prediction: Potential winner.

An earnest anti-war ballad, Remo Forrer’s tune follows two childhood buddies who used to play military video games within the again backyard; solely to be confronted by the horrors of struggle as grown-ups. (The similarities to 1903 music corridor quantity Two Little Boys are absolutely a coincidence?)

Though Forrer sings with actual conviction, the tune is lumbered with plodding, uninspired manufacturing. A disgrace, as a extra delicate studying may have been genuinely shifting.

Prediction: Knocked out within the first semi-final.

For his or her 2023 entry, reigning Eurovision champions Ukraine have taken a style swerve from the anarchic folk-punk of Kalush Orchestra to the spooky electro-soul of Tvorchi.

Unsurprisingly, the duo’s entry is colored by the continued struggle towards Russia. Band member Andrii Hutsuliak wrote it after watching movies of the siege of Azovstal, taking inspiration from the armed forces and civilians who defended the city’s metal works.

On stage, they carry out the tune in stark, yellow and black costumes, towards a video backdrop of nuclear alerts and dancers in gasoline masks.

Justifiably darkish, it is most likely too confrontational to win on musical benefit alone, however loads of voters will need to present Ukraine their help.

The UK is in final place alphabetically, and final place within the working order for Eurovision’s grand remaining – however Mae Muller is not at risk of scoring the dreaded nul factors.

I Wrote A Tune is a frank and humorous revenge monitor, bitter as a bag of lemons and catchier than the frequent chilly.

The flamenco guitar prospers are a sensible contact; as is the wordless chant within the post-chorus – a trick she’s borrowed from Woman Gaga (ooh-la-la) that handily transcends language limitations,

It is most likely too generic to high the leaderboard, however this camp disco banger is troublesome to disregard.

Prediction: Seventh place.

All of the build-up, insights and evaluation is explored every week on a brand new BBC podcast referred to as Eurovisioncast.

Eurovisioncast is out there on BBC Sounds, or search wherever you get your podcasts from.