It’s ANOTHER double issue, we’re good to you!
Israel – Michelle – is a strong song
Trivia first- after 53 years , this is the first time Israel sends a song with a person’s name as a title of the song.
Michelle is more symbol for all the toxic love we had than a real person although Noam keeps as vague as possible, when asked if this is a real person or not.
It is a tri-lingual song where the text goes very smoothly from Hebrew, French and English. If I have any critique regarding the song, it is the English part, which I find unnecessary as it doesn’t add anything to the song. The use of French and Hebrew would be enough for the song. For the English speaking – Florentin mentioned in the song is a neighborhood in the south Tel Aviv, where a lot of young people live.
There are some very clever choices, when it comes to the writing and the structure of the song. It starts as a ballad with some violins and a guitar which creates a nice atmosphere. Just when you thought, not another ballad from Israel, comes beat in the 2nd part of the 1st chorus. And that beat is present through the whole song. This is a very gentle beat; it is there but it doesn’t force its present. That change in rhythm catches you by surprise and keeps you interested. The beat is in full swing when the chorus comes and the violins from the beginning of the song are also present but with different colors to it. By the end of the chorus, you just can’t avoid humming along the tune.
The “Aie-aie-aie-aie-aie-aie-oh-oh-oh-oh” at the end of the chorus, is a bit cheesy but is very effective as you cannot get it out of your head.
The song follows the structure of vers/chorus/vers/chorus a bridge, which is the part where they go back to Hebrew and Noam’s voice is carrying the bridge which leads to a mini key change, again carried by Noam’s voice.
As a song it sounds more French than the French song for this year. Noam who speaks French fluently(you can listen here to his cover to Mon Amour(France 2024)) is very likable person with a good voice which manage to draw you in the song and the color of his voice convey the pain he has and you feel the emotion even if you don’t understand everything he sings about.
I do wonder how this will be staged. It’s not a song with an obvious staging concept. It will require some clever staging to give it a nudge in the right direction.
You can think what you want about Israel participation but Israel takes this contest very seriously and they want to win(although, I admit, that an Israeli win will not be good for Eurovision). With Michelle Israel delivers another strong song, which should do well with both juries and televoters but the juries will kill its chances of winning and they will, once more, ignore a song that matches all the criteria’s they have for judging a song. The televotes will push this through to a top 10 or even top 5 result.
My marks – 12 points
Italy- Per Sempre Sì- is infectious.
Italy is the proof that when it comes to a song , all you need is an unsophisticated tune, accompanied by a good singer who pours his heart to you. There is no elaborate stage routine. Just him singing and while he sings to a wide audience, it feels like he is singing personally to each one in the audience in the hall and at home.
It could have become cheesy, it could have become sugary and it has its roots in the disco sound of the 70’s and it shouldn’t work at all, but when he starts singing and the song is unfolding, you just smile to yourself and think to yourself: yep, I like this one.
He is a singer with charisma and stage presence and he sells the song very effectively to me as a viewer and takes me into his journey. You believe every word coming from his mouth, even you do understand most of it.
Another strong song from Italy and another top 10 or even top 5 result for Italy.
My marks – 12 points
