Sad news readers – the last post of the MPG Wiwi Jury has rolled around. Fortunately our in-house panel of music unprofessionals have one last song to review before MGP gets underway tonight on NRK. Did Carl Epsen give us a great send-off to start the Semi-Finals or did it leave us wishing we’d ended with someone else?
Katie:
Oh here we go, it’s ballad o’clock. Whoa okay, it’s depression o’clock. Umm… Is he okay? I feel like he needs a hug. He sounds a bit like Dan from Bastille when we get to the chorus. Well, Dan from the Bastille after he’s flushed his phone down the toilet. Cheer up Carl, you haven’t come last in MGP just yet! Your song’s actually really good!
Score: 8/10
Deban:
In 2012, I was moved by Suus. Last year, it was Birds, This year, Silent Storm is shaping up to be my masterpiece. Espen’s voice activates my emotional neurons in a powerful way. On hearing it, I felt vulnerable, naked and hurt. Listening to it again, I felt a wave of hope. On the third listen, I reverted to feeling hopeless.This is a song that shape-shifts on every listen, whilst bearing the hallmark of a timeless classic. Although it’s lacking in glitter and caricature folklore, I’d like to believe that the Eurovision Song Contest continues to offer a platform for diversity, musicality and true artistry.
Score: 10/10
Francheska:
Ah, another ballad. More sorrow. No drama, no movement. It falls flat like Eddie Edwards did in Calgary. I want to be moved. The people who vote in Eurovision want to be entertained or moved. Ballads are like sharks, they need to move to survive. Where would “Quedate Conmigo” be if it didn’t have a drastic change of pace at the end? Or “Crisalide?” So nope, it’s not getting my “Douze points”.
Score: 2/10
Shane:
Hauntingly beautiful, it’s got the essence of Iceland 2013, and is a very outstanding song. One of my favourites of this years MGP.
Score: 9/10
Angus:
This is replete with angst but I’m not sure that necessarily wins me over. I wanted to be wowed and mesmerised but I’m just not. For whatever reason the hype about Carl passes me by. He has a great voice – that isn’t in question. The song however is…dare I say it…boring. It’s very emotional but it’s also quite slow and not particularly memorable. I am all for a ballad if it has a punch and energy that leaves you remembering it. This is just dull.
Score: 5.5/10
Wiwi Jury Verdict: 6.9/10
You can keep track of all our reviews of MGP 2014 and the standings of the acts here. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following the team on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.
@Deban: no one will have the opportunity to listen to this song three times when they are voting during ESC
Did your ratings go from 0.5/10 first time, 0.8/10 the second time, and 10/10 on your third time through?
Silent Storm is a beautiful, moving song. Not for those who want fizzy pop. People with short attention spans won’t like.
His voice is beautiful. The song is good…
Don’t like this one. People claim this to be the best but it’s really such an average ballad. Carl has a nice voice but there’s nothing special to it. I’d go for Linnea or Elisabeth.
Absolutely overrated
I LIKE, but not to win… !!
its the best
The best this year. By far. It’s beatiful and intim …
This is by far the best song of the season. All it needs is to be performed nicely to take it all home in Copenhagen. It all depends on the live performence. But for me, hands down Norway this year. it’s on repeat in my house 🙂
I don’t understand why this is so High rated. It’s beautiful but not a winner because it’s very Softy.
Thier i was enjoying listening to the songs accross Europe and then this came. Wow. I literally stopped and listened and the song totally hit me. I love the lyrics and concept. The voice is haunting and clear and packs a massive punch. This song played and I listened. Its hard to keep listening as it does make me feel a little down, then again the recognition of a silent storm inside is very powerfull and hopefull. I love this song alot and have been curious to know what others think. I would love it to go to the finals.… Read more »
Also, Francheska: “Ballads are like sharks”
Now there’s a metaphor with some mileage. I love it.
More restrained and less naturalistic than “Eg a Lif,” to which it is similar. And likewise appears to have a considerable following of which I’m not a member.
I can imagine it having some impact on stage and in context, but am otherwise unmoved. Even if it brings the house down I’m not sure that I’d have any interest in replaying it.