The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — continues its journey through Austria ahead of the Wer Singt Für Österreich 2015 final this Friday. Sightseeing is one of our favourite hobbies – the old town of Innsbruck is the perfect way to get to know Austria. The Goldened Dachl and all the lovely old houses from the past centuries – perfect to review Johann Sebastian Bass with their song “Absolutio“. How did our jury react? Would this be the perfect representative for the host country? Read on to find out.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BASS – “ABSOLUTIO”
Deban: “Absolutio” is undoubtedly a homage to the disco sounds of Hercules and Love Affair. The rapid key changes and cracking falsettos breathe life into the base tones of the electro sample. In a competition where participants really need to stand out, JSB effortlessly nail this task, whilst keeping your hips swinging at the roller disco. Is this a good entry? Actually, it’s GREAT!
Score: 9/10
Max: Imagine putting all the classical Austrian musicians (and Falco) in a food processor with Daft Punk and Malena Ernman. Then pressing ‘mix’ on the highest setting. The outcome would be this monstrosity. The whole concept of grown men pretending to be from the 1800’s freaks me out and I think they need to have a reality check really. Sure, Austria, if you want to be laughed at by Europe for having this ridiculous band making fun of your homeland, then go for it.
Score: 1.5/10
Chris: I love the idea of Johann Sebastian Bass, but in reality their execution is 
usually a little bit off. They feel very much like a second-rate Daft Punk with a more offputting gimmick. There are bits of “Absolutio” that I quite like, but it’s just all a bit too distracting.
Score: 5.5/10
Anthony: Firstly, the hosts will be subject to so much ridicule in Vienna if they get chosen whilst resembling a Mozart tribute band. Then the song sounds like a cross between their other eliminated song “Monsters” with Opera Skaala’s “Heart of Light” from Finland. Absolutio? Absolutely awful!
Score: 2/10
Robyn: A funky-electro-baroque ode to a sexy priest? Yes, please. Austria just needs to send these dorks to the Wiener Stadthalle because they are literally the only act in Wer singt für Österreich who are going to put on a show and remind everyone who the boss is. Last year Austria got serious, this year they can relax and have some fun.
Score: 8/10
Denise: No no no no no…. please do not send this song. It’s just horrible and those wigs and outfits… please we’re living in 2015. It looks like some kind of school play. Austria showed us a good song with a good singer last year, why going back to the worst you have to offer?
Score: 1/10
Mikhail: I find the song really catchy. It is very unusual to see something like this on stage. It is funky, it is original, but I should also admit that it is kinda awkward. Firstly, I don’t like the electric part. It sounds creepy. Secondly, the combination of all these tricks, like opera women, electro tunes, beats and so on, is a total mess. I wish that Austria will consider something, which deserves to be in the final.
Score: 3.5/10
Judit: Oh my God! In this year, the Austrian national final looks like a weird dream. I’m not sure what they thought when they gave to this band a chance. I mean, if my country had won the contest last year, I’d want to show something good to the world again and not something horrible or scary. This performance with this terrible song and those costumes… Really? What would Conchita think about this NF?
Score: 2/10
Parick: Probably the weirdest act in the NF and this is surely not a good thing. ‘Eighties meets 18th century meets horrible voices – what a shocker. “Absolutio” is absolutely the horrible result of trying to bring a good act for the Eurovision. If we send them, it could turn out amazingly well or amazingly bad – there is nothing between that.
Score: 1/10
WIWI JURY AVERAGE: 3.72/10
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I won’t be surprised at all if Austria chooses this to represent them in the homeland! It’s quirky yet fun…exactly what we need this year to spice things up in a year FULL of female/duet ballads. Though, I prefer Zoe, I wouldn’t mind them flying Austria’s flag in ESC 2015. Definitely better than Trackshittaz!
To get things right: JSB are NOT a novelty act. They are the hottest electro-funk underground shit that Austria has on offer and released their wonderful debut album last year, long before any attempts of representing Austria at ESC. It”s interesting how controversial the reactions to them are, reminds me a lot of the first reactions to Conchita, so basically that”s a good sign for a successfull ESC act if people are divided into real haters and real lovers. As I”m a real lover of their ,Electrokoko-Sound” and their stage performance, I”m going to call like wild for them tomorrow.… Read more »
In reply to Oostenrijk, I guess it has to do with Eurovision rules; Heart of Stone had been already published last year, and thus it cannot be appointed as an Eurovision entry. Too bad, because to me it was the best song in the entire #WSFÖ as well. Absolutio is not that bad at all (give it a 7/10 for the first version), but… I would prefer Heart of Stone, a catchy tune which is perfect for the ESC (9/10) Yes, I’m also a sucker for a vocoder… 😀
their makeup is absolutely terrifying
as in it’s practically nightmare material
that’s all I’ll say about this
Pick this PLEASE! 10/10 from me 😀 😛
While no Heart of Stone, this is still pretty good and the only song worth sending for the Austrians. So, if you don’t want to end up in the bottom 5, don’t let the opportunity to be represented by this magnificent act escape you.
I want Austria to pick this so the UK doesn’t come last 🙂
I actually wanna see JSB as interval show act before the voting with Heart Of Stone and an epic Zombie dance.
They also worked a lot on the song after the recording of the last show. The studio version which can be listened to on Spotify or most download portals, has a new chorus.
I absolutely love it! It’s the only austrian hopeful I would like in Vienna, all the others are so average and forgettable.
Yes, is a novelty act but I honestly love the sound of it, even if they’re dimmed just as a joke entry. Though I agree with Oostenrijk, Heart of stone was a lot better.
I doubt Austria will pick them, but given how weird national selections are sometimes, I’m hoping for a miracle here ;P
I knew this one would split opinions.
In my opinion it’s the best of a bad bunch, and surely is at least 6/10.
…oorrrr maybe I’m just a sucker for a voicebox.
Why couldn’t Heart Of Stone compete in the final? It was the best song in the whole show. I don’t get the idea why the finalists have to write their songs AFTER they were chosen and had to drop their songs from the first round. Absolutio feels incomplete and looks like a car crash. I’m so sad because I had such high hopes for Johann Sebastian Bass and I feel like JSB are not happy either at all.
It’s the most outstanding song in this line-up and I hope it wins. The other songs might make Austria to do a Latvia 2003.
Voor de liefhebbers. Een super handig overzicht met alle deelnemers en hun liedjes. http://www.artiestennieuws.nl/34178/trijntjes-concurrenten-eurovisie-songfestival
Oh my god!!!! NOOO(45 minutes later)OOOOOOO!!
0/10
It could do very very well in a year of SO many bland ballads. This is why I think Austria will choose it. Won’t win but would score well.
I don’t love it, but I think it’s the best song in WSFÖ. It’s the kind of song that is obviously not gonna win but do well enough at Eurovision. It’s gimmicky, yes, but it’s also musically decent.