Earlier today the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of musical unprofessionals — headed to Copenhagen to eat dirt at Noma. After chowing down on courses of egg cured in fermented beef and berries and greens soaked in vinegar for one year, we sat down to review Anti Social Media‘s Eurovision 2015 song “The Way You Are”. Did we like their song as it was? Read on to find out…
Denmark’s Eurovision 2015 song
Reviews: Anti Social Media with “The Way You Are”
Angus: It is a sorry state of affairs when your rotating drum kit merits a camera angle in your performance. Everyone on stage looks like they’re constipated and it seems “The Way You Are” is going to be a similarly unpleasant experience for everyone watching the First Semi-Final. If Denmark don’t qualify this year, it will be fully deserved.
Score: 2.5/10
Bogdan: I am struggling to find something positive to say, which doesn’t bode well for Anti Social Media, at least as far as my review is concerned. Everything, from the lyrics to the performance, is average. Nothing stands out. And let’s not fool ourselves, the melody itself is not retro, it’s simply outdated. PS: I found something! The men are well-groomed? (If only it was a male grooming contest!)
Score: 3/10
Chris: I kind of feel a bit sorry for Anti Social Media: this song is nowhere near as bad as many people make it out to be. Yes, it doesn’t really go anywhere, but it’s enjoyable enough for the three minutes that it’s on. I think a lot of people hold Denmark to a higher standard than most countries and that’s why it has suffered. It’s not a song I’m going to be shouting my love for, nor one I can rage against. It’s just “there”.
Score: 6/10
Deban: In 2006, Denmark finished in the bottom quarter with the “Twist of Love”. Deservedly so. “The Way You Are” is likely to suffer a similar fate. Although there’s a playful ease to this chaotic Brit-pop offering, cheeky alone shouldn’t score a place in the left side of the scoreboard. That’s what juries are there for!
Score: 4/10
Denise: I have hated this song since the first time I heard it. I remember being really kind reviewing this song months ago by giving it a 4, but that was way too high. It’s so old school and uninteresting to watch. And hey, is the drummer circling around on stage? Whoops, guess you just found out this is the first time I was able to listen to the whole song. I hope it will remain a one-time experience.
Score: 2/10
Francesca: I’ll be honest: I should hate this. I really should. It’s sappy, old-fashioned, simply unoriginal, and the vocals are about as choppy as an internet connection in 1993. A 10-year-old could write this song, juding by all the clichés. Yet there is something to be said for this 1950s-styled band: their song is insanely catchy and chirpy. Somehow, making me feel positively giddy has saved this song from a certain death. That said, I’d be terribly surprised if it gets in the top 15 in the grand final…
Score: 5/10
Padraig: On first listen I wondered why the hate? It all became clear once I hit replay: “The Way You Are” begins to grate very, very quickly. The lyrics and instrumental riffs are repetitive, and there’s no fun factor to save it. Also, I don’t get why this is branded Britpop? Surely Oasis and Blur must be spinning in their musical graves? At best this is a retro pastiche of the genre, but even then the band take themselves far too seriously.
Score: 4/10
Robyn: I really liked this song during the national final, but it hasn’t stuck with me. It’s a nice enough tune, but the song ends up feeling quite repetitive and – I’m not even sure how this is possible – boring. It makes me wonder if Anti Social Media aren’t coming across as being especially likeable. They seem a bit… obnoxious? But they have a huge advantage with an upbeat song, so it could be saved with good staging. There is potential so I’m not going to give up on it yet.
Score: 6/10
William: The lead singer carries this entire song, and at times I wonder if the others are there simply to take up space. The half-hearted stage jump by one of the guitarists adds a lame factor that I’m still coming to terms with. In any event, the mod sound will go down a treat with many, though I fear it will be lost on most. Denmark’s first borderline qualifier in many years.
Score: 5.5/10
Zach: I’m sorry, I think I read the year wrong. This is Eurovision 2015, right? I just figured this song meant it was 1967 or something. Completely dated, and not in the “throwback fun” kind of way, in the “trying too hard and epically failing” kind of way. The attitude all of them had/have is so arrogant and pompous, I’m rooting against them already. The vocals are way off live, and with the stronger entries in Semi 1, I think we may see Denmark miss the final for the first time since 2007. Ouch.
Score: 2/10
Our first reaction (February 7):
Twenty-nine jurors review each song, but we only have space for ten written reviews. The remaining 19 scores are listed below.
Anthony: 6/10
Josh: 3/10
Judit: 7/10
Kristín: 8.5/10
Liam: 5.5/10
Luis: 6.5/10
Marek: 3/10
Mario: 2/10
Max: 3/10
Mike: 8/10
Mikhail: 4/10
Patrick: 2.5/10
Ramadan: 5.5/10
Renske: 8/10
Rezo: 6.5/10
Sami: 2/10
Sinan: 6.5/10
Sopon: 0.5/10
William C: 5.5/10
The highest and lowest scores are dropped prior to calculating the average. We have removed a low of 0.5 and a high of 8.5.
What Bogdan said
This song just isn’t right at all. Suitcase would have been destined for a big placing. There are definitely at least 10 songs in the first semi-final that have better chances at qualifying than this.
Nooooooooooooooooooo
I KNEW it. Facing the rehearsal in Aalborg there was no way back.
They would win. It was called Beatles inspired but I think it has a touch more Motown.
Songwriters just came off with Danish group L.I.G.A with a number 1 album Motown inspired in Danish.
This is their English outlet.
The singer reminded me instant of Swedish singer Uno. That is not a bad thing at all. They seem thrown in for the event . Please prove me wrong
Aaaawwww…this is such a delightfully cute and cheesy song. Almost infantile and very catchy, it may not win, but this certainly is going to sell well. It is the kind of nonsense stuff that teenagers would love to dance to
I remember seeing this win in the Demark selection programme.
Didn’t think it was the best song then.
It left me with a face looking as though I have been eating greens soaked in Vinegar for a year!
Sorry Denmark “just the way you are”????
This song is awesome! I love it so much <3
Ehhhhhhhhh. I supported it at first, but it’s an extra tired song, like Romania’s entry from 2011. Why does this one have to be one of the few uptempo songs? Hopefully Albania will cancel it out.
Adequate!
Quite competent!
Lego have gone too far.
Based on recent years, I’m inclined to call this “Danish Soul.”
6.5/10
Cool song but lacks coolness. I think Iceland will take higher billing than the danish this year out of the Scandinavians.
This is a lot of fun but these are opinions only and I don’t think they even portend to forecast what will make it through. Just like the country finals this year, the opinions on this band (either the jury or the comments) have only a modest correlation to what the actual voters like. I expect this song to easily make it through to the final (as well as Cyprus). I believe it will perform modestly in the final.
It seems like such a lazy song! There is no variety in the instrumentals and the lyrics are simple and repetitive. Furthermore, there is something unlikeable about the band itself.
4/10
It’s performing between Russia and Albania, which are two front runners to win the whole semi-final, not to mention after a commercial break – two things that really don’t help with your chances. Denmark will definitely be forgotten in the mix, but depending on how well the juries score it (yet again, I expect Russia and Albania to get good scores from the juries) they may just scrape through. For now, I’m thinking they’ll get 11th-13th.
I don’t all the hate about this song. I love it. It’ in my top ten and really hope it makes the final but I fear it will miss out
I am sure Denmark will qualify although I also don’t like the song. It’s such a typicall Danish entry – we have heard so many similar entries from Denmark and they almost always went through. I think their qualification will be a not so nice surprise for many, but this song can easily stand out in semi final with many ballads.
Check out TOP 40 which is based on votes from 100 personal charts and see where Denmark is placed!
YOU can also VOTE for YOUR TOP 10 in comments!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uZNomvbqJ5M&hl=en&client=mv-google&gl=LV
Song is really cheap, won’t qualify. There also unlucky with their draw at the semi final, Russia performs before Anti Social Media and (a winner favorite) Albania will peform after. With that being said it can be possible that Romania will get a hard time too, because Albania and Georgia are both 2 entries that will blow the audience away. Denmark, 2010-2013 they were amazing… 2014 (Bruno mars 2.0) was bad, and this year it isn’t good either. Scandinavian countries really dissapointing this year, except for Norway. Denmark and Finland > > > > ..l.. However it were the people… Read more »
mee: 8,5/10
I don’t understand why so many hate for this song.
It’s even better than what Denmark sent last year.
Isn’t in my top 15, but I wouldn’t give 2 points of 10 for this.
I have the same opinion about Denmark, Lithuania and Netherlands songs of this year: catchy, nice at the first listening, but it gets tiring after few listenings.
This is bland, featureless and totally crap. Makes the UK look good for once. Non-qualifier.
I agree with most things said, this song is not good and doesn’t deserve to qualify to the final in my opinion. The only part that made me thick is “I think a lot of people hold Denmark to a higher standard than most countries”. That’s quite a strange statement. Let’s take a step back: Denmark’s Eurovision results have been miserable during decades. They won in 1967 then did pretty much nothing during 35 years until their next victory, in 2001. Then again, nothing memorable until 2010 and, I admit it, a couple of good entries these last few years.… Read more »
They cant compare to last years Scandinavian ‘boy’band and boyband (Pollaponk & Softengine).
Denmark and Iceland have really screwed up by not sending Suitcase and Feathers. Hope none makes the final.
Plus the main singer is so CREEPY!!
Meh.
I really don’t like the song and the lead singer always looks like he’s about to sneeze. And these Dora The Explorer lyrics are perfect for a Nickelodeon TV show, not for a serious contest. Not too serious to be taken seriously, and not too much of a joke entry to make fun of. 4/10
I guess I can see why a lot of people hate it, but coming from someone who played FIFA non stop as a kid and therefore listened to all that british pop, i actually like it :p
A friend in London, that was a trully great band from Denmark in the ESC, this is just awful…
Hate it. Denmark’s usual blandness. I swear this, 2008, 2009 and 2011 could pass as the same song. After 2013, proves the country’s a fluke, constantly sending uninteresting stuff that’s average at best.
1.5/10
(Guess if you have a space in the jury, may I get in?)
Awww, I like this one!
They have a great song. But this is very likely to go down the same road as Can Linn for Ireland last year. Denmark is very much up against it. The staging needs work or it will be a very hot mess.
It looks like it will be Denmark’s 3rd NQ since 2004.
I don’t hate it but I don’t love it either. It’s just too middle of the road for me. And this is from someone who usually loves Danish entries.
The song is okay. Nothing special, nothing terrible. I think they would qualify if they drew Semi 2, but I don’t think they’ll make it through Semi 1…
Also, they are surrounded by Polina and Elhaida who I consider to be two heavyweights, so that probably doesn’t bode well!
Rock-pop? Funny. Fresh? Funnier. Lollalo, you crack me up.
It’s not as bad as before once you compare it to Finland, Moldova, Russia, Poland, The Netherlands, France or Belgium, but it’s still bad.
We know, that wiwi readers love only female singers with pop or strong ballads. Thanks god, that we have some originality in Eurovision every year, because wiwi readers are NOT choosing the songs for every country. In this case, we would have 40 same songs and nobody would watch it. Nobody. Denmark sends nice rock-pop band and they will be very fresh during 1st semi-final. They will qualify from 4th-6th place.
Just a horrible song, nothing more to say. Sorry Denmark, just hope you’ll give some quality in 2016. Anyway, good luck! 🙂
It’s really poor, and quite annoying. The lead singer isnt that great vocally, either. 3/10
Padraig, finally somebody else who doesn’t think this is Britpop! The world may have retained its sanity after all. It’s not Britpop whatsoever.
Ok I have the danish entry 10th on my top16 4 the 1st semifinal
& its on my top25 overall..
Its catchy and fun song.. 🙂
P.S. ~ Hey Nikolaj lets go to wonderful Copenhagen to get married baby! <3 🙂
I propose you and asking you to be my boyfriend! <3 😀
Say YES please! <3 🙂
It’s a nice enough song, and the lead singer is hella cute, but I still wish Anne had won instead.
Tbh I think the biggest critic I can make is that they sound like a britpop parody band, except they actually take themselves seriously.
The song is not bad at all…But i dislike them heavily…They look like douche kind obnoxious nerds bullies… But the one of them that is Nikolaj is cuttie hot babe though! <3 😉 I would NOT mind at all to get bullied by this hunk! <3 🙂 {{ When i was young student in school back then there was a handsome boy that used to bully me and he was chasing me during the breaks…And one day when he caught me he started hugging me and kissing me! 😉 <3 He had a crush on me! 🙂 Cool memories… 🙂… Read more »
6/10
At first I didn’t like this song, but every time I heard it I found myself liking it a bit more. This is at best a borderline qualifier for the final but it could not qualify. I wouldn’t mind if it did.
It is not worse than craps from Belgium, Latvia and Cyprus.
I don’t inderstand the hate about Denmark this year. In my mind this is a much more competent and likeable entry than many others this year.
Well. The juries are giving really high scores this year, guess we have to wait for the full results to come out as a comparison, as single results wont be that good.
It isn’t that bad, but I don’t think Denmark will qualify this year. 5 from me for the fact that its enjoyable for a few minutes.
Well at least you gave this song a deserved score. Well done 🙂