Wiwi Jury: Germany’s Avantasia with “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose”

Germany’s national selection show is all set to kick off on February 25th. Earlier today, the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — gathered in Berlin to discuss the contestants participating in Unser Lied für Stockholm, Germany’s national selection for Eurovision 2016. Today we look at Avantasia, who will sing “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose”. Want to see the jury’s verdict? Read on!

Avantasia – “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose”

“Mystery of a Blood Red Rose” reviews

Luis: This is like an approximation of an epic rock band created by Disney. “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose” has all the ingredients to be the theme of an adventures film, or the opening of an anime, but not a song for Eurovision. This is too light and inoffensive to be considered epic. In a way, it feels like a mild attempt to get metal close to a bigger audience, but with this kind of band, mildness doesn’t work. You need rage here, and a red rose is the antithesis to that. And yes, I know the title is figurative, but I had to write that pun.

Score: 5/10

Rick: This is a bit mysterious and theatrical. It reminds me a lot of Meat Loaf, but that’s the exact problem – Meat Loaf was popular 20 years ago and I just can’t imagine seeing this doing well for Germany in 2016. Keeping in mind that Eurovision has become very modern in recent years, even with special genres doing well, this is way too unoriginal and old-fashioned. And it’s always a big risk to send a rock song unless you’re Finland. Next to the songs from Cyprus and Georgia, which both will feature rock elements, Avantasia maybe even wouldn’t stand out at all. Of course it’s well-produced but for me it really doesn’t work. Maybe as a part of a rock musical with a lot of dancers on stage dressed like people from the 17th century but please not for Eurovision.

Score: 4/10

Robyn: This is fun! It’s classic Wagnerian rock, like the stuff Jim Steinman wrote for Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler. The song is full of so much drama and emotion and intensity, layers and layers of glorious rock extravagance. It’s not a cool or current sound, but a song this massive was destined to be played in a big arena setting. If Germany send this to Stockholm – which they should do – they will really make an impact.

Score: 9/10

Kristin: When I heard that Avantasia was one of Germany’s hopefuls this year, I completely fangirled myself! I LOVE this band, and religiously listen to them day in and day out. “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose” is their three-minute epic journey, and what a knock-out it is! It sounds like Meat Loaf, but he’s also a favourite of mine, so its all good. Like Masters of Chant, this would be a bold, but such a good move for Eurovision. And Avantasia will bring a solid show, along with brilliant vocals. They know their s***, and I bet that Germany will see its best results since 2010, should they go with Avantasia. Please Germany, don’t let a girl down!

Score: 10/10

Deban: A cross between Meat Loaf and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, this entry serves a different point of view to what many followers of the Eurovision Song Contest are used to. However, that is a good thing. Rock-opera deserves a mainstream platform, and Avantasia are known for good staging, and stadium-rock drama!

Score:8/10

Mikhail: I really like the song. It has energy, but there is one but: it doesn’t let my fantasy go around and imagine something interesting. All I can come up with visually is a simple performance on stage with jumping, with guitars and with hands up above. Energetic though. A strange mixed feeling I have. At one point it grabs my attention, but at the same time my attention is lost.

Score: 6.5/10

Antranig: There are a lot of mediocre songs in Germany but this is not one of them. It is delightfully catchy and after listening to all ten songs, this is one of the few that stand out. I don’t like the ending of this song as it withers and dies before it needs to — it falls flat after being mostly exciting. Not my favourite but a very good entry.

Score: 7/10

George: Nothing special, to be honest. I like the way it kicks off, but after that, it seems like an attempt to put ABBA and Bonnie Tyler together – one that failed. I can’t say I love it, but I don’t hate it either. If I had to describe this song with one word, I know which that would be: average.

Score: 6.5/10

In the German Wiwi Jury we have 14 jurors but only have room for eight reviews. The remaining 6 scores are below.

Bernardo: 6/10

Edd: 7/10

Dayana: 5/10

Patrick: 2/10

Bogdan:  6/10

Josh: 7/10

The highest and lowest scores are dropped prior to calculating the average score. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 2 and a high of 10.

Wiwi Jury Score: 6.42/10

FOR OUR LIST OF GERMANY 2016 RANKINGS, CLICK HERE

READ MORE GERMANY EUROVISION NEWS