Yesterday the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — paid a visit Georgia and checked out Tbilisi’s indie rock scene. At the back of a dive bar we discussed Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz and their song “Midnight Gold”. Did we think their song was musical gold? Or was it more a case of fool’s gold? Read on to find out!

Nika Kocharov – “Midnight Gold”

“Midnight Gold” reviews

Bogdan: Georgia is bringing something different to the table every year and I love it. And even though I am no longer a Britpop fan (oh, the ’90s!), I can recognise a good song when I hear one. With an amazing light show (I can almost see it), “Midnight Gold” might upset some fan favourites — and I wouldn’t mind. This has more depth and quality than many overrated entries this year.

Score: 8/10

Angus: Nope. Nope. Nope. The kid’s TV mad professor look, weird band makeup and dizzying filler stadium anthem sound are doing nothing for me. This the kind of rock that would have been a huge smash in the early ’00s but now sounds tired and uninspired. This is one whacky act I can do without this year.

Score: 0.5/10

Antranig: As a lover of rock music at Eurovision, I have to say that if you’re going to do rock, do it properly. This is soft, cheap and agonising to try to get through. The pitch of the ridiculous music in the background seems appropriate only if they’re trying to attract bats through echolocation. Clearly “Midnight Gold” is not aiming for gold. Bring back Nina Sublatti!

Score: 0/10

Jason: I love a diva-tastic ballad/pop stomper as much as the next Eurovision fan, but just because “Midnight Gold” isn’t typically Eurovision friendly doesn’t make it bad. I quite like that it isn’t over-produced like so many of the other entries, and to me it seems much more original than the other (pop) rock entries this year. I for one love Nika and his quirky yet laid-back performance style. Also, that crazy final minute is perfection! I would be delighted if Georgia qualifies, but it probably won’t, unfortunately.

Score: 8/10

David: After sending quality entries for several years and not doing that well, Georgia has clearly decided to send absolute crap and see how that does. It’s an interesting experiment, but an awful song. It’s a bunch of atonal shouting with uninteresting loud music for the backdrop. Put this two-thirds of the way through the semi to make a good bathroom break. (I gave it a 0 because I’m not allowed to give it 10.)

Score: 0/10

Deban: If mining took place at midday, this entry would’ve been labelled topaz. Young Georgian Lolitaz may be unique in Georgia, but Europe will probably perceive them as “unfinished”. I’ve grown to appreciate their entry, and the artistry that underscores their music. However, I don’t find this gold precious enough to hold onto. 

Score: 4/10

Robyn: “Midnight Gold” is easily one of my favourite tracks of 2016. I love the mix of the brash and obnoxious guitar, the seductive bassline, the trippy lyrics and Nika Kocharov’s laid-back Britpop vocals — and the studio version adds a disco breakdown amid the feedback solo. Realistically, I don’t think this will do well in Stockholm, but I’m just happy it exists.

Score: 8.5/10

Edd: Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against indie rock. The Young Georgian Lolitaz are a great band with an interesting look, interesting vocals and some great songs under their belt. “Midnight Gold” reminds me of when dogs eat their own faeces and then throw it back up again. Immensely unpleasant to witness, but interesting.

Score: 2/10

Padraig: Two years ago, I branded Georgia’s Eurovision entry three minutes of glorified noise. And they’ve done it again. As a song, “Midnight Gold” has zero appeal. There’s no hook, the production is lacking and the whole package comes across as amateurish. Then there’s the issue of Nika. I don’t think they could find a more lethargic frontman if they tried – he’s practically comatose! Judging by his image, he fancies himself as the next Jarvis Cocker. He’s not. I’m all for experimental Eurovision entries, but I expect them to possess some pizazz. This is DOA.

Score: 1/10

Sinan: What the hell was that? I mean im super disappointed this year from Georgia, last year they were really on top now bottom. Whats happened? The song isnt for the Eurovision stage, maybe for a criminal serial or something like that.

Score: 3/10

William: These guys are nuts, but I do love my protein! “Midnight Gold” is quirky, off-kilter and it really shouldn’t work. Yet there is real charm in the Georgian take on Britpop. It makes me feel like I’m coming off a high — and the loud, pushy bridge sends me on one final trip before I do. I wouldn’t download this and I think it will struggle to make the final. But I’m thrilled to have it in the contest.

Score: 5.5/10

In the Wiwi Jury we have 40 jurors but only have room for 11 reviews. The remaining 29 scores are below.

Anthony: 4/10

Bernardo: 0.5/10

Chris: 3.5/10

Cristian: 7/10

Dayana: 4/10

Denise: 1.5/10

Diego: 4.5/10

Forrest: 3/10

George: 3/10

Gökhan: 1/10

Josh: 2/10

Judit: 1/10

Kristin: 8/10

Liam: 1/10

Luis: 8.5/10

Marek: 0/10

Maria: 5.5/10

Mario: 2.5/10

Max: 2/10

Mike: 1/10

Mikhail: 0.5/10

Patrick: 0.5/10

Renske: 2/10

Rezo: 8/10

Sami: 3/10

Steinunn: 7.5/10

Tobias: 0/10

William C: 2.5/10

Zakaria: 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 0 and a high of 8.5.

WIWI JURY SCORE: 3.33/10

SEE OUR CURRENT EUROVISION 2016 REVIEWS AND RANKINGS

82 Comments
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Goodnightmoon
Goodnightmoon
7 years ago

Extremely underrated, this is the best rock song of the year and reminds me to a ton of great alternative rock bands. Such a same most eurofans dont have any taste for the genre. 8/10

Peter V
Peter V
7 years ago

This song is so original and not like anything else this year 🙂 I believe they will rank high at Eurovision because at least people will remember them!

Ian
Ian
7 years ago

Talk about a love it or hate it song. Only a small handful of people seem to be in the middle, everyone else gives it a decently high or really low score.
I really enjoy this song, and I think it just might be a dark horse in the contest.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

Here I am, in the middle of my 2nd review of all 43 songs; and after listening to this song again, the clearest picture I can give is that, while I gave them a decent mark for ingenuity with the MUSIC, the LYRICS (or lack thereof), especially in the fusion tech-rock (for lack of a more appropriate phrase) segment of the song, weigh it down very heavily. The outlook, in my opinion, is still not good.

Sholetter
Sholetter
7 years ago

Jesus… wiwiblog ure
with no taste if u it ranks poland 4.86 and Georgia 3.33… srsly….? its like
compare Justin Bieber and countries noname vocal…. please understand that the vocals also plays a big role…. this is insta winner for me 😉

Jerome
Jerome
7 years ago

4/10
My first impression of this song was that this is not suited for a big stage production like Eurovision but more for a private gig. That said, this isn’t actually a bad song but rather kinda unusual when it comes to the contest. The reason my score for this is less than half is because when scaled against 42 other songs, this doesn’t really stand strong for me. But seeing how this is in the second semi final, I wouldn’t be salty if this managed to qualify.

Poppina
Poppina
7 years ago

I understand that a housewife in armenia or a schoolgirl in montenegro would prefer Russia over Georgia, but the wiwi jury? young people from UK, the US, Sweden etc.? That is the proof that eurofans have no taste at all. Russia sounds 2006… Georgia sounds 2016!

Skandar
Skandar
7 years ago

Antranig is lover of rock music? Hahahaha….This is joke of the day! You gave 0 points for this and 10 points for bubble gum swedish type Azeri song. You must be a real rock fan….
I think the only reliable person in this wiwi jury is Robyn. Yes, you are, girl! ….despite the fact that she does not like Freddie’s song and pronounciation. 😀

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

@Antranig: I second your review. Some rockers like Minus One (Cyprus) make a serious effort, while others make a lousy attempt at comedy. Even Pollapönk were waaaaaaaaay better than this! My #38 in my first review.

Fafefifo
Fafefifo
7 years ago

I must say I am a bit disappointed with some of the comments in the “reviwes” abov.e…Of course, cat expact all songs to be liked by ANYONE. BUT I have to say that in all fairness, it seems some of the negative comments are posted by people who – probably not – don’t have THAT much inisght into the music they actually write about. At least my impression. I believe they are great at what they do. I love rock music, nice with such songs in ESC. And I love this entry 🙂

Fafefifo
Fafefifo
7 years ago

I LOVE this! And of course – even if we have to “accept tastes are different” and blah blah….I must say that some of the comments here, don’t really show much insight into rock music. That’s the diplomatic way of putting it…:! 😉 ESC needs music that “goes outside the bubble” soetimes, music which is just schlagers, eurodisco adnd powerballads is so genereic and dull. Really BORING I think. I love rock music, and ESC needs more of it. Credible, powerful music, that open ESC for more different music styles etc. And this band is VERY good at what they… Read more »

David Who
David Who
7 years ago

@Selene – In my experience in the UK, your generalisation is untrue. There is a “gay rock scene,” as it were. (I can’t say anything about the rest of Europe though.) I have known (and dated) rock band members and fans who were LGBT over the years, and Queen’s Freddie Mercury was arguably a big part of that piece of culture being manifested – although there are other examples. The Georgia entry to me sounds like rock from 15 years ago, although the style of the video would seem to indicate that this is intentional. The song’s subject matter is… Read more »

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

This is somewhere around a 5/10 for me. They really should’ve just let the guitar hook play longer at the end… the song never really finds a consistent groove.

I loved Three Minutes to Earth – still one of the best songs of 2014 for me.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

I really like this one! It’s like a low rent Artic Monkeys! Totally more aligned with what I’d listen to outside of esc.

I don’t think it will qualify, not for the ridiculous reasons mentioned above but because it’s neither mainstream enough or weird enough to garner the votes. In any case I really enjoy this one!

Good luck Georgia!

Sparrow
Sparrow
7 years ago

Georgia has been in my top 10 since they chose the song. I love that Gerogoa don’t just go with the typical entries. This is raw and sexy. 8/10

Selene
Selene
7 years ago

A lot of gay people are prejudiced against rock. They much prefer generic boring Scandipop or ballads from “divas”.

georgekirkas
georgekirkas
7 years ago

@Agustine

Oh my gosh, you are full of hate! You must be a really bad person!

karminowe.usta
karminowe.usta
7 years ago

Georgia is in my top 5. It`s very good and unique song. I like indie rock and Nika Kocharov`s style. I hope that Georgia would be in Grand Final:)

Andrey (from Russia)
Andrey (from Russia)
7 years ago

@cheesecake

Yes, I’m completely agree with you. This song is very unfriendly to Eurovision. The same as the Montenegro’s song.

Steven
Steven
7 years ago

Unique, amazing beat, incredible from the first to the last second. 3.3 is an injustice when the typical (scandi)pop is floating around 8s.

oli
oli
7 years ago

Really guys?! only 3.33?? I understand you don´t like it, but it’s still and good song, something different and refreshing, and one of the few this year’s entries that you could actually hear on the radio… very underrated.

Brndn
Brndn
7 years ago

“Three Minutes to Earth” was one of my favourite ESC entries in 2014, and “Midnight Gold” is one of my favourites this year. Both criminally underrated entries from Georgia, but I think this has a slightly better chance of qualifying than “Three Minutes…” did, even if it’s still very unlikely to happen. I applaud Georgia for sending great entries even if they won’t necessarily have wide appeal for a lot of the ESC audience. I understand why some people may not be a fan of this kind of music but to score this a 0 or 0.5 seems a bit… Read more »

Pollaski
Pollaski
7 years ago

So just in case anyone’s curious- here’s all 31 Wiwibloggs reviewed songs (so far) by rank of score: 1 Croatia (8.12) 2 Australia (7.92) 3 Ukraine (7.88) 4 Spain (7.83) 5 Malta (7.80) 6 Cyprus (7.51) 7 Latvia (7.42) T8 Armenia (7.29) T8 Estonia (7.29) 10 Noway (7.09) 11 Hungary (7.05) 12 Austria (6.76) 13 Lithuania (6.70) 14 Germany (6.96) 15 Serbia (6.59) 16 Netherlands (6.57) 17 Bosnia & Herzegovina (6.11) 18 Israel (6.09) 19 Ireland (6.01) 20 FYR Macedonia (5.75) 21 Denmark (5.61) 22 Finland (5.51) 23 Belgium (5.09) 24 Moldova (5.01) 25 Poland (4.86) 26 Slovenia (4.53) 27… Read more »

Pollaski
Pollaski
7 years ago

38. GEORGIA: “Midnight Gold” Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz: 4/10
This is painful. The premise- doing slightly old-style Brit alt-rock in the veins of Bush, isn’t a bad one, but the execution is terrible. Its just a giant mess of incomprehensible singing (okay, that’s par for the course in Brit rock), random techno dubstep crap thrown in- and a song that’s not all that enjoyable when all the parts are thrown together. Midnight Gold this is not… nor is it silver or bronze. Midnight Participation Ribbon? Yeah… let’s go with that.

RANK: 38th

Agustine
Agustine
7 years ago

@georgekirkas
You have just started to behave like Nicky91. So, don’t be surprised if people become aggressive. Got it?

Erin
Erin
7 years ago

I don’t recall many songs that failed to qualify from the 17th position on either semi final since 2008, so that could be a good sign. The videoclip is clever and inventive, like a nod to classic movie genre from film-noir to pulp fiction to comic strip fiction. Everything about this 10 hour memory loss and its consequences is seasoned with sexual motivations, cynical attitudes and wry wit. It’s intentionally twisted and skewed so you gotta give it thumbs up for the creativity and the out-of-the-box thinking. If they manage to recreate this 3 minute cinematic journey on stage together… Read more »

georgekirkas
georgekirkas
7 years ago

@Homer

I would like to see Eurovision embracing different styles of music, but you can’t force people to like something, can you? I just don’t really like rock, are you gonna kill me for that? Also, please try to be more polite and I will behave politely to you, too!

georgekirkas
georgekirkas
7 years ago

@Skandar

Thank you for telling me! As you can see, I am being polite with you, because you were polite with me, too! I just got carried away, she was so rude and dogmatic! Anyway, I respect everyone’s opinion!

MrLitopysec
MrLitopysec
7 years ago

Very dissapointed by SO LOW points. Yeah, this year Georgia, as well as Montenegro, are completely different from other 41 songs. But this absolutely don’t mean they are such awful, as you rate them.

Georgia is fresh breath of something really cool and psychodelic. It can slay on the stage and I believe it will do that. Throw your genre preferences away. That’s how I am enjoying songs, genres of which I don’t like.

My number #2 and all my SMS’s during Semi-Final.

Homer
Homer
7 years ago

Olga, Exactly, Eurovision should be all about embracing different styles of music but instead it continues to be a pathetically antiquated contest mostly thanks to all typical esc fans like georgekirkas and the team of wiwiflops. This is the most underrated entry ever in this contest and all that because it doesn’t contain any type of pop like Cyprus this year. Please, this people probably never heard of indie rock and it seems that they don’t want to learn. All they care about is divas and plastic faces singing about love and some random stuff like that. And yes, i… Read more »

Griffin
Griffin
7 years ago

Lol Antranig comment is absolute facepalm

Skandar
Skandar
7 years ago

@georgekirkas Pls respect her opinion about Never Forget if you want the same respect from her. No offence, but your last sentence is just weird comparing to your first paragraph about different opinions.

georgekirkas
georgekirkas
7 years ago

@Olga…(the one from Latvia)

Well, saying that rock music is real music is completely subjective! You may be a rock fan, but this doesn’t mean that I necessarily have to love it, too! The one and only truth is that you haven’t learnt that you have to respect other people’s opinion! (the same applies to Joao Teles and Homer)

And please, stop saying that ”Never Forget” was awful! This was and still is a masterpiece!

John Doe
John Doe
7 years ago

This is not an ESC song. They should have written a song like ‘Hollywood’.

esc 2016
esc 2016
7 years ago

@Bis ….no Georgia this year give other things…like….a good way to hate eurovision,a bleeding from your ears….. etc

something different gives counties like:Armenia,Ukraine,Greece,Austria

sonic0201
sonic0201
7 years ago

@Nicky91

I didn’t compare this song to those legendary rock bands, that’s why I said I always liked GOOD rock music 😉
But basically I agree with you about this entry.

Bis
Bis
7 years ago

Respect to Georgia for giving us something which is very far from Swedish type factory pop. The problem is that even though the song really stands out in the Eurovision crowd, it still is not very good. 5/10

lalalala
lalalala
7 years ago

Best song and we need more of this music in Eurovision to make it more interesting. Of course, gay “jurors” will not give points to this, but straight viewers will do it. And jury. Georgia will be in the final, I love countries, which doesn’t send typical female pop and I love them, if they send something brilliant. Thanks Georgia to be in Eurovision because you are making this competition better. 10/10

Skandar
Skandar
7 years ago

@Skandar Other Skandar is here, you are welcome. 😀 On the other hand I agree with your comment 100%. Nika is underrated because the song is outsider, Lazarev is overrated I do not know why.

Olga...(the one from Latvia)
Olga...(the one from Latvia)
7 years ago

Jaoa Teles and Homer: I agree with you both. How mad they get when they see comments like that, when the truth is mostly on the other side.

Let’s look at Never Forget, Icelandic entry. I don’t know what year was that, but I saw that it was one of the fan favorite, and it got bad place, because THAT SONG WAS FREAKING AWFUL, one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard, even worse that Latvia 2009.

Simon
Simon
7 years ago

Disappointed to see that William only thinks that Croatia is 0.5 marks out of 10 better than this. And there’s me thinking we were on the same wavelength and it was meant to be… *sighs* 😉

Olga...(the one from Latvia)
Olga...(the one from Latvia)
7 years ago

3.33 is ridiculous.

It’s my #3 overall, it deserves high place, but Eurovision fans can’t understand what real music should sound like, but I don’t blame you, everyone has rights to listen to what they want.

I just hope it can qualify and let down all of you, glitter lovers.

Olga...(the one from Latvia)
Olga...(the one from Latvia)
7 years ago

To Antranig

Lover of rock music in ESC?

What rock are you talking about? About that pop-rock brought by Cyprus? You call that a real rock?

As a rock music lover, I could definitely say that this is what British Garage Rock should sound like. You call it too soft? Well, I’m gonna upset you by saying that I haven’t heard anything more rockier in Eurovision in recent years than this. No glitters this time.

Darcy
7 years ago

I think it’s good that Georgia aren’t going with the norm with their song but I’m afraid it’s not really my style, bit noisy for my liking. Kudos for trying something different though 🙂

Probably give this a 3.5/4 but not really a bad song.

georgekirkas
georgekirkas
7 years ago

@Joao Teles

Also, I forgot to ask you something: haven’t your parents taught you that you have to respect other people’s opinion? I am sure they haven’t! You should know that YOU(and some other people, like Homer) are the one who is narrow-minded! You simply cannot accept that many people hate Georgia’s entry this year and that pop music is very popular! Haters are gonna hate, darling and you are one of them! If you don’t like Eurovision, then I think that you should never visit this site again! It’s just not for people like you!

François #TeamAmir
François #TeamAmir
7 years ago

Sooo bad. If you’re not professional enough to bring something serious, retire from Eurovision. 0/10

georgekirkas
georgekirkas
7 years ago

@Joao Teles

If you think that quality music and Eurovision cannot be synonims, then you should check some entries, like Ukraine or Serbia this year! By the way, I guess both you and Homer have a complex, since you know that Eurovision is a famous and sophisticated contest that you will never understand!

João Teles
João Teles
7 years ago

and i also want to thank Robyn in here because she’s (correct me if i’m wrong) one of the few people here who has an open mind unlike many of the people around here, staff and commenters included, it really is a relief, honestly.

João Teles
João Teles
7 years ago

and by the way, thanks, Homer, for being one of the few people in here with some actual good sense in this sea of typical mainstream-diva-pop-gay-musical-schlager-cheese fans of ESC but i already mentalized myself that no matter how hard they try, quality music and ESC will never be a synonim, no matter how hard it is for me to admit this.

Nicky91
Nicky91
7 years ago

@sonic0201

i also like rock bands like Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and AC/DC, but you can’t compare any of these bands to Montenegro’s and Georgia’s entries, they are just pain to my ears i’m sorry for saying that, i kinda liked Montenegro with Moj svijet and last year’s Knez was also very good