Supernova 2017 Crime Sea Linda Leen

The first semi final of Supernova 2017 is just a day away. We’re already looking forward to seeing just what our good friend, the Riga Beaver, may have to offer. Of course, there’s also the little matter of the eleven songs taking part as well. The Wiwi Jury, our in-house panel of music unprofessionals, hasn’t forgotten them of course. All week, we’ve been reviewing the acts taking part.

The final two acts up before the Wiwi Jury are Linda Leen and Crime Sea. Crime Sea are notable for containing former Supernova finalist, MNTHA. Will she lead her new group to success? See what we thought below!

Linda Leen — “Who Is In Charge”

Chris: There’s just way too much happening here. It’s trying to be interesting, but tries too hard at that. I want to listen to the end, but it’s more out of morbid curiosity than anything else. Linda is a talented artist, without a doubt, but I just can’t enjoy this one.

Score: 3.5/10

Robyn: When this started, I thought it was going to be an experimental jazz number, akin to “Euro Neuro”. But as the song progresses, it picks up more of a traditional pop structure along with the avant garde. Linda delivers some fairly political lyrics, with far more depth and insight than your typical “Love Love Peace Peace”. The big test will be how this comes across live. I’m hoping for something spectacular!

Score: 7.5/10

Jason: What is the point of the many filler tracks when Linda Leen is going to come along and blow them all out of the water? “Who Is In Charge” has a fun structure that deviates from the traditional Eurovision track, and it is completely refreshing. This could lend itself extremely well to a fantastic stage show, and I have to say, I am really excited!

Score: 9/10

Zakaria: “Who’s in Charge” vaguely reminds me of The Ting Tings’ “Shut Up and Let Me Go”. The song is in a total league of its own and easily catchs my attention. I believe this might have a chance at doing well at Supernova and, why not, Eurovision provided that Linda Leen gives a strong vocal performance and a clever staging. Pleae Linda, don’t let me down!

Score: 8/10

Luis: Linda is probably the most appealing singer in Latvia’s Supernova. She is a seasoned performer and I’m hoping for a bomb of a performance. The song allows her to shine and outshine anybody else who dares to compete with her, and I can’t wait to see this come alive on stage.

Score: 7/10

Andy: Mmmm… I want to see it live and want to see Linda wail.  It has so much promise and possibility that I hope they can deliver.  “Who is in Charge” has the potential to awe us as it climbs to new levels of musical drama.  The question is whether she and Supernova can deliver.  It’s catchy, it’s experimental, it’s classic, it’s avante garde, it’s weird and it’s brilliant.

Score: 8/10

In the Latvian Wiwi Jury, we have 15 jurors, but room for only 6 reviews. The remaining scores are below:

Antranig: 8/10

Bernardo: 6/10

Dayana:7.5/10

Forrest: 2.5/10

Jordi: 4/10

Josh: 6.5/10

Kristin: 3/10

Renske: 5/10

Sami: 3/10

 

 

 

 

 

Before calculating the average score, the highest and lowest scores are dropped. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 2.5 and a high of 9.

WIWI JURY VERDICT: 5.92/10

Crime Sea — “Escape”

Chris: If you didn’t already know MNTHA was involved here, one listen would clue you in straight away. It’s just as delightfully weird, kooky and, to be frank, as not right for Eurovision as “Nefelibata” was. But just like with that song, I kind of adore “Escape”. It’s a huge grower on me and by the end of the song I don’t want it to end. It’s so hard to describe just what’s so entrancing about this.

Score: 7.5/10

Robyn: There’s fragility within the weirdness. I’d rather hear a song like this than all those generic Spotify-friendly, but forgettable tracks that are clogging up Supernova this year. “Escape” has a very traditional pop structure, but it deftly uses electronic production to intensify the emotion and bring more to the song than just its roots. I can’t wait to see how these creative kids stage the performance.

Score: 7/10

Jason: Crime Sea is bringing some much-needed originality to Supernova, and I am so grateful. “Escape” is totally fresh and defies the usual Eurovision standard key-change mentality. I like that that the song remains almost uniform the whole way through, and I think that electronica is a genre that needs more representation at the contest. Is Europe ready? Who knows. But I sure am.

Score: 9/10

Josh: Obscurity and uniqueness in musical form. “Escape” is a different entry, but a little bit too left of centre for my taste. The song remains pretty flat for a majority of the time, without any climactic moments which loses substance and dimension. I’m sure if this played at a music festival in the middle of a forest whilst high on acid, this would be great. But it’s just not for me.

Score: 2.5/10

Antranig: The song starts off by sounding like the typical filler entry you’ll find in any Baltic national final. The best part is the pre-chorus when it gets interesting but the climax never comes. I don’t hate the song at all — it’s so weird I want to know more. Having said that, it is way too weird for Eurovision, even by Latvian standards. I appreciate the diversity, but that’s all.

Score: 4/10

Zakaria:  I already have a headache from all the urban dance-pop at Supernova and this song doesn’t help at all. “Escape” is the kind of song that I’d hear in a very hip clothing store, but definitely not at Eurovision.

Score: 4/10

In the Latvian Wiwi Jury, we have 15 jurors, but room for only 6 reviews. The remaining scores are below:

Andy: 4/10

Bernardo: 5/10

Dayana: 7/10

Forrest: 1/10

Jordi: 3/10

Kristin: 4/10

Luis: 7/10

Renske: 5/10

Sami: 2/10

 

 

 

 

 

Before calculating the average score, the highest and lowest scores are dropped. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 1 and a high of 9.

WIWI JURY VERDICT: 4.77/10

See all of our Supernova rankings here

Follow all of our Latvia Eurovision news here

8 Comments
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LV
LV
7 years ago

Why is Linda sooo overrated? I can’t see the point of this song. MNTHA has one of the best songs this year in Supernova

Poet
Poet
7 years ago

I am more than keen to see both of these songs performed live. I have a good feeling about both of them. I have zero expectations what to expect from Crime Sea – not that I expect little, instead I have no idea what and how they will perform it. Similar case with Linda. Video seems to be catchy, but again – no idea what to expect from the live performance. Will be keeping my eyes wide open. I expected a bit more from the wiwijury. On the other hand, it seems to split the team in two parts which… Read more »

kimmm
kimmm
7 years ago

OMG Crime Sea is so fantastic and original. It must win Latvian national final. Does anyone wants still typical generic eurosongs in Eurovision? Celebrate diversity! And we want diversity in music! Send it Latvia, please!

TURIK
TURIK
7 years ago

The song “Escape” is a really good song. Why? -Because Here different sound. I looked existing winners in the qualifying rounds of other countries, and there are basically all the songs – ballads. And now the Eurovision look more and more teenagers. Many teenagers love electronic music. So I am sure that this song will be very different from the other, and be able to go to the finals.

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

“Who is in charge” and “Escape” are two different kind of songs.
The first has a singer with a great voice, a strange sound,but live it would be fantastic.
The second is obviously a well produced song with an even stranger sound and beat. This can also have a really good staging.
Generally, I’m not excited about any of them.

SLY
SLY
7 years ago

Can`t wait to see both artists and the whole SUPERNOVA!
Linda Leen is a brilliant singer/songwriter! See yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFOTbKCt-JA
Good luck to MNTHA and Linda!

me-me-me-me-meeh
me-me-me-me-meeh
7 years ago

Escape is amazing.

Not for Eurovision? Does this phrase still exist?
Eurovision is evolving fro the lame Balkan ballads and Swedish pop to something more.

Escape is one of the few songs that might have a chance to qualify for the final, as Latvia is in the semi final with no neighbor/friendly country.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Who is in charge for this mess? Literally, she sounds like she’s talking about her own song. A tryhard song with terribly edited vocals. Plus, it sounds like many songs were put together with no logic.
Escape, on the other hand, is a solid alternative piece with a hypnotizing chorus and a flawless production. It’s not immediate, but you cannot call it a “filler” – that’s something for basic pop radio-friendly songs rather than outstanding tracks like this one!