Another week, another six semi-finalists in A Dal — Hungary’s always engaging Eurovision selection show. With the third heat now done and dusted, it’s time for the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — to assess whether any of them deserve to follow in Freddie’s footsteps at Eurovision. Next up are Gabi Tóth with “Hosszú idök” and Joci Pápai with “Origo”.

Gabi Tóth – “Hosszú idök”

“Hosszú idök” reviews

Robyn: Every year there are Eurovision acts that take inspiration from the previous year’s winner. “Hosszú idök” seems to have been inspired by “1944” in good ways (non-English lyrics and traditional styles mixed with modern electronic production) and in bad ways (the tree). But Gabi delivers a great performance — even if she has borrowed IVAN’s face paint. If A Dal can sort out the staging (and they are good like that) this would be fine going to Kyiv.

Score: 8/10

Zakaria: If Toth makes it to Kyiv, she’d better change her golden tree in the backdrop if she wants to avoid a fist fight with Jamala. As for the song, I think it’s interesting and daring, especially in a NF season filled with boring ballads. Unlike the other entries,”Hosszú idök” has a strong identity — the Hungarian sounds amazing — and Toth delivers it perfectly. There’s also room for improvements.

Score: 8/10

William: Talk about something borrowed! Toth has re-created Jamala’s LED tree, drawn on Ruslana’s tribal spirit and stolen Loreen’s Druid dance moves. And that might explain why this never fully takes off. As out-there as this is, it still feels familiar and, dare I say, derivative. Even so, Toth’s eccentric take on folk stands out.

Score: 7.5/10

Chris: This year’s national finals seem to have a recurring theme of my favourites underwhelming me live. The stage performance is killing what is an incredibly epic three minute journey of a song. Gabi Toth is a superb vocalist and gets to show that off, but there’s just no drama in the performance. It’s too derivative of “1944” and parts of “Amanecer”, whilst Gabi looks like a “cool mum” who’s turned up at a festival. You can fix this, Hungary, and you should — because behind it all, this is an amazing song.

Score: 8/10

Natalie: I love how the Hungarian language meshes with this song — the heavy beat and glittery instrumentation just compliment it so well. The melody is also so strong and mystical that I just can’t help be sucked in. This all combined with the strings and folky style instruments creates a concoction that I absolutely love. It could’ve been taken a bit further and the chorus did get a bit repetitive towards the end for me, but I’m very excited by this one.

Score: 8/10

Josh: Coming into A Dal, “Hosszú idök” was my hands-down favourite to win the competition. Whilst the live performance was good, I can’t help but feel like it’s missing something. Something dynamic and new to make it interesting rather than creating something that looks like Loreen and Jamala’s love child. Perhaps the stage in Kyiv could give this lift. Still, slightly underwhelming.

Score: 7.5/10

In the Hungary Wiwi Jury, we have 17 jurors but only room for six reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:

Antranig: 10/10

Bernardo: 7/10

Dayana: 7/10

Erdi: 8/10

Forrest: 6/10

Jason: 6.5/10

Jordi: 7/10

Jovana: 5/10

Luis: 7/10

Mikhail: 6.5/10

Sami: 6.5/10

Sinan: 7/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 5 and a high of 10.

Wiwi Jury verdict: 7.22/10

Joci Pápai — “Origo”

“Origo” reviews

William: This song is so mystical and other-worldly that at times I feel like Joci is trying to turn me into a frog or to communicate with my dead relatives. The first 90 seconds have me enraptured…and then he launches into an extended spoken word section (noticeably featuring the word samurai and a great deal of anger). It’s a shame. He had me, like the belly-flashing dancer, in a trance. But even with that somewhat jarring interruption, I can’t help but enjoy this.

Score: 8/10

Jason: Songs like “Origo” are what Eurovision should be about: showcasing your country by fusing its traditional sounds with something unexpected and modern. I have no idea what is being sung, but I don’t care because it is so interesting and different from all of the other generic songs being served up by most national selections. Me likey.

Score: 9/10

Mikhail: This song has a really nice melody with some traditional elements, what I really enjoy. Unfortunately, it goes nowhere. Throughout the whole song I was waiting for something interesting to come up and they gave me rap. The rap part is actually pretty good, but on its own, because it does not combine well with the rest of the song. It’s just like two different songs in one. It could’ve been high on my list with something more consistent and cohesive.

Score: 4.5/10

Robyn: I love A Dal for songs like this. Joci proves himself to be multitalented, as he can sing, rap and play the milk can. Rap is, by its nature, very lyrical and there’s a risk a non-English message might get lost. But as we saw with Jala in Stockholm, if there’s enough attitude, the message gets through. Joci has what it takes to deliver the message.

Score: 7.5/10

Chris: Hungarian folk-Bollywood-rap isn’t a genre I’ve ever come across before. But if it’s all like this, then I’m buying it. I’m naturally hesitant about rap at Eurovision, because it so often is superfluous. Here, it’s a necessary part of the song’s structure, changing things up at just the right time. Joci is a dark horse for me in this selection.

Score: 7/10

Erdi: I really like the collaboration of old and new, the traditional and 2017. The only thing that doesn’t fit is Joci’s voice. It might well end up in the A Dal final but definitely will not represent Hungary.

Score: 7/10

In the Hungary Wiwi Jury, we have 17 jurors but only room for six reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:

Antranig: 4.5/10

Bernardo: 5/10

Dayana: 7.5/10

Forrest: 6.5/10

Jordi: 8/10

Josh: 6/10

Jovana: 6/10

Luis: 7/10

Natalie: 7/10

Sami: 5.5/10

Sinan: 5.5/10

Zakaria: 6/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 4.5 and a high of 9.

Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.5/10

See our list of A Dal rankings here

Read more Hungary Eurovision news here

31 Comments
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Nomi
Nomi
7 years ago

Being a Hungarian all I can say that Gabi Toth’s song is miserable. It is a clean rip off of some traditional folk tunes and the lyrics are horrible.

Joci’s song is okay, it is gypsy music music, not Hungarian but it is fine.

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

In “HOSSZÚ IDÖK” I didn’t really like the tree behind, reminded me of “1944”.
Nevertheless, I can’t say how much I love when countries add traditional elements in their songs.
Speaking about Hungary here, I remember their song in 2005, again with a strong traditional element, how I loved it!
I’m in the middle with this song. I think I like it, but I don’t love it.
But I would like to see this at ESC with a nice presentation.
I don’t really like “ORIGO”.

balint345
balint345
7 years ago

Let me get this straight: Origo is not Hungarian music, it’s Gypsy music. Which I don’t mind, but let’s be clear.
Gabi has the tree because she’s singing about a little bird that wants to sing on a tree, captured by sparrows.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

Both of these songs are at the top of my list, for the music and the way they presented them on stage. I see them both as having the potential to finish in the top 10 at ESC, maybe top 5 depending on what other countries send.

Giorg
Giorg
7 years ago

“Origo” is really a masterpiece. If Hungary will choose it, it will be the best hungarian song in ESC ever! Joci is an amazing singer. Song is hypnotic. Please hungarian people vote for this perfectness!

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
7 years ago

origo is a masterpiece and i totally agree w Jason
hosszu idok is super hyped up but it’s just too dissonant for me I don’t get it

eurovision6
eurovision6
7 years ago

Gabi Toth is overrated.. Papai Joci would be a deserved winner and something id look forward to hear at Eurovision!

an esc fan
an esc fan
7 years ago

Hope for Hungary 2018, but Gabi Toth can’t do that. That Jamala tree is too much desperation. And traditions are nice…until…the actual competition in May. After that, fans will say is ”the biggest crime” but that does not help. There is a reason we had so much english in 2016. Jamala inserted the tatar language in the right place, just like Poli Genova-bulgarian, at the chorus, not just throw some lyrics at the end.

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

I just don’t get the fuss about “Hosszu Idök”. I’m trying, but I really don’t get it.

Nitzan
Nitzan
7 years ago

Guys you are too much. Two of the best songs of the season so far with scores around 7, and Kerli from Estonia scoring 7 as well. Whatever.

For me Origonis what ESC is all about and an easy top 10 with the right staging. Great song!

Vladimir
Vladimir
7 years ago

Both songs are good, but I prefer Joci Papai. Greetings from Serbia!

Amor Amankwah
Amor Amankwah
7 years ago

I like both of the songs, Origo a bit more. Hosszú idök is taking a bit too much from Jamala (she jacked her tree!). I wish to see more originality.

Griffin
Griffin
7 years ago

Hosszu Idok sounds like Shaya Hansen – Sunshine (Greek NF 2015) nothing special and so overrated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMVhzmhlsUs

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

I honestly wouldn’t judge the A Dal performances so much, unless it’s for the vocals, of course. The performances will be improved for the contest, and by May, they’ll be perfect for the songs. There have been so many cases of this, just look at Yohanna from Iceland 2009 – her NF performance was a mess, but she charmed all of us at the Eurovision!

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

When it comes to “Hosszu idok”, Natalie has clearly read my thoughts, LOL! Gabi is my favorite of this selection. The live performance was excellent.

I like how experimental “Origo” is, but I think it could be stronger.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

Hosszú idök sounds like something out of a traditional Chinese opera and I do like it. I do think it is overrated and would not put it in the top three of A Dal. The live performance was underwhelming (did she forget her words in places?) and I hated the staging.
I do like Joci Pápai’s song but I am not convinced by him as a performer. It feels like a song that Gerg? Oláh would do a much better job with. Not a winner but good nonetheless.

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago

Both songs deserve a higher score. ‘Origo’ and ‘Hosszú idök’ alongside ‘Deak’ and ‘Kalandor’ are my favourites to win A Dal, I also think all of them could place Hungary in the top 10. Curiously, all of them in Hungarian.

The problem is the four songs have issues when it comes to the live performance. Soulwave and Spoon 21 seem to have poor live vocals, while Totova and Papai lose that mystical aura that bothhave on their studio versions. If Hungary choose well and fix that, they will have a strong contender for the win.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

@ Morris89 – don’t rule out Spoon 21. They seem to have an estabilished fanbase (but of course, their song is nowhere as good as Gabi and Joci’s). If the juries don’t send Gabi to the final round, A Dal seriously needs to be revamped in its voting. The juries are there to award quality, if the televoters know better then the juries should be eliminated or weakened.

Ste
Ste
7 years ago

Gabi is by far my favourite song in the whole NF season so far. The drum break is perfection. I will agree with most of you guys saying the staging was underwhelming, it felt a little thrown together. If she wants to get to Eurovision she needs to go ALL OUT with the staging. The song is there already, now she just needs coherency in performance! 10/10 Joci also has a lovely song! Really strong candidate although I feel the transition from the rap back into song is a bit rough, but something that could be worked on. Again the… Read more »

Morris89
Morris89
7 years ago

@Zebb: That part of the lyrics is very “himself”, the rap lyrics makes somehow nonsense for me, but I don’t care about it as long as the song is good.

Morris89
Morris89
7 years ago

@Zebb: Even jury said he needs to return to the videoclip, so I think he will, but we will see tomorrow.

@Polegend Godgarina: I felt somewhat of a jealousy by the jury which can led the don’t put her to top 4 which would be the biggest crime in Hungarian ESC history. Viewers gave 8 points to Adam Szabo (though his song is a mediocre pop something), 7 to Gabi, Gigi, Soulwave and Kallay-Saunders, and only 6 to Joci. For me it is definitely a two-way battle between Gabi and Joci.

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Here some translation for Joci’s verses (thx some guy from Utube), You must close your eyes That’s how you can see me To conquer my heart, you have to know my soul If you don’t need me, let me go I was born to be a wanderer I’ve suffered long enough But God sees me, he sees me Why did you lie to me That my colour doesn’t matter? You could knew my eye is brown, It never changes within me I don’t need more of you Go away, leave me alone I don’t want to see you anymore May… Read more »

Stian F
Stian F
7 years ago

2 of the absolute BEST songs of the entire national final season !!!!! Just AMAZING!!!!

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Thanks Morris! I’m also ready to vote for them 😀

Gabi Totova is so fabulous. That first part visually is really secondary after last year’s Tree, I hope they’ll fix that somehow. The song is quite complicated but rewarding in second half. Otherside, Joci’s song and act is way more downearthed and almost sassy, but in live he is great. So yeah, I agree that the visuals for him must be kept differently, probably in key of videoclip or that way, more sacred.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Right? I wish Hungary could send like 5 songs to the contest lol

Catherine
Catherine
7 years ago

I want to see Josi as Eurovison winner

Maclaren
Maclaren
7 years ago

I absolutely love Papai and this song. Agree it sends into a trans or something and is special on so many levels. It also stands out from the crowd of pop ballads. It would be my number one followed by Spoon 21.

Actually I would happily trade top three from A Dal with Spain and Germany finalists.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

@Morris89 – if the juries don’t pick Gabi, I will unleash my hitmen. Why wouldn’t they pick her? Is there really anyone remotely as good as her?

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Gabi might have the highest average, but it’s still too low. That song is the perfect representation of the Hungarian culture. The singing is great (she’s a pro, after all). It’s memorable, it has an enchanting rhythm, it’s extraordinarily well produced… I can’t find any flaws in this song. If this goes to Eurovision – and it HAS TO – I know where my televotes are going. Don’t mess this up, Hungary, and vote for a song that represents you instead of some pop song or some boring ballad!

Morris89
Morris89
7 years ago

Zebb: I am Hungarian and yeah, in youtube views of the heats, these two stand out, and everyone talks about them as the favourite, the only problem can be with jury if they do not put Gabi in Top 4…. Both need visual changes, but with this I hope Hungary can reach final 7th time in a row.

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Both are cool, though Origo lifts me more. Even rap part doesn’t fall out of the song. I hope they’re both in favourites there…