After three heats, two semi-finals and two voting rounds in the grand final, at last Hungary has decided. Joci Pápai has won A Dal 2017 and will perform his song “Origo” at Eurovision 2017.
Joci Papai is a singer of Romani decent. He found fame in 2005 when he was a contestant on the talent show Megasztár. He has since built up a career as a musician. He made his A Dal debut this year with the self-written song “Origo”.
The grand final was made up of two parts. First the eight finalists performed their songs in front of an expert jury made up of Hungarian music industry pros Caramel, Zséda, Károly Frenreisz and Miklós Both.
The jury voted and from their votes alone the top four acts then progressed to the super final. These four were: Gigi Radics with “See It Through”, Zävodi + Olivér Berkes with”#háttérzaj”, Gina Kanizsa with “Falls Like Rain” and Joci Pápai with”Origo”.
These four acts then faced a second round of voting, determined entirely by the public vote. From that the people of Hungary decided they wanted Joci Pápai to be their act in Kyiv.
The favourite of both the Wiwi Jury and wiwibloggs readers was Gabi Toth with “Hosszú idök”. Sadly she was eliminated in the first round and did not have the opportunity to face the public vote. Hungary’s 2015 singer Kállay Saunders was also eliminated in the first round.
However, Joci Pápai was the second favourite in both polls, meaning that “Origo” will not be an unpopular winner.
“Origo” combines ethnic sounds with hip hip, and uses both Hungarian and Romani lyrics. Hungary last sent a song in their own language in 2013 when ByeAlex performed “Kedvesem”. It placed tenth in the grand final, proving that the Hungarian language is not a barrier to Eurovision success. Romani was first used in Eurovision when Gipsy.cz performed “Aven Romale” 2009.
A Dal final: first round running order
- Gabi Tóth & Freddie Shuman feat. Begi Lotfi – “Hosszú idök”
- Soulwave – “Kalandor”
- Gigi Radics – “See It Through”
- Kállay Saunders Band – “17”
- Leander Kills – “Élet”
- Zävodi + Olivér Berkes – “#háttérzaj”
- Joci Pápai – “Origo”
- Gina Kanizsa – “Fall Like Rain”
A Dal final: second round
- Gigi Radics – “See It Through”
- Gina Kanizsa – “Fall Like Rain”
- Joci Pápai – “Origo”
- Zävodi + Olivér Berkes – “#háttérzaj”
What do you think? Is “Origo” a good choice for Hungary? Share your thoughts below!
must say though, the dancer was TERRIBLE, they need to improve the movement on stage and make some alterations to the traditional skirt to make moving around easier. or maybe she is just not very good at it and that´s why she got a little stuck.
also the rapping part could use a few highlights to keep people engaged.
I don´t care if it wins or not, I am already addicted to this song. Best addition to my Spotify playlist in the past 3 months! (next to This love from our national final)
Yes, good job Hungary.
I really like it. Very special. Powerful authentic voice with good intrumentalisation. In my top 3. Calls and Points from Austria.
Scrap the rap part and I’ll be totally in love with this.
Original choice.
This was the best song from the three chosen entries that were selected last night. I love the ethnic sound and brings us something different this year!
LOVE this song. It is very good different and very well sang. I think with the big stage in Kiev this will be even more effective and Hungary might have a good result again. The only thing what they have to work on is the stage image. The rest is fantastic. 12 points for Hungary. Superb choice
Terrible cr@p. What were they thinking?
Unbearable. And no, I don’t like boring ballads too. This is trash though.
@ CookyMonzta
I’m european and I love european music because is so much surprising and diverse, you never know what is ”in fashion”.
But if you live in USA is great that you like ESC, because persons from USA are not always open-minded about european music.
If all americans are like you, I hope USA will join like Australia.
Just watched the official video. It’s a great song… unfortunately it’s not convincing (to me) when performed live. And the rap part destroys it. But the studio version (just skipping the annoying rap bit) is fabulous.
The outcome reminds me of what happened at Eesti Laul 2014. Sandra Nurmsalu was the big favorite with “Kui Tuuled Pöörduvad”, and she wound up 5th as they sent Tanja with “Amazing”, which did not qualify for the ESC final. The difference here is, If I remember correctly, Tanja was not even the 2nd favorite in many polls and bookies’ boards (I think Lenna’s “Supernoova” was the 2nd favorite); while here, Joci was 2nd in the Wiwi poll and on one bookie’s board that I thought I saw, just before this final. So, what have I seen, so far? Finland’s… Read more »
@Polegend: No surprise the fans are reading the riot act to the judges. I wonder if the assignment of Gabi to the FIRST singing spot was also no accident. Phonies, the judges were, to prop up Gina with 10s last week, only to watch 2 of them give her no points.
It is now 4:46 A.M. in New York City as I start to type this. I’ve seen Eesti Laul semi 2 and I just watched A Dal. It’ll be sunrise when I get done watching MF and MESC (I don’t know the results or the final outcome from either of them). Suffice to say, I am very disappointed that Gabi got thrown under the bus; but I am definitely happy that Joci saved the night. Here is how my 8 criteria fared in A Dal; and this time, I will present them in the order in which they sang: 9.538… Read more »
One of the best from Hungary.
Good choice, Hungary!
I was quite loving it… until the rap part came in. And then I hated it.
Best winner of the night. So original. See you in the final, Hungary.
whatever the message is he clearly gets extremely shook during the rap part to the point where he’s like breaking down in that last bit so
deeply personal song
in hungarian and romani
brings up social issues
what is there not 2 love ? ? ?
it’s not just brown eyes lol
i think the impression is that someone left him because he was romani (ethnic/racist violence exists in Hungary) and that he found closure through his religion & willpower or something
it’s deep i swear
i love it oh my god what a good choice like this goes directly to my #1 place
So she rejects him because he has brown eyes, and in return he curses and damns her forever?! What the actual AJAX is going on? That cannot possibly be the real story! What are we missing? Symbolism?
Origo – lyrics translation
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 you be damned forever, forever?
i’m so confused by the song…
Greek 2011 got their song 70% in rap and they finished 7th
Last year, when Mushu got eliminated without getting the chance to face the public vote in the final, I could see how this system could annoy a lot of people if the Jury kept a popular televote song out. The songs that the Jury put through were the four that I would have chosen but still, Gina and Oliver were getting 5’s from the televote in the heats and semis whereas Totova, KSB and Soulwave were getting 7’s. It is a bad system that made it so that there was not much of a choice for the public to have… Read more »
I’m glad ‘Origo’ won, but the jury list of chosen superfinalists is just ridiculous…
Well that entry is certainly adding “diversity” to the contest. 🙂
I don’t understand a word of it, but it looks interesting. I have no idea where to put it in my rankings at the moment. Help?!
I don’t see why there’s a problem with the rap. Rap works if the lyrics are well-written with a lot of heart and fits wel with the over-all narrative of the song for which “Origo” clearly has.
I love how Hungary are sending something cultural but I don’t get the appeal of this- especially the rap part. The chorus sounds like a middle eastern person wailing and murmuring at the same time. Maybe the threshold of ethnicness I can take has been reached- Jan Jan, Dum tek tek and sofi marinova were great but they were also accessible, it’s great though that it’s a change from 75% of the selection so far being female ballads #2015 all over again
@Esc 4ever
I agree with you on the year being bad so far.
Hungary is sending something very cultural and unique this year which will be a great contrast to many of the ballads we will likely see in the semis. If Hungary can qualify with their 2012 and 2015 acts, then I’m sure this one should pass through to the final.
It’s Hungary’s best entry ever. He has a unique song and flawless voice. This is a MASTERPIECE!
I wish other countries would get praised when sending bad entries like this. Like U.K or Ireland But hey they sing in native language so that makes it OK..
Let’s be realistic here, this will struggle! It’s different all right but not in a good way..?
this is different but in a nice way, nice choise Hungary enough with the female ballads
I thought this was really good… Up until that rap part in the middle of the song. It kinda cheapens the song, too bad.
Anyway, it’s still better than most songs we have so far. And it’s in Hungarian, thank you Hungary for bringing diversity!
I agree with Griffin
Just horrible! Bye Hungary xD
@Cathal: Haha! Indeed, I hear you! 🙂
When an ESC fan favorite don”t win, you all get your gay drama into overdrive. Hahaha
I am glad that Origo won and not the witchcraft from Totova. LOL
Good luck Hungary. Str8 at my #1.
Nice. It was my second choice.
I was surprised Gabi didn’t go to the 2nd round!
I’m not a fan of “Fall like rain” so I don’t know how Gina went through!
I’m not sure what to say about “Origo”. I’m not a huge fan of the song, but I like the traditional elements.
As for the result, I believe it’s a good choice for Hungary. I’m afraid about the effect of the song as @(J)ESC Fanatic said. I think this song will either do really well, or really bad.
I wish Ireland could get this much praise with an entry as bad as this.
I am so sad silly judges eliminated Gabi! What were they thinking? Gabi was the only one who could have brought them another top 10 score. However, after the judges made that misshap, Hungarian people did the only sensible thing and chose the only decent song in the bunch. Congrats, Joci and all the best in ESC!
Heavy folkloric music never has a chance in this mainly pop contest.
Two fairly underwhelming entries confirmed tonight I’ve got to say
1. France
2. Belarus
3. UK
4. Switzerland
5. Finland
6. Albania
7. Poland
8. Italy
9. Germany
10. Spain
11. Hungary
12. Georgia
Wow such great news from Hungary!
This was my favorite song in A-Dal and currently my second favorite in ESC after Italy. Soulful and unique, I think with the right staging this is top 10 material. Thank you Hungary!
My favourite all along. So glad this was chosen. Good luck.
Respect everybody’s opinion and music preferences, but from my end I absolutely love Papai and am thrilled to have this song in Eurovision. This song gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Good luck!
YAY 🙂
My favorite was Soulwave.