She’s an Australian-Danish beauty representing Denmark at Eurovision 2017. So the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of musical unprofessionals — just have to kick off our review by saying hej and g’day to Anja Nissen, who is singing “Where I Am” at this year’s contest. After listening to her song did we head straight to where she is? Or did we want to flee to the other side of the world? Read on to find out…

Anja – “Where I Am”

About Anja

Twenty-one-year-old Anja Nissen was born and raised in Australia to Danish migrant parents. In 2014, she won the third series of The Voice Australia, where she was coached by will.i.am. Anja competed in Dansk Melodi Grand — Denmark’s Eurovision selection show — in 2016 and placed second with “Never Alone” (despite being a huge fan favourite). She returned this year and won over Danish viewers with her R&B ballad “Where I Am”.

“Where I Am” reviews

Antranig: “Where I Am” doesn’t push any boundaries musically. But there’s a strength in Anja Nissen that few performers possess. She makes lemonade out of lemons and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. Lyrically, “Where I Am” is one of the better ballads. The only drawback is that the song is significantly weaker than “Never Alone” and I can’t help but think what could have been.

Score: 9/10

William: Anja Nissen has poise, power and beauty. Unfortunately she doesn’t have a good song. “Where I Am” is three minutes of vocal masturbation that consists of two settings: loud and louder. Rather than reaching one climax, she seems to hit about fifty — and that’s exhausting for even the most seasoned lothario. This isn’t a song. It’s one extended high note.

Score: 4/10

Chris: “Where I Am” feels like it’s exactly what Denmark needs at Eurovision 2017. After the failures of 2015 and 2016, Anja brings a sense of safety to the stage. And that contributes to some of the problems of “Where I Am”. It’s a song that yearns for a winner’s reprise that it just won’t get at Eurovision. There’s about enough in the song to bring Denmark back to the final and Anja elevates it further, but this screams right hand side once it’s there.

Score: 6.5/10

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Robyn: I don’t dislike “Where I Am”, but it’s not a favourite either. The song is a very ordinary romantic ballad, with plenty of opportunities for Anja to show off her big voice. That’s what it comes down to — if you like a shouty diva performance, you’ll probably like this song. If not, there’s less to like.

Score: 6/10

Deban: Anja brings her finest ingredient to the contest — her voice.  “Where I Am” isn’t the best song. It could be stronger with a revamp and more visual resources. However, it is driven by one of the most powerful voices in showbiz today. Anja’s simplicity is endearing. She wrote the song and whenever she performs the track, she owns the stage.

Score: 6/10

Josh: As an Australian, I feel a complete sense of patriotism knowing we have two Aussies competing at Eurovision this year. Anja is one of those amazing talents that unfortunately fell short in the Australian music scene. Why not send your talents abroad, especially to a country you share a deep connection with? The thing that’s so loveable about Anja is that she delivers a powerful vocal, but is still so sweet and humble. You go, girl. Australia is watching you.

Score: 7/10

Padraig: It says a lot that my favourite part of “Where I Am” is the cheesy chanting at the start. Because while cheesy, the opening sets the song apart from its contemporaries. But Anja’s stellar vocal is without doubt the entry’s strongest asset. Powerful and brimming with soul and emotion, her voice takes the track to heights it doesn’t deserve to reach. Crucially, she and the production team deliver small flourishes of modernity which set it apart from most of the other female ballads this year.

Score: 6/10

Steinunn: It’s no wonder Anja won The Voice Australia  she is an amazing singer. The song, however, is just another one of those diva power ballads that you’ve heard so many times before. It sounds kind of repetitive and predictable — nothing new or exciting happens. But at the same time the familiarity of it makes you want to listen again. Sung by an average singer this song would fall flat, but Anja keeps this song going and her vocals are going to get Denmark way further than the actual quality of the song.

Score: 6/10

In our Wiwi Jury, we have 38 jurors but only room for eight reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:

Anastas: 6/10

Andy: 5.5/10

Angus: 6/10

Anthony: 7.5/10

Antony: 7/10

Bernardo: 7.5/10

Bogdan: 4/10

Dayana: 4.5/10

Edd: 3/10

Erdi: 10/10

Forrest: 7.5/10

George: 6.5/10

Jacob: 2/10

Jason: 5/10

Jordi: 8/10

Jovana: 6.5/10

Kristin: 6/10

Luis: 7.5/10

Marek: 7.5/10

Matt: 7.5/10

Mikhail: 3.5/10

Natalie: 6/10

Patrick: 9.5/10

Renske: 7.5/10

Rezo: 9/10

Sami: 9/10

Sinan: 10/10

Stanislav: 8.5/10

Tobias: 6/10

Zakaria: 5.5/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 and a high of 10.

Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.61/10

What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!

See our current Eurovision 2017 reviews and rankings

59 Comments
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kenna
kenna
6 years ago

William’s review here is exactly on point and synchronised with mine : ‘rather than reaching one climax, she reaches about fifty’; couldn’t have said that any better. Anja is obviously a vocal powerhouse, no doubt of that, but vocal showing isn’t enough to make a song. One could hit a 10 minute long note and that still wouldn’t impress me musically. The entry itself feels like an endless rollercoaster, going up and down in a matter of seconds; but not one that’s thrilling, one that makes you wanna jump off of it just because it’s that nauseating. Anja will undoubtedly… Read more »

Digital Style
Digital Style
6 years ago

My friends all adore this song, but I don’t see it. It’s full of high and low and long and short notes, but it is still extremely lifeless and lacking in any meaning. Compared to the song she sent to DMGP last year, this is overall a really poor song and definitely did not deserve to win this year compared to other songs I heard.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

This song itself consists of the same four chords over and over again. The entirety of the performance is therefore driven by the lyrics, and my the complex vocal runs. Under normal circumstances, this song would fail to qualify (because it’s a four-chord song); but… Anja’s live vocals are outstanding! The singer is 100-times better than the song. What an unfortunate dilemma. For the singer: 10/10, but for the song: 2/10. Overall: 6/10.

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

I suppose it’s a qualifier because of SF2 as odds’ favourites aren’t there. I’m not sure about staging that will help this song, but it may be still enough. I enjoyed it watching several times but that’s about her, not the song.

chessguy99
6 years ago

This is a case where the singer’s live performance is considerably better than the song. I listen to it on Spotify and nothing catches my interest. But, watching her at the DMGP finals and I’m entranced. I predict this will get middling score from juries but be one of the better televote results.

Pablo
Pablo
6 years ago

While I think Denmark made the wrong choice yet again (Sada Vidoo had to go with her more refined and stronger song), this one is of the better choices this country made for Eurovision in recent years. It’s by far not the miracle worker Emelie had in 2013, but Anja is a powerhouse performer. The song is quite generic, but this Beyonce-like sound is not yet overplayed, or at least this effort seems less tired than others. Despite the song’s flaws, it managed to keep my attention interested, and the opening chant instantly catches you and makes you look (if… Read more »

ESCaddict
ESCaddict
6 years ago

I love the singing & the song. The chorus is a real ear worm that stays with me all day (& I am OK with that, the only thing that annoys me is I can’t hit the notes myself). Good job, Anya.

Eva M.
Eva M.
6 years ago

Here is an example when the voice makes the song…. This is top ten for me, I just love the voice and the stage presence, and the classical looks and charm. Of course, if they have updated the song and the lyrics to sound more modern, this would have been amazing and top 5 material. As it is–definitely a qualifier, and the left side of the board, but not top 10.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I’m somewhere between Chris and Deban in the review! I
t’s probably what Denmark needs to qualify (two consecutive years out). And Anja is an amazing singer no doubt!! The song is good but not the best! She actually elevates it!
I would give a 6.5!

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

@Velma

That’s not how it was in DMGP this year.
It was 50% jury and 50% televote

Apparently Anja got the entire 50% of jury and 14% from televote and Ida had her 26% entirely from Televote.

cheesecake
cheesecake
6 years ago

I was so excited for the Wiwi Jury! It’s finally happening lol.

To be honest, I didn’t like “Where I Am” at first, but Anja’s vocals just made the arena explode at DMGP. As Antranig said, “she turns ordinary into extraordinary”. I never expected myself to say this, but Denmark is 2nd in my top.

#Only Teardrops
#Only Teardrops
6 years ago

I like the song but not much.
It gets repetitive at some point.
Denmark will definitely qualify to the Final.
Mainly because of Anja’s superb powerhouse vocals. She has great voice
& can sell her song greatly. (10/10 for that)
My grade for Denmark’s song : 6,5/10
My rank : 23rd/42 & 10th/18 2nd SF

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

Big step forward for Denmark. They had Simone last year that was so much better but they can build on this. It should get to the final. Anja is a competent singer and has some good stage presence. The song kicks in at the right moments and she should be able to show off her vocal to the extent that she gets some amount of points.
As a vocalist, she lacks the finesse to really lift this song beyond its limitations. She will have to get by on her power alone.
6.5ish/10

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

Denmark is lucky Anja doesn’t only try in Australia, she is a great vocalist and she wrote the song herself, and I really like the song. It IS nothing new, but her voice makes it something new, even tho the song is already great enough. This should 100% qualify, and a safe top 15 finisher.

10/10 (and yes, I do give away easy tens, but that is because I love music)

Mauricio Hernandez
Mauricio Hernandez
6 years ago

I agree on this: wonderful voice, weak song and lyrics. However, I think she deserves to be in the final. She owns the stage and has a strong confidence while performing. I would love to see and listen more from Anja after Eurovision. 10 points from Mexico.

Luke
Luke
6 years ago

I’d give it 7/10 as Anja is the 3rd best singer this year and the song is good but not amazing, it will qualify and come middle of the table

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago

For me the vocals just slay, I don’t need an amazing song, if I have eargasm from vocals itself! for me 8,5/10.

PP
PP
6 years ago

My prediction that Denmark will be one of big surprise in final.
First with juries in semi final (my prediction 2 nd place from juries in semi go to The Netherlands) and 3 rd in final (after Belgium and Sweden) .
In semi final 2 nd place after Bulgaria and in final 5 th place after Sweden,Belgium,Italy and Bulgaria.

Timselvision
Timselvision
6 years ago

I fully agree with the verdict of the juries, this song doesn’t have anything special. Anja is a great singer tho, one of the best vocalists this year – but if only she would’ve had a a better song! Rn it’s 2nd last in my ranking of semi final 2, which is a pity, but song wise, Denmark just doesn’t deserve qualifying.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
6 years ago

It’s amazing! In my top 5. This is the kind of song that needs spectacular vocal to blow me away and Anja has it. I feel like the juries will support this a lot. It’s modern, radio friendly and Anja is undoubtedly one of the best singers this year, if not the best.

8.5/10

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

I think 6.61/10 is right. Anja has a great voice,but the song is just meh, another ballad sung by a diva, I have enough of this every year.

AzeriBoy96
AzeriBoy96
6 years ago

AMAZING voice, OKish song = 6.5/10
I also think that she will make it to the final, but won’t do well in the final. Juries will like it more than televoters, methinks.

Rona Nishliu
Rona Nishliu
6 years ago

Is screaming a bad thing in Eurovision?

I disagree

Runil
Runil
6 years ago

All countries are trying to please you but no, you are always somewhere else.
if is ballad-is boring
if is screamy : we like you only if you have lights (or crystals) on your dress
if is funny-is a joke(you are not serious enough)
if is about love/peace/politics-no no no
if is rock- give us a song we can enjoy at a party
if is dance- radio friendly, but forgettable, feel i’ve heard it before
– you are Justin Timberlake
– you are Kathy Perry
– you are Beyonce
(make these names go away at least during esc)

CharlieChan
CharlieChan
6 years ago

Great voice, average song. The performance really elevates it but the problem here is that, although we all like screaming divas, we like them to scream once or twice, not 2/3 minutes of the song. For me Sada Vidoo was better: better song, better production and better chances to win. Denmark should be careful: If they don’t do anything special they may not get quallyfied.
7/10

From Portugal
From Portugal
6 years ago

I’ll leave my opinion on all songs

Denmark
She has a powerful voice, the lyrics are not worth anything (which is a pity), I think she will have passed the final for the good voice she has, but in the end she will get lost … Good luck Denmark from Portugal

6.5 / 10

Tk
Tk
6 years ago

Eff the jury, I love this. Myself and most Aussies I know are Danish by proxy this year (ain’t nobody got time for Isiah and his boring AF song). Go Anja, scream for me baby

Velma ESC
Velma ESC
6 years ago

@Kris
That’s not true, Anja got 64% of the televoting while Ida got 26%

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

Personal rating: I have to admit that it’s quite catchy in a way, but I do think that 03:00 minutes are too long for this song. Anja performs it so powerfully that I actually feel a little exhausted after the first half. The lyrics are not worth mentioning in my opinion because they simply don’t connect with the music – they are just there. Using the same arrangement and the same emotional approach, Anja could have also sung about world peace, environmental issues, personal problems or whatever – the Impact on the listener would have still been the same. 4.5/10… Read more »

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

@Colin
I’m still upset Ida Una didn’t win DMGP despite having won the televote in a landslide. 🙁

Justin K.
6 years ago

IT’S STARTING. I nearly wet myself seeing the title since that means we’re that much closer to Eurovision, haha. The shouty-ness and constant build up is a stark contrast to the other shouty ballads: you don’t think it can get any louder, but it defies your logical thought process and does. Denmark’s current weakness is sending artists which sound too similar to what’s actually on the radio (counterintuitive, right?); Basim was basically a Bruno Mars knock-off, while the two boybands sounded like Any Boyband. This year, Anja sounds like she came straight from The X Factor with the Generic Winner’s… Read more »

mmaxi8
mmaxi8
6 years ago

an average song with a good singer. The staging act should be better than its performance in national selection. with best of luck, she will go trough the final. Denmark is in my top 10

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

@Park Electro – yes, vocal masturbation, he couldn’t say better! 😀 But, I’m sure she will get some televoting points anyway 🙂

Lukewarm
Lukewarm
6 years ago

Not the biggest fan of this “screaming” style of singing, but she has a strong voices and she hits all her notes. My problem with the song is that the intro and the first verse are so underwhelming. If this was in my Spotify discover you bet I would have skipped this song after no more than 15 seconds. Overall a solid effort for a 6/10 (13/43).

M
M
6 years ago

This feels less of a song and more of an excuse for Anja to show off her vocals, which I can’t deny are awesome. Still, It just doesn’t have anything that makes me wanna vote for it. I guess it’s fine for what it is

6.5/10

Park Electro
6 years ago

A middle-of-the-road song fully deserving a middle-of-the-table score. 6/10 for me. Also, “vocal masturbation”?!? Now I’ve read it all…

Paul D.
Paul D.
6 years ago

Forgot to say that Denmark is always too predictable, they always choose safe songs. They should take a risk next time and be bolder, I know they can do better than this

Yudhistira Mahasena
6 years ago

Anja is my type of woman, having that long blonde hair and powerful voice that I can listen to a hundred times. I think she might have a big opportunity to qualify to the final…

Paul D.
Paul D.
6 years ago

I don’t like this song at all, sounds like something I heard thousands of times before but with less quality and not as memorable.

Anja is a good singer and a decent performer but that last minute is a sream fest, she needs to have a better control over a voice.

Sounds like something that will appealto the juries and I guess the televote will also support it but not as much as the juries. I think it will qualify and do a decent result in the final

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

I like this song. First I was upset Sada Vidoo didn’t win DMGP, but then I “laid down my armor” and started to enjoy this. Anja has a great voice and a lovely smile. Musically, it indeed doesn’t break any boundaries, but most songs don’t and even when they do, not all of them do it the right way. I would say this is not a ballad, but a mainstream pop song. It’s good. It probably should qualify, but if it doesn’t, I won’t cry over it, as I have songs I love more.

Leo M
Leo M
6 years ago

She’s got a great voice and the song has a strong chorus, but the rest of the song doesn’t hold my attention. It is a bit boring and unoriginal. Borderline qualifer but it is not in my top 10 qualifiers

Runil
Runil
6 years ago

@azaad

You are right, why is this worse than Dami? Is enough that a female singer is easily labeled ‘screamer’, is now double standard about screaming?

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

Gosh, this song leaves me exhausted not in a good way, so many screaming! She may sing well, but her voice isn’t pleasent for me at all, not fan of ballads a la Mariah Carey..

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

I think 6.61 is about right. It’s a nice song, but sooo basic! It sounds like something Katy Perry would record and leave at the end of her tracklist. Still, Anja performs very well so she makes it sound interesting somehow.

Denmark needs to risk more for once, they’re probably the most boring country at the Eurovision because since 1999 they’ve been sending pretty much the same song with the exception of DQ in 2007 and Basim’s doo-woop in 2014.

oli
oli
6 years ago

It`s fresh, modern, and she sings (and looks) very well. I expect a top 10 placement for this song, at leat. I give it 7,50/10

Marc
Marc
6 years ago

As many are saying it’s more screaming than singing. She’s better on stage presence and at least she’s not cold performing (unlike Dami im). Song is generic, typical and boring. And for all these reason, un-professional juries might like this XD (even having no visuals and staging)

azaad
azaad
6 years ago

Groot, who is famous for his Eurovision rankings, puts it perfectly: “then a vocalist appears and makes a decent song phenomenal”.

This could be a dark horse to do well- ultimately Australia had a decent song (better than this, but not by much) and annihilated the juries with a powerhouse singer. Anja, with her Australian roots, and Nordic neighbours, has a better voting base than Dami did, and she’s a charismatic performer. Her song isn’t as dated as other ballads this year either, which will endear her to both the juries and the public. This will make the top 10.

Piotr
Piotr
6 years ago

In my opinion they soo wanted the sound and the song to be dramatic, but they totally failed. I know she has powerful voice, but sorry, this song is not suitable for so much screaming, it becomes tiring after two minutes of listening. I feel like everything’s irritating, and the entry doesn’t bring anything special. There were much better songs in preselections.
For me – 4.0/10

Pink Pussycat
Pink Pussycat
6 years ago

Nothing new from Denmark this year. Boring as usual.

Runil
Runil
6 years ago

So is this the first wiwi jury this year? IMO better than Emmelie, that had too many ‘why’ in the lyrics.