Geia sou Elláda! The Wiwi Jury has touched down in Greece, ready to experience some sunny Hellenic realness! After settling into our Santorini villa, we discussed Greece’s entry for Eurovision 2017 — “This Is Love” from Demy. Were we feeling her love? Read on to find out…

Demy – “This Is Love”

About Demy

Demy, 25, is a successful Greek pop singer, who first rose to fame in 2011 when she featured in Midenistis’ song “Mia Zografia”, which became a big hit in Greece and Cyprus. She has subsequently released two albums and a number of singles, including “Poses Hiliades Kalokeria” (How Many Thousand Summers), which shot to #1 on Greek iTunes and topped the airplay chart in 2012. The Greek broadcaster ERT handpicked Demy for Eurovision, and later staged a national final where Demy performed three different songs. Ultimately the Greeks went with “This Is Love”, penned by Eurovision veteran Dimitris Kontopoulos, along with Demy’s sister Romy Papadea and Scottish songwriter John Ballard. Ballard produced Ace of Base’s first three albums.

“This Is Love” reviews

William: Sometimes the strongest relationships take time to grow into — and so it is for me with this one. On first listen I thought the song was cheap, dated and completely overhyped. But the more I listen the more I like it. It builds slowly and strongly, with stirring changes of pace and instrumentation at 0:35, 1:04 and 1:35, moving from dreamy to dancey and remaining inspirational and uplifting throughout. By the time the strings and horns and electro backing swell in the final minute, I’m in heaven. This is my guilty pleasure.

Score: 7/10

Chris: “This Is Love” could — perhaps should — have been so much more. Greece seemed to have a “dream team” destined for at least the top five, but instead they’ve settled for something that is simply respectable. That’s not a negative, either, really: just that Demy perhaps deserves more. The chorus of the song is the real standout and honestly, the rest isn’t that memorable. Demy will no doubt win over voters with sheer charm, but it’s tame pop compared to some big hitters this year.

Score: 6/10

George: If this is love, it’s definitely not love at first sight. The song keeps oscillating between an EDM song and a power ballad and the result is a bit dodgy. Nevertheless, the song really grows on you once you listen to it more and more. Overall, I’m really glad that Greece isn’t sending an act like Argo this year. The uplifting nature of “This Is Love” will really be appreciated among the millions of ballads in the second semi-final and it does have potential, with the aid of the correct staging, to reach the top ten.

Score: 9/10

Luis: I’d say this is rather a pickup than love. This entry is cheap and underwhelming for the level of Greek music that’s out there and amazing, still there’s something likeable about it. It’s catchy and it’s one of those songs that are a bit distant in studio, but come to life live. Demy is a great performer, and I have no doubt she’ll make us fall in love in Kyiv.

Score: 6/10

Deban: A lot is riding on Demy since Greece failed to advance to the finals last year. She deserves to be Greece’s flag bearer after earning her stripes with an impressive back catalogue of dance hits. Unfortunately, “This Is Love” contains a few dull interludes and preambles which prevents it from fully committing to the EDM genre. Despite this, it thumps hard in parts and sounds like a summer dance anthem.

Score:7/10

Sami: What a wasted opportunity this was. Demy is an amazing artist and her previous singles would have been perfect for Eurovision. Dimitris Kontopoulos has also produced some of the greatest Eurovision songs of all time. But instead they came up with this slightly cheap and forgettable tune. “This Is Love” is enjoyable enough for the three minutes, but there are so many better songs in this genre this year. Greece might miss the final again for the second year in a row and that is not good thing for a country that was once one of the most successful countries in the contest.

Score: 6/10

Natalie: It’s about time we had Demy on the Eurovision stage! And with a Dimitris Kontopoulos produced song this couldn’t possibly fail! Athens 2018! Except the odds aren’t as enthusiastic. In a year of ballads, this song will definitely be well-received, especially with its killer dance break after the chorus and the epic build-up to the end. But, it just doesn’t come together. It’s better than, for instance, Moldova last year, but there isn’t any lasting impression or golden quality here. Even Demy singing “reaching out for the stars” seems bored and disconnected. It’s really sad – I wish Greece all the best for their efforts, but I don’t expect much to come from this.

Score: 7/10

Robyn: “This Is Love” feels torn, like it can’t decide if it wants to be a cute love song or a dance banger. The result is that it doesn’t end up doing either all that well. It’s not a terrible song, it’s just that Greece is capable of doing so much better. I suspect it will have more energy and cohesion live in Kyiv, but in the studio version, it’s not quite working as well as it should.

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: 6/10

Angus: 7/10

Anthony: 7.5/10

Antony: 7/10

Antranig: 6.5/10

Bernardo: 6.5/10

Bogdan: 3/10

Dayana: 4.5/10

Edd: 8/10

Erdi: 7.5/10

Forrest: 3.5/10

Jacob: 6/10

Jason: 5.5/10

Jordi: 6/10

Josh: 6/10

Jovana: 6/10

Kristin: 6.5/10

Marek: 5/10

Matt: 6/10

Mikhail: 1.5/10

Padraig: 4.5/10

Patrick: 7/10

Renske: 7/10

Rezo: 8/10

Sinan: 7.5/10

Stanislav: 6.5/10

Steinunn: 5.5/10

Tobias: 2/10

Zakaria: 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 1.5 and a high of 9.

Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.11/10

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

See our current Eurovision 2017 reviews and rankings

83 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Pablo
Pablo
6 years ago

This song should have been much more, and Greece oversold us on their promise. This Is Love is the best song they had to offer this year, for sure, but overall it’s just very cliché. I love the string orchestra breakdown, but that’s about it. The rest just feels… prodding along and relying on stuff we have heard before. It’s too mindless to be considered mindless fun and it should have been much more than it is right now and presented more professionally (hold the product back twice just to tweak the worst line? Really?). If Greece goes through the… Read more »

anonymous91
anonymous91
6 years ago

@Robyn Gallagher

glad to see you again as well my dear, and yeah some of the wiwi jurors are quite honest and fair with their scores i think, but lol me and Mikhail have the same score 🙂

4li3n
4li3n
6 years ago

@Okta
Yes and Maria Leal -Dialetos de Ternura

Pluma
Pluma
6 years ago

Í really dont understand why so negative buzz for this song, í don t say that is amazing but, por sure is one of the best of this year, in my opinión even can tale the all think, í think that is one of 15 songs that they can make it that so, in my opinión can finish from 1st to 15th place with out any problem, my regards from Spain

Leaf
Leaf
6 years ago

@Mrnoall
Lol
Don’t mix politics and music…….
The song is bad on its own no matter which country would represent.

Okta
Okta
6 years ago

When I listen to it, I can’t help thinking of “Ding-Dong” by Dana International, which is great!

anonymous91
anonymous91
6 years ago

@EmilyG

i just wanted to explain that i’ve got nothing against Demy as a person, i’m not a hater tbh

but you’re right Emily, everyone is entitled to their own opinion 🙂

EmilyG
EmilyG
6 years ago

@anonymous91
Don’t try to present your personal opinion as a fact.
I find the song fantastic. I believe that the verse and bridge have a brilliant melody and the chorus is catchy.

anonymous91
anonymous91
6 years ago

i’m sorry if i come over as harsh by giving a 1.5 to this song, it’s a score about the song, i find Demy a nice girl, maybe she should come back to eurovision in a few years, with a stronger song, like Poli did

i am just someone who is being honest about the song, cause it’s a song contest i thought, if it was a top model contest i’m sure Demy would be a contender to be top 5

Coca_colaO
Coca_colaO
6 years ago

@Lanti
It has nothing to do with Germany 2013 entry
You Greeks much find something else to complain (again)

Irene
Irene
6 years ago
Reply to  Coca_colaO

@Coca_colaO
You greeks muSt find something else to complain ABOUT
is what you meant to say?
Lanti uses ‘j’, greeks dont (check their website). And i fail to see how they were ‘complaining’.
On a side note, it really bothers me how the Greek team changed the lyrics of the song. It gave the eurofans a sense of self-importance. I’m still sore about how Israel butchered their song last year to please them and flunked televote, only getting votes cause of strong vocals from juries.

Mrnoall
Mrnoall
6 years ago

60% of the bad comments here are from a silly Fyromian who think that we wouldnt understand that he makes fake profiles. Lol they are crazy.

This is love is not a masterpiece for sure but its QUALIFYING, and with a great stage show it could enter top 12. The rest is bs.

Burger
Burger
6 years ago

its over-rated, we’re seeing in recent years a more maturing taste with the voting trends: this could be the big “let down” entry: particularly in the wake of Greece failing to qualify last year.

Magpie
Magpie
6 years ago

This screams “typical Eurovision pop song”. For all the hype surrounding Demy, they chose the most generic song ever.

Didn’t Moldova send something similar last year? I agree with others that 6.11 is too high.

Karl
Karl
6 years ago

One of the worst songs this year, quite honestly. Incredibly cheap, dated, and hollow. Doesn’t deserve to qualify but definitely will.

Sam
Sam
6 years ago

@Euro4 hahaha that’s really a really funny joke

cheesecake
cheesecake
6 years ago

Lol, Greece was one of the favorites to win when Demy was announced and now there’s hardly anyone talking about Greece. It’s a major disappointment.
The song is not bad, but it sounds cheap and as if it was from five years ago. 6.11 is a good score for this.
I think it’s POSSIBLE for Greece not to qualify again, but it probably will get through.

Jon Smith
Jon Smith
6 years ago

Love Story…

Lanti
Lanti
6 years ago

It’s not bad, I wouldn’t turn it off if it was on the speaker at work. But it reminds me so much of Germany’s 2013 entry (not to the point of plagiarism, but definitely very similar styles) and it feels really meh.

Probs a controversial opinion, but last year >> this year.

Nicola
Nicola
6 years ago

This song is awesome. It will do very well.

Euro4
Euro4
6 years ago

I think Greeks really are a cut above ! That’s the problem we have.

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

I’ve been skeptical from moment when team was revealed but I was even shocked how this reminded me Cascada’s chorus. Now, after all patches, this biting song works. Well, upbeat always entertains, but it would be nice to contain at least some original ideas or diverse arrangement (like in Imri Ziv’s song, which I prefer more).
Prediction: it walks along with Sweden – will benefit from good staging and qualify.

(#My Number One < 3)
(#My Number One < 3)
6 years ago

Greece might managed to win the EuroVision on Kiev 12 years ago, but I don’t think that Greece will gonna slay or do again greatly in Kiev this time though..
I’m not even 100% sure if Greece will manage to even qualify to the Final alone..
(Like the same phenomenon happened with Denmark last year, when didn’t even qualify to the Final alone, after Emmelie’s victory in 2013)

I was expecting honesty a better song by the famous composer Dimitris Kontopoulos that has composed much better songs than
“This Is Love”..

Liz
Liz
6 years ago

ESC Croatia Fan I hear you know a lot about the history of this song…..

ESC Croatia Fan
ESC Croatia Fan
6 years ago

Mikhail is the only SANE person here! The song doesn’t deserve the hype it’s getting, it’s outdated, it belongs in 2012, copy of Cascada’s Glorious and Don’t You Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia. The lyrics are horrendous – and we can prove this because the song went through 3 changes from “La la la this is love” to “Rain falls from above” to “Reaching out for the stars” What’s so good about this song? I honestly don’t like it, I have nothing against Demy, in fact I think she’s a beautiful woman and an amazing singer, her voice SLAYS!… Read more »

RikaRirika
RikaRirika
6 years ago

esconly You’re so right.Those harpies can eat you alive…….

Veronique
Veronique
6 years ago

I don’t like it.

(#This is NOT real Love.. / Greece = a Titanic sinking shipwreck..)
(#This is NOT real Love.. / Greece = a Titanic sinking shipwreck..)
6 years ago

Overall it’s not a bad song at all.. But it’s cheesy & cheap though.. The track starts & is building up well, until the chorus comes & ruins it for me… — My score: 6,5/10 ~ My rank: 24th/42 – – – – *My Scoreboard* – – – – ~ 8,0: Israel(5th) – Latvia(7th) ~ 7,5: Poland(9th) – UK(10th) ~ 7,5: Iceland(11th) ~ 7,0: Malta(12th) – Denmark(13th) ~ 7,0: Slovenia(14th) ~ 6,5: Netherland(20th) – Greece(24th) ~ 6,0: Montenegro(25th) – Serbia(32th) ~ 5,0: Germany(36th) – Spain(37th) ~ 3,5: Belarus(40th) ~ 1,5: Norway(42th) ______________ Btw,105 years ago in 14-15 April 2012: (The… Read more »

VladV
VladV
6 years ago

@Ern both “You are the only one” and “Shady Lady” were amazing songs.
I also like “This is love”. It is more generic from the two other songs but it is a good dance track with amazing verses and bridge and a catchy chorus.
I can see Greece in top 5 this year.

esconly
esconly
6 years ago

Haters gonna hate….
This song is really good! Not the best one but its really good!
If this was the swedish entry then “This is love” would be the favourite to win….all these because its Greece! Unfair… We are here to celebrate diversity not aiming countries

EmilyG
EmilyG
6 years ago

@Leaf

There is no key change in the song

Leaf
Leaf
6 years ago

Not a fan of the key changes in this song …….. Seems like a random a bit of everything.
The dub-step chorus circa 2013 and the pop verses with a classical arrangement on the last key-change.
But on the other hand I am glad they aren’t using any traditional Greek elements in the song since It’s been kinda overdone in most of their entries.
I like Demy as a performer and she does have a presence about her BUT this song ….. It just ain’t doing it for me.
3.5/10

Ern
Ern
6 years ago

All this nitpicking is getting on my nerves. “This Is Love” is a perfectly decent Eurovision entry. It’s fun and enjoyable, and it will look great when preformed live on stage. Besides, what precisely were people expecting from Greece this year?? Demy isn’t the diva Anna Vissi is, nor is she as provocative as Eleni Fourera, nor does she have the vocal abilities of Maria Elena Kiriakou. Demy is just Demy: a nice girl that sings happy songs, who makes people happy just by looking at her. As for the song’s composer, he’s not exactly know for being original. Seriously,… Read more »

EmilyG
EmilyG
6 years ago

From this video its obvious that they have made several changes at the production of the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_VzcKx4j7o
This really sounds great. I just don’t know if at ESC she will perform this version of the song.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

@Aria – Ha ha ha @Purple Mask – I just hope Blackbird gets a great review in general. I know that slow songs really aren’t Wiwibloggs’ thing, but this one is just really special. I am looking forward to your review too.

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago

6.11 is WAY too high for this song.

Ron
Ron
6 years ago

Best line in the reviews “This doesn’t sound like love, this sounds like a pickup” hahaha….it sure does.

Alex
Alex
6 years ago

This is a 4/10 for me… the chorus kills the energy to be honest, and the song’s production is not where it needs to be.

Aria
Aria
6 years ago

@Colin and @Purple Mask
Get a room you two.

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

Funny to see ESC fans complaining about ”generic”. This will go well of course, though I personally don’t like it at all. Probably the worst and most annoying lyrics of the year, even Manel’s ”Do it for your lover” is Nobel prize winner writer for this..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Thanks Colin. I enjoy your reviews as well. 🙂
Generally, I like to see effort put into musical ideas and song content. For example, the elegant melodic phrases bump up Greece’s score to 8.5, whereas the predictability of mini-refrains for Serbia keep it down at a 5. Having said that, it’s not all just about the music – my score for Finland’s “Blackbird” might surprise you. Wait and see. 🙂

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

@Purple Mask – Thank you for such an in-depth analysis. I really enjoy your comments, as they are well argumented. You seam to have a really big knowledge of the musical part of the song (keys, tempo and that kind of stuff). 🙂

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

OT – Does anyone know whether thumbs down on You Tube comments do anything since recent update. Years ago, it clearly shown how much ups and how much downs does a comment have. Then You Tube updated it and it didn’t show the amount of downs, but it dwindled down the number of pluses when reloaded. As of recent, I notice that thumbs down doesn’t do anything. I downvote the comment, reload, and it does nothing. The number of pluses remains the same. Does the downvote button even have a purpose anymore?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

For those that say this song sounds like one big jingle: of course it does! But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Jingles are designed to promote and advertise, and so does this song, very effectively. It’s cheerful, bright and happy, so I like listening to it. Who doesn’t like a jingle anyhow? 🙂

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Ahh, the bright sound of open keys! Keyboard players rejoice; you’re using all the white keys to play this one! 🙂 The opening two verses and bridge are all in A minor, with hints of F major, all leading to the open tonic of the chorus: C major. Finally something harmonically CHEERFUL to analyse from Eurovision 2017’s selection: thank you Greece! Because of the open keys used in the song (which make it easy to play using classical instruments) the instrumentation is classically lavish, featuring piano, percussion, strings and even wind and brass! Demy herself has a clear “pop-voice” tone… Read more »

Ririca
Ririca
6 years ago

This Is Love Eurovision Song Contest Greece 2017 (Dionisis Kostis Piano Cover) YouTube channel .Please listen to it … This is an amazing song!!!

Anna Miles
Anna Miles
6 years ago

Nothing personal – the girl is nice, Greece is a wonderful country…but I think this is the worst song (along with Spanish one) in the contest. Guys – I thought you had better music taste…

Bgc
Bgc
6 years ago

This song is unoriginal, cheesy and lame BUT it’s slightly more respectable now that they have gotten rid of the “rain falls from above” line, which was the single most banal and ridiculous lyric in this year’s contest (“reaching out for the stars” is a massive cliche but at least it makes sense in the context of the song!)

I still think it’s one of the weakest songs in Semi Final 1 but if Demy performs it well (and she seems like a good singer) then I’m sure it will go through and finish somewhere mid-table in the final.

Lukewarm
Lukewarm
6 years ago

Enjoyable tune overall. Demi has a very soft voice that makes you feel love. The song has some nice swings even though most of them are on the safe side. The production leaves more to be desired as some of the transitions are awkwardly sudden and rough. 5/10

02 NOR | 04 UK | 11 SRB | 14 DEN | 16 POL | 19 LAT | 20 ICE | *23 GRE*
26 NLD | 27 BLR | 33 MNE | 34 ISR | 36 GER | 37 MLT | 38 ESP | *42 SVN*

anonymous91
anonymous91
6 years ago

@Fabio

i agree, before the revamp it had the rhyme with love and above, i would’ve scored it a 5.5/10 if that was the final version of this song, just a okay song, but i find the reaching out for the stars lyric a bit off for me, i rather have it too cheesy than too bland

Racal
Racal
6 years ago

@Digital Style: “the song is really well written and you can tell they put a lot of thought into the lyrics and overall message of the song”… Are you being ironic? Because… “There’s an echo in my head There’s a crossroad up ahead How I want you here Forever and ever and ever and ever I’m not giving up This is love Reaching out for the stars You and me as one Everywhere this is love This is love”, and so on again and again. So basically a classic “I love you, why did you leave me”, but somehow she… Read more »