Our countdown comes to a close. Over the last week, we’ve been counting down Team Wiwi’s top 30 national final songs of the Eurovision season. There’s been shocks and surprises along the way, but we’ve narrowed it down to just our top five.
What will join Eric Saade’s “Sting”, Margaret’s “Cool Me Down” and Kerli’s “Spirit Animal” as this year’s winner? See the results below:
5. “Poison (Ari Ari)” — Tamar Kaprelian (Armenia)
Tamar Kaprelian’s Eurovision return has been pretty much on the cards since the moment the 2015 final came to a close. And with the revamped Depi Evratesil opening that opportunity up, the former Genealogy singer brought an all-star team together to try and make it happen.
“Poison (Ari Ari)” brought a modern pop sound with some traditional Armenian realness. It became one of the most anticipated songs of the year — which made its semi-final elimination all the more shocking.
4. “Legends” — Asanda (United Kingdom)
The highest ranking song from a UK national final in our countdown ever, and for good reason. Asanda’s “Legends” got everyone excited even before its release, with rumours of it being a BBC favourite rumbling ahead of release.
Serving true sass and attitude, it would have been something very different for the UK. Live though, some of the studio magic was lost, and Asanda was swept up in the power of “Storm SuRie”.
3. “All the Feels” — Renaida (Sweden)
Only the winner of Melodifestivalen will get the chance to perform their song four times. Unless, of course, you’re Renaida. The former Idol star racked up over 1 million votes in her semi-final, yet still ended up having to fight through Andra Chansen.
Technical difficulties meant she performed twice in the final, on her way to a strong 9th place in her debut. And clearly, those performances — and that style — meant she gave Team Wiwi “all the feels” indeed!
2. “In My Cabana” — Margaret (Sweden)
Margaret just misses out on becoming a two time winner. “Cool Me Down” went Europe-wide in 2016 even without Eurovision, making Margaret a known name in Sweden. So it was no surprise to see her as an artist in this year’s Melodifestivalen.
“In My Cabana” might not have been the absolute hit that “Cool Me Down” was, but the Swedish production certainly upped things live. With slicker staging and a better mix of backing vocals, Margaret proved she belonged on the Melfest stage. If she gets the song and staging together, could she be stopped?
1. “OK ou KO” — Emmy Liyana (France)
It says a lot about the strength of the French field that, in its first year, Destination Eurovision is just one song short of matching Melodifestivalen. But perhaps most importantly, France takes the number one spot thanks to Emmy Liyana.
The former Voice star was one of the highlights of the semi-final round. In the final, she upped her game even more. She arguably stole the show with an incredible duet alongside Slimane. Then, she took to the stage with an army of doppelgangers for “OK ou KO”.
With a reserved aggression and an incredible voice behind it, this was a standout track from the first few beats. The outcry when Emmy finished low in the public vote showed just how much international support the track had. But there’s no room for disappointment here: Team Wiwi has crowned the track our favourite national final song of the year!
So there you have it: France takes victory in our countdown. And for four straight years, a different country’s song has topped the list! Is “OK ou KO” your national final favourite? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below.
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77 Comments on "Team Wiwi’s Top National Final Songs of ESC 2018 (5-1)"
All good songs. I don’t know if it would be my number 1 of all NF’s but Emmy is my number one among the five for sure.
I didn’t pay attention to every single national final, but of the ones I saw, I most enjoyed:
– Legends (UK)
– You (UK)
– Forest Song (Ukraine)
– Home (Estonia)
– I mog di so (Germany)
– High on Love (Czechia)
– Esamiba (Latvia)
– You Got Me (Norway)
– OK ou Kou (France)
There was also that great song from Portugal that was withdrawn but I forgot the name of it. Would’ve been in my top 10 if they kept it, but they’re my #1 at the moment anyway.
Hopefully Asanda represents the UK next year.
lmao diversity for the sake of diversity at its best
No way should Renaida or Asanda be there
OK its their taste so…
The Roop – Yes I do
MADARA – Esamiba
Elena Hasna – Revival
Tamar Kaprelian – Ari Ari
Emmi Christensson – Icarus
Nika Zorjan – Uspavanka
Camilla North – Yo no soy tu chica
Sudden lights – Eyes
Margaret – In my Cabana
Aleksander Wallman: Talk to the Hand
?ARLSEN – Standing up for love
Frankie Animal – (Can’t Keep Calling) Misty
Constantine – Misto
Jukebox & Bella Santiago – Auzi cum bate
Zsolt Sule – Zold a majus
Feli – Buna de iubit
BQL is my favorite
TASTE OMG
The Renaida appreciation omg I almost cried
Interesting how most of this entire list bore no resemblance to my personal favourites whatsoever, except for the winner! “OK ou KO” was my favourite National Final non-winning song as well! A strange coincidence, or perhaps a lucky guess.
The true gay taste. LOL
I am happy to see OK ou KO in the 1st place. I really like the song.
But this top 30… It’s too swedish and popish for my personal taste, even though i respect it.
Hungary had the best national selection by far this year, yet i didn’t see many songs in this top. I would like to have seen more italian songs also, particulary Annalisa.
A dal is ALWAYS great…I agree. And a perfect winner
I wasn’t expecting Ok Ou Ko to be first, but I very much agree! It’s one of my favorites too. All the feels is my top one, so I’m glad to see it here as well!
OMG EMMY LIYANA was awesome, wish they represented France this year..
John Lundvik – “My Turn” is the best song of the year. Masterpiece.
This national final season was weak af compared to 2017. I could only find 15 songs I liked, so I only made a top 15 lmao.
Perhaps so, but more musically deserving songs won through this year, in my opinion. So, it evens out over time.
My top 30 – Top 5 of NF songs:
5. Tamar Kaprelian: Poison (Ari Ari) (Armenia)
4. Noee: L’un pres de l’autre (France)
3. Malo: Ciao (France)
2. Danielfy Gergely: Atz Mondtad (Hungary)
1. Madara: Esamiba (Latvia)
It was REALLY hard to decide between top two masterpieces, though.
Btw, as OK ou KO is my 11th, I am cool with it being 1st here.
Well, good news for France, since “OK ou KO” will be the French song for the OGAE Second Chance contest.
You have to be deaf to put Ari Ari in fifth rank. Wtf seriously?
I can’t see the hype for Tamar’s song but I agree with the top 4. 🙂
Great performer and great voice, but unfortunately I found his song quite forgettable. I think Asanda could have improved her vocals before the final and done the UK proud with that song. It doesn’t matter how good SuRie is vocally, that song is just WEAK in my opinion…beyond saving. I was totally baffled by the result.
This is poor joke and disrespectful to put high class entries like Madara ‘Esamiba’, Feli ‘Buna de iubit’, Janeiro ‘Sem Titulo’ or Ifi Ude ‘Love is stronger’ behind cheesy, non melodical and unoriginal entries like All the feels, Scandilove or Legends I mean I thought that Wiwibloggs will take this for more granted and review them professionally, because from the jury side these songs which I mentioned as first are really good. Its kind of shame that one of the most opinion-forming site about Eurovision prefers ‘fast food music’.
I was really disappointed with “Love Is Stronger” not making the list too.
I can’t believe that no entries from Hungary or Portugal made the Top 30, there were so many gems in these national selections. In my mind A Dal, Festival da Canção and Destination Eurovision were the best national selections this year. I also miss Ailleurs and Last breath on the list.
My favourites of the Season:.
Sudden lights – Just fine (Latvia)
Felix Sandman – Every single day (Sweden)
Tamas Horvath – Meggyfa (Hungary)
Ryk – You and I (Germany)
Samir & Viktor – Shuffla (Sweden)
Madara – Esamiba (Latvia)
Malo – ”Ciao” (France), if this was the entry on ESC 2018, i would vote!!! Greetings from a Portuguese Fan
We love a flawless, all-female top 5! Especially happy to see Renaida getting some love for my favourite Melfest track of the year.
I’m still astounded at some of the songs that were snubbed in favour of the entries this year (I’m looking at you – San Marino and Romania).
~ Ryk – “You and I” (Germany)
~ Nassi – “Rêves De Gamin” (France)
~ Malo – ”Ciao” (France)
~ Igit – “Lisboa Jérusalem” (France)
~ Lasse Meling – “Unfound” (Denmark)
I wish Aidan “Dai Laga” made the list.
Such an underrated track, probably my favourite from Malta this year!
“In my cabana” in second? Really? You cannot be taken seriously after this! And you call yourselves “music experts”… What a joke!
Screaming! 😀 We have never called ourselves “music experts”. We don’t claim to be music experts – just fans of Eurovision and music lovers.
It would be so great if we had Feli, Asanda & Tamar this year….
but ok… life goes on…
Yes actually this sort of typical ESC-taste has left us a long time ago but old habits die hard…
Oh, I forgot Etnopatsy – “Külm” (Estonia).
And also Sara de Blue – “Out of the Twilight” (San Marino), just like Hector’s list remembered me. I guess now I’m fine.
Omg! I don’t understand. UK could send Legends and send this stupid storm????
Asanda had ”Jana Burceska syndrome” 😛
Strong song like ”Legends” requires strong performer, otherwise it fails..
don’t do jana dirty like that smh
Crazy to think it was only the first Destination Eurovision… Already can’t wait to see what France prepares for 2019!
Best song not to go to Eurovision this year: (Germany) Ryk – You And I.
Seriously….where is it?
Agreed
YES! I voted for Ryk as often as I could…. We should have selected him internally. Michael is of Course not bad, but I’d rather have something as unique and outstanding as ”You and I” that Michael’s song, which is kinda mediocore.
Tamar Kaprelian is #5? Seriously?
She had around 15 rehearsals , but she didn’t make it well. I call her “Alekseev #2” , who has lame voice in the performances. Adding to it, she’s a real hypocrite, because she showed her reality before and after competition.
I am glad for Sevak. Honest guy with honest soul and he is respected to represent Armenia this year.
Why is she a hypocrite? What did she say?
Tamar blamed Asmik for an idea of dancer’s mask, as for Sevak, she told everyone that he was her best friend, but after competition she said that Sevak rigged her votings.
Really? In Sweden, Danny Saucedo behaved like a really sore loser too, once. Said openly that the winner of Melfest wouldn’t have a chance in ESC while he could do much better.
The winner that year? Loreen. XD
But anyhow, sore losers like that are awful, and really awkward, to see.
Ok ou ko would have been My winner This year, it is such a perfect song. SO much wasted potential.
Dotter not in top 30 ?!? Are you joking ?
Oh my Lord….Literally all of These are SO bad! Except for Tamar of Course. Who voted for These?
I didn’t mean Tamar, I meant Emmy. Tamar was also bad…
(Besides Tamar) I agree completely.
Were you guys actually watching the national finals this year?
Nothing from Hungarian and German selection in top 30? those were very good imo.
Don’t get that Tamar hype, Sevak is much better choice, wonderful voice and song, he will go straight to the final. Also Surie is better choice than Asanda, both Tamar and Asanda have weak vocals and performances.
I was more impressed and have enjoyed the songs that made your 11-30 rankings better than most of the songs in your top ten (except OK ou KO, that is deserving of top 5). Some I have enjoyed that didn’t make the Wiwijury’s top 30 were YOU ARE MY WORLD (Latvia), DROP THAT BOOGIE (Estonia), PARADIS (from France), ETNOPLASTY (Estonia), I WON’T CRY (Belarus), NG RIJE ZERIN (Albania) DELIRIUM (Poland), and SONG FOR DAD (Malta)
Ngrije Zërin did get in the top 30. 26th place if I remember correctly. Also, Etnopatsy’s song was called Kulm.
If Nassi and Louka from France would have made the cut, I would come up with a proposal to join the WiWi jury next year.
My favourite songs. We will miss them all. We share with WiWi the same taste. Shame these lovely songs are out.
I’m glad that Emmy won, her song was amazing and I was really disappointed in its televote result
However that’s a bit sad that it is the only song from my NF favourites that got featured in this list 🙁 I loved Etnopatsy and Sibyl Vane from Estonia, as well as Ifi Ude and Happy Prince from Poland
So you have included in the top five two of the shakiest live vocals of the entire NF season? Tamar and Asanda had great visual concepts but if you can’t sing on the night…
We’re not necessarily considering the live national final performances here. It’s more the song as a whole, what we’re still listening to weeks later. 🙂
If you want to know what we think of the songs as national final contenders, see the Wiwi Juries for each. 🙂