The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — continues to rate and review the 41 competing entries of Eurovision 2019. Next we head to Poland where the “white voice” singing quartet Tulia has “Fire of Love (Pali się)”. Did they light our fire? Read on to find out!
Tulia – “Fire of Love (Pali się)”
“Fire of Love (Pali się)” reviews
William: High impact and in your face, Tulia unleash a tsunami of sound from beat one. The aggressive tonality doesn’t relent, creating a sense of urgency and thrust as these in-tune and on-point women sing of neglected hearts coming back to life through love. The sparse production has a playful, old-school feel. Paired with the traditional elements it creates a thoroughly likeable and somewhat playful package with major heart. Tulia sing that one small spark can become a flame. Well, these four sparks are strong enough create a bonfire. It’s the most surprising earworm of the year.
Score: 9.5/10
Antony: This song has an ingenious mix with the traditional choral singing and rustic sound. Personally, I would prefer the kind of traditional Polish music that would typically go with this kind of vocal. Whilst there is a lot of vocal ability, I fear that many people might perceive it as shrieking and not find it palatable. It is the kind of song that can be appreciated but not one where you would find yourself reaching for the replay button.
Score: 5/10
Julian: As soon I heard the first seconds of Poland’s song, I immediately fell in love with the traditional and cultural touch. But that love dried out as the song progressed and I really found it annoying by the end of the three minutes. There is no rest from their screaming. I know that it is traditional singing technique and I also love that they sing mostly in their mother tongue. After hearing it several times, I like it a bit more but the live performance will show if I can fall in love with the whole song.
Score: 4.5/10
Antranig: I appreciate the musical risk that Poland are taking here. I’m thankful for them adding some much-needed traditional flavour to the mix. The voices of the four singers work together beautifully. There is an almost cult-like quality to their chants — it feels like something you’d sing around a campfire at a seventh-grade school camp. Come May, I expect juries and televoters alike to respect Poland’s unique entry.
Score: 7/10
Florian: When I first heard the studio version of the song, I was left more confused than happy about the song choice. As time went by, I still feel some sort of distance with this song. However, Poland does have a hand in presenting their entries in a way that gives people the excitement they need, resulting in some big televoting scores. If they drop another stellar performance in Tel Aviv, this song can take them back to the final in May.
Score: 4/10
Pablo: This song is made to listen no more than a certain number of times — any more time and it will grate on you like sandpaper. This wall of sound is overwhelming and easy to grow tired of. Props for Poland and Tulia for bringing a folk-punk flavour, but it’s not packaged for mass appeal. The lack of solo harmonies makes the vocals feel shallow, and the English part is unintelligible, unremarkable and unnecessary. They will make you stop and listen, but that will only be for two seconds for many people.
Score: 3/10
In the Wiwi Jury we have 29 jurors but only have room for six reviews. The remaining scores are below:
| Angus: 6.5/10
Anthony: 5/10 Barnabas: 8.5/10 Bernardo: 3/10 Calvin: 3/10 Chris: 4.5/10 Deban: 7/10 Essi: 2.5/10 Izhar: 5.5/10 Jack: 7.5/10 Jonathan: 6/10 Josh: 3.5/10 |
Kristin: 7/10
Lucy: 6.5/10 Luis: 8/10 Lukas: 7.5/10 Mikhail: 8.5/10 Oliver: 4.5/10 Renske: 8/10 Robyn: 8.5/10 Ron: 6/10 Sebastian: 8/10 Tobias: 3.5/10 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 2.5 and a high of 9.5.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 5.91/10
What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!
I’m sure this isn’t the first time we’ve heard this so called “white voice” at Eurovision, when Nina screeched out her “Lighthouse” in 2016 it sounded very similar to this, maybe if she’d have said she was using her white voice she would have got away with it
I must say this.. I intended to have this song on repeat
I’ve played it more than 10 times and i still wasn’t bored ?
Poland ?? – 9.5 / 10
Okey… so it’s different, it’s traditional, it’s modern, but for me it feels more annoying than interesting. Those voices are way too high-pitched. That said, their live performance in Amsterdam was perfect and it doesn’t sound that bad live, so I think Poland will qualify.
Poland is my 32rd
32. POLAND (5.75)
I liked the live version in Amsterdam good luck for them
Exactly – its very original in Eurovision this year and it looks like to be a potential dark horse …… !!@@@
I think this one is going to surprise a lot of people. It is in my top 5 and if it makes it to the final, I can see a lot of people voting for it. It is instantly memorable and if Eurovision in Concert is anything to go by, it will be visually arresting. I can see it doing really well. 8.5 from me! Go Tulia!
William, hunnaay, i’m totally with you! I have it on repeat the whole day, on the speakers or inside my brain, deffo my number 2 or 3.
Love or hate, it’s going up for me.
7.0/10
I think this will be one of the darkhorses. It’s original, unique and shocking.
#POL I have to say it. “Fire of Love (Pali si?)” is a masterpiece from head to toes. It has everything! Amazing voices, atmospheric instrumental, Polish cultural element, passion, originality, beautiful video, you choose! This song is a total gem and should get Poland back to the final pretty easily but knowing how Eurovision works I’m worried that they might not let Tulia pass in favour of other basic songs (*cough* Estonia *cough*) and because these kind of entries are kind of divisive among the fanbase and the average viewer . Still, my love for this song will prevail (#Lovemunsigra)… Read more »
When I listened to it for the first time i hated it.
Even though it grew on me a bit, in the next listening sessions…
I find the song annoying & “too much” for my ears and personal taste…
It’s from my least liked songs in this year’s contest…
My grade : 3,5/10
This is very interesting. The lyrics are really cool (although the English ones seem unnecessary here but they don’t harm the song). The association of white-voice singing with rock sounds is risky and interesting. Their harmonies are on point. However I feel that it’s quite an aggressive package in general, the whole song is quite loud without any quieter moment, and the rock doing used here doesn’t help (I wish the instrumentation had more “modern” rock sound, not that kind of country-rock guitar). Still, vocal quality and originality make me give this a 6.5, and I really wouldn’t mind them… Read more »
I am sure they will qualify. They are authentic and sing well.well done Poland!
I hated it when I first heard this, but I’ve grown to quite like this. Their singing was always great for me, and they sounded amazing in Amsterdam. However, I can’t help but feel that the instrumental is quite dated and not very daring, but in combination with the vocals it is really daring. This will do a lot better with the televote than the juries, but this could qualify, but not higher than 8th place in the semi.
6,5/10
POLAND – This year has plenty of risky ”love them or hate them” songs and the Polish one is certainly one of the most extreme examples. It combines traditional singing with modern rock sounds. The lyrics are not really out of the box (it’s about being in love), but the song form is very unique for this kind of contest. As I used the term ”over-climactic” last year, I’ll gladly use it again. This song feels like a long climax from start to finish, but it doesn’t take away from the experience because it’s quite short and girls know very… Read more »
I am ready for another massive downvoting, but “Pali sie” is unfortunately not for me. There are aspects of the song that I can appreciate, such as the ethnic background and the stylism the girls from Tulia have but, overall, I do not enjoy listening to it. Sorry, Poland, but you cannot compete against my love for Micha? Szpak’s “Color of your life” and, with my deepest regrets, this year you are landing very low on my personal list, at number 40.
16. Ireland (6.5/10)
31. Serbia (4.5/10)
40. Poland (2.5/10)
I gotta catch up with these. Fortunately, there aren’t a ton yet, but I do love having opinions on things. This is the kind of entry I’ve been waiting for Poland to send these last few years. Powerful, striking, and unique, with a cool (not cheesy) connection to Polish culture. This is the kind of song I wish countries like Georgia could figure out: a happy medium between a sound that’s true to the native culture while also being ear-catching and interesting to the rest of Europe. It’s intense in just the right way, with an alt-rock edge that appeals… Read more »
Oh yeah, I guess we’re adding rankings as we go along. So:
2. Poland (10/10)
10. Ireland (8.5/10)
32. Serbia (6/10)
I like the traditional dress, the native language and the use of Polish culture. However, song wise, this is an assault on the ears. Sorry Poland. I would love for you to win one year, as Warsaw and Krakow would be excellent host city’s. However it won’t be this year.
They will qualify, because imo Semi 1 is quite predictable as to who will qualify. But it will be torn apart in the final. 4/10 …the 4 is simply for the ethnic celebration.
The fact Wiwi ranked this higher than Ireland shows that the fandom have serious taste issues.
My comment got filtered. If any moderator could help freeing it, I’ll appreciate. 🙂 Spoiler: it landed in my top 10.
Mixing regional rhythms with popular music really makes sense for an Eurovision entry. This way, you’ll stand out but still can reach all kinds of viewers. “Pali Sie” does it in a powerful fashion, with a chorus that doesn’t leave my head. At the top of that, the intriguing stylistic choice of having the girls almost stiff on the stage, as if it was a weird dream. It’s unsettling, but also mesmerizing. I wish the guitars and drums sounded heavier, but the “white voice” is already loud, so having that could displease a general audience. 8.5/10
Sorry but I find this painful to listen to. I like the traditional element of it but it’s just screeching for me.
4.5/10
Tulia is amazing unique creative orginal
Good luck Poland !!!!!
Top 5 in final
u either love or hate this song, i’m #teamtaste so i love it. their style of signing and the hammering folk instrumental make it an awesome track.
Pali Si? is and underrated masterpiece.
Unique and catchy. Their voices and music are amazing.
Sad for some opinions.
Hope to see them un the Grand Final :3
Not my style, but at least is autenthic…
This is not my absolute favorite but solidly in my top 10. Of course you have to like this kind of Eastern European female vocals stylings and I do – a lot. I love the infectious beat at beginning and middle sections and that constrasts with their voices. The chorus on the other hand doesn’t stand at the same level. It seems to me a bit basic like a children’s song, but I guess this is intentional. Their still primm and proper atitude is also so refreshing! I feel that this is going to do particularly well both in the… Read more »
Bigger than 22?
The harmonizing is nice but it’s appeal is limited. A 4/10. An Ok running order slot and not the greatest diaspora power to choose from in semi 1 just add 1 point. So I’d assess for it to have a 50% shot at qualifying !
Wow did not expect William to give this 9.5
By far the best Polish entry ever. Tulia low key became one of my favourite entries of the year. It’s weird, it’s unnerving, it’s something never heard at Eurovision before. They’ve got charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent and deserve a spot in the top 10 on Saturday night.
I’m surprised by such a warm reaction, as I consider it one of the most dividing songs this year. Irritating to some ears, pleasant to other ones. Whether we’ll end up last in the semi, or in top 10, I’m proud, that we’re representing our culture and beautiful language, a singing technique that’s not that popular even in Poland itself (I guess it’s typical more for the eastern part of the country). I just hope the staging will be dynamic, colourful, not repetitive and focused on the girls.
Thanks from Poland #tulimy
I like it now. Didn’t at first. Don’t think that it qualifies. Will put a lot of people off.
All for personal taste but…a 9.5 for this…Oh dear, William! Better hope those broadcasters who are picking their international jurors next year don’t read this. 😉
One of the most interesting songs this year, I like it, I give it an 8. In my top 5 now.
I think this is definitely one of those songs that comes to life live. I’m still confident Poland will qualify
The melody is nice, but the chanting completely ruins this for me. 3/10
Like them, in my Top 7
I love them, we need that kind of sound in Eurovision more than copy and paste bops: hoping top 10, but I know that’s only a lucid dream
Black horse of the ESC. There girls will be on top5
*Dark horse 😉
I really hope that too 🙂
I believe that, too.
This song is both likeable and unbearable at the same time hahaha.