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 the microstate of San Marino, where Turkish crooner Serhat is back for another turn with “Say Na Na Na”. Did we feel his uplifting message?
Serhat – “Say Na Na Na”
“Say Na Na Na” reviews
Antranig: There’s all these songs about kings, queens and crowns this year but make way, the real king has entered the building. “Say Na Na Na” is such a feel-good anthem — this is bound to put a smile on your face when you listen to it. This is by far the best song San Marino has ever sent and since Serhat almost qualified with “I Didn’t Know” in a stronger semi-final, I have genuine hope this could creep into the grand final in Tel Aviv.
Score: 7.5/10
Bernardo: Junior Eurovision winner Destiny once said: “sugar and spice make everything nice”. Serhat’s return brings sugar, spice and a joyful throwback to the 20th century. Disco lovers will relate and vote for “Say Na Na Na”. An upgrade on “I Didn’t Know” that is tailored to get the Eurovision fandom dancing in the arena. It will be a nice moment. Welcome back, Serhat. We missed you.
Score: 5.5/10
Robyn: Somehow Serhat returned to Eurovision with the exact song we needed. “Say Na Na Na” isn’t a Eurovision winner, but does it have to be? If Serhat can take to the Tel Aviv stage with a sharp suit, some smooth vocals and a hat, and leave audiences with lifted spirits, then perhaps that’s all that matters. Fingers crossed that Serhat can take San Marino to the grand final for the second time to double the pleasure!
Score: 7/10
Oliver: Taking the community by storm, “Say Na Na Na” is definitely an entry that we can all get behind regardless if you’re obsessed with it or not, as is the case with myself. It might be somewhat of a basic song in terms of structure and progression but Serhat’s charisma and voice are what make it special; not to mention the impeccably produced music video. Anything can happen at Eurovision, so why not “Say Yay” to San Marino advancing to the final?
Score: 6/10
Ron: It’s guilty pleasure time for the Eurovision fans. Serhat is so likeable and fine, I guess that’s why everyone will sing “Na na na” in Tel Aviv. The song’s production (and the impressive music video) are selling the song quite well and the staging will probably try to recreate that vibe in the arena. I’m not sure this song is doing it for me, but we can say it’s cute and fine (and fun).
Score: 6/10
William: Schmaltzy, cheesy, cliché, predictable….and absolutely perfect! This is the mystery and madness of “Say Na Na Na” — a so-so song that is brought to life by the loveable and charming Serhat. If anyone else sang this I’d press skip. But the song fits so perfectly with Serhat — a bundle of positive energy who commands attention and elicits a smile. I can’t take my eyes off of him and I’m hopeful Europe will feel the same. To the final? Let’s do this!
Score: 6/10
In the Wiwi Jury we have 29 jurors but only have room for six reviews. The remaining scores are below:
| Angus: 2/10
Anthony: 7.5/10 Antony: 5.5/10 Barnabas: 9.5/10 Calvin: 6.5/10 Chris: 7/10 Deban: 7/10 Essi: 4/10 Florian: 4/10 Izhar: 6.5/10 Jack: 6.5/10 Jonathan: 7/10 |
Josh: 5.5/10
Julian: 7/10 Kristin: 8/10 Lucy: 7.5/10 Luis: 6/10 Lukas: 6.5/10 Mikhail: 2/10 Pablo: 6/10 Renske: 7.5/10 Sebastian: 7.5/10 Tobias: 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 and a high of 9.5.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.22/10
What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!
You called? The cat’s name is Whoopi, and it is my great privilege to say that yes, she predicted a qualification! (She also predicted Belarus would make it over Poland, but hey, can’t get em right every time).
Barnabas, whoever you are: thank you.
10/10. Makes me so delighted every time I hear it. Sincerely.
Barei gave us “Say yey yey yey.” Serhat gives us “Say na na na.” 😀 And also, we complete the San Marino disco trilogy, with “I didn’t know”, “Spirit of the night” and now “Say na na na.” They sure love disco. 🙂 For those of you expecting something musical from me, how about this: The Chorus melody of this song bares a slight similarity to a movement of Beethoven Piano Sonata no. 17. (Tumbleweed blows past.) It’s fun, it’s groovy, you can dance to it. (Serhat’s song, not the Beethoven.) There will be dancers and there will be rainbows… Read more »
It’s tacky, cheap, and dated.. but BRILLIANT. It doesn’t try to be anything it’s not, and it’s my guilty pleasure of the year. It’s such a feel-good song and it’s irresistibly catchy. 7.5/10
One word describes this song. YAS! Serhat Lazerev is back at it with another BOP and well it’s just a lot better! I know his vocals aren’t great but his staging and performance and just the vibe he gives off will make this song even better! 5.5/10
I have been trying to live by Hatari’s mantra and not letting hate prevail, but in the interests of balance, I felt I had to comment on my 41st place and why. I’m really sorry Serhat, you are probably a nice guy and your song is catchy, but it is not for me. First of all, the beat sounds like the background music you get in department stores – not something I would ever choose to listen to. Next, there is a creepiness to this song that really makes me feel uncomfortable, and lastly you owned up to writing this… Read more »
It’s unashamedly old fashioned. Kitschy (be the rainbow!), but performed in such a cool manner that the joke is on you if you try to be cynical about it. A throwback to a time when singing a bop on the stage was just as fun as dancing to one in the audience. I like how it’s about cheering up someone who’s feeling down (probably with second intentions, but nobody is perfect), while most pop songs these days are too self-absorbed. Rationally, it doesn’t deserve a high grade. But few entries in the lineup fulfill me more than this one. 6/10
I’m glad those first rumours about the russian girl and the plastic guy were false. Serhat is a nice guy and very charismatic. He owned the stage and the disco revamp to “I Didn’t Know” really helped to lift it up, even placing close to qualify. This time Serhat is trying to replicate the same formula and “Say Na Na Na” is better. However, I’m not as positive as other people. For me the song is average, I can tell it was created in 5 minutes. I mean, I would like to see San Marino and Serhat qualifying, but I… Read more »
This is a serious earworm 6.5/10
We all know it’s not deep, it’s not unique, it’s not a winner material. But it’s fun, and come on, we need some pure joy from time to time. It’s not meant to make us think, or to discuss important issues – it simply wants us to smile, forget our worries and loose ourselves to dance. And in a drear, frightening world of today, isn’t that a good message? Also, the chorus is like a virus, once you hear it, it’s gonna be stuck in your head forever. I believe that with a good staging San Marino can become 2019’s… Read more »
Well, let’s be honest: nobody sees San Marino as a threat, so we usually are a bit more condescending with them. This said, “Say Na, Na, Na” is quite a bad song if it would be released outside of the ESC bubble or by any other country, but it is better than what we are used to from San Marino, so I can actually enjoy it in a weird way. I never thought I would ever say this, but San Marino missed my bottom 15, an earned the 25th position in my list with a score of 5.0/10. It is… Read more »
These are the sort of entries that we have been missing over the last couple of years of Eurovision. Not everybody can write an “Arcade”, “Beautiful Mess” or “Amar Pelos Dois”. If you try and you miss it, you end up with a “Blackbird” or a “Tu Cancion”. Sometimes, it’s better just to lower those expectations and deliver what you can and deliver it well. This is what Serhat is doing! This isn’t winning. It is barely qualifying. However, almost everyone is enjoying it and I have a feeling that they’re going to remember it. Well done, San Marino. Well… Read more »
Blackbird was stunning though, and harshly robbed from the final
I agree with your comment, but Blackbird comes in the category of songs like Crisalide, Hope Never Dies and Playing With Numbers. A category called ”HOW ON EARTH DID THIS NOT QUALIFY?”. But yeah, I also miss the ”good old days” of songs like Moustache and Cake to Bake running around. 🙂 LOL. Sure, I’m grateful the standard is more refined now, but having one or two of those adds to the fun aspect of it. Last year, I was almost team Pusvalanduko (but Ieva had a masterpiece in the same NF. so…)
Agreed, running order and staging could have been better, but still… 🙁 I love dark, dramatic ballads (case in point, Vaida’s Underground), so of course I loved Hope Never Dies! The shoe throwing was a tad unnecessary move, though… Also, together with PWN, it was in a toughest semi ESC has seen until S1 2018. Hmm.. so there *are* *some* explanations. Still, should’ve qualifed!
Blackbird and Playing With Numbers I did not like but Crisalide and Hope Never Dies were really good. Songs that took it seriously and were screwed over in Semi Finals for me in the last four years would include Romania 2018, Albania 2017, Estonia 2017, Bosnia 2016, Norway 2016 and Malta 2015.
Haha last year, I was on team Kotryna but also, did not mind the Pusvalanduko. 😉
Ha ha… how tastes can differ! I actually like seeing different POVs. For me, Estonia 2017 and Malta 2015 were good (but not in my top 10) and Norway 2016 was my vote of the semi. As for other three, I wasn’t really a fan, but I get that someone was. They all brought something different, for sure.
Every year we have at least one camp/kitsch entry. This year it was San Marino’s turn with his hommage to Ralph Siegel sounding retro-kitsh disco. As I don’t take pleasure in camp, this is more of a torture than pleasure for me. Although, I don’t see much merit in this song (regardless if it was written in five minutes or not), it does not reach the hights of torture as previous similar entries, which is very positive. 3/10
you’re a bunch of laughs aren’t you
I don’t care if it’s San Marino, I don’t care if they’re a small nation, with a small budget. The song is terrible, I could have wrote it myself, yet the fandom and wiwijury are hyping the cr@p out of it.
No way should this have a score above 6. C’mon people this is a song contest not a San Marinese pity party.
This deserves an NQ.
If you don’t like it then vote it down during SF1. What? You can’t? You can only vote for songs you like? Then too bad, you’ll just have to hope that others vote for songs they like that aren’t San Marino’s. If I lived in Europe, I would throw some votes towards it. Good luck from Texas San Marino!
This is San Marino’s second best entry ever (Vola!!!) This is undeniably catchy and it’s clear that San Marino really wants to qualify this year. I think they are going to bring good staging based on the incredible music video and I do think they will make it to the Grand Final. 8/10
Not really my thing, sorry.
5/10
Pretty much nailing it, Tibor. 🙂 In more elaborate words, you project most of my sentiments. It’s an unapologetic fun and Serhat’s charisma carries it. His vocal imperfections and lyrical simplicity only add to the entertainment value. Musically speaking, this is actually good. Not something that would be on my radar outside ESC either, but good. As for qualification, I wouldn’t mind. Currently, it’s my 11th or 12th in the semi, but I think the semi is rather strong and my top 13 are songs which could qualify. I’d be totally okay with SM in the GF. Actually, I’d cheer… Read more »
Very hard semi to predict, especially since the running order is so tight at some places. For, me every entry I’ve rated with a 7 or higher would be a good qualifier (I wouldn’t cry over Hungary qualifying either, cause even if it’s musically very stale, it’s emotional). San Marino is somewhere between 10th and 12th spot for me. Yeah, Estonia and Serbia are higher for me and their performances so far have been good (except Victor’s SF performance, but he was so much better in the final and pre-parties). Two entries that ”battle” for the borderline spot with SM… Read more »
This is a terrible song and is totally not matched to Serhat’s voice. Why this is a fan favourite is beyond me. How dare you disrespect Valentina like that by saying this has a chance of qualifying (which it does not)!
because it is boppy, in a weak year what this year is
this is a sure nq, just because it’s san marino esc juries don’t pay attention to them every year, and i’m sure they will ignore them again this year
Unlike his last appearance, where they turned his original (and rather dreary) lounge song into a discofied “guilty pleasure”, whoever produced this one set out to make it more than just a guilty pleasure. They aim to qualify! Period. If the stage setup doesn’t go over the top, while trying to remain faithful to the song, he will, especially given that he has the pimp spot in the Tuesday session.
I’ll go even further: This one could conceivably finish in the top 13 in the final.
Do the verses remind anyone of Chaz Jankel’s 1981 hit “Glad To Know You”?
SAN MARINO – Serhat is back, yeah! I knew he will bring us another guilty pleasure, and he didn’t disappoint. Say na na na is as silly and as catchy I hoped it would be. It’s been written in five minutes and it actually shows. It’s really a very simple song, but cute and danceable. I expect him to make a great show to close the semi. First live performance showed some vocal challenges, but I think his charisma can make up for that just fine. Anyway, it’s not the song meant to get ”lyrics of the year” awards, but… Read more »
Just three more reviews to go. I’m guessing Cyprus later today and Italy and the Netherlands tomorrow? I’m anticipating all three with scores over 8.0
Netherlands will get a 9.0 average by wiwi juries i expect
I’m guessing Cyprus to be around 8 but lower , Italy and Netherlands around 8.5 with Netherlands higher
i agrih with the score it got, it’s in no ways a song to write home bout but it’s the performer who makes it so endearing n entertaining. i want serhat to do well !
For some reason I really think this will qualify and surprisngly do well in the final
This is a feel good song , I guess. And people / fans are really rooting for San Marino and Serhat. I am not particularly a fan of the song though. It’s average for me. Serhat has not got great vocals and the speaking style of singing is not for me. A 5/10. The running order is super favourable , however coming after what is arguably one of the best songs isn’t the best situation. Half a point added. The bad vocals will be penalized by the jury and the Turkish diaspora effect is reducing . A point and a… Read more »
Amazed this song written in 5 minutes will finish in the Wiwi Jury over a number of good songs. He’s a nice guy but I’d find it criminal if this qualified.
I find it a bit weird that some people have it in the definite qualifier list! I nearly have it in my NQ list.
I am like aren’t people listening to the vocal?
People wanting San Marino to qualify should justify who then he should replace in the final.
Over who ? Even over Montenegro would be a crime.
if you want to use an ESC example, I do recall that Georgia’s Warrior in 2015 was “written overnight”, and then it became #iconic!
lady gaga’s six-week #1 smash hit born this way was also written in five mins !
israel -a tenor opera singer 5.7.
san marino-6.22.
rest my case.
Look at it another way, at least they didn’t waste any more than 5 minutes writing it.
One of the Queen songs *My best Freind* was written in five mins while one of them was in the bath