On Friday, Belarus will select its act for Eurovision with the national final Natsionalniy Otbor 2020. Twelve acts will compete in the national, but only one will win the ticket to Rotterdam. The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has reviewed the 12 competing songs and ranked and reviews their favourites. Read on to see what the jury thought!
Åri
1. Anastasiya Glamоzda – “Burning Again”
This is going to be my most unapologetic use of the phrase “lesser evil”. Not to insult either Anastasija — they’re a very underwhelming top two and yet they stand miles above the rest. Glamozda gets my #1 spot because she’s the only one I can see qualifying justifiedly. I like her slightly Dolores O’Riordan voice, but the song is a bit messy. It could grow on me, but in a selection with such low quality, this isn’t a favourite – it’s a lesser evil. Is Belarus even trying?
2. Anastasiya Razvadоvskaya – “Hello”
3. VАL – “Da vidna”
4. NAPOLI – “Don’t Let Me Down”
5. KeySi – “Chili Pepper”
Renske
1. VАL – “Da vidna”
When I picked VAL for my Wednesday Wishlist entry, I saw a lot of potential in this duo’s unique style of music. And they didn’t let me down at all! “Da vidna” is modern, but does not seem to follow any of the already existing standard recipes for success, which usually happens a lot in Belarusian national selection. VAL is making it sound authentic and I want to dance.
2. CHAKRAS – “La-ley-la”
3. Sasha Zakharik – “Rocky Road”
4. Yan Yarosh – “Fire”
5. KeySi – “Chili Pepper”
Florian
1. Anastasiya Glamоzda – “Burning Again”
There’s something very artistic and inspiring about “Burning Again”. Anastasiya’s voice flows nicely throughout the song and complements well to the songs’ production. While having a somewhat mysterious and dark flavour, it doesn’t get lost in its own world. In fact, it’s very compelling and takes you into her world.
2. VАL – “Da vidna”
3. NAPOLI – “Don’t Let Me Down”
4. Angelika Pushnоva – “True Love”
5. Anastasiya Malashkevich – “Invisible”
Luis
1. KeySi – “Chili Pepper”
In the middle of a dismal selection, KeySi emerges as the only act with potential. “Chili Pepper” has nothing special: it’s a formulaic pop-dance track with basic reggaeton beats and peculiar lyrics. However, it’s good enough for the (Euro) club and it’s probably the only song in Belarus’ pack that actually feels like three minutes. This is a good continuation for Zena’s “Like It”. It’s not a definite qualifier by any means, but it could stand out if it’s surrounded by slower songs and can sneak into the final.
2. Angelika Pushmova – “True Love”
3. VAL – “Da Vidna”
4. NAPOLI – “Don’t Let Me Down”
5. Anastasiya Malashkevich – “Invisible”
Tom
1. Angelika Pushnova – “True Love”
Belarus has served up some crackers this year and with such diversity! Country to Caribbean vibes to a full out dance smash! I would be very happy if any of my top three made it to Rotterdam. Though I love the sheer coolness of NAPOLI, I will narrowly give my win to Angelika Pushnova”s “True Love”. It just smacks a smile on my face and I just know that “Uh Ah Ah” will stick in my head until 2021!
2. NAPOLI – “Don’t Let Me Down”
3. KeySi – “Chili Pepper”
4. Anastasiya Glamozda – “Burning Again”
5. VAL – “Da Vidna”
Antranig
1. KeySi – “Chili Pepper”
I tried to find the Belarus national final but I must have stumbled into the wrong room because instead I found a lot of good music. KeySi’s “Chili Pepper” is serving extra hot jalapeño realness. Forget the Melfest Hall of Fame — this piece of pure art belongs in the Eleni Foureira Museum of Fire. While it might not quite reach the levels of the fire queen, this is the best song Belarus have ever had at their disposal.
2. NAPOLI – “Don’t Let Me Down”
3. Anastasiya Malashkevich – “Invisible”
4. Angelika Pushnоva – “True Love”
5. Anastasiya Glamоzda – “Burning Again”
Robyn
1. VАL – “Da vidna”
VAL are cool and Belarus is lucky to have them. “Da vidna” sounds unlike anything that normally shows up in the Belarus national selection, with its fresh, modern sound. While it might be tempting to compare the duo to zalagasper, the Belarus duo brings a different experience which the much more upbeat “Da vidna”. If Belarus wants to show the modern face of its music, this should be its pick.
2. CHАKRАS – “La-ley-la”
3. Angelika Pushnоva – “True Love”
4. AURA – “Barani svajo”
5. Sasha Zakharik – “Rocky Road”
Do you agree with the Wiwi Jury? Who should represent Belarus in Rotterdam? Share your thoughts below!
CHAKRAS all the way to Rotterdam!
https://youtu.be/RKovxMR-x2Q
He’s outdone himself this time lmao
The amount of Anastasiyas there is confusing.
No song here is good, but there is variety to choose from. The “best song”, strictly from a potential standpoint would be A. Glamozda’s “Burning Again”, but that audition was awful and she destroys English. Thus, the best pick would be Angelika, since she can sell her generic song on stage. I see KeYsi is also a favorite here, but Shili Pepper is so annoying on many levels. The most original choice would be Chakras. I think it’s abysmal, but since it’s at least different, I can see there would be audience for that. Another option would be sending Napoli… Read more »
Yeah. I’m in the “Just pick a good spokesperson” camp when it comes to Belarus this year.
“OK, Zena, repeat after me: Good evening Europe, Minsk calling. Thank you for the amazing show. Here are the results of the Belarusian vote. And I think you’re gonna like it, because our 12 points go to Russia!”
“But…what if we don’t give our twelve points to Russia?”
“Don’t worry. We will.”
chakras is the only entry with some originality, it would stand out a lot in rotterdam if anything – and not like a sore thumb. don’t get the appeal with “da vidna” and “chili pepper”, both awfully dated and cheap.
Chakras or Val !
Face-palm!! This is bad.. My goodness, maaaaaaaaaybe True Love is the ‘best’
The cringe is real in “Chili pepper” and “Don’t let me down” ugh
I agree with Ari! Burning Again and Hello are truly the only options. Da Vidna lacks something in the drop but is otherwise ok, True Love is annoying, Rocky Road is like a very strange lullaby, Invisible is dated and forgettable, La-Ley-la is a viable option but has no lyrics, while Burning Again is mysterious and amazing and Hello is catchy and modern. Don’t even get me started on Chili Pepper, this is possibly the worst song of 2020 so far. The instrumental is so so grating and bad. I am hoping and praying for Burning Again or Hello.
No one is taking into consideration that Chakras group. That song is the most pure and original piece ever seen on this selection. I hope it’s gonna be them, otherwise Belarus is out of the game once more.
Agreed, I have odd fascination with that lol
It’s still a song contest isn’t it. Maybe it’s the bare stage during the auditions, but if they are trying to create some sort of mystical mood it wasn’t working. It sounded like voice warm up exercises for most of the song, and totally annoying.
Tbh I would rather listen la la ley for 3 min. than some lyrical “masterpieces”
“The Wiwi Jury reveals their favourites in Belarus’ national final Natsionalniy Otbor 2020 Posted on February 26, 2020 No comments”
Sorry. I read the “No comments” as your article.
I mean, that would be a reasonable article for a selection this bad. Nothing against Belarus itself, but I can’t help but find their entries funny most of the time.
You remember when I commented on your Supernova list and said that I was tempted to give Liva and Maia a 1/10, but still gave a 2, because I was sparing my 1s only for the absolutely worst of the songs? Then I jokingly said “looking at you, Eurofest”. I had no idea how right I was. 🙂