VICTORIA has served another piece in the puzzle of her options for Eurovision 2021. On Tuesday night, she revealed “Phantom Pain”, the fourth song in the running for Bulgaria at Eurovision 2021. This will be the third track on her debut EP a little dramatic.
VICTORIA — “Phantom Pain” (Potential Eurovision 2021 song)
“The song is part of the final phase of a little dramatic and it tells a painful story,” her team says. The song feeds into the theme of her next release “The Funeral Song”, as “both songs are connected and are quite different from ‘Imaginary Friend’ and ‘Dive into Unknown‘”. Interestingly, VICTORIA has said that “Phantom Pain” is one of her favourite songs from the EP. Could this be the one for Rotterdam?
The lyrics suggest the song is about a break-up and the anxiety found in the aftermath. As she sings: “Sick of wishing I would understand why you would leave, now all I know is you’re my phantom pain.”
The video gives us visuals showing smudged make-up and physical effects of the pain she’s suffering. Whilst wildly different to “Tears Getting Sober” from 2020, “Phantom Pain” holds onto that atmospheric yet subtle sound that fans loved so much last time around.
The possible entry was written by Swedish songwriters and music producers Helena Larsson and Oliver Björkvall. The song also involves The Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra — they worked on the final arrangement of the song. They’ve also worked on the next two songs to be released — “Growing Up is Getting Old” and “The Funeral Song”.
Coming soon: VICTORIA’s other potential Eurovision songs
On Wednesday 17th February, VICTORIA will release “The Funeral Song”. The lyric video will premier at 19:00 CET on eurovision.icard.com and VICTORIA’s YouTube channel. After all the songs are released, the Bulgarian Eurovision team will launch a special online platform to allow music fans around the world to leave comments and offer feedback about VICTORIA’s six potential songs for Rotterdam.
This will be part of Bulgaria’s internal selection process and will ultimately inform the song decision for Eurovision 2021. Additionally, VICTORIA and her team will also look for feedback from focus groups of music, TV, radio and Eurovision experts to make their final decision.
Next “The Funeral Song”. Oh my Gosh. Don’t want to even ear it.
I like her but every time I let my non esc fan friends (so people who would hear it on the night aka a big part of viewers) hear some of her songs they laugh because they think its a bad billie eilish imitation.. was rly hoping she would go in a different direction but yea if this is who she is and what she likes she shouldnt change..I still think her songs are fine and hope she gets a good result
It really comes off like Victoria’s team is constantly trying to rewrite Tears Getting Sober over and over again without pushing her talents. I get it, Tears Getting Sober was a really good song and all of these songs are good in isolation. But, other than Ugly Cry, she looks like a one trick pony and the fact that a song like Tears Getting Sober can be written and performed so easily is really taking the shine off of it.
Phantom Pain is the only song that has something interesting.
The music is catchy.
Is it only me or don’t you think she looks a lot like Johanna Söderberg from First Aid Kit? They do have similar facial features and hair i suppose haha
All her songs sound the same .. I can’t tell them apart, no variation at all .. Just depressive sounds with a talkative irritating voice … for me no winner material.
The only Victoria song that I like is Ugly Cry, and is enough because it sounds like a winner. Last year TGS was overrated.
I personally like all of them, except Phantom Pain, but Ugly Cry is definitely the best option so far.
TGS was my favourite last year but this is getting ridiculous… Ok Victoria we got it,you are an edgy and artistic artist but can we get at least some positivity and hope from you. Even Billie is not this dark all the time.. Downvote me all you want now but i am telling the truth… I am afraid this depressing mood of her songs could translate to her private life if it’s overdone,I am not saying her songs should be unicorns but give me a break… With this being said I hope the other two will be at least some… Read more »
Imagine a year when the entire world is depressed, locked in, and tired of everything; and the only thing you have on offer is a bunch of depressing songs that sound the same. Duncan won in a year when there wasn’t a global pandemic and people were just going about their business; and so a deep, melancholic ballad was kinda cute. But trying to emulate that during a time when people are fed up of life by throwing at them a bunch of cut-throat slow songs is not the smartest of strategies if you want to be well received, let… Read more »
You are so so wrong. Majority of countries will choose uptempo songs this year because of Covid-19. The dance songs won’t stand out in any way. So sending a slow/midtempo song will stand out more because of it. The more uptempo songs there are the less genuine it sounds. It is just obvious that a slow song will win this year. As how I see it now, it will either be France or Bulgaria, but there are more songs to come so yeah.
It’s not a ballad that is a problem but dark backgroung and theme Vicoria’s team is forcing here.
You can invest in a ballad but still keep some hope and positivity.
In other word ballad doesn’t equal pesimistic,negative etc…
The theme isn’t the problem either.
It is just obvious that you don’t like Victoria’s song and/or style and you are just cherrypicking things of why she wouldn’t do well. Like, whichever song becomes her entry, neither of them would be my favorite of ESC 2021 if Blind Channel and KEiiNO win their national selection, but at least I am honest enough to myself to tell that neither of KEiiNO and Blind Channel will win and I can tell that Victoria screams winner potential.
Lol so stading any critism is a sign I don’t like a certain artist at all… right
If an artist has a song/songs that i like I am gonna say it and in reverse if there is something I don’t like/prefer.
I just said it’s getting kinda repetative mood wise and I have also said I expect no unicorn but at least some sort change of pace.
Also I never said anything of her placement in ESC itself so pls don’t put words in my mouth
well if it’s her mood and she wants to write gloomy sad songs, it’s up to her, she does not have to write happy songs if it’s not her jush right now, such a weird criticism
Ikr
Well yeah it’s up to her but also it’s up to me to express my understanding.
What a polarity.
Yesterday a beautiful song. Today something I cannot fathom. Not saying it’s bad, but I just don’t feel it.
Typical sexism.
Females always being compared to other female artists when the men sound the same yet no one bats an eyelid.
Duncan Laurence didn’t sound the same as others and he is just an example. You are the sexist here. Neither men nor women sound the same as each of their gender.
Maybe you’re blind, but all I see is “Victoria is a rip off of Billie Eilish”.
Maybe you believe those comments too easily. Victoria is inspired by Billie Eilish, yes, but none of them are rip offs. People who think that are way too entitled to their own opinions.
She really set herself up for Billie Eyelash comparison though
Now i Understand why some people were saying Billie Ellish killed what was called melody in music. Awful.
Victoria might want to, cheer up, just a little. Probably the weakest of her potential entries so far. It’s very monotonous and there’s not a lot that’s really interesting here. It feels like a filler and not a particularly well-written one either. After the positive step of “Dive Into Unknown”, I think this was a definite step back and actually when added to the previous three potentials, gives the impression that there’s not a lot of variety to what Victoria is doing, and, unfortunately, further ammunition to those who say there’s not a lot of originality to what she is… Read more »
If I’m being honest, that little snippet of (what i’m assuming) is “the funeral song” compelled me more than the entirety of “phantom pain” did.
I’ve liked every song so far but this one seems like it’s trying a little too hard which makes it seem a little messy
Such a jolly soul this girl, there is quality in some of these songs, but they do feel like a long three minutes to me. Still think Victoria’s song from last year was stronger than the ones she has realised so far.
shes becoming one dimensional
She keeps on selling us this depression aesthetic and I’m not buying!
from tears getting sober to this. I have so many questions
I know it’s hurts but we have to accept the rule that 2020 songs can not be used for 2021. If not of those songs can top TGS, I’m pretty sure that maybe Ugly Cry can do it very well with a good stage.
Creativity 0 xD
Leave Billie Eilish alone, get your own identity like damn. I think Victoria is extremely talented but this is just not it.
I don’t think she has much to say tbh
When I listened to the 1st verse I thought that it was going to be something epic, but I am afraid this is the worst of the bunch. It is interesting as a song and I adored this “plot twist” in the end of the song, but this cannot work at Eurovision. I think Imaginary Friend or Ugly Cry should be chosen (so far). And I’ll be honest, I think that the best song I’ve listened to from Victoria is ‘Alright’. Too bad it was released before 1 September and it cannot be chosen, it was so good!
I think that people need to realize that she made these 5 songs for her EP, and that not they arent made for Eurovision. One will be sent and if I have to guess its going to be Dive Into Unknown or Imaginary Friend because they can be easily shortened to 3 minutes. Phantom Pain is obviously like an interlude and the end leads into the next song “The Funeral Song”. These songs aren’t repetitive, they are cohesive, theres a difference, and honestly I don’t understand why yall hate ballads so much this year. Like not everyone wants to dance… Read more »
Are they all just snippets of the same song? Cuz they all sound the same.
BOP!
Mom, can we have Billie Eilish?
Mom: We have Billie Eilish at home.
Billie Eilish at home: VICTORIA
Yall need new material besides saying Billie Ellish. Really over the negativity this website allows, theres a clear difference in giving criticism and being caddy.
Eurofans love finding one comparison and RUNNING IT INTO THE F*CKING GROUND. Any female singer that’s slower and more ballad-inclined is Billie Eilish, apparently. Four years ago, they would’ve said Lana Del Rey. Maybe they just make similar music? Ever thought of that?
Also “catty” but I know what you meant Thomas.
Exactly, this is clearly a Lorde/AURORA/Lana Del Rey/Billie Eilish copy, she’s not ripping off just one artist! QUEEN!
Oh, you mean artists who operate in the same/similar genre and therefore aren’t copying each other but just making music according to that genre? You know, exactly like Victoria? Interesting
Ashton is right, she isn’t copying. It’s just that she isn’t as good as the people who we reflect VICTORIA to. Just that simple as Ashton said it, she just isn’t good as those world famous people who do this genre better.
This is not the one, it’s clearly a transitional song inside the EP, a piece that wouldn’t make sense out of the puzzle. But it leaves a great opportunity to address the whole “Victoria is just copying Billie Eilish” tantrum. It would be silly to deny the influence Billie has on her music (one can like her or not, but she put her stamp on pop culture and many artists, not just newcomers, are soaking in it), but it’s deeply unfair to reduce Victoria to it. In this track, the influence is very clear. She sings in a BIllie tone,… Read more »
Jeez this girl got absolutely zero chill with these Billie rip offs
No wonder she wanted to keep her 2020 entry, it had something that these songs are lacking.
Is this all she can offer? It’s a sad song aesthetic, but even Lorde has shown that there can be some diversity in it!
After having heard the 4th proposal, I’m also rooting for “Imaginary Friend’, whereas ‘Phantom Pain’ is my least favourite so far. I feel like the song is missing something, it’s not engaging powerful enough for me.
dive into the unknown is the fave so far for me. I love that she sings about having to risk everything, to find happiness, and the melody is so sad, but trying to be positive. so cute
This is my favourite so far, the fuzzed baseline is so sick.
The lyrical content is very serious and the looking in the mirror and not seeing yourself bit is a genuine mental disorder, so if anyone is experiencing that, I would definitely seek out professional help.
These all are way too similar, it’s starting to look like she is a one trick pony.
Let’s hope it’s like that, might be just a show to promote the EP
Don’t get me wrong, these song are all well-crafted in a certain way and some radio-friendly, but somehow bland and monotonous for me. Of course it’s not about getting a song like TGS, but at least it had a magic to it that works @ Eurovision. TGS wasn’t my genre of music, but I really was a huge fan because it actually did something with me. I am probably going to get downvoated for this, but “phantom pain” feels like an album filler (as does every other song imo) and I don’t see Bulgaria reaching the top with this one.… Read more »
I know I’m probably the only one and I’m also ready for the downvotes, but honestly, Ugly Cry is the only real standout for me so far.
The other songs are not bad for sure, but they sound kinda similar and Idk.. they just lack something.. maybe it’s just me, but I had much higher expectations.
I get that this is her style, but I would’ve preferred a bit more diversity among her songs.
I really hope that the remaining two songs will leave a real impact on me..
Ugly Cry would be the best option so far, because it is the total opposite of Duncan Laurence’s Arcade (which is one of my favorite songs ever) as how I see it. While Arcade is heavenly and gives water vibes, Ugly Cry is dark/hellish and gives fire vibes. Both are ballad-ish, but differ in its own ways and both share the fact that they want to create an emotional reaction.
Ugly Cry would give a good result in Rotterdam. Either 2nd or 1st if the performance is good otherwise probably in between 10th to 4th.
Though none of her 2021 songs can quite compete with TAGS, this is my favourite amongst them. It gives me some Taken By A Stranger vibes, and I can imagine a very cool performance if she goes to Rotterdam with Phantom Pain:-)
Unpopular opinion, tears getting sober wasn’t THAT good. And why is it that she none of her 2021 can’t compete against it? We haven’t heard them all yet
I was talking of the songs she has released so far;-),
“Why is it that none of the those songs can compete against TGS?” Well, it’s called my personal taste and opinion:-) TGS was among my top 3 last year, so there are big shoes to fill.
For everyone saying “she needs a song like TGS” have yall ever heard of range? Why should she send a carbon copy?
All 4 songs so far have been great, all of them could be TOP 10 Eurovision songs!
Well said, wouldn’t it be boring if everyone sent a song similar to their previous one?
Exactly! Thank u!
My least fave so far
For now ” imaginary friend” is my pick.
But maybe the next two songs will be better..
Imaginary Friend still my favorite
Dive into the unknown for me too. Still
It ‘s a nice song but I like her song ‘Dive into Unknown‘” best of 4 so far
Like it but this doesn’t work in Esc… The most close one to Tears Getting Sober should be picked that is why i support Dive Into Unknown to Rotterdam
It’s 2021 not 2020 why on Earth should the song picked be exactly like the TGS? What a stupid mentality and thing to say!
first of all , i didn’t say everybody should copy their 2020 song , what a stupid understanding. If an artist made a bad song (for me) i prefer his/her 2020 version. Especially Bulgaria’s 2020 song was not ordinary , it was a candidate for win so…
She is fantastic. All songs are fantastic. Not sure if this one would be received nicely by general eurovision audience. I personally love it.