Spain: Wiwi Jury Reviews Jorge González with Aunque se acabe el mundo

Earlier today the Wiwi Jury, our in-house panel of musical un-professionals, gathered to eat manchego and to review Jorge González’s song “Aunque se acabe el mundo” (Although the World Ends). Did we want his song to play on and on? Or were we hoping that his foray into Eurovision would end pronto? Read on to find out…

http://youtu.be/d00JEWyKPbk

Angus: This is cute. Unfortunately, in my experience, whenever my instant reaction is ‘cute’, it’s a byword for dull. There’s some very Iberian-sounding guitar and the thing has a Spanish feel but I’d be shocked if this won. In its defense, it does bear more than a passing resemblance to Lucia Perez, but she hardly lit up the scoreboard in Dusseldorf…

Score: 4.5/10

Deban: With Spain, it’s feast or famine. All these entries are winners in their own right. It’s been nearly a decade since Spain staged such a varied, and hotly contested pre-selection. In 2009, Jorge Gonzalez lost out to Soraya. Fair dues. Similarly, he could go either way this year. Fair dues. Great song, great hook, polished vocals and a cracking dance beat. Why didn’t Jorge Gonzalez bid with this track to represent his country last year? It would have been a landslide victory. Aunque se acabe el mundo deserves to move forward. However, Gonzalez’s track record worries me. He has been nominated for several music awards, but he’s yet to pick up a dong. Also, he was runner up in Spain’s first edition of The Voice. It doesn’t give me much hope.

Score: 8/10

Katie: My initial thought when I pressed play was, “Oh look, it’s Spain’s answer to Marco Mengoni!”, but it didn’t take me long to realise that this was so much cooler than “L’essenziale”. It has guitars, a great singer and a dance beat supporting it. I’d really love to see this song in Copenhagen as I can imagine all of the crowds would be on their feet singing along!

Score: 10/10

Anthony: So the same Jorge González that tried to represent the country in 2009 is back. As for his 2014 entry, it’s a case of two steps forward and one step back. It’s certainly a catchy Spanish pop entry with the use of a guitar. And Jorge is still as cute as a button. It’s growing on me…but the competition is stiff.

Score: 7.5/10

Padraig: There’s nothing wrong with this song as such. But there’s also nothing particularly special about it. And that’s its downfall. To succeed at Eurovision a song needs to have something distinctive, which will enable it to rise above the competition. This may be amazing vocals or an infectious hook. Unfortunately, Jorge has neither. With rivals such as Ruth and Brequette, his Mediterranean strings aren’t going to be enough to see him to Copenhagen.

Score: 5/10

Zach: He’s definitely the stronger of the two male soloists making a go for it in Spain, and his song is pretty good actually. The pace is nice and interesting, the lyrics are catchy for the most part, and while not being as “dancey” as La Dama, it still makes you move a bit which is fun. However, his vocals sound processed a lot in the studio version, which leads me to believe he might not be able to pull off the live vocals. It could win, but I still think one of the powerhouse females will take the crown. If he is sent, he has a good chance of breaking into the top 20, maybe even the top 15.

Score: 7/10

Sami: This is the Spain I know, but sadly this kind of music doesn’t seem to do too well in Eurovision. It reminds me of summer and it gives me happy thoughts, which we all need. He has a nice voice, too. I don’t think it’s the best choice for Eurovision but it could become a summer hit, at least for me.

Score: 8/10

Daphne:  I had to listen to this one a couple of times to appreciate it. I have the feeling Spain is trying to pull off a ‘Romania 2012’ here. But I was a big fan of ‘Zaleilah’, so that’s a good thing. Unlike ‘Dancing in the Rain’, this song actually launches at some point (at 0:17 to be exact). Slick, happy, smooth. Wouldn’t be my first choice, but if Brequette doesn’t make it, this is a more than decent second choice.

Score: 7/10

Patrick: Totally a summer-hit. If you fear dancing, this song could help you get over it. His voice is really good but I have the feeling he’s not that good live. The chorus is very strong and it has nice lyrics. When you listen to it you’ll get those warm summer feelings. With a good stage-show it could do very well at Eurovision.

Score: 7.5/10

Wiwi: The moment this came on I wanted to eat some spicy salsa and take off all my clothes. I would listen to this while dehydrated in a club in Ibiza. I would listen to this while driving through the English countryside. And I would listen to this while beating the hell out of a pinata because I love my candy, y’all. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is this song is a happy, clappy, live-your-life number that I can’t help but love. Unfortunately, I love La Dama and Brequette a lot more. Life isn’t always a fiesta, and Jorge’s fiesta ends rather abruptly. With a bit more polish and a bit more of a narrative this could have had my vote.

Score: 7/10

Current standings:

1. Brequette (9.10)

2. Ruth Lorenzo (7.30)

3. Jorge González (7.15)

4. La Dama (6.45)

5. Raul (5.7)

You can see the complete standings and final rankings on our jury page. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following the team on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.