Spain: Wiwi Jury Reviews Ruth Lorenzo with Dancing in the Rain

If buzz is any indicator, then Spain’s #eurovision selection is a two-horse race between X Factor veteran Ruth Lorenzo and The Voice veteran Brequette. So the Wiwi Jury—our in-house panel of musical unprofessionals—had seriously high expectations when we traveled to Spain to review Ruth’s song “Dancing in the Rain”. Did her dancing make us spin with joy? Or were we left feeling soggy and wet and like we had been left in a storm? Read on to find out…

http://youtu.be/n-XR6i-_Hro

Angus: This is so, so, so pretty! Lorenzo is easily the equal of Pastora Soler in the sweeping ballad stakes and I could see this catapulting Madrid up the scoreboard in Copenhagen. It also gets the blend of Spanglish just right. I just sway to it already and although the subtle beats thrown in under the chorus detract a little bit for me, the overall effect is still mesmerising. Come on Ruth!

Score: 9.5/10

Deban: Dancing In The Rain is a beautifully crafted ballad. Ruth Lorenzo articulates her Iberian passion in this bi-lingual number with serious conviction.  Sounding like a cross between pop-opera and a musical score, this offering transforms Lorenzo from a reality-TV reject into Eurovision’s premier dreamcatcher. What’s more impressive is that despite the presence of a solid backing track, Lorenzo remains in focus. She isn’t lost within the backing or instrumentals. She is very present and in control of both her range and the audience. Democratic pre-selections can be tricky. It is unclear what fate awaits Lorenzo. However, if this entry makes it to Copenhagen, then there’s a high chance we could be in Madrid next year.

Score: 9/10

Anthony: “Dancing In The Rain” was originally intended to be a dance track, so to see this entry become a ballad in the end took me by surprise. Ballads suit Ruth’s vocals very nicely. As she once demonstrated with a stunning rendition of “Purple Rain”, Ruth can certainly deliver a live performance! Just be prepared for disappointment if Ruth doesn’t make it to Copenhagen…

Score: 8.5/10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWDhyFqeaEo

Katie: Oh, how lovely. It’s Ruth Lorenzo (who I voted for on X Factor) singing a Spanglish ballad. It’s a shame that the English chorus doesn’t blend well with the Spanish verses. If I was her, I’d stick purely to Spanish. Ruth shows off her vocal talents, although the song is slightly boring, but I doubt she’d be able to pull it off in a live show. It could go brilliantly, or DREADFULLY.

Score: 6/10

Zach: I’m starting to see why everyone was super excited to see this woman make a go for it for Spain! This song is classy, beautifully arranged, and a look back on YouTube proves Ruth is MORE than capable of nailing the live vocals with ease. The blend of English and Spanish is also crafted very well, language transitions can be eclectic, but this song does it pretty well, albeit a tad less well than my personal favorite Brequette. My only slight issue with the song is the pace. The song is amazing right now, but I have to admit the same slow pace seemed the slightest bit dull by the end of the song. Ruth adds in some powerhouse long notes to make up for it however, and I could maybe see a slight reworking to increase tempo if they send it to Denmark. And if Ruth is sent, I could see her being a BIG contender for a high placing.

Score: 9/10

Padraig: For too long ballads at Eurovision have been getting a bad rep. They’re either too gimmicky – Gravity, cheesy – Waterfall or just plain dull – Rak Bishvilo. Luckily, Ruth sidesteps all these potential pitfalls, to give us an almost flawless performance. Simplicity is the key, as her crystal clear vocals are complemented rather than overpowered by the instrumental backing. If the live version can match this, there should be nothing preventing Ruth topping Pastora Soler’s much lauded 2012 entry, while at the same time giving Simon Cowell and The X Factor crew a much needed kick in the teeth.

Score: 9/10

Sami: Oh, looks like this is VERY overrated among my fellow bloggers. It’s not that good! Actually, I find it quite boring and it doesn’t grow enough. I didn’t like Pastora that much and I don’t like this either. I wouldn’t even see this placing very high, if Spain chooses it. I think it’s the weakest song from all five.

Score: 5/10

Daphne: The beginning of this song leaves me with a big question mark. It can go two ways. Either I’m getting a slow ballad, or the beat will kick in any minute (including flashing lights and wild dancers). It’s kind of getting stuck in-between, apparently. And it stays there, not moving backwards nor forwards. Just dancing in the rain, repeatedly. The best thing we can do is maybe hand this song an umbrella and walk it kindly back home.

Score: 3/10

Patrick: I really like songs that mix English and Spanish influences. This is a wonderful song with a dramatic message. Her voice is terrific and the chorus is a masterpiece. Probaly the first part of the song will be really boring for some people. It’s a great song but it doesn’t give me any goosebumps. But there is room to grow and maybe in the live version she’ll touch me.

Score: 7.5/10

Wiwi: This starts off really nicely, and for a moment I think that Ruth is going to make me cry. Then she starts dancing in the rain and apparently she really likes it because she keeps dancing and dancing and dancing and dancing in that bloody rain. After the first chorus I feel like this is being played in slow motion, and by minute three I want to drown Ruth in the rain. I’m sorry. This is boring. If I were Spanish I’d vote for Brequette and La Dama and maybe Jorge over this.

Score: 6.5/10

Wiwi Jury Verdict: 7.3/10

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.