ruth

This morning the Wiwi Jury — our in house panel of music unprofessionals — threw caution to the wind and abandoned our original travel plans. We’d planned a trip to Asturias inspired by last year’s Spanish contestants ESDM but then remembered how dull they were and swopped Asturias for beautiful Barcelona. After seeing the still unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral and chowing down on some tapas by the coast, we clustered around a a radio in the Spanish sun and listened to Ruth Lorenzo’s song ‘Dancing in the Rain’. Did she rain on our parade or provide a welcome respite from the burning sun? Read on to find out…

Angus: After listening to this song who would even consider taking an umbrella out into a downpour? This right here is the hottest thing at this year’s Contest. It gets literally everything bang on. Amazing vocal, huge potential for choreography, perfectly blended bilingual sections and an amazing composition that builds beautifully to a glorious middle 8 and keeps the fire burning until the song closes out. A triumph!

Score: 10/10

Bogdan: Ruth Lorenzo wants to win, y’all. She listened to the critics, tweaked her song and toned down her live performance quite a few times, but as far as I’m concerned, she needn’t have to. I fell in love with “Dancing In The Rain” at first listen and I fell in awe with Ruth at the Spanish national final. Eurovision 2014 has found its ultimate diva, people. Not only is Ruth Lorenzo an actual opera singer, but she also has the right attitude. The song is also magnificent and grows beautifully, allowing the songstress to show her staggering potential. Spain made me forget last year’s utter disaster and Ruth will get my vote this year. Brava!

Score: 10/10

Spain, Ruth Lorenzo, 3

Billy: OMG Ruth has an amazing voice! She can easily go opera! The song is really nice, and the switch between Spanish and English is stuning. Loved that modern-dance choreography, and I hope that the Spain brings on stage both the dancers and a piano. This is what we call an improvement, Spain! It’s even better than Pastora Soler’s entry. This one and Hungary are to me the winners of the ESC14.

Score: 10/10

Deban: Dancing In The Rain is a beautifully crafted ballad that embraces the genres, and elements pop, opera and musical theatre. Ruth Lorenzo articulates her Iberian passion in this bi-lingual number with serious conviction. If there’s a track that could propel Lorenzo’s career into super-stardom, then, this is it. She remains focused despite the multiple key changes, and increasingly complex dance routine. Although her delivery reminds me of Sarah Brightman, it’s equally important to add that, ‘Dancing In The Rain’ breathes originality with every beat. The song testifies to Lorenzo’s vocal power, as she engages the audience throughout. This engagement was what secured her victory in the hotly contested Spanish pre-selection. Hopefully, it will catapult her country to the Top 5 position in Copenhagen.
Score 9.5/10

Ruth Lorenzo video1
Katie: Am I the only one that finds this song a little overrated? It’s a good song with a well known and talented singer, but I really don’t get the hype. It’s timeless piano pop, and the mix of English and Spanish gets better after a few listens. There’s really some power behind it by the second verse too and Ruth will leave us all blown away by her voice when she performs live in Copenhagen. But again, I wonder, will it really be that memorable? There’s a lot of singers with powerful voices this year and I wonder whether this will be original enough to stand out from the crowd.

Score: 6/10

Mike: I was neither #TeamRuth or #TeamBrequette, I was only a bit #TeamJorge for the sexyness! But the song Ruth Lorenzo is singing, sounds so passionate and powerful at the same time. It’s again the Spain I love to hear, the Spain from the 1970’s en 1980’s and 2 years ago with the beautiful song from Pastora Soler. This is for me (together with Italy) one of the BIG5 songs that has to shine in the final! I hope for a pure and small staging and Ruth can dance in a rain of douze points!

Score: 9/10

http://youtu.be/w2EkiJ53SMk

Vebooboo: I just bought an umbrella to shield myself from all the shit you are about to throw at me, because I simply do not like this song. If it does better than Austria’s entry, I feel like a part of my soul will die in that Copenhagen arena. Ruth has a great personality, but she does not have a great song. I just find it so cliche and lacking of the drama that compatriot Pastora Soler brought to the stage in 2012. Living in Amsterdam, I’m happy to bike in the rain, but you won’t see me dancing any time soon. Sorry, boo.

Score: 4.5/10

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. 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: I love Ruth, her voice is great and she seems to be a lovely girl (with attitude!), but I can’t say the same of the song. The song makes me little sleepy – there isn’t much happening in it and the chorus is quite boring. I also think that the first version was much better, now there’s way too much English. I’m sure it will do extremely well in the contest, but for me the song is, unfortunately, in the bottom 10. The video is the best of the year, though.

Score: 2/10

All 19 jurors review all 37 songs, but we only had space to share 9 written reviews. Here are the remaining 10 scores.

Anthony: 8/10

James L: 5/10

Mario: 8.5/10

Maxim Montana: 3/10

Francheska: 8/10

Zach: 9/10

Ramadan: 10/10

Patrick: 10/10

William C: 6.7/10

Wiwi: 7.5/10

The highest and lowest scores are removed before calculating the final score. We have dropped a low of 2 and a high of 10.

The Wiwi Jury Verdict: 7.86/10

You can check out our latest Eurovision 2014 reviews and rankings on the Wiwi Jury page. You can keep up-to-date on the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following the team on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.

51 Comments
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Ayke
Ayke
9 years ago

You all should have come to Asturias!!!

Leon
Leon
9 years ago

By far the best vocalist I’ve heard this year. The perfect video is just the icing on the cake. 10/10

MoMo
MoMo
9 years ago

Bin your brollies, we have a winner and baby girl gat pipes!

Woz
Woz
9 years ago

@Marcelo, indeed. But it’s something more than a mere suspicion. Soraya Arenas declared that RTVE didn’t take it seriously and she couldn’t get all the help she expected. That doesn’t excuse her outcome: she was fantastic but the song was unremarkable (I wonder why?). But anyone can feel there’s a different approach this year It’s going to be terribly exciting to see what Ruth can (or can not) achieve with what she’s got.

Dani
Dani
9 years ago

@pastora soler haha I admit Hungary has a very good song that will probably be top 5, but it bores me a bit, I skip the track when I listen to the cd, it’s a matter of taste. Still it’s a great music production that has all elements to win

Maybezz
Maybezz
9 years ago

BARCELONA 2015???

Pastora Soler haha
Pastora Soler haha
9 years ago

I agree UK is great this year and they should have good news (WIN THE CONTEST) after bad and bad years…

But,.. what do you think about Hungary?? HE IS GREAT, I’m sure he will be top 3, and maybe win. WHY NOT?

PS: I love “not alone” it but I don’t think he will win, there are other countries that all people love this year. Armenia has lovers and haters…

Marcelo N
9 years ago

@ Woz – hijo/a, te entiendo y te compadezco! I fully understand what you mean; and although this is only speculation, I too suspect there is some of that behind the last few years’ choices. This year, though, the whole DITR team have been working their guts out, whatever RTVE intended 😉
And of course Run could have been THE contender!! Olé!

Woz
Woz
9 years ago

As a spaniard I suspect there’s a very smart person in charge of eurovision in Spain (I could google his name but I feel lazy). Someone who has relentlessly followed an agenda these last ten years. The command is always the same: “don’t win, there’s no money in/for ESC.” This year it’s not different. If they wanted to win they would have sent “Run” (singed by no matter who). Ironically, Dancing on the Rain could be doing even better. But enough to win? I don’t think so either. Right as planned by RTVE. However, we spaniards are so accustomed to… Read more »

paco
9 years ago

DEJA CAER,DEJA LA LLUVIA CAER

Marcelo N
9 years ago

@ Dan RO, adriana_gabriela, Lolilly – Thank you so much for your kind words!! (sopon will have a fit when he sees my English ranting, hehe) You see, it will be like stating the obvious, but I waited patiently for this, and undertook it very seriously to pour my views. I endeavoured to be as fair as I could, and I still believe my analysis is pretty factual, though there may have been a slip as I typed it in the middle of the night (it was 03:40 here in Brazil when I posted it, hehe). I am very, very… Read more »

Jonathan
Jonathan
9 years ago

I remember when Ruth was on the UK X Factor and I was rooting for her to win – she was easily my favourite that year. I was so excited when the Ruth rumours began, but as soon as I heard the song, I just felt a little bit underwhelmed. It’s not bad – her voice is good, a simple tune, effective I guess. But nothing special. It doesn’t strike a musical chord within my bones – I was hoping for something with a bit more pizzazz or originality. It’s OK though, and I like Ruth, so she can have… Read more »

Lolilly
Lolilly
9 years ago

This is very annoying to me. This much dancing is unnecessary. Her voice is shaky and uneven. She struggles in the low registers. I do not understand, why she’s dancing and the music video shows something else at the same time in the background screens. It’s distracting for the eye. Also, who’s going to care for the screens and the background when there are real dancers dancing on the stage? Clearly, this is not a song like “euphoria” and she could try to impress with her vocals alone. Very unnecessary.

bad
bad
9 years ago

Shame that she is copy-pasting Loreen.
Long notes, dance. 1:1 copy.

ybn
ybn
9 years ago

Twitter of Ruth Lorenzo
http://www.twitter.com/RuthLorenzo1

jumper
jumper
9 years ago

Sing in screaming way in half of the song? not a winner but worth to top 10

Frank75
Frank75
9 years ago

If we look really cold , and to the quality , the best songs are Hungary and Netherlands far far away , then come Spain , and then come the rest ,

ESCaddict
ESCaddict
9 years ago

Dancing in the Rain is the weakest song in the year’s competition. The kindest word I can find for this song is “safe”. It certainly appeals to those who like white bread songs. 

Clara
Clara
9 years ago

i love the fact that this year is gonna be a huge competition and we actually can’t predict any winner.Honestly i dont think spain can make it to 1st place,but however its pretty nice song..

WISH THE BEST OF LUCK TO SAN MARINO AND ALBANIA

Armenian guy
Armenian guy
9 years ago

@Dani I understand and thanks 😉
Between I ‘m agree with you I think UK needs to win .I support my country and Aram .However I see that people want that next 60th ESC be in “Western Europe”,precisely in London 😉
UK’s song is good as well ,so why not it can win too . Though I definitely want that Armenia be in top 2 haha 😛
Eh who knows what will happen.Maybe Spain will be the winner ?;)

Dani
Dani
9 years ago

@armenian guy many people in Spain loves the armenian entry, including myself and Ruth who likes Armenia, Austria, the UK and Ireland and became friends with Aram 😉

Dani
Dani
9 years ago

I’m from Spain (sometimes embarrrased by other spaniard’s posts by the way) and I think that if there is an universal justice, the winner this year should be the UK

Dan RO
Dan RO
9 years ago

@ Marcelo N: let me just say ‘Wow! ;)). I think it’s pretty obvious from your comment (I applaude the effort, if not all your facts, as you see them 😛 ) and from my own that we don’t share the same opinion on this one (well, this wouldn’t be the first, we already established we have a different take on what a ‘work of genius’ represents ;)) ), but I’m more than happy agreeing to disagree with you ;). In the end, what will matter most will be her performance during the finals; hopefully it will be fantastic (as… Read more »

Armenian guy
Armenian guy
9 years ago

It’s funny to see that some Spanish people like @Uros spread hatred about Aram ,while many many Armenians actually support Spain and Ruth.

Anyways good luck Ruth !
Hope she will get well soon !

Uros
Uros
9 years ago

For me the winner of this year! Not Armenia not alone not AramMp3. PLease people if you have some kind of brain vote for this not Armenia. Ruth i expect you will win! See ya’ll in Madrid 2015!

ingo
ingo
9 years ago

winner 2014

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

Ruth has a very strong voice, but I’ll be interested in seeing if she uses the fullness of her voice and precise technique to her advantage or just completely overdoes it. I’m obviously hoping that it’s the former. The song isn’t much without appropriate lyricism and dynamics; it needs a good interpretation.

Just in terms of the quality of the composition, I much prefer the previous two years’ songs, but we’ll see what Ruth can do nine days from now. Wishing her the best.

Ranting Ruby
Ranting Ruby
9 years ago

She sings! She dances! She swims!

(Couldn’t she also sweep up the leaves in that room and phone the plumber about the leaky ceiling??)

Nitzan
Nitzan
9 years ago

My god guys what’s with all the 10s?! Ruth is a wonderful singer and performer but the song is both mediocre and irritating at the same time… The screaming is so over the top here, maybe coming from the notion that “while at Eurovision you might as well scream your lungs out!”. Ruth, have you ever heard that “Less is more”??

adriana_gabriela
adriana_gabriela
9 years ago

Marcelo N@ I think he is the only one who had the most accurate coments on here…Respect for that 🙂

Lolilly
Lolilly
9 years ago

@Marcelo N. I know you don’t like me, nor my comments… sometimes??? However, I do think you’re right about Ruth. Also, I need to say that your English is exceptional and definitely better than mine, even though, I live in CA for over 10 years and I’m also a prof. at a major university. With my English at this level, I got my Degree in psychology 3 years ago and I think you should feel 100 % confident and proud of yourself for giving advice to others and sharing your opinion. You’re definitely smart, opinionated, and fair most of the… Read more »

Frank75
Frank75
9 years ago

I see some people is coming really in panic here, to see that Spain this year go to do very well ,maybe win , hahahahaha , dont worry , be happy , if Spain win or be top 5 , is because deserve it , so easy

Kamil
Kamil
9 years ago

I am thrilled how cheap yout tastes are and how this kind of fans destroy modern eurovision – people who appreciate cheap and oldfashioned “titanic” song, forgetting and ignoring songs that have potential to be international, fresh hit. Bravo…

Dhani
9 years ago

i am sure this will be the fan flop of the year. I have a feeling it will get around 20th place.

Still, i like the song and it’s much much much better than Brequettes plagiat of sara nelsons “uncover”

Marcelo N
9 years ago

I’ve been waiting for this review AND the “rain” of comments. Not sure whether I should, but I’ll chip in as well 😉 First and foremost, I do understand the passion in the reviews by most of the Wiwiblogg members. By that I simply mean that when you like something very much it is understandable that you will feel passionate about it. Period. The passionate comments by us visitors is pretty much the same, for after all we are all people, save maybe the unhinged troll here and there (whoever thought trolling was a privilege of some Azeris and Armenians,… Read more »

Armond
Armond
9 years ago

My winner. If she doesn’t make the top 10 the the world might as well end.

Pastora Soler haha
Pastora Soler haha
9 years ago

hahaha poor ESDM, but yeah, I accept they were ridicolous.

ESDM is a group with good songs, but not the best choice for Eurovision with HER live, I don’t understand why they wrote that dull songs for the contest :s

They have great hits and catchy songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDdT49tsyT4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jUl8GUU9Fg

You can visit Asturias anyway, the north exists ^^, we are not only sun xD.

Calm (after the storm) in Asturias we have tapas too, and cider! xD. And of course THE RAINNNNNNN THE RAINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN haha

Dan RO
Dan RO
9 years ago

Finally, my favourite this year! And by a huge margin too!!! I really thought Spain could never top Pastora Soler’s entry (I still don’t get why she wasn’t in the top 5), but somehow they managed just that! I’m not comparing the vocal abilities of the 2 singers, both of them being great in their own right. I’m talking about the whole package, and Ruth and ‘Dancing in the Rain’ have it all! I’m not going to write here all the superlatives that come to my mind, because I can’t wait to listen to the song again, but I will… Read more »

sopon
sopon
9 years ago

@Mario

I know not ALL Spaniards are like this, I’m just a bit frustrated and needed to vent a bit after this has happened numerous times by your countrymen on both Wiwibloggs and YouTube. Thank you for respecting my opinion, it means a lot. I know Ruth will do well, as she has a lot of support from the international fan base. 🙂

Mario
Mario
9 years ago

All the work that Ruth is doing to ESC is going to waste, thanks for your disrespectful comments, I’m sure Ruth is so grateful for them. Well done! :S

Mario
Mario
9 years ago

@Sam "Sopon" I’m spanish, I understand whats do you mean, It must be so annoying to be insulted just because you have a different opinion. Anyway, obviously I respect your opinion, but please, don’t believe spaniards are like the people who comment here. ESC hasn’t got importance to the majority of the spanish people since the 80’s, with the exception of the gay group, that is crazy about this contest (very obsessed like you can verify). We aren’t such rude and stupid people. Furthermore, I don’t like Ruth’s song too. Thanks for your opinion and sorry for the stupid comments… Read more »

sopon
sopon
9 years ago

Wow. Lluvia, calm the eff down. We are allowed to have our own tastes, and just because we don’t like your country’s song does not mean that it is good. It just isn’t appealing to us. If you didn’t notice, I did not crucify Ruth for her English, but rather her Spanish. Please try to actually respect others views here, or you can go to sh*t yourself. (Note to others: I have posted a few times on YouTube about my personal disdain for Spain’s entry, and each time at least one Spaniard has sent death threats for it. They don’t… Read more »

nano
nano
9 years ago

I think that she’s song is so boring for me, sorry spain people i don’t like your song, sorry

Lluvia Justiciera
Lluvia Justiciera
9 years ago

Ruth is a DIVA David, your taste is not good, why you don’t shut up? shhhhh, listen to Ruth, learn WHAT IS MUSIC, ok? shhhhhh, shut up…LISTEN TO THE DIVA..Ruth Lorenzo… David, shhhh..I said shut up and Listen to her ^^
Sopon, you are not native english, you are a native M.THERFCKER, why you don’t go to the sh!It¿ ^^
HER ENGLISH IS PERFECT, HER VOICE IS PERFECT, SHUT UP YOUR MOUTH!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
9 years ago

In my last 2 evaluations, she just missed finishing in the top 10. She may end up that way, which is waaaaaay better than last year’s Spanish entry.

David
9 years ago

Sorry but I dont get it. She might be a great and beautiful nice diva artist, but for me song is just a repeating shouting that get on my nervs. Is this again a song that fans love but public wont take any notice of? I try and try to find out what you guys hear. To me its just horrible.

CandyCam
CandyCam
9 years ago

Hello Wiwis! This is Andy from Barcelona, a city that has hosted the European Music Awards and host every spring/summer multiple well known music festivals, We wellcome you all!! Eurofans will love it 😉

sopon
sopon
9 years ago

It also lacks the power that was Pastora Soler.

sopon
sopon
9 years ago

Her voice is very shouty (not sure if that’s an adjective — and I’m a native English speaker!), and the chorus is very dull. She is overdictating her Spanish. Speaking of the languages, her switching between Spanish and English is so unexpected and jumpy and rough that it messes up the flow of the song. If the language needs to be switched, then it should be done after a dance break/instrumental. Still, it isn’t horrible. It just isn’t great. 3.5/10

Jericho
Jericho
9 years ago

Hated this at NF. Love it now! Staging key.