Tere Estonia! Eesti Laul 2015 — Estonia’s national selection for Eurovision — begins on February 7 with the first semi-final. So the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of musical unprofessionals — is busy reviewing the ten acts that will compete in that heat. Up next it’s Robin Juhkental & The Big Bangers with their song “Troubles”. Did it trouble us? Did the Bangers bang? Read on to find out…
Reviews: Robin Juhkental & The Big Bangers’s “Troubles”
Angus: ‘Troubles’ starts out promisingly until the vocal goes insane at the chorus and just becomes screechy. That screeching just makes it sound unfortunately craycray.
Score: 4/10
Sopon: For all y’alls who don’t know, Robin Juhkental is the frontman for Malcolm Lincoln, whose Eurovision 2010 entry was entitled “Siren”. As soon as I started playing this song, an ambulance siren went off. Maybe it’s a sign? I hope not. This is what I would delegate to the “midnight urban drive” playlist, full of light jazzy tunes that you can easily forget as soon as it ends. Not a good comeback, Robin. However, I do enjoy how much of a tribute to Billy Joel this is, and would give it a 10 if Eurovision fitness was not a factor in my judging.
Score: 3/10
Anthony: This brings me back to Germany’s 2009 Eurovision entry, which was built on Big Band-esque swing. Problem is, I am not much of a fan of that genre at Eurovision.
Score: 4/10
Chris: I really never liked Malcolm Lincoln and this just feels like them, but a Big Band version…complete with Robin being an awkward, uncomfortable frontman once more. The backing track mostly sounds like poor elevator music and it’s wholly uninspiring. I have a horrible feeling this one might do well, too…
Score: 3/10
Josh: ‘Troubles’ is definitely going to face some troubles come semi final time. It sounds like a terrible 70’s Eurovision entry. Robin’s voice is really screechy and I couldn’t get half way through the song before becoming incredibly frustrated at the tone of his voice. Another song destined for semi final disappointment, and not much else.
Score: 2/10
Patrick: Oh no it’s him again…The guy from Malcolm Lincoln! Does he really think we need him back with another horrible song? He really is in trouble. In the end bad stays bad even if you put a cherry on top of it!
Score: 0/10
Ramadan: Sounds like we have the Estonian version of Michael Bublé and I love it. This is an enjoyable song that I would listen to. It doesn’t live up to his Eurovision 2010 song “Siren”, but I still like it. I don’t think this would do well at Eurovision, but I do hope their live performance enlivens the act in Estonia.
Score: 6/10
Robyn: This sounds like a theme song of an American sitcom from the 1970s. Maybe music like this is popular in Estonia, but outside of that bubble, it just sounds dated and would have little appeal in Vienna.
Score: 2/10
Sami: I hate “Siren”, so I’m happy Robin decided to send something totally different. This song isn’t much better, though. His voice is quite annoying and the song isn’t that original. I could imagine hearing this in some small café, but at Eurovision this wouldn’t get any more attention than “Siren” did.
Score: 2/10
This guy looks the one who represented Estonia in 2010. Annoying voice and annoying to see.
While I like diversity in the music styles of ESC entries, I would not send this song to Vienna if I wanted to win. If it did get chosen there will be trouble because only 5 of the Big Bangers could get on stage with Robin. Best not select them.
nice reviews.
now måns and eric are heating it up..literally for Melodifestivaln 2015.
http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/melodifestivalen/article20234131.ab