Team Wiwi’s Top National Final Songs of ESC 2015 (5-1)

It’s time to reveal our favourite national final songs of 2015. We’ve counted down from thirty and you can view the previous entries in the list here. Only five songs are left on our list, with representatives from Finland’s UMK, Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix and Sweden’s Melodifestivalen left in the running.

5. “Mustelmat” – Siru (Finland)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQBVvQ295yE

Let’s be clear on something: you don’t get to have the highest ever rating given by a Wiwi Jury for no reason. Siru’s “Mustelmat” is three minutes on native Finnish pop delight – which is why everyone was so stunned when Siru failed to even make it out of the UMK heats. Pinned as an obvious winner from the get go, some pointed to Siru’s “interesting” choreography in the live performance as what let it down. Even if you subscribe to that belief, you can’t deny just how good the song is.

Wiwi Jury: “Siru’s voice is just magnificent and she really makes me believe in her message. I love how the song grows and I also like the lyrics. Siru really should keep the song in Finnish if she wins UMK, as I don’t know if it would sound this good in English. One of my favourites to win, for sure” (Sami)

4. “Human Beings” – Karin Park (Norway)

The level of excitement that came with the announcement that Karin Park would be entering Melodi Grand Prix this year was understandable: after all, she had been responsible for Margaret Berger’s “I Feed You My Love“. This year, Karin entered as a singer and “Human Beings” was definitely able to hold its own against her previous contribution. She wasn’t to be anywhere near as successful when it came to MGP though, not even making it to the Superfinal in the final big shock of the national final season.

Wiwi Jury: “You can tell Karin helped to write “I Feed You My Love” for Norway in 2013 within the first 30 seconds of this song. The synths, drums, haunting lyrics, and tone of the song make it a ready-made package for Eurovision. If sent to Vienna, I don’t think it’d be hard to at least match Margaret’s fourth place. There are hints of Kate Bush, Charli XCX and Margaret herself in this song and it works flawlessly.” (Max)

3. “Don’t Stop Believing” – Mariette (Sweden)

The outside bet heading in to the Melodifestivalen final, Mariette’s dark and broody “Don’t Stop Believing” was high drama diva realness. With a songwriting team including Miss Li behind her, Mariette proved to be a big hit with the jury and was Mans Zelmerlow’s “closest” (using the term loosely) rival at the halfway point of the Melodifestivalen final. She came third overall in the end and that is where Mariette places in our countdown too.

Wiwi Jury: “Voodoo, the occult and shivers. If any cults witches looking for how to advertise the dark arts to the mass market, look no further than Mariette’s feathered shoulder-pads and those entrancing shadow backing dancers. She’s a bad ass dark fairy godmother and she might just be spellbinding enough to cause an upset. A very literal dark horse for the win.” (Angus)

2. “I’ll Be Fine” – Molly Pettersson-Hammar (Sweden)

The voting app for Melodifestivalen 2015 was a hot topic not only at the final, where it crashed and all votes were discarded, but right from the very first song of the contest – all because of Molly Pettersson Hammar. “I’ll Be Fine” was a hugely popular opener to Melodifestivalen and many assumed that Molly would at least make it through to Andra Chansen. Instead, she was cast out in 6th place in the heat. Her shocked expression spoke for many fans around the world, but it wasn’t all for nothing. “I’ll Be Fine” quickly topped Swedish iTunes and if Molly does return next year, she’ll surely be a favourite to do well again. For now, we award her second place in our countdown for 2015!

1. “Sting” – Eric Saade (Sweden)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxwIHTGCVA

Those moves, that face, the sax. Love him or hate him, Eric Saade is certainly a showman. After bringing Sweden back in to the Eurovision forefront in 2011, Eric finally returned to Melodifestivalen this year, easily making in to the final. “Sting” had one of the flashiest shows with slick choreography and with Frederik Kempe behind the song, it was always going to do well. His critics have long panned Eric’s vocals, but at the final he seemed the most on point he ever has. Team Wiwi fell for him and his song and it is as a result that we crown “Sting” our best national final song of 2015.

Wiwi Jury: “Don’t hate him because he’s beautiful. Seriously, don’t! Sure he’s an arrogant so-and-so with questionable public decorum. But who cares? “Sting” is a modern pop masterpiece. The beat, the melodies, the retro flourishes – everything works perfectly. It would be foolish to write this off simply because you don’t like the vessel making the delivery. Sting and slay!” (Padraig)

Of course, we want to know what you all think as well. Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree with any part of our list, or on our Twitter and Facebook pages as well.