Wiwi Jury Denmark edition: Jessica with “Break It Good”

The Wiwi Jury – our in-house panel of music unprofessionals – is continuing its journey around Denmark. Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2016 is under a week away and we’re here to review the ten finalists. Previously, Bracelet brought us some early ’00s pop-rock realness in the form of “Breakway”. Today we stick with the breakage theme, as Jessica urges us to “Break It Good”. Does she have the breakout hit of DMGP? Read on to find out…

Jessica “Break It Good”

Reviews: Jessica with “Break It Good”

Robyn: I love songs like this – bright, full on pop with an obnoxious wall-of-sound production and a sassy singer. The one thing I could do without is those sped-up vocals in the background (Kanye was done with that sound 12 years ago), but once the chorus comes along, underpinned by the insistent brass section, I’m right there with it.

Score: 7.5/10

Mike: “Break It Good” annoys me more than most things in life. I’d put it in the same category as tailgaters and people who pick up their phone while you’re talking to them. Initially, the reggae beat makes me feel like I am in a hammock on a white sandy beach in the Bahamas. But straight away I’m joined by an annoying ex-girlfriend who keeps asking me if I still love her. If I was her boyfriend I would break her heart and change the locks.

Score: 2/10

Josh: Jessica is trying far too hard to be the love child of Selena Gomez and Rihanna for my liking. It’s fine to have influences in your music, but nothing grinds my gears more than a blatant rip-off. I can’t handle the ill-fitting Jamaican-esque infused pop sound that “Break It Good” is offering. Too cheesy, too unoriginal, and quite frankly forgettable.

Score: 4/10

DMGP 2016: Our top three

Antranig: “Break It Good” is a perfect fusion of modern pop and earthy Caribbean sounds. The competition is very strong and it’s hard to see this winning, but I think this has the unique flavour to stand out and register a respectable result. Jessica is bringing Caribbean realness to Copenhagen and it’s certainly a clever combination. Break it good!

Score: 9/10

Luis: Those background vocals… I’m sorry to say this, but the only thing I’d like to “break good” is the original copy of this song. Trying to be a Danish Rihanna is not a good idea. Seriously, if someone described a song as a Dane singing a generic track with Caribbean beats whilst sounding like Rihanna on a bad day, would you buy it? I most certainly would not!

Score: 2/10

Sopon: “Break It Good” has no substance whatsoever. It’s the kind of song I need to be in a good mood to keep on. Let’s be 100% realistic here: this is not the DMGP winner. It won’t even be in the top half come the final result. Nonetheless, I enjoy it for now, but only as an empty song with a touch of flair and character.

Score: 6.5/10

Kristin: Oh dear. “Break It Good” tries and tries and tries, and then tries some more, but its totally flatlining. I thought I was being too cynical but then I asked for a second opinion from a non-Eurovision person (they exist!). The results were the same. It’s boring, and it’s missing that special hook that it so desperately needs. It’s just silly rhyming and repeating the chorus over and over again. I’ll pass on Jessica and her heartbreaking attempt to catch my attention.

Score: 4/10

Deban: Totally uninspiring! “Break It Good” borders on being silly. Just like the artist’s name, this track is missing a parent — and lots more! The urban flavour feels modified and under-cooked. The refrain “show me what you got” is annoying. Even in a weak field, this won’t win.

Score: 2.5/10

Padraig: Call me old fashioned, but reggae-esque numbers always seem out of place at national finals. There’s just something inauthentic and forced. However, the problem might just be that I’ve yet to hear a decent representation of the genre compete. And “Break It Good” isn’t going to change that. The beat plods, Jessica’s voice grates and the chipmunks need to be exterminated.

Score: 4/10

William: I love the calypso realness of the opening and how the Caribbean vibe recurs throughout. Unfortunately this song has a hollow quality to it. I feel like it’s built around production, rather than around a strong melody or hook. The lack of dynamism makes this feel flat very quickly. Nice drums, though.

Score: 4/10

Our jury consists of 22 people, but we only have room for 10 written reviews. Here are the remaining 12 scores.

Anthony: 5.5/10

Bernardo: 5/10

Bogdan: 6/10

Cristian: 7/10

Dayana: 7.5/10

Denise: 8.5/10

Edd: 9/10

Gökhan: 5/10

Liam: 0.5/10

Mikhail: 7.5/10

Ramadan: 3/10

Sami: 7/10

WIWI JURY AVERAGE: 5.38/10

To reduce potential bias, we drop the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. We removed a low of 0.5 and a high of 9.

SEE OUR CURRENT DANSK MELODI GRAND PRIX 2016 REVIEWS AND RANKINGS.

Photos: DR