Yesterday the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — travelled to Slovenia. We paid a visit to the Postojna Cave, going deep underground. In a dark corner we gathered to discuss ManuElla‘s song “Blue and Red”. Did we enjoy the colours of her life? Or did it leave us feeling black and blue? Read on to find out!

ManuElla – “Blue and Red”

“Blue and Red” reviews

Chris: I really liked “Blue and Red” when I first heard it, but on repeat listens it’s falling further and further down my chart. ManuElla is a really good performer and I think the whole “Taylor Swift lookalike” motif will actually help her be remembered by viewers. The issue is that the song is unlikely to be taken too seriously by the juries; it also just feels like a step down for Slovenia after two years of great songs.

Score: 6/10

Angus: I love good country. Which is why it’s a shame this isn’t. ManuElla goes for the performance with suitable panache, but the song isn’t the best and a load of gimmicks can’t mask that.

Score: 2.5/10

Luis: Susanne Georgi, “La teva decisió”. I instantly connected ManuElla with Andorra’s last Eurovision entry, because I’m afraid they are going to suffer the same fate. While “Red and Blue” is really pleasant and likeable, and ManuElla is a very competent performer, Slovenia’s entry is just not enough to reach a Eurovision final. In the event they can find a decent performance (at the moment, the highlight of it is the backing vocalists ripping off her dress, so it’s easy to improve), it can be a borderline qualifier, but it’s highly unlikely.

Score: 6/10

Bogdan: The biggest problem of this song are the lyrics. Someone tried to make a metaphor using colours just to make it to “You feel blue and I am better” and the end result is pretty nonsensical. Otherwise, ManuElla (seriously?) is a competent singer, I love the way she sings the “Alive, alive, alive” lyric, but unfortunately this won’t be enough to give her the green light to the grand final. Oh, and the costume change is beyond cringe.

Score: 4.5/10

Cristian: I can’t stand country, so you can already get that I cannot be a fan of this song. I like the pre-chorus, but that’s all. And what about the lyrics? “Blue is blue and red is red” — you don’t say?!

Score: 5/10

Deban: Manuella reminds me of Anna Rossinelli. That’s a plus! However, blue and red isn’t my favourite colour-combo, and neither is this entry. It lacks life shortly after it beats, only to rely on optical illusion, and costume-change gimmicks to revive itself later. In a sea of comeback stars and stellar compositions, Slovenia’s colours won’t stand out this year.

Score: 2.5/10

Robyn: “Blue and Red” isn’t a bad song, but the big problem is ManuElla’s styling. For some reason she’s decided to be a copy and paste of Taylor Swift from eight years ago, the country-pop teen phase. But even T-Swizzle has ditched that look, and now goes for a cool metropolitan style. If ManuElla wants to stand out, she needs to discover her own style, and not come across like a weird hybrid of teen Tay-Tay and the tacky Bucks Fizz costume pull-away.

Score: 5/10

Kristin: She could easily enter a Leanne Rimes look-a-like contest, but ManuElla unfortunately does not sound like anything like her. The song itself is a nice country-pop number, and maybe with the right staging and some serious voice coaching, could squeeze itself to the finals. But I’m a girl who was raised listening to legends like Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline, so leaves me empty. I’m not feeling the country vibes, only the rip-off vibes. Sorry Slovenia.

Score: 4.5/10

Josh: Slovenia is trying their hand at a supposed Taylor Swift rip-off now. This would’ve been cute back in 2006 when country music was at its popular peak, but we’re in 2016 now and Tay-Tay has reinvented herself into a global pop star. ManuElla is not global, nor is she a pop star.

Score: 3/10

Mario: Pre-commercial Taylor Swift’s style I never liked. ManuElla is in the same boat. “Blue and Red” is dated, uninspiring and followed by the (very) nonsensical lyrics. A shame if you ask me — the singer’s stage charisma and talent are immense!

Score: 2.5/10

Padraig: Blue is blue and red is red. But mix them both together and you get purple – the colour of royalty. Alas, “Blue and Red” is more for the peasants. It’s country pop by numbers. There’s plenty of twang and ManuElla’s voice sounds suitably American. However, the song is lacking. The lyrics are overly simple and the metaphors come across as childish rather than thoughtful. The costume change feels like a desperate attempt to inject some life into this jaded number. I sense that the colour combination of black and blue may be more appropriate for Slovenia, because this is going to get a battering in the semis.

Score: 2/10

William: “You were not a composer, I am not your song” — ManuElla is cutting straight to the chase! Her delightful ditty, which is all about ditching her man and getting her happy back, builds a bridge from Ljubljana to Nashville. The country-pop sound is a nice addition to the contest, as are ManuElla’s sultry sex goddess vocals. My one piece of advice: Don’t look so startled during your wardrobe change. You need to own your transformation on stage, just as you did when you said goodbye to Mr Wrong.

Score: 6.5/10

In the Wiwi Jury we have 40 jurors but only have room for 12 reviews. The remaining 28 scores are below.

Anthony: 7/10

Antranig: 4/10

Bernardo: 4/10

David: 6.5/10

Dayana: 7.5/10

Denise: 4.5/10

Diego: 7/10

Edd: 7/10

Forrest: 4.5/10

George: 7/10

Gökhan: 4/10

Jason: 4.5/10

Judit: 6/10

Liam: 2.5/10

Marek: 1/10

Maria: 4/10

Max: 6.5/10

Mike: 6/10

Mikhail: 4/10

Patrick: 2/10

Renske: 6.5/10

Rezo: 1/10

Sami: 2.5/10

Sinan: 5/10

 Steinunn: 3.5/10

Tobias: 4/10

William C: 2.5/10

Zakaria: 6/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The highest and lowest scores are dropped prior to calculating the average score. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 1 and a high of 7.5.

WIWI JURY SCORE: 4.53/10

SEE OUR CURRENT EUROVISION 2016 REVIEWS AND RANKINGS

32 Comments
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CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

My next-to-last on my list. This does not have a prayer of qualifying at all.

PhysalisFranchetti
PhysalisFranchetti
7 years ago

When you have a changing dress moment, you have to:-
1. Whip off the skirt to reveal a much shorter skirt
OR
2. Whip off a man’s suit to reveal a dress
But whipping off a very short skirted dress to reveal another short-skirted dress is missing the punch-line. This is more like a fast, sorry, slow change in a pantomime……..

ESCaddict
ESCaddict
7 years ago

This song is down, down low & sinking in the under tow.
ManuElla seems like a nice person so I don’t want to poop on her parade. I rank the song 41 of 43. ‘Nuff said.

Holden
Holden
7 years ago

It’s not one of my favourites and I don’t like the “changing dress” moment.
5 / 10

Laburnum
Laburnum
7 years ago

I actually really like it. I give it a 6 or 7. Would have preferred Raiven or another Maja Keuc entry, this will not qualify, and it’s a shame after Slovenia started to make great progress.

Daniel
Daniel
7 years ago

One of the very few entries sung by a female solo singer this year. Catchy, silly, bubblegum country at its best, but lovely in the end!
This either makes it to my Top 10 or remains very close.

Much better than Croatia, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Czech Republic COMBINED.

Jerome
Jerome
7 years ago

5/10
NNM song when it’s the studio version. The lyrics could have been more creative and dramatic and not just straight up fact. “Blue is blue and red is red”. Really??!! You don’t say!

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

The song is alright, but the live vocals were not great. The staging was of course awkward, but it’s pointless to judge on staging right now when it may very well be changed for Stockholm. Sadly I think Slovenia’s qualification streak will end here, unless they benefit from a great draw again like in 2014.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

Next!

This one is even good for the lols, it’s total cringe worthy.. Looking very Taylor not so Swift..

SpirK
SpirK
7 years ago

I really liked it from the first listen! Catchy country pop with a nostalgic feeling, combined with a nice performer and nice lyrics. All in all a great effort from Slovenia. 8/10 and my 12th

NarJag
NarJag
7 years ago

I feel strange, she is my 2nd this year!

Steven
Steven
7 years ago

This managed to score over 3? yikes

Pollaski
Pollaski
7 years ago

On the matter of the costume change- just stick with the red dress. It fits well with the song (you’re blue, I’m not… ergo, I’m red). And honest to god, please don’t walk around looking like some cheap budget rental drum majorette. Trust me, your life will be that much more enjoyable.

Azotman
Azotman
7 years ago

Bonsoir Stockholm,

Mon vote 6/10.
13e place /43

Les commentaires sont très sévères sur cette chanson. Ce n’est pas la meilleure chanson mais pas la pire non plus. Moi, j’aime bien le rythme et la mélodie et la voix de la chanteuse.

Cordialement,
Maxime

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
7 years ago

3.5/10
Awful song and cringe worthy performance. Will not finish in the top 10 on either the jury or the televoting.

Digital Style
Digital Style
7 years ago

It’s sad how this song has such a powerful message but yet it is worded so badly. It is cringe, she’s trying too hard to be Taylor Swift and it’s ending out awfully. There is absolutely no need for the costume change – if you want to do one at least do it well. This is just so cringey.

Colin
Colin
7 years ago

My ratings so far:

1. Estonia – 10/10
2. Germany – 9.5/10
3. Netherlands – 9/10
4. Norway – 9/10
5. Hungary – 8.5/10
6. Spain – 8/10
7. Serbia – 8/10
8. Macedonia – 7/10
9. Belgium – 7/10
10. Poland – 7/10
11. Moldova – 6.5/10
12. Denmark – 4/10
13. Slovenia – 2.5/10

Margaret
Margaret
7 years ago

Really don’t like it and lyrics are cringe-worthy. “Blue is blue and red is red”? Please…

Darren
Darren
7 years ago

No no no! After last years awesome song, Slovenia gives us this? This is my most hated entry this year along with Russia and San Marino. The Taylor Swift comparison is sickeningly obvious and the song lack any originality. A non-qualifier for sure. Sorry Slovenia, bring back Maraaya. 2/10 🙁

Red+Blue=Purple
Red+Blue=Purple
7 years ago

The most underrated entry this year. She has a nice voice and can sing live. Song is uptempo-country popsong, which is memorable. It’s full of energy and positivity.

Hurricane86
Hurricane86
7 years ago

Well, I love it. To my mind it isn’t dull, it’s understated and different to anything else in the contest. Having said that I love country music, so perhaps I was always going to like it. I agree the costume change isn’t great, I actually think it cheapens the song a bit, I’d prefer to see a classier staging.

Colin
Colin
7 years ago

Sorry, neighbors, this song is awful. Painful lyrics, perhaps even the worst ones in the contest. Yeah… blue is blue and red is red… next you’ll be telling me that chair is a chair and iron is a metal. 2-year-old logic. Chorus would even go into ‘so bad it’s good’ category, but the rest of the song is so forgettable. Worst one reviewed so far.

2.5/10

My 39’th out of 43.

Pollaski
Pollaski
7 years ago

I have so much loathing for this song, and its only by the grace of additional loathing for three others that its not last place. The comparisons to Taylor Swift are obvious, but while Taylor always had this charm about her that made you want to root for her through all her relationship woes (until she overdid the living hell out of it), the same can’t be said for ManuElla, who just sounds like a pretty Slovenian girl trying to hard to glomp onto an American style with terrible lyrics. I hope she has fun in Eurovision, cause she deserves… Read more »

Freyah
Freyah
7 years ago

This to me screams song that scrapes its way to the final only to finish last on the night.

Bhrister Cjorkman
Bhrister Cjorkman
7 years ago

0/10
43/43

This is so bad it doesn’t deserve an explanation.

Sarah Boucher
7 years ago

Blue and Red…….. a knock off to ”Mine”.

John Doe
John Doe
7 years ago

An underrated song and singer. IMO it is better to listen to this song than, for example, Azerbaijan’s extremely overrated singer and song.

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

This is my #42. San Marino is #41 by the way…

YAAAAS
YAAAAS
7 years ago

One of the most cringe songs in years. I hate it

Millhouse
Millhouse
7 years ago

Nothing positive to extract from this. Uncharismatic, disheartening.

Spells DULL all around.

jacob
jacob
7 years ago

0/10 – I hate it. One of the worst songs in this year’s competition.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

This is all kinds of wrong.
Arguably the worst song produced by a national final this time around (Moldova, Romania and Poland have decent shouts, too), this is a song not even a mother could love. From the moronic lurics to the poor choice of genre to the uninspired singing, there is something for everybody to hate in this.
Enjoy the trip back to Slovenia, do not come back!
1/10