The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — continues reviewing the songs competing in Eesti Laul 2017, Estonia’s always-original, often-crazy national selection for Eurovision. Next up is Antsud with their song “Vihm” (Rain). Did we want to soak up their folk-pop tune or were we left searching for umbrellas? Read on to find out!
Antsud – “Vihm”
“Vihm” reviews
Jason: What I love about Eurovision is its ability to expose people to music and culture that is completely foreign (lol) to them. To me, “Vihm” sounds like it could have won the contest during the mid-nineties when ethnic/Celtic/folk had great success. Who would have thought that this absolute gem of crazy Estonian folk music would be my new jam? Not me for one. Dam dam dadi dam dadi da….
Score: 10/10
William: Set up a totem poll and call on your ancient gods whoever they may be! Anstud is serving indigenous folk modernised Pocahontas listen-to-your-heart realness! This is daring, original and real. Will it win? No. Should it win? No. Does that stop me from enjoying it? Absolutely not! Major props for making me want to burn incense while wearing a loin cloth.
Score: 7/10
Robyn: This sounds like it should come echoing from a 1970s hippie commune, its catchy chorus wafting past the macrame and lentils. While the lyrics to “Vihm” are in Estonian, there’s enough going on with the music to engage international listeners. But the chorus — with its repeated “dam-dam dadi-dam-dam” line — doesn’t feel like it has the most substantial message, no matter what language the listener speaks.
Score: 6/10
Bernardo: I love this traditional Estonian folk traditional sound. The awesome tribal instrumental contrasts with a so-so voice and repetitive verses and chorus. Antsud exudes spirituality but that is not enough to lift this up. I was waiting for the climax, but it never came.
Score: 5/10
Josh: I have so many emotions about this track. A part of me loves it, another part makes me want to fall asleep, and another part makes me think that this will tank at Eurovision. It certainly stands out on its own amongst the other songs in the contest, which could help the act get more votes. However on the flip side it could be a little too left of centre to gain mass appeal. I’m so torn!
Score: 5/10
Matt: This one means Rain and it’s like a shower of fabulousness. On the first few beats I was transported to a little boat in a storm and was unmistakably Estonian. It’s infectiously catchy and it won’t leave your mind for days, it stands out since it has no electric elements like the other entrants in the competition so it may be a winner.
Score: 8.5/10
Antranig: “Vihm” sounds like it should be something I rank dead last. Yet somehow, this just works. The hook is extremely catchy and it delivers an ethereal sound that has a place in any national final. I doubt this will do particularly well in the competition but it is different enough to stand out among some bland songs.
Score: 7.5/10
Chris: I can hardly say I’m a savant of Estonian folk music, but I’d have to imagine this is one of the better offerings available. Sure, the chorus is straight out of the Anna Rossinelli playbook, but there’s a nice ethereal, old-world quality about this. If Estonia were ever playable in the Civilization games, I’d want this as their theme music.
Score: 6/10
Patrick: Well, that was quite a surprise. It’s different and that is why I like it. I live for that medieval, spiritual and mystical sound, supported by the Estonian language that makes the whole song even more special. Usually I would hate on songs which are going “Dam dam dam” all the time but this is different. The whole atmosphere — the singers, the instruments, the character behind it — is magical and that’s why I like it so much. I don’t particularly want to see them in Kyiv, but if they make it I will support them.
Score: 7.5/10
In our Eesti Laul Wiwi Jury, we have 20 jurors but only room for 8 reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:
Anthony: 5.5/10
Bernardo: 5/10
Dayana: 8/10
Edd: 6/10
Forrest: 3.5/10
Kristin: 8/10
Luis: 6/10
Mikhail: 7.5/10
Natalie: 8/10
Sami: 3/10
Steinunn: 7/10
Zakaria: 7/10
Before calculating the average score, the highest and lowest scores are dropped. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 3 and a high of 10.
If they get in, they need some rain or water in the performance
it only sounds good to foreigners, the lyrics have such primitive rhymes. certainly not among the best new-folk songs we have in general. you guys should hear Trad. Attack. but it would be good to send something in estonian.
It’s so lovely, I wish good luck to them! 🙂
This is a song which stands out. It has this Estonian traditional folk element (I usually like such songs). I’m not sure if this will win, but it’s different. Like it.
Songs like this are important for every national final. Of course it will not and should not win but it adds to the variety of the show itself. I do not dislike this song and it works great in the background whilst washing up or mopping the floor.
As the song it doesn’t lift me up that much. But it’s important that this folk-piece creates a wish to buy a ticket to Estonia for xmas 🙂
This received surprisingly good reviews and scores. I like it, it’s something different. It gets too repetitive though.
6.5/10
I don’t really understand this track. I usually like folk, but this one is hard for me to appreciate for some reason. This doesn’t have a remote chance at winning, anyway.
This one is a guilty pleasure of mine. The repetitive ground-bass chorus is infectious, and the Estonian verses show off the beautiful vowels that the language has to offer. Perhaps going unnoticed is the instrumental section in the middle of the song, which is a beautiful merging of violin and accordion playing dissonant tones to each other in passing phrases at differing tempos. This has more of a classical influence behind it than a trad-folk influence, but the added sophistication really works well in the song. There are also nice off-beat rhythms throughout (using drums, claps and other percussion), and… Read more »
This is my favourite!!
If this go to Eurovision then Antsud will bring something different fresh and beautiful!
I absolutely love this song. It’s my number one in Eesti Laul this year
The only song that i actually like in EL this year.
Dear Estonia, please send a song in Estonian to Eurovision this year.
Thanks! 😀