Hej Norge! The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has arrived in Norway, sailing into a scenic fjord. While we take in the sights (and plenty of smoked fish), we’re also discussing JOWST‘s Eurovision 2017 song “Grab the Moment”. Are we reaching out or just letting go? Read on to find out…
JOWST – “Grab the Moment”
About JOWST
JOWST is the stage name of Norwegian songwriter and music producer Joakim With Steen, who appears on stage in a mask. Earlier this year he teamed up with singer Aleksander Walmann, the runner-up on The Voice of Norway in 2012. Together the pair entered Melodi Grand Prix 2017 — Norway’s Eurovision selection — with their song “Grab the Moment”. In February JOWST told wiwibloggs that the mask is a way to let viewers imprint their own image onto him — making him a symbol of their own aspirations. “When I’m on stage I don’t want to be an idol, but someone people can look up to….other people are seeing this and I want them to think they can also do this. That’s what the song is about — grabbing the moment and doing stuff.”
“Grab the Moment” reviews
Robyn: “Grab the Moment” is one of my big favourites of 2017. I’m so glad that Norway are sending a catchy piece of electro pop. My only concern — all the prerecorded backing vocals and vocal samples from MGP will need to be performed live in Kyiv. This could totally change the sound of the song, but at least the amazing middle-eight is still going to be intact.
Score: 9/10
Deban: This entry fails to grab me. I struggle to relate to the distorted vocals which may eventually reshape when performed live. Even so, the staging, production and instrumentation all sound formulaic. Also, JOWST’s masked DJ irks me. It’s a passé, gimmicky concept that strips out the soul that “Grab The Moment” may have had. Musically, this is a disappointing turn for Norway.
Score: 4/10
William: A largely linear song, “Grab the Moment” bypasses swells and plunges, opting instead for a steady stream of electro sounds. The melody is repetitive, but it never feels monotonous, perhaps owing to the inspirational sound and decidedly contemporary production. Alexander’s earnest delivery balances optimism with just the right amount of edge and grit, avoiding the saccharine quality that so often comes with get-up-and-get-em tunes. I’m a fan.
Score: 6.5/10
Kristin: That was an unexpected win! “Grab the Moment” might not grab you at first listen, but on second and third listen it totally gets you. There is a chance that it could be JOWST’s Achilles heel in Ukraine, but it’s more likely that they will fly into the finals and actually give Norway a decent result. “Grab the moment” is not a winner. However, it flows effortlessly and the boys have a nice and approachable charisma about them.
Score: 7.5/10
Chris: On first listen to the studio version, “Grab the Moment” didn’t really grab me at all. The talk-rap was annoying and the distortion in the chorus frustrating. Live, however, this does pop out quite a bit. Obviously, there’ll be changes to it for Kyiv, which makes it more of a mystery again. If it does take people a while to warm to the song, that doesn’t bode well for JOWST and Aleksander’s chances at Eurovision. Hopefully, that immediacy appears in Ukraine.
Score: 5.5/10
Forrest: In a rather lacklustre lineup at Melodi Grand Prix this year, “Grab The Moment” was an instant standout. It is attention grabbing from the first note, and the vocal sampling is cleverly used to drive the song along, especially in the first pre-chorus. It remains to be seen how that will come across live in Kyiv, but Aleksander’s vocals are strong enough that it may actually improve live, even if dulling the electro edge.
Score: 7/10
Luis: There are so many things to like about “Grab the Moment”. The tune is a very current piece of electro pop with sleek production. The performance is very well thought out and, despite being very elaborate, it feels carefree. Norway has a very cool entry, but that may be its biggest fault. It’s bound to be a nice interlude between two stronger entries.
Score: 7/10
Steinunn: To be honest, I couldn’t even remember what song it was when I heard who had won this year’s MGP, but this entry sure has grown on me. It is a clean yet cool piece of electro pop with inspirational lyrics and some very cool staging. Even though the song itself is a bit repetitive, JOWST and (mostly) Aleksander manage to grab your attention and keep you interested through the whole song.
Score: 7.5/10
In our Wiwi Jury, we have 38 jurors but only room for eight reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:
Anastas: 6/10
Andy: 7/10
Angus: 5/10
Anthony: 6/10
Antony: 5/10
Antranig: 3/10
Bernardo: 6/10
Bogdan: 7/10
Dayana: 8/10
Edd: 7.5/10
Erdi: 6/10
George: 6.5/10
Jacob: 8/10
Jason: 6/10
Jordi: 8/10
Josh: 5/10
Jovana: 5/10
Marek: 8.5/10
Matt: 5.5/10
Mikhail: 5.5/10
Natalie: 4/10
Padraig: 6/10
Patrick: 5/10
Renske: 7/10
Rezo: 6/10
Sami: 9/10
Sinan: 7.5/10
Stanislav: 8/10
Tobias: 3/10
Zakaria: 3.5/10
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 9.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.26/10
What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!
I’m trying something, ignore this comment: ????????
It has one very strong part between the verses, chorus and the bridge. The issue is I can’t tell which one is and every other fan differs.
Grab The Moment has ALL I like in a song, but for some reason the totality of that in this product is not as wowing. I really liked the stage presentation, but will the heavy synth hook remain or improve in May, knowing the ESC rules? I want this entry to succeed, but there’s something in the back of my mind that says “this is an 11th place in the semi”.
7.5/10
I think Aleksander Walmann has the best voice in this year’s Eurovision. It’s smokey and sexy. The song has a fantastic message and is so modern. I’m glad Deban dislikes it as he tends to like the songs that do bad and noone likes. That means, Norway will get a good result.
Hmmmm I don’t know. As enjoyable as it is, this song needs something to hook me in (better visuals, brighter feeling melody perhaps?).
This is running the risk of being the new typical Eurovision song and if they’re not careful it will get old and dated very quickly.
I think around 6 is a fair score.
I didn’t want this to win in Norway. I’m not a fan of the song either. However, it’s a good song. Not sure it will qualify.
I’ll give it a 5.5!
It has been growing on me since the first listen. It does not have enough standout moments though and is a little flat. It could qualify, however!
Personal rating: I think this is a very interesting (in a good way) song. It has a very cool, distictively Scandinavian feeling to it. It’s kinda cold, but in a relaxed way. It’s subtle, but heartfelt. The lyrics are different from any other song this year because they are not emotionally one-dimensional and they match the music perfectly. I think the whole song should actually be longer than three minutes and include more instrumental parts to build up more tension/focus. 8/10 Prediction: Last year I guessed correctly that Norway would be out and this year I really hope that I… Read more »
I just can’t like it, I respect the modern production, but it just doesn’t work for me. It’s quite bland and annoying in a way. His vocals are also flat and there isn’t any climax. I’m giving it a 4, which is second to last till now, Montenegro falling behind.
Bland & such annoying song..
Actually it’s even my last placed song
of this year’s EuroVision..
My Score: 1,5/10
———-
{*My scoreboard so far*}
~ 8,0: Israel(5) – Latvia(7)
~ 7,5: Poland(10) UK(11) Iceland(12)
~ 7,0: Malta(13) Denmark(16)
~ 6,5: Netherlands(21)
~ 6,0: Montenegro(24) Serbia(32)
~ 5,0: Germany(35) Spain(36)
~ 1,5: Norway(42)
love this song it’s currently in my top 3, it’s so unique, different, fresh and 2017 style
a 9/10 from me
I thought Ella and Ammunition’s performance was the strongest at MGP back then, I really don’t expect this entry to win. This song is so mediocre, I mean I can’t hate it but I can’t love it too. I’m not a fan of EDMish sound-or what it is called.
5/10
I don’t find here any tropical house notes. Production, except of voice refrains, actually sends you few years back (and JOWST has made some more current tracks), but this song is a very well made for vocals and vocalist goes well with it. Lyrics are fine. I want this be in a final. But now about prediction: The song desperately asks for some action on the scene, at least good work by camera. Considering message, I don’t know if I can ask Alexander to be more convincing or stay same, but I think he’d better add some spice, otherwise you… Read more »
It’s kinda ok, but would I grab the phone and vote for this? No.
6/10
It’s the song that has grown the most to me.
I feel ‘Grab the Moment’ is completely being underrated! It’s modern, catchy and has a deep message behind. It grew on me a lot the first two days. Everytime I listen to it, makes me happy and “wake me up”. The only part I don’t really get is the bridge, but nothing is perfect!
This could be a dark horse. I predict Norway will qualify and will place inside the top 15.
Norway is currently my 5th. 8.75/10
Great entry from Norway. Alexsander is an amazing singer, and every sound meshes together so well. Tropical house hasn’t been done in ESC before, but the width of the genre’s audience should not be underestimated.
*02 NOR* | 04 UK | 11 SRB | 14 DEN | 16 POL | 19 LAT | 20 ICE
26 NLD | 33 MNE | 34 ISR | 36 GER | 37 MLT | 38 ESP
Ironic, I wanted so much Ammunition to win, but this one actually became my number one after it was chosen. Good luck to them! 🙂
Same lol, Grab The Moment is amazing <3
This is definitely better live than in the studio version. A decent entry, but nothing special. Borderline qualifier at best.
I get the feeling that this will be one of the songs that might end up getting passed by in the contest this year, but probably will have a lot of people return to it later after the contest.
Much like what happened to Latvia in 2011.
The problem with thiis entry is that at my first listen i didnt like it i needed at least 3 more times to start liking it.But for many it will be their first time so i dont know
The problem with this entry is that, i don’t feel anything. It doesn’t move me or touch my soul, it doesn’t make me wanna dance either. I forget it right after i’ve listened it. Sorry guys.. 🙁
I really like Norway’s entry this year. It feels fresh and modern and is something different among all the ballads and dance numbers. I would like to see it pass to the final but it is so hard to call whether it will or not, as it is for a lot of entries in semi-final 2. It is a very open semi final.
@Purple Mask
The only two modes I’m aware of are: ‘Asleep’ and ‘sleepy’. Lol 😛
Also Svala’s “word” face mask has ‘Purple’ on it!! Coincidence much?? 😀
flat af!! nothing special at all, i hope they won’t qualify!!!!!!!
Haha Kris. I haven’t fully analysed this one, but it sounds like it’s in a B minor melodic key, with hints of a mode in the middle-eight. Which mode is used there I’m not sure. Anyone care to guess? 🙂
@Purple Mask
How come you have no ‘MAJOR’ comments on this??
And you missed the ‘MINOR’ article of wiwi jury evaluating Spain!!
This song is my absolute favourite this year! It’s great to see electronic/EDM music at Eurovision but it’s also very risky to send something like this. It could get a top 10 placing but it also could fail and not even reach the final. So I hope that the other people will appreciate this kind of music and JOWST and Aleksander will get a great result which they really deserve <3
I like it, is not my favourite (around top 12) but I think this can be a dark horse this year. I can see it finishing TOP 5.
I do like this song and its powerful message to overcome insecurities and self-doubt. I even thanked Aleksander personally in London for creating it, and he seemed genuinely moved that his song was touching people. The music in the song is quite basic harmonically, but has clever use of rhythm to produce the “tuned rap” effect in the verses. The Chorus and the middle-eight work really well. The use of pre-recorded voices unfortunately will be illegal at Eurovision, so the version of the song that won the Norway National Final will have to be altered. So I think we’re all… Read more »
Yeah, I agree with Deban on the fact that the performance is tryhard. The song itself isn’t bad nor exceptional – and that’s probably why it got no exceptional or abysmal scores. Most were in the 5-7 “average” range.
Norway is my number one, very modern and catchy at the same time song.
It has very special, not banal rhytm. Really talented guys and well written song.
This song is totally what I would listen to outside of ESC and I love it.
1. Latvia (9.5/10)
2. Iceland (9/10)
3. Norway (8/10)
4. Denmark 5. Israel (7.5/10)
6. Serbia 7. UK (7/10)
8. Germany 9. Poland (6/10)
10. Netherlands (4.5/10)
11. Montenegro (3/10)
12. Spain (2.5/10)
13. Malta (1.5/10)
When it heard this song for the first time, I thought it was just okay. I was rooting for Elin and the Woods, and when the whole NF evening ended, I was disappointed in Sweden, Iceland and Lithuania, while I said ‘Oh, okay, Norway… you know what – I like it’. And it only grew ever since. Now it’s one of my big favorites of semi 2 and one of the songs I listen to a lot. 9 – UK, POL, NOR 8 – MAL, LAT 7 – DEN, NET, ICE 5 – ISR, SER 4 – GER 2 –… Read more »
As a Norwegian, i can tell that this is the kind of modern tropical house music Norway cuccessfully exprt abpard….Like Kygo etc. However, if it will work in ESC, I am not sure. People seem so lukewarm about this entry….Which is a pity. I personally think it’s great. Just like last year. We had a beautiful song, with interesting tempo shifts. And a real story and great lyrics. Yet Europe failed to get it….Maybe we are stuck in sending great modern songs. But not appealing for Europe. Even if I prefered Wrecking Crew, which would be a breath of fresh… Read more »
Underrated. There is a major flaw in the song though: the song doesn’t boom enough in the chorus. That is, the instrumental softens up and gets less interesting for no good reason. Still one of the better tracks this year, and all the verses are phenomenal. The final verse is especially awesome, with the weird chords driving an epic buildup.
At first I didn’t like this but it has grown greatly on me! The singer has a great voice and I love the way he performs. I think Norway is a qualifier and should do well in the final
I kinda like this when it’s on, but I’m not particularly interested in listening to it again after it’s over. It’s very flat. However, I think it will qualify.
6/10
This is the only time I disagreed with Deban haha I love this song! I’m not sure they will grab the moment, but they will grab me, I’m certain.
This wasn’t my favourite in MGP, but believe me when I say that I was overjoyed when it won. It’s edgy and unique, yet still, something I could play a dance party. Aleksander has a really refreshing voice, and combined with JOWST’s electro-hip hop beat, this is a really, really fresh song.
6.26 is way to low for this entry. Come on. This is a solid 7.5 in my book and one of my favorites this year!
Has anyone noticed in eurovision tv’s website that you can sort the countries based on points and rank from highest to lowest? And I tried it and it seems like it would work and there are rankings but idk if its true or just a glitch
I was betting on Elin and the Woods’ “First Step In Faith” to win; but JOWST and Aleksander bring a rhythm that is unique enough to rank in my top 10 after my first evaluation.
I wanted for an Ulrikke or Ammunition win. But I’m loving this now.