No time to rest, y’all! Malta Eurovision Song Contest takes place in less than a week, on February 3. The Wiwi Jury, our team of music un-professionals, is reviewing all 16 entries. The next artist up is our MESC 2017 Wiwi Jury winner, Brooke!
After finishing 2nd and 4th in MESC 2016 and 2017 respectively, Brooke is looking to finally take the crown this year. The team behind her song “Heart of Gold” includes Borislav Milanov, the man behind “Beautiful Mess” and “If Love Was a Crime”. Have they penned Brooke another Eurovision hit?
Brooke — “Heart of Gold”
“Heart of Gold” Reviews:
Robyn: Musically, it’s a decent tune that works with Brooke’s vocal talents, though the millennial whoop feels tired. But wtf is going on what the lyrics? It seems to be taking the tired boyband cliche of “girl, you don’t know you’re beautiful” and flipping it around to woman addressing a man. Forget his fancy shirt and watch — Brooke wants this obnoxious player to know he’s beautiful on the inside. Beautiful like a pack of wolves.
Score: 6/10
Natalie: You always wanta reminder that you’re a beautiful pack of wolves with a heart of gold — thanks Brooke! In all seriousness, this is a really good song with a really passionate vocal. Sure, the lyrics are a bit weird, but they have good intent. It’s always a good time when you find yourself dancing along to a sweet, uplifting song about being genuine and modest.
Score: 7.5/10
Deban: Brooke takes us to clubland with her 2018 MESC entry. “Heart Of Gold” packs a punch, but at the same time relies rather heavily on vocoder. Lyrical references to “wrecking ball” and “shirts that get you laid” lack originality. Despite this, the song has an infectious quality, and Brooke is effortlessly selling it.
Score: 7/10
Chris: Of all the familiar faces in Malta, Brooke Borg is likely the nation’s best hope for future Eurovision success. But it most certainly won’t come with “Heart of Gold”. This will almost certainly require all of Brooke’s stage presence and charisma to lift it live. Of course, there’s little doubt she can do that — if this song had anyone else’s name attached, it would certainly flounder.
Score: 6/10
Sebastian: “Heart of Gold” is metaphorically oozing with almost every figurative language invented. Sure, it’s yet another MESC track with lyrics that make you scratch your head, but Brooke sells every single word with believability. The song’s radio-friendly sound avoids seeming vapid or shallow through its simple, yet empowering message which is all too timely for women today. “Heart of Gold” is truly 24 karat goodness.
Score: 9/10
William: Brooke Borg is an artist best enjoyed live. But even here the harmonies come through loud and clear and full of punch. “Heart of Gold” is light, breezy and full of light — it lifts my mood so much that I can overlook the cringe and confusing lyric, “You’re a pack of wolves with a heart of gold”. We know she can deliver live. Now own that stage and close the deal!
Score: 8/10
In our Malta Wiwi Jury, we have 17 jurors but only room for 6 reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:
Angus: 8/10
Antranig: 10/10
Jonathan: 8.5/10
Luis: 6.5/10
Barnabas: 7/10
Bernardo: 7/10
Rezo: 9/10
Josh: 8/10
Jordi: 6.5/10
Lukas: 8.5/10
Patrick: 7.5/10
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 6 and a high of 10.
WIWI JURY VERDICT: 7.60/10
Some of the Wiwi Jury really do have hearts of gold, as Brooke replaces Christabelle at the top of the Jury rankings (so far). What do you think of Brooke’s chances at MESC 2018? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The more I hear it the more I like it. Not the WOW song from Malta, but it’s fresh and it has potential.
7/10
“That shirt won’t get you laid tonight” = best ESC lyrics ever <3
Queen of rejection.
There is a wonderful irony about this song. Its Chorus sounds like a TV advertisement soundtrack for a beauty product. However, its actual message is about anti-consumerism! It’s like getting one of the most beautiful and consumer-friendly looking people in the country (Brooke) to sing a charming song to a pack of ugly wolves. I’m waiting for her to get eaten alive. The music is catchy, the structure is okay. The lyrics are questionable. A wrecking ball wrecks, it doesn’t punch – a bit like this song.
Extra points for irony though, and a good production. 8/10
Guys I went on Brooke’s public spotify profile where she has a playlist called ‘songwriting inspo’ with 16 songs and one of them is Wiktoria’s as i lay me down, some obvious inspiration there hahaha it’s still the best of the selection and a good song 🙂
I don’t like it. It’s a washed-up version of Unstoppable, which was already a weaker version of Golden. Brooke seems to be a one trick pony (empowerment dance anthem to the masses) and by now, any creativity is gone and all that is left is utter genericness. The lyrics are just horrible as well. “Pack of wolves with a heart of gold”??? I am also annoyed by this song shoving down our throates it’s smug anti-consumeristic message, while being very glamorous and most certainly, expensive. Just for the fact that it’s production-wise a coherent entry and that Brooke has charisma… Read more »
It gets better but on the first listen, it really is tragic. Since Brooke has struggled with much better songs in MESC previously, I would be surprised if she made the breakthrough with this one.
I’m sorry, this song is like a million bad dance songs I’ve heard before! And I don’t want to hear them anymore! The high marks are for the singer, not the song, let’s be honest.
And I can’t get over the lyrics, they are incredibly bad!!! Polegend Godgarina put it perfectly – I wish I didn’t understand English at all!
I mean, it lowkey bops but it’s As I Lay Me Down’s ugly sister + it makes me wish I didn’t understand English with those tragic lyrics.
What?? That rating is a bit too high!!
The chorus is really strong!! The verses are utter gibberish… The song plods along nicely though. Needs a lyrical adjustment at least.
A 6.5/10
I’d give her a 3.0, and that’s being generous.
I think the scores reflect only on the Maltese songs. Judging like for like in the Maltese selection. The better songs of the selection would get a higher score.
I would personally give it a impressive 8/10 judging on what the rest are offering in this selection.
The only song which deserves to go to Lisbon is song for dad!!
Love this song, Third time lucky it seems for Brooke<3
This is quite good, but I don’t think it’s a Eurovision winner. I generally like the message, but it’s true, the lyrics are a bit weird.
Sis it’s not even a qualifier but that’s the case with everything in Malta’s selection.
Wow that’s a high mark ! I mean this is higher than Kerli’s Spirit Animal and BQL Heart of Gold, I mean WHAT?!?
I can’t believe how many points you’re giving to the Maltese Songs…There is ONE song in the selection I would give more than 6 Points and that song is ”Song for dad”. Another 5.5/10 for me… I’m sorry, it’s just not really good.
You guys are overrating all of these trashy pop songs in MESC. Too much songs with 7 in your MESC rank, when it’s obvious they don’t have the quality needed to qualify.