Twenty artists are vying to represent Armenia at Eurovision 2018. The national final Depi Evratesil 2018 is warming up, as the Wiwi Jury —our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — nears the halfway point. Today, the Wiwi Jury toured the streets of Yerevan, stopping by the historic Yerevan Opera Theatre to listen to two more Eurovision hopefuls. Did today’s artists impress the Wiwi Jury?

Kamil Show — “Puerto Rico”

“Puerto Rico” reviews

Antranig: Kamil has personality and attitude for days. That makes up for everything that Kamil lacks in terms of vocal talent or singing experience. “Puerto Rico” straddles the line between being an enjoyable joke entry and being a serious contender. Whether you consider it to be a joke or not, this is one of the best entries in the Armenian selection. Everything about “Puerto Rico” is un-Armenian as a Eurovision entry and that might be the best reason to send it and deviate from the trend.

Score: 9/10

Jonathan: This is pure fun. While certainly a joke entry, the vocals of Kamil’s mystery featured artist pull this back from crossing the line of lunacy. In the end, there is a very catchy and upbeat song at the centre of it all. For Armenia, a country with questionable LGBT rights, to send a drag queen to Eurovision, however jokey, would be a bold statement. Am I wary that Europe would revert to the 2000s plea of “Eurovision is a joke” if it goes? Yes. But am I glad this is in the national selection? Absolutely – it’s heading straight for my 2018 NF favourites playlist!

Score: 8.5/10

Luis: OK, if there’s going to be a song with trashy lyrics in Spanish in Eurovision this year, it needs to be this one. You may laugh, but Kamil’s enunciation is actually the best one in the pool of cheap Latin-inspired songs this year. This is fun, and I’d probably be backing this if Armenia didn’t have better options. Sadly, there is good material in this Depi Evratesil.

Score: 7/10

Bernardo: Cheap to its core, “Puerto Rico” is — without a doubt — the best joke act of the entire season and I need to give credit for the well-produced backing track and how funny Kamil is. Hopefully it won’t win, but it’s a good addition to the line up of Depi Evratesil.

Score: 6/10

Robyn: Once you get past the blood-curdling cry that opens the song, there’s a fairly decent dance track lurking at its heart. And this one is totally owning any comparisons to “Despacito”, complete with the mystery female vocalist taking the Luis Fonsi part and the fabulous Kamil being, er, an Armenian Danny Yankee. There is chaos and greatness and it will be amazing on stage. If Armenia is feeling cheeky, this could end up in Lisbon.

Score: 7/10

Deban: Insanity on acid! This “Puerto Rico” boasts a poverty of ideas and execution. The tropical sound here conjures an ugly nostalgia, and overall, despite the humorous leanings of this act, it is just bad!

Score: 1/10

In our Depi Evratesil Wiwi Jury, we have 16 jurors but only room for 6 reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:

Barnabas: 1/10

Bogdan: 1.5/10

Chris: 8/10

Cinan: 5/10

Edd: 8.5/10

Erdi: 6/10

Lukas: 8/10

Natalie: 2/10

Rezo: 9/10

Sebastian: 8.5/10

 

 

 

 

 

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 1 and a high of 9.

Wiwi Jury Verdict: 6.14/10

Maria’s Secret — “Escape”

“Escape” reviews

Chris: Perhaps something of an underdog in this contest, Maria’s Secret brings something different for Armenia that could be a good gamble. There are a few pronunciation issues in the song that need ironing out — and live, that’s likely going to get worse before it gets better. “Escape” is well crafted though, and the rap stays true to Maria’s style, and also works for the song.

Score: 6/10

Robyn: If there’s any song that has huge potential to do magic in the live shows, it’s “Escape”. Despite the slow start, the song builds and delivers a really decent chorus. The momentum continues and Maria treats us to a cool rap in the middle. Like “Origo”, the switch to rap seems best for the lyrics and doesn’t feel out of place. There aren’t many R&B divas who can also do their own guest rap!

Score: 7/10

Bogdan: I don’t understand half the lyrics in this song, and that doesn’t bode well for its chances. Moreover, the music itself is all over the place, as if the songwriter couldn’t decide if they wanted to pen a power ballad or an R&B track. Oh, and to top it off, and the rapping is sub-par. It’s a no for me.

Score: 3.5/10

Cinan: “Escape” is a very interesting song. I do really like it, especially the rap part — it’s so good. I would love to see the song competing in Lisbon. It is absolutely different from the other songs in the selection. I can’t wait to see the live version and I hope she does well.

Score: 8.5/10

Natalie: Maria’s Secret is well-named — it’s impossible to tell what genre she’s going for next. There’s definitely some power and talent here, just no direction. I appreciate the effort and the many layers at work here. The chorus is a high point, when it does deliver, albeit in a messy sort of way. It’s just that this feels like an entire album trapped in a song, and it doesn’t really amount to anything.

Score: 4.5/10

Edd: Whilst there are many mid-tempo R&B pop songs in this selection, Maria’s Secret certainly sells her entry the best. It may lack a catchy melody and an exciting production, but the song and the artist, refreshingly, match absolutely perfectly. The one standout moment for the song is the rap, where she is killing it with swagger!

Score: 5/10

In our Depi Evratesil Wiwi Jury, we have 16 jurors but only room for 6 reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:

Antranig: 8/10

Barnabas: 4/10

Bernardo: 6.5/10

Deban: 4/10

Erdi: 7/10

Jonathan: 6.5/10

Luis: 7/10

Lukas: 8.5/10

Rezo: 8/10

Sebastian: 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 3.5 and a high of 8.5.

Wiwi Jury Verdict: 6.36/10

Click here to follow all our Armenia Eurovision news

22 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

“Puerto Rico”: Definitely a song with great energy. It feels messy at times. However, not the kind of songs I like. 3/10

“Escape”: I like the voice, not a fan of the song. It’s just ok. 5/10

Mike Soto
Mike Soto
6 years ago

Does Puerto Rico really equal See You in Yerevan?

Ron
Ron
6 years ago

Is anybody else just super confused by Deban’s review? “Insanity on acid! This “Puerto Rico” boasts a poverty of ideas and execution. The tropical sound here conjures an ugly nostalgia, and overall, despite the humorous leanings of this act, it is just bad!”

Like what? Poverty of ideas? Ugly nostalgia? Hah??

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Ron

He’s was trying to keep it cute but it’s clear he thinks it’s crap and that’s what it is.

Ron
Ron
6 years ago

Puerto Rico attempts to be a light-hearted, fun entry. It’s not trying to be anything but fun sounding song that will be playing in local clubs and in eurovillage. And it does that perfectly. I actually find myself enjoying listening to this song while at the gym or in my car. This is my third favorite entry in DE behind Asmik and Tamar. 8.5/10 Escape is actually really good song and it would be a perfect non-single track in an album but that’s where things end for this song. In a sea of 42 other songs, there is nothing memorable… Read more »

Hello Europe! Manila calling ????
Hello Europe! Manila calling ????
6 years ago
Reply to  Ron

Whoever represents Armenia with your top 4, I’m with it. 😉

Besides, Kamil Show’s “Puerto Rico” isn’t boring after all. Honest review here.

Michael
Michael
6 years ago

The thing about Kamill is that the act is mocking people who would stereotypically like the song. Kamill isn’t a Conchita, who happens to be a very good singer and came out with a solid ballad that was trying to be empowering, he’s just singing a terrible dance song and exaggerating their traits. Sort of like Verka Serduchka, except that song at least had a catchy beat. Puerto Rico has one of the cheapest bargain-bin Latin beats and the backing singer who actually has talent makes me think that the writers had no confidence in the song without a drag… Read more »

Zach
Zach
6 years ago

I still think Puerto Rico is about the third best song in that competition even if it is a joke entry. It’s really catchy.

Escape, uh…would’ve been stronger if it actually fixed on a genre and wasn’t just a boring ballad with a rap bridge. Rap has done well in the ESC before, too.

Laburnum
Laburnum
6 years ago

Kamil is the best for me and I have no shame in saying it

Zolipop
Zolipop
6 years ago

Everything is a Despacito nowadays, eh? I found like zero similarities and somewhy the first country that pops to my head hearing it (the chorus, exactly) was Japan. Am I the only one?

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Why is that song about Puerto Rico sang with a Spanish accent? Other than that, it’s pure trash and not even funny.

Safiya
Safiya
6 years ago

Honestly I would like Kamil to win this! We need more quality joke entries! This song is funny and enjoayble and the backing vocalist actually has beautiful voice. I’m looking forward to seeing their live performance!

UnOrdinary American
UnOrdinary American
6 years ago

My family in Puerto Rico would probably hate Kamil’s song if they could hear it, but they still don’t have electricity and spotty cell service. Maybe that’s for the better. Despacito this ain’t.
Zero start Yelp review.

esc freak
esc freak
6 years ago

“Puerto Rico” would be enjoyable without the random shouting from Kamil. Should not win.
“Escape” is actually really good and original. My second favourite.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

Puerto Rico: No. Somewhere like Moldova, Iceland or Malta should enter something like this to spare us from a mediocre attempt at a credible song and actually have some fun. This should not be Armenia’s entry.

Escape: Actually do not mind the rap. This would be a good choice elsewhere but Armenia has better choices. I like the style and this is something that Armenia should revisit in leaner years.

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

I’m with Deban. “Puerto Rico” tries to be funny, but it just bad and annoying.

1/10

Mony
Mony
6 years ago

Kamil Show is the joke entry not of Armenia, of the year!

Avat
Avat
6 years ago

I’m sure Kamil Show is the cover of local pop diva Lilit Hovhannisyan who is going to be the biggest surprise of the national selection and on the opening I recognise Mariam Merabova’s voice (ESC backvocalist of Dima Bilan, Ani Lorak) . One thing is clear Kamil does the best promotion among other contestants ( trolling other contestants, making people think that her song corresponds to ESC most of all and she is most spoken personage of the selection because of hate and bashes of ultra conservativ groups) and it seems she has the sponsorship of major local IT-betting company… Read more »

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

Ah !! Same positions for me!
What’s your top 2 Antranig?

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

Both songs are so hugely underrated by you guys!
Puerto Rico: deban needs some better earphones cause the melody of the song is really good ….despite the fact that they are disguising it as a joke act its so catchy and fun. Really like it 9/10

Escape: the song is essentially 2 min 20 seconds only and it wants me leaving so much more. Female rap is a rarity in ESC and this is actually done well and sounds current. She would have been contesting for the win had she gotten a bigger name in Armenia.
An 8.5/10