The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — wraps up our look at the six entries competing in the UK’s Eurovision: You Decide. Finally we turn to the soul diva Kerrie-Anne with her house-infused version of “Sweet Lies”. Did it get us moving? Read on to find out!
Kerrie-Anne – “Sweet Lies”
“Sweet Lies” reviews
Angus: In our interview with her, Kerrie-Anne says “Sweet Lies” is about blissful ignorance and once you understand that message, you can give yourself over to reckless gay abandon that comes across thick and heavy throughout the song. This is not a clinical slice of clubpop, this is a banger with a capital B, and one that would fit well on stage in clubland capital of Israel, Tel Aviv. Sometimes dance songs are a disguise for bad vocals but Kerrie-Anne can sing. In a ballad heavy-field, this is a triumphant up tempo track that stands out from the pack.
Score: 8/10
Barnabas: Based on the studio version, Kerrie-Anne has got one of the best voices in this year’s You Decide, however, it doesn’t really elevate the flat early 2000’s disco track “Sweet Lies” is. It literally screams for a revamp, but since it’s the only uptempo track this year, it could stand out.
Score: 5.5/10
Jonathan: Kerrie-Anne’s “Sweet Lies” would be the riskiest choice and the hardest song to stage convincingly in Tel Aviv. However, the reason the UK has languished at the bottom of the leader board for so many years is because we tend to play it too safe and don’t take any risks at all (most other countries wouldn’t make it out of the semi-finals with songs like those). If Kerrie-Anne can bring the vocals we know she has and combine that with an engaging stage performance, she has the potential to offer a Sigala-inspired entry that the entirety of the UK can dance along too and be proud of. And perhaps most importantly, it’s the only song in the selection I would consider streaming after Eurovision 2019 is over.
Score: 7/10
Kristin: Oh, thank heavens for this banger! Whilst Anisa’s version of “Sweet Lies” was dull and dreary, this one is such a breath of fresh air. Kerrie-Anne gives the song life and one can’t help but dance along. If the UK wants to make their mark at Eurovision 2019, Kerrie-Anne is definitely their go-to girl. The dance version of “Sweet Lies” is by far the strongest contender this year.
Score: 8.5/10
Lucy: Banger alert! This is uplifting and fun, and it will certainly go down well at the Euro Club… but we’ve had far better danceable tracks in You Decide in previous years: this is no “Legends”. It reminds me too much of Booty Luv’s 2007 hit “Boogie 2Nite”… and therein lies the problem. 2007. Twelve years ago this would’ve smashed it, in 2019 not so much. Kerrie-Anne is fabulous but I just don’t see this doing well in Tel Aviv at all.
Score: 6.5/10
Robyn: Kerrie-Anne’s version of “Sweet Lies” is the entry with the most energy and thrills. It has a lush ’90s deep house sound, but with that comes the feeling that it might be better suited as a random club track, rather than as a Eurovision entry. It’s all going to come down to the live performance. You Decide audiences have previously favoured female singers who can bring an emotional intensity to their performance — this version of “Sweet Lies” may not lend itself to that.
Score: 7/10
In our Eurovision: You Decide Wiwi Jury, we have 12 jurors but only room for 6 reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:
| Antranig: 5.5/10
Chris: 7/10 Julian: 8/10 |
Luis: 7/10
Pablo: 8.5/10 William: 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 5.5 and a high of 8.5.
Garbage and will be in the bottom 3 if selected.
“Sweet Lies” is definitely the “Sing it Away” of 2019!
This is definitely the “Sing it Away” of 2019!!
Yep- a total flop.
My personal final ranking after all 6 reviews:
6. Anisa – Sweet Lies – 6.0/10
5. Jordan Clarke – Freaks – 6.0/10
4. Michael Rice – Bigger Than Us – 7.0/10
3. Kerrie-Ann – Sweet Lies – 7.5/10
2. Holly Tandy – Bigger Than Us – 8.0/10
1. MAID – Freaks – 8.5/10
This should go to ESC without a doubt! I know the first live won’t be perfect but I’m sure the UK team can improve on it prior to ESC. Fingers crossed!!
Guys, this is not a 7,2…. this is just old and weak. Theres like 7 or 8 songs in Eesti Laul better than this. And that isn‘t even a compliment to Eesti Laul.
7,2!!?!? So this is pretty much by far the best song of the Eurovision preselection for wiwibloggs? U r so out of this world and can’t be taken seriously anymore… This song deserve 5,0 at most…
The reason I like this version of the song so much is that it recallls one of my favourite music eras. I was a child when Black Box’s “Ride on time” was released in 1989. It was one of my first ever cassette singles. (Yes, cassettes, remember those?) Good memories, and this is what Kerrie-Anne’s “Sweet Lies” gives back to me. Should it represent the UK in 2019? Well, that is the question.
Spot on. Great voice she had. 🙂
So you’re definitely not Ken Bruce 😛
7.2 is way too high.
The BBC is satisfied with whatever they can dig out of Lise Cabble’s trash bin. 4/10
I always thought, Ralph Siegel was worse…
Yet Ralph Siegel co-wrote the 1982 Eurovision-winning song. And it is so beautiful.
vote for Kerrie-Anne sweet lies, if we select one more average basic performer, with a bland song, we can say hello to 24th place again cause that’s were we are heading, Kerrie-Anne has a real chance of doing well and leaving a mark on Europe where they will vote for her. Please lets go for change, we could be the dark horse this year.
Vote Kerrie-Anne
Just to clear this up, you guys gave this song a 7.2? Out of the 24 Eesti Laul songs, didn’t you only give one of them (Victor Crone) a higher rating than that? Oh dear…
This song is still not jumping out at me for a competitive entry into a song contest.
Yes you can dance to it, but just stick a Sigala track on instead!
I much prefer the other version
I can’t see how this can be staged either without being the typical over 40’s disco diva singing a 90s club song. They could always set the promo video at a Butlins lol
I think this is trash.
wow this song definitely doesn’t deserve a 5.5 that’s pushing it a little , cause if shes goes to Israel, Kerrie-Anne could potentially bring us our best result since Lucie 2 years ago, or be a contender if staged and revamped well, we’ve gone too safe for how long now and need to be way riskier if we don’t want to be bottom yet again, cause any other song we may be lucky to get 22nd place this time.
I wouldn’t call the UK entry from 2017 exactly safe per se because there was a lot of thought put into maximizing its potential as a competitive entry, from revamping it l, to creating intimate staging , both of which they have managed to pull off and gave the country its first top 10 jury placement in years.
No I use the word safe just because of the fact we’ve sent so many ballads throughout the years in 2009,2012,2013, and Lucie 2017 and they all apart from Jade and Lucie got mediocre results, so that’s why I thought going to ballads would be way to basic and simple and get lost by so many countries hense why Lucie like you said got in the top 10 with the jury, but only managed 12 points with the tele vote, cause it must of been quite forgettable for countries not to vote for us. but Kerrie-Anne is the first entry… Read more »
Overrated, very overrated. You know this isn’t a 7.2. It’s dated and predictable.
antranig giving this a 5.5 is the real shocker
I kinda like it !
In the video, William and Deban didn’t like it, saying is dated. Where is Deban score (I know, is room for only 12 jurors). Overrated.
While this one might be the most enjoyable of the generic bunch, it’s still very bad. In general, you are being way too nice with these crappy songs.
Best song <3
I think it’s Michael vs Kerrie Anne at this point, with Holly being a potential spoiler if she can pip Michael in the first round (though I don’t see this happening). Michael will be the safe choice with the X factor-esque song who will no doubt deliver an excellent vocal, and if Kerrie Anne manages to deliver some quality staging and a competent vocal she will give him a run for his money. I think she has the potential to win, but considering she falls into the same category as others (Bianca & Asanda) it will be difficult for her… Read more »
Oh, Ukraine! The song at Maruv is a bomb! Sireng Song- winner!!!!!!
Really worried about the live vocal here. Big jump from her level of experience to being potentially on the ESC stage. Wouldn’t stand a chance in any other NF so there is a really big chance that this could happen.
Kerrie-Anne: Sweet Lies – Certainly the best choice UK has! It’s catchy, fun and Kerrie-Anne’s personality makes it even better! It’s not dated, it’s a throwback – The difference is in the quality. Sure, when you compare it to some of the gems from some other selections, it’s flaws (like repetitiveness), may come out, but in the context of You Decide, this is the way to go. – 7/10
One of the best in the UK selection but the live show will be its make it-or-break it moment because this needs to be staged well and bee vocally strong so it could avoid the fate of both “Freedom Hearts” and “Legends”.
The best by far. I really hope we choose this!
By FAR the best song in You: Decide, but given how they butchered Asanda and Olivia Garciamakes me think that they won’t sellect Kerrie- Anne but Michael Rice with his boring song, but I still hope for the best.