The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — continues to rate and review the 41 competing entries of Eurovision 2019. Next we take a look at Finland‘s DJ/producer Darude and vocalist Sebastian Rejman with their entry “Look Away”. Did the song make us want to look in their direction? Read on to find out!
Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman – “Look Away”
“Look Away” reviews
Kristin: For us ’90s kids, Darude entering Eurovision was like a dream come true! Although “Look Away” is not quite as powerful as “Sandstorm”, it is a pretty damn enjoyable song nonetheless. It has that undeniable Darude sound, whilst being approachable for those who might not be all that into late ’90s heavy techno music. But it’s Sebastian’s silky smooth voice that brings the song all the way home. I’m super happy with Finland this year. More of this, please!
Score: 8.5/10
Angus: Throwing spaghetti at the wall at a national final is cute, but at Eurovision you’ve got to serve up the perfect plate of pasta if you want to qualify. And at the national final, “Look Away” was a decidedly overcooked production. The dated DJ booth, LED box and OTT hand-gesture-based-choreography did not make for a palatable plate at the end of broadcast. But Finland has all the ingredients for a delicious dish come semi-final time. Sebastian has leading-man looks and a virtuoso vocal. Darude has star power. And “Look Away” is a delectable slice of dance music. The performance is what needs works and will make the difference in May.
Score: 6/10
Antony: Dance music can often be described as disposable, but this one ain’t one of them! There’s emotion and meaning in the lyrics and it’s impactful and deep. Sebastian really conveys the message well with his vocals and choreography. Pair this with exceptional staging seen in the national final, and this should be a guaranteed qualifier for the grand final. Shivers down my spine, guys!
Score: 8/10
Robyn: Regardless of what is on Darude’s CV, his Eurovision entry needs to stand on its own. “Look Away” is a catchy EDM track with a great energy to it, but the UMK performance didn’t quite deliver. In the national final, Sebastian seemed to have vocal troubles, but that could be down to having previously done two other big performances in the same show. There’s potential for a big EDM moment with a message at Eurovision, but it will be essential to get all the pieces working, with clearer staging and stronger vocals.
Score: 6/10
Deban: Sebastian Rejman’s emotional rendition works well over a ’90s dance beat. “Look Away” is Darude updated for 2019. Expectations were high and this partnership delivers. That said, it could slay higher with more energy and a vocal boost.
Score: 7/10
Pablo: This is an EDM hit, so naturally I’m all over it, but this feels… unfinished. When we were advertised Darude, we all imagined a big club-floor banger, which “Look Away” does accomplish, but it just doesn’t grip fully. This kind of song may not be the best vessel for Sebastian’s message either, with the lyrics feeling repetitive and muddled as the song ends. Finland may want to really bank on the dance banger part of their song, else they could be in trouble.
Score: 6/10
In the Wiwi Jury we have 29 jurors but only have room for six reviews. The remaining scores are below:
| Anthony: 7/10
Antranig: 8.5/10 Barnabas: 5/10 Bernardo: 4/10 Calvin: 3/10 Chris: 5.5/10 Essi: 5/10 Florian: 4.5/10 Izhar: 4.5/10 Jack: 5/10 Jonathan: 5.5/10 Josh: 8/10 |
Julian: 5/10
Lucy: 3/10 Luis: 6.5/10 Lukas: 6/10 Mikhail: 2.5/10 Oliver: 6/10 Renske: 7.5/10 Ron: 8/10 Sebastian: 5/10 Tobias: 3.5/10 William: 7/10 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 2.5 and a high of 8.5.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 5.78/10
What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!
I think it’s nice that Finland are bringing some EDM this year because YAYYY DIVERSITY ! But as far as I’m concerned this song is very very VERY middle-of-the-road. I don’t know, it has a very respectable message, but it doesn’t have any kind of particular effect. Also it sounds like the second half of the song is exactly the same as the first one but with two different lines, and it does end up being a bit repetitive. A 5.5/10 for me.
Nice to see that Finland always risks and chooses different kind of genres and singers….
Much better than a bunch of countries that always select the same boring screaming women….
The thing I love most about the London Eurovision Party is it completely proves those who scored this at 3.5 WRONG!
Assuming they’ll keep and improve the staging, it can become a strong global warming alert and find an audience beyond EDM fans. In UMK the whole thing lacked some urgency. They’ll have bigger screens to show better images, which will help. But since Darude and Sebastian aren’t really that charismatic, I would focus on the dancer’s face and body language. Nothing much to say about the song, which is only OK, quite basic. Sebastian’s vocals have been disappointing so far, but I still don’t know if the sound mixing is the one to blame. 4.5/10
To be fair, the Finnish broadcaster YLE has had a tendency to constantly have problems with the sound mixing on events like this. The same problem was present last year during Saara Aaltos performances in the national final.
It’s true. Also, sometimes EDM tracks “bury” the vocals, since they’re made to the dance floor, not to a contest with live performances.
Indeed. Many thought he should have gone to ESC 2013 instead of Krista. And his song and stage setup for 2016 would surely have qualified; but instead they sent Sandhja, and I knew they were dead on arrival.
My 3rd place! Good message, strong melody, fantastic staging (!) and Sebastian’s emotions/ male vulnerability (finally on stage!). 9.5/10
Why is all comments on wiwibloggs so aggressive and disrespectful? I don’t like when all hbtq youtubers hate on Finland for example. Just because you are special sexuality
You can change your name, but your profile pic stays the same, so we see it’s you making all those comments. And you’re a bigot.
You misunderstood. I don’t change my username lol. There are another guy with a tomato too. His name is tomatinho or something.
I think that everybody have right have their own sexuality. ESC is open for everybody.
Yes, and the 3rd person with that picture is called Gorry and the 4th Sofia (see down below). 4 persons with the same picture in one article would be new to me and I am commenting here for a long time now. You are one person changing names!
Nobody in Finland remember/know that guy. He is not famous in Finland. Still many ESC fans know him
So shocked that you don’t have heard Sandstorm.
Possibly my favorite out of all the bunch. Yes, the repeating part of ‘Look Away’ can be tedious, but it also kinda adds the sense of a build up before the drop reached it’s climax. If you listen to the instrumental, it kinda has that feel of euphoria and that kind of nighttime vibe, perfect for Tomorrowland or UMF. Really, Darude manage to deliver a perfect that vibe perfectly, which is something I don’t expect. I really this will do well in ESC (10/10)
Theres something in the air at night
Is it in my head-ee- ead
Am i the only one
Is he gonna like it (oops belarus sorry)
I didn’t mind this or Release Me winning this year, both are ok. There’s nothing special about this entry but again it’s definitely not the worst this year. The NF staging was really cool and it being Darude will definitely in my opinion give this song a few extra points. Not sure if this is a qualifier for me so i’d give this a 5.5/10.
It sounds very late 90s/early 2000s. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because I love dance music from that era. But this isn’t a very strong song, mostly because of Sebastian’s vocals. A different singer would make this song a lot better. 5.5/10
Don’t hate his vocals, he can read this. And he has good vocals, atleast in the studio version
Whatever these jurors are smoking, I want some of it… Finland’s entry this year is not very good at all, and this is coming from someone who is usually a fan of this type of music. There’s a reason he’s a one hit wonder and there’s a reason he scored it last century. Sorry Finland 🙁
Haha lol “One hit wonder”
He has many famous songs, “feel the beat” “look away” “sandstorm”
I didn’t like “Sandstorm” specially, but I was expecting something better than “Look Away” (or than the other two). This is just weak, not horrible, but weak and non-competitive. Sebastian’s vocals are interesting, but the low-pitched voice in the verses makes it almost impossible to understand or even hear what he is singing. The staging is just a non-sense and they said they are going to keep it. I’m afraid Finland is not qualifying this year. Finland is the 28th in my top. 13. Armenia (7) 14. Austria (7) 24. Latvia (6) 28. FINLAND (6) 29. Serbia (6) 32. Poland… Read more »
I often forget Finland participates this year, which is sad because they have the iconic Darude. Sebastion does him no justice tho, his vocals are quite weak in this already not that interesting song. This one is quite harmless in the contest, which is not something you want, especially when you are going to perform 3rd in the semi… I do not see this qualifying.
5.5/10
It’s dated and cheesy, but still enjoyable. Not gonna do amazing in the contest tho.
5.0/10
I expected better when I heard that the iconic Darude was going to the Tel Aviv, however when I heard the song I couldn’t help but be disappointed. It’s a flop instead of a bop. It is clear to see that Darude’s success was in the early 00s. He’s had his time. The song is dated and cheesy.
I think YLE took the Nicky Byrne route and went for artist over song, and hoped that the artist alone would ensure success because they had fame a few years ago. Sorry Finland. Must try harder. 4/10
Most of you know the drill: No negativity allowed for me. Just a “thank you for your efforts” note along with a gift card, and the prepared feedback of: “This entry is not to my taste, but best of luck.”
The major positive about this entry is the moral message it sends to people about ignoring injustices. According to Darude, it was written after having visited India. But when I hear the song, I prefer to think of this year’s ESC sponsor. There’s “something going on” indeed; if only the singer would let us know what it is more clearly.
Yeeeees, Purple Mask is back. Have you heard that ENDI will dance for Croatia?
Yes, of course. I adore him. But ENDI has nothing to do with persuading me on this issue.
The fact is that I am breaking my principles by continuing to support the ESC this year. This hurts me. However, that is “my problem”, not this blog’s. For my problems to impact this blog does seem a bit unfair to you all, especially if you are in the same situation. So I stay.
Finland is always overrated by wiwibloggs
5.78? Overrated? Would have deserved more. The only classical EDM-song would deserve 7 point something.
Jealous because you are from Georgia or Mobtenegro?
No wow or unique factor. Such a meh song I skip every time.
One of the biggest disappointments this year. I mean tbh I haven’t heard of Darude before, because I’m quite young, but when I heard how talented he his, my I got hyped for him, but all for this. This song will flop – there is no way this qualifies, if Poland didn’t last year in a weaker semi with Polish diaspora, there’s zero chance this goes to the final. BUT I don’t think it’s a bad song, but it’s just there, and I can’t imagine someone actually voting for it. I think it will get even less vote than Georgia.… Read more »
Not at all zero chance. It is such a good song before weak songs like Poland and Slovenia. And after Montenegro.
Last year Finland qualified last from hardest semi in many years, why not this year too?
This year, Finland sets the limit between the “just meh” zone and the “dislike” zone within my personal ranking. The song sounds dated and rather cheap. Even back in the 90’s I wouldn’t have liked it, I guess. Even though the lyrics try to add some seriousness to the song it is unable to transmit the message as it turns out to be an infinite repeat of “look away” and “is it in my head?” It does not stand out musically nor vocally. Besides that, when Sebastian sings “how can we go to sleep at night, and lay there in… Read more »
I agree, Tibor. This is a rather weak song and probably another NQ for Finland. Also, when someone says ”this is so 2016” I imagine them being 12. Music trends need some time to change.
So right, both Tibor and Colin!
FINLAND – It has a great message, but in a wrong package. This song is too repetitive and boring to land on a receptive ear. As it’s uptempo, it doesn’t feel as dull, but any song with so little variation and so much repetition is not something I would listen to. My issue is not with the style, the assumption that it’s dated or the vocalist (although last two are not a plus either), but the mere fact that it’s equally paced throughout. Now, I know that the repeated phrase in the chorus is supposed to strengthen the impact, but… Read more »
They are both kind of monotone, but I did put Latvia a spot higher for conveying the feel of it’s message better. (The order in which they are presented next to the rating is also an order of my list) 🙂
it isn’t boring, if this doesn’t qualify nothing from finland deserves to qualify for me anymore
Your very first sentence really sums it up. I expected better from Darude.
The biggest problem here is Sandstorm.
People hear Darude and the first thing that comes in their mind is Sandstorm. I believe if it wasn‘t Darude or any other DJ of his reputation, people would look at it from a different sight.
Look Away is decent, I do really like it, yet it‘s far from being a winner. Staging will lift this up for sure and I hope, that Sebastian is able to improve his vocals.
he was asked but he said no, many finnish artists got asked and they or their managers said no
mikael would’ve been in my personal bottom 3, since his music (and most indie music) isn’t my cup of tea
At one point Its was mine nr 1 but after a while it kinda get boring/the same and at EIC it was for me underwelming.
Jesus Christ, 5,78 is FAR too generous.
It wouldn’t have been a fresh tune even in the 90’s.
2/10.
so disrespectful youth of these days, who are only obsessed with their mainstream indie music trash 🙁
this song is a good EDM bop, and Darude has been a role model for current dj’s of today, same as Tiesto in our country Netherlands is a role model
I wish you had something else to do in life than being the most annoying dutch person ever.(with a very questionable taste in music as well)
A decent song with a chorus that keeps looping and a singer whose live vocals are worse than Yianna Terzi , so this is not a good omen. A 4.5/10. Bad running order reduces a point . Lack of support from dias hipora reduces another point. I’d assess for it to have a 25% chance at qualification.
Diashipora , i like that word
the wiwi jury is especially generous this year ! i don’t dislike this song but it’s atrociously dated and incompatible with the current music market. it doesn’t really have any redeeming qualities. good lyrics ? nope. good vocals ? nah. catchy enough to make us forget bout bad lyrics n vocals ? nuh-uh. issa 3/10 for me. plus, i feel like all three darude songs would’ve worked 100x better with a female vocalist, sebastian is unable to stand out in darude’s heavy production.
Is it bad that I really love this?
Again, it might be an age thing but this is just fantastic to me.
same, i also like it
youth want bops, yet they criticize EDM genre which has only boppy music
this performing after the hopeless Montenegro i can see them having a chance to stand out, and like you and me, there are others more who like EDM, and not to forget Darude’s fanbase hopefully will make finland qualify too, finnish people don’t believe in it, well i do