Time to find our winner.
We’ve journeyed the length and breadth of Europe in the countdown of Team Wiwi’s top songs from this year’s national final season. Now we have our Top 10 of songs.
And you’ll notice it has been a strong year for the ladies. The entire top ten are female artists.
Team Wiwi’s Top NF Songs of ESC 2020 (10-1)
10. Elodie – “Andromeda” (Sanremo)
If you’ve followed the ranking from 30-11, you may be scratching your head here. But due to an oversight, Italy’s Pinguini Tattici Nucleari were omitted from the ranking at Number 30. That means all the acts originally listed as 30-11 move up a spot. Which means Italy’s Elodie actually finished in tenth place.
We often talk about on stage “moments” and Elodie had one of this season’s best. The confidence, cool and swagger she brought to stage was intoxicating. And “Andromeda” remains an incredible anthem. Another example of the supreme quality Sanremo brings year in, year out.
9. Eden Alene – “Roots” (HaShir HaBa L’Eurovizion)
Israel’s brought its A-game to national final season this year. Eden Alene proved her talent in The Next Star, but her performances at the national final showed her potential as an artist.
“Roots” was a favourite with many fans. Upbeat, ethnic, mysterious and built with a Eurovision-ready chorus hook. The live performance took the song to another level, showed off Eden’s abilities as a dancer and a performance that was Eurovision-ready. It won with the juries, but found itself overwhelmed in the televote by “Feker Libi”.
8. Moniqué – “Make Me Human” (Pabandom iš naujo!)
Lithuania’s Moniqué made an impact with a capital I. “Make Me Human” was symptomatic of a broader overhaul of Lithuania’s national final.
It was a quality slice of emotional pop that resonated with people. Paired with a compelling artpop performance and even more compelling performer, “Make Me Human” might have gone all the way in another year. At the end of voting it fell four points short of the win, but this is a performance that will stay with fans for a while.
7. Eden Alene – “Rakata” (HaShir HaBa L’Eurovizion)
Picking a winner in Israel this year was hard.
With only four songs to pick from, it should have been easier. But the quality of the songs didn’t make things easy. “Rakata” took the typical Israeli Eurovision blueprint – ethnic dancepop track – and elevated it to new heights. The horn effects took us to the streets, it gave Eden chance to show off artistic edge, and built to a huge climax.
6. Roxen – “Cherry Red” (Selecția Națională 2020)
“Cherry Red” pulsates with Latin fire.
It brings intensity, a dark moody energy, and is a sexy slice of sultry pop music.
The track shows a different side of Roxen as an artist and clearly it was a side our bloggers liked.
5. Elvana Gjata – “Me Tana” (Festivali i Këngës)
Festival i Këngës can often pass people by as the first national final of the season.
But this year it was on everyone’s agenda and “Me Tana” was a big part of that. Whether you saw it as a slice of modern ethno dancepop, or the heir to “Fuego”, it had genuine broad appeal.
And while the studio cut was super, the live performance sparkled. Elvana hit the stage like a woman on a mission, nailed her vocals and busted out the moves with her troupe of backing dancers. A very worthy addition to the Top 5.
4. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina” (Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu)
There was a point in the 2010s where it felt like schlager had died never to return.
But Erika Vikman turned that around. “Cicciolina” wasn’t mere schlager, it had a valuable message and narrative behind it.
Erika dialled things up a few thousand notches on stage with grizzly bear backing dancers, all the flames in the world, a PVC bodysuit and a trident. In the end not totally surprising international juries overlooked this, but she did win the televote and Eurofans are with her forever now.
3. Raylee – “Wild” (Melodi Grand Prix)
“People tell me I’m a fish,” isn’t the most promising opening gambit we’ve ever heard from a Eurovision song.
But the three minutes that follow in Raylee’s “Wild” are pure euphoria. The beat is infectious, the chorus sticks with you from the first time you hear it, and on stage she built this into an on point pop package.
With the same songwriting team you can understand comparisons to “Fuego”. But Raylee made this her own, complete with wild flailing ponytail.
2. Anna Bergendahl – “Kingdom Come” (Melodifestivalen)
Two years ago Anna Bergendahl was an unfortunate blemish on Sweden’s spotless Eurovision qualification record. Fast forward to 2020 and she has been reborn.
“Ashes To Ashes” eased us into the idea of Anna as a schlager Queen and she went full throttle with “Kingdom Come” in 2020.
Out with the shrubbery, in with a troupe of backing dancers and a killer fringe. “Kingdom Come” is a top piece of pop and the kind of quality you’ve come to expect from Sweden’s national final. She may not have won this year, but Anna did go direct to the final and earn a podium finish.
The country fun of “Kingdom Come” has a lot to do with that.
1. Dotter – “Bulletproof” (Melodifestivalen)
And so to our winner then.
The first Swedish press reactions to Dotter’s track weren’t encouraging. But this came alive in the course of Melodifestivalen.
Dotter has a unique vocal, which paired with this Sia-esque ethereal number and knockout staging almost took the trophy in Stockholm in March.
“Bulletproof” has a catchy hook, consistent pace and sticks in your mind from the get go. She may have missed out to The Mamas at the final hurdle, but Dotter is a winner with our bloggers in this countdown.
So there we have it. A countdown over for another year.
What was your number one of the year? Let us know in the comments below!
Sweden´s Troubled waters and Molnljus, Finland´s Cicciolina and Eternity, Norway´s One last time and Estonia´s Üks kord veel are my favorites!
seeing gabrielius and monique on almost every single list is annoying af because they actually flopped live so imagine what would have happened if they did go on eurovision finals? r?ta loop and kayra were miles above, even monika marija (this song even grew on me more that either criminal or light on from last year). monique has way more interesting songs in her back catalog so to me her campaign this year was a disappointment from the start.
I have not heard all of the national final non-winning songs, but these are my top 5, from the approximately 140 songs I have heard: 5. Maras zeme – Madara (Latvia) 4. Vamos amigos – Mendez featuring Alvaro Estrella (Sweden) 3. Over the sea – Magnus Bokn (Norway) 2. Piga & drang – Drangarna (Sweden) 1. Unbreakable – Aiste Pilvelyte (Lithuania) Before you down-vote me for my taste (or what you perceive as the lack thereof LOL), let’s appreciate the fact that even non-fan-wanked and overly-hyped songs have an audience who love and appreciate them, and let’s take a minute… Read more »
Cicciolina is my informal winner of ESC 2020
I guess I’m one of the few people who didn’t see the appeal of Kingdom Come. I’d have replaced it with Andromeda in 2nd place. I don’t know if Bulletproof is the best NF song in my mind but I get it, it’s a nice bop! But Kingdom Come? I don’t get that at all.
Great top 10?
Where is Levante?
Tikibombom is better then all the top 10..
Yes<3 Congrats to Dotter! Well deserved! 🙂
Am I the only one who pretty much loved every single song from Melodi Grand Prix this year?
Me too! Every one of my winners won the semis, and I think the final was the best this year- of even ever!
1. Achille Lauro “Me ne frego”
2. Elodie “Andromeda”
3. Throes +the shine “Movimento”
4. IVA “Oculis videre”
5. Erika Vikman “Ciciollina”
6. Jaguar Jonze “Rabbit hole”
7. Cloudless “Drown me down”
8. Junior Cally “No grazie”
9. Milan Bujosevic & Olivera Popovic “Niti”
10. Khayat – “Call for love”
Boring predictable eurotrash taste of wiwi is on full display. The actual top 10 (incl. artistic merit, message, unique style, etc.) should look like this
1 – Gerbera Amarela Do Sul (Portugal)
2 – Pich (Ukraine)
3 – Me Ne Frego (Italy)
4 – Rakata (Israel)
5 – Den Eneste Goth I Vejle (Denmark)
6 – Ringo Starr (Italy)
7 – Rabbit Hole (Australia)
8 – Eden (Italy)
9 – Raw Stuff (Australia)
10 – Black And White Holes (Czech Republic)
Honourable mention goes to the Icelandic version of “Oculis Videre” (Iceland)
Pathetic people downvoting personal opinions, grow up!
Bulletflop. What an overhyped non-event of a song.
I will never understand why anyone on Wiwi would like Kingdom Come. It’s a middle-of-the-road generic pop song, and the live performance… Let’s just say that any drunk person at your local karaoke bar can do better. And the final blow: what the f is she singing about?! English is my native language and I have no idea what she’s saying, it’s just a bunch of buzzwords that don’t mean anything.
Anyway, obviously it did not even win MelFest so Swedes still have some common sense.
Agreed, I don’t get love for “Kingdom come”
But worse fact is that Raylee is in top 3 LOL
That top three is so predictable from you guys.
*Sigh*
Guess we better get ready for Sweden to win another Ogae…
This is a thoughtful top and I can definitely respect it.
Similar to yourself, I just think the finals in Southern Europe have a much better standard of songwriting than Northern Europe so that is why most of my favourites (all of my favourites?) come from there, too!
Great choice for number 1!!!
LOL, wiwibloggs, just LOL
Far too much Melodifestivalen here… Many may not agree with me but my top 10 is: 1) ITA – Tosca – Ho amato tutto 2) ITA – Pinguini Tattici Nucleari – Ringo Starr 3) UKR – Tvorchi – Bonfire 4) AUS – iOTA – Life 5) CZE – We All Poop – All the Blood 6) ROM – Roxen – Beautiful Disaster 7) UKR – Krut’ – 99 8) SLO – Manca Berlec – Vecnost 9) POR – Kady – Diz Só 10) AUS – Jaguar Jonze – Rabbit Hole (Honorable mention for guilty pleasure: BLR – Sasha Zaharik –… Read more »
Your top ten is definitely not mine but I do appreciate your placing of Manca Berlec. It ended up being my favourite in Slovenia, too. It was a cute, sweet song.
10. Ringo Starr (Italy)
9. Den Eneste Goth I Vejle (Denmark)
8. Movimento (Portugal)
7. Tave Cia Randu (Lithuania)
6. Tsunami (Italy)
5. Eden (Italy)
4. Gerbera Amarela do Sul (Portugal)
3. Me ne frego (Italy)
2. Sincero (Italy)
1. All the Blood (Positive Song Actually) [Czech Republic]
All of your top 10 are songs I gave at least a 7/10 rating, with 2 of them also being in my top 10. 🙂
… and My Top 10 of the NF season are: 10. Barbora Mochowa: White & Black Stripes (Czech Republic) – Spiritual and atmospheric song which offered experience like no other. It would stand out and potentially do wonders. 9. Alberto Urso: El sole ad est (Italy) – Beautiful ballad which is constructed as a nod to the classic Sanremo songs. It brought me a bit back in time in a great and refined way. 8. Andy Vaic: Why Why Why (Lithuania) – Catchy and smart, it really resonated with me from the get-go. The performance might have been better, but… Read more »
I liked about half of your top ten so that’s pretty good going!
We also have two common entries which is even better going.
Top 2 really deserved! Either Dotter or Anna would have been my winner of ESC if they had been selected in Sweden 🙂
Some things are never meant to be..
its cancelled it does not matter anymore please stop
Why are you here even looking at this then, bye
I hope we see Dotter again soon.
idk what’s so special about “kingdom come” to be higher than anything else in this top 10… it’s a very regular schlager-ish song with mediocre vocals and okay performing skills. i feel like everyone still feels sorry for anna’s nq in 2010 and gives her a pass on everything. “bulletproof” getting universal acclaim, it’s what she deserves, the song is good but the performance makes it the masterpiece we know! outdated trash like ratlee’s song shouldn’t even bother this top 50.
You heard the song and trash talked Dotter for an entire week , you lost credibility in my eyes now dude
Totally agree. The final blow of Kingdom Come to me is: what the f is she singing about?! English is my native language and I have no idea what she’s saying, it’s just a bunch of buzzwords that don’t mean anything.
My Top 10 national final songs of 2020
1) Dotter – Bulletproof
2) Monique – Make Me Human
3) CHAKRAS – La-Ley-La
4) Anett x Fredi – Write About Me
5) Barbora Mochowa – White and Black Holes
6) Mia Negovetic – When it Comes to You
7) Sansa – Lover View
8) Kristin Husøy – Pray for Me
9) Miks Dukurs – I’m Falling for You
10) Helga & Isold – Meet Me Halfway
Helga and Isold – thank you! The first person I’ve seen who believes in the magic of that song! Some other great choices as well.
As for the winner: “Bulletproof” is a really good song. At first I was like “oh, whatever, it’s OK, but nothing special”. Yet I soon found out that Dotter’s entry is like a drug – I listened to it once… and again… and again, and again, and again, and so forth. By now I know the entire track by heart. It’s not the best song I’ve ever heard, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the staging, which, although creative, was also a bit distracting (like at times you couldn’t even see Dotter’s face), plus the whole “Dotterdam” hype was… Read more »
Haven’t heard all the NF songs, but I really liked the Lithuanian selection this year.
PS Andromeda slaps
Hi, guys! Do you think it would be a good idea to repeat the previous year contest on TV on the days planned for this year?
Thank you SweSwebloggs.
Erika is robbed again 🙁 Deserved 2nd place! ^^ Dotter is the rightful queen of Europe and I bet also the Eurovision winner 2020 if she would have been sent (and if there would be no cancellation xD)
Erika or Moniqué should have won this ranking.
And wtf is Raylee doing in the podium?!
Let’s be honest, the top 10 is full of fan wanks: Anna Bergendalh, Raylee, Erika Vikman, Elvana, Elodie, Monique. All of them average at best. And yeah, all of them girls. How casual huh? I’m going to get downvoted but I don’t really care. Anyway, my final NF top: 1. Gabrielius Vagelis – “Tave ?ia randu” (8) – Eurovizijos Atranka 2. We All Poop – “All the Blood (Positive Song Actually)” (8) – CZ 3. Albert ?erný – “Lucy” (8) – Eurowizija 2020 4. Roxen – “Colors” (7.75) – Selectia Nationala 5. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole” (7.25) – Australia… Read more »
It’s not a time to complain about things given the current situation around the world, but I just wish the last part of this list would be a bit more diverse. Literally every song here is a female-led pop song. Would be nice to have some variety of tastes among the wiwi team. That’s all I’m saying.
Hope everyone here stays well. 🙂
Of course that individuals among Wiwibloggers have different tastes, but general Wiwi consensus has always been leaning towards uptempo songs by female performers. I believe that vast majority of their NF winners are in that category.
Bulletproof is the best NF song ever!
Dotter is where she belongs
In the TOP!!!
THE EBU ANNOUNCED THAT THE SAME SONGS CANT COMPETE IN 2021. DISGUSTING
How so? Rules are rules and we must accept them if we’re to watch the ESC. If current songs would be allowed to compete, why cannot some big hits released since 2019 September compete as well? You’re being a hypocrite, darling. I get that some countries could have improved their scores – my country, Lithuania, for instance, but oh well. If we’re capable, we’ll repeat the success next year, what’s the problem? Deal with it.
I think complicated situations need new rules. It is a new situation which was never here before, so I cannot understand why songs have to be changed
If I were the broadcasters I would withdraw because this is not fair at all. Just because a few countries cannot cancel their national finals for 2021. Also budget could have been saved because songs and artists are ready.
If Sweden had the favorite to win this year honey, we would have a satellite contest. Period.
You do realize that people are unaware of trends next year? This year was dominated by topics such as self-acceptance, loving yourself and alike. Next year can be about envirnomental issues, peace and war and you know, the usual crap. Still it would be really strange to expect the same 40 songs to be trending in 2021 May. Thus, it means that only a small amount of entries would benefit from it, the ones with huge fandom (like Little Big). Anyways, if your country is capable to compose a good song, why does it matter that THIS specifically THIS song… Read more »
If you are capable? will you reproduce on fire 2.0 in 2021? Do you think its so easy to win? If so, why Lithuania, which i think would be the winner this year, havent won yet? Also they will somehow “honor” the songs. How? People know that eurovision is cancelled. A live stream with all the videoclips or a one hour show with the videoclips is the way to go you think? I am not a hypocrite, i care aboyt the future of contest. More than ebu does, apparently.
Bulgaria is gonna withdraw then I’m thinking.
how can they not? they came back thanks to a sponshorship, spend so much money, they were among the favorites, and ebu thinks they would be ok just with an “alternative horonable mention program” that no one apart from the hardcore fans would watch
Quite an expensive Billie Eilish copy
Next year will be so awkward. Not sure I will be able to enjoy it. I feel so bad for artists and songwriters and everybody who worked so hard
That’s a right decision. It would be strange some countries going with same artists and song and some with new ones (like Sweden or Italy). So I’m happy with this decision. Moreover we won’t lose The excitement of NF and announcements
Which excitement? Are you really looking forward to Melodifestivalen next year? As soon as they announced that the Mamas wouldn’t be allowed to go to Euovision next year, I’ve lost all my excitement and respect for them. Same counts for Estonia, but at least they made some exceptions for Uku.
Was it their fault that the contest had to be cancelled? Why just taking away their right to represent their countries?
THE SUBSTITUDES’ BENCH (songs that didn’t appear on the list and in my opinion deserved to): – Abrokenleg – Electric Boy – Aklea Neon – Zoviju mama – Alen Chicco – Somewhere Out There – Anett x Fredi – Write About Me – Barbora Mochowa – Black & White Holes – (Bugo & Morgan – Sincero) – Casey Donovan – Proud – Didirri – Raw Stuff – Era Rusi – Eja merre – Faith Kakembo – Crying Rivers – Kady – Diz so – Lake Malawi – Lucy – Lorena Bucan – Drowning – Maja & De Sarte Sjaele –… Read more »
Not having Lucy or Black and White Holes on this list is objectively incorrect.
No ! Raylee is third ! Sorry to say that but I hate this song: nothing original (looks like Fuego, Replay, Army of Love…) and I think she is not a good singer. Otherwise, my two favorites were Moniqué and Levante.
So wrong on many levels
I definitely wasn’t wrong about all-female power this year, but Elodie’s hiatus makes it funnier considering my last comment on it… (and one of my outsiders for the last 10 places was Ringo Starr, it seems so predictable in a way) My only surprise in your ranking is… “Wild”. Different tastes, yes. But “Wild” third? Against Elvana, Erika, Elodie, Monique, the list is too long? (“Wild” is my #37, it could have been definitely higher, but listening to it several times cheapens this track more and more :() So, well, my top 10 is nearly full female-blooded – with a… Read more »
(i’ve always loved finndisco tbh, if explanation needed. even if i know erika’s guy seems to have been AWFUL with armi aavikko.)
1. Andrija Jo – Oci Meduze (Serbia) – an otherworldly piped intro leads into a mesmerizing female vocal. Then, bam, Andrija arrives with a deeply heartfelt vocal and the most striking electronic melody of the year. I can’t help but be lifted off into the clouds. I am told that this guy is a famous YouTuber but I’ve never heard of him. He has just got an exceptionally mournful yet uplifting song, that’s all. 2. Gaja Prestor – Verjamem Vase (Slovenia) – an edgy, stringed opening lets you know you are in for something special. A great building bridge opens… Read more »
Thanks Tibor. I did chuckle to myself when I got zero out of 10 in comparison to the WiWi jury! I do have 6 out of the jury’s top 10 in my top 50 so I am not massively out of line! I watched a lot of NFs this year, and these were the ones that stuck in my mind. You should check out Karina – the verses are a little bit dodgy but the chorus is a massive earworm – at least for me! When are you going to give us your Top 10?
Interesting list, Kosey! 🙂 We don’t share our top 10s, but Movimento and If I Leave were high on my list as well.
That is one personal top ten! I don’t think you’d find anyone else with anything resembling that.
I don’t like most of these songs but I respect that your ranking doesn’t just look like a Melodifestivalen playlist.
I would have put Me Tana on the first place to be honest…
i’d usually be annoyed with sweden getting first and second in something like this but dotter and anna actually deserve their placing. not so sure about raylee’s garbagé in the top 3 but
Frankly, all I remember about it is the Montenegro 2017 (I think) memory braid and the cute dancers.
It was a great National Final season. We have seen fantastic songs. My fav songs that did not manage to win are by Elvana, Rein Alexander and ofc Erika. I can not wait to see the next National Final season to get started. Although the situation is sad…. We can still listen to our fav songs and be lucky that we all share the same passion for Eurovision. I already look forward to upcoming news this year and new (and maybe some old Songs?) songs in 2021. To all Eurovision fans: Stay healthy and share the Eurovision feeling around the… Read more »
Andromeda deserved more
Off the top of my head:
1) Anna Zühlke – Kingdom Eternity
2) Catharina Bergendahl – Eternity Come
3) Anastasio – Rosso di rabbia
4) Dotter – Bulletproof
5) Jaagup’s hair