Team Wiwi’s Top NF Songs of ESC 2020 (10-1)

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!

Check out all of our top national final songs posts here