He’s a 16-year-old singer with big ambitions and a ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool. And now Greece’s Victor Vernicos has shown the world what he’s got to offer with the publication of his music video for “What They Say.”
According to Victor’s label Panik Records, the song celebrates the younger generation “who dare to dream and create despite difficulties.” The song, and the accompanying video, are meant to encourage folks to share their feelings. Engaging with your emotions, good or bad, makes you stronger.
Of course, it’s not always an easy road. As Victor sings in the song, which he wrote himself, “I hate my feelings, I’m overwhelmed and heated…wish this was something I could ignore.”
The song is at once radio-friendly but has alternative flair.
It opens with pared back, confessional verses. We see Victor channeling angst, anger and frustration on the sofa, saying that he’d rather “ignore” all the turmoil. But a minute in the beat picks up, adding an undertone of optimism as Victor continues to work through his feelings.
The rain falls, eventually flooding the studio, and Victor shows his ability to move. The dancing doesn’t feel rehearsed and over choreographed, but somehow natural and easy. This suggests he is a natural mover.
The song builds continuously and the final minute is particularly dynamic. We move from pulsating electronic rhythms to a slowed down, almost anthemic bridge, before Victor takes us out on a note of defeat or perhaps just exhaustion. It’s fresh and delivered with feeling — pop that doesn’t feel disposable.
Greece will compete in Semi-Final 2 on Thursday, May 11.
What do you think of the song? Are you loving the music video? And what about Victor’s voice? Let us know down below!
Surprisingly, I liked it on my first listen. I can’t say that about many this season. One to watch. Not a winner but will do very well.
Then I read he was only 16. What a mature voice for such a young lad.
Good luck Greece, from UK (& 12 points from Cyprus)
You know, the eurovision song contest is a competition. Would you enter a 3 legged horse in a speed race? I doubt it. So why embarrass the horse, the jockey and the owner ? Just don`t enter the race. !!
I cannot believe that I’m actually saying this after all we went through with our delegation and I don’t want to sound biased since I’m Greek because that’s not my intention but this entry literally is my biggest grower of the year, haha. Went from my 27th place up to 21st and now stands 19th in my top-35. Not only Victor’s voice is wonderful but also the lyrics are extremely mature for someone at his age, not even many world-famous lyricists that write the songs for some eurovision entries throughout the years can be bothered to write actually deep and… Read more »
Silence is golden!
I agree, if that stands for your case!! 😀
Gi afto, ligi aftosigratisi tin epomeni fora pou tha skeftis na protinis me pathos apoxorisi kai exodo, opos sto proigoumeno arthro, giati monoi mas vgazoume ta matia mas pernontas arnitiko klima, kai meta de mazevetai oute me 3 metra sentoni.
Filiká
Leaving aside which country he represents, this is good song with good vocals (he can sing), lyrics (pronunciation is an issue) and good tune. Now, Greece sending that disappoints too many people as they mostly expect greek language and sound. Well, this is just wrong. Greece is experimenting and this is good (cannot say that for most countries that send the same ol same ol boring songs and use same recipes). Even if I love Greece sending Greek element entries, I will not discard this song immediately….. I do want them though to go back to those elements as it… Read more »
I instantly got a dark horse vibe from this. this could grab a lot of peoples attention if staged correct. Maybe Top 10??
I too think this year’s Greek entry will do better than people anticipate, mostly because of Victor himself. The boy has a lot of charm.
I feel like this is a song that doesn’t grab the attention of people within the eurovision bubble but could grab the attention of the general public. Within the eurovision bubble people like songs lile Israel talking about unicorns. But I feel like the general public could gravitate toward something lile this because it is more relatable. Think of Estonia last year was not a favorite withing the eurovision bubble, but yet ended up 10th in the televote in the grand final. I think Greece could pull off something similar. (I only used Israel as an example not to make… Read more »
Why does Greece send another English song? Okay it is in Liverpool, but stay true to your culture and your music from there. I feel bad for Evangelia with the song PÁLI it would be a real competor for the win!
“Well you know What They Say
Lost souls make sure no one loses their way
Hurt ones can’t stand seeing others in pain
Oh I am both now I got too much on my plate
And I save all the others cause for me it’s too”
Having these lyrics written by a 14 years old kid (he was only 14 when he wrote them) can’t be praised enough.
Hopefully the presentation of the song will emphasize on these good lyrics and will create an artistic act that will make the song memorable till the voting moment…
Idk about you but I adore this song. I think this entry is underrated. Also I really think that he will elevate the song with his live performance and make it more impactful. No matter what they say I will support Victor
A 16 year-old singing “I’ve got too much on my plate” and “it’s too late” just don’t work for me.
Perhaps someone should report the song to UNICEF.
You can feel anxiety no matter your age. And yes , teens can have their own problems as well and have to deal with too much
It gets worse, he wrote the song when he was 14…
You don’t know what a person is going through. Don’t just a persons feelings… Maybe you were happy at 16 but maybe he is not.
This is an opinion I do not share. Who told you 16 years old do not have issues? Just the fact that suicide rates are highest among teens and young adults should give you an idea that this is a big issue. I could post source for this but I am not sure it is allowed by the posting rules. With all my respect for your opinion.
There is so much lost potential. He has a great voice, he is young, but this production is so bad. So long verses that lead to…a clapping moment? right when you think its going somewhere its just…clapping. People are calling out the dream team but the production of die together last year was GREAT.
Pretty bland, but he’ll probably qualify. Not bad, far from good.
This whole thing can be described in one word: Bland. I feel like Greece will still qualify because A: They’re in a weaker semifinal and B: Free 12 points from Cyprus, but to be honest, while it’s not as bad as Demy was in 2017, I still don’t think this should qualify
Kind of generic and quite boring song. No Greek influence? Greece seems like a sure NQ this year…
Let’s face it. We have 6-8 very strong entries. And 30 entries that are weak. It’s is obvious which countries will end up at the top 7 this year.
Name the seven countries that will land on top this year
Sweden (definitely winning), UK, Czechia, Finland, Ukraine, Norway, Austria or France (in no particular order)
Israel will land in the top 5 this year
UK and Ukraine won’t do as well as you expect
I agreee, Ukraine might get extra points because of the war but the song is not that strong like Stefania. The UK entry also is kind of generic, not bad, not good, nothing extraordinary, not standing out, pffff, both songs will be mid to bottom of the ranking.
Also hosts tend to bomb these days. I think televoters must feel “they’ve had their turn”. Look at Netherlands 2021, Israel 2019, Portugal 2018, Austria 2015
Absolutely. Even though I dont really like it, she will have the x factor among generic songs. I would even say TOP3. I really hope Sweden doesnt win, as its just the performance, song itself is pretty bad. But def 4 songs stand out for top5: Czech, Finland, Israel and Sweden. Moldova could squeeze top 10 again with same recipe. Spain, Italy and France in lower 10s. UK between 12-15.
I agree : )
Ukraine is garbage
The people and their crystal ball!!! ???
These are the only balls they have. 😀
Czechia will flop. They live video from national final is not good. Vocals are weak…
I don t see Czechia, Austria and France in TOP 10 this year.
You wish, but man what’s new you NEVER see these countries in the top but always your same beloved countries EVERY year, try to open up it will change.
I wouldn’t say 6-8 very strong but I would say strong enough to care about. And 30 skips.
This sounds like a scrapped Ed Sheeran and James Arthur album filler collab. It’s obvs alright but really lacks impact and originality… As a Greek I am so disappointed by the corrupt practices of ERT and honestly if you are to pull off injustices like that it should at least be for a song that actually has potential to do great. All I can say is #JusticeForMelissa . Anyhow I obvs wish my country the best of luck but boy is this going to be a hard year for Greece in Eurovison…
No need for drama. Let’s support all the artists, including the Greek youngster and with them good luck. The song is mediocre but alternative and definitely not bad. Good luck, Greece!
Melissa who? This is not Dynasty soap opera grow up and accept finally that she didn’t go through.. Grow up and NO MORE DRAMA!!!
I can see why they picked him. This is a high quality entry. Maybe its a little risky cause it goes much on the radiofriendly route. But i think with good vocals this is not a bad try. At least we could wait for May before we give it the final judgement
Nice and interesting entry from Greece however, some parts of the song felt like it’s missing, hope the staging will translate well in May, have hopes that it will qualify
Jury friendly and easy listening.
But don’t forget, there are no juries in the semi finals. This could struggle even with Cyprus’s support.
oh they say a lot and it might be true xd
Its so unsual for Greece to get such a bad~lukewarm response. Even the entries that didnt end up doing well ( Better love, Oneiro mou ) had a really good reception. Last time Greece got a reception like this was 2016 ( Argo ).
A bit painful to see it getting a similar reception to what Ireland gets every year or UK before Sam Ryder
It’s pretty average and basic, but average and basic is exactly what I was expecting.
Greece has tried pretty much every genre in the past few years, that’s the only compliment I have right now.
Not the best first impression, but it’s easy to listen to and the lyrics are fine. There’s room for improvement for his enunciation, though.
* it wasn’t an easy listen from me but the lyrics were fine, imo
The song actually has great lyrics, its a shame no one can understands them lol.
what he saying should be the title
His enunciation is atrocious but i really like it, it’s cute. and the song makes me feel emotional for some reason, I like it.
I gotta be honest I expected worse … the song is ok. As a greek eurovision fan I can live with that. I just want to qualify and we will see the rest. I´m glad cyprus is in the same Semi, so that will give us a boost 😀
His voice and the lyrics are actually quite nice, I just feel like there is something missing like a climax, maybe a high note or a keychange…. i dont know I cant put my finger on it
I do really like his voice. The song? I’ve heard already better.
It all comes down to performance and staging. He may deliver, it has potentials as song.
We ve seen in the past meh songs doing great, reaching to unpleasant positions.
Good luck! ?? ??
As almost everybody pointed here, Victor has to work on his enunciation. His voice is interesting though. The song itself is OK, but it’s like one of the tracks Germany and UK were sending when they were playing too safe and/or being too lazy. Maybe it will grown on me with time, but I’m afraid the first impact wasn’t strong.
I agree 100%
Atm it is giving me NQ vibes…
For me the song is really anticlimactic
It’s just monotonous and it may get lost in the first half of the semi 2
I am sad because I am always loving ?? entries, but this year it’s a no for me
I don’t get the hate at all, this is very easy to listen to and I think it’s a sure fire qualifier. Is it a eurovision winner? No! But, its very respectable all the same
I don’t know…I wanted to root for it because he’s so young and all but to me…this sort of just further solidifies the fact that semifinal 2 is the weaker one. It’s a bit underwhelming.
Also…this is the second year in a row where Greece started a song with little/no music and just vocals. I don’t know why they’re keeping on with that trend, but I don’t think I like it
I’m greek and i can say that I’m really proud that my country is represented by a 16-year-old talented boy . His charisma is huge . Maybe the staging is gonna lift the song up.
Victor has a distinct sound to his voice, but the song doesn’t seem to utilise this to its advantage. I can see why people are saying it’s boring and wonder how well the slow moodiness of the song will translate to the stage.
A respectable song that has some chance to qualify, but if the UK would send this song they would get last or second to last in the final. I love the clapping part at the end though.
Tbh that part is the only part I like and I can see…this could be good on stage but the rest of the song is just monotonous
Like the song. Like the singer’s voice. But, man, you need to get with a vocal coach and work on your diction and clarity. There was just too much I couldn’t make out what you were saying. Luckily he has time to improve on that.
This song has no authenticity or soul. So disappointing
Goes nowhere. Well produced though. May be more impactful live.
I think it’s a good song, and Victor has a lot of charisma.
The director will be the same person who did “Watch My Dance” back in 2011.
Overall, a very respectable entry for Greece.
His voice is amazing but this production is questionable to say it politely. The structure doesn’t make sense plus right when you think it reached its pick there is the clapping moment… why? They should have helped him with production
Dont lie please! Cyprus, Georgia, San Marino, Armenia, Dennmark, ALBANIA, Romania and even Slovenia are voting casually Greece by Televoting (do not put in San Marino as jury = televoting). 5th place at semi for us with such good Eurovision Neighbors i can say…
I really liked his voice and vocal tone.
It probably won’t be among my favourites but it’s a nice and easy to listen song. Very respectable and far from horrible as some people pretend. Victor’s live and staging will tell. His youth factor may really work.
I also respect a lot the fact that we wrote his song all by himself.
In the mids of the dramas and dislikes…I personaly love that someone made my thoughts in to a beautiful song. For me it is very relatable! Lyrics are deep and melody uplifting.
This goes straight to my last place, feels so unauthentic.
The song is not bad, but it feels more of a swish or austrian entry rather than Greek. As a Greek fan, i admit that “Last Dance” and “Die Together” didn’t also have a greek flavour, but they were similar to the foreign pop that you can hear in the greek radio. We don’t listen to this kind of pop though. About the result, I guess it depends on the staging. If it was in the first semi final, it would be a non qualifier. If the juries were in the semis, i think it would qualify from the second.… Read more »
meh, its very boring and monotonous
Paul Mescal in “Normal People” vibes from the video.
yawn
I like it, he has an interesting quality to his voice and its different to everything else this year, but I struggled to understand the lyrics. He mumbles too much, a bit like Loreen. Perhaps the live performance will lift the song.
He does need to work on his articulation, and I had to turn on closed captions to understand the lyrics. That could hurt him if he doesn’t improve by May.
Same. And there were times when the closed captions were just blank because YouTube’s AI couldn’t understand him either.
He must’ve grown up listening to mumble rap from the likes of XXXTENTACION
This is going to be a hard no from me. It’s work to try to decipher what he’s saying, and the music is so dull that the effort isn’t worth it. Guaranteed bathroom break.
Not very Greek sounding….