Time for the seventh part of the review series we started a while ago. As you know, nine of our editors have taken a look at all entries. Tonight we present you part seven of these series: We’ll have a look at Croatia and Montenegro!
Croatia: Josie – Game Over
Danny N:
Starting off interesting, this one takes a while to get going, but has a repetable, memorable chorus that should stick in people heads fairly easy. Josie has a sweet and softful voice that sounds very nice on the track, but I worry the song itself could overpower her vocals on the stage. I’m really unsure about how well this could do, as I said it features a memorable chorus but that could easily be overshadowed by stronger songs.
Rating: 3/10
Simon Wells:
A simple ditty that will sink into the shadows of viewers’ minds and of the scoreboard. The production of the song is curious – it tries to straddle a few pop genres and falls down the gap. Josie seems to have life in her and should give a sound performance, but she’s fighting an uphill battle. The concept of the song and the chorus lyrics should help to make this catchy, but it doesn’t quite get there.
Rating: 4/10
Nathan Waddell:
Welcome back Croatia, this bilingual entry by a bilingual child is a great way to return to the contest. It’s not possible for there to be any suggestion of non sensical English here with American raised Josie really on the ball with a good mix of the two languages in a fun song that sure to pick up points.
Rating: 7/10
Montenegro: Maša Vujadinovic & Lejla Vulić – Budi Dijete Na Jedan Dan
Liam Clark:
Budi Dijete Na Jedan Dan is easily the most prototypically Junior of all the songs competing in Malta and it has a very amateurish quality about it, which is expressed highly in the delightfully awkward film clip. But still I love it! Kid’s songs are meant to be kinda silly at times and this cheery certainly fills that box. It’s a playful little romp and I’m happy to romp with it. Romp away my Montenegrin friends!
Rating: 8/10
Peter Dunwoody:
As a former Junior Eurovision denier who has been converted to the cause, I feel I can say from personal experience that the reason many can’t stand this contest is the perception of irritating kids singing happy-clappy tunes about how great it is to be a child, all the while looking completely po-faced and dead-eyed. Unfortunately for the contest and indeed for Montenegro, all of the above is epitomised in this song. It doesn’t help that the awful dated guitar sounds that plagued Montenegro’s adult Eurovision entries for a while have found their way onto this, and it’s not even catchy to compensate. Just who is this aimed towards?!
Rating: 2/10
Alekas Supranavičius:
I really don’t like these rock-wannabe ex-Yugoslavian type of songs (sorry). I also wonder if this can be any good live… I am afraid this might see itself towards the bottom of the scoreboard. I hope they will have at least a lot of fun on stage.
Rating: 2/10
Tomorrow, we’ll have the last part of our review, when we’ll take a look at Malta and Slovenia!
