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The Xtra Files 2018: We Review Switzerland’s ‘Stones’ by Zibbz!

Welcome to The Xtra Files, our series which will give you an insight into what the team at ESCXTRA think of your favourite entries into this year’s contest! Today, we review Switzerland.

Now that all the songs have been released, we are able to review each and every one of them. Our honest and brutal reviews will keep you entertained until the rehearsals start on 30 April! We will also each give a score out of 10 for every entry, and create an ESCXTRA leaderboard of the entries!

Today we have reviews of the Swiss entry, ‘Stones’ by Zibbz, from Hlynur, Lisa, Matt, Nathan, Ryan and Vincent. Let’s get started!

The Reviews

Hlynur

If I had to pick a favorite song of 2018 now. I would probably select this one. I get into the song and it has this good vibe in it. Hope they do well and at least reach the final.

Lisa

I’m partial to a bit of female led rock. I liked this before the revamp and now it’s got a bit more attitude and bite in the production. Although it still reminds me of ‘Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out’ though with that little riff in the melody. Overall it has more of stadium anthem vibe now and makes you want to throw yourself into a mosh pit. I wish this was in the second semi-final, the first is so overloaded with favourites and the Swiss don’t have the best record

Matt

I don’t know why but this reminds of the Swiss entry from last year. Timebelle didn’t qualify then and I suspect Switzerland might struggle again in Lisbon. This is a song that needs to be propped up with a strong visual, and even though Zibbz look like they could absolutely deliver that, I’m not sure we’ll get it.

Nathan

Stones was one of the stand out songs in a strong Swiss selection, but live it was by far the best option. Switzerland have a very competent duo whose chemistry comes across well on camera and “Stones” has a beat and feel-good lyrics that should charm the continent this May. A very enjoyable song should give Switzerland a good result this year.

Ryan

Switzerland have sent a fantastic entry for the second year in a row. The original version of “Stones” was great, although I felt it lost a bit of momentum in the final 30 seconds. Nevertheless, the revamped version that came with the fantastically filmed music video completely answers that initial criticism with its ramped-up production and rockier edge. Switzerland really deserve to return to the final and I hope they are in contention in what has turned out to be arguably the toughest semi-final since the beginning of the two-semi system in 2008.

Vincent

I quite like the revamp – the beginning sounds less like Alcazar’s performance at Melfest 2017. And while it’s enjoyable, it’s still not engaging enough for me. And there’s also the issue of the lyrics: I can’t see how they can be about bullying. About welcoming different people and other communities (refugees, LGBT, etc.), maybe (“But we don’t want it in our backyard” and the lessons of the past thing), but hardly about bullying.

Scores

Dominik  4 Nick  6.5 Tim  6
Hlynur  9 Riccardo  10 Tom  7
Lisa  6.5 Rigmo  7 Vincent  6.5
Luke  6 Rodrigo  8.5 Wiv  7
Matt  6.5 Ryan  8.5 Yassia  8
Miki  8 Sami  6
Nathan  6.5 Simon  7

Therefore, the average score for Zibbz and Switzerland is 7.08.

Leaderboard

Our team were not throwing any stones this time so Zibbz climbs all the way up to 6th in our leaderboard.

  1. Israel – 8.52
  2. Finland – 7.66
  3. Bulgaria – 7.63
  4. France – 7.50
  5. Sweden – 7.21
  6. Switzerland – 7.08
  7. Poland – 7.08
  8. Germany – 6.95
  9. Ukraine – 6.92
  10. Austria – 6.79
  11. Australia – 6.76
  12. Denmark – 6.55
  13. Lithuania – 6.50
  14. Italy – 6.39
  15. The Netherlands – 6.26
  16. Azerbaijan – 6.05
  17. Portugal – 6.05
  18. Estonia – 5.86
  19. Latvia – 5.61
  20. Albania – 5.50
  21. Serbia – 5.05
  22. Belarus – 4.97
  23. Moldova – 4.92
  24. Romania – 4.73
  25. Montenegro – 4.71
  26. Hungary – 4.65
  27. Armenia – 4.29
  28. Georgia – 4.18
  29. Iceland – 4.18
  30. San Marino – 4.03

Tomorrow, it will be the turn of Slovenia to be reviewed.

Do you agree with our reviews of Switzerland? What are your thoughts on Stones?

Let us know in the comments below and on social media @ESCXTRA!

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