What do you think about these NF songs? - Hildur

Photo: Sunna Ben

Our next reviewer has participated 2 times in Söngvakeppnin (the Icelandic NF) and both times she had fantastic songs and that is the reason why I wanted to know her thoughts on some of these songs.

HILDUR, I CAN'T WAIT TO KNOW WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE 2020 NF SONGS

KaYra - Alligator

I think the melody is catchy but the lyrics are kind of confusing; I don’t really get them with first listen and I think the production is not really my cup of tea.

Anett x Fredi - Write about me 

I like the vocal production, low key production but good feeling in the song. It’s missing a strong chorus I think.

Erika Vikman - Cicciolina

Not my cup of tea at all. I feel like it sounds very old production wise, like a bad re-do of an Abba song.

Barbara Tinoco - Passe-Partout

Interesting instruments used but the song didn’t really get me and I would probably never listen to it.

Didirri - Raw stuff

Absolutely love his voice. I think this song is beautiful, the concept is good, production is simple but effective and goes well with his voice and melody.

Eden Alene - Roots 

I really don’t like the production or lyrics. The instrumental is all over the place - maybe that’s supposed to go with the idea of the song but I just really don’t like it and think it sounds like 2 very different songs.

Pinguini Tattici Nucleari - Ringo Starr

Didn’t catch me. The melody is a little bit too busy and then the synth sound in the chorus is not cool in my opinion.

Dotter - Bulletproof

Very catchy and good popsong. Reminds me of Sia. She also has an interesting voice. Wouldn’t really play it at home but still I think it’s one of the best ones.

Rancore - Eden 

I was very surprise when he started rapping! This song is of course hard to vibe along with as its’ not in English and I feel like in rap songs it’s harder to vibe with them if you don’t get the lyrics at all.  Even if I’d read a translation of the lyrics I don’t really connect with the song.

Levante - Tikibombom

I love her voice. The song is very dramatic and nice. I like the emotion and melody - and the tikibombom reminds me a little bit of Bammbaramm actually!

Hildur's favorites

Raw stuff

Tikibombom

Bulletproof

SUNDAY - Fjaðrir

Hildur - Bammbaramm

Hildur - Picture perfect

Facebook: hihildur
Instagram: hihildur

What do you think about these NF songs? - Laila Samuels

I'm sure you all remember Laila from her brilliant MGP 2016 entry "Afterglow" but the reason I thought of her for this new thing I'm doing is because she was one of the songwriters of  "Jealous cause I love you", one of my favorite 2010 NF songs, so I sent her a DM and she kindly accepted doing this review thing.
LAILA, I CAN'T WAIT TO KNOW WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE 2020 NF SONGS!

KaYra - Alligator

This song is a bit on the cliché side for me, and is lacking originality and something real. Fun and colourful video is the upside.

Anett x Fredi - Write about me 

I like the emotional character and soulful melodies in this song. It sounds sincere and it’s beautiful.

Erika Vikman - Cicciolina

This one has a catchy melody, gives me Abba feels. I am not really getting drawn into this as it’s in finnish, and I feel like I heard the melodies before. Not bad though.

Barbara Tinoco - Passe-Partout

Beautifully naive song with real old school vibes. Feel like I am in a French romantic comedy movie from the 50’s. Sweet.

Didirri - Raw stuff

I like this one. Nice melodies, downplayed, gives authentic vibes and a sore sense. He has a great voice for acoustic music.

Eden Alene - Roots 

This song is such a mash up of vibes, the chorus is my favourite part. Plus for originality.

Pinguini Tattici Nucleari - Ringo Starr

Not catching me so much, it’s a bit silly but I don’t think the joke is funny. Well produced, though.

Dotter - Bulletproof

Generously “borrowing” from both Aviici and Sia. Lacking originality.

Rancore - Eden 

Great feeling, thoughtful lyrics, this artist has a message, whether you agree with it or not, it’s a good song.

Levante - Tikibombom

I like this one a lot. Cool voice. This is a song one can listen to without understanding the lyrics, too. Nicely done

Laila's favorites

Raw stuff

Tikibombom

Eden

Passe-partout

Laila Samuels - Afterglow

Laila Samuels - Frisbee

Venke Knutson - Jealous 'cause I love you

Facebook: lailasamuelsartistpage
Instagram: lailasamuels

2016: National selections (2)

Here is the 2nd part of my favorite NF songs from 2016:

Kristi Popa - Ajo çfarë ndjej

Catalepsia - Damnation

NAVI - Heta ziamlia

Erna Mist & Magnus Thorlacius - Ótöluð orð

Kállay Saunders Band - Who We Are

Boris René - Put Your Love on Me

Pur:Pur  - We Do Change

Robin Bengtsson - Constellation Prize

Laila Samuels - Afterglow

Mick Pedaja - Seis

THE HARDKISS - Helpless

Mikael Saari - On It Goes

Norway 2016: Agnete

Now its time to post the winner of MGP 2016: Agnete with the song Icebreaker

I dont want to sound mean but I dont like anything about this entry and Im sure she won because of who she is. Compared to Norways great entries from the past 3 years this is too cold and calculated, I dont feel any emotion from her, she is just there singing and Im not going to deny that she is good at it but I need more than that.

Shout out to my winner: LAILA SAMUELS

And here is the best performance of the night: Mørland & Debrah!

BEAUTIFUL!

Photos: Rashid Akrim

Laila Samuels: I wrote "Afterglow" as a message to the universe that I’m fighting back

Photo: Paul Parzych

Yesterday we got the names of the 10 participants of MGP 2016 and today we got an interview with one of them (The one that will probably be my biggest favorite!) Here are the answers of LAILA SAMUELS:
Name: Laila Samuels
Birthday: June 3rd 
Height: 1.65
Favorite color: black - although it's not a color
Favorite food: potato chips
Where are you right now? - Oslo - getting ready to play at the thief music unplugged
What’s your strangest talent? - I can whistle and smile at the same time
What is the strangest thing you have in your room? - A glowing reindeer
What are you really good at? - Playing cards
What are you really bad at? -  Acting and playing golf
Childhood idol: Boy George & Prince
Childhood memory: Taking dirty dancing lessons. And writing books and songs and poems all day.
Celebrity crush: (Boy George) when I was like 6 or 7 
Tell me something no one knows about you: A secret u mean? Let’s wait till I know u a little better and I'll give u something good ;)
What would you do if you were invisible? ooohhh - I would love that. I'd sneak into some meetings... Like between Putin and Obama. Or just spend a day in Donald Trump’s house. That could be interesting. 
Favorite movie: ... I’m a total film freak.. I love "The Departed"... But I could name a hundred. 
Favorite TV series: Same…l am watching 10 series at a time. Right now I’m waiting for more episodes of Game of thrones- The affair - and Nashville. 
What is your guilty pleasure? Gambling...? hehe
If you were a boy for a day, what would you do? I'd be very surprised all day.
Name a song that never fails to make you happy: I prefer melancholic music- right now I’m crazy in love with Oscar & the wolf. Amazing.
When did you start singing and writing?  As soon as I could sing and write. I wrote my first "book" when I was 6. My mom gave it to me a few years back. She’d kept it. That was sweet.
Can you teach me some interesting words in Norwegian?  If you just name drop our Ski Heroes Marit Bjørgen and Petter Nortug - you'll come a long way over here ;)

Hello Laila! Welcome to MGP! How are you?
Thank you - I’m great - so much fun to do the Eurovision! 

How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I am a singer songwriter- my sound is pretty organic- I play a lot just with my guitar- but my record has a lot of perc- strings and epicness too. And some nordic melody lines. 

Photo: Kim Erlandsen/NRK

You are one of the participants of MGP 2016. How did it all begin?
I knew the second I had written afterglow that I wanted to perform it on the Eurovision. So I sent it in. and waited. And was thrilled when they chose it. Can’t wait to show it to the people :) 

“Afterglow” is the title of your song, what’s the story behind it?
I always write from the heart. I did the composition, the melodies and production with Jan Weigel and The Beatgees- then I went home - and that night the lyric just kinda wrote itself. I had gone through a lot the past 3 years and needed some changes- so I wrote this as a message to the universe that I’m fighting back. I'm sensitive, but a warrior. And it kinda marked the start of a very amazing new era. 

Describe the song with 4 words:
Epic, vulnerable, nordic , personal.

What can we expect to see on stage for the performance?
I would love to have 1 million warriors like a game of thrones scene, but... that would be too expensive-so - I will let the song speak for itself and -it will be just me on the stage. 

What do you like about Eurovision?
The amazing unity of more than 40 countries- all getting behind this show for 1 shiny day. Putting all our differences aside and just celebrating culture.

What do you dislike about Eurovision?
What’s not to like??

Photo: Jens Bredberg

Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word:
Berlin: Home
Nightmare: Fighting
Freedom: Life
UFO: weeeeellll......
Stage: Home
Dreams: Life

What are your plans for 2016?
My debut album as a solo act is gonna come out this year!

Is there anything you want to say to close the interview?
Thank you for the talk-  I will do my best to entertain you all <3

Photo: Paul Parzych

Thanks to Laila for the interview, I cant wait to listen to her song!

Official website: http://www.lailasamuels.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Laila-Samuels-1870286029863939
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