First of all……. The HOSTS! A peacock farm was raided for plumage for the pasty lady’s top, with that guy who played an ancillary nerd in every movie ever made, separated by a Perspex screen. How very. And then Vaidas in PVC pants and full face screen with the judging panel practicing social distancing.
Now the acts….
Black Spikes - Don’t Tell Me
Luc:
Hard Rock Warrior Nuns with two red-clad screamers unconvincingly “rocking out” – like actors in a play… bad ones. Cool nails and okay lyrics don’t save this, and when the death=metal growl is the most interesting thing… 3/10
Ron:
Whoa! What an intro – Goth Rock chicks with impossibly sharp nails and masked guitarists atop trash cans. Yep… Looked spectacular, but the actual song and performance lacked. 4/10
Thomukas1 - Wish
Ron: Super Ner in orange t-shirt squawks at me for 3 minutes. Must be the dodgiest falsetto I have ever heard! 1/10
Luc: Mulleted nerd going for a John Lennon vibe and failing. Laser beam music and a ringtone open to incoherent wailing. The “chorus” works best in this orange tie-dye awkwardness. 3/10
BE U - Love Yourself
Luc: Ill fitting blue satin suited lead is not vocally appropriate for the late nite vibe of the music. It switches to bossanova-esque tone for the bridge… Confused! 4/10
Ron: Hipsters doing some odd 80’s synth. Leading lady looks all intense, but nothing seems to be coming out! UNCONVINCED! 4/10
Titas ir Benas - No
Ron: Two cute teen boys singing standard boyband fare… however they are doing a pretty good job! Great harmonies. With some fine tuning this could really work. 6/10
Luc: Two youngens sitting and lamenting with believability and harmony… the endless intensity of the piano behing the music drives this chart friendly song very well. Not too shabby! 7/10
Martyna - Thank You Very Much
Luc: She has presence and staging and visual is striking. The song is okay, if a little juvenile (suiting her age I guess). That banging chorus is certainly welcome though. She is better than this. 6/10
Ron: One for the eurofans… Fierce and leggy. This song was originally named something else… I feel like this is not her usual style, her voice is great but the performance seems forced. 6/10
Donata - The Way I Am
Ron: She owns this! Another positive message song but Donata really believes it. Reminiscent of Laura Risotto… I like it! 6/10
Luc: Ginger-locked beauty champions life-affirming, self-loving anthem with jazz vocals and faith in herself and the song. It is a little heavy handed, but she is quite strong. 6/10
Twosome - I Love My Bear
Luc: Jailbreak gives us 3 cartoon criminals who love their BEER… I mean BEAR. And then there is a dancer in a Rooster onesie… They’re having a blast in this toe-tapping insanity! 5/10
Ron: Last year they were Lithuanian Basketball Players… This time they love their bear, or beer? These guys are hilarious but I just cannot see this setting Europe alight! 5/10
Milita: - Shadows
Ron: Long legged lass has the best English diction so far. Slightly dated track, but she’s competent enough, and has enough presence, to pull it off. 6/10
Luc: Sparkly pant suit grins her heart out through generic music and lyrics. It is all very underwhelming, even with the 80s synth scattered through the chorus. Her thin vocal needs work. 5/10
Aldegunda - Sit Down
Luc: Immediately visually arresting and a commanding vocal… But it kinda just sits there and doesn’t pick up. Nice break/bridge… 6/10
Ron: A dark pop rock track sold nicely by the talented Aldegunda. I think the darkness may just be its undoing though. 6/10
Voldemars Petersons - Never Fall For You Again
Ron: This is instant. Very interesting track! Lord he is thin! I really like this one. 7/10
Luc: Skeletor and the Broken Hearts Club bop their way through an effectively simple track with presence. It never seems to lose its interest. Quite the ear worm too… 8/10
And the voting happens, and the qualifiers are:
5. BE U – Love Yourself
4. Milita – Shadows
3. Martyna – Thank You Very Much
2.Titas ir Benas – No
And……
1. Voldemars Petersons = Never Fall for You Again (!!!!)
Stay tuned for Heat 2 coming soon! 😊