'Genesis' is by far the best thing you've sent yet, really loving this :wub:

'Genesis' is incredddd (supporting instrumental entries as ever x). Thank god this wasn't a repeat of the disastrous DNQ of Silvermine :drama:

 

Thanks, as a rule I don't usually like the long dance tracks, but this one just doesn't feel it's length.

 

Hikaru Nara just came 2nd (like, today) in an r/anime openings contest (losing out to a A Cruel Angel's Thesis from the classic NGE)! It's a huge tune and was one of my main contenders for this spinoff too, I'll be supporting that <3

 

Very much enjoying your current main contest entry as well!

 

Thanks Iz, I thought you might like the entry as I saw you charted it when I did a site search for the song. It's so upbeat *.*

 

'Genesis' is by far the best thing you've sent yet, really loving this :wub:

 

Yay, Glad you're enjoying it, I deliberately held off from sending it in your contest as I thought there may be a plethora of similar entries.

Edited April 21, 20178 yr by Leonardo

GENESIS DOES OK, HIKARU NARA DOES NOT

So 94 has come and gone, with Genesis finishing in 22nd place, which was just about where we'd predicted it would come so not many complaints here, it did attract our first 18s of the year so thank you to South Danaelanda and Dobago for popping our 2017 cherry, your cheques in the international post, unfortunately, the currency change from Quintessan nevvs sucks but what are you gonna do? :whistle:

Hikaru Nara whilst getting lovely support from Seyetana just avoided finishing in the bottom 10 thanks to non voters, which for such a catchy little tune is a travesty and you should be ashamed.

QUINTESSA GOES AFRIKAANS WITH LEAH

For our 39th contest, we've gone as pop can be, because a catchy chorus is a catchy chorus. We've had this one stuck in our head all April, it is apparently our first African entry, Leah hailing from South Africa after doing some research, wwith the title meaning "With Your Clothes On" in Afriikaans, hopefully this can find wide appeal.

NEW COUNTDOWN COMING

As stated above, next contest will be our 40th entry so perfect time to do a Quintessa Top 40 countdown of our favourite entries from the main contest, inclluding trance, tango music, novelty music theatre, baroque pop, generic dance, R&B and of course our go-to of synth pop.

Edited May 14, 20178 yr by Leonardo

Ooh nice choice! Very cheery and uplifting!

Thanks Pete :wub:, only hope is that it doesn't fall victim to the wrong semi syndrome.

So Leah finished 32nd and whilst not great it's still a Q, we are now outting forth our fortieth entry and deciding to do something a little different and air our potnentials, all three are in the broad banner of pop, but not as upbeat as Leah. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

Debrah Scarlett - Cynical Youth

 

Lenachka - Private Eyes

 

Ben Hazlewood (feat. Mali Koa Hood) - Paint Me Black

Edited May 21, 20178 yr by Leonardo

As stated above, next contest will be our 40th entry so perfect time to do a Quintessa Top 40 countdown of our favourite entries from the main contest, inclluding trance, tango music, novelty music theatre, baroque pop, generic dance, R&B and of course our go-to of synth pop.

[/late] but HYPED for this :o I remember you really liking 'All White Everything' by JJ, so I am interested to see how that has held up since I sent it.

[/late] but HYPED for this :o I remember you really liking 'All White Everything' by JJ, so I am interested to see how that has held up since I sent it.

 

Well it's more than likely going to be my 18s with three or four exemptions, going simultaneously with a ranking of my own entries as well, so really a top 80 but <_<

ALISHA CHINAI - ZOOBY ZOOBY



So after getting my joint highest finish in a spin-off yet as Susanne Søndfor gets us a second 2nd, we return to the main contest with what is arguably my first main contest entry from Asia (Diana Wang being a point of contention), also my oldest entry for a while as it came out in the 1987 film "Dance Dance", I'd describe the song as Donna Summer does Bollywood, whether this gets any fans remains to be seen.

A big yes to this one as well, Indian bloc not letting me down this month. I hope this won't be screwed over with me and Bal being in the opposite semi but it seemed to go down pretty well on plug anyway so fingers crossed it can make it through.

 

[/5amnationalthreadspam]

Thanks for the hype Bré, I'd been eyeing a disco Bollywood track for a while, there's a few great ones.

QUINTESSA'S TOP 40 ANNIVERSARY COUNTDOWNS

To celebrate us reaching our 40th entry (and 25th DNQ :cheer:), we decided to do TWO simultaneous Top40 ranks, one ranking the inimitable entries of our homeland, and one ranking the entries that other countries have served which we deemed (at the time) to be the best that contest had to offer. There's a diverse mix on either side, which should come as no surprise as I love music in general, not specific genres, all I'm looking for is quality. I've decided to keep this to the main contest entries, but for the record the spinoff winners would be my Worldvision II entry (Navet "One Hundred Years, Ten Housand beats) and Avalonia's 80's entry (Ankie Beggar "Where Were You Last Night").

Here are our entries and the other countries which feature on this countdown;

QUINTESSA'S ENTRIES

Above the Clouds - Amber
Akureyri - Crywolf
All That Matters - Hannah Peel
Below - White Lung
Bring It Down - Gina Kushka
Cages - Woolf And The Wondershow
Cloaked - Woolf And The Wondershow
The Cruel One - Gold Motel
Eres Mía - Romeo Santos
First & Last - Gemology
Flying - Silvermine
Further Away - Satchmode
Genesis - Driftmoon
Happy - Annabel Jones
Home - Diana Wang
I Don't Do Boys - Elektra
I'm In Love - Noonie Bao
Leave the Light On - Beth Hart
Let Me Down (Tube & Berger Remix) - Daniel Steinberg
Like A Stranger - Bodies Of Water
Met Jou Klere Aan - Leah
Monday - Moon Regiment
Oh Glory - Panic! At the Disco
Out Of Time - Vanessa Elisha
Portrait of a Princess - Julie Atherton
Rabbit Holes - Thology
Red Love - Pia Mia
Resonate - Avec Sans
Shine - Cyclist
Snowship (Thomas Jack Remix) - Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Someday - Float Fall
Soy - Lali
Square Hammer - Ghost
Strong Hearts - Priest
Watch The Sunrise - Kamil Sutra
Who Gets Your Love - Vanilla
Who You Are - Natural Animal
Y Ddawns - Ani Glass
Zooby Zooby - Alisha Chinai
1/M/T - Mirror Talk


12/18 SONGS

BJSC 33: Hendinia // Rasmus Seebach - Natteravn
BJSC 34: Yuxhaaq // Christina Perri - Arms
BJSC 35: Hendinia // Wynter Gordon - Buy My Love
BJSC 36: FYR Vojvodina-on-the-Wold // Monarchy - We Were Young
BJSC 37: Greenfroze // Junica - Living In My House (feat. Pip Brown)
BJSC 38: Kopečka // Loreen - Sober
BJSC 63: Zechonia // Árstíðir - Shades
BJSC 64: Daehun // Oh, Be Clever - Next To You
BJSC 65: Jukianië // Lisa Lois - Smoke
BJSC 66: Persephonia // Jade Blue and Frequency - Lately (Vox Mix)
BJSC 67: Persephonia // Jay Dabhi and Moises Modesto - Cry For Freedom
BJSC 68: D'yermak'er // RABBII - Why Can't I Be You
BJSC 69: Elëdan // The Midnight - The Years (Prologue)
BJSC 70: Oslol // FEMM - Whiplash
BJSC 71: #00274E // KARA - Mamma Mia
BJSC 72: Persephonia // Dawn Richard - Tide: The Paradox Effect
BJSC 73: Republic of Adonia // Martin Solveig and GTA - Intoxicated
BJSC 74: Desbuanda // CAPPA - Hush (feat. Almighty Chief)
BJSC 75: Kathaldazia // Northbrook - On A Train
BJSC 76: Tinnmark // Sandra Lyng - Play My Drum
BJSC 77: Séyetana // Stellar - Vibrato
BJSC 78: Jadakissnia // AK and LYNX - Virtual Paradise (feat. Veela)
BJSC 79: Jadakissnia // jj - All White Everything
BJSC 80: Greenfroze // Bear Mountain - Hopeful
BJSC 81: Dobago // Imany - Don't Be So Shy (Filatov & Karas Remix)
BJSC 82: Séyetana // Jeff Williams - Mirror Mirror (White Trailer) (feat. Casey Lee Williams)
BJSC 83: Daehun // GFRIEND - Rough
BJSC 84: Terra Avium // Hiatus - Precious Little
BJSC 85: Persephonia // Color Guard - In Your Bones
BJSC 86: Dobago // Albin Myers and Carli - The Legend
BJSC 87: Jadakissnia // FM-84 - Arcade Summer
BJSC 88: Séyetana // Kalafina - to the beginning
BJSC 89: Ashton // Coco Morier - Dreamer
BJSC 90: Trifoski // Oliver - Electrify (feat. Scott Mellis)
BJSC 91: Aesthetica // Wonder Girls - I Feel You
BJSC 92: Hendinia // Troll - Jimmy Dean
BJSC 93: Altyr Muunilinst // Man Without Country - Laws Of Motion (feat. White Sea)
BJSC 94: Ultraviolenceland // Rebecca & Fiona - Shotgun
BJSC 95: #00274E // Pale Waves - There's A Honey
BJSC 96: Azure //Patent Pending - Hey Mario

Thank you very much to Bré for providing the list of entries to get top marks, the results will be revealed 5 at a time, until we get to the top 10 for both which shall be done individually so hopefully will only take until August 2019 to complete, feel free to speculate as to what you think will do well, or completely ignore it like when I posted potentials, either ways is cools :whistle:

COMING SOON

Ooh with three of my most underrated entries in here and some great Quintessan entries in the mix I shall be looking at this with interest. Especially since I can't call what will do well.

Will be interesting to follow this, glad to see 2 of my entries in the reckoning!

 

Hope to see Genesis perform well but most especially 1/M/T, definitely put that as my fave of yours since I joined.

Ani Glass, Avec Sans and Mirror Talk to slay out of your own entries.

 

I completely forgot that you were one of the five people who gave 'Arcade Summer' an 18 :o brilliant that I have 3 18s from you in the running :heart:

I shall make sure to follow this x Hooray for receiving your 12/18 four times *.* 2 of those are obviously much more ~classique~ than the other 2, though I still have a ton of love for 'Lately' as well (and 'In Your Bones' is still fab but not one of my better entries).

NORDA & MIKE DE VILLE REPRESENT

 

 

Quintessa have gone eurodance/electroswing for our 41st entry, I think this entry's fun and catchy as hell, probably our most commercial entry of the year so far. It won't feature in our countdown which is hopefully starting tonight, and I have a feeling that my bottom picks for both will be unpopular, but hey ho.

~~~~~~AWAY~~~~~~

 

 

40: BJSC 65: Jukianië // Lisa Lois - Smoke, Actual Finish: 26th

39: BJSC 63: Zechonia // Árstíðir - Shades, Actual Finish: 16th

38: BJSC 72: Persephonia // Dawn Richard - Tide: The Paradox Effect, Actual Finish: 4th

37: BJSC 76: Tinnmark // Sandra Lyng - Play My Drum, Actual Finish: 2nd

36: BJSC 69: Elëdan // The Midnight - The Years (Prologue), Actual Finish: 2nd

 

This section features three top 5 finishes so may prove to be somewhat diversive, but I'm keeping this list honest, and there are no songs I dislike in this list, otherwise they wouldn't have got my 12, but they just don't compete with the others. Kicking us off is Jukianië with "Smoke" by Lisa Lois. I can see why i'd give this my top vote as it's not's the type of song that gets entered into BJSC often,and I like to encourage more singer-songwriter type of songs. On reflection, however the singer's voice grates on me a little, especially in the middle.

 

Next up we have the much missed Zechonia, who usually got some points from me, but this was only one to get the full whack, it was probably the strings that drew me to this one, and as I said there's no bad songs in this list, but this one I think would benefit either different vocals or by being purely instrumental.

 

The first of Persephonia's four entries to fall, and probably Bre's favourite of the four, but although I always enjoy it upon listening to it I can't usually recall it hours later, and is that which unfortunately puts it into my bottom 5.

 

Next up the first of two runners up, Sandra Lyng representing Tinnmark, Play My Drum finished second to "Easy Love" by Sigala, which was one of my least favourite winners at the time but i've grown to like it more, whilst this has gone a bit down, it's fair enough, but nothing special to it, although maybe it was of it's time as I certainly liked it more back then.

 

Finishing us off this section is The Midnight, which if I hadn't done a listen through prior to this ranking would have been in my top 10, however I'm missing the WOW factor which I thought it had the last time, I think a lot of this is "Jason", the Midnight track sent to Masquerade by Riser, surpassing it in my estimations (by a large margin), also as a track it meanders for a good minute which is never good.

 

 

Nah my favourite of my 4 songs in this is 'Cry For Freedom' by miiiiles (that's my fave entry of all) - as long as that isn't in the next post I'm happy :magic: I do prefer Dawn to my other two songs here but the important thing is it got your 12 in the first place so it can't be that bad xx I can understand you not remembering it that well as it is a bit of a subtle song, not one I expected to do near as well as it did.

 

I never really got into 'The Years (Prologue)', 'Jason' was far better imo. Also don't really remember 'Shades'. The other two songs here are both pretty good although didn't vote for either of them.

~~~~~~HOME~~~~~~

 

 

40: BJSC 65: Daniel Steinberg - Let Me Down (Tube & Berger Remix), Actual Finish: DNQ (21st in Semi)

39: BJSC 38: Bodies Of Water - Like A Stranger: Actual Finish: DNQ (21st in Semi)

38: BJSC 67: Kamil Sutra - Watch The Sunrise (feat. Lin), Actual Finish: DNQ (22nd in Semi)

37: BJSC 34: Panic! At The Disco - Oh Glory, Actual Finish: DNQ (18th in Semi)

36: BJSC 63: Pia Mia - Red Love, Actual Finish: DNQ (26th in Semi)

 

Now this list is again, hard to order, if i didn't like this songs in the first place I wouldn't have sent them, however I don't think I would send these five given a second chance, whereas they may be some less loved songs still to come which i'd keep.

 

So kicking us off is "Let Me Down" which may seem an odd song to rank at my bottom, but I never go back to it, even through listening my entries I find it somewhat of a chore to get through, I probably just sent it trying to get a qualification which A. clearly didn't work and B. Isn't the right attitude to have with BJSC and something I wouldn't replicate.

 

At #39 is my last song before my big break from the contest, "Like A Stranger" and probably the straw that broke the camel's back, as I percieved myself as being a poor misunderstood country, who got routinely overlooked by the cool cliquey country, truth be told even though I wanted to enter the contests I had no idea how to go about it, and sent this indie song which is decent but nothing standoutish. I do remember Ghosty I think loving it though and put it into his overall EOY countdown that year, of course, I can't find any evidence of this but I remember it happening, goddammit.

 

Next up, "Watch The Sunrise", and this entry is something I should remember when I describe an entry as generic as this is the most generic entry I've sent with a good hook, but weak vocals. I remember entering this as I found it from the same source as I did "Who You Are" (by far my most well recieved entry at the time), which just goes to show you not to be lazy when looking for sources.

 

Then we have P!ATD with an album track of one of my favourite albums of that particular few months, still good song, but hardly the most inspired entry and it's not even my favourite of THAT album (anymore)

 

And to finish tonight we have my returning song to contest "Red Love" by the at-that-time unknown Pia Mia, it's a decent enough ballad but it's not something which really feels too Quintessa to me, I know that I lack a specific sound for my country as I bounce around lots of genres (landing at synthpop a lot of the time), but this just feels out of place.

 

Join me next July with the second part of this countdown!