2024

 

Entries:

Sheryl Crow "Am I Getting Through (Pt. I & II)" - 23rd

Sadie Jean "Locksmith" - 38th

Foster The People "Miss You" - 30th

Alessia Cara "I'm Yours" - 23rd

 

I'd been saving the Sheryl Crow song as a possible AQ for a long time, maybe a little too optimistic that I'd ever get an AQ but sure enough, its destiny is finally fulfilled! "Locksmith" is my only 2024 entry that's from this decade, as I returned to throwbacks/all-time faves to celebrate Harmonica's anniversary. Back to our usual mid-to-lower-half results, but at least all of these qualified!

 

Top 10 Faves:

1. FARC - Quarterhead & Norma Jean Martine "Throw Me Out The Club"

2. East Rukahavian - The River Indigo "Riptide"

3. St. Burbia - Zeina "Hooked"

4. Yobnedorica - Johnny Verweij "Klompendans"

5. Jupiterdonia - Hayla "Fall Again"

6. Aelandor - Mike Shinoda "Already Over"

7. Aelandor - Des Rocs "Let Me Live / Let Me Die"

8. Aeroche - SONIKKU feat. Rakky Ripper "Wonky"

9. Ben's Sanctuary - Ross Quinn "The Otherside"

10. Greenfroze - ID:Earth "Aliens"

 

Honorable Mentions:

POPHub - Catty "I Dated A Monster"

Bøtanikkä - Dolly Style "Mi Amor"

 

This is all super early and this list will change significantly by the end of the year, but for completeness' sake the above list is where things stand after my 100th contest.

 

Alessia Cara "I'm Yours"

164

 

Semifinal result: 4th

Final result: 23rd - 166 points

 

Voters

18 points: Herbilore

13 points: Niceland, Singerpurear

12 points: POPHub

11 points: FARC, Lotunia, St. Burbia

10 points: Taahino

8 points: Greenfroze

7 points: Chestoria, Lookylion, Tartford

6 points: Kyriatine

5 points: Cor Lupus, Kluminican Republic

4 points: Aeroche, Altyr Muunilinst, East Rukahavian, Republique d'Askorza

3 points: Hendinia

1 point: Land of DW, Yobnedorica

 

Our anniversary entry definitely benefited from being in the right semifinal, with a 4th place semi result! With the same amount of points (77) we'd have missed the top 10 in the opposite semifinal. As a result it was impossible to repeat a top-5 finish in the final, but there was still plenty of love for this song which was greatly appreciated! Considering our 50th entry didn't even qualify, this was a great improvement, as we celebrated extending our Q streak yet again.

 

Crazy to be closing the chapter on Harmonica's first decade! What does the second decade hold? More old entries? More new entries? A hiatus? Honestly, just taking it one entry at a time for now. We are heading to Bøtanikkä for BJSC165, so stay tuned!

Cartoon & Jéja feat. Jüri Pootsmann "I Remember U"

165

 

Discovered: Raider Radio, May 2024

Semifinal result: 21st

 

Harmonica began its next 100 contests with its first ever drum & bass entry! Also, just like our very first entry 10 years ago, it was discovered via college radio (as was 'The Cure' in 2016 and 'Plot Twist' in 2018). And I'm just now learning it was an Estonian airplay #1! We weren't overly optimistic about this entry, and while it did indeed end our near-record Q streak, it actually fell just one place short and was only a few points away from qualifying! Not bad after using up all of our best potentials.

Bully "Atom Bomb"

166

 

Discovered: The Summit, May 2024

Semifinal result: 25th

 

Finally sending a song from the current year, in fact it's Harmonica's first time sending an entry released in 2024! 'Atom Bomb' stopped me in my tracks on first listen, and you'll understand why once you hear it for yourself. It's one of our slowest entries to date, but sometimes piano ballads do very well in BJSC - Freya Ridings anyone? Turns out Bully was actually sent once before, by Flynnonda back in 2015. That entry 'Trying' finished 35th in its semifinal, whereas BJSC 166 had only 28 entries in each semi, so this would be a better result by default! Unfortunately we still finished 4th from last, it deserved much better but tbf Semi 1 (and the contest as a whole) was very very strong.

Ayokay "Leave With My Love"

167

 

Discovered: Zambian radio, July 2024

 

This is our sixth entry to come from being discovered on Zambian radio! We have mixed success with dance entries but a handful of them have actually done well, can this be one of them?

Ayokay "Leave With My Love"

167

 

Semifinal result: 20th

Final result: 39th - 105 points

 

Voters

18 points: Ben's Sanctuary, Niceland

11 points: Kyriatine

10 points: Bronzil, Land of DW

9 points: POPHub, Republique d'Askorza

8 points: Thelonia

5 points: Singerpurear

4 points: Botanikka

2 points: Herbilore

1 point: Cadelicia

 

We were off to a great start at first, but succumbed to a points drought as the results went on, and found ourselves 3rd from last by the end. Oh well, at least we broke our 2-contest DNQ streak. And some of you genuinely loved 'Leave With My Love' so it was definitely worth sending. Thanks for the points!

 

Blondfire "True Confessions"

168

 

Discovered: Unknown/can't remember :(

 

Did we send the most Taahino-friendly song in our potentials? Yes. Is it a mystery how it got in our potentials in the first place? Also yes. Blondfire has appeared in BJSC once before, actually representing Kylienips on their 100th contest, however that entry did not qualify for them. Let's see if Harmonica can avenge that result nearly 7 years later? We like to avenge things x

Leave With My Love was a great song, thanks for introducing!

 

Just clocked True Confessions as well - quite the blast from the past! Just dug out one of my old voting charts it appeared in:

 

Blondfire "True Confessions"

168

 

Semifinal result: 8th

Final result: 19th - 176 points

 

Voters

13 points: Eastovka, New Lexico, Niceland

12 points: Aeroche, Macromia

11 points: Aelandor

10 points: Cheiron, Taahino

9 points: Kluminican Republic

8 points: Botanikka

7 points: Bronzil, Jupiterdonia, Singerpurear

6 points: Ajanaeda, Ben's Sanctuary, Fljotavik

5 points: Danaeviia, Hushkanukia

4 points: Cumulonimbia, Herbilore, Zanmatony

2 points: Land Of DW

1 point: FSR Rontvia, Republique d'Askorza

 

Once again, the charitable nation of Harmonica has given a second chance to an artist that previously flopped, and reversed their fortunes! My true confession is that very little was expected of this entry, especially with other female rock competing in the same contest. Instead it's our biggest hit and first top 20 of the year so far! The moral of this story: don't be afraid to reach into the bottom of your potentials list. In fact we may have just done that again...

 

Sampa The Great feat. Angelique Kidjo "Let Me Be Great"

169

 

Discovered: Zambian radio, November 2022

 

From a Kylienips artist recycle to a Persephonia artist recycle. 'Final Form' was a song we liked prior to it being in BJSC, but never would've been brave enough to send. This time, after nearly two years of being a backup entry, it's time to see how Sampa can do a second time around. Also, after over 5 years of sending entries that were discovered on Zambian radio, we're proud to finally be sending a Zambian artist!

hoping that mother Angélique Kidjo can come top 15 again

hoping that mother Angélique Kidjo can come top 15 again

Thank you I should have mentioned 'Agolo' *.*

 

Sampa The Great feat. Angelique Kidjo "Let Me Be Great"

169

 

Semifinal result: 18th

Final result: 38th - 94 points

 

Voters

12 points: The Spodic Empire

11 points: FARC, POPHub, Skall

10 points: Ajanaeda, Eastovka

7 points: Cumulonimbia

6 points: Kluminican Republic

5 points: Aesthetica

3 points: Conoria, Herbilore

2 points: Fljotavik, Lotunia

1 point: Trifoski

 

Well, we're back to our usual territory of bottom 10, bottom 5 even, but that's okay! Sampa and Angelique are now 2/2 on qualifiers as they deserve *.* It was always going to be a niche entry, in fact 2/3 of our points came from just 6 countries, so really just getting through the semifinals was a victory in itself. Glad it was worth saving as a potential for this long! On our way to Terra Avium now as we speak :o

Daniel Allan feat. Lyrah "I Just Need"

170

 

Discovered: Buick commercial, 2024

 

Sending another backup potential this month! This song features in what must be the most-played car commercial in the US this year. The drop definitely got my attention and made me curious to find out how it'd translate to the BJSC audience. It sounds like it came from 2016 and would've been a lot bigger back then. On the other hand, it's already through the semifinal and into the final, so maybe it still has hit potential after all!

Daniel Allan feat. Lyrah "I Just Need"

170

 

Semifinal result: 19th

Final result: 42nd - 82 points

 

Voters

18 points: Ben's Sanctuary

12 points: Cor Lupus

10 points: Hushkanukia

9 points: Cadelicia, Land of DW

6 points: Greenfroze, Jupiterdonia, POPHub

4 points: Aeroche

2 points: Hinterlandia

 

The bad news, we end the year in last place! But the good news, we also had our 8th qualification of the year, the most Harmonica has ever had in one year in its history! The last time we finished 42nd was with Blondage 'Dive' back in 2017, and it's safe to say that one was a much more infamous wooden spoon (although 'I Just Need' was a backup entry for perhaps our most embarrassing veto to date :ph34r: ). Nevertheless, just those 82 points were enough for Harmonica to reach #36 in the EOY, our third-best EOY result ever!

 

Our voting history has been updated and, for Points Given, FARC and Hendinia remain 1st and 2nd respectively, but Altyr Muunilinst overtakes St. Burbia for 3rd place. For Points Received, République d'Áskorza and Singerpurear remain 1st and 2nd, but we have change to the top 3 in the form of Niceland, who overtakes the absent Ramrynia for 3rd.

 

As per tradition, Harmonica's favorite entries of the year are being compiled as we speak, so stay tuned for that!

HARMONICA'S FAVORITE ENTRIES OF 2024

 

 

1. Altyr Muunilinst - Cassyette "Over It"

2. Greenfroze - Chung Ha "I'm Ready"

3. FARC - Quarterhead, Norma Jean Martine "Throw Me Out The Club"

4. Jupiterdonia - Hayla "Fall Again"

5. FSR Rontvia - Beast In Black "Power Of The Beast"

6. Yobnedorica - Johnny Verweij "Klompendans"

7. Bøtanikkä - Dolly Style "Mi Amor"

8. Aelandor - Mike Shinoda "Already Over"

9. St. Burbia - Zeina "Hooked"

10. POPHub - Hayla "Freefall"

 

Congrats to the 10 countries with an entry in our top 10! It's a wildly diverse list as usual with dance/EDM, Beast In Black, and...an accordion player. :cheeseblock: Any of the top 3 could've won but we're giving the top spot to Cassyette! Sending Mike Shinoda was a surefire way to get Harmonica points, and I had the pleasure of hearing Zeina's 'Hooked' on actual Canadian radio whilst in Canada! The big story of the year was Hayla - she got two 15s from us, falling just short of an 18 both times, but makes up for it here with both of them in the top 10! 'Fall Again' and two others here are from 161 and benefit greatly from fond memories of hosting that contest :wub:

 

Songs 11-50 will be posted next when they're ready!

HARMONICA'S FAVORITE ENTRIES OF 2024 (CONTINUED)

 

11. Bøtanikkä - CXLOE "Shapeshifter"

12. Zanmatony - Dreamwake "Memories"

13. Mothertopia - Leah Kate "But I Lied"

14. Ben's Sanctuary - Ross Quinn "The Otherside"

15. Aeroche - Rêve "Saturn Return"

16. POPHub - CATTY "I Dated A Monster"

17. Taahino - Nicolina "Situations"

18. East Rukahavian - The River Indigo "Riptide"

19. Aelandor - Des Rocs "Let Me Live / Let Me Die"

20. Aeroche - SONIKKU feat. Rakky Ripper "Wonky"

21. Mothertopia - Nell Mescal "Drive"

22. New Lexico - Bambie Thug "Tsunami (11:11)"

23. Dobago - MEZZ & Nakamura Minami "ROYAL MILK TEA"

24. Jupiterdonia - School Of Seven Bells "Ablaze"

25. Taahino - Chrissy Costanza "If Looks Could Kill"

26. Ingermanlandia - Rexalted "Astral"

27. Greenfroze - ID:Earth "ALIENS"

28. Hushkanukia - ADÉLA "SUPERSCAR"

29. Summericia - Kissimjau "Go Ghost"

30. Thelonia - Killen. & Oaks "Love You Better"

31. Aeroche - REIN "How's It Gonna Be?"

32. Altyr Muunilinst - Mia Wray "The Way She Moves"

33. République d'Áskorza - Julie Bergan "Dive"

34. New Lexico - Cimberly "bye bye bye"

35. Trifoski - ericdoa "dancinwithsomebawdy"

36. POPHub - Freemasons feat. Wynter Gordon "Believer"

37. Trifoski - Bickle "Naked"

38. Danæviia - Adrianne Lenker "Ruined"

39. Land of DW - BENNETT "Lullaby"

40. Cadelicia - Caribou "Broke My Heart"

41. Danæviia - Aaron Hibell & Felsmann + Tiley "levitation (icelandic extended version)"

42. Altyr Muunilinst - Alice Merton "run away girl"

43. Holland-Oats - Hellcat Speedracer & Millie Ford "Lovestruck"

44. Kluminican Republic - Chloé Caillet & SG Lewis "B Somebody"

45. Cadelicia - LE SSERAFIM "Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's wife"

46. Neliönoir - Ela Minus "BROKEN"

47. Daehun - (G)I-DLE "Queencard"

48. Pestolia - ThxSoMch "When The Devil Speaks..."

49. FARC - Keli Holiday & Alex Cameron "Online Jesus"

50. Ben's Sanctuary - Glockenbach & Öwnboss feat. Jazz Montell "Secrets"

 

With the top 50 now fully revealed, Aeroche, Altyr Muunilinst and POPHub tie for the most entries with 3 each. There are several entries that were already well-known prior to BJSC, and those have been omitted (from the top 50) to prioritize new discoveries. So honorable mentions go to La Bouche, Allison Iraheta, Loona, The Postal Service, and Dragonforce. And the 161st contest has the most entries by far overall - everyone just sent the best entries when we hosted!

 

This Spotify playlist has the full list in a rough order. If any of your entries received points from Harmonica, they should be somewhere in this top 150!

 

 

HARMONICA ANNOUNCES BJSC HIATUS ☹

 

Unfortunately, Harmonica's pipeline of entries has been running dry over the past year. This could possibly be traced back to Harmonica's botched hosting of 161, as the fallout from that has been ongoing ever since. Court cases and class-action lawsuits are still in the process of being settled, becoming very costly for Harmonica. Understandably, many artists are not wanting to represent our country at this time. After the last several contests of sending half-hearted entries and getting half-hearted results, we must consider our long-term legacy, and with that in mind, it is not in our best interests to continue...for now.

 

Upon Harmonica's eventual return, our selection committee will decide whether to participate intermittently (only in months when we have an entry that meets our committee's standards) or resume competing on a regular monthly basis. Because we love BJSC, our judging panel will continue to listen to the finals and compile provisional votes, so that our favorite entries of the year countdown (see above) can continue and not be incomplete.

 

This hiatus could be as short as a month, or as long as a full year or more. However, it is important that we come back on our own terms. Any PMs or invitations from other delegations will not be acknowledged, except for the purpose of extending our hiatus even further. Our delegation also kindly requests that someone else can temporarily take over the posting of the YouTube playlists. Thank you for understanding and we look forward to competing again! ^_^

Hope the hiatus isn’t too long. Harmonica have been a regular points score with the Herbilore vote

Can we have Harmonica back please? 🤭