Avalanche City "Prayed For Love"

113

 

Discovered: ZM

 

This feels like a risk, but a safe entry didn't seem right this month despite the circumstances. Actually when you're in our position everything sounds like a risk! So no expectations for this one. We're probably going to have a string of consecutive entries from Australia/NZ, this being the second, unless we do something special for our 50th contest next month (although it won't be an anniversary entry as it appears those need to be submitted two months in advance, oops x)

 

Do the damn thing Avalanche City! :cheer:

Avalanche City "Prayed For Love"

113

 

Discovered: ZM

Semifinal Result: 18th

Final Result: 37th - 128 points

 

Voters

12 points: Alteria, Wholune

11 points: Arcodesia, Daehun, FSR Rontvia

9 points: Greenfroze, Kylienips

8 points: Jupiterdonia, Tartford

7 points: Singerpurear, Suedeonia

6 points: Aelandor

5 points: Danaeviia

4 points: New Lexico

3 points: Florina, Kluminican Republic

1 point: Deandria, Unovia

 

Okay this time we REALLY accomplished the thing! :cheer: Really glad that this one found its fanbase, even despite finishing 6th from last and not getting any medal positions. Belated thanks to the countries above!

 

So next is our 50th contest and we're as ill-prepared as ever, what better way to celebrate than to have our delegates plan last-minute in true Harmonican fashion. So stay tuned but don't hold your breath!

Sally "Calculated"

114

 

Discovered: ZM

Semifinal Result: 24th

 

Here it is, our 50th BJSC entry! We were going to select from our favorite rejected potentials of the last 5 years, but in the end those songs weren't sent for a reason so they'll remain that way for now. Instead we went for female pure pop just as we did for our first entry in 64. Sounds a bit out of place having already listened to the semifinal twice, but just having an actual melody made it stand out in a good way. Did we calculate this entry correctly? (Edit: we didn't :nocheer:)

 

(Speaking of which, I definitely mis-calculated earlier and only just realized we broke our record-longest Q streak last month. I was deliberately not mentioning that to avoid it being jinxed, but it's safe to do so now so YAY *.*)

Flight Facilities feat. Dustin Tebbutt "All Your Love"

115

 

Discovered: Rock FM Lusaka

Semifinal Result: 22nd

 

Well, our Q streak has reset to zero which means we're back in our comfort zone. Finally it's time to send the song that's been our backup entry for the past several contests - it genuinely has been at least seven! There's always been another song that felt more right at the time, but maybe this one isn't as risky as we thought. Edit: it was :( Discovered from the same source that gave us For King & Country "Joy.", our biggest smash to date, so that's one thing going for it. Give Harmonica all your love please!!!

Benee "Want Me Back"

116

 

Discovered: Probably YouTube, July 2019

Semifinal Result: 26th

 

Our latest New Zealand-based entry comes from BENEE, the artist behind the hit 'Soaked' (who since changed her name a little bit). Long story short, the rest of her EP wasn't very BJSC-friendly so I went with my personal fave. It didn't do well but a few of our other potentials did! (We passed on 'I'm Good', didn't think it sounded like a hit let alone a winner, ah well :lol:)

Black Atlass "If They Only Knew"

117

 

Discovered: Spotify (recommended by my cousin), July 2019

Semifinal Result: 25th

 

My first time sending one of my Unknown Pleasures artists to another contest! This song was discovered almost by accident on a recent road trip. Not exactly confident with the semi draw that we got...but we'll see! (Edit: :nocheer:)

Joseph "Fighter"

118

 

Discovered: The Summit FM, June-ish 2019

Semifinal Result: 25th

 

Been saving this for a couple months and it's STILL growing on me with every listen! We sent Joseph three years ago with "White Flag" to a roaring top 20 success, and the trio has come back with somehow possibly an even better song. This failing to break our DNQ streak shows there's truly no justice in the world. THAT SECOND CHORUS THO. :wub:

Sophie And The Giants "Space Girl"

119

 

Discovered: Soundcloud, October 2019

Semifinal Result: 23rd

 

After too many DNQs in a row, Harmonica had to stop getting emotionally invested in their entries, and instead waited until the last day or so of confirmations to discover a song worth sending. It was a great find to be fair, with Sophie's voice fitting somewhere between Florence Welch and Alice Merton, and that hook sounding like "Ship To Wreck" too! BJSC continued to not care, but that's okay. Sophie could well be back soon as she has another worthy song selection!

 

 

Voice Of The Beehive "Scary Kisses"

120

 

Discovered: Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 90s Edition

 

Finally our first 90s entry!! This song has been known in Harmonica since 2013, somehow this mostly-British band landed a #77 hit in America after their UK chart career had ended. It's a total earworm and will easily be one of our favorite entries ever. We can only hope there's some pop and 90s appreciation in our semifinal!

Voice Of The Beehive "Scary Kisses"

120

 

Discovered: Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 90s Edition

Semifinal Result: 13th

Final Result: 20th - 152 points

 

Voters

18 points: FSR Rontvia

13 points: Espen

12 points: Aeroche, Singerpurear, Trifoski, Wholune

9 points: Altyr Muunilinst, Fljotavik

8 points: Persephonia, Seyetana

7 points: Niceland, Terra Avium

5 points: Jupiterdonia, Rolloland

4 points: Hushkanukia

3 points: New Lexico, Ojnoj, Summericia

2 points: Aelandor

 

This post serves two purposes: First, a reminder that THIS SONG IS IN TBO AND YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR IT (as well as Flight Facilities' 'All Your Love', which was our best-performing DNQ of 2019 and made it through the first round of heats)! Second, celebrating that it was Harmonica's most successful entry of the year (i.e. our only top 20 hit) and deservedly so! Many thanks to those listed above, including what I believe is the only 18 we've received all year.

 

Stay tuned as we update our voting history and announce our top 50 favorite entries of 2019!

Before we can move on to 2020 we have to wrap up 2019! This was one of our two favorite years of BJSC, if not our favorite altogether! Almost every contest was a way higher quality than average and our 18-pointers were always incredibly strong. However, Harmonica itself has been rather aimless and uninspired as of late. We are considering a break from the contest in the near future for this reason, but if the contest continues to be great in 2020 it will be tough to drop out! The best part is supporting our favorite entries, so on that note let's do just that!

 

HARMONICA'S FAVORITE ENTRIES OF 2019

 

 

1. Vulkyria - Xenomania pts. Paige Cavell "Predators & Monsters"

2. Altyr Muunilinst - SOAK "Maybe"

3. Florina - Moyka "Colder"

4. Botanikka - Tamia "Stranger In My House (Thunderpuss Club Mix)"

5. Ojnoj - Ben Platt "RAIN"

6. Scherzland - Kah-lo "Exit Sign"

7. Trifoski - Marianas Trench Ft. Roger Joseph Manning Jr. "Echoes of You"

8. Thelonia - Openside "Character Flaws"

9. New Lexico - chloe mk "To Be Young"

10. Skall - Nadia Rose "Skwod"

 

If you know Harmonica you know we love Norwegian artists (Ary, Anna of the North, Emilie Nicolas, and now Moyka) and just about anything from New Zealand (most of our 2019 entries, plus Openside on this list). But the best country of ALL this year was Vulkyria, earning two of our 18s and appearing consistently in our votes. Well done!

 

The rest of our top 50 will come in the next few days. (Also we've still got two entries in TBO!! Keep voting for us xx)

Openside! :heart: :heart:

HARMONICA'S FAVORITE ENTRIES OF 2019 (CONTINUED)

 

11. St. Burbia - The New Respects "Trouble"

12. Hushkanukia - Marion Raven "We Are W.I.T.C.H."

13. Ultraviolenceland - SHAED "Trampoline"

14. Unovia - Ingrid Michaelson "Missing You"

15. Kluminican Republic - KSHMR, B3nte and Badjack "The Spook Returns"

16. Oslol - Havana Brown "BaBing"

17. Ramrynia - ELM "Fear"

18. FARC - Kokiri "Other Side Of Love"

19. Vulkyria - Tom Ferry and Lisa Ajax "Off My Mind"

20. Republique d'Askorza - Mutya Keisha Siobhan "Only You"

21. FSR Rontvia - Spinifex Gum with Marliya Choir "Sisters"

22. East Rukahavian - Jenni Vartiainen "Made In Heaven"

23. United States of Jack - Kiana Ledé feat. Offset "Bouncin"

24. Scherzland - Molly Hammar feat. Kim Cesarion "Show Me"

25. Persephonia - Baiuca feat. Aliboria "Olvídame"

26. Espen - Sho Madjozi "Huku"

27. FSR Rontvia - Swim Deep "To Feel Good"

28. United States of Jack - M.O "Ex At The Party"

29. Aesthetica - Niki And Gabi "Hair Tie"

30. Bhangra - Four Of Diamonds "Eating Me Up"

31. #00274E - EVA "Touch Me"

32. Wholune - Hey Violet "Clean"

33. New Lexico - Anja Kotar "Brain"

34. St. Burbia - Glowie "Cruel"

35. Hushkanukia - Dami Im "Fighting For Love"

36. Republique d'Askorza - Elley Duhé "Fever"

37. The Actual Republic of Bellamia - CXLOE and gnash "Sick"

38. Jadakissnia - Pharao "I Show You Secrets"

39. Oslol - Alyssa Reid "Satisfaction Guaranteed"

40. Greenfroze - EVERGLOW "Adios"

41. Oslol - Eden xo "Have It All (F9 Club Mix)"

42. Oslol - Eliza And The Bear "Winter In New York"

43. The Actual Republic of Bellamia - Lewis Blissett "Killing Butterflies"

44. Brechtoria - Wafia "I'm Good"

45. Jupiterdonia - LÉON "You And I"

46. Aeroche - Tommy Trash feat. Anna Lunoe "Me & U"

47. Greenfroze - Perfume "Everyday"

48. Suedeonia - whenyoung "The Others"

49. Taahino - State Champs "Criminal"

50. Eledan - Erika Lundmoen "Yad"

 

It was a record year for our unsent potentials being sent by other countries - "Bouncin" and "I'm Good" from this list, plus "Diane" (Dobago), "Fade Out" (TARO Bellamia), "Final Form" (Persephonia), and "Can't Do It" (St. Burbia). Passing up on smashes is our new talent I suppose. Sorry if your country's not on this list, but you're probably somewhere on the year-end playlist which is 182 songs total!

you gave me 13 points so apology not accepted

Robinson "Don't Say"

121

 

Discovered: ZM, January 2020

 

We actually nearly sent a Robinson song two years ago, shortly after 'Don't You Forget About Me' which is now in our all-time fave territory. This entry is more of a happy accident as we were blissfully unaware it was the exact same Robinson who won a few contests back. :blush: She qualified for us anyway, so we've got our Q streak back! How far can she go in the final?

Robinson "Don't Say"

121

 

Discovered: ZM, January 2020

Semifinal Result: 12th

Final Result: 26th - 137 points

 

Voters

15 points: Taahino

13 points: Ultraviolenceland

12 points: Ojnoj, Oslol, Ramrynia, Unovia

10 points: Singerpurear

8 points: Altyr Muunilinst

7 points: FSR Rontvia, Republique d'Askorza

6 points: New Lexico, Wholune

5 points: Summericia

4 points: Flynnonda

3 points: St. Burbia, Yehesi

2 points: Aelandor, Aeroche

 

Okay, apparently I didn't post any commentary here. But thanks as always to the voters!

Burcu Gunes "Ufo"

122

 

Discovered: YouTube, February 2020

Semifinal Result: 24th

 

OUR FIRST FOREIGN LANGUAGE ENTRY!!! We discovered a different Burcu Gunes song at a Turkish restaurant, Shazamed it, went through her other songs and eventually came across this gem. A definite earworm, it seemed to have potential but alas the Harmonican racism spoke louder -_-

Leland & VINCINT "Middle Of Love"

123

 

Discovered: at Walgreens on March 18th doing my panic-buying before the inevitable stay-at-home orders were announced :lol:

Semifinal Result: 30th

 

With 'Blinding Lights' at #1, 'Physical' top 3 and 'Break Up Song' top 10, an 80s-sounding song seemed like a good idea (ignoring that we didn't have many potentials to pick from anyway!). Instead, we finished last in the semi. Whoops!

 

Selah Sue "Always Home (Sorry Remix)"

124

 

Discovered: Soundcloud/YouTube, Summer 2016

Semifinal Result: 26th

 

It's our 60th entry!!! We went for something special this time after not doing so for our 50th anniversary entry. This has been a potential since Summer 2016 but you can tell it's a very unique-sounding remix, and could easily go unappreciated. Well, with how we'd done the past two contests and three of our other potentials being taken, there was nothing to lose, and yet we lost anyway. An ASMR-friendly entry *.*

Overcoats "Fire & Fury"

125

 

Discovered: YouTube

 

Here is Harmonica back in its element, sending not just its preferred genre of pop-rock but a song by a duo. We love a duo! Overcoats hope to follow the footsteps of Holychild, Kaneholler, For King & Country, and most recently Voice Of The Beehive to grab the attention of BJSC. Feeling confident about this one for a change, that's never a good sign is it? :o

 

Sky is falling but we'll get through it :music:

I hope this does do well Jordan. Sounded great to me amongst an already fab semi!

Overcoats "Fire & Fury"

125

 

Discovered: YouTube

Semifinal Result: 11th

Final Result: 26th - 148 points

 

Voters

15 points: Singerpurear

13 points: Wholune

12 points: Jayrusalem

11 points: Summericia

10 points: Ultraviolenceland

9 points: Lotunia

8 points: Why So Sirius

7 points: Greenfroze, New Lexico, Republique d'Askorza

6 points: Hushkanukia, Rolloland, Trifoski

5 points: Niceland, Tartford, The Actual Republic of Bellamia

4 points: FSR Rontvia, Persephonia, Ramrynia

2 points: Jupiterdonia

1 point: Jadakissnia, St. Burbia

 

...and get through it we did! Breaking a 3-month DNQ streak was a much needed victory for Harmonica. Don't be surprised if we send Overcoats again in the future :o