Still Corners "Black Lagoon"

147

 

Discovered: Can't remember, but Shazamed it somewhere!

 

This was going to be an Unknown Pleasures entry until finding out Still Corners weren't unknown after all, having already been sent to BJSC...10 years ago almost to the exact month! How exciting to introduce them to a mostly new batch of countries ("new" meaning "nonexistent in 2012"). Can her beautiful Mazzy Star-esque vocals entice enough of them to vote it into the final?

Still Corners "Black Lagoon"

147

 

Semifinal Result: 1st :o :o :o

Final Result: 8th - 221 points

 

Voters

15 points: Kathaldazia, Utopia

13 points: Aquafina, Niceland, Terra Avium

12 points: Botanikka

11 points: Lotunia, Skall, Trifoski

10 points: Aelandor, Beaverdonia, Florina, Persephonia

9 points: Aeroche

8 points: D'yermak'er

7 points: Kluminican Republic

6 points: Varake

5 points: Singerpurear, St. Burbia

4 points: East Rukahavian, Fljotavik, Jadakissnia, N DNTN

3 points: Cumulonimbia, Republic of Adonia, Seyetana

2 points: Oslol

 

Quite likely our most unexpected result of the year! This relatively unassuming song WON THE SEMI, which means Kaneholler 'Paper Games' is no longer our biggest semifinal success - that one was 2nd in the semi but only 21st in the final. 'Black Lagoon' also has a regression but not nearly as bad, holding on to 8th place to become Harmonica's first top 10 since Moyka - Stay last year, and our 5th top 10 overall! Unfortunately not a new position, as we already reached 8th with Meg Mac - Never Be, so we've still only claimed 4/10 top 10 positions. But it's hard to complain when all expectations were outrageously exceeded. (Honestly it means so much that y'all could hear what I hear in this song, so thank you :wub: (that said it would've meant even more to get at least one 18 xx))

Turnstile "Mystery"

148

 

Discovered: 107.3 Alt CLE, May 2022

 

Yes, we're still recycling artists over here! Turnstile previously DNQd for Cowtermont in 124 and finished 23rd for Utopia five contests ago. It's time to give this band a more respectable BJSC peak, but it might be a challenge with this entry being really short! In fact it's our shortest entry to date, clocking in at 2:35 and beating our previous shortest Black Atlass - Do For Love by 4 seconds. That, as well as our second (now third-) shortest, Ary - Already There, were both very unjust DNQs, but hopefully this one can break the curse!

This is a really great entry! It reminds me of Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing in parts.

Turnstile "Mystery"

148

 

Semifinal Result: 11th

Final Result: 28th - 163 points

 

Voters

18 points: Wholune

15 points: Arcodesia, Land of DW, Trifoski

13 points: Utopia

12 points: Flynnonda

11 points: Aelandor, Dobago

9 points: Niceland

8 points: Seyetana, Suedeonia

7 points: Persephonia

6 points: Eastovka

5 points: Quintessa

4 points: Eledan, N DNTN

2 points: Jadakissnia

 

-6 qualifiers this year which, I think, ties our personal best, with 2 more contests yet to go!

-28th is respectable for Turnstile, but not quite beating Turnstile's best, when Utopia sent them and finished 23rd

Hi Jordan, just noticed you put me down as giving Turnstile 15 when it didn't make my votes let alone 15 points :kink:

Hi Jordan, just noticed you put me down as giving Turnstile 15 when it didn't make my votes let alone 15 points :kink:

Fixed, thank you! It was meant to be Arcodesia, they gave their 18 to Summericia so I mistook that as being your own votes :P

 

Bartees Strange "Wretched"

149

 

Discovered: Can't remember (but probably a radio station), September 2022

 

It's a riskier entry than we were hoping for with a Q streak to defend, but go big or go home! 'Wretched' made a big first impression here and keeps growing with each listen, so hopefully it does the same for you. Such a great blend of genres that it's hard to decide what to call it! We seem to be in a pop-heavy semi but fingers crossed the chorus made a big enough impact on the voters.

Bartees Strange "Wretched"

149

 

Semifinal Result: 15th

Final Result: 20th - 167 points

 

Voters

15 points: N DNTN

13 points: Jupiterdonia, POPHub

12 points: Skall

11 points: Land of DW

10 points: Florina, St. Burbia

9 points: Aesthetica, Ben's Sanctuary

8 points: Botanikka, Greenfroze, Wholune

7 points: Mulgracia

5 points: Oslol, Persephonia, Trifoski

4 points: Cumulonimbia, East Rukahavian

3 points: Fljotavik, FSR Rontvia

2 points: Aeroche, Seyetana

1 point: Summericia

 

Interesting...'Wretched' gets only 4 more points than 'Mystery' did just last month, but finishes a whole 8 places higher, scraping into the top 20 as a result which is certainly welcome! Bartees Strange can also be pleased to have avenged the DNQ from the first time he was entered in BJSC. Nothing wretched about that! Thanks to the countries above that voted for it!

Marc Scibilia "Over You"

150

 

Discovered: In concert, November 2022

Semifinal result: 26th

 

When the contest opened, all of our potentials were a bit on the cheap side, which was good for keeping our Q streak intact but none of them really sounded like something we'd send at any other time. I just happened to discover Marc Scibilia that weekend as he was opening for Mat Kearney, and 'Over You' was the very first song in his set. It sounded SO GOOD and suddenly this seemed like it'd be a much more special entry, especially with this being the 150th BJSC contest! Alas, it only got points from three countries and therefore ruined our Q streak, but no regrets sending it at all. Pretty sure we still had a record year with 7/10 finalists (I don't keep track of these things) and we're proud to have all 10 of these in our entry history.

 

Stay tuned for the reveal of our top 50 entries in 2022!

HARMONICA'S FAVORITE ENTRIES OF 2022

 

 

1. Aelandor - Holding Absence "Gravity"

2. Lookylion - Honey. "What Now"

3. Altyr Muunilinst - Cornelia Jakobs "Rise"

4. Kingdom of Horanius - Son Mieux "Multicolor"

5. Oslol - A$H. "I Got The Moves"

6. Dobago - Initi8 "Just Fine"

7. New Lexico - Sub-Radio "Disco"

8. Summericia - Hydrogen Child "Sirens"

9. Wholune - Nightlife "New Low"

10. Aeroche - Abroad "Coffee"

 

Congrats Aelandor!! 'Gravity' remains absolutely incredible and it was without question our favorite entry of the year. But that's nothing against these other nine songs which will also rank high amongst our all-time favorite BJSC entries. :wub: Shoutout to Wholune for making our top 10 three years in a row (last year they were #1 with Greta Van Fleet 'Heat Above') and Oslol for sending a song that was a Harmonica potential for almost two years.

 

Stay tuned, numbers 11 through 50 will be posted later!

HARMONICA'S FAVORITE ENTRIES OF 2022 (CONTINUED)

 

11. Scherzland - OREN "IN YOUR HEAD"

12. Jupiterdonia - Stevie Nicks "I Can't Wait"

13. Arcodesia - Against The Current "Wildfire"

14. Hushkanukia - Moyka "Illusion"

15. Altyr Muunilinst - Leony "Remedy"

16. Hendinia - Eline Noelia "Shockwave"

17. D'yermak'er - Let's Eat Grandma "Happy New Year"

18. Lotunia - M83 feat. Susanne Sundfør "Oblivion"

19. Summericia - Dolores Forever "Party In My Mind"

20. POPHub - MOTHERMARY "Pray (Tensnake Remix)"

21. Hendinia - Rose Gray "Cupid"

22. Summericia - Madison Rose "Thunder"

23. Scherzland - Pure Shores "Back On My Love"

24. République d'Áskorza - Nina Chuba "Average"

25. Quintessa - Eugénie "Vents Contraires"

26. Lookylion - Lights "Okay Okay"

27. Ingermanlandia - Bizarrap & Villano Antillano "Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 51"

28. Beaverdonia - Joy Club "Where's This Love"

29. Oslol - 220 KID & ÁSDÍS "Release"

30. FSR Rontvia - Holy Molly "Shot A Friend"

31. Taahino - Yours Truly "High Hopes"

32. Persephonia - Daughters of Reykjavík "Ógeðsleg"

33. FSR Rontvia - Jadudah "Love You (When You're A Mess)"

34. St. Burbia - Rachel Chinouriri "All I Ever Asked"

35. Singerpurear - BirdSMITH "Kiss It Better"

36. Aesthetica - Alaska Thunderf*** "Beautiful (Night 4 A) Breakdown"

37. Cor Lupus - Third Party feat. Kathy Brown "Joy"

38. Zanmatony - VENUS "Amplifier"

39. East Rukahavian - Client Liaison "Strictly Business"

40. Trifoski - Jockstrap "50/50"

41. Altyr Muunilinst - ALMA "Summer Really Hurt Us"

42. D'yermak'er - Daya "See You In My Dreams"

43. Niceland - Regen "California"

44. D'yermak'er - LP Giobbi & Bklava "Sinner"

45. FSR Rontvia - Jessica Winter "Choreograph"

46. République d'Áskorza - twocolors & Georgie Keller "Feel It 2"

47. FSR Rontvia - Krisu "The Ocean Sings to Me in Turquoise Waves"

48. Botanikka - Ana Mena "Mezzanotte"

49. Persephonia - Hazel English "Hamilton"

50. St. Burbia - Grace Davies "Breathe"

 

It was FSR Rontvia's year, with four entries in our top 50 - that's not the record though, Bhangra had five back in 2018! Altyr Muunilinst, Summericia, and D'yermak'er are close behind with three entries each. It sure seems like we didn't spread our points around very much this year. :blush: As for artists, Moyka has appeared with all of her entries, aside from the one that we sent, of course. Here's a Spotify playlist with every song we voted for last year, so even if none of yours made the top 50, you might still be on the playlist!

2 appearances :maloney: defo was worth finally sending Daughters Of Reykjavík after keeping them as a potential for years just for this moment tbh :jump: and hooray for Hazel squeaking in too.

 

Most of your top 10 doesn't cross over that much with my taste unsurprisingly buuuut your #1 is excellent and was an 18 for me! :heart: Also love to see 'Happy New Year', 'Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 51', 'High Hopes', 'Love You (When You're A Mess)', 'Strictly Business', '50/50' and 'The Ocean Sings To Me In Turquoise Waves' here too.

Natalie "Goin' Crazy"

151

 

Discovered: Radio, sometime in 2005

Semifinal result: 29th

 

When you stay true to sending songs that you truly love, sometimes that means a song from 2005 that you forgot existed until a month ago, but have listened to it more times in that month than you did in the previous 18 years, even though it sounds completely dated now in 2023. We have no Q streak to defend, so why not? Well, it was literally only a worthy discovery for one country who gave it one point (the other 12 came from Cor Lupus who was already a fan). But honestly, no regrets! It's everyone else's loss.

I thought this was released in 2005 :cheeseblock:

I thought this was released in 2005 :cheeseblock:

Oops it actually was, let me edit that :kink: :ph34r:

Melody Gardot "Who Will Comfort Me"

152

 

Discovered: Online, early 2010

Semifinal result: 26th

 

We seem to be stuck in the mid-to-late 2000s around here! This was another re-discovery late last year, obviously it's a jazz song but it has such a country vibe IMO. Of course, this contest turned out to be super competitive, and we fell short by just 4 points, which is still a huge improvement from last month at least! Can we find an actually fresh song to send next time? Stay tuned...

Wilder Woods "Patience"

153

 

Discovered: YouTube, March 2023

Semifinal result: 31st

 

Wilder Woods is the solo stage name of Bear Rinehart, lead singer of NeedToBreathe, a band I've loved since 2008 and sent to Nuggets several years ago. I came across this song on its release day, which was also the day confirmations opened, and by the end of the first chorus I wanted to send it to BJSC! 'Patience' is relatable to Harmonicans as we are one of the most patient nations in all of BJSC, still waiting for our first top-3 hit in a main contest. We manifest a top 3 hit for every entry, but people forget to vote for it, and this month was no exception. :nocheer:

Caroline Jones "Lawless"

154

 

Discovered: Country radio, March 2023

Semifinal result: 24th

 

Here it is, our 90th BJSC entry! It's been several years since we sent a country song, so what better time than now? Fun fact, our 80th entry was called "Loveless" and now our 90th is called "Lawless". Also fun fact, not one, not two, not three, but FOUR Harmonican artists have been recycled this month! And they all ended up in the other semi, but still, must be in honor of our anniversary!

 

Unfortunately, it was a fifth DNQ in a row, but 24th is our best (or "least bad") result of those five...so maybe we're on the rebound?

Sadye "Biblical"

155

 

Discovered: Discover Weekly (or Release Radar, can't remember x), May 2023

Semifinal result: 21st

 

Back to the drawing board for Harmonica. 'Biblical' was the strongest of our options, but Semi 1 seems to be loaded with female pop, and it just didn't quite stand out enough. Still, this is our best result of the year so far, small victories!