I'm quite impressed that you still remember 'Reckless (With Your Love)' given how many of the other songs from these early contests you've apparently forgotten!

 

Also yes it's weird to think that Zedd was once a pretty exciting and unknown act to pop up in BJSC considering what he ended up turning into lol

It's been in a few house compilations and playlists so that's kept it in memory (alongside their better-known 'Hungry For The Power [Jamie Jones Mix]')

Also had a re-release in 2015 for some reason, which reminded me of the song in the first place.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

013 / / / 100

 

BJSC 51

Entry: Hardwell ~ Apollo (feat. Amba Shepherd)

Final: 26th of 31 (52 points)

Semi-Final: 14th of 25 (43 points)

Genre: Big room house

Danævii Chart Run: 3-3-2-6-12-12-19-27-29-47-x-28-33-x

 

Danævii Broadcasting Network: 2013 Bulletins

> Hardwell and Amba Shepherd have represented us in this contest, BJSC 51 hosted by Numayania. However no other countries have faith in this song and believe that it will become another flop for us. Help to prove the doubters wrong by listening, loving and voting.

 

How does it hold up today?

This remains Hardwell's best effort and one of his most well-known tracks. His style got old for me within a couple of years along with the general quality of his music going down but this is one of the best songs of the big room era for sure. We had some redemption for its floppage in a 'Your Best Of' contest where it finished 22nd out of 44 a few years later on.

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12. Ramrynia: Krewella – Alive (4th)

+10. Kluminican Republic: Ace Wilder - Do It! (22nd)

+08. Aeroche: Kate Boy - Northern Lights (1st)

+07. FSR Rontvia: Nádine - I Will Be Strong (24th)

+06. Daehun: Samantha Jade - What You've Done To Me (10th)

+05. Espen: Sasha Go Hard - Pretty Fly (27th)

+04. Mdiče: Music for Sleeping Children – Georgia (11th)

+03. Skall: : Elliphant - Down On Life (9th)

+02. Numayania: Petula Clark – Cut Copy Me (Hitstastic Copy And Paste Remix) (15th)

+01. Hendinia: The Good Natured - 5-HT (8th)

 

Danævii Pick

 

Another big room classic and one that did much better in the contest in 'Alive' remains my favourite here easily. Hardwell even did a remix of this song following the contest.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

014 / / / 100

 

BJSC 52

Entry: Flume ~ Insane (feat. Moon Holiday)

Final: 12th of 30 (107 points) PERSONAL BEST

Semi-Final: 8th of 23 (74 points)

Genre: Electronica

Danævii Chart Run: 10-30-48-x-41-47-x

 

Danævii Broadcasting Network: 2013 Bulletins

> We can now confirm that we are sending Flume's "Insane" into this month's contest. The song features the vocals of Moon Holiday. Remember to vote for us if you like the song. So far our odds are very low and we are predicted to not go through.

 

> Until a few days ago, our best performing entry to date was Laurentiu Duta and Andreea Banica's "Shining Heart" which finished in the lower half of the top 20. Flume and Moon Holiday however beat that to give us our first top 15 finish with "Insane". It is also our first entry to score over 100 points in a final. The song itself is a nice mix between electronic dance music, which we are famous for sending, and indie-pop, a genre which has dominated in BJSC recently. Obviously the indie appeal has helped us get high in the table.

 

How does it hold up today?

I didn't appreciate this quite as much as a lot of my other entries of 2013, despite it performing the best in the contest. However it has aged very well still sounding fresh and unique 8 years on. It is a shame Flume's output is a bit hit and miss for me when he could be putting out tracks like this which remains one of his best.

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12 | Persephonia ♦ Spor - Pacifica (Kito & Reija Lee Remix) (24th)

+10 | Ojnoj ♦ Nicky Romero & NERVO - Like Home (4th)

+08 | Trifoski ♦ Robert DeLong - Global Concepts (17th)

+07 | D'yermak'er ♦ Mausi - Move (13th)

+06 | Aquafina ♦ Antonia - Marabou (21st)

+05 | Mdiče ♦ SSION - Earthquake (25th)

+04 | Tinnmark ♦ Ghost Beach ft. Noosa - Close Enough (5th)

+03 | Batidas ♦ Zara Larsson - Uncover (1st)

+02 | Bignia-Zaragovina ♦ Mia Martina - HeartBreaker (6th)

+01 | N DNTN ♦ Deptford Goth - Union (18th)

 

Danævii Pick

 

Impressively for Batidas they managed to enter and win with Zara Larsson well before she got famous outside of Sweden, however she only got 3 points with me. This lush melodic dubstep track from Persephonia managed my +12. 'Like Home' ended up being a minor chart hit and grew on me further from that, still a highlight from both Romero and Nervo.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

015 / / / 100

 

BJSC 53

Entry: The Aston Shuffle vs. Tommy Trash ~ Sunrise (Won't Get Lost)

Final: DNQ

Semi-Final: 18th of 26 (44 points)

Genre: Progressive house

Danævii Chart Run: 14-26-28-44-28-22-7-5-11-25-x

 

Danævii Broadcasting Network: 2013 Bulletins

> In a shock twist, none of the four possible entries were entered! The Danaelandan BJSC Team decided that none of them were good enough to send to the contest. In its place is the Danaelandan top 5 hit "Sunrise (Won't Get Lost)" by The Aston Shuffle & Tommy Trash. Danaelanda is hoping for some points and a fourth qualification in a row, so if you love our entry make sure to include us in your votes.

 

> Danaelandan citizens are not happy right now upon hearing the news that the entry has not done well enough to enter the final. The song was widely predicted to go through which makes the situation even worse as everyone had their hopes up. Fortunately our top 3 songs from the semi all got through. BJSC law states that we cannot reveal what those songs are. We will be supporting our faves in the final.

 

How does it hold up today?

We made a huge error of misjudgement there, having not gone for Armin van Buuren's future UK hit 'This Is What It Feels Like' which was one of our potentials we shared in the thread - a song that surely would have qualified but we thought this would do better. It didn't. The song is still a right banger though, a very fine example of festival ready progressive house the quality of which just don't get made today. Justice was served for the track in the year's "Rejects" contest however where it finished in 6th.

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12. #00274E = Carli - Look Up (Original Mix) (1st)

+10. FSR Rontvia = Michael Woods - Platinum Chains (Rontvian Club Edit) (4th)

+08. Yehesi = Staygold feat. Style Of Eye & Pow - Wallpaper (20th)

+07. Persephonia = Truls - Out Of Yourself (3rd)

+06. Bignia-Zaragovina = Isac Elliot - New Way Home (25th)

+05. N-Lazone = Carice Van Houten - You.Me.Bed.Now. (15th)

+04. D'yermak'er = Kelly Sweet - Sirens (8th)

+03. Sandebörg = John De Sohn feat. Kristin Amparo - Dance Our Tears Away (2nd)

+02. Batidas = Jutty Ranx - I See You (7th)

+01. Daehun = Girl's Day - Expectation (11th)

 

Danævii Pick

 

We had given Look Up our max points as we were already familiar with Platinum Chains for a while and the former was fresher however it hasn't aged quite as well. Platinum Chains was another clear missed opportunity from us as it made my personal chart #1 beforehand but I didn't consider it 'contest-friendly'.

Glad to see 'PONPONPON' holds up for you, genre-defining classic.

 

we don't cross wires that often especially in these early days but I love following threads like this anyway and 'Shining Heart' and 'Insane' I remember very well - great tracks. Apollo too to a lesser extent.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

016 / / / 100

 

BJSC 54

Entry: Quintino & Alvaro ~ World In Our Hands

Final: 27th of 32 (62 points)

Semi-Final: 8th of 26 (76 points)

Genre: Big room house

Danævii Chart Run: 7-32-50-13-15-x-40-x

 

How does it hold up today?

This is definitely my least favourite of my 2013 entries, however it did manage to qualify. This sort of big room hasn't aged very well sadly though I do appreciate the anthemic feel it is going for.

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12/ Hendinia - Taped Rai - Epilogue I & II: Shadow Of The Sun (2nd)

+10/ FSR Rontvia - Rivaz – Colors (3rd)

+08/ Botanikka - Tensnake – Mainline feat. Syron (18th)

+07/ Yehesi - Galavant - Tonight (Radio Edit) (12th)

+06/ Skall - Postiljonen – Supreme (1st)

+05/ #00274E - Sísý Ey - Ain't Got Nobody (19th)

+04/ Scruvovnia - Kentö – Complicated (28th)

+03/ Bignia-Zaragovina - Katie Tiz – Red Cup (7th)

+02/ Ingermanlandia - Shola Ama – Boyfriend (23rd)

+01/ Fljótavík - Juveniles – Fantasy (25th)

 

Danævii Pick

 

A great emotive track that felt like a natural follow up to their David Guetta collab. Huge shame that they never put the video version on streaming so I've to put with a low quality YT rip for my Spotiplaylist, it really benefits from having both parts to the song.

 

-x-

Glad to see 'PONPONPON' holds up for you, genre-defining classic.

 

we don't cross wires that often especially in these early days but I love following threads like this anyway and 'Shining Heart' and 'Insane' I remember very well - great tracks. Apollo too to a lesser extent.

glad you remember those two, hopefully there's a few more later on.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

017 / / / 100

 

BJSC 55

Entry: Stone & Van Linden ~ Summerbreeze

Final: DNQ

Semi-Final: 24th of 26 (26 points)

Genre: Eurodance

Danævii Chart Run: 21-26-x-36-13-2-8-30-35-x

 

How does it hold up today?

A rather great eurodance instrumental which deserved a lot more than it got. And it eventually did in a 'Your Best of Rejects' contest finishing 13th.

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12 . Batidas // Manufactured Superstars - Zombies In Love (4th)

+10 . Aeroche // Chordashian - Cold Nights (2nd)

+08 . Espen // Schiller - Sleepless (5th)

+07 . Isconia // Joe Goddard - She Burns (feat. Mara Carlyle) (18th)

+06 . Caerfyrddia // Marcel Woods - Bring It Back (feat. Vanbot) (1st)

+05 . Aquafina // Lune - Leave The World Behind (16th)

+04 . Ojnoj // Kato - Warrior (20th)

+03 . Kluminican Republic // Snakehips - On & On (28th)

+02 . Ashton, Federal Republic of // Luciana - U B The Bass (13th)

+01 . Jayrusalem // Sharon Doorson - Killer (9th)

 

Danævii Pick

 

A great anthemic instrumental track here which ended up being the best track Batidas would send before soon leaving for good.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

018 / / / 100

 

BJSC 56

Entry: Cahill & Kimberley Locke ~ Feel the Love

Final: 15th of 31 (80 points)

Semi-Final: 5th of 24 (93 points) PERSONAL BEST

Genre: Eurodance

Danævii Chart Run: 9-5-8-6-7-7-30-x

 

How does it hold up today?

We wouldn't send something this cheesy now but it's good for what it is and it worked giving us a second top 15 hit. I'd put it mid-tier amongst my 2013 entries. The strong vocal certainly helped here alongside a big singalong hook.

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12 DAEHUN // NAMIE AMURO 'ALIVE' (24th)

+10 YEHESI // HENRIK B ET AL 'ECHOES' (14th)

+08 KLUMINICAN REPUBLIC // REBECCA & FIONA 'UNION' (27th)

+07 MDICE // SOPHIE 'BIPP' (5th)

+06 AEROCHE // SLAVA 'GIRL LIKE ME' (8th)

+05 N DNTN // KORALLREVEN 'SA SA SAMOA (ELITE GYMNASTICS REMIX)' (2nd)

+04 CADELICA // STYLE OF EYE & TOM STARR 'AFTER DARK' (12th)

+03 HENDINIA // LUCAS NORD FEAT. TOVE LO 'RUN ON LOVE' (3rd)

+02 ALTYR MUUNLINST // KAT GRAHAM 'POWER' (6th)

+01 SANDEBORG // ENVY 'AM I WRONG' (26th)

 

Danævii Pick

 

Not heard this one in quite a while but it's a good Avicii inspired progressive house tune.

Hey Dan, I want to take a more active role in following your history! I saw there is a Spotify playlist in the OP, but I wondered for the purpose of your reviews if we could have another one to follow the story in chronological order? I’d love to hear how your countries sound has changed over the years! ^_^

It's really interesting to see how much of a grip progressive house/big room had on the pop music scene just by listening to the 2013 entries :lol:

Hey Dan, I want to take a more active role in following your history! I saw there is a Spotify playlist in the OP, but I wondered for the purpose of your reviews if we could have another one to follow the story in chronological order? I’d love to hear how your countries sound has changed over the years! ^_^

I've just quickly gone and changed that playlist to chronological order (as I probably should have done in the first place) so there you are. ^_^

 

It's really interesting to see how much of a grip progressive house/big room had on the pop music scene just by listening to the 2013 entries :lol:

yep it really was a much different time for EDM back then, but 'festival house' as I call it really did hit its peak in the first half of the decade and then quickly go downhill which is why I don't enter that subgenre now.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

019 / / / 100

 

BJSC 57

Entry: Kat Krazy ~ Siren (feat. elkka)

Final: 13th of 31 (95 points)

Semi-Final: 8th of 25 (66 points)

Genre: Progressive house

Danævii Chart Run: 12-6-6-4-3-12-14-16-x-29-x

 

How does it hold up today?

Another anthemic progressive house track, it was a song that even got a remix from Armin himself but I prefer and sent the original version. I'd say it has held up as one of the better songs of its type for its strong melody, it certainly is worthy of being one of our top 20 hits. The vocalist is a lot nicer to listen to than many of those they used to put on these tracks, so it is a shame we never heard from her again on other house or trance songs (and it seems she literally only had a couple of other songs altogether going off Spotify - though confusingly there is another Elkka Spotify page about now too which is active, who is an electronica DJ, and I've no idea if the two are the same person).

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12 YEHESI // MARTIN GARRIX - ANIMALS (14TH)

+10 ESPEN // FAUL FEATURING WAD AD - CHANGES (6TH)

+08 HENDINIA // CYRIL HAHN FEATURING SHY GIRLS - PERFECT FORM (8TH)

+07 KATHALDAZIA // LCNVL FEATURING LAKOTA SILVA - CLOSER (15TH)

+06 BELLAMIA // TYDI FEATURING KERLI - SOMETHING ABOUT YOU (4TH)

+05 AEROCHE // TELEPHONED - ONE THING (16TH)

+04 PERSEPHONIA // JAYMES YOUNG - DARK STAR (KEILY RICH REMIX) (HITSTASTIC BLACK DWARF RADIO EDIT) (2ND)

+03 SANDENIA // MARKUS SCHULZ FEATURING SARAH HOWELLS - TEMPTED (18TH)

+02 SYNDARE // BELANGER - TAKE ME HOME (1ST)

+01 AQUAFINA // JANET LEON - NEW COLORS (7TH)

 

Danævii Pick

 

Well the top 2 here went on to be big UK chart hits so let's give my +8 the Pick, the lush summery chill house effort of 'Perfect Form'.

The other Elkka is the same person - she had a song pop up as the Radio 1 Introducing playlist track a little while ago and I was curious if it was the same person, did some digging through social medias and found she did indeed post about the Kat Krazy collab on Facebook at the time. Seems that she just decided to abandon singing.

Thanks, I had a feeling you'd have researched that already. :P

Oh wow Apollo what a great song!

 

Surprised at just how many UK hits were in BJSC back then! Obviously most of them weren't hits at the time they were sent but so many went on to become very well known. Extremely rare these days.

Danæviia Review (by Zanmatony) 001-020

 

001 | Danny Dove & Ben Preston ~ Falling (feat. Susie Ledge)

Personal Rating: 5.5

002 | Elena ~ Disco Romancing

Personal Rating: 7.5

003 | Radio Killer ~ Don't Let The Music End

Personal Rating: 8

004 | Antillas ~ Damaged (feat. Fiora)

Personal Rating: 7

005 | Christina Walls ~ Carry Me To Paradise

Personal Rating: 8

006 | Airsoul ~ Asia

Personal Rating: 6.5

007 | Laurentiu Duta ~ Shining Heart (feat. Andreea Banica)

Personal Rating: 9

008 | Oana Tache ~ Take Control

Personal Rating: 4

009 | Adrian Lux ~ Burning (feat. Dante)

Personal Rating: 6

010 | Andreea Banica ~ Could U

Personal Rating: 7.5

011 | Netsky ~ Love Has Gone

Personal Rating: 8.5

012 | EDX ~ Touched

Personal Rating: 9.5

013 | Hardwell ~ Apollo (feat. Amba Shepherd)

Personal Rating: 7

014 | Flume ~ Insane (feat. Moon Holiday)

Personal Rating: 3.5

015 | The Aston Shuffle vs. Tommy Trash ~ Sunrise (Won't Get Lost)

Personal Rating: 7.5

016 | Quintino & Alvaro ~ World In Our Hands

Personal Rating: 6

017 | Stone & Van Linden ~ Summerbreeze

Personal Rating: 8

018 | Cahill & Kimberley Locke ~ Feel the Love

Personal Rating: 7

019 | Kat Krazy ~ Siren (feat. elkka)

Personal Rating: 7

020 | Tiësto, Mark Alston, Baggi Begovic & Jason Taylor ~ Love and Run (feat. Teddy Geiger)

Personal Rating: 8

 

Commentary: What a start to the story of Danaelanda! I was always intrigued to learn how their sound developed over the years, and these early beginnings between 2011 to 2013 indicate some experimental entries mixed with a sound we have become accustomed to hearing in more recent years. The stand out for me when hearing these first twenty entries was by EDX. :) I was not familiar with this, or in fact any of these entries at the time of listening, so this was a pleasant discovery and received my highest rating so far. Sadly, it was the entry by Flume that disappointed me the most. :( Nonetheless, some great names in dance music popping up in these early stages; Netsky, Hardwell, Cahill and Tiësto! Whilst it was unfortunate that Zanmatony didn’t exist at the time of Danaelanda’s beginning, we are enjoying the journey that this 100 landmark affords us in 2021! :cheer:

Oh wow Apollo what a great song!

 

Surprised at just how many UK hits were in BJSC back then! Obviously most of them weren't hits at the time they were sent but so many went on to become very well known. Extremely rare these days.

It was definitely more common of an occurrence, I do suppose back then Buzzjack was more in tune with the UK charts.

 

Commentary: What a start to the story of Danaelanda! I was always intrigued to learn how their sound developed over the years, and these early beginnings between 2011 to 2013 indicate some experimental entries mixed with a sound we have become accustomed to hearing in more recent years. The stand out for me when hearing these first twenty entries was by EDX. :) I was not familiar with this, or in fact any of these entries at the time of listening, so this was a pleasant discovery and received my highest rating so far. Sadly, it was the entry by Flume that disappointed me the most. :( Nonetheless, some great names in dance music popping up in these early stages; Netsky, Hardwell, Cahill and Tiësto! Whilst it was unfortunate that Zanmatony didn’t exist at the time of Danaelanda’s beginning, we are enjoying the journey that this 100 landmark affords us in 2021! :cheer:

Oh wow thanks for the extensive rank and review! Glad the EDX song was a great discovery here, he is one of quite a few big names in dance music I have managed to send throughout the years. Considering his prominence I'm surprised he's never been sent here ever since although he did get into Club Bizarre.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

020 / / / 100

 

BJSC 58

Entry: Tiësto, Mark Alston, Baggi Begovic & Jason Taylor ~ Love and Run (feat. Teddy Geiger)

Final: DNQ

Semi-Final: 20th of 27 (45 points)

Genre: Progressive house

Danævii Chart Run: 46-30-39-29-1-1-12-32-x

 

How does it hold up today?

This is another of the songs from 2013 I re-visit the least, a song that is very of-its-time. Tiësto has certainly made better songs in his very long career but I figured it would be appropriate to send him for the little milestone of my 20th entry. The song also has the record for the most credited performers in one of our entries as it supposedly took the efforts of four DJs to make this track. The drop does bang but I can't really contest its DNQ here.

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12 EUPHORIFFITH // PLEZIER - PLEZIER ANTHEM (16TH)

+10 AEROCHE // JON HOPKINS FEATURING PURITY RING - BREATHE THIS AIR (4TH)

+08 CADELICA // M-3OX FEATURING HEIDRUN - BEATING OF MY HEART (MATISSE & SADKO REMIX) (9TH)

+07 HENDINIA // SMITH & THELL - ILLUSION (8TH)

+06 B.A.N.G // TORQUX FEATURING LADY LESHURR - BLAZIN' (14TH)

+05 SANDEBORG // JETSKI SAFARI FEATURING HELEN CORRY - LIKE A LIE (11TH)

+04 PERSEPHONIA // GENT MASON - EDEN (25TH)

+03 USFLAND // JESSICA SUTTA FEATURING KEMAL GOLDEN - AGAIN (24TH)

+02 TRIFOSKI // JAMIE LIDELL - WHAT A SHAME (RL GRIME& SALVA REMIX) (21ST)

+01 BEN'S SANCTUARY // 1OAKS - WHERE DO WE GO? (23RD)

 

Danævii Pick

 

From the brief period Euphorrifith were in the contest, here was the best song they sent in house instrumental 'Plezier Anthem'.

Danæviia 138 :: 100th anniversary extravaganza

 

021 / / / 100

 

BJSC 59

Entry: Arty ~ It's All Relative (feat. Jenson Vaughan)

Final: 24th of 32 (63 points)

Semi-Final: 11th of 26 (62 points)

Genre: Progressive trance

Danævii Chart Run: 13-3-6-8-x

 

How does it hold up today?

Having been a prominent trance producer ever since, Arty has quite a few songs I prefer over this now, including the original instrumental version of this song titled 'Kate'. I figured sending the vocal mix would give it more of a chance in the contest and for a time I did prefer it although the vocal is fairly cheesy with its talk of aliens coming over to have a party. The instrumental has aged rather nicely though.

 

 

Votes Cast:

+12 ESPEN // DVBBS & BORGEOUS - TSUNAMI (6TH)

+10 RAMRYNIA // KLINGANDE - JUBEL (4TH)

+08 AQUAFINA // ALEX METRIC FEATURING MARK YARDLEY - ILIUM (21ST)

+07 ETHANOLA // TEN WALLS - GOTHAM (23RD)

+06 AEROCHE // MAN WITHOUT COUNTRY - CATFISH (3RD)

+05 TERRA AVIUM // DREAMTRAK - ODYSSEY, PART 2 (A. G. COOK REMIX) (16TH)

+04 FLJOTAVIK // LUDOVICO EINAUDI - EXPERIENCE (SPARKEY EDIT) (5TH)

+03 USFLAND // HENRY KRINKLE - STAY (7TH)

+02 MDICE // ROUTE 94 FEATURING JESS GLYNNE - MY LOVE (20TH)

+01 D'YERMAK'ER // GOLDROOM - EMBRACE (2ND)

 

Danævii Pick

 

Another big contest for big future UK hits with three of them making my votes in Tsunami, Jubel and My Love - plus Stay which limped in at #41. Leaving those out my pick would now be my +4 'Experience' a great classical meets electronic piece.