BJSC 157: Parra for Cuva - Life Lately

 

Resuming our risk-taking era now that we've got a top 10 hit in the bag for the year, it's about time Danæviia sent our first entry to not feature a drum beat. Instead we have 8 gorgeous minutes of piano melodies from Nicolas Janco aka Parra for Cuva, a German electronica producer best known for his cover version of "Wicked Games", a UK top 10 hit a near-decade ago. He started learning classical piano at a young age before moving onto jazz piano and eventually electronic music, and this year has revisited his first instrument with an EP of original compositions - the natural highlight being 'Life Lately'. He describes the piece as such:

 

Life Lately, a 8-minute piano composition that has been a part of my musical journey for 14 years. I have been refining and reworking the song over the years, and each time I play it, it takes on a new form. It is the most significant piece I have ever composed for the piano and I am delighted to finally transcribe it. This song has been a source of comfort and solace for me during my busy school days.

 

 

Could easily go wrong side of the Q line really, but it's the piano piece I've long been looking for to use as a contest entry and hopefully a few of you enjoy the moment of calm within the semi-final listenthrough.

 

Meanwhile, we have sent the French electronica producer Thylacine to the Foreign Language III spin-off, composed for the series OVNI(s) and with added lyrics and vocals from Yan Wagner.

 

Relistening to semi 1 atm and just noticed I had already liked 'Life Lately' on YouTube, I forgot that I'd heard it before oops - definitely impacting me more hearing it in the contest anyway so happy that you've sent it. Goes by really quickly for an 8 minute song!

157 |

: Parra For Cuva - Life Lately | [17/42 (175) / 04/30 (96)]

 

Continuing our top 20 or bust run for the year 2023, we just about made it to 17th to complete the set of all unique top 20 positions in the contest which was the best result we could realistically have asked for with this entry! As a bit of a risky entry again after playing it a bit more safe last month it was very pleasing that it had a fair amount of big supporters. The 22 nations who gave votes include:

 

Jadakissnia [+15]

Aelandor [+15]

Fljótavík [+15]

Terra Avium [+13]

Suedeonia [+13]

Harmonica [+13]

Niceland [+12]

Sovarasma [+12]

East Rukahavian [+11]

Persephonia [+9]

Land of DW [+7]

Abeltesfayeton [+7]

Rolloland [+6]

Bronzil [+6]

Ojnoj [+5]

Altyr Muunilinst [+5]

Lotunia [+4]

Séyetana [+2]

Kathaldazia [+2]

Tartford [+1]

Quintessa [+1]

Greenfroze [+1]

 

And this is how we voted:

 

+18 Thelonia | Nils Hoffmann; Rae Morris - Lonely

+15 Kathaldazia | DJ HEARTSTRING - It Ain't Over

+13 Wholune | Lacey Sturm; Lindsey Stirling - Breathe With Me (feat. Lindsey Stirling)

+12 Fljótavík | Headache - The Beginning of the End

+11 Rolloland | Omnimar - The Matrix

+10 Cumulonimbia | Data_haven - Utopia

+09 Cor Lupus | Gregory Dillon - Genevieve

+08 Oslol | Neon Capital - Open Water

+07 Sovarasma | Aran Burn - Titan

+06 Kluminican Republic | FILLY - Cowgirl

+05 Zanmatony | SHEE - win your love

+04 Aelandor | We Lost The Sea - A Gallant Gentleman

+03 Dobago | Pharmacist - OVERDO$E

+02 Abeltesfayeton | McKinley Dixon - Run, Run, Run

+01 Cadelicia | Jai Wolf; BANKS - Don't Look Down (feat. BANKS)

Samira - Envy Me

kirilik - Distant Call

FORTELLA; anaïs - Mon Chéri

Anish Kumar - Care About Me

Cecile Believe - Bitch Bites Dog

Paris Texas - tenTHIRTYseven

Addison Rae - I got it bad

Isolde Lasoen - The Four Horsemen

Banshee - BIRTH OF VENUS

Kiki Rockwell - Burn Your Village

Leah Kate - Space

JEON SOMI - Fast Forward

Dani Sylvia - Youth

PRISMA - Andy

NNHMN - Nrl

M.A.G - 2322332323233333333

Elyanna - MAMA EH

NEEA RIVER - Love Me Out Of Lonely

KWON EUNBI - Underwater

Chappell Roan - Red Wine Supernova

Mentissa - Mamma Mia

The Scarlet Opera - Alive

By Storm; Injury Reserve - Double Trio

Sorana - STUPID HEART

Bow Anderson - Midnight

Tori Kelly - shelter

 

Another good result in the spin-off for Thylacine too, whose '1978' finished in 7th place.

 

Next up, our 120th entry, so I suppose we've got to go big or go home.

BJSC 158: Okay Kaya - Mother Nature's Bitch

 

Hey everybody! Please give a warm welcome to...

 

A wonderfully quirky nu-disco find - and also the shortest ever song we have sent to BJSC, we introduce Norwegian-American musician, model and actress Kaya Wilkins to BJSC. An online commentator says "This song is Kaya's ode to nature and how she accepts everything that comes with it, including her instincts, which she refuses to suppress". We also recommend this unofficial dance video over the official music video for those watching on YouTube. We hope this can attract the interest of the BJSC voterbase as something a little different for Danæviia again so we may follow our three DNQs with three Qs!

 

158 |

: Okay Kaya - Mother Nature's Bitch | [DNQ / 27/32 (29)]

 

So this became our biggest contest bomb of the decade to date... oops. Swiftly moving on then.

 

Here is how we voted:

 

+18 Kluminican Republic | Aspyer - Aurora

+15 Bøtanikkä  | Vandal Moon - Heroine Dancer

+13 Wholune | DragonForce - The Last Dragonborn

+12 Summericia | Lucia & The Best Boys - Burning Castles

+11 Eastovka | Ilse DeLange - Confetti Shotgun

+10 Quintessa | Joe Goddard; Fiorious - Loverboy

+09 Persephonia | Deadlands - House of Cards

+08 Fljótavík  | Rachel Wallace - Tell Me Why - M&M Full Vocal

+07 Bronzil | ACRAZE; Aviella - In A Dream

+06 Jupiterdonia | dust - Joy (Guilt)

+05 Aeroche | TELYKAST; Luciana - Move It (with Luciana)

+04 Neliönoir | DJ_Dave - React

+03 Kathaldazia | Delia - Tekknotrans

+02 Taahino | Taylor Acorn; Cassadee Pope - Coma

+01 Cadelicia | Trance Wax - The Story

VIZE; Anna Grey - Way Back Home

Joanna - WHERE'S THE LIGHT?

benzii - sweat pearls

Don Salsa - The Deck

Nyxen - In The City

moistbreezy - Planet Pleasure

LST - Everything

Marta Sango - Las Cosas Que Aún Me Quedan Por Vivir

Flesh; Peaki - Veiled

Kali Mutsa - Hayako Hayako

Revenge Wife - Fantasy Girl

Public Service Broadcasting; BBC Symphony Orchestra; Jules Buckley - Broadcasting House - Live

jaboukie - BBC

Department S - Is Vic There?

BPM15Q - Pachim

Idina Menzel - Funny Kind of Lonely

Alter/Ego; enjoii; luna.moon - losing my mind

ÁSDÍS - Angel Eyes

Leah Kate - Desperate

SVEA - Dead Man Walking

Sofia Carson - It's Only Love, Nobody Dies

Teena Marie - Lovergirl

Lankum - The New York Trader

Fefe Dobson - Ghost

Bonnie McKee - Hot City

FLØRE - WEREWOLF

lozeak - Used To You

 

We would like to be back in the final for the last 2 contests of the year to keep our hit to flop ratio above 50%. Perhaps I should bring back the Danævii National Final? :thinking:

Even lower than Idina D: hopefully one of my next couple of entries will be more to the Danæviian taste!

We would like to be back in the final for the last 2 contests of the year to keep our hit to flop ratio above 50%. Perhaps I should bring back the Danævii National Final? :thinking:

Turns out this won't be needed as after a bit of a trawl for entries we can definitively say we are BACK (barring a complete disaster of a semi-final draw)

I think I know what you've sent, judging by your personal chart - this was my very near 2nd choice if so!

BJSC 159: BLACKSHAPE - ITIIITIATIIHYLIHYL

 

'ITIIITIATIIHYLIHYL' is taken from the 2021 debut self-titled album by Salt Lake City, Utah based post-mathcore/progressive/metal group, BLACKSHAPE.

The album was recorded to be played as a continuous mix that loops back into itself (which explains the abrupt ending of the song) and is entirely instrumental except for this track with the song title being an initialism of its lyrics. Its music video was belatedly released two years after the album giving it some internet virality allowing Danævii song-hunters to come across it. It's again something a bit different for Danæviia but we think it's a beautiful piece that is deserving of putting us back in the final after last month's misjudgement of an entry. Fans of the classic Danævii dance sound, need only wait one more contest, but hopefully some of you can get on board too.

 

BJSC Instrumentals II: Apashe & Sofiane Pamart - Devil May Cry | [07/27 (78)]

 

For the second Instrumentals spin-off we recycled our own Sofiane Pamart (previously sent with 'Alba') alongside Apashe who had previously represented KlumRep. We are pleased to have finished top 10 once again in a spin-off after Thylacine in the previous spin-off. For fans of the piano effort in this song, Sofiane Pamart also this week released a new album of solo compositions.

This was what I was debating between with "Whisper", I hope I made the right choice but a fan of this as you know!

159 |

: BLACKSHAPE - ITIIITIATIIHYLIHYL | [02/42 (302) / 09/31 (84)]

 

Having been widely predicted to finish top ten for us, we ended up matching the predictions and then some as Blackshape give us a silver medalist, finishing only 18 points behind the eventual winner from Fljótavík in a tense results show. We gave +12 to the winning entry so can't complain with losing out to them.

The result comes exactly two years after our last medalist position when Queen of Country Reba McEntire also finished in 2nd. The entry is our 7th overall to place in the top three and our 6th to pass 300 points. It is also the best showing for a post-rock entry in BJSC ever which we're particularly pleased about. Despite the result though it's a genre we're unlikely to return to anytime soon as the quality of this song would be very tough to beat.

 

The 31 nations who gave votes include:

Terra Avium [+18]

Neliönoir [+18]

Suedeonia [+15]

Rolloland [+15]

Jadakissnia [+15]

Utopia [+15]

Quintessa [+15]

Kluminican Republic [+13]

Séyetana [+13]

Abeltesfayeton [+13]

East Rukahavian [+12]

Persephonia [+12]

Niceland [+12]

Pestolia [+12]

Scotland 2 [+12]

Aeroche [+11]

Bronzil [+11]

Lotunia [+9]

Sovarasma [+9]

Land of DW [+8]

Eastovka [+8]

The Spodic Empire [+8]

Jupiterdonia [+5]

Aelandor [+5]

Summericia [+4]

Cumulonimbia [+4]

Dobago [+3]

FARC [+3]

Zanmatony [+2]

Kathaldazia [+1]

Taahino [+1]

 

And this is how we voted:

 

+18 Aeroche | Patrick Topping; Raphi - Whisper (feat. Raphi)

+15 Farc | Ofenbach; Norma Jean Martine - Overdrive (feat. Norma Jean Martine)

+13 Dobago | SHEE - Am I Just Living

+12 Fljótavík  | Argy; Omnya - Aria

+11 Séyetana | Blackbriar - Fairy of the Bog

+10 Altyr Muunilinst | WARGASM (UK) - Modern Love

+09 Hendinia | Yaeger - Ciao

+08 Summericia | Blutengel - You Walk Away

+07 Terra Avium | films; Anoice; Takahiro Kido; Yuki Murata - into the vervet storm

+06 Quintessa | Fanera - Euforija

+05 Adonia | Minnie Riperton - Les Fleurs

+04 Bøtanikkä | U96 - Das Boot

+03 Cumulonimbia | Memphis LK - Closer To You

+02 Thelonia | VTSS; Boys Noize - Steady Pace

+01 Abeltesfayeton | Aaron Hibell - destroyer of worlds

Charlotte de Witte - Pria

Mozey - Tell Me

Anilah - The Loom

SIMONA - PLUSH

Kap Bambino - Forever

L.S.G. - Hearts

Brimheim - Literally Everything

The Rhythm Method - Please Don't Die

John Talabot; Pional - Destiny

Pet Shop Boys - Radiophonic - 2017 Remaster

Dead Pony - COBRA

Molly Sandén - Vi ska aldrig gå hem

Marillion - Gaza

Neutral Milk Hotel - Two-Headed Boy

Ana Mena - Madrid City

Baby Storme - This City is a Graveyard

Paperwing - Coward

Stefanie Joosten; Giorgio Moroder - Tryouts For The Human Race

The Beths - When You Know You Know

Sharon Shannon; Mundy; Jen Payne - The Galway Girl - Jen Payne Remix

ASHWARYA - Up In My Head

Meet Me @ The Altar - Take Me Away (Freaky Friday Cover)

Baby Queen - All The Things

Leadley - Love for the Last Time

Chappell Roan - Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl

Chrissy Chlapecka - BRAT

 

Now it's time to use a potential AQ slot wisely for the year's final contest, we're thinking of going back to the classic dance sound Danæviia are best known for the occasion...

This was what I was debating between with "Whisper", I hope I made the right choice but a fan of this as you know!

well fortunately enough for both of us we both got a top five hit so I'd say you definitely made the right choice to let me have Blackshape :kink:

BJSC 160: Matt Guy - Every Little Time

 

Armada Music: Nottingham-born DJ/producer Matt Guy returns to Armada Music with a massive dancefloor weapon set to dominate club and festival sets alike. Combining his signature chord riffs and an iconic 90s vocal, ‘Every Little Time’ has the euphoric profile to honorably follow on from 2022 anthem ‘Set My Mind Free’.

 

Lifting from a fairly obscure 90s track (by Poppers & Aura), Matt Guy brings Danæviia back to classic house anthems! Ready-made for the end of year celebration season it's about time we bring the straight-up party vibe back after a year that included delving into electronica, trip hop, post-rock, metal, piano instrumentals, trance, quirky disco-pop, hip-house and organic house. This song we reckon is outstanding in the (admittedly rather oversaturated with mid) field of commercial dance and in an ideal world would already be smashing the chart but we can settle with sharing it with BJSC for the special occasion of us managing to secure an autoqualifier position.

 

So don't forget every little time you hear the song, to include Danæviia in your final votes! :cheer:

Liking this one, very Don't Give Me Your Life production!

160 |

: Matt Guy - Every Little Time | [06/42 (220) / AUTOQUALIFIED]

 

Surpassing the predictions once again, we finish the year out with Matt Guy giving us our third top 10 hit of the year - finishing at the same position Ram & Cari 'What Matters' did earlier this year, albeit with a lesser points total.

 

One would assume the entry would've been another semi-finals success for us too, however we were lucky enough to get a free ride off the back of Blackshape's success in the previous contest.

 

The entry is also the sixth of the year to reach the top 20, giving us more top 20s this year than the previous despite us also having more DNQs this year too (our other four entries all missed the final, and at least one of those could've been a hit had they been given a better semi draw I would suspect *cough Myst Milano* *cough Sub Sub*).

 

It is the third occasion where Danæviia have scored successive top 10 hits - the previous two both consisted of a win and a successive autoqualifying entry. Our two other AQs (one of which being the special occasion that was BJSC 64) managed a top 20 position so we are still yet to flop with an AQ. It is also our 22nd top 10 hit overall.

 

The 25 nations who gave votes include:

East Rukahavian [+15]

Eastovka [+13]

République d'Áskorza [+13]

Tartford [+13]

Bøtanikkä [+12]

Harmonica [+12]

Niceland [+12]

Dobago [+11]

Ben's Sanctuary [+10]

Cor Lupus [+10]

Kluminican Republic [+10]

Zanmatony [+10]

Aeroche [+9]

Cadelicia [+9]

FSR Rontvia [+9]

Republic of Adonia [+9]

Singerpurear [+9]

Ramrynia [+7]

Kathaldazia [+6]

Hendinia [+5]

Jupiterdonia [+5]

Thelonia [+4]

FARC [+3]

Lookylion [+3]

Conoria [+1]

 

And this is how we voted (with the note this month that due to holiday I wasn't able to get as many listens in as usual so first impressions made more of a play this time):

 

18 eastovka | XiJaro & Pitch; Cari - Time

15 numayania | Spiritbox - Ultraviolet

13 kathaldazia | Sam Quealy - Seven Swords

12 utopia | Karma Kid - The Gates Will Open

11 cor lupus | Donna Missal - Out of Me

10 thelonia | Danny Byrd; Victoria Beaumont; Martin Fillery - We Can Have It All

9 abeltesfayeton | 1991 - Chant

8 fljótavík  | Melenas - Bang

7 aeroche  | Bimini; Girls of the Internet - Moonlight

6 sovarasma | Ímar - Trip to Novi Sad

5 beaverdonia | Ummet Ozcan; Otyken - Altay

4 fsr rontvia  | The Kiffness - Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat)

3 terra avium | Enola Gay; Mount Palomar - terra firma (feat. Mount Palomar)

2 jadakissnia | KOMPROMAT; Vitalic; Rebeka Warrior - Niemand

1 lookylion | Baby Jane - All the Saints of Notre Dame

Maddix; Fēlēs - My Gasoline

TAKTSTÖRER; REDCHINAWAVE - Wave

bel canto - A Shoulder to the Wheel

Peach PRC - Like A Girl Does

8485 - 3cheers

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Sebastian

Maruja - One Hand Behind The Devil

Deloraine - Ragnarok

Agar Agar - Trouble

deary - Fairground

Kyle Gordon; DJ Crazy Times; Ms. Biljana Electronica - Planet of the Bass (feat. DJ Crazy Times & Ms. Biljana Electronica)

Lola Young - Conceited

Olivia Lunny - TIMEZONE

MisterWives - Where Do We Go From Here?

Annie - American Cars - Richard X Edit

KEiiNO - Insomnia

Chelsea Wolfe - Dusk

Little Moon - wonder eye

Hannes; waterbaby - Stockholmsvy

Poe - Haunted

Ellur - Free

Cazzi Opeia - Taste Of Heaven

Mari Bella - LOVE ME / HATE ME

Rosa Walton; Hallie Coggins - I Really Want to Stay at Your House

Talia Mar - Bored

Moody Joody - Velvet Connection

KMFDM - LIQUOR FISH & CIGARETTES

 

Now we look towards EOY season so here's a summary of our entries of the year - which of these were amongst your favourites?

 

151 |

: Nosaj Thing - Blue Hour (feat. Julianna Barwick) | [16/42 (176) / 18/30 (56)]

152 |

: Tim Green - Eastbound Silhouette (feat. Felicia Douglass) | [19/44 (199) / 07/36 (87)]

153 |

: Myst Milano - No Shade | [DNQ / 22/33 (59)]

154 |

: Andromida - Paradox | [DNQ / 23/33 (39)]

155 |

: Sub Sub (feat. Gill Jackson) - Southern Trees | [DNQ / 21/30 (49)]

156 |

: Ram & Cari - What Matters | [06/42 (253) / 06/31 (87)]

157 |

: Parra For Cuva - Life Lately | [17/42 (175) / 04/30 (96)]

158 |

: Okay Kaya - Mother Nature's Bitch | [DNQ / 27/32 (29)]

159 |

: BLACKSHAPE - ITIIITIATIIHYLIHYL | [02/42 (302) / 09/31 (84)]

160 |

: Matt Guy - Every Little Time | [06/42 (220) / AUTOQUALIFIED]

 

Personal rank:

1. Ram & Cari
2. Tim Green
3. Myst Milano
4. Parra for Cuva
5. Blackshape
6. Matt Guy
7. Nosaj Thing
8. Sub Sub
9. Okay Kaya
10. Andromida

BJSC CHRISTMAS V - Tim Minchin - White Wine In The Sun

 

 

Tim Minchin is an Australian comedian and musician. Fans of musical theatre may have heard his work already as he wrote the lyrics and music to the musical adaptation of Matilda. This song is taken from his 2008 live tour which was played as the closing track and is written from the perspective of spending Christmas time in Australia. Whilst starting off with some jabs at organised religion it ends up being a rather emotional tribute to family. It's been a staple of our family's Christmas playlist for a few years since my mum discovered it so about time the rest of Buzzjack saw its brilliance. You've got the rest of today to vote for the song.

BJSC 161: Adrianne Lenker - Ruined

 

Pitchfork: Adrianne Lenker’s “Ruined” is a solitary song about a kind of romantic downfall, but it’s also about the effects of obsessive rumination. Sung in a high, plaintive voice, accompanied by just piano and something identified in the credits as “crystal,” the song is a kind of ambient mantra, with softly pulsing chords subsumed in a luminous fog of uncertain provenance. She teases the outline of a story in a few vivid details—a gifted amethyst, a basement fern bending to the light—but for the most part the song is all chorus, a nagging thought re-run many times: “Can’t get enough of you/You come around and I’m ruined/You come around and I’m ruined.”

 

Every time Lenker repeats the word—putting the stress on its second syllable (“ru-inned”)—it’s as though she’s running up against a wall, cornered, unable to find a way out. “Ruined” implies a before and an after; for Lenker, desire means the impossibility of turning back. Yet her wistful voice and plodding chords sound less desperate than resigned, as though acknowledging that to float, however briefly, on the waves that wreck us is its own bittersweet pleasure.

 

Following last year's entry from Parra For Cuva it's time for Pianoballadæviia to make a return. This time with vocals!! Can we get a third top 10 finish on the run? :thinking: A beautifully haunting heartbreak song here, that I trust is fitting for a Harmonica-hosted contest.

I thought it had to be only a matter of time before someone sent Big Thief or Adrianne solo to BJSC (I considered sending Big Thief's 'Not' myself a few years ago), looking forward to hearing this!

and I didn’t as I’ve not heard anything of hers / theirs before, this was just a lucky youtube algorithm find again like Blackshape!

Just listened through semi 1, and when I came to yours I thought I recognised the voice as the singer from Big Thief, as indeed she is! I charted a couple of their songs last year, the best being 'Vampire Empire'