1 minute ago, matto said:

I have (at least) one potential that I don't think is on Spotify or AM and I've been wondering if it would make any difference

They say it doesn't but they're not considering the fact that some countries don't have fine tuned instinct for what works at BJSC. The Spodic Empire is usually a borderline qualifier. A 10% drop in votes simply because of lack access to our entry isn't always something that can be absorbed without consequence.

Edited Monday at 11:461 day by Colm

Jeez, I was reading these results as I was working and I was a little very gagged. That being said I got 16/20 predictions right (and called Juranabaijan and Land Of DW yesterday so it was only Jupiterdonia and Lotunia I didn’t really predict through but werk @ Lotunia cos I definitely didn’t see that but CAMP).

It’s more what DIDN’T make it that gagged me because all of them were in my “safe” category - FARC, N DNTN and Kathaldazia. I can see why FARC and Kathaldazia didn’t, because the semi seemed to punish moments that weren’t immediate. And I did call that there’d be a shock “electronic” DNQ because it felt like the most saturated lane, but it’s hard to ever see Kath going out because she’s so on the money. No doubt they’ll be back with a top 5 next contest.

But that’s why N DNTN is a shock to me because it seems like the sort of thing that would attract 12s, 10s quite easily. And even I liked it and I can’t imagine I’d usually be the target audience. Genuinely would’ve predicted it sneaking a top 10.

And there is NO way I’d have called White Rabbit. Or Stuck In November, which I’d have given big points too for sure 😭. But I can only assume they are again victims of the saturated blocs in their semi as there was a lot of female alt-pop there, so Ojnoj, New Lexico also falling makes sense.

Thank you for the Anemos support - was quite cautious of stepping out of my comfort zone for the biggest contest in a while but in hindsight, that was probably a good thing for standing out.

I'm so happy that I managed to Q , thanks a lot Everyone voting for 'Minden mozog'! ❤️

(and yay for not having the live synctube session, would've given me a heart attack - I'm a lady of a certain age now, can't take that much adrenaline anymore.)

I've tried to avoid sending anything in Hungarian to the main contest (I think I haven't even sent anything in Hungarian in 10+ years - although I flopped a couple of times in Nuggets/UP).

It's always a bit of a concern if a song works for a 'foreign' audience, or it's only the lyrics - I'm glad it worked out this time.

2 hours ago, RobBot said:

Jeez, I was reading these results as I was working and I was a little very gagged. That being said I got 16/20 predictions right (and called Juranabaijan and Land Of DW yesterday so it was only Jupiterdonia and Lotunia I didn’t really predict through but werk @ Lotunia cos I definitely didn’t see that but CAMP).

It’s more what DIDN’T make it that gagged me because all of them were in my “safe” category - FARC, N DNTN and Kathaldazia. I can see why FARC and Kathaldazia didn’t, because the semi seemed to punish moments that weren’t immediate. And I did call that there’d be a shock “electronic” DNQ because it felt like the most saturated lane, but it’s hard to ever see Kath going out because she’s so on the money. No doubt they’ll be back with a top 5 next contest.

But that’s why N DNTN is a shock to me because it seems like the sort of thing that would attract 12s, 10s quite easily. And even I liked it and I can’t imagine I’d usually be the target audience. Genuinely would’ve predicted it sneaking a top 10.

And there is NO way I’d have called White Rabbit. Or Stuck In November, which I’d have given big points too for sure 😭. But I can only assume they are again victims of the saturated blocs in their semi as there was a lot of female alt-pop there, so Ojnoj, New Lexico also falling makes sense.

Thank you for the Anemos support - was quite cautious of stepping out of my comfort zone for the biggest contest in a while but in hindsight, that was probably a good thing for standing out.

honestly i was shocked you didn’t veto kneecap! (and now im mad you didn’t) ((yes just at rob))

Persephonia were ROBBED!

Omg... this!

Is it true that you don't like ballads?

Picking up where I left off with regularly narrowly missing finals then at least the song went down well! My Top 2 both making it through is good to see as well.

1 hour ago, Nine And ¾ said:

Is it true that you don't like ballads?

Specifically Brer or all of BJSC?

Answer possibly the same for both though

Adele - Someone Like You (Live) has won BJSC (before it exploded and became a huge hit) long time ago.

There was some other “ballad” hits after that as well, however, in current wave of participants it’s probably harder for ballads to stick with people. Ballads usually need patience, mood, or emotional investment to properly hit, but in rapid fire listening environment, immediate hooks, beats and songs with ‘what the hell is this?’ elements usually have higher chances to thrive in BJSC.

Agnes Obel's Riverside was another ballad winner, but that was a very long time ago too.

Freya Ridings - Lost Without You was a joint winner on points (but ultimately second) and is a 'recent' example of a ballad hit, recent being eight years ago. That was also a good few months before it was given a push and unexpectedly became a hit.

I sent a live version of that too, maybe there's something about the rawness and emotion of a live vocal that appeals to people with ballads? I always loved that Adele live version that won here, I don't really like the higher note she goes for in the chorus of the studio version, and it threw me off when I first heard it, although I'm used to it now of course.

Wish LP - Lost On You (Live) had the same fate as Adele/Freya lol but can’t complain because it did relatively well in the contest and in the Best Of Year contest after!!!

Yseult - Corps is also another example of a BJSC ballad hit, made top 5!

Let's not forget my lady Song Sohee and her beautiful ballad "Not A Dream" in BJSC 174. It didn't win or anything, but it qualified for the final and came 17th (179 points), which in a field of 41 can be called a hit!❤️

Yeah, I definitely think it comes down to immediacy, as Addy put, as opposed to the member base not liking ballads. A lot of slower songs take time to grow on me - I’ve only just come to liking Die On This Hill in the last few weeks, Saturn’s Return on Zara’s album was initially not a stand out but after about a week, it made me cry. An unfortunate caveat of quick competitions like this is that songs that are a bit more immediate are more likely to succeed.

But I also don’t know that The Warmth is a traditional ballad. It puts me in the mind of someone like Sofia Isella, who came 9th with I Can Be Your Mother - an atmospheric indie/dark pop ballad meets mid tempo. So, I think this kind of song can do well. And it may well have qualified in the usual semis of 26/27 songs - this was a particularly competitive month, so I certainly wouldn’t take these results as a sign of “x doesn’t do well in BJSC”.

Yes, I understand. I was asking more because of upcoming competitions, for example a ballad that isn’t like these atmospheric ones, but dramatic, how often does it appear and how does it do? That’s what I was especially curious about. Maybe then that is too pretentious for someone 😂

Absolutely not too pretentious! I’m of the opinion that any type of song could do well if it’s good enough. Pretty much every genre and every type of song has an example that has done well in the last 5 years, I’m sure

I’d take the fact that most of us thought you would qualify as a sign that you’re on pretty much the right path and you don’t need to question your judgement.

12 minutes ago, Nine And ¾ said:

Yes, I understand. I was asking more because of upcoming competitions, for example a ballad that isn’t like these atmospheric ones, but dramatic, how often does it appear and how does it do? That’s what I was especially curious about. Maybe then that is too pretentious for someone 😂

oh we are fighting for the same power ballad

on a serious note, i don't have a good track record with power ballads but the last time i sent it was my 50th anniversary entry that i think it did the best out of all attempts. i want to try again though and see if y'all eat this up x