Jacob-

Bring back Discord listen throughs tbh, you can scroll back through what people said afterwards. Discord recently (last few months) added a free YouTube embed to voice channels, and you can easily "deafen" yourself, or a host can deafen everyone else so your mic doesn't actually come through while listening. I'd be happy to trial one on there.

I've had my fair share of DNQs, I've been tracking the stats again recently and I believe this qualification brings it back to half and half (34/34)- when I first joined the contest my first SIX entries were DNQs, and when I finally did qualify I was 37th in the final or something. It took me over a year to even break the top 20 (ETA, actually over a year to even break top 30, but when I did it was straight to top 10 :lol: ), and it's still very much a rarity. I did find it disheartening and felt out of touch with the contest... but that said back then I had a lot more time when I first started so still found it easier to do repeat listens so was still more invested in my favourites. I have had those DNQ moments several times since, especially when I expected to do well, and it's all about how much expectation you build around your entry when entering and during the semis. There is bias, but for me only in the expectations you have from certain countries- you know their taste, expect them to send something you like then pay more attention, but that has never stopped me from leaving those countries out from my votes or putting a "random" one at the top of my votes. Maybe I should try blind listening a bit more, but if a song hooks me, it has me. But the thing is, a country you like *is* going to be more likely to send things you like more often. I'm also more likely to vote for songs that stand out to me and sound less like other songs in the semi- I have to like it of course still but interesting instrumentation, cool lyrics, something to latch on to goes a long way. Again though, this problem would definitely be alleviated further by repeat listens, I think I relistened to my first few contests 5 or 6 times (maybe skipping ones I disregarded after the first 2), now I can only manage 1 or 2 and don't often hear the opposite semi, which is a real shame because I definitely miss some gems. I'm really happy to have qualified this time, Owl City meant a lot to me growing up, but the last few albums, although I generally liked them, didn't have quite the same feel (the odd track aside). Coco Moon, while not perfect for me feels like the best offering from him since All Things Bright and Beautiful (2011), and Vitamin Sea completely recaptures the Ocean Eyes era for me with a more mature sound, and other parts of the album have some really interesting experimental things going on. I wouldn't have usually entered an artist this well known, even if "well known" is just for a historical couple of hits but (to slightly loop back to the previous conversation) I felt really hard done by when I DNQed with my 50th with Lights so this felt like a surrogate anniversary to me. I didn't even expect to necessarily qualify because I had no idea how well that kind of sound would go down here, but it looks like it worked out this time.

Better late than never. Apple Music playlists for those who want them for last minute listens!

Apple Music: missing: Jadakissnia

I thought it was a bit 50/50 (and I entered it with 1 listen :lol: ) but it really grabbed me when I first heard it, thought it was a great rock song with some cross-appeal. That said, it was such a strong semi. JRR Toucan tho *.*

F

Ok I actually needed two listens because the quality level was insane in semi 1. Voted now.

Thank God the deadline is a Friday, means I can actually listen now. You'll have botes in 2-3 hours Chez. x

Apple Music here: Same as Spotify: (SF2 missing & )

Snuck one in. x

Amazing to see Terra Avium finally win, and what a track to do it with. I love that FSR Rontvia ended in such a strong 2nd too. That final run of votes. :cheeseblock: No idea how I managed to come 43rd, I was expecting a solid 25th ish (F) but hey, a Q is a Q. Was great to see so many fans. :wub:

Just been sorting out my stats/ original post, updating the last few contest and I checked my Q/ DNQ stats and found this- the qualifier stat include Weird Wolves. Exactly half and half at the moment, thought it might be worse than that. The last year hasn't done me many favours on the whole. :lol:

They don't miss.

Yeah I loved reading through them on Discord if I couldn't make it too, but I do get that it's easier to chat in Synctube in the moment if you've only got one screen.

I'm on it, I was listening earlier while going through emails/ other admin at work but I didn't get much more time at my desk after that (boo). Nearly done now though, votes should be with you shortly.

Omg the LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER recycle. #Aelandorimpakt Don't know this song though. And I've known Melody Gardot for ages, same thing though, didn't know that song that well. Good choices. x

See The Light - Weird Wolves nN7IOjvygUY If my entry is wolf theme I post here apparently. I still have a national thread! I think taking a break was actually good for me (admittedly enforced, December was really full on for me and the deadline passed without me noticing oop). I'm really hyped for this contest and had plenty of time to think about potentials, I found this while on a YouTube hunt through Out Of Line's channel (label) and found this absolute banger. Some edgy synthrock for you all this month. The verses really hit hard with super cool bass synths and chorus builds nicely back into them, and lead vocals gives me slight Fever Ray/ The Knife vibes. What more could you want? x

Aelandorian.

Remembered in time, that was lucky. Only missed one contest but it feels like forever. :lol:

So many gaming sesh.

Apple Music here. Semi 1 also missing Sovarasma.

I didn't have anything at all, was planning to search but the deadline went, then I found something I really liked last night at half midnight. :lol: Quite different for me, although it has the flavour of a couple of my earlier entries.

Submitted something. x

Lemme just immortalise being in the top 3, it's been a while :lol: Thanks for all the botes so far, an exciting results to catch a bit of live! :cheer: