Ghoulian

5 Ladaniva - Jako (2024, 8th) Despite the enormous streaming figures for “Snap” this is in fact their only Top 10 finish of the 2020s so far. I love the pace of it, and how it takes a traditional folk melody and manages to make it feel up to date. 4 Artsvik - Fly With Me (2017, 18th) This is much more subtle than the likes of “Jako”. I find it quite hypnotic and compelling, but still with an authentic sound to it. 3 Brunette - Future Lover (2023, 14th) Another subtle one that was never going to really set the scoreboard alight. This is pure art though and a top notch example of its style. The switch up into the rapped section is marvellous - I was lucky enough to see it live in Liverpool and it was a great performance.

I loved “Only Girl” at the time too - not as much now but it’s still effortlessly superior to most of this list. I put “Bad Romance” at #3 in the 2009 list and I’m not sure where I’ll end up putting it when I do this one yet. It’s an interesting and diverse top 3 - I’m a fan of all of them.

On Sunday 3 January 2021 Ariana Grande’s “Positions” was #1 with 200,867. I’m guessing that’s probably the lowest in recent history.

10 Athena Manoukian - Chains On You (2020) A dynamic and engaging song - shame she never had her moment. 9 Simón - Paloma Rumba (2026, DNQ) I couldn’t leave this high octane mess out of the top 10,: I can see why it didn’t quite land but I really enjoy it. 8 Sirusho - Qélé, Qélé (2008, 4th) Their joint best result - I don’t absolutely love it but it’s very catchy and authentic sounding. 7 Eva Rivas - Apricot Stone (2010, 7th) I really enjoy the lyrical theme here which has a sense of mystery to it, and it’s a rather lovely song. 6 Rosa Lynn - Snap (2022, 20th) I’ve always really liked this and thought it has a simple charm to it, but I don’t think it’s billions of streams good and I’d put its huge streaming success more to chance.

Has to be Amerie really unless ditching “Thriller” for being out of place.

Gabrielle - I do have a soft spot for her but this gets annoying after a few listens.

I guess it’s quite telling and representative of 2010 that we’re still getting divisive #1s at this stage of the countdown. “Written In The Stars” is my favourite of 8-6: the anthemic chorus does a lot of the heavy lifting but the rest is good too. I do think Scouting For Girls are very over-hated on here so I’m glad you’re re-dressing that balance. I think I prefer their earlier singles though - this is pleasant but veering towards bland. “Good Times” I never really got into at the time though I did download “Green Light” for some reason. I agree now “Good Times” is much better and I get that it has a real energy to it, but I do still think it’s quite naff and I’ll be surprised if I come back to it (until I cover 2010 in my hit reviews maybe).

The participation overview with comments for those missing my top 10: Year Artist Song Language Final Points Semi Points Notes 2006 André "Without Your Love" English 8 129 6 150 A very well performing debut and it's catchy but I find it a little like something from a Disney film 2007 Hayko "Anytime You Need" English, Armenian 8 138 Top 10 in 2006 final This also did remarkably well but it seems a rather standard romantic ballad to me 2008 Sirusho "Qélé, Qélé" (Քելե, Քելե) English, Armenian 4 199 2 139 Top 10 2009 Inga and Anush "Jan Jan" (Ջան Ջան) English, Armenian 10 92 5 99 This would be 11th: I really like the bridge part and the instrumental but the rest slightly less 2010 Eva Rivas "Apricot Stone" English 7 141 6 83 Top 10 2011 Emmy "Boom Boom" English Failed to qualify 12 54 Their 1st DNQ: I like the retro style of it but the chorus becomes annoying quite quickly 2013 Dorians "Lonely Planet" English 18 41 7 69 The 1st of only 2 that I dislike: very trite lyrically and uninteresting musically 2014 Aram Mp3 "Not Alone" English 4 174 4 121 Top 10 2015 Genealogy "Face the Shadow" English 16 34 7 77 The other that I dislike: a shambles of a song with too many lead vocalists 2016 Iveta Mukuchyan "LoveWave" English 7 249 2 243 Top 10 2017 Artsvik "Fly with Me" English 18 79 7 152 Top 10 2018 Sevak Khanagyan "Qami" (Քամի) Armenian Failed to qualify 15 79 Nicely performed but quite a forgettable package overall 2019 Srbuk "Walking Out" English 16 49 Quite a powerful break up song but the performance has nothing to make it stand out 2020 Athena Manoukian "Chains on You" English Contest cancelled Top 10 2022 Rosa Linn "Snap" English 20 61 5 187 Top 10 2023 Brunette "Future Lover" English, Armenian 14 122 6 99 Top 10 2024 Ladaniva "Jako" (Ժակո) Armenian 8 183 3 137 Top 10 2025 Parg "Survivor" English, Armenian 20 72 10 51 This has some good elements but the chorus is far too Imagine Dragons 2026 Simón "Paloma Rumba" English Failed to qualify 14 49 Top 10

Welcome to the New Helvetica thread! We are quite a small, landlocked and mountainous country neighbouring Ennea and Freedonia, formed around 800 years ago following the abdication of King Malcolm. Our capital is Neugrossstadt, and most of our larger settlements are located along the River Dhine. We welcomed some early explorers from the Northern Hemisphere many centuries ago, and hence Deandrian and Zanmatonese are among our official languages. We have 4 official languages in fact, the others being of course Helvetian and Romantican spoken by some of our mountain dwellers. We began a full census 2 years ago and to date have had 673,441 responses. However we believe the population is in fact around 9 million. We welcome visitors, but we kindly ask that you leave your sense of time in the airport lockers. Those of us who are not city dwellers look after our most important animal, the kügrin. Their milk and cheese are aromatic and creamy, and considered some of the finest in the Buzzworld. We recently passed a referendum requiring that all kügrin are clothed in the winter. To date we have entered around 20 Buzzjack song contests, though none of them before the deadline as we prefer to work at our own pace.‘we are still considering how best to get our delegation to Jadakissnia for BJSC #179.

I like all 6 of them! I went for Alicia & Jack just because I knew it wouldn’t be getting much love and I think it’s really underrated.

Please could we take the territory formerly known as Malcolm?

Enjoyed the Ariana track on 1st listen - happy for it to have dethroned Sam. Would be quite happy if something can fend Taylor off.

“The Cure” is far superior to “Drop Dead”.

Country 3: Armenia Armenia have participated since 2006. They missed 2012 when their arch enemy and neighbour Azerbaijan were hosting, and 2021 even though they had entered a song for 2020. That means there are 19 entries to review in total. They started off incredibly well with 5 consecutive top 10 finishes, and have added a couple more since. However a podium spot has eluded them, and two 4th places are the best they’ve managed. They don’t pare it back like Albania, instead going for tracks with big and bold production. However the quality of their entries is generally very high indeed, and it was difficult to narrow the 19 entries down to 10 for this ranking.

“National Treasures” is certainly better than “Janice STFU” though I wouldn’t seek it out.

First time hearing “Hit The Wall” - gosh it’s whiny.

Good to see Twenty One City on the rise

Lambada >> On The Floor

That would be good - I’m certainly finding most Tunisian artists have moved away and I imagine that will be the case for others too. In some cases it might not even be clear cut where they are now - they could still have a base in their home country but spend most of their time abroad.

The “still based in the country” bit is tough in some cases - particularly if you want to use an artist who’s only moved away because their work was banned in their home country.

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I’m not sure really. I know 2nd is known as the death slot for Eurovision, which makes sense as you’re early enough to be forgotten without getting the 1st slot impact. And I’ve always thought last is good for anything with a public vote. Although actually that doesn’t seem to always play out in Eurovision, maybe because there are so many songs and people are tipsy or losing concentration by that point. Anyway on Buzzjack people are discerning enough that there probably isn’t much advantage or disadvantage from being anywhere. 🤷🏻‍♂️

“Once” passed me by at the time but it is a really good pop song that’s free of the stifling Cowell effect. Great that “We No Speak Americano” is top 10. Think it would be even higher for me - I love the quirky interaction between the dance track and the old Italian song that’s sampled, and the black and white silent film feel to it.

2 Susanne Georgi - La Teva Decisió (Get A Life) (2009, DNQ) It’s a sweet song well performed. Nothing that stands out but a charming swan song from them. 1 Marian van de Wal - La Mirada Interior (2005, DNQ) As @pavi said this is by some distance their best entry. I’m not sure it will make my all time list but I do really like it. It has a proper atmosphere and style to it and the interaction with the backing singers works very well. It deserved more.

Not sure if my country needs some sort of official rubber stamp but: Freidland x x Jadakissnia x New Helvetica Pestolia Lookylion Terra Avium x x Cor Lupus Hendinia x x x Zephyra Continuum x x The Spodic Empire x x Danæviia République d'Áskorza Herbilore Cheiron FSR Rontvia x Zanmatony x Rolloland Lentil Ennea x Elëdan x Land of DW x x Sovarasma x x x Buzzjack Mountain Trifoski Dobago Séyetana Bøtanikkä