Review: “Luxembourg Song Contest 2024”

After a long break of 31 years, Luxembourg is about to return to the contest.
The national broadcaster will hold a national selection, where 8 artists will compete to represent the country at Eurovision 2024.
The “Luxembourg Song Contest 2024” will be held on the 27th of January 2024.
In this post, I will review the 8 competing acts:

#1.Angy & Rafa Ela – Drop

It is an empowerment mid-tempo song.
The song start as a classical ballad. In the first verse, the melody is based on keyboards, and one of the singers humming, while the another one sings.
They sing the pre-chorus together, and their vocals combined well. This part is short and slower.
The chorus is more energetic. It features violin and piano playing. They sing together powerfully, as a mid-tempo beat is added.
The second verse is based on piano and orchestral elements. The beat from the chorus keeps on going here and it is build more powerfully. This verse is performed by a different singer (compared to the first verse).
They sing the second pre-chorus together, this time we can hear some backing vocals as well.
The second chorus comes in, and it is quite similar to the first one.
The bridge comes right after the 2nd chorus. It features fading backing vocals. The melody is based on violin playing, as the beat is laid back. This is also the place for them to give more vocally. They use long and high notes. Thereafter, the last chorus is followed.
Vocally, it is on point. But I am not sure about how attractive is the song. The song develops quite expectedly and no surprises are on the table.
For some reason, it reminded me of songs we could have found in the “Dansk Melodi Grand Prix”.

#2. CHAiLD – Hold On

It is a Disney empowerment ballad.
The song starts with a short introduction. In the first verse, we get a minimalistic production, with some effects over the voice (echoes and reverb I guess). The melody is bases on keyboards and string elements. As this part continues, we can hear guitar playing and a more warmer singing.
The pre-chorus comes immediately after. There’s a use of more backing vocals.
The chorus is built on the same concept. However, it is based on slower singing and therefore longer notes. Towards the end, we can hear some effects.
The second verse feels more contemporary. The melody is airier. There is a light use of synth element. CHAiLD sings by the book.
The second chorus comes after. This time the singer is supported by some backing vocalists. The melody feels more classical.
The bridge is based on more orchestral elements. The song ends with one last chorus, which is more laid back.
I find myself disappointed with this one. It lacks real emotions. The song sounds like it was created by a recipe for national selection songs. At some point, the Pathos was too much to handle.

#3.Edsun – Finally Alive

It is a R&B soul pop song.
The song starts immediately with the first part of the chorus. The melody is based on piano playing.
The first verse kick is with a melody that it based on synth elements, keyboards and some effects. Edsun sings effortlessly with a mid-high and thin tone of voice.
The pre-chorus starts is mainly based on a specific phrase. The melody is more 1980’s oriented.
The chorus features some backing vocals. The beat is gradually built. The singer uses a higher tone of voice. We can hear saxophone in the melody, as well as some effects.
The second verse is more “festive”. He keeps on going with soulful singing.
The second verse is followed by a short instrumental part which is based on the saxophone playing.
Thereafter, comes the second pre-chorus, this time with a different beat. He sings it with some vocal decorations.
He performs the chorus with more effects this time. The wind instruments still control the melody. The beat kicks in and we can hear some vocal effects. At some point, Edsun sings a kind of non-lyrical part, while the backing vocals sing the main part as a choir.
The team behind the song tried to satisfy the listener on several levels. Unfortunately, it sound like something we have many time in the past. I don’t see this song as a competitive one, it something more suitable to the live shows of “X-Factor” or something similar. In addition, it felt dated and not in a good way.

#4. Joel Marques – Believer

It is an Indie-soft rock song.
The song starts with keyboard playing. Shortly after we can hear Joel singing. The first verse is tender, Joel sings in a mid-high tone of pleasant voice.
In the pre-chorus, we can hear a slow added, while the melody is still based on keyboard playing, Joel sings it with a little bit more of manners.
The chorus is a hymn. Joel is supported by backing vocals. The melody is based on keyboards, slow beat and piano. Towards the end, it goes into a more rocky vibe.
The second verse reminds of the first one. He wraps it with his warm voice.
A short pre-chorus comes and then we get the second chorus. We can hear more of the backing vocalists this time. He gives more vocally, and subsequently the choir singing is more powerful.
The bridge is quite simple, the accompanying is laid back.
The last chorus is based on a simple keyboard playing, We reach the point where he sings a very long note. Later on, the rest of the chorus continues as previously.
The song ends with him singing the last sentence, while the choir sings the backing vocals.
I can’t say this is the most special song in the line-up, and it didn’t surprise me. However, there is something solid and convincing about this one. His warm and stable voice contribute to the song.

#5. Krick – Drowning In The Rain

It is a classic lyrical ballad.
The melody is based on piano playing.
The first verse opens with dark and dramatic atmosphere. Krick sings accurately. The melody gives a classic, and there is a use of rhyming.
The pre-chorus is short and relies on singing mainly.
The chorus bring the drama to the center. She sings more powerfully, and more orchestral elements are added. Krick sings part of it is an almost falsetto voice. The second part of the chorus is more laid-back and features backing singing. The third part of the chorus is more intense. We can also hear fading backing vocals.
The second verse is based on a piano playing, and is quite similar to the first one. However, in this case, there is a wider use of string elements.
The second is emotional. She uses longer notes and lengthens part of the words. Once again, we get a multi-layer chorus. The last part features a more intense piano playing and humming.
This is one of the most finest ballads that I’ve heard this year. One of the writers behind the song is Elsie Bay, who competed twice in the Norwegian “MGP”. The production is great, Krick sounds like a very strong vocalist who conveys emotions successfully.
I am also impressed by the meaningful lyrics.
If this is the song Luxembourg sends to Eurovision, than I can see top10 results in the horizon, especially due to the jury support. Well Done!

#6. Naomi Ayé – Paumée sur terre

It is a dynamic French ballad.
The song starts with a short instrumental introduction, composed by string elements.
Naomi performs the first verse with a warm and pleasant voice. The melody is quite basic but effective. It is based on string elements (harp as well?).
The chorus sounds more modern. She sings more virtuously. This part is also performed with higher pitch. The melody is based on keyboards and wind instruments. The last part of the chorus features some longer notes.
The second verse is more laid back production wisely. The basis of the melody remains the same, However, the presence of classic orchestral elements is emphasized. Later on, we can hear a gentle beat is added.
The chorus follow, and it follows the structure of the first one.
The bridge is with minimal production, we can only the string elements with a crystal clear voice and fading backing vocals. This part is a bit slower
The song ends with an additional chorus. It is performed with a fragile voice. The last line is performed with some echo.
Overall, it sounds like a radio-friendly Disney ballad. The main advantage here is Naomi’s excellent vocals, as well as her mature interpretation.
The composition of the song suggests as effect of water flow, and maybe that’s why it is so calming. When I close my eyes, I can see birds singing in a forest with a river, and then Naomi is walking over and telling her story.
If is staged correctly, it might convince many people.

#7. One Last Time – Devil In The Detail

It is a pop rock song,
The song starts with a short introduction features drum playing and humming with singing one of the line from the chorus.
The first verse is based on electric guitar playing, the atmosphere is a bit dark. The lead singer sings with a semi-smokey voice.
The pre-chorus is faster. The melody is based on a growing drum beat.
The chorus suggest a most commercial direction. We can hear some backing vocals as well. The melody is based on electric guitar. Vocally, it is more interesting.
The second verse is faster. The melody is based on electric guitar stringing and drums. Some words are conjected in the singing.
The pre-chorus is based on a mid drum tempo.
Thereafter, we get the 2nd chorus, with the same structure as before. This time it is finalized with some vocal decorations. Later on, the melody is replaces by a drum hook.
The following chorus with longer notes and some backing vocals. The drum and beat are in the center of the melody.
The song is rememberable, but I think it lacks a “wow-factor”. I have been waited for any change in the production or in the melody, or even for the song to go deeper and wilder in the rock genre. It is a song I won’t skip in my playlist, but yet it doesn’t grab me as I wished for.

#8. Tali – “Fighter“

It is a mid-tempo contemporary pop ballad, performed in 2 languages (French and English)
The song starts with guitar stringing. The production suggest an acoustic line. The first verse is performed in French. Tali performs in a mid-tone of voice. The melody is based on guitar, but we can also can hear additional string elements in non-linear frequencies and some studio effects.
The pre-chorus features humming and backing vocals, the melody is based on keyboards playing.
The chorus is most “festive” and elevating. It is performed in 2 languages. The string beat generates a mini-exploding effect. The interpretation is quite warm. The last part of the chorus is performed higher.
The second verse is quite similar to the first one. The melody is still based on guitar playing, and a kind of contemporary production. The pre-chorus follow.
The second chorus brings joy and even kind of pure innocence. The singing is more powerful, and there’s a use of backing vocals as well. This part suggests diverse vocal techniques and all of them are performed.
The bridge is laid-back and brings more unplugged direction. Tali is supported by backing vocals. This part is performed in English.
The chorus follow. She starts singing it with a higher tone, backing vocalists perform the main part while Tali gives some long notes to the composition. The song ends with a minimal production, keyboards playing and softer singing,
Vocal wisely, she reminds me a lot of the French singer Indila.
Personally, I prefer the French singing parts, but the bilingual composition has been made quite wisely.
Overall, it is a radio-friendly song that doesn’t fall into the world of generic songs. Tali brings a positive wind to the interpretation and the final product is catchy. Well done

Personal Ranking

In general, I think it is a polarized selection which includes some strong songs, but some are quite weak. I will be happy to see any of the top 3 acts in my list representing the country:

Krick – Drowning In The Rain
Naomi Ayé – Paumée sur terre
Tali – Fighter
Joel Marques – Believer
One Last Time – Devil In The Detail
Angy & Rafa Ela – Drop
Edsun – Finally Alive
CHAiLD – Hold On

Prediction

It doesn’t happen occasionally, but this time I think my personal ranking will somehow be identify with my prediction.
I can see Krick, Naomi or Tali winning the selection.

Which song is your favorite one?
What your prediction of the results?

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