It’s April and we have less than 60 days till the annual Eurovision contest that will happen next month. Get excited! Though the contest was canceled last year and faces strict protocols due to the current pandemic, we can still enjoy this international contest from anywhere in the world.
Each day, I will feature a song from one of the countries that is in this year’s Eurovision. Like 2019, I will make my own predictions of who will make it to the finals and maybe win the compeition. Good luck to those are competing!
Ana Soklič’s “Amen”
Ana Soklič’s “Amen” is Slovenia’s entry into the music competition. It is described as a powerful ballad backed with a mighty gospel backing chorus, I think the gospel chorus is the highlight of this song. Sadly, I find Ana’s vocals lackluster. They don’t build any suspense between the vocals or chorus, nor do they release something powerful and/or wild during the chorus as you would expect in a gospel-based ballad. The vocals are powerful, but softly and don’t really climax at any point in the song. It is just the same volume, the same energy, the same style throughout.
The true stars is the gospel backing chorus. A team that centers around vocalist Dorian Holley. who has toured with artists like Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart and James Taylor.[1] They bring the soul of the song with their powerful vocals, energy, and vibrant vocal tones. Maybe they will be the saving grace of the song during semifinals?
