Saturday Reject: Aron Brink – Hypnotised

“It makes me feel something other than general lethargy.”

Tim: Like so many countries this year, Tom, Iceland hasn’t submitted the greatest song ever for Eurovision; indeed, it fell squarely in the middle of our Zone of Disappointment. Somewhat baffling, when there were a couple of slightly better tracks available. Take this one, came fourth.

Tom: Blimey, it’s like Michael Cera got a makeover.

Tim: Bit harsh; not entirely unfair, though. This is the Icelandic version which was performed in the semi-final; the English one from the final had something weird going on with his vocal, so I don’t know if that explained anything, but oh, it’s so much better than just another soundalike ballad.

Tom: You’re not wrong at all. I know my tastes in pop are a little retro, but this stands above… well, everything else that’s in the poor crop of Eurovision semi-finalists this year. A low bar to clear, though.

Tim: True. But here, well yes, there’s a key change, and yes, it’s got a tedious tropical tinge—

Tom: There’s a new slogan for Lilt. (You’re right, though, those tropical synths are far too loud in the mix, and I’m fairly sure that’s a brief rap middle eight, which really isn’t needed.)

Tim: —but at least it’s different, it stands out, it makes me feel something other than general lethargy.

Tom: I haven’t heard an earnest “a-wey-oh” in a chorus for a while.

Tim: You see? That’s all I want from a Eurovision song. Just, to feel something.