Saturday Reject: Rickard Söderberg & Elize Ryd – One By One

“Hahahahahaha. Hahaha. Ha.”

Tim: Yep, with three months to go it’s that time of the year again, where we look at all the tracks that were good, but not quite good enough. First off, to Sweden (where else?), and this, an opera singer paired with the lead singer of metal band Amaranthe.

Tom: They’re going to have to beat Malena Ernman and Casablanca’s La Voix performance in my head. High bar to clear.

Tim: It is indeed. Have a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu8Jmr2xCJE

Tom: Hahahahahaha. Hahaha. Ha.

Tim: Ermm, okay, so this got knocked out in the very strong first heat of Melodifestivalen, disappointingly, what with it almost being my favourite song of the night.

Tom: Wait, what? Really?

Tim: Oh, hell yes. Every now and again, I do love a good operatic rock song when it’s done well, and here it very much is. The two vocals combine very well, almost in a Nica & Joe style, and while I wouldn’t have said no to an even more out there female vocal, possibly even hitting Malena Ernman levels, I do think this combination works very well.

Tom: It really doesn’t. I mean, don’t get me wrong, they’re both brilliant vocalists, but the combination sounds like an incompetently-produced mashup. He’s got a voice for opera, and it just sounds wrong here.

Tim: Oh, please – it sounds great here.

Tom: No. No it doesn’t. Again: the voice on its own? Brilliant. Great opera singer. But it’s completely, utterly, out of place.

Tim: I think you are entirely wrong. Mind you, I wouldn’t listen to a whole album of it, but as a Eurovision competitor, many countries could (and, let’s face it, will) do a lot worse, because, well, to pick just one point, that return from the middle eight is just brilliant.

Tom: No, for once I completely disagree with you: it’s ridiculous, and it’d end up near the bottom of the table. The whole setup: the wind machines, the moustache, the bizarre eyeliner, and creepy stares at the camera: it’s just not a good track.

Tim: Well, I’ll grant you him looking ridiculous, but I reckon everything else about it is great.