Sweden: Tusse – Voices

Shi: You know the phrase, “the sum is greater than the parts”? That’s Sweden this year. As a song, “Voices” (which I could swear was called “A Million Voices” at some point, but someone decided to save us from a repeating Eurovision title) isn’t exactly a standout track. Nothing wrong with this pop track, per se, but also not the song you’d pick out of the line up as an obvious winner of, well, anything, not even its own semi. 

More than that, I’m pretty sure that had any other artist in this year’s Melodifestivalen performed it, it wouldn’t have won the final nor its semi. But sometimes all you need is the right combination of things, and Tusse was the perfect performer for this song.

One of the toughest things about selling songs with lyrics from the uplifting-but-oh-so-cliché trope, is finding a performer that will make you believe it. It worked for Polina Gagarina in her own way, and it works for Tusse, who stands out on stage not just for his unique sense of style but for being the embodiment of joie de vivre. A joy that is so infectious that as a viewer you end up being a little happier than you were only three minutes ago.

Martin: I’ll hark back to my response to Slovenia here – I feel like I want to dislike this more than I do, and the performer is the main reason why. It’s all a bit cynical as a composition, and then Tusse turns up and blasts you with positivity until you give in. And boy, that chorus sticks to your brain like glue.

Felix: I’m often Sweden’s harshest critic. Not this year. For me, this is one of the best songs they ever sent. And yes, I already mean the composition alone, especially the chorus. Tusse’s vocals make it shine even more. He lives his song, more than any other Swedish artist since Loreen.

video and title image source: eurovision.tv