01) United States - One of the best songs ever made.
02) United Kingdom - I recall sending Morcheeba to TSC back in 2015 but I have no emotional connection to this artist whatsoever. HOLD ON A SECOND. I checked the TSC doc and this is the EXACT song I sent LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. My brain was kind of big in 2015. This came 18th in TSC so it's only up from here (or you'd think). Bop. I was ahead of the time.
03) Poland - I remember how bald I was when I first heard this. It's a good song but like aren't we all over it by now? I know I am. Still a bop though.
04) Iraq - I don't think I've ever heard a song from her that I like until now? Wow, this is really nice. I don't know why I slept on this woman for so long because this is so good. The production is on point, and the chorus is killer. I could see this winning.
05) Kosovo - Not sure what to think about this. I'm sure if this was KAYTRANADA I would be singing its praises, but I'm pretty lukewarm toward it. The female vocal was really nice, and gave the song a much needed lift. Production is actually pretty good. The male parts are growing on me too - his vocal is SMOOTH in retrospect. Enjoyed this.
06) Trinidad & Tobago - Boppity bop bop bop. Adeleadele made multiple points.
07) Cuba - On one end I think this is a massive migraine, but at the same time it kind of slaps? Torn.
08) South Korea - It would be pretty hypocritical of me to tarnish a song I won TSC with. This kind of aged poorly, but the chorus sold me on it all over again. This reminds me of a simpler time. BOP.
09) Czech Republic - OK the first bad song. I was bored.
10) Canada - Ew I hate this overrated song. I just find it really boring and unimaginative. This winning would perhaps be the last straw.
11) Panama - Dated in a fun way. The chorus is pretty good, and the random rap verses sent me. Not my favourite, but it's fun.
12) Zimbabwe - This feels like something that would have been entered to the TSC Africa theme in 2017 before TSC became the home of ~refined~ alternative R&B. It's fine for what it is, but I'm not crazy for it.
13) Thailand - Cute ballad. It gives me movie soundtrack vibes. But again, I'm not crazy for it.
14) Mexico - Ok this is the worst of all the headache-inducing songs. The drop was good for a second before being ruined by the awful vocals. Bad, predictable Latin song.
15) Liberia - Why did I think her and Kat DeLuna were the same person until right now. How haven't I heard this? This had no business going off so hard. TAG ME. I'm having a seizure. Thank you.
16) Armenia - Thinking back to this song is kind of funny in retrospect considering how much in contrast it was to her ESC song. This was good at the time, but it's aged like spoiled milk. Was this really necessary?
17) Turkmenistan - Yesss Turkmen bop. I recall listening to Turkmen bops back in the day. This was good for a man. I enjoyed the electronic beat, and his voice is good. Strong instrumentation too.
18) China - This is haunting. Perhaps it's the video conditioning me into thinking that. The first verse was great, but the chorus kind of confused me. The second verse sounds even better. I've come to the conclusion that I don't "get" the chorus, but it was a good song nonetheless.
19) Jamaica - So sad how this can't be entered to TSC because of that stank bitch Amine. I only like one other Hope song besides this one. I always like her vocal though, and this has a good beat. Amine's verse made me immediately melt. We WON.
20) Bangladesh - Ew I didn't like this. Migraine on steroids. At least the video was fun in a WTF way.
21) Sierra Leone - I knew I'd like this from the second I saw the thumbnail. This feels like an elevated Justine Skye track. Why hasn't this been in TSC? Well, I'd be contractually obliged to blank it in TSC for the lack of originality but I'm ready to shower her in points here. KABBARINAS MAKE SOME NOISEEEEEE.
22) Malaysia - I've considered sending this bitch to TSC, but with a different song. The first verse is nice but it doesn't get going until the pre-chorus. The pre-chorus + chorus are excellent. The instrumentation is stunning. This contest is INSANE. Voting will be difficult.