01) Liis Lemsalu - Chill. Cute. Understand why it qualified even though that seems like an unpopular opinion.
02) Paula - OMG Lithuanian Paula??? Going to listen to her bops after I'm done with this contest. Harmonize with robots, girl. I wish this really broke out more, but it's nice.
03) 5 Seconds of Summer - It's an easy listen. Doesn't necessarily grab me like most of their recent work has, but it's fine.
04) Luana Kiara - Dark and brooding instrumental, but something about it isn't really clicking for me on first listen.
05) Hannah Trigwell - Went through her music after Attention did the damn thing, so I vaguely remember this. Definitely better than the first time I listened to it. It's solid.
06) Rachel Lorin - I was sent this as a suggestion. I like it, but it didn't really feel like something I'd enter myself.
07) Melanie C - Mel doesn't really make bad songs. It's just not something she knows how to do.
08) UPSAHL - It's such a tragedy that it's both named and has lyrics of the 12345SEX atrocity. I'm so into the vibe but I just can't take it as seriously as I'd like to.
09) Dua Lipa - I mean, considering this is one of my album favs and I paused Dua Lipa both times I had to listen to TSC songs this week, I'm not sure if I can do my typical "knock a super popular artist down a peg" shtick. Can't deny the POWER.
10) The Score - We had a decent sized break from Zayde Tinnesz, so I won't be TOO harsh on the genre right now. Yeah, I lied, I'm still over this sound right now lmfao.
11) SVRCINA - Solid all around effort without a real stand-out element. Still nice.
12) Shab - I was waiting for a cheap bop. Thank you.
13) Chaz Cardigan - I fully expected to hate this, but found myself intrigued in the beginning. Was waiting for myself to be right and end up hating it, but I didn't. Not sure if I'd always be in the mood for it, but it's coo'.
14) Lina Kuduzovic - Nice voice, Ari, but this was so dull.
15) LOONA - Predictably not my brand of k-pop whatsoever. It'll have an audience.
16) Bow Anderson - Interesting voice. Appreciate a different feel, but I'm not sure if it's for me.
17) FLETCHER - *whispers* she hasn't really impressed me much since Warpaint. It's fine, albeit all-around pretty ordinary.
18) Ben Platt - His last entry was complete ass, so my expectations could not be set lower. The production has elements that I enjoy, but I'm not entirely sold on it as a package.
19) ABIR - I really like her general vibe and voice. I wasn't sure where this was going to go, but I think I'm happy with it going more into a chill subtle song than a full on banger.
20) Nothing But Thieves - Not bad for the genre, but think I already easily have 10 songs I liked more. Ooop.
21) Zivert - I guess my ESCT votes will be revealed by the time I have to make this comment public, but I liked it there, like it here. It's missing a little OOMPH to totally take it over the top, but it's good. 2lazy2editcomment
22) Ava Max - Verses, sure. Pre-chorus, sure. Chorus followed by the guitar riffs? Not sure how I feel about that. I think I like the concept of it more than the execution.
23) VINCINT - I *adored* his last entry, but this didn't end up on my short-list after the first time I listened to it. It doesn't hit me nearly as hard as "Please Don't Fall In Love" but it's solid enough.
24) Julianna Karaulova - This won semi 1, right? A BOP.