The great American wild west permeated this year’s national final season in several songs, including hopeful entries in Malta and Sweden. I’m not sure where it’s come from, although I’m not exactly known for having my finger on the pulse of a musical trend in the wider field. Only one has made it to Eurovision in the (fine) form of Armenian-Estonian Stefan. It’s his third attempt to represent his country and by far the most memorable.
The video is epic, with Stefan and a rendering of his childhood self cast adrift in the arid dessert, mooching around in a poncho and a ten-gallon hat. Sonically there’s a blend of Aviici meets Ennio Morricone, the resulting song sounding instantly familiar and pleasing.
Stefan has been voted the sexiest man of the year in Estonia. He’s likely to pick up plenty more admirers when he sings to a global audience in May. As he heads to Italy with his titularly optimistic track Estonians will be hoping for a good result, which I think is entirely realistic. And as I head to the end of my review, I’m going to have to admit the temptation to shoehorn in a reference to a spaghetti western really is too great to resist.
My marks: DOUZE POINTS!