That’s How You Write A Song by Alexander Rybak
Gigliola Cinquetti, Anne Marie David, Elisabeth Andreassen, Carola, Niamh Kavanagh, Dana International, Charlotte Perrelli, and Lena at Eurovision. Katrina, Loreen, and Helena Paparizou at national finals. And Johnny Logan. For only one of those has a return (or try-out) to Eurovision after winning proved successful a second time around. For the artist with the biggest winning margin in Eurovision history, it’s difficult to see how he could hope to better that. But Alexander Rybak isn’t put off.
He knows, you see, how to write a song. And he’s trying to spell it out for us in just two easy steps. It’s not that he’s conceited, you understand; it’s actually a response to the requests he receives from children aspiring to be artists themselves one day. Well, thanks, Alexander; it’s good of you to share your pearls of wisdom with them, but did you have to do it on the Eurovision stage?
One thing it’s clear Alexander does know, is how to perform a song, and in doing so here, you’re reminded of how – whilst a bit geeky and socially awkward – he can simply switch on the charm once on stage. You remember exactly why ‘Fairytale’ was the complete package; an already incredibly catchy song lifted to another level by a flawless performance.
Even with the backstory, this track is flimsy for me, and I’m not sure how many of the voting public will know the premise when they hear it on the night, but you can’t write this boy off. He’s got all the potential to carry it off with his charm alone. I can’t really afford another Eurovision in Oslo, but we might be getting one. I’ve had a little flutter, just in case. I might as well make him worth my while.
My marks: 4 points
Will it qualify? Unfortunately, yes.