Monty’s Eurovision Countdown 2019 – Part 28 – Netherlands

Duncan

For a country with four Eurovision wins, the wait since 1975 for the next has been a long one. So long they lost their way, sat a few out, and endured eight consecutive years stuck in the semi-finals, before a renewed vigour brought them back to the Top 10 twice in a row … followed by a couple of 11th places. Could this be the year they finally return to the top?

The bookies certainly think so; ‘Arcade’ has topped the betting since its release. It’s easy to see why: a haunting melody, and some of the best lyrics to grace a Eurovision stage in a long time.

Although inspired by the early death of a friend, the finished product tells a more universal tale of chasing love that’s never to be. It uses the metaphor of futilely throwing all your efforts at it, the way a hapless gambler is in thrall to the slot machines in a penny arcade. The whole thing is quite beautiful.

If yours is the hardest heart to crack and you still fail to be won over by Duncan’s musical and lyrical charms then fear not, for there’s an entirely different attempt to crack you. With crack, in fact. Duncan’s got his arse out in the video. It’s all very artistic, of course, as he swims underwater, but even if you find the song a bit dreary, who isn’t drawn to a lovely bit of bummage?

Duncan’s another alumni of ‘The Voice’, where his mentor was Ilse de Lange. He’ll be hoping to go one better than her 2014 second place as half of The Common Linnets. If that dirge can come second, then this could definitely win.

Monty’s score: Douze Points!

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