y guilty pleasure? “Yodel It!” by Ilinca and Alex Florea.
Prior to 2023, I would go into Semis blind and let the fabulous wash over me. I was the typical “big fan, but not obsessive” viewer. In other words, I’m the exact person that the participants wanted to hook at the Semis and gain my vote.
Granted, I couldn’t vote yet, but “Yodel It!” hit me right in my camp-loving soul: It was unique, the song grew masterfully over the three minutes, and they performed the hell out of it. When it finished, I had anime heart eyes and hoped that it would qualify for Saturday… which it did.
Let’s be honest: Most songs don’t stand a chance of winning. They just want to make the Finals and perform. “Yodel It!” earned that spot with ease.
The Finals performance… didn’t feel the same, even though I hyped it up to my friends. It’s the perfect Eurovision “listen to it once or twice and move on” song. Each time I hear it, I like it a little less.
But also, I love it. I know what it did to me on that Thursday, and I can’t fault it for that. Not every song I like must be a masterpiece. It’s wonderful instant nostalgia that will live with me for a long time.