Well Ronny and Wayne here to bring it home for A Dal 2018. It’s “final time” with the winner going on to represent Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.
Scoring and selection is a little different to the heats and semis where after the 8 artists perform our friendly jurors will each award their top 4 performers scores of 4, 6, 8 or 10 with the top four scorers proceeding to a “Super Final”. The “Super Final” is where the public come in to choose the overall winner.
The first round was:
Leander Kills - "Nem szól harang"
Gábor Heincz Biga - "Good Vibez"
Gergely Dánielfy - "Azt mondtad"
Viktor Király - “Budapest Girl”
We’ve commented on these songs a few times now so just a general reaction from us after the first round:
W: Not surprised most artists from the 2nd semi-final got through, it was clearly the stronger one. They tinkered with Meggyfa again, I’m hoping the producers have told the jurors to lighten up on it due to the seemingly strong public support it has. AWS were very strong and keep improving each time. Surely we’ve had enough of Viktor’s cheddar by now. I predict AWS, Viktor Király, yesyes and just sneaking in Tamás Horváth.
R: After watching the first part of the final I must say that I found vast improvements on all the acts, Leander Kills went with a slight arrangement change, YesYes were completely commanding, Zsolt Süle was on point, if a little more orange coloured than the semi, Tamás Horváth I found a bit stagnant, nerves maybe? Gábor was his usual charming self and a soul warmer, Gergely finally looked down the barrel at the camera, and it melted me. AWS still screamed a lot, but to be honest, it was perfect if this sound is your thing. Lastly Viktor was totally on point, but the song is so naff, I think the producers of the show may have a hand in his success by putting him last. I predict YesYes, Gergely Dánielfry, AWS and Viktor Király.
And now onto the Super Final (you still with us here?), getting through were:
Gergely Dánielfy - "Azt mondtad” (36 points)
Viktor Király - “Budapest Girl” (30 points)
yesyes - "I Let You Run Away” (28 points)
AWS - "Viszlát nyár” (8 points)
And the others scored: Leander Kills (6 points); Gábor Heincz Biga (4 points); Zsolt Süle (0 points); Tamás Horváth (0 points)
And winning the public vote was for AWS - "Viszlát nyár”!!!
W: Well, after a nice little interval performance from Joci Pápai I guess I can see that sending an ethnic/cultural song 2 years in a row was obviously too much for the jurors. I’m sad that Tamás Horváth missed out but I can see where they are going with the selection of AWS, at least the public has the good sense anyway. AWS’ performances have got better and better each time they’ve come to the stage and it’s certainly a point of difference from the other songs selected so far to go to Lisbon. I say if you are going to do rock, do it well and they deliver a very authentic and genuine performance.
R: I’m chuffed that my predictions were correct! It seems the angry youth of Hungary have spoken. In a distict ‘F U’ to the jury they have gone and picked their least favoured song. The boys of AWS really brought their A screams tonight and it has paid off big time. Side note, there’s a key change, so it is Eurovision friendly! While I don’t think we’ll be heading to Budapest next year I can see this qualifying for the final. It will undoubtedly stand out, like it or not. I wish Hungary the best of luck this year.
Overall, a fairly drawn out process this year to come up with what will no doubt be a love/hate result for most. AWS sure will have big milk jugs to fill if they are going to come close to Joci Pápai’s 8th place result last year. Rock out…..#micdrop