EBJ’s Top 10…JESC songs that could make it at the ESC
A while ago I compiled a Top 10 list of the Eurovision songs that most belonged in the contest’s younger sibling, Junior Eurovision (read it or relive it right here: https://eurovisionbyjaz.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/an-ebj-top-ten-esc-to-jesc/). With the latter’s 2011 edition fast approaching, I figured now was a good time to look back on eight years of child-friendly chansons and determine the reverse – that is, the 10 JESC songs that could have been plucked from the small stage to the big and made the transition super smoothly. In plain English, that’s the Top 10 JESC songs that could stand up at ESC…and maybe even make it to the top.
In theory, every Junior song could be a ESC song, and vice versa (although there are some topics covered in the lyrics of the older that one would not expect, nor want, to hear coming out of the mouths of 10-year-olds), so this was originally a rather long list. Here are the lucky (cough) ones that made my cut.
- My Song for the World by Tom Morley (United Kingdom 2003): I’m pretty sure Ireland entered this same song in every contest from about 1990 to the early 2000s! And most of the time it worked for them. Why can’t the UK bring more of this (and less of That…Sounds Good To Me) to Eurovision Senior?
- Det Finaste Någon Kan Få by Molly Sandén (Sweden 2006): I confess, I’m a sucker for a good ballad, and Mrs. Eric Saade (practically) delivered a textbook version five years ago. Entered at the right time, this could have won Eurovision. Or at least won my heart (cue retching from you readers).
- Urok Hlamuru bu Ilona Galytska (Ukraine 2007): The Mini-Me version of Svetlana Loboda and Be My Valentine (Anti-Crisis Girl). Or Tina Karol and Show Me Your Love. Or 90% of the other Ukrainian ESC entrants of the female variety.
- Si On Voulait Bien by Thomas Pontier (France 2004): I think this is the French-iest song I’ve ever heard! Luckily Thom wasn’t wearing a striped Breton shirt and a beret so a serious stereotype was avoided (unlike inRomania’s multicultural 2007 entry).
- Du by Mimmi Sandén (Sweden 2009): The Sandén sisters should be let loose at ESC rather than JESC, because apparently they attract excellent, grown-up pop songs like Dana International attracts Gaultier. I Du love this song!
- Allt Jag Vill Ha by Josefine Ridell (Sweden 2010): Or is thatSweden in general that should take their JESC efforts to the big show? Their most recent Junior song sounds very similar to a certain trophy-winner performed by a duo fromAzerbaijan…
- Čarobna Noć by Sonja Škorić (Serbia 2010): Serbia doesn’t often send ballads to ESC but loves to put them in Junior – and why wouldn’t they, when the results are so commendable? Magical Night may not have charmed the sequined socks off fans like Nina’s Magical (a.k.a. Čaroban) did had it been in Eurovision, but I reckon it would’ve had a good shot.
- Spit Angel by Mihail Puntov (Russia 2008): Here we have Mini Dima Bilan, in all his white-suited glory. I actually prefer this song to Believe, although the title does conjure up images of a spluttering, foul-mouthed feathered creature…at least for this English speaker (and yes, I do know what “spit” means!).
- Goed by Kimberly (Netherlands 2006): I’m trying not to compare all of these to actual ESC songs, but it’s too easy most of the time. This reminds me of Norway’s 08 entry Hold On Be Strong – they’ve both got the funk.
- Piši Mi by Nevena Božović (Serbia 2007): It’s a little humble as ballads go (are you sick of me saying the B-word yet?) but lovely all the same. In a 1980s, soap-opera theme kind of way (did I mention my love for 80s soap themes?).
eurovisionbyjaz.com 
2 Responses to “EBJ’s Top 10…JESC songs that could make it at the ESC”
I totally agree with your top (cool idea btw), but I think Čarobna Noć is stilla bit too “young” for ESC mostly because of the lyrics. I would have added “Anders” by Trust and “shut up” by Oliver because I found both songs really “adult”, but I guess you disagree from what I read on the ESC to JESC top. I would never want to see a song like Leto Svet in JESC btw 😛
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I think I cut out Anders and Shut Up just before I got down to 10. I definitely get what you mean about them being adult!
Let’s hope we don’t see a Leto Svet-ish song in JESC or ESC. Ever. Again. My ears are still recovering.
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