We’re approaching the end of Summer … but do not fret, we’re here with another countdown of some of the best releases to have graced our ears over the past month! We count down our favourite 10 – but make sure to check out the playlists at the bottom to get your new music fix.
10. Tom Leeb – You Got Something (France 2020)
Sadly Tom Leeb has been confirmed as not returning for Eurovision 2021, however fans will be very happy to hear some of his new music! ‘You Got Something’ is an acoustic guitar driven ballad where Leeb lays his heart on his sleeve to the person he loves. The style itself is very similar to the revamped version of his Eurovision track ‘Mon alliée (The Best in Me)’ with his soulful voice and the heartfelt lyrics being the main grab.
There’s no music video for the song yet, but perhaps that works better as whilst Tom Leeb is certainly a beautiful individual, the song is perfectly listened to with your eyes closed as you take in each and every word. This style of music really works for Leeb, with a sort of hybrid of Ed Sheeran’s songwriting ability with James Arthur or John Mayer’s soul. Check the official audio out here:
9. Jedward – Extraordinary (Ireland 2011/2012)
After a few years of Jedward being surprisingly quiet, we’ve been overjoyed to see them back on the circuit in the past few months! With a reputation for leaving uplifting and kind messages for fans on social media whilst fighting against political inequalities, their new release ‘Extraordinary’ shares that message of working towards something better – “We can be extraordinary”.
The song feels a lot more mature than some of their past releases, with an air of Swedish House Mafia about it. Their voices have certainly matured whilst the chorus includes a pretty impressive drop making this is a surefire club banger! We love this direction for the boys and can’t wait to see what comes next.
8. Kallay Saunders – Too Far (Hungary 2014)
This is not the first time that Hungarian star Kallay Saunders has appeared on our music countdown in recent months and the fact he’s back again just goes to show how strong his discography is. This collaboration with Zubi, anatu and Fernando Saunders is super on trend. It could easily be a song by Frank Ocean, Khalid or Drake. It oozes that super smooth radio-friendly R&B sound with some impressive harmonies chucked in.
There’s elements of a 90s throwback in there but with a very modern production which compliments the track and their velvety vocals. He’s constantly releasing new music so we can’t wait to see what comes next.
7. Hurricane – Folir’o (Serbia 2020)
The Hurricane ladies are back and they are whipping up a storm with their new release ‘Folir’o’ (Eng: ‘Fooling’). By now we should have seen them working their magic on stage in Rotterdam with ‘Hasta La Vista’, and if you liked that song then you probably won’t be disappointed by the ladies latest storming high velocity effort.
‘Folir’o’ sees our trio lament the loss a man who was fooling them. They recall some of the words of wisdom from their parents and they are setting the record straight in style. Will we see them back for Rotterdam 2021 and will we get another modern banger like this? Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
6. Amir – La fête (France 2016)
If you were looking for a celebration during these dark days, the next track might just be your tonic this month. Written with the coronavirus pandemic is mind, our number 6 track in August is from France’s Amir Haddad. Amir of course was highly fancied before the epic 2016 contest in Stockholm and the faith was proved correct as ‘J’ai Cherché’ stormed to 6th place.
Already a top 10 hit in Belgium, ‘La fête’ sees Amir at his most playful. The song has also been earmarked for his next album which we will hopefully see drop later this Autumn. The key theme that Amir wants to tell you – try to still enjoy life despite all of the bad news around you:
I want it to become the song where at each party with friends, in your house or in a bar or on vacation, you will put it on and that’s when everyone will lose it, throw towels in the air, raise their glasses and dance like crazy.
Amir talking about ‘La fête’ in The Parisien
5. Aivo Oskis – Laiku pa laikam (Latvia NF)
Aivo is one of Latvia’s brightest young talents and has already participated on the Supernova stage for the last two years. He’s also one of the busiest singers around, from supporting his fellow Supernova alumni Edgars Kreilis in his The Voice Lithuania blind audition to some hilarious social media antics between the two where they dared each other to sing with the most chewing gum in their mouth!
’Laiku pa laikam’ translates to ‘From Time to Time’ and sees Aivo on the banks of the Daugava river joined in a TikTok dance routine performed by those who answered his social media call for participants!
It’s colourful, catchy and most of all good enough to be getting airplay on Latvian radio. Aivo is a star and we will not be shocked to see him at Eurovision sooner rather than later.
4. Max Barskih – Silence (Ukraine NF)
Max Barskih will forever be one of the biggest names to not be chosen in their national finals. When you think of national final robbery, you think of Max. However, everything happens for a reason and not winning hasn’t seemed to harm his music career. Max has been releasing hit song after hit song for years now, and the latest delivery ‘Silence’ is no different to that.
His raw vocals combine very nicely with this modern MEDUZA style production to create a sultry and dark dance track. This is the type of song that would really shine within a dark club room. The synths and electro production sound fresh without ever being repetitive. All in all, a great new release from Max!
3. Erika Vikman – Syntisten pöytä (Finland NF)
Speaking of National Final robberies, this has to top them (sorry Max!). Erika Vidman brought a forest fire surrounded by huge dancing bears to the UMK stage in 2020 – YES DANCING BEARS! But alas her hi energy tribute to the porn queen of Hungary, Cicciolina, only managed to take Finland’s second place. I sense the Eurovision gods were angered by this.
However undeterred she’s served us up another glorious retro styled bop which surely Dua Lipa is taking notes from for her next album. ‘Syntisten pöytä’ translates to ‘Table of Sinners’ and we at ESCBubble are definitely dining at this table. In a busy year for Erika she’s also taken the ‘Masked Singer Finland‘ by storm dressed as a wasp, singing you guessed it, ‘Euphoria’!
Working a jumpsuit to the max, here’s ‘Syntisten pöytä‘:
2. Little Big – Tacos (Russia 2020)
Little Big are another act which keep on delivering the goods! Their comic style of music has constantly entertained Russia and Eastern Europe. Since being chosen at the 2020 Russian act for Eurovision and releasing ‘Uno’, their trajectory has only soared and it would not have been surprising to have seen them win the whole contest.
‘Tacos’ is the name of their latest song, which as you can predict covers the topic of food! The hook ‘ I like to eat’ followed by a barrage of tacos and burritos is probably the most Little Big thing to happen to 2020. It’s a little surreal, however once again they’ve produced a potential mega-hit out of parody subject matter and a catchy tune.
The music video is also an experience, with the snapshot below only showing a tiny bit of the craziness. Wigs of spaghetti, headphones of burgers, a judge hitting a steak and a mummy wrapped in pancakes is just the start of it. We get a world tour of cuisine, from sushi in Japan to pizza in Italy. Don’t miss out on the madness, check out the video here:
1. Måns Zelmerlöw – Mirror (Sweden 2015)
Our top this month comes from a familiar face, your 2015 winner from Sweden – Måns Zelmerlöw. ‘Mirror’ is a personal song dedicated to his wife Ciara, who many Brits will recognise as formerly playing ‘Nicole Owen’ in the soap ‘Hollyoaks’. Måns once again teams up with Joy Deb, one of the writers of ‘Heroes’ and it’s taken from his 2019 album ‘Time’.
‘Mirror’ is a no holds barred power ballad which really sticks in your head from the first listen, it definitely shows his devotion to Ciara as he acts as her reflection to guide her to find her inner beauty despite her flaws.
As always we’ve collated all of our picks into a YouTube and Spotify playlist which you can find below. We’ll see you again soon when we pick our top 10 favourite tracks from September!