The entries for Eesti Laul 2018 were unveiled a few days ago and with still weeks away from the competition, there is already one stand out entry.
La Forza (‘The Force’) has been gathering momentum on social media, with many saying this is the one to beat. It is a modern opera song for 2018, effortlessly straddling classic and contemporary. The soul-stirring vocals, performed by young protégé Elina Netšajeva, are pure opera, while the production has a dark, dramatic Sia-esque vibe.
Together, they combine to tell a story of belief and a higher power. Listen below:
It certainly grabs you on the first listen, making it a standout favourite to represent Estonia at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.
Opera has traditionally not scored well at the Contest, the most recent examples being Romania’s 2013 entry It’s My Life and Croatia’s 2017 effort My Friend - themselves stuttered attempts at blending pop and opera. They both ended up 13th in their respective Grand Finals.
Should La Forza make it to Eurovision, I predict it to fare much better. As with all competing entries, it comes down to the live performance on the night, as well as the staging. I hope the directors get inspired by the song’s soundscape and keep the staging minimal and restrained letting the song fill the arena.
We shall know the fate of La Forza come February 10th, when it competes in the first semi-final of Eesti Laul 2018. For now, it’s on repeat on the Alien Aesthete’s playlist.
La Forza has been composed by Mihkel Mattisen and Timo Vendt with lyrics written by Elina herself along with Ksenia Kuchukova.
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