My lovely friend Zoltan had but one request for me with my 2018 previews countdown: “please don’t put Hungary in last place”. Well, I have stuck to that promise and have placed this higher than perhaps people might have expected. It definitely isn’t your standard Eurovision fare – AWS are a metal and “post-hardcore” band. Can something so different to the usual contest song do well for Hungary? 

I think when this originally won the Hungarian national final, A Dal, there was an assumption from Eurofans that this would almost be a certain non-qualifier. However, I wasn’t so sure of that and as time has gone on, I think this is now seen as a potential qualifier from that weaker semi-final.

I don’t think this is a “bad” song or “bad” entry, it’s just not to my own musical taste. I do think this could come across well live, given its energy, and I think it definitely has televote power. A majority of people might well dislike this genre, but enough people liking it and voting for it would give Hungary another decent result; or at the very least, we may see them in the final again.

Official music video:

Live performance at Hungarian national final (A Dal):

Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest:

First entered: 1994

Appearances (excluding this year): 15

Best result: 4th in 1994

Last year’s result: 8th