Eurovision Top 100, #38: Unsubstantial Blues (Hungary, 2007)

At number 38 on the Eurovision Top 100 list, Hungary’s Magdi Rúzsa gives us her 2007 entry “Unsubstantial Blues.”

I am going to preface all of this by saying that I do not listen to the blues.  This is not a genre about which I know a great deal, and I do not have any blues songs on my playlists – except this one.  The whole point of diving into the Eurovision Song Contest was to experience music, both in terms of new styles and from places I had never considered.  If you had told me in, say, 2019, that a Hungarian blues song would grow into one of my favorites, I would have looked for your psychedelic narcotics.

Blues at Eurovision are rare, so when you get it, and it’s good, you know you have something special.

Vital Information: “Unsubstantial Blues”

What I Liked

I adore this song.  As you now know, I rarely get into blues, but in this case, I am glad Eurovision foisted it upon me.  I wish I could have rigged my own scoresheet to put this higher.  Magdi sang with intense emotion and authority, and it captivated me.  One would imagine that a certain amount of soulfulness is a necessity in blues, and she delivered.

The musical composition was smooth and easy to which to listen, but juxtaposed against Magdi’s powerful singing made it even better.

The Hungarian version is available through Spotify, and that version might be even better than the one she performed at the contest.

Other Facts

• This was one of only four times in history that Hungary finished in the top ten.
• She performed eighth in the 2007 grand final running order.  Winning Serbia and legendary Ukraine were towards the end, as were four of the top five, which makes one wonder if placement mattered this year.
• Serbia gave this song douze points in the final, and Hungary gave douze points back to Serbia.
• This song came in second place in the semifinal.

Sing the “Unsubstantial Blues”

While you watch the performance from 2007 on YouTube.