MATD turns up in NMC about once a year. The first time was a song, ‘Me and My Dog’, singing the praises of ‘man’s best friend’ and then there was ‘Driftwood of Love’, “dedicated to those who never took their chances and gripped someone they were in love with”, which makes me a piece I suppose.
The hook into this latest single, ‘Read my lips’ is that the song was sent several years ago to Finland’s Eurovision Song Contest pre-qualification stage by the soloist Anna-Kaisa Pippuri. But it didn’t qualify, and was never released.
Then it had a makeover in 2024, the lyrics taking a “lighter direction”.
The original idea of the song was that dictators don’t have a happy ending. The people will eventually revolt and put an end to the dictatorship.
Well that was certainly true of Mussolini, Hitler, Pol Pot and Ceaușescu although a few like Papa Doc managed to hang on. Perhaps there’s another, not too far from Finland, whose fate might take a turn for the worse. Who knows?
“Maybe not the ultimate Eurovision material” they say.
Oh I don’t know about that. I reckon this would have done better than this year’s entry. Last year’s did a lot better than I expected but it was a bit weird, wasn’t it?
Anyway, the song was transformed into a different story (you can say that again) in which they approach a relationship with the question “what could a cheating spouse read from your lips?”
Dictators need not apply.
It’s got a strong 1980s feel to it, the production bringing the guitar sound up to the U2 level, while Johanna has the vocal vibe of a Toyah Willcox, with the difference being that Johanna can sing.
There’s a gripping guitar bridge, while the rising outro leaves you both satisfied and wanting more.
Why on Earth was it rejected, in whatever format?
Resubmit next year, with my recommendation.
Interesting fact about Johanna: She has been voted FinnRadio.FM’s hit Artist of the Year two years in a row, and the song she recorded, ‘Tee Mulle Taivas’, was chosen on the same channel as Hit of the Year 2023.
You see what you’d be missing without NMC?
Find them on:
Website: https://www.matd.band/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matdband
Twitter: https://twitter.com/matd_band
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matdband/
Cover art by Mikael Hindsberg.
