I’m not a connoisseur as far as the Eurovision Song Contest is concerned. It’s a game with rules I don’t understand. What I do know, however, is whether or not I like a song. And in recent years, in my opinion, the number of decent pop tracks in the competition has been growing.

This year, I already wrote about Mercy by Madame Monsieur (the French entry) and A Matter Of Time by Sennek (who will sing on behalf of Belgium). This being the ESC week, I thought I’d give you one more recommendation…

Austria sends in Cesár Sampson. Early this century, he toured the world as the lead singer from bands like Kruder & Dorfmeister and Sofa Surfers. Since then, he preferred working behind the scenes in music production, song writing and as a vocal producer. The last two years, Sampson and his production collective Symphonix International helped the Bulgarian entries Poli Genova and Kristian Kostov reach a historic fourth and second place in the Eurovision Song Contest respectively, with If Love Was A Crime and Beautiful Mess. He also provided backing vocals for both tracks.

This year, Sampson gets back in the lime lights again with Nobody Like You, a track written by himself and Symphonix International. It’s a catchy, modern song, with a piano hook that sounds like the one in James Blake’s Limit To Your Love (2011). Great entry! (so, not a winner, presumably 😉 ).

For more great new music follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.