IF LOVE WAS A CRIME

POLI GENOVA

SECHUK JURY

Rating

 246.5/320 (77%)

INTERNATIONAL JURY

BULGARIA

INT

JURY TOTAL

119

Amar

I'm loving this year's trend of mixing traditional elements with radio friendly and contemporary vibes! Bulgaria has done this exceptionally well! Well worth the wait. Poli is a world class performer and the song is beyond fitting for her! Great job!

9.5

Benedek

Bulgaria for the first time has a chance to qualify.This song is good, the singer is great, she can deliver very well as we know, the difference is that she is bringing a very good song. I hope this song will go through it is good enough. If it makes it to the final I see this a top 10-15 contender.Good luck for our neighbors.

7

Christos

Congratulations to the Bulgarian tv for chosing this song. Catchy, clever, modern and bilingual. I am sure its gonna make it to the final. Bulgaria , as in 2005, presented to us something very nice and a little bit different by the common bulgarian music style served to us in the past. I am curious for the stage performence but it is a nice moment of this years ESC edition. Congrats again.

7

Daria

Good Eurovision pop! It's gonna be one of Euroclub songs of the year. Very good return entry, I hope it will inspire Bulgaria to participate next year. 

8.5

Douwe

The final song to be announced is far from being the worst and Poli looks positively radiant. This is modern, catchy, fresh and summery with a little Bulgarian twist (the Kaval flute and the bilingual chorus). This is very instant and has broad appeal, something previous Bulgarian entries have lacked (although again there is some Swedish involvement here). The lyrics may not be the most innovative and this is not going to win in Stockholm  but 'ILWAC' should bring Bulgaria safely to the final.

7.5

Elena

This song is very "now". It's catchy, modern and radio friendly. It might be a little bit repetitive but I think it all comes down to the live performance. It's good.

8

Frederico

This is quite a nice song though I don't get all the hype surrounding it. It all sounds - and looks very professional - and it is a sure qualifier.  There is something quite interesting about the song but there is also a certain laziness about it.

5

José

As pleasant as unusual style for Poli. I'm not sure if it is a good idea to repeat performers for a country, but this Poli is much better than the preivous we saw with Na Inat. I'm still in doubt like with Czech Republic , if they will have enough friends while voting. I really hope so!!!

7

Mark L

I don't like the chorus in this song but really like the rest of it. I think it will make the final but might struggle after that.

6

Melissa

This is a great entry! One of the best that Bulgaria has ever sent! (Though not as good as Poli's "Na Inat") Extremely Radio friendly, I'm in love with this!

8

Octavio

Nice song. Fresh melody, great lyrics and her voice is simply amazing. The refrain is incredibly catchy. Poli Genova shows that she's a great singer and I hope for a great performance on stage. This is sure to qualify.

9

Paul C

I love this one, its' so fresh and entertaining. I have to say I was surprise I'd like it so much as I did not think Poli could do as good as her entry a few years ago which I loved too. Anyway, one of my favourites this year, and I hope that this time she will qualify for the final and do well.

9

Pia

This is ok. Best since 2007 , so I think she will make it to the final !

7

Roberto

This is getting me really confused and disoriented. There is something particular in it, and something really tedious as well. It is difficult for me to follow the rhythms and the quite obsessive trend. Interesting but stodgy. Ultra-modern but monotone. 

5.5

Roy

I like the title and it also turns out not a bad song, in fact the best BULGARIA has come up as yet. I think they will qualify.

7

Samantha

Light, summery fun, just what u was hoping for from Poli! Song is catchy and energetic, and I love the little inclusions of local flair (language, instrumentation). Welcome back!!!

8

UNITED KINGDOM JURY

BULGARIA

UK

JURY TOTAL

127.5

Andrew C

On one listening and without checking back I can't remember a better Bulgarian entry but I still think it may get lost amongst so many female artists.

8

Andrew G

This is very good, it`s another instant and should qualify, i think this is my best ever Bulgarian entry,

9

Daniel

They've make us wait but they certainly haven't disappointed! Bulgaria 's best song yet. By far. Poli was robbed of qualification in 2011. Hopefully she'll get to the final this year!

8

Danny

And here we have the final song! And it was definitely worth the wait! The production on this is fantastic and so contemporary and could be a hit all over Europe . By FAR the best song Bulgaria have ever sent to Eurovision and it’s a definite qualifier, and I think it could give them their best result since Voda. Well done Bulgaria !

10

David B

Loving the chipmunk intro! The opening verse promises a great deal but the chorus doesn't totally deliver which is annoying. Possibly Bulgaria 's finest hour and I'm guessing that the song is heading for the final. Not a winner though.

6.5

David E

Another diva-driven up-tempo pop anthem! In a contest which has become awash with similar songs this is one of the stronger entries. Love the use of Bulgarian for the hook. This has the potential to give them their best ever placing.

8

Dean

WOW! Talk about saving the best til last. This is more like it! A fab pop song that's going to make a lot of the other female sung entries sound decidedly dull. A finalist for sure, and Top 10, possibly Top 5 if the Final. Hooray for Bulgaria !

9

Eddie

Wow, welcome back Bulgaria . Great tune, radio friendly. Can see have this a great stage show. Like the flute riffs. Top pop tune but done differently. Finalist for sure!

9

Gary  

Is that a baby at the start? (16 minimum age on stage lol). This is a solid entry but will compete for scores against all of the other female mid-tempo songs. I fear for Eurovision when so many of the songs sound so similar. This should see them in the final though and it is already showing favour with the fan community.

7.5

Joe

OMG this is really great. Really modern and we already know that Poli is a great performer. This has exceeded expectations and well worth the wait!

10

Mark M

The last song for us to hear!  Sort of follows the theme of this year with songs that you think are going to be brilliant but then don't quite deliver.  I love the start of this song and the parts in Bulgarian are also great.  But the bridge seems to sort of ruin it a little.  I suspect it will be a real grower.

6

Martin

Bulgaria have kept us waiting but 'If Love Was A Crime' is really underwhelming - the lack of almost any Bulgarian whatsoever makes this sound lyrically disjointed and repetitive, with the musical content not kicking in at all, there's no hook, no high point, no climax.  Yet another non-qualification beckons...

5

Matt

This will be a 'fan fave' but I can't see what all the fuss is about.  Yes it is a dancy one with some energy, but I was put off by the chipmunk at the beginning.  It's quite forgetable with only the beat really saving it.

6

Nico

We know Poli can sing and give a great delivery so she just needs a great song and we're laughing right? Well she got one and I'm tickled pink. Sassy and contemporary spiced up with a super Balkan hook, "Oh give me love!", you've certainly got it from me baby, LOVE it! One of the few songs this year I wanted to immediately listen to on repeat.

9.5

Sally-Ann

Undoubtedly the woman of the moment in Bulgaria and a welcome blast of cool into a fairly staid ESC.  The chorus doesn't fit the verse somehow but it's a pretty good pop song and surely nobody can wish it anything but qualification into the final.

6

Tristán

Well, Bulgaria certainly haven't let us down. I have heard this song a few times, and trying to work out whether it's my favourite and indeed the only song to receive the perfect 10 points from me this year. The right mix of good tune, good singer and catchy electronica. Fingers crossed for Sofia 2017.

10