The Singles Jukebox

We’ve not forgot about Poland…

[Video][Website]
[7.00]

Katherine St Asaph: Want a version of “Defeated No More” that’s buzzier, poppier, and free of the guy from Friendly Fires?
[8]

Natasha Genet Avery: Natalia Nykiel’s rich imagery and impressionistic lyrics flawlessly capture the apocalyptic urgency of a great dance party.
[8]

Adaora Ede: I’ve never watched Eurovision, but this vein of house music, this diluted dancepop is my mental manifestation of what most of the countries’ entries would sound like. It’s 4 beat drumpad-y enough to give you flashbacks to a Tiesto set you unconsciously experienced on MTVU, but this serpentines past obvious drops to maintain equilibrium. “Error” seems like an acoustic performance in a world dominated by vocal effects, focusing wholly on showcasing Nykiel’s vocals with the most straightforward of musical curios throughout. But by sacrificing true musicality for singing, one enters the void of karaoke-lite. I can’t help but feel unnerved by the uncanny resemblance of this song to the teen pop soundtracks of my early youth — this might be better suited for a “wow, I have an undiscovered musical talent that I’m going to unleash at the school dance to impress my crush” Disney Channel Original Movie scene.
[5]

Thomas Inskeep: The verses are a bit too nailed to their four-on-the-floor, but the chorus tries to soar, or at least achieve housey uplift. 
[5]

Iain Mew: The electronic pops in the chorus are immaculate, but the satisfaction comes from the way the deep thump of the beat and the bite in Nykiel’s vocal make getting there feel like a hard-earned achievement.
[7]

Cassy Gress: I love songs that play with the left and right channels like the trickling synth does in the choruses here, and Natalia’s voice is straightforward and strong. I just wish that the bridge exploded into synth bravura, rather than peeling the song down to a dial tone.
[8]

Brad Shoup: I like when she focuses the four-on-the-floor Eurobeat on herself; it sounds like a Polydor bubblerock smash from 1974. But it segues, as it must, to anxious house. And it’s still great — the ascending keyboard bubbles have real texture — but I was really set on the one flavor.
[8]