The surprise movie hit of the summer has definitely been Netflix's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. The film, which stars Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, tells the fictional story of Fire Saga, Iceland's musical representative in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Expectations were definitely low headed into this, but through a combination of stellar music, sincere reverence for the contest, and an impeccable McAdams performance, a strong fan following has emerged around Eurovision. The soundtrack has also become beloved because the songs are extremely re-listenable. This is every one of them (including the covers) in a ranked order!
Coolin' With Da Homies
"Coolin' with da Homies" ranks last on this list. The pseudo-hip hop tune is performed by Savan Kotecha (Johnny John John in the film) and it is not as fun or dynamic as some of the other songs.
With repetitive lyrics and a generic hook, "Coolin' with da Homies" comes early enough in the film to be forgotten outright. It's also early enough in the soundtrack to be skipped.
Hit My Itch
One of the entrant songs in the fictional Eurovision is "Hit My Itch" by Dalibor Jinsky. (Jinsky is portrayed vocally by Antonio Sol.) It also ranks near the bottom because "Hit My Itch" feels more shoehorned into the story than anything.
The movie is building to many points in the third act and the need for other songs is not one of them. As a result, "Hit My Itch" becomes instantly forgettable.
Running With The Wolves
"Running with the Wolves" is similarly situated in Eurovision, but it has a much catchier hook and a clear identity behind the performance. (The song is sung by Moon Fang in the film, comprised of Courtney Jenae and Adam Grahn.)
"Running with the Wolves" is ultimately forgettable in the face of stellar Fire Saga songs. However, it does have the Moon Fang strength behind it, which puts it just above "Hit My Itch."
Fool Moon
"Fool Moon" from Anteros' The Wonder Four stands out from the rest of Eurovision. This is not because it's necessarily a better song, but rather because it could actually be a real song.
With more of an exploratory vibe than a campy one, "Fool Moon" could have legs on the radio if Netflix pushed for it.
Come And Play (Masquerade)
"Come and Play (Masquerade)" is one of the most "Eurovision-y" songs in Eurovision. In the film, it comes from Greece's Mita Xenakis (and performed by Sweden's Petra Nielsen).
It has a vibe that wouldn't be out of place in something like Chicago or Moulin Rouge! It might not be from Fire Saga, but "Come and Play (Masquerade)" is definitely one of the better songs from the climactic concert.
In The Mirror
With the extreme fun that comes from Ferrell and McAdams, it can almost be easy to forget that Demi Lovato also features in Eurovision. (Her character has a fun turn as a ghost who haunts Ferrell, too.)
Her song, "In the Mirror," sounds like it could be a big Lovato hit, regardless of cinematic attachments. Lovato belts out the lyrics with fierceness and confidence that definitely makes the song an earworm.
Volcano Man
"Volcano Man" helps introduce the viewers to Fire Saga and to the musical themes of Eurovision altogether. Ferrell provides the beat and McAdams (who is occasionally buoyed by the vocal talents of Molly Sanden) croons for the majority of the song.
It might be more of a tone-setter, but "Volcano Man" is still a genuinely great song all on its own!
Lion Of Love
One of the scene-stealers of Eurovision is Dan Stevens, who comes into the film like a ball of fire as Alexander Lemtov. Or it might be more accurate to say that he's a lion of love.
"Lion of Love" is Stevens' big song in the film and it is glorious in its excess. His deep vibrato is hard to forget and it makes "Lion of Love" one of Eurovision's best.
Song-A-Long
If Eurovision doesn't win someone over with the "Song-a-Long," then there's a good chance the movie is just not for them. The medley of tunes like "Believe," "Waterloo," and "Ne partez pas pas sans moi" is filled with infectious joy.
Stevens, McAdams, and Ferrell are joined by actual Eurovision contestants to perform the mash-up of some of the contest's biggest hits. It's one of the movie's shimmering achievements.
Jaja Ding Dong
If one has not yet seen Eurovision, there's still a good chance that they've heard of "Jaja Ding Dong." The song has taken on a life of its own in the Internet's meme culture since the film released.
"Jaja Ding Dong" is the folk anthem performed by Fire Saga that their few fans adore more than any other song they performed on the global stage. It's funny and short, but still features some impressive vocals.
Double Trouble
"Double Trouble" was the initial entrant into Eurovision from Fire Saga and it would have genuinely had a good chance of winning the real contest. It's campy and still has an anthem feel; it's goosebumps-inducing and still innocuous.
Ultimately, "Double Trouble" is the undeniable radio hit from Eurovision, but there was just one more song that exceeded it in artistic glory and beauty.
Husavik
That would, of course, be "Husavik." "Husavik" comes in as a deus ex machina to save Fire Saga's relationship and their artistic integrity. It is Sigrit's (and Lars', in accompanying fashion) tribute to her home town in Iceland.
Not only does she sing in Icelandic and hit incredible notes, but she also sings the lyric, "Where the whales can live, 'cause they're gentle people." It's just gorgeous and enough to make one cry, from a silly comedy. That's the power of Eurovision and Eurovision. This needs an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song!