Chosen in the first national final of the season back in December, Czechia selected Aiko’s song “Pedestals.” Aiko will perform 5th in the second semifinal.

This is one of a couple female lead alt-rock entries in Eurovision this year, and of those, this is easily the most generic. It’s very 2013 Paramore. The song is fine and memorable enough that you can remember and sing along to the chorus after a few listens, but it does not stand out in the field.

After seeing the national final performance though, we are also not entirely convinced she can sing the song well while performing live on television. Plus, she opted for the same strange see-through bodysuit we have seen in many other national finals, and the most egregious error: the staging did not include a single pedestal!

There is still time to change these shortcomings before the second semifinal performance, so hope is not yet lost for “Pedestals.” However, as it stands there is work to be done before it can be a qualifier.