Author: Phil

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the first semi-final last night, and we now know the top ten qualifiers for the Grand Final on Saturday. But what else did we learn?

 There isn’t an LED wall this year – did you notice?

 You could tell the fan favourites, based on a noticeably louder masculine roar from the crowd in the arena

 The roar from the bubble didn’t necessarily mean that songs made it to the Grand Final (e.g. Belgium)

 Too many of the solo performers seemed abandoned on the stage, without the support of their backing singers (where are they hiding?!)

 Bless ‘em – a couple of the performers had a little cry at the end (e.g. Iceland)

 Belgium’s singer was an Alannis Moriseette lookalike

 As I feared, the Greek entry was too Greek and didn’t make it to the Grand Final

 The format of the hashtag of All Aboard in capital letters made it look like ALLA BOARD

 The class of 2017 reunited to do a fab cover version of last year’s winning song

 There’s a lovely theme to accompany the “All Aboard” logo… 

All in all I thought it was a great show. It looked great on the telly, with a great stage and lighting. I had a momentary twinge of “I wish I was there”, but it didn’t last for long and I was glad to be watching from home with a glass of gin and fanta. Yep, really – gin and fanta! It’s a tradition inherited from years of going to the ESC and being in a country where it’s hard to find tonic water! 🙂

I posted my ‘napkin of death’ – I got 8/10. A bit irritated that I left Ireland out and put Greece in. I’d have had 9/10. As for Lithuania, I’d never have put that through, but it made it to the Grand Final.

Here’s the recap of who are now finalists on Saturday night…

Oh, and why the mention of Mr Benn? Do you remember the animated kids television show from the 1970s? Mr Benn went to a shop in every episode, and he would leave the shop via a magic door at the back of the changing room (which sounds a bit dodgy, doesn’t it!). I loved how the postcards introducing each country last night had the participant walk through a magic door! Amazing – made me chuckle all night. Remember the phrase “suddenly, as if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared”? 🙂

Here’s a sneek-peek at Spain’s postcard for Saturday, and you’ll see what I mean. And suddenly, as if by magic, Amaia and Alfred appeared…

And if you have no idea about Mr Benn and the shopkeeper and the magic door, check this out. #childhoodnostalgia …

https://youtu.be/YqpHnrm5dik

I’ll be back soon with all the T on the second semi-final…

🙂

Ok, a quick post before the result. My top ten prediction is:

Azerbaijan

Czech Republic

Israel

Estonia

Bulgaria

Albania

Austria

Greece

Finland

Cyprus

Who knows! It was a great semi-final!

🙂 xx

 

I’m doing things a bit differently when reviewing the two semi-finals this year. I found that a lot of the music videos for the songs really detract from the quality of the song. The eye gets confused so much that the ear doesn’t like what it is hearing! So what I’m posting here is rehearsal footage (and at the end you can click through to watch the music video) and links to the songs themselves.  You can hear all of the 19 songs from the first semi-final via the Spotify playlist and links below…

All countries rehearse twice during the rehearsal period, and all the sneak-peeks below are from the second rehearsal. We’ll see the full performance on Tuesday. Also, remember that the producers have determined the running-order, following the initial draw allocation earlier this year.

This semi-final is by far the better of the two, with way more than ten songs jostling to get through. I’ve got at least thirteen on my list!

1. Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan are ten for ten in terms of qualifying for the Grand Final. Since their debut in 2008 they have been consistently strong in terms of entries, and they won back in 2011 to subsequently host in Baku in 2012. I don’t think we’ll be heading back there for 2019, but this should qualify with a decent song (if not extraordinary and deffo with shades of Loreen’s Euphoria from 2012) and some interesting staging – with what I’m sure requires rubber soled shoes…

2. Iceland


So early on and the good ship Eurovision is heading towards an iceberg. Fresh-faced singer Ari will perform a rather dated ballad, and the draw won’t help it either. Whist Ari has a good set of lungs on him, Iceland’s disappointing run at Eurovision is likely to continue…

3. Albania


An anthemic song – the first non-English language song of the evening. Nice melody, good vocal, but in this competitive heat, and at this point in the draw I think it’ll struggle to get to get through…

4. Belgium

Three top ten finishes in the last three years meant that fans were looking to Belgium to build on their fourth place last year. That song was cool and contemporary. This year it’s a song of two halves. Seriously – it sounds like two songs stitched together. For me the chorus and verses are a bit of a clunky fit, and I don’t think it’ll make the cut…

5. Czech Republic

Singer Mikolas (that’s not a typo, readers) was one of the hot faves coming into the Contest. He’s a highly likeable chap, with an irritating catchy song. What a shame that during his first rehearsal he badly injured himself during his rather acrobatic dance routine. He was hospitalised and it looks like the moves he shows in the music video probs aren’t going to happen now. The performance has been re-choreographed as a result. Never mind though, this is sailing through to the final…  (soz, another sea pun!)

6. Lithuania

A rather solemn entry from Lithuania this year. A familiar sounding melody and vocal., but I think this is the first song of the night where my drink and snacks will be refreshed…

7. Israel

Steady yourselves. This is THE hot favourite this year. Netta has been leading the betting odds pretty much since the national finals were completed back in March. The song is a mix of kooky-crazy with a strong empowering lyric which very much taps into the recent climate of all those hash tags (time’s up/me too). I wasn’t a fan of the chicken clucking to start with, but it’s an ear worm of a song. Better just to give into it now! We might be in Jerusalem next year…

8. Belarus

Another familiar melody to this song – you’ve heard it before without hearing it before. An OK song, but I don’t think it will make the cut…

9. Estonia

Our first bit of ‘Popera’ for ESC2018. Another highly rated entry, could very well see us heading back to Tallin in 2019. It’ll depend if the operatic gymnastics from singer Elina Nechayeva capture the audiences attention, as much as her frock. I’m a fan of the song – it reminds me of Sweden’s 2009 entry La Voix which was also suitably popera-tastic (although it limped into the final and kinda sank). Eagle-eyed viewers to ESC in recent years have seen this frock staging before: Cesar for Romania in 2013, and Paulina for Russia in 2015. What’s the saying – go large or go home…

10. Bulgaria

One of my faves – this song gives me one of those ‘euro-tingles’. Love it. Nice vocals and harmonies. Suitably moody, and I know it’s a bit derivative of Rag N Bone man, but I hope this makes it through. Sure it will…

11. FYR Macedonia

Another song suffering from an identity crisis – chorus and verses are mismatched, and ther song just stops, rather abruptly. A place in the middle of the draw won’t help the cause and I think FYROM won’t make it through…

12. Croatia


Another one of my favourites. It’ll come down to the staging. Someone tell me what the song reminds me of? Hopefully Croatia will qualify for the third year in a row. I’m sure the music industry juries will like it. I’m crazy for it. See what I did there…

13. Austria


Look at the performance footage below. Should Cesár sack his stylist? 🙂 This song does overlap a bit with Bulgaria, but I like the soulful vocal and catchy chorus and the ‘call and response’ backing singers. Another one I think the jury vote will help…

14. Greece

So here’s Greece doing their Ronseal thang. Looks like Greece, sounds like Greece, sung in Greek, dressed like the Greek Gods. Yes, Greece have got their Greek lightening on this year. I’m a fan. Between 2004 until 2011 Greece enjoyed top ten finishes, and won in 2005. Since 2012 it’s seen Greece qualify and finish towards the bottom of the leader board. In 2016 they failed to qualify for the only time. If Europe want to get their Greek on then this will qualify. Spain sent a similarly high-octane Spanish offering in 2015 with Edurne’s Amanecer. On that occasion it wasn’t a case of Y Viva España…

15. Finland


If you read Saara Alto’s bio you will see that she is an alumnus of various singing shows in her native Finland, and also competed in the UK’s X-Factor  back in 2016. What’s her track record, you ask? Well, she’s always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Saara has a habit of being runner-up in all these contests – including trying to win the Finnish national final in the past. This year the Finnish broadcaster didn’t take any chances and it was Saara and Saara alone who was put forward to get the ticket for Lisbon. Luckily those canny Finns selected the best of her three songs, and surely Monsters will make the cut? With those powerhouse vocals, we know what she can do, and from the footage below, c’mon Saara!

16. Armenia


Armenia have a good track record at Eurovision, appearing in 10 out of 11 contests. With those odds, it’s looking good. For me, it overlaps with Albanian song earlier in the draw. Interestingly, this is the first time that they have not sung in English in some part. Will the decision to sing in Albanian have an impact? Let’s see…

17. Switzerland

Switzerland last won in 1988, when Celine Dion sung Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi. This year brother and sister combo ZiBBS and giving it some welly and not throwing stones. I’d like this to get through. It probs won’t in this competitive semi-final. The music video does it no favours! One of my faves, so lets hope I’m not the kiss of death because I love the vibe…

18. Ireland

The first time I heard the song was the first time I saw the music video. And the soppy thing that I am, it made me have a little man cry. Love the music video – wasn’t expecting that storytelling. It doesn’t quite match the lyrics, but it doesn’t matter. It’s touchingly simple. I love the vocal and the harmonies of the song. Hopefully the refreshingly light arrangement might stand out towards the end of draw. It’s the first flourish of Ed Sheeran we’ve heard this year! C’mon Ryan – it’ll be a tough ask, but fingers crossed…

19. Cyprus

And so it will be that the first semi-final will finish on an upbeat note! It’s one of the most contemporary sounding songs in the whole contest this year. Will deffo get to the final. If you watch the music video you will see that singer Elina is clearly channelling her inner Beyoncé (haven’t we all?!). This is the most competitive song Cyprus have had in years, with a high production value music video – although with some dubious costumes. I mean, really … (pats hair)

So, there we have it. It’s a really good semi-final. Although don’t be thinking that we’ll have that for the second one!

I’m looking forward to watching the full performances for the first time on Tuesday evening. For UK television viewers, you can see all the action on BBC Four from 8pm. I’m going to watch it via Eurovision.tv, so I don’t have to suffer Scott Mill’s talking drivel whilst commentating. That said, it’s a good addition of Rylan Clark-Neal this year – he’s done some entertaining interviews, which you can see via the BBC’s Eurovision website.

Enjoy the first semi-final, eurofans. I’ll be back with my ‘napkin of death’ during the interval, so check back to see if my predictions are correct. And remember, you select the songs you think will get through and not the ones you want.

From a very sunny Southport (as I type), adeus por agora!

(bye for now)

🙂 x

 

Europe’s longest running television show is back on our screens this week as the good ship Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) sets sail on it’s 63^rd voyage. For regular viewers it’s the now familiar passage through two semi-finals (Tuesday 8 and Thursday 10 May) with each sending 10 songs to the Grand Final (Saturday 12 May), where they will be joined by the ‘Big Five’ and host country Portugal.

In 2018 the ESC is a popular as ever, with a record-equalling forty-three countries taking part, battling gamely to take the Grand Prix de la chanson Eurovision. Be prepared for more hours of Eurovision telly this year than we have ever had. Some of it is going to be a bit of a stretch, as I’m not sure that this is a vintage year for songs. There are a lot of good tunes, but boy do we have some songs to sit through that we are never going to want to hear again! More so than in recent years. That said, there’s plenty to delight the eye and ear again this year, as we will see and hear…

Here in the UK it’s the hottest May Bank Holiday since this early Bank Holiday was introduced in 1978. Over in Portugal things are also hotting-up in Lisbon, the host city for this year’s ESC. After eight days of rehearsals Sunday evening saw the official launch of ESC2018, with the opening ceremony. All of the forty-three participating countries walked the ocean blue carpet – suitably tying in with the nautical and sea related theme for this year’s Contest “All Aboard”. I will try to not have too many sea/water/Portugal related puns. Oh, who am I kidding!

Should you have wanted to, you could have watched the live stream from the blue carpet (well, you still can – via www.eurovision.tv). That would be three hours of your life that you will not get back! I dipped in (I can’t help myself!) at the end to see the UK’s SuRie being interviewed after she’d walked the blue carpet. She seems really nice and comfortable with the whole process. Mind you, it’s not her first time at the rodeo as she has previously been involved with two entries representing Belgium, both of which finished in a rather respectful fourth place. We need not think this bodes well for the UK entry this year – it doesn’t – but more on that in a later post.

Click on the clip below for a sneak-peek at some rehearsal footage of the ‘Big Five’ countries and hosts Portugal from yesterday (Sunday), and some of the action from the blue carpet opening ceremony…

So here we go! I do have more of my Euro-mojo this year. Regular readers might remember that I just wasn’t digging Kyiv 2017. I just didn’t get the winning song from Portugal at all – and yet it was the biggest winner so far.

Up next from me is a review of the songs in the first semi-final. See if you agree with me. Without the benefit of seeing full rehearsals (as I have done in the past), this year (like last year) the top ten predictions on my ‘napkin of death’ will be done during the broadcast, and I’ll pop them on the blog so you can compare them with your own.

Are we ready? Shell yeah! 🙂

All Aboard, Eurofans! It’s that time again…

This is the 11th year of my Eurovision Song Contest blog. I’m not blogging from sunny Lisbon this year, no – it’ll be sunny Southport/Ormskirk for me once again. As with last year this won’t stop me from getting suitably Eurovision giddy, and sharing my thoughts on the Contest this year with returning and new blog readers.

I’ll be blogging from this Sunday. The rehearsals have been underway in Lisbon since last weekend and from what I have seen of the snippets of rehearsal footage it’s once again going to be a musically and visually interesting year. Israel have been the bookies favourite for months now, but is now being challenged by Norway and France amongst others. The ‘Big Five’ and host country Portugal start their rehearsals today (4 May), so let’s see how they get on.

Anyway, I’ll be back online from Sunday, so in the meantime here’s the official Eurovision trailer to get you in the mood, with a whole load of songs I’be commented on since I started doing this blog waaay back in 2008…

Obrigada, Euro-chums!

 

 

After a wait of 53 years, Portugal have won the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.

And it didn’t just win – it swept all competition aside with a massive points total, from both the jury and televote…

Watching at home made it seem a quicker night than it has been when watching live from the arena over the years. I guess the escape from songs that I am not a fan of was a bonus. And as you know, there were a lot of songs I wanted to avoid this year!

Portugal’s victory has been greeted with the Marmite factor: some people loving it, some people hating it. Me? Well, I’m still scratching my head a little bit. That said, listening to the song is more favourable than watching it.

Clearly some kind of diaspora vote lifted Bulgaria and Poland to the top of the UK televote. I mean, Poland, really?

In a shock announcement, Israel announced their departure from the ESC, as their government has closed their national broadcaster. Let’s hope we see them back in the contest. Love me a bit of Dana International, Milk & Honey, and Izhar Cohen – their three winners.

Some bloke crashed Jamala’s performance, and cheekily flashed his buttocks. Best part of that performance, tbf!

The UK’s Lucie Jones finished 15th. A lucky result, I’d say. Yes, the juries liked it (99 points), but the international televote not as much (only 12 points). My mum likes the song very much. As did Australia, who gave it the only douze points of the evening.

Some people are commenting that, whilst the host theme was to ‘celebrate diversity’, having three white men presenting wasn’t particularly inclusive and diverse. Funny that no one mentioned three women presenting in Vienna 2015. Seriously people, don’t over think things.

So that’s us done for another year. Thanks for reading. Ten years of the blog has come and gone very quickly! Next year the ESC will likely travel to Lisbon and I will probably watch from home. And if I do, and if I blog again, we can do it all again…

Obrigado!

🙂

xx

Greetings from sunny Southport (well it was earlier) on Eurovision Saturday! Tonight the ESC2017 reaches its climax with the Grand Final, after two entertaining semi-finals.

No one seems to have located my Euro-mojo. I certainly haven’t! Just one of those things this time around, I guess (although you will see my realisation on my comments for song 25, below!). I think the main reason is that, other than Sweden and the departed Finland, I don’t much care who wins. I’m ready to be surprised by the outcome tonight. Italy were dethroned as bookies favourite last night, and it is now Portugal predicted as the next winner. It’s all bonkers for me – let’s see whether the professional juries and voting public think it’s the best song.

So, one last time, here are my thoughts on the finalists, who will compete tonight in this running order…

1. Israel

The last performance of the second semi-final opens the show. Yeah, we need an up-tempo number to get our Euro-party started. Not Israel’s year, and certainly not the strongest song they have sent in the last few years. Mind you, as I said the other day, if pretty boys won the Eurovision, we’d be off to Jerusalem next year.

2. Poland

No song has ever won from performing second, and that ain’t gonna change this year. I think this is a rather dull ballad, and the early draw will kill it off. Although let’s not forget that Poland had a * huge * televote last year, so the diaspora vote may lift this in the final standings.

3. Belarus

This was one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of either semi-final. Is it too early in the draw? I want it to do really well, and it is one of the songs that puts a smile on my face. And the presentation on stage was cute. C’mon Belarus!

4. Austria

Another cute song and performance. And with the Ed Sheeran sound it should do ok. Perhaps a little early in the draw?

5. Armenia

I was disappointed by the performance after seeing the highly choreographed video. I do like the song, and it’ll do well.

6. The Netherlands

FYI, Eurofans, this is my most-listened-to ESC song this week. Love it. What’s not to like: fab harmonies, that retro vibe and those bejewelled frocks. These three sisters are certainly doing it for themselves. I think being later in the running order would have helped them. I am willing them on!

7. Moldova

Kill me, kill me now! This will do well, but a bit like Latvia and those pirates of the sea, all those years ago, I find it highly irritating. And it was one of my students who was telling my the internet sensation that the sax guy became a while back. Funny that, because I find the sax the most irritating part!

8. Hungary

Points off for the man bun! Although kudos for standing out with something suitably indigenous musically from Hungary.

9. Italy

Some fans saying the draw has killed the former hot fave off. Nah, Sweden and Austria have won from this section of the draw. Besides, if it’s that much of a hot fave the draw shouldn’t matter. It will do really well, and I will like it more when it doesn’t win 🙂

10. Denmark

Nice song, fab vocal, nice performance. A bit beige for me, but the performances this week have lifted the song. I like it more than I did. But do you get my thing about it getting a bit too Mariah Carey screechy towards the end?

11. Portugal

Well, will we be in Lisbon next year? Will Europe see through the slightly awkward performance and be enchanted by this chanson? I really don’t get it being installed as the fave. But then, I’m ready to be surprised tonight.

12. Azerbaijan

The bonkers aspect of the man on a ladder with a horse head hasn’t been explained. We are apparently to draw our own conclusions. Well, yes, I have!

13. Croatia

Blimey, that weird thing of switching between the opera voice and the regular voice is a bit strange! Clearly peeps like the life-affirming message of the song.

14. Australia

Not as stellar a song as Dami Im sung last year. The juries will probs like it. And hey, let’s see if the novelty factor has worn off. Remember, if they do win they will nominate a country to host it. We will not be headed down under…

15. Greece

A bit of europop fromage for the evening. I will be refreshing the snacks and nibbles at this point…

16. Spain

As I said yesterday, this is one of the most impressive visuals. I love the backdrop and the projections. Very clever – it will lift the song. His vocal was a bit pitchy in rehearsals, so let’s see if that improves. Good effort from Spain.

17. Norway

I was surprised to see this in the final. Clearly the rather unoriginal sound and visuals were of more interest to the fans and viewers. I think it’s the guys wearing masks – not particularly original. Yes I know – since when did Eurovision have to be original!

18. United Kingdom

Blimey, the UK is in the top ten favourites! Lucy Jones has impressed Kyiv with that belter of a vocal, and coupled with the visuals it does have impact. For me, the song is dull, dull, dull. Of course I want Lucy to do well, and I will be cheering the UK on. Let’s see if we can break with tradition and end the evening on the left side of the leader board. I am not holding my breath!

19. Cyprus

For me, this is the most improved song of the week. I love the staging – it’s clever and it makes the most of the song, with stylish visuals and choreography. Of the men performing tonight, it’s one of the best for me.

20. Romania

Yup. I’ll say it again. The song is Mars Attacks! for me, and I’m the aliens… * head explodes *. It’s going to do rather well. A return to the competition will see Romania scale the top end of the leader board. Picture the scene later tonight: by song twenty Europe will have had a drink and this will sound ace! 🙂

21. Germany

All rather unmemorable for me…

22. Ukraine

The rock vibe stands out from everything else, but certain to not scale the heights of last year for the host country.

23. Belgium

Probably one of the best songs of the week. It would be on the radio and you would sing along. That said, probably one of the weakest performances. The poor girl looks terrified. But hey – that’s what makes it memorable. Who knows, Blanche might style it our tonight? Going to do well…

24. Sweden

This is my favourite song of the year, and not just due to my annual love of the Swedish song. Impressive performance and a sing-along song. The fans will be fuming if we have to go back to Sweden. Robin should do well tonight, and probs a top five, deffo top ten finish. Oh, and those eyes… could you faint 🙂

25. Bulgaria

OMG – I might just have had a realisation why my Euro-mojo is weak this year! I think it’s because I can’t understand why the whole bunch of songs that are predicted to top the leader board are predicted to do so. And this song, as much as Portugal, baffles me why it’s third favourite. Yes a decent song, and a visually tidy performance, but I just don’t get it!

26. France

Not the best song to end on. Sweden would have been better. All rather dull for me.

Well, my Euro-chums, that’s what I think. And yes, I do seem rather unimpressed, don’t I! Not to worry, because for all us fans the excitement is building and I am looking forward to the show, and let’s hope that Graham Norton is on good form.

I’m off to sort the drinks, snacks and nibbles.

Let’s get our Euro-party started and “Celebrate Diversity”!

Enjoy the show!

🙂 xx

After another entertaining evening, what did we learn from the second semi-final?

Thanks to last year’s hosts, Petra Mede And Måns Zelmerlöw, singing and dancing hosts might be the new normal

FYROM’s Jana Burčeska didn’t really seem to be singing much of her song

We had the first toilet roll holder frock of the competition, thanks to Switzerland

The Man Bun isn’t dead yet… sadly – thanks to Hungary

It wasn’t clear what ‘losing our Verona’ meant. Verruca perhaps, Estonia?

There was a dad dancing backing singer for San Marino

Speaking of which, San Marino – she was clearly more in to him then he was her

Key changes were back, again!

And these are the ten qualifiers for the Grand Final…

Bulgaria: Beautiful Mess by Kristian Kostov

Belarus: Story of My Life by Naviband

Croatia: My Friend by Jacques Houdek

Hungary: Origo by Joci Pápai

Denmark: Where I Am by Anja

Israel: I Feel Alive by IMRI

Romania: Yodel It! by Ilinka ft. Alex Florea

Norway: Grab The Moment by JOWST

The Netherlands: Lights and Shadows by OG3NE

Austria: Running On Air by Nathan Trent

I got 8/10 on my napkin of death. Not a bad result. Good to see Norway and Denmark regain their place in the final, to balance the Nordic participants. The hosts were a little more polished, and their opening montage of Eurovision winners done in a Ukrainian style was quite entertaining. Here’s a quick recap of how things shaked down…

So, we now have the twenty qualifiers for the Grand Final on Saturday night. What’s say we have a look and listen to the automatic qualifiers, the ‘Big Five’ and hosts Ukraine. And we’ll look at their performance footage from the semi-finals…

Italy

This is the bookies long-term favourite. It has been * for months *. I don’t mind the song, but I find the silly dance and the man in a gorilla suit a novelty that actually makes me grumpy about the song. I have read somewhere this week that Eurovision needs a feel-good winner this year, and this would certainly be that. And I wouldn’t mind a week in Rome next year..

Spain

An example where the staging and the visuals do their best to give the song a lift. A splash of summer on the Eurovision stage. I love the bit where they stand on surfboards. A good effort from Spain…

Germany

Again, nice visuals, but the song is instantly forgettable…

Ukraine

Seemingly the polar opposite to their entry last year, the Ukraine have gone all rock on us…

Given that there isn’t anything else that sounds like this, it might do well. Not that we will be travelling back to Kyiv next year!

France

I find the backdrop more interesting than the song! This vocal is a bit pitchy, and Alma looks rather abandoned on the stage. Watching a performer dance around on their own (as with FYROM) isn’t particularly engaging…

Et enfin, c’est Le Royaume-Uni…

United Kingdom

The irony is that, in this Brexit time we find ourselves in, the UK’s entry is called Never Give Up On You… 🙂

Vocally and visually this is good. Wait until 2:30 mins in, and you’ll get the big note and an effective burst of colour on the backdrop. All quite effective. I actually think the song is rather dull, seeming to lack a proper chorus with a punch. But hey, it’s not the worst thing we have sent to Eurovision! Will Lucy Jones be punished for the UK leaving the EU? Will that politics really be played out in the voting? Or will people just vote, or not vote for the UK, based on their like or dislike of our entry. Let’s see. As I type this (Friday PM), the UK are sixth favourite with the bookies…

So that completes the contenders for the Grand Final. Is there a winner in the ‘Big Five’ and Ukraine? Maybe, just maybe…

Oh, and an update from Brian on chicken Kyiv in, you know, Kyiv…

The little kid in the picture looks jazzed for some garlic chicken! 🙂

I will be back tomorrow (Saturday) with my thoughts on the Grand Final. Now, what do I fancy for dinner tonight? Hmmm…

Tonight it’s the second sem-final of ESC2017. Last night it was the jury semi-final, where the international juries cast their votes. Here’s a clip of the action from yesterday…

It’s the usual pick and mix of music and performances, so let’s have a look …

1. Serbia

As you would expect with the carefully planned draw for both semi-finals, we start with an up-tempo number. Another mainstream pop record – probably the most pop entry that Serbia have competed with. Coupled with a whiff of traditional instrumentation it’s a good pop song. A bit reminiscent on the chorus, with the melody of Katy Perry’s “Firework”, and The Sugababes “About You Now” on the verse. I’d like to see it progress to the final.

2. Austria

You would expect the musical influences from the charts are often an influence on Eurovision entries. In the first semi Rag’n’Bone Man was an influence on the Cypriot entry, and Austria’s song has the Ed Sheeran effect. “Walking On Air” is a breezy feel-good pop song, and at least one song per year sounds a wee bit like this. I like it very much…

3. FYR Macedonia

One of the more electropop songs of the contest. Reminds me of some of the scandipop artists, such as Annie and Robyn. I love it. I like me a bit of a cheeky double hand clap on a song, and they are peppered throughout. Nice bit of punchy pop. FYROM are nowhere in the betting, but I would be surprised if this didn’t get to the final. It’s got my vote! 🙂

4. Malta

It’s time for the first ballad of the evening. It’s an old school ballad, with a bejewelled frock to underline this fact. A rather plodding song, it feels longer than the three short minutes that it is. I think it’s taxi for Malta… but then again there aren’t many ballads tonight…

5. Romania

All kinds of cuckoo-crazy going on here! If you are not a fan of yodelling, this song isn’t for you. Romania will progress, because it’s a bit of a novelty song, and the diaspora will ensure that it does. For me it’s like the scene in the Movie Mars Attacks! when the sound of the yodelling explodes the alien’s heads. Yup, me too…

6. The Netherlands

Fantastic harmonies for this song. Very reminiscent of Wilson Phillips (remember them from the 1990s). This is very catchy, if a little dated. From what I have seen the sisters are also styled in rather dated in costumes – they are more than bedazzled! Great to see that it has jumped up in the betting odds since rehearsals began. With a clap along bit and one of the big key changes in the Contest this year, I think it will progress. For the love of key changes, I hope it does…

7. Hungary

As we celebrate diversity at the ESC this year it seems a little odd that only a handful of songs are sung in a language other than English. Hungary stands out for not doing so. Also, one of the few songs to have that indigenous flair to the music. I like it.

8. Denmark

Denmark had a purple patch in the contest a few years back, particularly around Alexander Rybaks’s victory in 2009. Remember his “Fairytale”? Great, wasn’t it. Well, Denmark didn’t qualify last year. Singer Anja certainly has a great set of pipes on her, but for me the vocal gets a bit ‘shouty’. It’s growing on me, and it’s well liked in the betting. 50/50 for me…

9. Ireland

Young Brendan Murray has a really interesting vocal, and great range. Louis Walsh is Brendan’s manager, and selected this song for him. Does it, or does it not, sound like something Westlife would have recorded! It even has a key change! Let’s hope Brendan gets to the final…

10. San Marino

San Marino have a habit of sending songs that are a bit bonkers, and a bit dated. 2017 is no different…

Doesn’t quite work for me, even though there was that cheeky key change. Like busses, these key changes this year! Bless ‘em for the effort…

11. Croatia

Listen to the lyrics of this song and have life affirmed. A bit of a popera crossover song. Cracking vocals from Jacques. If a song gets to the final with a bit of welly, then this will.

12. Norway

Back in 2010 Norway hosted the ESC, and their host theme was “Share The Moment”. This year their song is “Grab The Moment”. You may very well grab the moment to do what needs doing around the house…

It’s a song with an identity, crisis, right? And the stylings feel rather cheekily nabbed from Daft Punk, et al. Not for me…

13. Switzerland

This is rather derivative of Rihanna, but I love it. Sure, it’s one of the many “female vocal with drums” songs, but in this draw it stands out for me. It’s nowhere in the betting, so I’ll be interested to see it on the Eurovision stage. It’ll make it or break it…

14. Belarus

This is charming…

… and a song that, during the first listen, you will be singing along with before the end – which is a bonus for songs in this competition. A finalist, surely?

15. Bulgaria

Last year I just didn’t get the Australian entry until after the competition, even though it was one of the hot faves. I’m the same with this song from Bulgaria this year. It’s top three in the betting odds. I came to love the Australian entry last year, but I’m not quite there with this song… so far…

16. Lithuania

A bit of a hot mess, vocally, musically and visually. The draw might kill it off? Last year the UK public voted Lithuania their favourite song. I can’t see that happening this year. Taxi for Lithuania…

17. Estonia

Koit Toome and Laura duet for Estonia, and it seems they are lost in Verona. Nice vocals. But I’m a little bored with the song. Is it going to be lost in the draw?

18. Israel

And finally, we turn to Israel to do what Israel have a habit of doing with their Eurovision formula: an uptempo pop song performed by an attractive man. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That said, the formula needs a more interesting song this year. Much like the Greek song, this is dated europop/EDM. But the formula usually get’s Israel to the final… The running order has probably helped it get to the final…

I think that this semi-final is the harder of the two to predict, as is usually the case every year. As on Tuesday night I’m going to decide my napkin of death top ten qualifiers during the show, and I’ll post it in the comments section below. See what you think later tonight.

My next review will be of the ‘Big Five’ and host country Ukraine. I’ll drop that tomorrow, but in the meantime remember that Eurovision is a marathon and not a sprint. Go grab your sneakers… and enjoy the show tonight! (BBC4 at 8pm in the UK, or live streamed on YouTube)

🙂

 

 

After an entertaining evening, what did we learn from the first semi-final?

Key changes are back, b-a-c-k, B-A-C-K!

Belgium’s Blanche looked petrified

Azerbaijan’s Dihaj was basically doing Lady Gaga

Finland was robbed (but perhaps a little too simple in terms of staging?)

Men without socks were quite popular

There was a man with a horse head on

There was a man with a horse head on standing on a ladder

The presenters were just awful!

These are the ten qualifiers…

Moldova: Hey Mamma by Sunstroke Project

Azerbaijan: Skeletons by Dihaj

Greece: This Is Love by Demy

Sweden: I Can’t Go On by Robin Bengtsson

Portugal: Amar Pelos Dois by Salvador Sobral

Poland: Flashlight by Kasia Moś

Armenia: Fly With Me by Artsvik

Australia: Don’t Come Easy by Isaiah

Cyprus: Gravity by Hovig

Belgium: City Lights by Blanche

I got 7/10 on my napkin of death. How did you do? I’d have had more if I hadn’t taken out Greece and Poland after I’d seen them performed on the ESC stage. I thought Georgia sounded a lot better with the ESC performance, and was * gutted * when Finland didn’t get through, and slightly surprised Belgium did with that performance (although I like the song).

My Eurovision companion for many years, Brian Singleton, has popped over to Kyiv for the semi-finals. I asked for some photies of the scene in the venue, and he has obliged…

The stage looks amazing – the only thing I am missing about not going this year is that I don’t see the stage in person. Still, it looks fab on the telly. Brian informs me that the venue is actually quite small. By the magic of telly it doesn’t look tiny, does it?!

It’s also very cute that on his first night in Kyiv he had chicken Kiev for dinner! When in Kyiv, and all that… 🙂

No major changes in the betting odds. The UK has advanced a couple of places, but Italy are still the bookies fave.

And so, next thing for me to do is to review the second semi-final. Back soon…

🙂