{"id":1625,"date":"2018-05-07T18:25:37","date_gmt":"2018-05-07T17:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edgehill.ac.uk\/eurovision\/?p=1625"},"modified":"2018-05-08T09:54:26","modified_gmt":"2018-05-08T08:54:26","slug":"esc2018-the-heat-is-on-for-semi-final-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edgehill.ac.uk\/eurovision\/2018\/05\/07\/esc2018-the-heat-is-on-for-semi-final-one\/","title":{"rendered":"ESC2018: the heat is on for semi-final one&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019m 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\u2019t like what it is hearing! So what I\u2019m posting here is rehearsal footage (and at the end you can click through to watch the music video) and links to the songs themselves. \u00a0You can hear all of the 19 songs from the first semi-final via the Spotify playlist and links below\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Eurovision 2018 - First Semifinal\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/4hm1wOeuSlHf4Ri9AkkOSJ?si=bT_LtDfmSCmLYRnrY1BGMw&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>All countries rehearse twice during the rehearsal period, and all the sneak-peeks below are from the second rehearsal. We\u2019ll see the full performance on Tuesday. Also, remember that the producers have determined the running-order, following the initial draw allocation earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>This semi-final is by far the better of the two, with way more than ten songs jostling to get through. I\u2019ve got at least thirteen on my list!<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Azerbaijan<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>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\u2019t think we\u2019ll be heading back there for 2019, but this should qualify with a decent song (if not extraordinary and deffo with shades of Loreen\u2019s <em>Euphoria\u00a0<\/em>from 2012) and some interesting staging &#8211; with what I\u2019m sure requires rubber soled shoes\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Aisel - X My Heart - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Azerbaijan - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5q6IKzy5Ry8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: X My Heart\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/1P5JWcZw3zATCqSKMdHLKv?si=aTh0Jcu7TryqGDZquOdSZA&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Iceland<\/strong><strong>\u2028<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>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\u2019t help it either. Whist Ari has a good set of lungs on him, Iceland\u2019s disappointing run at Eurovision is likely to continue&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ari \u00d3lafsson - Our Choice - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Iceland - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/t0sDG5l4OYg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Our Choice\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/2he61MJyMIOj8enfDmLxRI?si=TBqAWAiRS3WFqvFq5jN4hA&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong> Albania<\/strong><strong>\u2028<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>An anthemic song \u2013 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\u2019ll struggle to get to get through&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Eugent Bushpepa - Mall - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Albania - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AqheozieLw0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Mall\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/6vGLWavGUuAs9vpZyprUl0?si=SIHzvXYtQ9C8Uqsz5wRcJQ&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong> Belgium<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>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\u2019s a song of two halves. Seriously \u2013 it sounds like two songs stitched together. For me the chorus and verses are a bit of a clunky fit, and I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll make the cut&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sennek - A Matter Of Time - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Belgium - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ny8FHw9M2J0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: A Matter of Time\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/2776nsJOmk3psqGSocg6lK?si=i0kK1hYvR0WXsywRwkGnYg&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong> Czech Republic<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Singer Mikolas (<em>that\u2019s not a typo, readers<\/em>) was one of the hot faves coming into the Contest. He\u2019s 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\u2019t going to happen now. The performance has been re-choreographed as a result. Never mind though, this is sailing through to the final\u2026\u00a0 (<em>soz, another sea pun!<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mikolas Josef - Lie To Me - Exclusive Rehearsal Footage - Czech Republic - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GNr3hbPLwg0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Lie to Me\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/4Ot9gTaARnRqJT1TYwM4pQ?utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><strong> Lithuania<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>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\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ieva Zasimauskait\u0117 - When We&#039;re Old - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Lithuania - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gaTMOTYI8fY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: When We&amp;apos;re Old\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/3M1LYpZ8JzzIopbjLETqgP?si=8dvUCxGRRwapHNEPAYCyVw&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong> Israel<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>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\u2019s up\/me too). I wasn\u2019t a fan of the chicken clucking to start with, but it\u2019s an ear worm of a song. Better just to give into it now! We might be in Jerusalem next year\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Netta - Toy - Israel - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JybKKUkcWiQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Toy\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/7vuTcvFnvlqWlWb4u60nvY?utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"8\">\n<li><strong> Belarus<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Another familiar melody to this song \u2013 you\u2019ve heard it before without hearing it before. An OK song, but I don\u2019t think it will make the cut\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"ALEKSEEV - Forever - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Belarus - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9Utp5NMM1sI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Forever - Eurovision Version\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/685UJZnU0CAi4ECP9AOFzn?si=r-hrtL7oRB26zjbq3nJ2cw&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"9\">\n<li><strong> Estonia<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Our first bit of \u2018Popera\u2019 for ESC2018. Another highly rated entry, could very well see us heading back to Tallin in 2019. It\u2019ll depend if the operatic gymnastics from singer Elina Nechayeva capture the audiences attention, as much as her frock. I\u2019m a fan of the song \u2013 it reminds me of Sweden\u2019s 2009 entry <em>La Voix <\/em>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\u2019s the saying \u2013 go large or go home\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Elina Nechayeva - La Forza - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Estonia - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fKijywGH4gM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: La Forza\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/32GxSibwrYAGW4ZZ45CGHA?si=Ka8HMDpDS62P8GathRTLPA&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"10\">\n<li><strong> Bulgaria<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>One of my faves \u2013 this song gives me one of those \u2018euro-tingles\u2019. Love it. Nice vocals and harmonies. Suitably moody, and I know it\u2019s a bit derivative of Rag N Bone man, but I hope this makes it through. Sure it will\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"EQUINOX - Bones - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Bulgaria - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AkeQi9WfOUg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Bones - Studio Version\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/4Xry1LRtOLdzFPFBfTISMU?si=PaokUnpCRiSn_0ADAb0-Kw&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"11\">\n<li><strong> FYR Macedonia<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Another song suffering from an identity crisis \u2013 chorus and verses are mismatched, and ther song just stops, rather abruptly. A place in the middle of the draw won\u2019t help the cause and I think FYROM won\u2019t make it through&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Eye Cue - Lost And Found - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - F.Y.R. Macedonia - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8ZAL0y8dl30?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Lost &amp; Found\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/5pr2apsKCrMhoAwQ5ESJym?si=9oYb6jkbRCepdYFj7IdG_A&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"12\">\n<li><strong> Croatia<\/strong><strong>\u2028<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Another one of my favourites. It\u2019ll 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\u2019m sure the music industry juries will like it. I\u2019m crazy for it. See what I did there\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Franka - Crazy - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Croatia - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sh-GdDcMExg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Crazy\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/3C0Jl08p5aXD0MckMqBFmx?si=SXN_WvVEQJybqBIJfsrh3Q&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"13\">\n<li><strong> Austria<\/strong><strong>\u2028<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Look at the performance footage below. Should Ces\u00e1r sack his stylist? \ud83d\ude42 This song does overlap a bit with Bulgaria, but I like the soulful vocal and catchy chorus and the \u2018call and response\u2019 backing singers. Another one I think the jury vote will help\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ces\u00e1r Sampson - Nobody But You - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Austria - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kNrXka2ig7I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Nobody But You\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/1sG8waSoZFHrTBO04639w0?si=7n-mAe0ARkC8ev0RQEMTQg&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"14\">\n<li><strong> Greece<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>So here\u2019s 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\u2019m a fan. Between 2004 until 2011 Greece enjoyed top ten finishes, and won in 2005. Since 2012 it\u2019s 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\u2019s <em>Amanecer<\/em>. On that occasion it wasn\u2019t a case of Y Viva Espa\u00f1a\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Yianna Terzi - Oniro Mou - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Greece - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RCAK55gXhJA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Oniro Mou\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/6fbY4PL1W2ew1M3SwCHL2j?si=UpprEjwuSh-Oj9BGSqAigw&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"15\">\n<li><strong> Finland<\/strong><strong>\u2028<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you read Saara Alto\u2019s bio you will see that she is an alumnus of various singing shows in her native Finland, and also competed in the UK\u2019s <em>X-Factor \u00a0<\/em>back in 2016. What\u2019s her track record, you ask? Well, she\u2019s always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Saara has a habit of being runner-up in all these contests \u2013 including trying to win the Finnish national final in the past. This year the Finnish broadcaster didn\u2019t 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 <em>Monsters\u00a0<\/em>will make the cut? With those powerhouse vocals, we know what she can do, and from the footage below, c\u2019mon Saara!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Saara Aalto - Monsters - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Finland - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7lxtg_78rTc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Monsters\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/0JGbU6NlewrskD138Wq04b?si=cKLcc_9RT2uTadDccqqPlQ&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"16\">\n<li><strong> Armenia<\/strong><strong>\u2028<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Armenia have a good track record at Eurovision, appearing in 10 out of 11 contests. With those odds, it\u2019s 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\u2019s see\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sevak Khanagyan - Qami - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Armenia - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ex9xbTC7sH8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Qami\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/2zO4FXoBn1hseWJmjzGpcM?si=v6iZt2PjSJ6jKhwwt4XEIw&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"17\">\n<li><strong> Switzerland<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Switzerland last won in 1988, when Celine Dion sung <em>Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi<\/em>. This year brother and sister combo ZiBBS and giving it some welly and <em>not\u00a0<\/em>throwing stones. I\u2019d like this to get through. It probs won\u2019t in this competitive semi-final. The music video does it no favours! One of my faves, so lets hope I\u2019m not the kiss of death because I love the vibe\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"ZiBBZ - Stones - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Switzerland - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3xYZAYD76yQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Stones\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/4fYKSTyUG6Yy6Kmem8LbLI?si=PKq2wBEDQsmFLNflnIVSEA&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"18\">\n<li><strong> Ireland<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>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 \u2013 wasn\u2019t expecting that storytelling. It doesn\u2019t quite match the lyrics, but it doesn\u2019t matter. It\u2019s 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\u2019s the first flourish of Ed Sheeran we\u2019ve heard this year! C\u2019mon Ryan \u2013 it\u2019ll be a tough ask, but fingers crossed&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ryan O&#039;Shaugnessy - Together - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Ireland - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QZPo13UO9IU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Together\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/7jYLCd1CafwKxbuXgRc2rs?si=ZVJ4tFAwQbGkGfYdlNPQVg&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ol start=\"19\">\n<li><strong> Cyprus<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>And so it will be that the first semi-final will finish on an upbeat note! It\u2019s 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 Beyonc\u00e9 (haven\u2019t we all?!). This is the most competitive song Cyprus have had in years, with a high production value music video \u2013 although with some dubious costumes. I mean, really \u2026 (pats hair)<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Eleni Foureira - Fuego - Exclusive Rehearsal Clip - Cyprus - Eurovision 2018\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/17EVpC8a1-g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Fuego\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/22ppznuzVF9LKamaaqMMqu?si=PvEGRs-bTxOmzc_8IeLoCw&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>So, there we have it. It\u2019s a really good semi-final. Although don\u2019t be thinking that we\u2019ll have that for the second one!<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m 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\u2019m going to watch it via Eurovision.tv, so I don\u2019t have to suffer Scott Mill\u2019s talking drivel whilst commentating. That said, it\u2019s a good addition of Rylan Clark-Neal this year \u2013 he\u2019s done some entertaining interviews, which you can see via the BBC\u2019s Eurovision website.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoy the first semi-final, eurofans. I\u2019ll be back with my \u2018napkin of death\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<p>From a very sunny Southport (as I type), adeus por agora!<\/p>\n<p>(<em>bye for now<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\ude42 x<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019m 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\u2019t like what it is hearing! So what I\u2019m posting here is rehearsal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>ESC2018: the heat is on for semi-final one... - Phil Jackson&#039;s Eurovision Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edgehill.ac.uk\/eurovision\/2018\/05\/07\/esc2018-the-heat-is-on-for-semi-final-one\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ESC2018: the heat is on for semi-final one... - Phil Jackson&#039;s Eurovision Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I\u2019m doing things a bit differently when reviewing the two semi-finals this year. 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