Bosnia-Herzegovina - Dino Merlin - Love in rewind *****
When I heard this for the first time I thought this is it, a possible winner. But Bosnia hasn't managed to win yet even if they have had some great songs. Could it be this time they have got it right: not too weird, not too ethnic but the right ingredients to be liked by everybody even if not the one that takes a lot of 12s but many 10s and 8s, enough to take it home in the end? Dino is a charismatic performer and there's enough of sing-a-long and a touch of weirdness to make this memorable. And he is wellknown in the Balcans to secure votes from all the neighbours - and don't talk about voting blocks this time when it is well deserved (just like Serbia 2007). It could just be so in the end. Qualifier: Sure.
Russia - Alexej Vorobjov - Get you **
Such a let down from Russia. This is propably the worst Russian entry since... well, last year excluding, 1995. The song's like a Melodifestivalen reject and Alexej is no Bilan nor Koldun. Uninteresting performer, uninteresting song that will be covered with a huge show on stage and Russia will fly to the final again. If they did it last year they will do it this time as well. Very long 3 minutes. Qualifier: Unfortunately.
Norway - Stella Mwangi - Haba haba ***
Well, I would like to give this zero as it is zero Norwegian and she can't really sing, can she? But she's fun to watch and comes across likable and the song's catchy sing-a-long entry that will get the whole arena jumping and makes good TV. But musically it is totally nothing. But if grandma told her little things make her happy so let her have a little result in the final. But winner? No way! Or is this the Kate Ryan of 2011? Qualifier: I suppose so.
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