Well, the Eurovision circus has managed to find its way to Azerbaijan and it looks like they are pulling out the stops to make this one of the best ever. Unfortunately I don't think the quality of the songs is great this year which could lead to a few surprises. Here is an overview of my thoughts on the selection. In my overview an "(F)" indicates that I think they will get to the final.
Montenegro - It was hard
to know if I was listening to the opening of a new version of "phantom of
the opera" ... I have only two words for Amadeus - "why bother?"
- It’s not even worth more comment. [Score: 0/10]
Iceland - Good dramatic
opening, great drumbeat, the only difficulty with this is twofold - a lot of
ballads and it's a bit repetitive - but a definite for the final and who knows?
For me I would be happy if it wins, but I don't expect it to !(F) [Score: 8/10]
Greece - typical
entry and very familiar beat - harking back to Helena, but the song isn't the
best. Still though this is definite for the final and catchy...(F) [Score: 7/10]
Latvia - what a load
of sh1te! If the words were different perhaps it would have had a chance of at
least getting to the final [Score: 3/10]
Albania - what's with
all the "oh oh" - reminds me of the Teletubbies ... Sorry ... But it's
a bit too farfetched to think that this would get to the final... [Score: 4/10]
Romania - I really
like the opening of this song, the pipes add a nice touch, and the beat is good
- reminds me of Shakira. Almost certain to get to the final, and a possible
contender ....(F) [Score: 8/10]
Switzerland - first I
thought U2 had entered Eurovision, but they are not U2 - however, the beat
isn't bad and it will possibly get to the final, but certainly not a contender
for winning …[Score: 6/10]
Belgium - If this was
a Disney song, I would believe it, not sure how this will do in the Eurovision
though. Ok I'm a bit biased as half Belgian, but I think it's a nice song and
could do well - at least to the final - but not a winner ...(F) [Score: 8/10]
Finland - yup, another
ballad. I like the opening cello/piano duet is nice, and I also like the
Swedish language - this might get to the final - but it won't be a contender(F)
[Score: 7/10]
Israel - I like this
song in a strange way, I think it will have appeal to a number of people. It
will get to the final, but it won't be a contender(F) [Score: 7/10]
San Marino - sometimes I
wonder why some people even bother entering a song - and this is another
example…. [Score: 1/10]
Cyprus - this has a
great party type opening, not sure it will come across well at the show, but it
has potential and I can see this get to the final, possible for the top 10, but
certainly top half of the final(F) [Score: 7/10]
Denmark - This song
has great potential, I'm sure it will get to the final, and a top 5 placing
perhaps (F) [Score: 7/10]
Russia - While people
think I'm a bit crazy - I think this is a great song - and it's one of the few
that keeps playing over in my head when I'm out running - I expect this to be
in the top 10 in the final!(F) [Score: 9/10]
Hungary - Not sure how
this song will do, I think people will still be talking about the Russian entry
while this is playing, so I don't expect it do do very well on the voting.
Still though it might squeeze through to the final... [Score: 5/10]
Austria – Are you
kidding me ? [Score: 1/10]
Moldova - Just because
this is a little different, it might get some votes ... And could squeeze
through to the final - not sure though [Score: 5/10]
Ireland - A real
improvement on last years song, and their performance was so good last year,
they will certainly get to the final and could even win, but probable top 10
placing !!!(F) [Score: 9/10]
Serbia - The intro to this takes far too long... While
Zeljkos voice is nice sometimes I think it’s a contender to win, sometimes not,
it will go to the final, and a likely top 3...perhaps even a winner (F) [Score:
8/10]
FYROM - great feeling to this song, soft, melodic, it
flows along - not sure the rock/pop mix will work though [Score: 6/10]
The Netherlands - It's hard to
call this one, in a way the song is very catchy, but it just doesn't do it for
me... However, I think this will actually get to the final - it would be great
for the Netherlands if she does.(F) [Score: 6/10]
Malta - ok, nice buildup, but this isn't going through -
it's too 1980s ... And here we go again with the "a a a a a a..." -
no [Score: 4/10]
Belarus - At least
this moves a bit, and the beat is ok, I wouldn't normally expect this to go
through, but you never know… Europe has a funny way of turning me into a liar
... [Score: 5/10]
Portugal - dramatic
opening, after Litesound this provides a nice contract - but that's all ... [Score:
5/10]
Ukraine - Gaitana will
get the hall going, it's got a great beat, not sure they'll be able to
replicate it on stage (these types of songs can flop) - but it could do well.(F)
[Score: 6/10]
Bulgaria - another song
to keep the hall dancing, but is it really good enough to get to the final ? I
just love the language, and for that I'll give it reasonable points, but I
don't see it get to the final ... [Score: 6/10]
Slovenia - The opening
is nice, the language sounds great - the buildup to the song is really good
too, and the contract with the previous songs will be welcomed by some... But
on its own this is a really nice song ....(F) [Score: 7/10]
Croatia – here is
something something appealing, I really like it, I don't think it's a winner -
but it is dramatic, and has a really nice contrasting beat - the only negative
is that it's repetitive .... But it's a probable finalist(F) [Score: 6/10]
Sweden - Well
Sweden has entered yet another strong song this year, I have to admit it
was not my first choice from the Swedish final, but I think that Loreen will do
well and is a contender to win, at least top 5(F) [Score: 8/10]
Georgia - mmmm, there
are too many styles in this song, it's like the composer constructed the song
to incorporate as many possible beats that would appeal to as many different
cultures as possible – in the process forgetting that it should be coherent –
which it is not - what a mess ! [Score: 2/10]
Turkey - ok, so here we go with "hey hey"s and
"oh oh"s - nope - they should just stay at home...however, of course
given that it's Turkey, they will get a considerable number of votes, so
against my personal choice, I think it will get through ...(F) [Score: 4/10]
Estonia - This is a
nice song, if it comes across well people will vote for it. It will probably be
overshadowed by so many of the other songs ... My guess is that it will get to
the final(F) [Score: 7/10]
Slovakia - a bit too
heavy, so I don't expect them to do well, they may get a few votes, but will
not get to the final.... [Score: 5/10]
Norway - Good opening, and this will really get the hall
going - it's one of the better songs in this semi - definite for the final -
probable top 10(F) [Score: 7/10]
Bosnia & Herzegovina - again the
contrast with Tooji will help this song gain a lot of votes, it's a nice, well
constructed song, definite for the final - but not a winner(F) [Score: 8/10]
Lithuania - I'm afraid
this will be when people will take a break and grab a tea/coffee/ valium before
settling to watch the pre-results act or the results ... [Score: 6/10]
Italy - This will go down very well (though the
"boom boom" will contrast with Russia ... It's a good song ...and I
expect them to be in the top 5(F) [Score: 7/10]
Spain - Nice song, pretty strong, and dare I say it a
contender in the final - I really like it ....and for me a top 5 song [Score: 8/10]
UK - Good song, and it will get a lot of votes - but
it's not a winner ... [Score: 7/10]
Germany - Good song,
very contemporary with the current trends in songs, will get a lot of the
younger votes ... Probable top 10 [Score: 8/10]
Azerbaijan - Too much of
an art song, not a contender to win, but hey , they will get a lot of votes I'm
sure - if for no other reason than they are the hosts [Score: 6/10]
France - This is quite a good song, it moves,
French/English mix ... Different ... A lot of votes [Score: 8/10]
Conclusion: So what do I
think the top 5 will look like this year - My expectations are: 1.Sweden,
2.Serbia, 3.Italy, 4.Denmark and 5.Spain - but you just never know what will
happen on the night!!
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