EUROVISION 2021: SEMI-FINAL ONE PREDICTION

I'm still quite shaken by the death of my biggest musical influences Franco Battiato last night and therefor it feels a bit uneasy to sit down and try to concentrate on guessing the Eurovision song contest 2021 semi-final one qualifiers. Also because this year I have followed very little the rehearsals and have seen only the official short clips and my ideas are based on that very little and maybe much more on the first impression I had when the song was selected or released this spring.

I don't know if it's because of that but this feels harder than ever. For all I know I have 14 songs that could make it really and now looking at that list let's make it 15/16.... Maybe more than ever my personal taste differs from that of fans and odds.

However I would put as sure ones Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Cyprus, Ukraine and Malta.

Sweden when selected made me think it could win the whole thing again but somehow it doesn't feel that strong anymore. Russia and Cyprus were very uncertain at first for me but they nail it with the staging and I have learned to enjoy both a great deal. Ukraine and Lithuania were always my favorites and I'm pleased to see them do well. Malta I find very overrated, Destiny is so much better than the song even if I'm not so much into her diva singing (nor any Mariah, Beyonce whoever random chick who has to prove in every song her vocal range, less is more and better sometimes, we know you can sing!) but I guess it flies t the final and top-5 no matter how much I plan to dislike it.

Israel is my top favorite since day one and I just love her high notes in the end and I do hope she qualifies despite being surprisingly low in the odds and the current political situation that could backfire even if it has nothing to do with her. Belgium also deserves to qualify but will they? Now that's a question! Romania that I considered a sure thing has not been so good I hear and the transfer from the beautiful video to the stage hasn't been so successful sadly. Croatia and Azerbaijan maybe wouldn't deserve the final being such bubble gum pop but I guess both have a good chance after all. Ireland and Norway are fan favorites that I don't get at all, so.... In or out? What about Australia? Crazy song that I kinda like and apparently very effective staging (on video though), can they squeeze in once more?

That leaves us Slovenia and North Macedonia, both considered rather hopeless but one never knows. Juries might favor them heavily thanks to vocals and Balkan televote can do wonders, but still...?

My want list would be in Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Cyprus, Croatia, Belgium, Israel, Romania, Ukraine and Malta.

Who I predict is Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Cyprus, Norway, Israel, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Malta and either Belgium, Croatia or Ireland. Must decide on that last one after I see the performance!

UPDATE: It must be Belgium!

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