EUROVISION 2022: UKRAINE WINS!

The Eurovision song contest final is over and we have a winner: Ukraine!

Some random thoughts: The show went on smoothly despite a few wrong camera angles, spotlights and impromptu nonsense from the hosts to cover up some time while the stage wasn't ready.

Most artists did really save their beast for tonight, including Italy, Romania, Armenia, Germany, Belgium and Greece.... No one really did badly which is always wonderful. Italy, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Finland, Serbia and Spain really got the arena wild.

Laura's opening number was a real wardrobe gimmick extravaganza she did a pretty good job with Cattelan and Mika.

Ankle injured Damiano and Måneskin came and sung but I was more thrilled for Gigliola Cinquetti to be honest.

The voting...... well, the juries were all over the place really! And the juries are supposed to be professional but they just vote their neighbors worse than locals....And Martin gave so many votes like no one ever before, wtf?

And as expected a huge televote for Ukraine. UK second and most likely the next host country. As much as I hope Ukraine could host next year it seems very unlikely as the preparations should start pretty soon and the war is not anywhere near over yet, so.... Spain is a surprise for me, but a nice one, and Italy's sixth place a disappointment but then again it's not a song for general European viewer. And where ere all the The Rasmus fans? Not voting tonight for sure....

The winner's press conference was very much delayed.....

Here are the results of the first semi-final:

1. Ukraine 337

2. The Netherlands 221

3. Greece 211

4. Portugal 208

5. Armenia 187

6. Norway 177

7. Lithuania 159

8. Moldova 154

9. Switzerland 118

10. Iceland 103

11. Croatia 75

12. Albania 58

13.Denmark 55

14. Latvia 55

15. Austria 42

16. Bulgaria 29

17. Slovenia 15

The results of the second semi-final:

As by a statement by Ebu the vote was irregular in six (6!!!) countries and Ebu used a substitute aggregated result (as usually used for San Marino's televote) for both the semi-final and the grand final and thus Martin was there all the time! Oh dear....

The countries are Azerbaijan, Georgia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania and San Marino. Is anyone surprised? (Yes, where's Malta?)

1. Sweden 396

2. Australia 243

3. Serbia 237

4, Czech Republic 227

5. Estonia 209

6. Poland 198

7. Finland 162

8. Belgium 151

9. Romania 118

10. Azerbaijan 96

11. North Macedonia 76

12. Cyprus 63

13. Israel 61

14. San Marino 50

15. Ireland 47

16. Malta 47

17. Montenegro 33

18. Georgia 22

To be updated.....

Comments

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GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o...

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Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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