Live blog – Eurovision 2008 – First semi-final – public rehearsal

Hartwell

Oh my god where to begin with this lot!

I think I have to divide it up between Doomed, Qualifying and “s’ok”

Doomed

Montenegro: Nothing but a different singer and song can save this now.
Israel: Boaz strains too much and not even a lack of clothing can assist.
Moldova: Dead in the Water
Slovenia: This was a great song in the EMA – now it looks bad and just does a big fat nothing on stage , and Rebeka’s vocal is hideous.
Poland: Looked awful on stage and Isis is trying to sell a bad song to the public. Better luck at a boot sale methinks love.
Ireland: Not for the reasons you might think. all week I was thinking this was getting through – but the camera shots and the dancing, or whatever you call it, make it look horrible on stage.
Andorra: Oh dear God, no (from its most vociferous supporter)
Romania: Just can’t see it. She ruins it for me.

Qualifying

Belgium: Has been resuscitated over the last three days to a position back where it belonged. The real punters started clapping when it started and that’s ok by me!
Norway: Easily going through. Class of the first half.
Bosnia – Easily. Locals went bonkers.
The Netherlands: Hind has taken this song to places that it should be nowhere near. This now has more than a realistic shot of qualifying.
Finland: Surprisingly for some, this is going straight through no problem. It’s not Lordi without masks, it is a very very good song.
Russia: I Hope it doesn’t – but I can’t see it failing.

S’Ok

Estonia: Looked hideous on stage today, more so than usual but it may get the crazy voters going “oooh”
San Marino: Has been promoted from the Doomed category but only because everything else is a bit dire.
Azerbaijan: Still looks silly on stage, but it could sneak in.
Armenia: Should qualify but not so sure now , it just passes me by.
Greece: It should qualify – but her voice grates so much it might frighten Europe.

… so out of that – I got six direct qualifiers and five that might just make it. That’s close enough for me, but it may change tonight/tomorrow