Phil: Do I need to objective? I think not. This site is all about personal opinions. My personal opinion is that Denmark have presented Eurovision 2008 with the three most interminable minutes to have graced the stage in a while. Simon has clearly opened the big book of Eurovision at the page “formulaic songs” and tacked together pages 1-5 and presented them to DR on a platter of cheese and said “how about that then?” He is, however, a good looking boy and that will appeal to the mums in the audience, as will the song because it IS from the school of “This is what we are used to – lets vote for this.” He is training to be a policeman I have just been informed. Can we arrest him for crimes against songs and singing – or is that too harsh.
Nick: This vaguely reminds me of The Olsens, in a Mickey Joe Harte kind of way. It’s really going out of its way to repeat a trick that worked 8 (EIGHT! Count ’em!) years ago. It’s an acceptably solid performance, from what we’ve seen so far – and incidentally, I should mention that the sound on the feeds from the hall is now absolutely spot on and has been for a couple of days. It’s one of those things that you stop noticing when there isn’t a problem there. Simon is dressed in a cap and braces, and some other things obviously. If he were just wearing a cap and braces, that would be controversial. The stage is light blue, the backdrop’s black and starry and twinkly… he really does want to be the Olsens. There’s even an Olsens Moment when the screens explode into a display of fireworks fit for a bigger event than this one. It’s either going to take on a life of its own, this one, or fall as flat as a pancake, and I can’t really judge which at this stage.
Franko: Okay, not universally popular. It’s harmless and unspectacular. He’s trying to be Robbie Williams doing Swinging When We’re Winning and the effect is fairly similar to their entry in 2005 when they finished in the top 10. It might just repeat that feat given the excesses of all around it or it could just as easily get forgotten and finish bottom of the pile. It’s impossible to call. I don’t hate it and I wouldn’t have any strong feelings either way if it succeeded or failed. Borderline qualification but I don’t it’s a real contender.