Phil: Well I am pre-disposed to like this song because it is my kind of song… And I’d be right! All of those wags that joked that it’s not over till the fat lady sings would be absolutely correct. There is some usual babic choreography in this one – so nothing that you would not expect but the main thing is Vania’s voice. She does not disappoint but my only fear about this is that it could well be several years too late but, and like her, it is a big but, they need to sell a non-English language song to the voting masses. However, she looks at me and points and has an angry face and demands that you vote for her and you can’t take your eyes off her for many many reasons. This is certainly qualifying and probably doing well in the final. And that’s us off to find some more MEAT and CHEESE and stuff. Ta-ra!
Franko: Now don’t get me wrong I quite like this. It’s a beautiful song sung well (okay Vânia Fernandes’s not going to have people queuing up to date her but so what?). There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it aside from the fact that it leaves everyone feeling rather depressed as she warbles about her lover drowning with a seaweed backdrop. It’s just got a really tough draw with a lot of the big guns in the same semi and as Portugal don’t traditionally have that many friends in Europe and have yet to qualify for a final under the semi system, you have to fear for it. I hope it does get through, but I can’t see it.
So a day that started with camp Latvian pirates and ended with death is finally over. I need to time to let it all settle before making qualifier predictions….
See you all tomorrow but don’t expect me to rush in for Montenegro or indeed anything in the morning.
Nick: A fine end to Semifinal 2. Vânia Fernandes belts out a lament to her late husband, a sailor who was killed and lost at sea. I blame the Latvian pirates. It’s … strong. It’s the best Portuguese entry for years and years and years and years. And it’s strong. And Phil wants me to write a bit quicker so he can have some meat and cheese and bread. And, actually, so do I. And incidentally, is it just me or has Vania lost some weight since Magicafantasticamente Day?