This should be a HOT TEN qualifiers, not SIX LOSERS, but it’s much more complex than that.
You all saw what happened – and some of you have had your say on the eftersnack comment page (ta for that).
For me, the biggest surprise was San Marino. I didn’t give it a prayer of qualifying but, having seen the performance, I was warming to it, but I didn’t expect to warm to it that much!!!
Netherlands, The, too surprised the hell out of me – For me it’s a boring ballad that has one camera shot – however when you are told by someone in the know that NL have got at least 2 x 12 points from the juries you begin to realise what’s gone on here – It’s jury bait and no mistake.
Also honourable mentions must go to Portugal – Whilst half of me is going “YOU WERE ALL WARNED” – she was happy bouncy in the Green room.
Diaspora voting in the Semi’s – now a massive myth in the semi final. Unless the San Marino Massive have escaped and the Icelandic Diaspora have moved across Europe it is safe to say that you don’t need a diaspora to get you through. It still helps, though, but its now not a prerequisite.
Neighbourly voting? – Montenegro had no one sympathetic and it still qualified. Iceland, granted, had Sweden and Denmark and Estonia but San Marino had no one else. Netherlands, The – had Belgium (not really a total friend) and France but …
A good song is what you need – as has been always said.
Now, what are we doing today, I hear no one ask – well the dope is that we are going to the Hall for the 3pm Rehearsal, therefore there will be some live blogging . The 9pm one, this time, will be missed (unless you hear otherwise) – but we’ll see how it goes. You’ll hear it first on here.
Thank you for staying with us throughout this last couple of weeks!
PhilC
The Netherlands was by far the best. Singing, staging, the song. If Europe goes for a quality ditty, the land of tulips, weed and cheese has a top 10 song in the top 10 for a second year in a row.
Netherlands, The – TBF It was so out of place, it was really really very good, so different!
This is what happened in 1994, two men, simple melody, tad emotion and Bob’s your 12 points. Dark horse.
Now San Marino. Yes I agree with you. But, having warmed to this in her three minutes of glory, woooow, if I could have voted 20 times she got a least 8 of my phone votes.
It looks like, “Rolf” has spent a lot of money on the producing of the live song and getting the presentation of shots on TV spot on. Retirement?
There’s a point about half way, the camera swoons by the backing singers and back to her, back to Ralf and then back to her -money shot.
It worked.
I bet San Marino didn’t sleep last night, “you mean the outsiders, they vote for little Italy?”
Moldova. I warmed to little Zelda, “insignificant humans, vote or I attack…” a little muffled at the start. Mars will not be happy, I mean Moldova.
Belgium, no grumbles here. It only got through our preview because people assumed that it would, but it was creepy as hell and poorly performed on stage…
Sweden, like Belgium we assume these big ballads get through. I’m bored with it. I like Sanna and the Granny Och Kinder vote will love it. If it really wins, it will not have the sense of “Euphoria” behind it that Loreen had. (did you see what I did?).
So I want Conchita Wurst, sponsored by Retail Wurst and Lube producers, Austria, to come up with the goods. Will the Belgium affect happen? No different voters tomorrow night.