This blog is in the capable hands of our wonderful Shai – join in and comment along.
[sp_comments_block]LIVE BLOG: Eurovision 2022 – First semi final
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Prediction time:
There 5 songs I am sure that will qualify, which are: Ukraine,The Netherlands, Greece, Norway (which I personally dislike) and Armenia.
There 4 I am sure have no chance, which are: Switzerland, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Denmark.
That leaves 8 songs for the 5 remaining places. Austria fall because I find it hard that such a concept will ever on Eurovision stage and it seems she can’t carry the song live.
After much pondering, here my 10 qualifiers;
Albania
Latvia
Ukraine
The Netherlands
Moldova
Portugal
Iceland
Greece
Norway
Armenia
Not sure what happened, but the live blog, seems to be not live
If you don’t mind reading my comments…
Albania – more shouting the singing and she can’t even dance her own dance moves
Latvia – Fun and much better than Albania
Lithuania – It really is classy and she is a good performer. Much better than what around her
Switzerland – lulabby and make you want sleep
Slovenia – why the slow tempo for a disco song
Ukraine – I like the song part, dislike the rap section. As always staged masterfully by the Ukrainian. If I am honest it’s not a winning song. And the last part drag a bit too long
The stage looks wonderful. Just imagine what would have happen of the set was fully functional
Bulgaria – for a rock song it lacks a really energy. Aa a composition it’s quite mediocre and lazy.
Presentations is quite cliché
The Netherlands – very intimate staging. I got my first goosebumps moment for the evening.
Ooze class and even the Dutch language doesn’t stand in the way.
I thought she was off key in quite many places, no
Moldavia – you can’t stop tiptoeing.
Very colourful staging but for a jolly song this is, it’s a bit static in the presentation. It puts a smile on your face. Unfortunately after 2 minutes it become too repetitive
Moldova, not Moldova. Sorry
Portugal – if anyone wants a proof why live vocals are important and need the be sung live, this song just show you why. It’s not a song to appreciate on first listen. The harmonies are damm beautiful.
I don’t think she was in her best tonight but she still was very good
Croatia -the dancers distract and her outfit really doesn’t suit the song.The staging is just not what the song need.
More is less in this case and the Croatian at the end doesn’t add anything for the song.
Denmark – start as a ballad and she is off key. And than it changes gear and the 2 parts just don’t work together.
Again a static performance for a part which is suppose to be very energetic
Phil, glad I can help
Let’s talk about the presenters – they are fine. Nothing spectacular, just doing there job. It can be much worse
Austria – is she singing live or that the backing vocals doing the job? Somehow this works even in the set up of Eurovision stage. There was a shot of the crowd dancing to this. This could qualify even though the signs were not good for this one
Iceland – this is very sweet and feel very authentic. The staging is what this song need. In this case less is more.
I find myself humming the song while it goes through. To my surprise I like it more than I should have
Greece – the acapella section is extremely difficult but she just pulled it off effortselly.
The whole staging is very effectiv although too blue for my taste.
As much as appreciate the whole concept it’s still a bit more technical for a song that suppose to make me feel it
Norway – I dislike this song very much.
I can’t even hear if they actually sing live or if the backing vocals are doing most of the job. If I honest I don’t see the fun of it at all. Latvia was more fun than this one.
This is a calculated performance which is trying toilk anything for the gimmick which this song is.
It’s qualifying but I wish it wouldn’t
To milk, not toilk
Postcards – I like the idea and the execution. Again not spectacular, just doing the job
Armenia – make full use of the backing vocals. The idea of the post its on the wall is neat. The staging is just the right one with out being too much. And her getting out of it is just very effective.
And she sings this very well, not a note missed. I am even starting to like the song, which I didn’t on first hearing
Base on all the performances.
Albania should stay in the semi and Austria should go through
Interval – die those who are too young to know.
The first one was Giorgio Morder from Midnight express.
Than there snips from Robert Miles and Blue who was a huge hit in 1998.
All Italian musicians
The Interval is very Italian.
Raffeala Carrà is such an Italian icon.
Show you how old I am
Italy 2020, the one that didn’t make it to an Eurovision stage.
I think this is really a special touch.
The original version wasn’t something I was keen on, bit this version is just going ving me goosebumps.
That added chorus vocalshive this such an emotional layer.
And the moving stagge is just awesome. Show you the potential of the stage if it was fully working.
Well doen Italy.
The Eurovision history segment – a very strange part.
Saying a lot without saying anything and giving the impression that the Contest is only 10 years old
Apologies for the type mistakes.
Just pressing on send without checking
So now we have France and Italy.
Won’t comment on them.
Not really fair commenting on an incomplete performance
Are you ready for the results?
Zwitserland – a surprise
Armenia – as expected
Iceland
Lithuania – we are heading for some interesting evening
Portugal
Norway- as expected
Greece
Ukraine – no surprises here
Moldova
The Netherlands
I got 8 of the 10.
Missing Switzerland and Lithuania who qualified instead of Albania and Latvia.
The biggest surprise for me is Switzerland.
Happy to see Albania not going through
It wasn’t a good song it performance.
Hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts.
Have a good night.
See you on Thursday
Excellent summaries, Shai. You’ve summed up how I feel about Norway. I hope we don’t get more entries like this in the future. I think Latvia might have been penalised for the swearing.