LIVE BLOG: Eurovision 2022 – First semi final

This blog is in the capable hands of our wonderful Shai – join in and comment along.

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Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Not sure what happened, but the live blog, seems to be not live

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

The stage looks wonderful. Just imagine what would have happen of the set was fully functional

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Bulgaria – for a rock song it lacks a really energy. Aa a composition it’s quite mediocre and lazy.
Presentations is quite cliché

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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.

Maclaren
Maclaren
2 years ago
Reply to  Shai

I thought she was off key in quite many places, no

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Moldova, not Moldova. Sorry

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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.

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Phil, glad I can help

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Let’s talk about the presenters – they are fine. Nothing spectacular, just doing there job. It can be much worse

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago
Reply to  Shai

To milk, not toilk

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Postcards – I like the idea and the execution. Again not spectacular, just doing the job

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Base on all the performances.
Albania should stay in the semi and Austria should go through

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

The Interval is very Italian.
Raffeala Carrà is such an Italian icon.
Show you how old I am

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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.

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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

Last edited 2 years ago by Nick Deller
Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Apologies for the type mistakes.
Just pressing on send without checking

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

So now we have France and Italy.
Won’t comment on them.
Not really fair commenting on an incomplete performance

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Are you ready for the results?

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Zwitserland – a surprise

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Armenia – as expected

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Iceland

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Lithuania – we are heading for some interesting evening

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Portugal

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Norway- as expected

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Greece

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Ukraine – no surprises here

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Moldova

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

The Netherlands

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

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.

Shai
Shai
2 years ago

Hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts.

Have a good night.
See you on Thursday

Fatima
Fatima
2 years ago

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.