Eurovision Song Contest

[TilenB]

This is what I do too... I prefer the original format, don't like the whole semi final build up thing. I avoid listening to anything until the night.

But then you end up missing out on 11 acts. Latvia's song last year was probably my second favorite behind Finland and they didn't even make the cut to the final.

But yeah, also all in on the Lasagna bandwagon. Marko comes from a small Croatian town just across the Slovenian border and he's probably the ultimate Eurovision underdog story. He wasn't even selected for the Croatian pre-selection at first and only got in after one of the other contestants dropped out. He ended up winning that in a landslide and now he's the odds on favorite to win the whole thing too. The atmosphere that they manage to create in the hall is something else as well, just amazing.

Other favorites for me include Italy, Armenia (these two girls are absolutely stunning, so take your last paragraph back, @Will ), Norway, Estonia and Lithuania.

I don't really care for our entry this year. She's got her tits out and managed to qualify, which is good for her and it's always fun to keep an eye for your country on the scoreboard, but the entire performance just leaves me kind of cold. Eh...

 

[Will]

Yeah, Slovenia's song left me cold - if it's any consolation, the UK tried to send softcore porn as well and it's pretty awful

Glad to hear some love for Norway - it doesn't feel like it belongs there, but musically, it's great. One of the best tonight, along with the Netherlands, Switzerland and Israel. Not sure why Greece or Estonia qualified, nor why the Czech Republic didn't.

I've got a nasty feeling Switzerland will sneak it, but hopefully the 'professional jury' won't try the same trick twice. Christ. I'm starting to sound like one of those Hamilton fans talking about Abu Dhabi. Sorry

 

[Will]

Croatia were robbed, the whole Netherlands thing feels a bit suss... but it's unfair to take away from Switzerland really - amazing staging and in a different year, that would have been one of the catchier songs.

I did predict Norway would do badly, but I've checked out some of their other stuff
I thought Finland would do better with the public as well - but I think people who'd normally have voted for that probably swayed towards Croatia.

The dickhead in me is quite glad that Eden rocked the public vote like a hurricane as well.

 

[Will]

To clarify - this would still have included Belgium, Ireland and Czechia, which we've lost in the semi-final process (bizarrely, as we ended up with the likes of Greece, Latvia and Albania instead...) On a musical level, I enjoyed Slovenia and Lithuania, but to my mind they were both far too downbeat for the contest.

The cynic in me, based on the last couple of years, says that Sweden will have significant victory in the public vote which will then be overturned by the jury to hand it to Austria's warbling.

Albania are probably my least favourite surviving entry (and obviously, Malta can piss off) - but my money would be on Germany to finish bottom. The UK's Boots perfume advert style entry will face mid-table mediocrity.

 

[TilenB]

I think that this year's line-up is kinda weak compared to most years. My favorites in pure music terms are Sweden, San Marino and Germany, while the live has managed to elevate Italy, Switzerland, Albania and Armenia for me.

Other stuff is more miss than hit this year, though Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia are kind of decent fun.

Just out of curiosity, @Will, why do you think Albania is the worst out of this bunch? I thought the melody is pretty addictive, though I understand the bald guy's monologue might be a bit off-puting.

 

[Graeme]

I couldn't concentrate on the semi-finals as much this year because I was busy, but I like Germany.

Is it wrong, though, that Milkshake Man was going through my head all day today? I think he was robbed!

 

[Will]

Semi Final 1 was a good bit stronger than Semi 2 - I've also just realised that I forgot Italy when I made my Top 10 and just had to update the app...

To be brutally honest, I think Australia have stopped trying- I don't expect people to take it seriously and I love a novelty song as much as the next fan, but they're sending stuff that's utterly vacant and expecting to qualify (which only the likes of UK and Germany can get away with!)

I may have been overly harsh on Albania on Tuesday night, but it's still a bit of a non-event and as you say, has the bloke who looks like a football manager mumbling. It's even more dull without the performance - I've been listening to the songs on Spotify for the last couple of weeks which already gives you an idea of which you like (though it does mean my recommendations are ****ed up for most of May!)