Eurovision Song Contest - Semi Final 1 (Tuesday 22nd May 2012)

[Corki]

And we are not far awy from the start of the big event - Eurovision 2012 will officially be underway from Baku, Azerbaijan. This is the 57th Eurovision Song Contest, and it is still going strong! And like the last few years, I will be your host for this evening's entertainment, passing my glorious comments on tonight's proceedings. I haven't had a big look into the songs tonight, so I have no idea what will be in our mixed bag of goodies tonight! Except Ireland are inflicting Jedward on Europe...again...

 

And just a quick rundown on how tonight is to work. 6 countries - Azerbaijan, last year's winner, along with the Big 5, the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy - are all guarenteed a place in the final on Saturday. However, the remaining 36 countries have to battle it out for the remaining 20 places. So tonight is the first of the semi-finals. 18 countries are competing, aiming to get one of those 10 places.

 

So, go and grab something to drink and eat, and let's enjoy the evening's entertainment. Not long left to go now!

 

Not long to go now...

 

And in the meantime, I will try and get a general Eurovision discussion thread up and running! And there will also be a thread where you can vote for your favourite to determine what DM thinks is the winning song after Saturday's final.

[Corki]

And we're off!

[Corki]

There appears to be a change with the voting policy again...last year's decision to allow you to vote during the show has been scrapped and we are back to how it previously with voting after the songs have been performed.

 

And we are finally off!

[fikkie77]

Not watching, there's football (soccer) on...

 

But for the first time in many years I actually like the Dutch song! It just a very good song; bit cheery, bit melancholy. The outfit of Joan Franca is errr.... weird, but if you don't like it, just close your eyes and enjoy!

[Corki]

Watching football over Eurovision - scandalous!

[Corki]

Oh, and I will be posting my comments after the 6th, 12th and final songs of the evening. Feel free to post your own as and when.

[Corki]

1. Montenegro

- The Grim Reaper has arrived...missing his scythe!

- A sweaty middle aged man trying to rap...

- Is that banner to allow us to sing along?

- I somehow don't think the Euro Neuro breakdance will be a big hit for the summer of 2012

- An interesting start to the show...

 

 

2. Iceland

- Ah, much better than the tripe from Montenegro

- A really nice and easy song to listen to

- Trying to stir memories of Norway's win with their fiddler?

- Could do with extra "oomph" with the vocals

- But I am liking it!

 

 

3. Greece

- Should we bankrupt Greece even more than it is already? (I think I said that last year!)

- Is she singing this...or is she miming (because it looks like she is!)

- The song's a bit monotonous...but at least she has good legs!

- And that makes up for a rather dull song vocally!

- Mmmm...not convinced

 

 

4. Latvia

- The 2002 winner...gosh, did Latvia win that long ago (loved that song, by the way!)

- And it will probably be another year until they win again!

- And yes, the lead singer was born in 1980 (thanks Wikipedia!)

- Those four backing singers are redundant!

- A lot of name dropping!

- Not bad...not 100% sure about that song...

 

 

5. Albania

- She looks like she has come from dim and distant planet of the Star Wars galaxy!

- Our first proper ballad of the evening

- Well, it was until that

- That was some vocal/screech...

- ...and that is a bigger one!

- But Baku seems to like it

- A lot of emotion in that song

 

 

6. Romania

- A moonwalking bagpiper...I think I have seen it all now!

- The first catchy beat of the night has me tapping away

- I am strangely liking this...

- Really popular in the hall

[Corki]

7. Switzerland

- And the first indie/rock band of the night

- The UK hosts compared this to The Killers...and there is some likeness

- I like the song...but hate his voice...

- It's too "gratey" for me...

- And he is challenging Jedward's hair!

 

 

8. Belgium

- Our second ballad of the night

- Much better than the entry two years ago which I ripped to shreds!

- A nice little number, which I can see going far

- Beautiful control of her vocals

 

 

9. Finland

- Time for a song sung in Swedish...by Finland...

- ...is that an attempt to get "douze point" from their neighbours?

- Simply, uncomplicated, crisp

- Despite not understanding a word, I am quite liking the song

- I do like the "harshness" to her song

 

 

10. Israel

- We've been warned that there is a lot of flashing lights with this song...

- Ummm...I swear this sounds like something else...

- A prize to anyone who can tell me!

- Not much of a fan...but somehow think Europe will be...

 

 

11. San Marino

- Time for a law breaking song...

- An eclectic mix of attire for the backing singers

- A song for the Facebook generation...

- The pilot was on his phone...

- I don't know whether to laugh or cry about this song!

- After the big up by the UK hosts, I felt let down...

 

12. Cyprus

- A nice beat to this song...

- I did like the song...but I seem to be losing the love for it...

- Too many "la la la la la"'s

- But then it grows on me again...

- Definitely has a feel good factor to it

[Corki]

The Russian grannies are coming up shortly!

[Majsju]

Montenegro...At least he sang (ok, "sang") in his own language. Which is the only positive thing i have to say about this.

 

Greece...They often send this kind of song, most of them have been better than this one. Not exactly bad, just...bland.

 

Latvia...Nice little song, but it never really takes off.

 

Albania...It's big, it's dramatic...It's too much, the pieces does not quite fit together. Amazing voice, plus for not singing in English, but not one of the strongest ballads this year.

 

Romania...This is just party. One oof my favourites.

 

Switzerland...Commercial pop, boring as hell. And seriously, a nation with 4 diffeent languages, and they sing in english? pathetic.

[Corki]

After the singing grannies, we have just had an interview with the Hump!

[Majsju]

Belgium...nice little ballad (except that much of the chorus is stolen, just can't remember where from). good voice for being just 17. But there are quite a few ballads much better than this. And boo for enlish.

 

Finland....Yes! She sings in Swedish!!! And a great melody. My absolute favourite. B ut she should have kept the dress from the Finnish cometition, as well as kept the dancer.

 

San Marino...Eww! Stupid, stupid song.

 

Cyprus...Trying to sound a bit modern. It's...ok. there is something about it I kinda like.

 

Denmark...Meh, bland. heard it a thousand times before, and this version does not bring anything new to the table. And should have been sung in Danish.

 

Russia...Aw, these adorable little ladies :)

 

Hungary...Had he sung in hungarian, and had the production been better, it could have been quite good. now it is just one of those ballads noone will remember next week.

[Majsju]

Austria...I don't get it. Except that it sucks.

 

Moldova...Great intro, great little violin solo, but as a song it does not really fit together. A good producer could have turned this into a top-5 song, as it is it should struggle to make it to the final. And boo for english.

 

Ireland...Worlds most annoying twins. Bland commercial pop.

[Corki]

13. Denmark

- Not that bad...

- I feel it could have something else to make it stand out

- And after our moonwalking bagpiper, a xylophone solo!

- It can only be Eurovision!

- Nice vocals for a nice song

 

 

14. Russia

- The first main highlight of the evening!

- Kudos to the Six Singing Grannies!

- I think the music ruins the song...

- It would have been much better with traditional music and not the the electronicness they have

- Definitely quirky!

- Baku seemed to like that...

- ...and that will make it through for sure!

 

 

15. Hungary

- Are they indie? Or do they want to be metalish? Or ballady?

- Is doing nothing for me

- A "meh" song as shown by my lack of comments!

 

 

16. Austria

- Gangster tractor rap time...

- Translated, the song means "Shake Your Booty" in Austrian and sung by Trackshittaz

- Please Europe, do not send this through!

- Interesting use of neon lights...which might generate a few votes for Austria

 

 

17. Moldova

- A modern twist for klezmer music

- Interesting dance moves by the backing vocalists

- The song has a comic feel to it

- Hasn't won me over

 

 

18. Ireland

- Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

- By all accounts (i.e. the Irish commentator), Jedward will keep coming back until they win

- They have lost the hair contest to Switzerland

- I think I said it last year, but the backing vocals seem to be louder than Jedward

- But then we Brits know they can't sing!

- How cheesy was that heart!?!?!?

- Best thing about the song is the water display!

- Please Europe, send Jedward back to Ireland with their bags packed

- Too much cheering!

- Bring back Dustin the Turkey!

[Corki]

Now that we have heard all the songs, it is time to pick the 10 songs everyone thinks will go through.

[Majsju]

My ten then...

Finland

Romania

Cyprus

Russia

Latvia

Greece

Iceland

Denmark

Belgium

Albania

[Corki]

In no particular order:

 

1. Romania

2. Iceland

3. Albania

4. Belgium

5. Finland

6. Cyprus

7. Russia (for comedy value!)

8. Denmark

9. Switzerland

10. Greece

 

I just have this horrible feeling Jedward will go through...

[Corki]

A bit like last year, I don't the first semi-final was that great. Here is hoping Thursday will be better!

 

Romania was by far the best song of the night...a real contender to win

 

Iceland, Albania, Finland and Belgium were good entries as well.

 

Anyway, we are getting the life story of Engelbert Humperdinck!

[Corki]

According to the BBC, Italy and Sweden are favourites. I think I will have to check these songs out.

[Majsju]

Historic night. For the first time ever, all votes will be counted in Azerbaijan :)

[Corki]

The BBC feels it is above whatever is going on the stage as various contestants are being interviewed. It would appear there was loud drumming going on...

[Majsju]

the drum act is close to awesome, you are really missing out on something.

[Corki]

The French entry is very un-French! Where's the French ballad?

[Majsju]

And why the hell is a French artist singing in english? Boo!

[Corki]

Are Spain taking Eurovision seriously?