I did a terrible job predicting the finalists - I only got seven correct out of ten - but maybe it's not all my fault. It was an even field and the outcome was destined to be a bit arbitrary. Plus Europe made some odd choices. It's not me, it's you.
Anyway, the entries gone with the wind are:
ROMANIA. I have no idea what they thought they were doing but they sure worked hard to achieve it. The visuals were better than in the national final but nothing else was. Mystifying. Maybe Romania should give internal selection a go next year?
SAN MARINO is a little gem of sorts, a clunky schlager rocker with a shouty finish. Doomed from the word go but also entertaining in a way you wouldn't want to miss out on. I hope they don't give up on their national final for next year, all they need are better jurors.
Many spent the whole season thinking GEORGIA had it in the bag but when it mattered all the wild drama turned static and not particularly engaging. Only a minor surprise to see it drop out in the end.
ICELAND had showed great energy and a fresh approach to performing but the song never spoke to me. Few things jive less than a performer super excited about a song that is meh at best.
DENMARK went for an unusually contemporary sound for being them, a shame that didn't pay off. But while Reiley is an adorable personality he doesn't have the voice or the stage presence needed to carry a song by himself.
Finally my heart is bleeding a bit for Victor Vernicos from GREECE, who is really gifted but had the misfortune of getting chosen too soon. Had he been given two or three more years to grow and develop he could have been a Greek Paradise Oskar. I hope somebody gives him a hug and reminds him what a talent he is and that there's still a future in music for him. There must be.
I wasn't really surprised by Cyprus qualifying but Albania made my face grow long. Not to mention Poland. But more about them in time for the final where we could be heading for an epic battle of Sweden vs Finland.
Greece - I am not sure what happened there, but he couldn't sing his own song properly.
ReplyDeleteItvsounded as if he wrote the song in the wrong key. He was quite out-of tune for the most of the song.
I’m surprised you’re so low on Poland! I usually agree with most of your takes but I really enjoy that one. I mean I do agree she has the stage presence of, well, perhaps not a DEAD fish but a fish that’s about to expire, but I still always thought the song was strong enough to easily make it into the finals.
ReplyDeleteSo so so happy that my three favorites from this semi – Belgium, Slovenia, and Lithuania – made it! But my entire top 8 made it in the first semi as opposed to my top 4 in this one. I agree with the unpredictability and evenness of the entries.
Thanks for writing btw, adore the blog <3 I read every post!