Semi 1: 14 Albania

This is what I think happened: Elhaida Dani really wanted to go to Eurovision but not with the kind of song you need to win Festivali i Këngës. She played the game, won with a more traditional vocal ballad and then somehow managed to get the green light to switch her entry.

If this is what happened, then maybe it was all for the better. FiK has been an unreliable tool for selecting successful ESC entries and going to the international final with a song you don't believe with is pretty pointless.

I just wish she would have taken it even further and found herself a really modern song, something that would sound like a chart topper. This one is nice and gives her plenty of space to show off her fine vocal chords but doesn't really go anywhere. It never progresses beyond a pleasant little song you could hear on the radio.

Elhaida has a lot of tv experience and could probably still have a few tricks up her sleeve regarding how to make herself remembered by the audience - and singing this close to the end is no disadvantage either - but will it be enough? If she starts sounding sharp and wobbly, like in the FiK semi finals, she won't get the juries on her side for sure.

Qualifier:
Yes. It should be easier for Albania to qualify than for Greece or FYR Macedonia. Not because the song is a lot better but because it had better luck in the running order.

Grade: 2/5



Elhaida Dani - I'm Alive (Albania 2015)

Semi 1: 13 Denmark

Sometimes when a song gets selected for the ESC you start liking it more than you did when it was just a potential entry in a national final. This is probably because you get the song singled out and you suddenly pay more attention to it than you did at first.

Denmark's entry did the complete opposite in my ears. At first I thought it was OK, but then I found it a most disappointing winner. Square, unimaginative, typically happy-but-pointless like so many other Danish entries have been lately.

Then we had all the songs for Vienna presented in the right order and suddenly something happened. Something clicked between me and Danmark and suddenly I find myself humming along happily, without getting annoyed.

This lineup really needed something along the lines of what the Danes had to offer this time around. I have to just accept the sad fact that my own favourite at Dansk Melodi Grand Prix - the sublime Hotel A - probably would have sunk without a trace among the other mid tempo efforts while these lads with a slightly unhealthy Beatles complex manage to stand out.

Qualifier:
Yes, for sure. Easy, uncomplicated and a relief since it doesn't try to be clever or impress you or demand anything complicated from you. Just sit back and relax and let the Danish mood flow all over you.

Grade: 3/5



Anti Social Media - The Way You Are (Denmark 2015)

Semi 1: 12 Russia

It's a sad sign of the times that you will have to start a review in 2015 by stating the seemingly obvious, but what won't you do in order not to be misunderstood.

I have pretty strong views on things like politics. Human rights. Democracy. Minority rights. That sort of thing. That in turn means I disagree with a number of policies held by a number of countries taking part in the ESC.

I am really trying not to let that affect my views on the entries from these countries. And already last year I wrote a post on what I think about booing at Eurovision. That opinion still stands.

Russia isn't making it particularly easy for me, though. For the third year running, they enter a little song about how they don't wish anything but peace on earth. How they wish we could all see and accept that people are different and should be allowed to be so. The first verse is nothing short of dreadful. Unbearable. It feels like it is poking my eye with a dirty finger as it goes on.

After that it does improve. The chorus builds into something more personable, more interesting, less offensive. And Polina Gagarina has a magnificent presence. Imagine what she could have achieved on a Eurovision stage has she been given a real song instead of a cliché-ridden propaganda piece.

Qualifier:
Yes. This will hit home in the right places and score consistent points without getting anywhere near a victory. Probably exactly what it was designed to do.

Grade: 2/5



Polina Gagarina - A Million Voices (Russia 2015)

Semi 1: 11 Belarus

I was trying to watch the Belarusian final but gave up after two songs. I had found a really bad link with poor sound quality and I felt life was too short to be wasted on watching performances where audio and video were not in sync.

I came back for the winner's reprise - now on a much better quality link - and thought the chosen song was a nice little ditty and not much more.

How your perception of one single song can change. The close-to-compulsory face-lift it has gone through since the national final is remarkable and - given all these medium paced and sometimes frankly dull entries in this year's contest - it finally stands out like something with temper, bite and bit of excitement surrounding it.

The lavish video clip helps, of course. If the live performance turns out to be either too over the top or flat and lifeless, its chances might fade very quickly. But if they manage to find the right balance between drama and kitsch - and hit the right notes at the right time - Belarus could possibly be looking at their second top ten finish ever.

Qualifier:
Absolutely. It comes as a relief at this point in the running order - after the Hungarian harmony overdose preceding it - and will surely make it through with quite a margin.

Grade: 3/5



Uzari & Maimuna - Time (Belarus 2015)

Semi 1: 10 Hungary

Let's join hands and unite in a simple and uncomplicated song and maybe we can have peace on earth if you all sing along. Nicole did it, Petra Frey did it, Dina Garipova did it. Many people did it. But I'm no great fan of meek peace ditties. Singing alone will make no bigger difference, I'm afraid.

The first plea for peace of the year comes from Hungary - a country I kept my eyes quite closely on lately, as it seems they are pretty determined to do well and actively trying to win the contest. I love a bit of ambition and an ESC held in Budapest would be among the loveliest things I could think of.

After some really contemporary pop songs in a row, Hungary opted for a mild protest song about the pointlessness of war and I couldn't help but feel really disappointed with this choice. Perhaps the national final was slightly weaker this year compared to the last few editions - but still?

But then Boggie isn't just any performer. She gained international recognition for her fantastic "Nouveau Parfum" and she has a way of imposing herself in an almost hypnotising way. Her chant is more than the average peace song and stays with the listener regardless if you liked it or not.

Qualifier:
Yes, thanks to the performance and presence of Boggie. Very confident and confidence is always attractive. Even when the song isn't all that.

Grade: 2/5



Boggie - Wars For Nothing (Hungary 2015)

Semi 1: 09 Serbia

After sitting out for a year, Serbia decided to come back to the ESC with a bang - and what better way to achieve that than to ask their only winner to write the song for them?

Some would argue that it had been even better had they asked Željko Joksimović instead, but maybe even RTS found that idea a bit too obvious. (Anyway, some other people would get around to to have his song so all is well.)

Vladimir Graić wrote three songs for three performers and Serbia decided to appoint the rather fabulous Bojana Stamenov to be their ambassadress in Vienna. In an unprecedented move, they also decided to have their song performed in English.

Maybe some of the magic got lost in translation since the song - despite having more tempo than many others in the line-up - seemingly leaves no deeper impression. It is pleasant and enjoyable for as long as it goes on but then seems to vaporise from my memory.

I find it surprising that the preview clip seems terribly determined to hide Bojana from view as she is the biggest asset this entry has. Maybe she can fill it up with the personality that the actual song seems to lack?

Qualifier:

Borderline, but possibly Bojana could make all the difference and get loved by the entire continent.

Grade: 2/5

Bojana Stamenov - Beauty Never Lies (Serbia 2015)

Semi 1: 08 FYR Macedonia

Watching national finals can be most entertaining but you don't necessarily know an entry after seeing it win on home ground. All I could remember after seeing this one win the Skopje festival was Daniel Kajmakoski's yellow shoes.

They were nice shoes. Cool. I wouldn't mind having a pair like that. But I couldn't remember the song to save my life.

Some time later, I found the original studio version of it and melted like butter in direct sunlight. It opened up like a spring flower and I really enjoyed it, thinking this one will do well in the end.

Then came the big makeover with a change of language and a major arrangement facelift. The new package was completed by a cute cartoon video clip and it seems someone has invested quite a lot of time (and possibly quite a lot of money) in this project.

The new version is more professional and is more cleverly produced. It sounds slick and polished and radio friendly but it all came at a cost. Unfortunately most of the personality of the original studio version vaporised and the risk is that most people will enjoy this one for as long as it goes on and then forget about it.

I especially miss the switch to uptempo after the chorus, which was a welcome climax that I find myself missing and longing for now.

Qualifier:
No. This one would have needed more of an edge in order to convince voters. Also, FYR Macedonia has been notoriously bad at staging their entries lately and let perfectly good entries turn into a right mess on stage. A habit like that does not bode well for this one.

Grade: 2/5



Daniel Kajmakoski - Autumn Leaves (FYR Macedonia 2015)