Semi 1: 07 Russia

I will be frank and honest with you: I was really biased against this song already before I heard it and didn't want to like it. Even so, I was surprised by how little of a song these sisters have to work with.



Tomalchevy Sisters - Shine (Russia 2014)

I am not even going to waste too many words on this, but here goes. I am in no way hostile towards Russians, Russian culture or Russia as a country but after recent events I am not particularly keen on seeing Russia doing well. An ESC hosted by Russia under the current circumstances is not what I dream of.

They are surely aware that quite a few people share my sentiments, so I had expected them to enter a killer entry, something bound to fight for first place. Instead we are having quite a lean little midtempo song, performed without any greater amount of charisma or personality.

As for the lyrics, asking us to show the world some love? Sure thing, Russia. You first.

Qualifier: Yes, but only because Russia always qualifies. Wouldn't mind a great deal if I was wrong here.

My grade: 2/5

Semi 1: 06 Albania

I'm a fan of free choice of language. I think it is good that every country can decide for themselves what language suits their song better and have a greater shot at being understood by a larger audience. But reaching an audience isn't always stuck in the words you are singing.



Hersi - One Night's Anger (Albania 2014)

First of all I must state that I think Albania's entry is pretty good. It builds nicely and bears echoes from Seal's "Kiss From A Rose" - a rare source of inspiration for eurovision entries. Hersi has an interesting voice and the new arrangement has a good sound. I just feel the song lost something in translation.

Exactly the same happened in 2011: Albania switched to English and suddenly a lot of the emotion ebbed away. I don't feel the performer's presence in the words as much as I did in the original version.

Maybe it will be back in the live version, but in this clip I'd long for some more passion and conviction.

Qualifier: Probably. A good song is a good song and should attract enough votes to beat at least six other countries. Even if it could be better than it is at this point.

My grade: 2/5

Semi 1: 05 Iceland

At first I thought Iceland was doing something radically different compared to the last few years - jaunty upbeat men performing their Blink 182-flavoured song in bright tracksuits - but now I think they are basically staying true to form.



Pollapönk - No Prejudice (Iceland 2014)

True to form in Iceland's case is to be pleasant enough to make it relatively comfortably through the semi only to end up in the lower regions of the final result.

It could work out also this time. In a semi sporting more than its fair share of ballads and midtempo, anything jaunty and jolly is bound to stand out. Also visually, this gang will break out of the mainstream.

It could also be a stab at what Latvia did best recently: make an enjoyable and fun preview of a song that ultimately proves too weak to stand a chance live on stage.

This piece of punk for kids could go either way, really. (But it gets a couple of bonus points from me for the positive message and the rainbow flags. Well done.)

Qualifier: Yes. It still feels like a qualifier. But I am far from sure. If it makes it, it won't be by any larger margin. And in the final it will be shark feed.

My grade: 2/5

Semi 1: 04 Sweden

Many people were so happy to finally see Sanna Nielsen win Melodifestivalen on her seventh attempt. For a young veteran who slowly made her way into the hearts of Sweden, this was a very well deserved triumph, and I was very happy about it too. Then came Ace Wilder and ruined the whole thing for me.



Sanna Nielsen - Undo (Sweden 2014)

Sanna's song is elegant and classy, she sings it impeccably and the chorus is easy to remember, even if it isn't a piece of cake to sing along. All of these ingredients would normally make for a really great entry. They do. But they are also part of a very classic recipe for this contest.

Ace Wilder was everything that Undo is not. Wild, eccentric, unexpected. Not safe.

That very notion punched a hole in my balloon, so to speak. Her ballad shrunk a great deal in my eyes and it hasn't grown back on me as yet. And even if I am still very happy about Sanna finally winning, I'm less optimistic about her chances to make a splash internationally.

Qualifier: Yes. It will be distinct enough to stand out in a field of sixteen semi finalists. But how much will she stand out in the final?

My grade: 3/5

Semi 1: 03 Estonia

If the running order makes Armenia no favours it is even worse for Estonia and could possibly cost them a spot in the final no matter how much Tanja would deserve it.

Tanja - Amazing (Estonia 2014)

Even if it would be easy to label this song as merely a Euphoria-lite it still remains a very ambitious entry with a polished and impressive stage performance by Tanja who dances like her life depended on it and yet doesn't miss a single note.

Had Estonia had better luck and found themselves in the last half of this semi there would be no doubt in my mind that Amazing would sail smoothly into the final, but now I'm far from sure. Will it leave an impression that is strong enough to make the viewers at home pick up their phones thirteen songs later?

Qualifier:
Hopefully. It would be well deserved. But success comes to the people who impress the viewers, not necessarily to the people who deserve it.

My grade: 3/5

Semi 1: 02 Latvia

Those poor Latvians would really deserve a little bit of happiness now that they have failed to qualify for the final on five consecutive occasions. But perhaps they could cheer themselves up with some cake instead?



Aarzemnieki - Cake To Bake (Latvia 2014)

Latvia hasn't just missed out - they have failed miserably, ending last in their semi no less than three times out of these five attempts. And at a first look, it doesn't look promising for Copenhagen either.

This ode to the art of cake baking is pleasant but very simple. A bit too simple to particularly impress anyone. But then again - it has loads and loads of likeability and that is a thing that should never be sniffed at.

Before the three minutes are over, you are very likely to find yourself in your happiest mood, wearing your widest smile, singing along to the imbecile lyrics and feeling very good indeed.

Qualifier:
No. Sorry to spoil the party but this will not qualify. Latvia has pulled this trick off in the past: with the aid of a happy and likeable preview clip they make us believe the song is a stronger contender than it really is. But I reserve the right to like it anyway.

My grade: 2/5

Semi 1: 01 Armenia

The running order is no longer established by a draw in order to give every song the best possible starting position. So it would be nice to know why the first semi kicks off with this particular entry.



Aram Mp3 - Not Alone (Armenia 2014)

When Armenia announced that their internally selected entrant was a comedian-turned-singer I must admit to radically lowering my expectations but I was proved very wrong indeed. This is a modern, intriguing and very ambitious entry with a long and intense crescendo that finally turns into the most credible dubstep element to date in the ESC.

Passionate, tempestuous, exquisite.

But also the kind of entry that would need a couple of songs in front of it in order to stand out. You benefit less from being different if you are the first one on stage and the audience has nothing to compare you to. The choice of having Armenia open the semi is really hard to understand.

Not Alone is also a top favourite with the bookies. Why waste a song like that so early in the running order?

Qualifier: 
Absolutely. No bad starting position in the world could hold this entry back at this point. It will qualify with ease and then hopefully have a better spot in the final.

My grade: 5/5