My Review Of The First Rehearsals Of the First Semi Final Of ESC 2011

YAY! Rehearsal week! Here's where we really get to separate the Winners and the Losers! Here's where we get to see who's gonna surprise us, who's gonna disappoint us and who's gonna perform to our expectations. Anywho, so here's the deal... i watched all the Rehearsal videos and awarded points (based solely on the rehearsal, not whatsoever on the studio version or my love) in the following 7 Categories -

01 - Song - Points out of 20.
02 - Remember Ability - Points out of 10. (How well i remembered the song after watching all 19 performances)
03 - Vocals - Points out of 10.
04 - Choreography - Points out of 10. (Not just how awesome it is [althought that counts] but also how well it fits the song)
05 - Interpretation/Expression - Points out of 10. (How well the singer expresses the meaning of the song)
06 - Staging - Points out of 10 (Technical aspects of the Performance)
07 - Overall Performance - Points out of 20 (Exactly what it says, just points based on the overall performance)
In addition to these Categories, i awarded "Bonus" points for things ranging from glitter to cute backing dancers to costume changes.

01 - Poland - Jestem - Magdalena Tul

Comments -
- WEAK Vocals
- Unimpressive Start!
- AWESOME Dancing though

Song - 18 Points
Remember Ability - 05 Points
Vocals - 05 Points
Choreography - 08 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 07 Points
Staging - 07 Points
Overall Performance - 14 Points
Great Dancing Bonus - 06 Points
Total - 70 Points

02 - Norway - Haba Haba - Stella Mwangi

Comments -
- Great start with dancers!
- AMAZING Costumes!
- Awesome Energy
- Just so Awesome
- Make you want to get up and dance!
- Amazing chorus!
- I love the "Hey Hey!"
- She's just having the best time on stage!
- She was born to do this!
- Audience Participation! YAY!

Song - 20 Points
Remember Ability - 10 Points
Vocals - 10 Points
Choreography - 10 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 10 Points
Staging - 10 Points
Overall Performance - 20 Points
Perfection Bonus - 16 Points
Total - 106 Points

03 - Albania - Feel The Passion - Aurela Gaçe

Comments -
- Subtle start
- Great Build
- Great Arm movements
- You can tell she's totally feeling it

Song - 12 Points
Remember Ability - 07 Points
Vocals - 08 Points
Choreography - 07 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 09 Points
Staging - 07 Points
Overall Performance - 14 Points
Total - 64 Points

04 - Armenia - Boom Boom - Emmy

Comments -
- Great start, what with the prop chair and all
- Capes?!?! Yes Please!
- YAY! LIFT!
- She LOVES it!
- CUTE Backing Dancer
- UGH! She's such a PRO!
- Great Energy!
- RIBBONS!

Song - 13 Points
Remember Ability - 08 Points
Vocals - 08 Points
Choreography - 10 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 08 oints
Staging - 10 Points
Overall Performance - 16 Points
Cute Backing Dancer Bonus - 05 Points
Total - 78 Points

05 - Turkey - Live It Up - Yüksek Sadakat

Comments -
- Very "Rock"
- They all look very "Cool"
- Gets a bit old/redundant

Song - 08 Points
Remember Ability - 07 Points
Vocals - 08 Points
Choreography - 04 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 06 Points
Staging - 05 Points
Overall Performance - 12 Points
Total - 50 Points

06 - Serbia - Caroban (Magical) - Nina

Comments -
- Amazing Start!
- I ADORE the Backing Singers
- So much fun!
- i Love that each backing singer has a different but related movement
- They work so perfectly together!
- Oh NO! They are NOT grabbing their mics and meandering sassily to her!
- YAY! She went with them!
- They stole almost all my best moves!
- LOOOOOOOOOOVE

Song - 19 Points
Remember Ability - 08 Points
Vocals - 09 Points
Choreography - 10 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 10 Points
Staging - 10 Points
Overall Performance - 20 Points
Amazing Backing Singer Bonus - 11 Points
Total - 97 Points

07 - Russia - Get You - Alex Sparrow

Comments -
- Nice Ethnic Start
- UGH! He's sooooo CUTE!
- Great Outfits!
- Amazing "Boy Band" synchronized dancing!
- OMG! Are those lit steps?!?!
- OMG! Are those lit jackets?!?!
- OMG! Are those lit shoes!?!?!?!
- Awesome Flip!

Song - 18 Points
Remember Ability - 08 Points
Vocals - 07 Points
Choreography - 10 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 08 Points
Staging - 10 Points
Overall Performance - 17 Points
Boy Band Dancing Bonus - 05 Points
Lit Costume Bonus - 04 Points
Flip Bonus - 03 Points
Cute Singer Bonus - 05 Points
Total - 95 Points

08 - Switzerland - In Love For A While - Anna Rossinelli

Comments -
- Yes! Glitter Dress!
- Adore the simple sway
- CUTENESS!
- Simple and classic
- Needs more on stage people
- I think it should start just her and then  random musicians come on like "oh! what's going on here?! i think i'll join in!" ...It'd be a much better story

Song - 15 Points
Remember Ability - 06 Points
Vocals - 10 Points
Choreography - 08 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 10 Points
Staging - 08 Points
Overall Performance - 15 Points
Adorable Bonus - 10 Points
Total - 82 Points

09 - Georgia - One More Day - Eldrine

Comments -
- Ugh! Weak vocals!
- Okay Outfits
- Singer has no charisma! It seems like she doesn't care in the worst way!
- Yawn!

Song - 06 Points
Remember Ability - 02 Points
Vocals - 02 Points
Choreography - 04 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 02 Points
Staging - 06 Points
Overall Performance - 10 Points
Total - 32 Points

10 - Finland - Da Da Dam - Paradise Oskar

Comments -
- Perfect Start
- He looks so vulnerable and cute!
- AWWWWWWWW! Hugs!
- Gets a little boring

Song - 11 Points
Remember Ability - 04 Points
Vocals - 07 Points
Choreography - 05 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 07 Points
Staging - 07 Points
Overall Performance - 14 Points
Total - 55 Points

11 - Malta - One Life - Glen Vella

Comments -
- Great Start
- Nice Glasses!
- Very fun!
- Cute Dancers :)
- Very much "One Note"
- Clumsy movements but A for effort!

Song - 12 Points
Remember Ability - 04 Points
Vocals - 05 Points
Choreography - 07 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 06 Points
Staging - 06 Points
Overall Performance - 12 Points
Cute Dancers Bonus - 04 Points
Total - 56 Points

12 - San Marino - Stand By - Senit

Comments -
- AWW They're actually trying!
- Nice arm movements.
- Eh kinda cute...it has moments

Song - 11 Points
Remember Ability - 03 Points
Vocals - 08 Points
Choreography - 06 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 06 Points
Staging - 05 Points
Overall Performance - 10 Points
Total - 49 Points

13 - Croatia - Celebrate - Daria Kinzer

Comments -
- Ugh! Not the best vocals!
- Glitter! Yay!
- Awesome Backing Dancers/singers
- Great Arms
- Vocals are getting better!
- Awesome Turn!
- CURTAIN?!?!
- YES! FUCK YES! Inexplicably quick costume change!
- Lit Steps!
- UGH! She's SOOOO LOVING IT!
- What's with that hat?
- O.M.F.G! It's glitter! That's what's with the hat!
- AHHHHHHHH ANOTHER COSTUME CHANGE! BORN FROM GLITTER! TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!

Song - 20 Points
Remember Ability - 09 Points
Vocals - 08 Points
Choreography - 07 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 08 Points
Staging - 08 Points
Overall Performance - 18 Points
Double Costume Chance Bonus - 18 Points
Glitter Bonus - 07 Points
Total - 103 Points

14 - Iceland - Coming Home - Sjornni's Friends

Comments -
- A little bit DTM (Dyed To Match)
- Very "Cutesy"
- A little bit boring

Song - 12 Points
Remember Ability - 04 Points
Vocals - 06 Points
Choreography - 06 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 07 Points
Staging - 07 Points
Overall Performance - 12 Points
Total - 54 Points

15 - Hungary - What About My Dreams - Kati Wolf

Comments -
- GREAT costumes!
- Perfect movements!
- Nice Armes
- The backing dancers are a bit out of sync
- LOVE!
- Strong Vocals
- She could stand to move a bit more (like not stay in the same place)
- She's sooooo into it!

Song - 20 Points
Remember Ability - 10 Points
Vocals - 10 Points
Choreography - 09 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 10 Points
Staging - 09 Points
Overall Performance - 19 Points
Costume Bonus - 14 Points
Total - 101 Points

16 - Portugal - A Luta É Alegria (The Fight Is Joy) - Homens Da Luta

Comments -
- Fun Costumes
- Awww they're trying!
- A Bit Boring
- They need waaay more movements

Song - 08 Points
Remember Ability - 03 Points
Vocals - 05 Points
Choreography - 02 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 06 Points
Staging - 06 Points
Overall Performance - 08 Points
Total - 38 Points

17 - Lithuania - C'Est Ma Vie (It's My Life) - Evelina Sasenko

Comments -
 - She Looks So Elegant!
- Expressives arms!
- OMG IS SHE SIGNING?!?!?!?!

Song - 05 Points
Remember Ability - 01 Point
Vocals - 05 Points
Choreography - 04 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 05 Points
Staging - 03 Points
Overall Performance - 07 Points
Sign Language Bonus - 03 Points -
Total - 33 Points

18 - Azerbaijan - Running Scared - Eldar And Nigar

Comments -
- Interesting Start
- Great Moves
- Nice Backing Singers
- They really look sincere
- I love how they look like they're in love
- Very Cute!

Song - 14 Points
Remember Ability - 06 Points
Vocals - 09 Points
Choreography - 08 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 10 Points
Staging - 08 Points
Overall Performance - 16 Points
Love Bonus - 06 Points
Total - 77 Points

19 - Greece - Watch My Dance - Loukas Giorkas Feat. Stereo Mik

Comments -
- Cute Guy
- Typical Greek Backing Dancers
- Double Cute Guys
- Terrible Song
- Boring
- Ugh. So Awful

Song - 03 Points
Remember Ability - 02 Points
Vocals - 04 Points
Choreography - 04 Points
Interpretation/Expression - 04 Points
Staging - 05 Points
Overall Performance - 08 Points
Total - 30 Points

Placings -
1st - 106 Points - Norway
2nd - 103 Points - Croatia
3rd - 101 Points - Hungary
4th -  97 Points - Serbia
5th - 95 Points - Russia
6th - 82 Points - Switzerland
7th - 78 Points - Armenia
8th - 77 Points - Azerbaijan
9th - 70 Points - Poland
10th - 64 Points - Albania
11th - 56 Points - Malta
12th - 55 Points - Finland
13th - 54 Points - Iceland
14th - 50 Points - Turkey
15th - 49 Points - San Marino
16th - 38 Points - Portugal
17th - 33 Points - Lithuania
18th - 32 Points - Georgia
19th - 30 Points - Greece


Soooo thoughts?

Eurovision 2011 - Semi Final 02 - Comments, Rankings, Thoughts And Such

Songs -
01 - Bosnia And Herzegovina - Love In Rewind - Dino Merlin

02 - Austria - The Secret Is Love - Nadine Beiler

03 - The Netherlands - Never Alone - 3JS

04 - Belgium - With Love Baby - Witloof Bay

05 - Slovakia - I'm Still Alive - TWiNS

06 - Ukraine - Angel - Mika Newton

07 - Moldova - So Lucky - Zdob Si Zdub

08 - Sweden - Popular - Eric Saade

09 - Cyprus - San Angelos S'Agapisa (I Loved You Like An Angel) - Christos Mylordos

10 - Bulgaria - Na Inat (For Spite) - Poly Genova

11 - FYR Macedonia - Ruskina (Russian Girl) - Vlatko Ilievski

12 - Israel - Ding Dong - Dana International

13 - Slovenia - No One - Maja Keuc

14 - Romania - Change - Hotel FM

15 - Estonia - Rockefeller Street - Getter Jaani

16 - Belarus - I Love Belarus - Anastasiya Vinnikova

17 - Latvia - Angel In Disguise - Musiqq

18 - Denmark - New Tomorrow - A Friend In London

19 - Ireland - Lipstick - Jedward

Comments -
01 - Bosnia And Herzegovina - This song starts out slow....but it's pretty catchy and a little bit awesome. It's definatly growing on me... but part of me thinks that it's catchiness is due to the repeating of the same beat over and over.
02 - Austria - Goregous. Just an absolutely goregous and perfect ballad. I'm head over heels in love with this song. Just adore it! Such a great build! I can't help but sing dramatically!
03 - The Netherlands - A noble and pretty good pop/rock/ballad from the Dutch. I have moments of loving it, but no matter how many times i listen to it and love it, it just can't seem to crack my top 10.
04 - Belgium - This song kinda reminds me of Rockappella...but they just could never be as good. Boring and forgettable.
05 - Slovakia - A classy and elegant song for Slovakia....it's so pretty and just well after a couple listens you just have to sing along.
06 - Ukraine - Sadly, this song is a departure from the typically amazing, dancey, fun and somewhat outlandish Ukrainian songs of the past. Pretty much an ok upbeat ballad...but after the cluster fuck that was the Ukrainian NF, what can you expect?
07 - Moldova - Terrible rock song that hurts my ears. Fail.
08 - Sweden - A typically awesome Swedish song. It's a favorite to win! I adore it and love it! That being said....i just can't LOVE it into my top 5!
09 - Cyprus - Erm what? Sorry i fell asleep....and that pretty much says it all.
10 - Bulgaria - A pretty modern and awesome Pop/rock song. Adore! I just love the drama of it!
11 - FYR Macedonia - A typically balkan dancey rock song that's fun but nothing special.
12 - Israel - YAY! She's back and she's fully planning on returning the contest to Israel! And with this awesome, powerful, dancey, glitterly, dramatic and fun song, she has a great chance of doing so! LOVE
13 - Slovenia - I. A.D.O.R.E. this song. Mother-ge-fucking adore it. It's just so amazing! Too amazing for words! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Always in my top 3 of ESC 2011, and more often than not, my winner :)
14 - Romania - An upbeat, somewhat catchy song that i just can't seem to get into. it's just missing something...it's a little bit souless and well just the bad kind of "Eurovision By Numbers"
15 - Estonia - Perfection. Just an awesome, fun and amazing song! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!
16 - Belarus - This song is just a bit too cheezy for me to actually take it seriously. I mean it's dancey and awesome and i adore it, but i'll never like it too much...it's great for what it is, but what it is isn't anything lasting or meaningful.
17 - Latvia - This song is losing it's magic for me... it just kinda gets old and nothing special.
18 - Denmark - A pretty great ballad that's for sure growing on me with ever listen :) And that makes me happy :)
19 - Ireland - ADORE! I don't care if they are the European version of Justin Beiber! I adore them and their hair but most of all i adore this amazing song! It's just so dancey and fantastic and amazing! AWESOME! Could very well win and will for sure qualify!

Rankings -
The top 10 Ranked songs will advance to my next round.
1st - Slovenia
2nd - Israel
3rd - Ireland
4th - Austria
5th - Estonia
6th - Sweden
7th - Bulgaria
8th - Slovakia
9th - Denmark
10th - Belarus
11th - The Netherlands
12th - Bosnia And Herzegovina
13th - FYR Macedonia
14th - Latvia
15th - Romania
16th - Ukraine
17th - Cyprus
18th - Belgium
19th - Moldova

Top 10 According to Current OGAE Poll -
01 - Sweden - 156
02 - Estonia - 110
03 - Bosnia And Herzegovina - 72
04 - Denmark - 35
05 - Romania - 22
06 - Austria - 21
07 - Israel - 19
08 - Slovenia - 12
09 - Ireland - 09
10 = Bulgaria - 04
10 = Cyprus - 04
10 = Ukraine - 04

Eurovision 2011 - Semi Final 01 - Comments, Rankings, Thoughts And Such

Songs -
01 - Poland - Jestem (I Am) - Magdalena Tul

02 - Norway - Haba Haba (Little By Little) - Stella Mwangi

03 - Albania - Feel The Passion - Aurela Gaçe

04 - Armenia - Boom Boom - Emmy

05 - Turkey - Live It Up - Yüksek Sadakat

06 - Serbia - Čaroban (Magical) - Nina

07 - Russia - Get You

08 - Switzerland - In Love For A While - Anna Rossinelli

09 - Georgia - One More Day - Eldrine

10 - Finland - Da Da Dam - Paradise Oskar

11 - Malta - One Life - Glen Vella

12 - San Marino - Stand By - Senit

13 - Croatia - Celebrate - Daria Kinzer

14 - Iceland - Coming Home - Sjonni's Friends

15 - Hungary - What About My Dreams - Kati Wolf

16 - Portugal - A Luta É Alegria (The Fight Is Joy) - Homens Da Luta

17 - Lithuania - C'est Ma Vie (It's My Life) - Evelina Sasenko

18 - Azerbaijan - Running Scared - Eldar And Nigar

19 - Greece - Watch My Dance - Loukas Giorkas Feat. Stereo Mike

Comments -
01 - Poland - LOVE! Yes it's a typically "Eurovision" Song what with the danceability and build and beat and fun, but i just can't help but ADORE it! Everytime i hear it i have no choice but to get up and just ROCK OUT!
02 - Norway - I. Love. This. Song. Just adore it! It's so perfect and dancey and fun! Ever since Norway released their "Final" version (Which is just amazing), this song is in serious contention to be my number 1 of the whole year! I think it has a really good chance of winning the whole ESC!
03 - Albania - I go in and out of love with this song. I mean it's ethnic and dancey....but i just don't know if it's special enough...it's just missing something.
04 - Armenia - At first i just forget this song...but over time it's growing on me. It's got a pretty good beat and just oh such a danceable chorus (Boom...Boom...Chaka Chaka). I'm slowly falling in like with this song :)
05 - Turkey - What a Surprise! Turkey sent a rock "Non - Eurovision" Song! How New! Oh wait...they do that all the time. After their 2nd place last year, I can see how they followed the same "Formula" but this song just falls short. It get's old and boring very quickly.
06 - Serbia - Perfect. Love. Just the perfect Modern/Retro song, which is a genre i absolutely adore. I'm a bit surprised that i just adore the Serbian entry right from the start, as usually it takes me just months to appreciate them, if i ever do. It's just perfect and dancey and awesome.
07 - Russia - AMAZING! YAY RUSSIA! I just adore this song! It's dancey and fantastic and glittery and just ugh ever sooooooo AMAZING!
08 - Switzerland - Ok. At first i thought this song was just nothing special. Not good, not bad...just kinda there and listenable. However...that's all different now. I. Fucking. Adore. This. Song. Just sooo good and simple and sweet and just ever so delightful. You just can't help but smile when you hear it!
09 - Georgia - Typical Georgia. They send a mediocre song hoping Europe won't notice. Just a simple, boring rock song. Forgettable.
10 - Finland - An unusually sweet, charasmatic and serious song from Finland. This song has it's moments and sometimes i heart it. It's just so sweet and simple...you can't help but sway along. If the crowd brings out lighters (à la Denmark 2000) this song might just stand a chance. But it's just as likely to be completly overlooked.
11 - Malta - I'm always just ever so close to really liking this song...but after about a minute, i realize it's just typical Malta. Just kinda throwing a bunch of music and "dancing" and some lyrics that seem meaningful...but in the end are just kinda meaningless.
12 - San Marino - A pretty good effort from San Marino (especially considering their last try). It's a nice simple song, but nothing special.
13 - Croatia - W.I.N.N.E.R. That pretty much says it all! Best Croatian song since at least 2002...maybe ever! So just modern and dancey and perfect and just everything that's right with the world. LOVE!
14 - Iceland - A simple, catchy song. It's for sure growing on me. It's just so simple and sweet and fun and bouncy. I mean it won't win, it won't even top 10...but it just might get out of the Semi Final because of the Senior Citizen vote. Also it has one of the most dramatic Key Changes (A Eurovision MUST) ever.
15 - Hungary - Brillant. Just ever so amazing! Just like the best build ever! And what a great beat! UGH! I'd cut off a thumb to be one of her backing singers. This song is doing quite well in the OGAE (Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l'Eurovision....basically the Eurovision fan club. Each nation in Europe and some non european nations have one. Anywho, before the contest, all the OGAE clubs get together with their National club and award points in the ESC style to their top 10 songs of that year). I have high hopes for it, but it could very well be one of those songs that's loved by ESC fans but not by Europe.
16 - Portugal - Oh Portugal! All your songs just sound soooo Portugese and folksy. I get that this song is sung by Comedians and "Relevant" (It's about Revolutions)...but it's just silly. Just ever so silly. That doesn't mean i don't dance along from time to time....but it does mean i can't take it seriously.
17 - Lithuania - Lithuania *Face Palm*. They alternate between just outlandish "Joke" Entries and oddly heart - felt and serious ballads. I guess this year it's a ballad. Forgettable and boring.
18 - Azerbaijan - There's quite a fuss being made about this song...probs cause it's Azerbaijan and for some reason, no matter what Azerbaijan presents, Europeans immediatly declare it brilliant and love it. I mean it has it's moments and it's a pretty good ballad....but i just don't love it as much as Europeans seems to.
19 - Greece -
Dude. Greece. Way to ruin a spectacular Eurovision reputation with this crap. Ugh just such an awful song. No beat. No melody. Just a couple of silly greek guys trying to rap and trying to pretend that they aren't just awful.  I just don't get it and i pray i never do.


Rankings -
The top 10 Ranked songs will advance to my next round.
1st - Norway
2nd - Croatia
3rd - Hungary
4th - Russia
5th - Serbia
6th - Switzerland
7th - Poland
8th - Azerbaijan
9th - Albania
10th - Armenia
11th - Iceland
12th - Finland
13th - Malta
14th - San Marino
15th - Portugal
16th - Turkey
17th - Georgia
18th - Lithuania
19th - Greece

Top 10 According To Current OGAE Poll -
01 - Hungary - 181
02 - Azerbaijan - 80
03 - Norway - 31
04 - Russia - 24
05 - Poland - 21
06 - Greece - 14
07 - Croatia - 08
08 - Switzerland - 06
09 - Iceland - 04
10 - Serbia - 03

My Rankings Of ESC 2011 So Far

Semi Final 01 -
1st - Croatia - Celebrate - Daria Kinzer
2nd - Norway - Haba Haba (Little By Little) - Stella Mwangi
3rd - Russia - Get You - Alex Sparrow
4th - Hungary - What About My Dreams - Kati Wolf
5th - Serbia - Caroban (Amazing) - Nina
6th - Poland - Jestem (I Am) - Magdalena Tul
7th - Armenia - Boom Boom - Emmy
8th - Albania - Feel The Passion - Aurela Gaçe
9th - Switzerland - In Love For A While - Anna Rossinelli
10th - Azerbaijan - Running Scared - Eldar And Nigar

Semi Final 02 -
1st - Slovenia - No One - Maja Keuc
2nd - Ireland - Lipstick - Jedward
3rd - Sweden - Popular - Eric Saade
4th - Austria - The Secret Is Love - Nadine Beiler
5th - Israel - Ding Dong - Dana International
6th - Estonia - Rockefeller Street - Getter Jaani
7th - Belarus - I Love Belarus - Anastsia Vinnikova
8th - Denmark - New Tomorrow -  A Friend In London
9th - Bulgaria - Na Inat (For Spite) - Poli Genova
10th - Slovakia - I'm Still Alive - TWiNS

Using these "Finalists", here are my Final Rankings -

25th - Italy - Madness Of Love
24th - Azerbaijan - Running Scared
23rd - Slovakia - I'm Still Alive
22nd - France - Sognu (Dream)
21st - Germany - Taken By A Stranger
20th - Albania - Feel The Passion
19th - Armenia - Boom Boom
18th - Spain - Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao (Nobody Can Take Away The Good Times I've Had)
17th - Denmark - New Tomorrow
16th - Belarus - I Love Belarus
15th - Bulgaria - Na Inat (For Spite)
14th - Poland - Jestem (I Am)
13th - Switzerland - In Love For A While
12th - Estonia - Rockefeller Street
11th - Serbia - Caroban (Amazing)
10th - Sweden - Popular

9th - Hungary - What About My Dreams

8th - Austria - The Secret Is Love

7th - Israel - Ding Dong

6th - Russia - Get You

5th - Ireland - Lipstick

4th - Croatia - Celebrate

3rd - The United Kingdom - I Can

2nd - Norway - Haba Haba

1st - Slovenia - No One

But with about a month to go, i'm sure things will change....

My Eurovision 2004 - Semi Final - 06 Andorra

YES! Fuck Yes. Andorra. What an amazing try! For Andorra's debut entry, Andorra made it their goal to prove that a small nation, which is mainly a tourist attraction, could be awesome. They chose 2 acts (Marta Roure and Bis A Bis) and launched their selection process. They chose 12 songs (oh and just so many great songs) and dove in. They divided the 12 songs into 6 Quarter Finals, from which an "Expert" Jury, an SMS vote and a Televote (they even were brazen enough to allow the Catalans living in Northern Spain to have a hand in choosing the first song to be sung in Catalan on the Eurovision stage), chose the advancing song. Then the 6 Songs were divided into 2 Semi Finals, where the top song from each Semi Final advanced to the Final. In the Final, there were 2 separate votes. One chose the song, the other chose the singer. Thankfully, they chose wisely and sent a just so brilliant song, sung by an Andorran singer (bad teeth and all!). Back in 2004, there was just immense hype about the Andorran song. All us ESC fans just adored everything about it and, though we never expected it to win, expected it to get into the final and fall somewhere between 8th and 15th. Ugh. How wrong we were! It only got 18th in the Semi Final with just 12 measly points (all from Spain...shocker). Ugh. Pain. Angst. Anywho

To chose my winner, i divided the songs into 2 Semi Finals based on performer. In each Semi Final, i awarded "Televotes" to chose the 3 Finalists. In the Final, i chose my winner in two rounds. In the First Round, i awarded points two times, first based on first listen and second after a few listens, to chose my top 3 Songs. In the Second Round, i chose my winner by awarding "Televotes"

Number - Title (Translation) - Televotes - Place
Semi Final 01 - Bis A Bis
01 - El Destí (Fate) - 5 491 - 6th
02 - No Esperis Amor (Don't Expect Love) - 25 169 - 1st
03 - Confia En Mi (Trust In Me) - 18 204 - 2nd
04 - Vine (Come) - 14 657 - 3rd
05 - Anem Cap Al (Let's Go North) - 6 723 - 5th
06 - És Que Si (That's It) - 13 098 - 4th

Semi Final 02 - Marta Roure
01 - Crec (I Belive) - 10 091 - 6th
02 - Terra (Land) - 15 715 - 4th
03 - Em Quedarà (It Will Remain For Me) - 20 269 - 2nd
04 - Si Et Perds (If You Get Lost) - 18 568 - 3rd
05 - No És Nou (It's Not New) - 14 649 - 5th
06 - Jugarem A Estimar - Nos (Playing At Loving Each Other) - 32 007 - 1st

Final -
Number - Title (Translation) - Vote 01 - Vote 02 - Total - Televote - Place
01 - Em Quedarà - 08 - 02 - 10 - X - 5th
02 - Vine - 02 - 04 - 06 - X - 6th
03 - Jugarem - 12 - 12 - 24 - 41 247 - 1st
04 - No Esperis Amor - 10 - 08 - 18 - 18 691 - 2nd
05 - Si Et Perds - 04 - 10 - 14 - 16 583 - 3rd
06 - Confia En Mi - 06 - 06 - 12 - X - 4th

Comments -
"Jugarem A Estimar - Nos" has been my clear favorite since the beginning. That said, back in 2004, i was WAAAAY more in love with "No Esperis Amor" and "Vine" than i am now. I was also WAAAAY less in love with "Confia En Mi" and "Si Et Perds" than i am now. Thankfully, my tastes have matured. There's an mp3 floating around out there of Bis A Bis performing "Jugarem", but it was Marta's song from the instant it was presented. I think the most impressive thing about the Andorran selection this year is that they found that elusive combination of being modern, yet folksy and true to the Andorran music tradition (glares at Portugal, who just sends folksy but far from modern songs).

My Eurovision 2004 - Semi Final - 05 Israel

Despite a poor result in Riga, Israel decided to use the same Selection Format. This year, they selected world renowned Israeli Opera Star and Counter - Tenor David D'Or to represent them in Istanbul. He presented 4 Songs and a combination of an "Expert" Jury, Televote and SMS vote chose the entrant. All the songs were pretty bland so i didn't waste a lot of time here. I chose my winner by awarding "Televotes".

Number - Title (Translation) - Televotes - Place
01 - Freedom - 54 935 Votes - 1st
02 - Yamim Tovim (Good Days) - 27 286 Votes - 3rd
03 - Bo'U Mal'Achim (Come Angels) - 19 472 Votes - 4th
04 - Leha'Amin (To Believe) - 47 044 Votes - 2nd

My Eurovision 2004 - Semi Final - 04 Latvia

Oh Latvia. You used to be sooo amazing (And your selections 2004 - 2006 are proof of that). What happened? Oh Well. Anywho...

Latvia 2004 was pretty awesome and momentous. Not only did it mark the first appearance of Chilli (a true drag queen born as a man and just about as fabulous as Latvians come), but it marked my first dealings with C - Stone and 4 - Elements (whom i just fucking adore despite not being appreciated by the Latvians) and also Z - Scars (whom i have a soft spot for but not so soft they ever place higher than 5th in all their tries).  After the last couple years of big finals (20 songs or more), which amounted to 1 (undeserved) Win and 1 (undeserved) bottom 5 placing (at home no less! yikes!), Latvia made the decision to tone it down this year and only present 10 songs to compete for the Ticket to Istanbul.

Here's my NF.  As in the actual NF, i chose my winner in 2 Rounds. In the First Round, i chose my top 3 Songs by "Televoting" and in the Second Round, i chose my winner by "Televoting".

Number - Title (Translation) - Artist - Round 01 - Round 02 - Place

01 - Dziesma Par Laimi (A Song About Happiness) - Formins And Kleins - 3 389 - X - 9th
02 - Angel's Song - Kristine Broka And Santa Zapacka - 1 347 - X - 10th
03 - Ready - 4 Elements - 13 393 - 37 844 - 2nd
04 - Like A Star - Tatjana Timcuka - 6 931 - X - 5th
05 - Let Me Go - Rain - 4 835 - X - 8th
06 - All You Know - C - Stones - 19 646 - 41 297 - 1st
07 - We Share The Sun - Johnny Salamander And Meldra - 8 318 - X - 4th
08 - Not That Everyday Girl - Chilli - 18 830 - 18 879 - 3rd
09 - Runaway - Z - Scars -  5 374 - X - 7th
10 - Fly Away With You - Amber - 5 888 - X - 6th

Comments -
"All You Know" has always and forever, since the moment i first heard it til the end of time, been my winner. "Ready" has been as close as any song could come to it for just as long. Back in 2004, i clearly adored "Like A Star" but with time, i've come to realize it's kinda just a bunch of noise. Of course, i immediately recognized that Chilli was amazing and the Latvians would just never understand or be able to appreciate her. Back in 2004, i was mystified about "We Share The Sun" but now i know it to be just a certain kind of cool. Like all Z - Scars songs, i intially dismissed "Runaway" only to have it grow on me in time. My second clearest memory of Latvia 2004 (After "All You Know" being just far tooooooo awesome),  is being completly pissed that given a bunch of awesome to pretty good songs, Latvia chose one of the worst (Dziesma Par Laimi). I couldn't and wouldn't understand it and i hated them for it. Oh how i hated them! But that was back when i thought ESC was just about chosing the most amazing song your Nation had to offer and presenting it to the World in the Largest Music Stage in history! Now, i know that it's about winning, or at least placing well. With that knowledge, i've softened up on the Latvians. I mean, they won with a mediocre at best song in 2002 and bottom fived with a pretty great song, at home no less, in 2003. So i like to think that the Latvians, as a nation, said "What the Fuck! Let's just send something different, regardless of whether it's good or not. and see what happens!". And they did. And they got 17th (and failed to qualify) in the Semi Final.  But it taught them a lesson. You just can't send any old thing based on the fact that it's "Different". If you're gonna send crap, it has to be ballad (see Latvia 2005 and 2007).