Ok...so the First Semi Final of Eurovision 2011 just happened, the 10 Finalists have been announced and here's my thoughts and reactions.
All in all I think it was a Fantastic Show. The stage was gorgeous! Just Gorgeous! I thought that technically it was just a perfect show! Great! The webcast was the best maybe ever! As for the Results, the following 10 Songs passed into the Final (In the random order in which they were announced) -
Serbia - Caroban - Nina
Lithuania - C'est Ma Vie - Evelina Sasenko
Greece - Watch My Dance - Loukas Giorkas Feat. Stereo Mike
Azerbaijan - Running Scared - Eldar And Nigar
Georgia - One More Day - Eldrine
Switzerland - In Love For A While - Anna Rossinelli
Hungary - What About My Dreams - Kati Wolf
Finland - Da Da Dam - Paradise Oskar
Russia - Get You - Alex Sparrow
Iceland - Coming Home - Sjonni's Friends
Of these 10 Songs, only 6 were in my top 10...which makes this my worst prediction year since 2008. My highest placing Qualifying Song is Hungary, which i ranked third. 3 of the Qualifying Songs (Greece, Lithuania and Georgia) ranked as my LAST THREE! Ugh. Terrible. Anywho, you will notice the absence of NORWAY! Norway was/is my winner of the First Semi Final and a strong contender to be my favorite song on ESC 2011 and it DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL! ANGST! I don't know why or how that happened but i think it has to be a mistake! It just has to! I mean of course i'm upset that Croatia didn't get through, but i knew it might be just a little too cheezy to get into the final, but Norway? In what world does "Haba Haba" not place in the top 10 of any song contest?! UGH! I don't understand Europeans sometimes! The only thing i can think of is what's known as "The Curse Of Last Years Host"...which is a little bit of ESC lore that states that the Nation who hosted the contest last year is doomed to do poorly in the current year. But i was sure Norway was strong enough to beat it! I was wrong :(
I am kinda stoked that Turkey didn't get through. I mean Turkey (until know) was basically considered almost like the big 5 because there are just massive amounts of Turkish people who are living all over Europe and usually they vote in such strong numbers that Turkey can't help but get through and top 10...but i guess that's over! Which is a little awesome because now maybe they'll start trying again and we'll be returned to the days of the Glorious and Eternal Sertab (Winner of 2003). I'm completly surprised Armenia didn't get through...as they kinda always do. And their song was cute and they had a great performance. Sadness.
Lithuania was a big shock to me...as was Georgia. I mean Lithuania's had a solid performance throughout the rehearsals...but i just always thought the song was a little boring and old fashioned to actually do anything. Georgia's had TERRIBLE rehearsals so far...but they did have a kinda magic tonight and actually performed really well. Awful song, but I'm glad they stepped up their game performance wise. It's still a little bit "Fuck You! We're being different and NOT having a typical Eurovision song" for my tastes and i sure will be in the bottom 10 on Saturday.
Greece was terrible and just made me want to vomit. When they were called as a finalists, i did the biggest eye roll i've done in years. I don't know what it is about Greece, but it seems like they could send a guy taking a dump onstage and as long as there was fire and a little bit of Greek dancing, it'd get through. Ugh. BRING BACK KALOMIRA AND HELENA! Please!
I don't know what's the story with Iceland getting through....but i do have some theories -
1) Everyone made a big deal about how this song was being sung as a tribute to the original author/performer...who died before he could perform it in the National Final and they got the Sympathy vote.
2) Europe's got a thing for vests
3) Sandwiched between the glorious, fast paced and awesome Croatia and Hungary, this song stood out.
4) People can't tell the difference between voting for the 13th song (Croatia) and the 14th song (Iceland)
5) This song has a very specific audience that all the other songs failed to capture so their votes were split (Like i'm sure Norway, Croatia and Hungary all split the "Awesome and somewhat Ethnic Vote and Finland, San Marino and Lithuania split the low key ballad vote)
6) The original performer was sacrificed to the Eurovision Gods in an Icelandic Satanic ritual to secure their spot in the final.
Anywho....i'm sure they will be swiftly forgotten on Saturday.
Azerbaijan just had a gorgeous, sincere and beautiful performance with no tricks. They simply brough a good song and great performers and it showed. Everyone knew they'd get into the final...and actually i think they might have Won the Semi Final....I'm sure it'll top 10 on Saturday and might even win. Baku 2012? Yeah that might just work out. Personally i think it's an Okay song...but that performance? GOD! Absolute perfection. When he brushes her face and then they join hands....even i got a little choked up. While not my favorite song, it'd be an admirable winner...mainly cause it's show that a good song performed well can beat all the fire and costume changes and key changes in the world (Although i adore all three of those things too)
Switzerland. :) SWITZERLAND! YAY! This is quickly becoming a fan favorite and i'm totally on board. She gave a SPECTACULAR performance. Just out of this world awesome! She was sweet and wholesome and charismatic...ugh i adore every second. Songs like this are why watching the Rehearsals can be tricky....all the rehearsal videos are shot from the audience and don't show the correct camera angles...and MAN! Did she work those Camera Angles! She twirled and smiled and made eye contact with the voters the whole time and that's an amazing thing! She warmed her way into the hearts of the Audience and when her name was called...i SCREAMED AND CHEERED! My reaction can only be compared to my reaction in 2004 (My First Live ESC) when Albania qualified....when i screamed and freaked out so much i literally scared the bejeezus out of Georgia's grandmother. I'm completly happy with them getting through and just ever so proud of her! I hope it does decently in the Final...but even if it doesn't look for this song to be performed at every Eurovision Karaeoke night for years and years to come. It was just such a wonderfully simplistic performance...it was very much "Hi! I'm just a girl with a song and a dream and a sparkly red dress....vote for me!" and they did. And I Smiled :)
Finland. I had a feeling about Finland the moment he started singing. I mean again, when i watched the rehearsal videos i thought he looked boring and lonely, but those cameras did it again! Just like Switzerland he was very "I'm just a boy with a song and a dream and a guitar...can you spare a vote for me?" It was very cute and just adorable performance. He looked cute and sincere and fresh and young and it totally worked for him. He didn't over perform this song (which the Finns have a tendency to do) but kept it simple and clean. Great vocals too! I knew he was gonna qualify the minute i saw that huge Earth appear in the background. I'm okay with it's qualification...were there songs that were more deserving? Of course! But he did a nice job and i think he got into the final because he earned his spot. And that's more than i can say for some people (Stares daggers at Greece)
SERBIA! YAY! I adore this song and every single second of this performance. I mean once again, they simply put forth an AMAZING Song and a OUTSTANDING Performance and were rewarded for it. I adore this song. I love that Serbia didn't send another Ethnic Ballad. I'm so happy that they got through and i have high hopes for this song in the Final. This "Modern Retro" song is right up my alley and when it was announced as a finalist, i had this brief moment of "OMG! Maybe this year will go exactly according to my plan!" But then Lithuania was called and i returned to reality. Nina gave just a stellar performance. She had great energy and it showed that she was truly happy to be there and i think that's what won people over. She did a fantastic job and i'm just supremely excited to see her again on Saturday! Well Done Serbia!
Russia. Oh Russia. How can i describe his performance in three words? Awesome. Perfect. Amazing. I mean there was never any doubt in anyones mind that He would get through to the final. I mean not only did he sing a great song and do just a fantastic performance...but it's Russia! And they always get through. Maybe it's those years of intimidation and fear instilled in their neighbors from the soviet days...but Russia always gets through. Always. But this year they actually deserved it! Best. Russian. Song. Since. 2007. And that performance? Forget about it. It was so perfect and professional and awesome, there's no way he wouldn't have gotten through. I actually think he might have won this SF! And i'm sure he'll do well on Saturday. I mean the only thing that could be a problem is if Sweden gets through on Thursday (which they will) and they perform next to each other. They have very similar songs, performances and feels...but that's moreso bad news for Sweden than for Russia. I'm sure Russia will top 10 on Saturday, pretty sure they'll top 5 and i wouldn't be at all surprised if they won and brought the contest back to Moscow (Which would be awesome because no one puts on an ESC like the Russians....no one)
YAY! HUNGARY! I've been extremely worried about them. Not only are they a huge fan favorite (which in some years has been the kiss of death) but in rehearsal...she's seemed a little cold and just very uncharismatic. Her performance tonight wasn't spectacular....but it was adequate. Although i think a lot of Europe would be surprised to find out she was born a woman and isn't a drag queen and she had this STUPID flower ring on that made me want to leap through my computer and RIP IT OFF! I think she got into the final moreso because she has an amazing song, performed later in the running and well is from Eastern Europe than gave a truely memorable performance. If she plans to win on Saturday...she needs to STEP.IT.THE.FUCK.UP! I mean she's not Lena last year (who had pretty much the only good song). She'll be competing with the United Kingdom and hopefully at least 5 great songs from the Second Semi Final. I don't think she won tonight, but if she steps up her game (i mean...common...just give the Gay ESC fans 20 minutes with her) she could very well win on Saturday. Fantastic song. Just Fantastic. Get it together Kati! That being said....i'll keep worrying until the votes start coming in. I mean Sweden 2008 got through on the jury vote and i'm having flashbacks. Mannish blonde woman singing a fantastic song but giving a less than ideal performance? UGH! so much worry! I hope it does well...but after years of ESC results....i'm not allowing myself to "Know" it'll do well. But i LOVE IT!
I'm a little surprised Poland didn't get through...she had an inspired performance. And i'm head over heels shocked that Norway didn't get through. The only thing i can think is that Poland, Norway, Albania and Armenia were all upbeat, ethnic songs and they split those votes so none of them got through.
Norway was just perfection. I can't understand why she didn't sweep the Semi Final. Amazing Song. Brilliant Performance. But i mean...maybe it's my fault. There always had to be one song i completly adore and "know" will get through that doesn't (See Slovakia and Sweden 2010, Montenegro 2009, Slovenia 2008, Cyprus 2007, BELGIUM 2006!, Iceland 2005...the list goes on and on). I mean is it me? Am i cursed? Man i hope not.
Anywho, props to Poland, Norway, Armenia and Croatia....you all deserved to be in the Final. Also...if i am cursed...i officially hate Sweden, Israel, Slovenia and Ireland this year.....they are terrible and in no way deserve a spot in the final....was that believable?
Anywho, i think that the First Semi Final was won by either Azerbaijan or Russia. I think that Lithuania, Finland or Georgia got the 10th spot...mainly because of the Juries (Although i fear it might have been Switzerland...which would break my heart if the JURIES had to put it through) I think that Serbia, Greece (gag me) and Hungary made up the top 5. I'd be completly shocked if Switzerland, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Georgia or Greece won and if Russia got the 10th spot, i'll shit a brick.
All and all i think the winner's gonna be from the Second Semi Final or the Final...the only two countries i can see maybe winning from tonight are Russia or Azerbaijan. Yes Hungary has a great song, but her performance was unimpressive. I think that her drawing so early in the final was her kiss of death.
Anywho the running order for the Finalists so far was just announced -
Opening the show
Finland! (SUCKS for them!)
4th - Lithuania
5th - Hungary (UGH! Sucks for them!)
9th - Greece (Eh...a pile of shit is a pile of shit no matter when it's performed)
10th - Russia (Eh...they could pull it off!)
13th - Switzerland (Oh No! The Shit Spot! The Shit Spot is an ESC term for the song performing 13th. Basically, traditionally, the broadcast takes a Commercial Break after the 12th song and everyone runs to the bathroom...and then they take too long and miss the 13th song and therefor don't vote for it)
19th - Azerbaijan (Great spot for them! Great! Late enough to be remembered but not so late that everyone's already made up their minds)
21st - Iceland (Eh...common!)
24th - Serbia (YAY!)
25th - Georgia. That's fine. The last song is notorious for doing poorly...everyone's tired and their minds are already made up. I'm totes ok with this song going last.
Anywho, as the Final stands at this moment...here are my rankings -
15th - Greece
14th - Georgia
13th - Lithuania
12th - Italy
11th - Iceland
10th - Finland
9th - France
8th - Spain
7th - Germany
6th - Switzerland
5th - Azerbaijan
4th - Serbia
3rd - Russia
2nd - Hungary
1st - The United Kingdom
I mean with Norway out of the running....it's looking more and more like it's gonna be London 2012.
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