Eurovision 2015: Who Won't Qualify From Semi-Final 2?

The second semi-final of Eurovision 2015 takes place on May 21, with a total of seventeen songs vying for the ten remaining available spots in Saturday's Grand Final.

Among those taking part are favourites such as Sweden, Azerbaijan and Slovenia, but unfortunately there are seven that will be jettisoned after all the contenders have performed.

Who will go and who will stay? No-one knows for sure, but here are the seven (or eight) suggestions of songs that could be heading for the exit door.

Semi-Final 2: Thursday, 21 May (Seven songs will not qualify) 

1. Cyprus | Giannis Karagiannis | One Thing I Should Have Done
   
   One of the earliest entries to be decided in this season's Eurovision, Cyprus's song is possibly one of the dullest of the many ballads featured at this year's Contest. The song is nice enough, but it never feels as if it gets out of first gear, stubbornly plodding along at a sedate pace. It's a very lethargic pick to begin the evening's proceedings and not memorable enough to pick up very many votes either.


2. Montenegro | Knez | Adio
   
   One of the few songs to be performed in its native language (hooray!), the fate of Adio will probably suffer because of it (boo!). It's well sung, but just not very dynamic. A memorable presentation may push it up the scoreboard, but it feels as if it is just making up the numbers.


3. Switzerland | Mélanie René | Time to Shine
   
   This is a pretty good song with its Pat Benatar Eighties-vibe, but it seems that Switzerland have to submit something extra special to qualify these days. Unlike last year's effort from the Swiss, this is not quirky enough to capture the votes it needs, even if it should be good enough to proceed. This one might surprise everyone, though, and make the Top 27. Hearing the lyric "mucking about" again would be a bonus, after all! 


4. The Czech Republic | Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta | Hope Never Dies
   
   A lot better than any of the Czech Republic's past entries, but there is something just irritatingly overwrought about the whole thing. Although it's sung with passion, the duo's voices do not blend well to these ears, sounding as if one voice would be adequate. The language change to English may help the Czechs, but even so, there's a feeling that it won't receive enough support.


5. Portugal | Leonor Andrade | Há um mar que nos separa
   
   Poor old Portugal have been waiting forever to secure their first Eurovision win and it looks likely that they will have to wait yet another year to fulfill that dream. A song that will be presented in its native language, Porugal is another nation which often has to produce something near-sensational to qualify. This is not it, unfortunately.


6. San Marino | Anita Simoncini and Michele Perniola | Chain of Lights
   
   Ever since the micro-state first entered the competition, it has found it difficult to qualify. It famously happened last year but, apart from the fact that San Marino is generally isolated and starved of support, this effort is way too sweetly cute to repeat the feat. It would be great to see them back in the final, but Chain of Lights is unlikely to make it happen.


7. Poland/Ireland
   
   Molly Sterling will sing Playing With Numbers for Ireland while Monika Kuszyńska will perform In the Name of Love for Poland. Both are relatively bland piano-driven ballads and, because of this, both are in danger of falling at this semi-final hurdle. There's nothing much to distinguish between the two, but one of them will have to go. With the voting power of the Polish diaspora, it's possible that Ireland could miss out on the Final once again.

These seem to be the likely candidates, but you may think differently. Which countries do you feel could fail to advance to the Final?

Who Won't Qualify From Semi-Final 1? See here

Semi-Final 2 Playlist (in draw order) 

Eurovision 2015: Semi-Final 1: Who Won't Qualify?

With forty countries participating and only twenty-seven spots available in the Grand Final, which songs will suffer the indignity of falling at the semi-final stage of Eurovision 2015?

It's never an easy task to predict how the public will vote at this point in the competition, but there are usually some strong contenders which you know will qualify - even if you are someone who is hearing the entire selection for the first time. What can be much harder is to pick out those six or seven songs which won't be heard again on the Eurovision stage. 

Much depends on the presentation and the live performances of course, but here are some thoughts about the possible casualties:

Semi-Final 1: Tuesday, 19 May (Six songs will not qualify)

1. Finland | Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät | Aina mun pitää

Much has been written about the developmental disabilities of the Finnish act and it seems that the song's qualification chances are more dependent on how the audience reacts to that fact, rather than the song itself.

Musically, this short punk anthem may appeal to some, but in Eurovision terms, it is unlikely to capture enough votes to progress.

2. Armenia | Genealogy | Face the Shadow

Whether there is any political motivation behind the song or not (it purportedly pays tribute to the Armenian Genocide victims - something vehemently denied by both Azerbaijan and Turkey), this well-intended mishmash of voices does not blend at all.

The idea may have been a good one, but the execution falls flat - as will Armenia's hopes of qualifying. Performing in the dreaded second spot does not bode well either.

3. Serbia | Bojana Stamenov | Beauty Never Lies

There is something about this song that has never really clicked. It sounds like two compositions which have been badly crow-barred together to produce a trashy, forgettable Eurodance concoction.  Lots of unfathomable wailing does not help the cause.

However, the whole package has Eurovision written all over it, so it will probably qualify and finish in the Top 10. Let's hope not.

4. Moldova | Eduard Romanyuta | I Want Your Love

The studio version of this song is not too bad, possessing a likable Britney Spears-vibe, as well as benefitting from an uptempo beat among the abundance of this year's ballads. However, Eduard's live rendition at Moldova's national final was atrocious.

Lousy vocals, and an even worse dance routine, did not endear his performance to many. A repeat of that, combined with taking the stage first, and he's likely to be taking an early bath.

5. Hungary | Boggie | Wars For Nothing

Another ballad and another song with a message. It has its heart in the right place, but unfortunately, the whole package lacks any sparkle. It looks and sounds old-fashioned and those that tune in to the semi-finals are likely to reject it.

Were it fortunate enough to progress to the Grand Final audience, it could possibly rank quite well. It's very doubtful that the song will get that chance, though.

6. Belarus | Uzari and Maimuna | Time

At this point, there are a couple (or three) songs that could be in the frame: Macedonia, The Netherlands or perhaps the entry from Belarus.

With Russia and a few of their other Eastern voting pals in this semi, Uzari and Maimuna could advance to the Final, but their violin-driven melody really doesn't deserve that honour.

Admittedly, it's a lot livelier than many of the other contenders, but its lyrical and creative deficiencies let it down.

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Naturally, everybody has their own opinions about the possible non-qualifiers from this semi-final and your thoughts are welcomed.

A full list of those countries participating in this semi-final can be found here.

Who Won't Qualify From Semi-Final 2? See here 

Semi-Final 1 Playlist (in draw order)

Eurovision 2014: Italy: La mia città

Emma Marrone By Spartacus91 [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

In a departure from Italy's usual way of picking its Eurovision entry (the San Remo Song Festival), Italian broadcaster RAI has instead decided to make its selection internally and will send Emma Marrone and the song La mia città (My City) to Copenhagen. 

Emma Marrone (or simply, Emma) has become one of Italy's most successful singers of recent times within her own country. Four Italian chart-topping singles, a number replicated on the album charts, has pushed her into superstar status. Schiena, which was her last platinum album release, cemented her place as the best-selling Italian female artist of 2013. It is from that album that La mia città is taken. 

The track is characterized by power drumming, rock guitars and an orchestration driven by Emma's voice. In many ways, it harks back to the power-pop days of the 1980s: Pat Benatar vocals mixing with guitars that sound as if they could have been lifted from a Duran Duran track. Those first few chords do sound very familiar...

Nonetheless, the entire production is a demonstration in how to separate yourself from the crowd. La mia città is obviously not a song written with Eurovision in mind and, to this end, is quite possibly too good for the competition. The same was said of The Netherland's entry last year. While Birds did well - Anouk's track did not characterize the typical Eurovision song - it ultimately failed to bring home the win.

Similarly, Emma's power-pop does not have an immediate hook and will require several listens to really appreciate it. Unfortunately, as one of the Big 5 countries, it will not benefit from repeat plays so a memorable staging is a necessity.

As I write, it's my favourite and I'm hoping that it does well. The energy and drive of some pop-rock will at least shake up the Contest, but the fear remains that it may not appeal to Eurovision's core audience. 

Eurovision 2014: Malta: Coming Home

Firelight

Last night, Malta was the latest nation to decide upon its 2014 Eurovision entry and, after what seemed like the Maltese version of the main event, the band Firelight with the song Coming Home was announced as the winner.

While I enjoy watching the various national finals of The Eurovision Song Contest, even the most diehard fans would have trouble maintaining consciousness during PBS's Maltese presentation.

The small island nation was offered a choice of fourteen songs amid an array of performers from past and present Eurovisions, who seemed to be there just to confuse and distract. Add to that five judges whose opinions were out of alignment with the general public and you have some very disgruntled tele-voters.

The group Firelight was the eventual winner, but their folk/rock Coming Home did not resonate with the majority of viewers. In fact, the song came fourth in the tele-vote. The winner there was the familiar-sounding Hypnotica (think Euphoria, minus the staging), sung by the red-headed Jessika. However, the weighting of the vote was such that the jury members' decisions made the tele-vote irrelevant. Coming Home received top marks from four of five of those members and thus Malta follows Switzerland down the folk route for this year's competition.

Unlike Switzerland, there doesn't appear to be any discernible hook, although Gary Barlow may be a little miffed with its similarity to his Let Me Go. But like Switzerland, it's refreshing to hear live instruments instead of a backing track. However, even that fact is not going to make it stand out from the crowd, I feel.

This will be emphasised because of Malta's draw in the first half of the second semi-final, opposite SEBAlter in the second half.

What are your thoughts?

The Common Linnets to Represent The Netherlands at Eurovision 2014

At a press conference today, the Dutch broadcaster TROS announced that their representative at Eurovision 2014 will be a duo comprised of Ilse DeLange and Waylon. They will be called The Common Linnets and will perform solely for the competition.

  

Ilse DeLange is one of Holland's most popular singers, having achieved six Number One studio albums on the Dutch charts out of seven released. Her most recent is called Eye of the Hurricane and was first available in 2012. It spawned three Top 40 singles in The Netherlands, the most successful of which is Hurricane.

 

Waylon came to public attention through the reality show Holland's Got Talent in 2008. He finished in second place, but has since released successful albums and singles and has continued to perform regularly. Here's one of his tracks from 2009: Wicked Way.

 

What do you think of Holland's choice?

Eurovision 2013: Germany: Glorious

In mid-February, Cascada was chosen by the German public (and jury) to sing its song, Glorious, in Malmö on May 18.

About Cascada

Along with Bonnie Tyler, Cascada is the most internationally successful act to appear at this year's Eurovision. Comprised of DJ Manian, Yann Peifer and lead singer Natalie Horler, the trio have been pumping out hits since 2004 when Miracle became a European smash and its follow-up, Everytime We Touch, scored big in America.

Since then, the group has released four successful albums, both in Europe and the US, as well as securing a Number One single in the UK with the track, Evacuate the Dancefloor. While the hits have dried up outside of Germany and Austria, Glorious promises a return to the music charts across the Eurovision catchment area and beyond.

Song Review: Glorious

The song has become one of a few hot favourites to win this year's competition. Albeit that it is a near replica of last year's winner (all plagiarism claims have long been debunked), this Eurodance track has certainly created some Eurovision fever among some quarters. Were it not for the fact that it's a Cascada song, it may well have been consigned to the scrap heap as just a thin copy of what has gone before.

This doesn't seem to be the case among the Eurovision hardcore however, but what will casual viewers make of it on the night? Somehow, I feel they're not going to fall for it. It'll certainly pick up some substantial points, but probably not enough to secure the win. Expect a Top 5 finish from Germany this year though.

How do you rate Glorious by Cascada?

Eurovision 2013: Denmark: Only Teardrops

Emmelie de Forest

Image by Okras (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Denmark's 20-year-old Emmelie de Forest apparently holds the key to this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Her song, Only Teardrops, remains the favourite among bookmakers and much of the public alike.

While I can see the attraction: pretty girl, young, nice catchy song with English lyrics, I'm a little underwhelmed with the track. Unlike Euphoria last year, Only Teardrops does not reflect current musical tastes. In its musicality, it unearths a time when Ireland was winning the Contest on the bounce. At its worst, the song is a reminder of the late Sixties, when Boom Bang-A-Bang was completely out of step with the denim clad progressive rockers or hippie psychedelia. But then, look what happened to Lulu's song: joint winner.

It's certainly going to stay in your head after a couple of plays and this can only help its chances. Easily a qualifier from its semi-final and if it's not the winning entry, a Top 3 placing is assured.

Denmark will perform in fifth place in the first semi-final on May 14th.

Is Only Teardrops your winning song?