Talk among friends is that Australia's in with a strong chance.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 17:47 (eight years ago) link
I'm stoked for Sandhja's performance in tonight's semifinal, apparently she's the first one to perform. Like I said upthread, I think her song isn't "Eurovisiony" enough to contend for the top spots, but I'm hoping she'll at least make it to the final.
It's a really weird situation for me, this is the first time in my life that I've really liked and rooted for the Finnish entry (and the first time it's by an artist I already was a fan of)... So it's also the first time I'm facing the "can't vote for my favourite even though I'd want to" thing. I guess this is how nationalists feel every year? Though I still couldn't care less whether Finland as a country makes it, but I do like her and her tune a lot!
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 18:04 (eight years ago) link
Also, I think this is the first time Finland is represented by a non-white singer, so I'm hoping she'll succeed just so it'll irritate the local racists and fascists.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 18:06 (eight years ago) link
Any minute now:
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/webtv?program=213563
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 18:57 (eight years ago) link
Finland is ok. Australia starts off like it could be quite successful but goes downhill rapidly.
Bulgaria is probably the pick but I assume she can't sing live at 80/1.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 19:01 (eight years ago) link
Armenia has a fairly thin song but A+ delivery and presentation.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 19:44 (eight years ago) link
This San Marino guy reminds me of Yello! :)
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 19:45 (eight years ago) link
San Marino kind of sounds like Gepy & Gepy. This is quite good.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 19:46 (eight years ago) link
Russia clearly aiming for #1 in the special effects.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 19:49 (eight years ago) link
Repping for the goth queens = Croatia & ArmeniaCreepy but great = San Marino
Worst by a mile so far= the Netherlands.
― emil.y, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 19:53 (eight years ago) link
Croatia had the most sympathetic singer so far, sadly the tune was a bit too fairy-dust corny, even for Eurovision.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 19:56 (eight years ago) link
I guess this is the obligatory token "rock" entry of this semifinal?
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 19:57 (eight years ago) link
Austria is quite charming on record.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:00 (eight years ago) link
Wow, I didn't expect Estonia's dude to sound like *that*!
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:06 (eight years ago) link
SAN MARINOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:06 (eight years ago) link
No rapping astronauts so far but this is pretty recognisably Montenegro.
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:15 (eight years ago) link
What Bosnia's singer was doing 12 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23h__RssJQo
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:23 (eight years ago) link
everything is so dour now
yay a rapper
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:24 (eight years ago) link
NAGORNO KARABAKH FLAG!
Armenia are going to get heat for that.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:34 (eight years ago) link
Idk if they can get DQed but they will almost certainly be fined.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:36 (eight years ago) link
Pretty into Finland/San Marino/Bosnia/maybe Malta. Don't fancy any of their chances though.
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:41 (eight years ago) link
Hope Armenia don't get disqualified. Not entirely sure about my choices yet but was Armenia definitely among them.
― emil.y, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:42 (eight years ago) link
Uh, scratch that "was".
― emil.y, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:43 (eight years ago) link
Or even switch it to the correct position in the sentence.
Pulling for Bosnia, that's the kind of performance I'm looking for in Eurovision
― droit au butt (Euler), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:48 (eight years ago) link
If the Netherlands get through but Armenia don't I will be very cross.
― emil.y, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 20:59 (eight years ago) link
sad for Serhat :(
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Tuesday, 10 May 2016 21:05 (eight years ago) link
Latvia the best so far. This has been grim though.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Thursday, 12 May 2016 19:43 (eight years ago) link
You didn't fall for the hipster wolf t-shirt from ILOVEBELARUS?
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 19:55 (eight years ago) link
Macedonia probably my pick of this lot
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 19:56 (eight years ago) link
flute and earring are carrying this one
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:02 (eight years ago) link
already hate Denmark
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:04 (eight years ago) link
Love love loved Macedonia. Also repping for Australia and Bulgaria.
― emil.y, Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:09 (eight years ago) link
Belarus was a terrible disappointment. They'd spread the rumour that he was going to be naked singing to a live wolf. Two seconds of nudity and digital wolves: not nearly enough.
― emil.y, Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:10 (eight years ago) link
this is very Belgian
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:26 (eight years ago) link
Macedonia/Ukraine/Bulgaria for me.
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:29 (eight years ago) link
Bulgaria best by miles.
Latvia and FYROM both reasonably entertaining.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:32 (eight years ago) link
lol UK
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:57 (eight years ago) link
Georgia? is a surprise
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 21:00 (eight years ago) link
Denmark going out is a shock. A delightful shock.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Thursday, 12 May 2016 21:06 (eight years ago) link
such sweet defeat
― tay.ai fan (seandalai), Thursday, 12 May 2016 21:18 (eight years ago) link
Russia now 8/13, which is ridiculous.
Australia second at 5/1.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Friday, 13 May 2016 05:46 (eight years ago) link
Australia's tune was okay, but I thought it was ridiculous how "sound of silence" was repeated three times in the chorus:
Now my heart awakes to the sound of silenceAnd it beats to the sound of siiileeennceAnd it beats to the sound of siiileeennce
Did the lyricist run out of words to use? Or couldn't s/he figure out any word that'd rhyme with silence?
Ukraine and Bulgaria were my favourite from last night's semi. I loved how Ukraine's tune seemed like it was heading for Eurovisiony bombast and melodrama, but then it kept things quite restrained, both musically and lyrically. As for Bulgaria's entry, the local host said the "if love as a crime" chorus could be read as a gay rights statement, which would still be kinda shocking in that country... I didn't really get that vibe from the rest of the lyrics, but it was a very catchy dance pop tune with a nice energetic performance anyway.
― Tuomas, Friday, 13 May 2016 07:24 (eight years ago) link
Yes, that bothered me about Australia too.
Ukraine had lots of quite interesting elements but it never coalesced into a song memorable.
I think the "if love was a crime" theme is pretty explicit, and was referenced by Mans in the show, though it is unlikely to be particularly shocking to a country that entered Azis in 2006:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azis
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Friday, 13 May 2016 07:41 (eight years ago) link
Or even a memorable song.
Belgium went through. Apparently it's pretty good. Wouldn't know since I haven't watched this in ages. Maybe I should.
― nathom, Friday, 13 May 2016 08:01 (eight years ago) link
Belgium was okay, but IMO the tune was a bit too obvious 80s Michael Jackson pastiche... And it had a nice a groove, but the chorus was not that memorable.
― Tuomas, Friday, 13 May 2016 08:28 (eight years ago) link
I think the "if love was a crime" theme is pretty explicit, and was referenced by Mans in the show, though it is unlikely to be particularly shocking to a country that entered Azis in 2006
Oh, I'd totally forgotten about Azis! Anyway, I thought the lyrics to "If Love Was a Crime" were a bit too individualistic to be explicitly about a social issue, it felt "crime" was used more like a metaphor of the hardships this particular couple has to face, a la "Living on a Prayer". And it failed to mentioned the fact Måns pointed out, that it actually is still a crime in many countries.
― Tuomas, Friday, 13 May 2016 08:33 (eight years ago) link
Yeah, I guess this can be hold against it, but IMO it worked nicely as a mood piece, without banalizing the heavy subject matter. And I think mood pieces can work in the Eurovision context, if they're done with taste and restraint. A lot of people still remember fondly that winner from the 90s that was basically just a solo sello piece with some vocals added, even though it was hardly something you could hum to yourself at work the next day.
― Tuomas, Friday, 13 May 2016 08:39 (eight years ago) link