Eurovision 2016

Croatia had the most sympathetic singer so far, sadly the tune was a bit too fairy-dust corny, even for Eurovision.

I guess this is the obligatory token "rock" entry of this semifinal?

Austria is quite charming on record.

Wow, I didn't expect Estonia's dude to sound like *that*!

SAN MARINOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

No rapping astronauts so far but this is pretty recognisably Montenegro.

What Bosnia's singer was doing 12 years ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23h__RssJQo

everything is so dour now

yay a rapper

NAGORNO KARABAKH FLAG!

Armenia are going to get heat for that.

Idk if they can get DQed but they will almost certainly be fined.

Pretty into Finland/San Marino/Bosnia/maybe Malta. Don't fancy any of their chances though.

Hope Armenia don't get disqualified. Not entirely sure about my choices yet but was Armenia definitely among them.

Uh, scratch that "was".

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

If the Netherlands get through but Armenia don't I will be very cross.

sad for Serhat :(

Latvia the best so far. This has been grim though.

You didn't fall for the hipster wolf t-shirt from ILOVEBELARUS?

Macedonia probably my pick of this lot

flute and earring are carrying this one

already hate Denmark

Love love loved Macedonia. Also repping for Australia and Bulgaria.

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.

this is very Belgian

Macedonia/Ukraine/Bulgaria for me.

Bulgaria best by miles.

Latvia and FYROM both reasonably entertaining.

lol UK

Georgia? is a surprise

Denmark going out is a shock. A delightful shock.

such sweet defeat

Russia now 8/13, which is ridiculous.

Australia second at 5/1.

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 silence
And it beats to the sound of siiileeennce
And 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Ukraine had lots of quite interesting elements but it never coalesced into a song memorable.

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.

Oh, I guess I misremembered, it was a violin and not cello.

Also, kinda funny that Ireland won the contest four times in five years, and the one time they didn't win, the most memorable part of the winning tune was by an Irish violinist.

THe Australian song is so repetitive buut Dami has done well to bring it to almost life by free-wheeling it a bit. I got on camera between 20:49 and 20:52 on the official Youtube stream. Yay, I think?

Bulgaria is the best pop song in the contest by miles but a no hoper on the scoreboard I fear. I'd be fine with a Ukraine win, and Sweden doubling up would pay for my next three trips to Europe so.

Vote Bulgaria!

also Poland is a cockfarmer

Yeah, I was surpised he made it to the final! The lyrics of that song alone were like every conceivable cliche rolled into one:

When loneliness – is knocking on your door
Everything you loved – just disappears
And when you feel – that everything is lost
You need to know – there's no life without tears

O -O – O – O - tell me black or white
What color is your life
O – O – O –O - try to ask your heart
Who you really are

No one is – forever beautiful and young
Everything you know – just disappears
Fame and gold are nothing – you can be sure
When there is no love in your heart
The choice is yours – who you really want to be
Don't be afraid – of your destiny
So when you feel – that everything is lost
You need to know – there's no life without fear

O -O – O – O - tell me black or white
What color is your life
O – O – O –O - try to ask your heart
Who you really are

Every day – we must fight with the wind
We have to live
All these things are just empty desire
'Cause ther's no smoke without fire

O -O – O – O - tell me black or white
What color is your life
O – O – O –O - try to ask your heart
Who you really are

O – O – O –O - try to ask your heart
What color is your life

Unless the some of the big countries' tunes in the final will completely floor me, I think I'll vote for Bulgaria, yeah.

ps hey Tuomas I'm popping back into Helsinki mid-next week. Anything going on?

If "Colour of Your Life" does better than SLAVIC GIRLS I am going to fuck shit up.

Russia & Australia currently seriously overvalued, Ukraine too, but worth a punt on France, Sweden & Spain at current odds IMO

France was a leading contender early on but the clip in the interval of the first semi-final indicated that his vocals are weak. I think Sweden is worth an e/w at 14/1, as is Malta at 40/1. Bulgaria has drifted to 125/1.

It's interesting that the odds on Ukraine winning have gone from 4/1 ahead of the semi-final to 8/1 now, despite a strong vocal / visual performance.

has anyone ever failed to win with odds like russia?