My opinion of First Semi Final!!!
I thought that I would give a personal opinion of the draws for the semi finals and after listening to the songs in the order that they will be performed on Tuesday 12 May 2009 here is my opinion of the First Semi Final.
After starting the semi final in 2008 with quite a drab song in comparison Montenegro once again kick off the 1st Semi Final with an uptempo number which really gets you to sit up and take notice and really gives the 1st Semi Final a good kick up the backside to begin with.
Second to perform are Czech Republic with what could almost be called a gimmick song and I thought we might have got away from these this year, mind you I don’t think it is a bad one and the chorus is extremely catchy......... will the curse of number 2 strike the Czech’s this year.
Belgium sing third and with the rockabilly sound makes this the 3rd uptempo song in a row, not their best entry, but could it stand out as something different... we shall have to see!!
Belarus are 4th to perform and I just really don’t like this song at all, I really thought that after a couple of years of pretty decent songs Belarus would start ensuring a good chance every year of qualifying for the final, however this is just for me awful.
Sweden have given us Schlager Opera this year and it works well, singing 5th in this semi final I think stands them in good stead for qualification, however following the suprise that the Swedes only got to the final on a wildcard in 2008 then nothing is guaranteed.
Armenia follow the Swedes and again after 3 years of really good entries they are disappointing me this year, with a very good 4th place overall in 2008 I think they will be lucky to qualify with this their worst entry in 4 years.
Andorra just seem to be getting better and better at this competition and even though their first 5 attempts have seen them stay in the semi final they just are not giving up (unlike others we could mention!). As good as Anonymous from 2007 and 10 times better than last year this is probably their best chance at a final place on May 16th. A party tune from the party girl Susanna Georgi can deliver this well.
Ok, so the Swiss just keep sending brilliant songs that can’t get out of the semi finals either , but I think this is one of their better entries reminding me somewhat of New Order from the 1980’s and could sneak into that Saturday night final.
Well what can we say about Turkey? Up until there momentous victory in Riga they just never did anything, but they kept coming back for more and actually sent some pretty decent tunes, now since 2003 they have really upped their game and are now always a serious contender for a top 10 placing in the grand final, however I wonder this year whether this may get lost amongst all the uptempo songs in this particular semi final.... mind you with a big Turkish fan base heading for Moscow I cannot see that happening!!
Then its time to slow it down just a tad as Israel perform..... following the formidable success of Boaz Mauda in Belgrade the Israelis have once again gone for the mid tempo ballad and I think they could be one of the dark horses in this contest this year.
Bulgaria with their Jimmy Somerville soundalike sing in 11th position and I cant understand why they have chosen that placing as they got the wildcard to pick their spot...... maybe it’s a lucky number in Bulgaria, but is it going to be lucky enough I just am not sure. I love this song and with the revamped performance could suprise us all.
The sultry ballad from Iceland follows the uptempo one from Bulgaria and for a ballad I think it stands out somewhat between the 2 uptempo songs from Bulgaria and Macedonia.
Its rock time then from FYR of Macedonia. I am not a rock fan and am not sure this will secure a qualification for the Macedonians, but then again they do tend to qualify 10th and then fade in the final.
Another Kalomira soundalike in this semi final but this time from Romania and with a not too bad sounding song, not sure how this will come across on the night, think it may bomb like Teresa did for Czech Republic last year.
Finland have gone for something completely different in 2009 to their previous 3 entries and instead of rock are sending dance and in my opinion a very good one and should be a guarantee for qualification.
Folk music with style is what Portugal are sending to Moscow and I am sure they will get another decent placing in the final on 16th May, as good as 2008 and am sure the fans in the arena will be shouting for this on the night.
Choosing to sing in 17th spot was Malta and with Chiara belting out another one of her ballads how can this not qualify, a good song from a brilliant singer and a fantastic position in the semi final.
Only 18 songs in this semi final now following the withdrawal of Georgia and the last song to be performed is that from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a strong song for them and one that could be compared to Lejla from 2006. A very nice end to the first semi final of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
So who do I think will qualify:-
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, Iceland, Finland, Portugal, Malta, Bosnia and Herzegonia and Andorra
After starting the semi final in 2008 with quite a drab song in comparison Montenegro once again kick off the 1st Semi Final with an uptempo number which really gets you to sit up and take notice and really gives the 1st Semi Final a good kick up the backside to begin with.
Second to perform are Czech Republic with what could almost be called a gimmick song and I thought we might have got away from these this year, mind you I don’t think it is a bad one and the chorus is extremely catchy......... will the curse of number 2 strike the Czech’s this year.
Belgium sing third and with the rockabilly sound makes this the 3rd uptempo song in a row, not their best entry, but could it stand out as something different... we shall have to see!!
Belarus are 4th to perform and I just really don’t like this song at all, I really thought that after a couple of years of pretty decent songs Belarus would start ensuring a good chance every year of qualifying for the final, however this is just for me awful.
Sweden have given us Schlager Opera this year and it works well, singing 5th in this semi final I think stands them in good stead for qualification, however following the suprise that the Swedes only got to the final on a wildcard in 2008 then nothing is guaranteed.
Armenia follow the Swedes and again after 3 years of really good entries they are disappointing me this year, with a very good 4th place overall in 2008 I think they will be lucky to qualify with this their worst entry in 4 years.
Andorra just seem to be getting better and better at this competition and even though their first 5 attempts have seen them stay in the semi final they just are not giving up (unlike others we could mention!). As good as Anonymous from 2007 and 10 times better than last year this is probably their best chance at a final place on May 16th. A party tune from the party girl Susanna Georgi can deliver this well.
Ok, so the Swiss just keep sending brilliant songs that can’t get out of the semi finals either , but I think this is one of their better entries reminding me somewhat of New Order from the 1980’s and could sneak into that Saturday night final.
Well what can we say about Turkey? Up until there momentous victory in Riga they just never did anything, but they kept coming back for more and actually sent some pretty decent tunes, now since 2003 they have really upped their game and are now always a serious contender for a top 10 placing in the grand final, however I wonder this year whether this may get lost amongst all the uptempo songs in this particular semi final.... mind you with a big Turkish fan base heading for Moscow I cannot see that happening!!
Then its time to slow it down just a tad as Israel perform..... following the formidable success of Boaz Mauda in Belgrade the Israelis have once again gone for the mid tempo ballad and I think they could be one of the dark horses in this contest this year.
Bulgaria with their Jimmy Somerville soundalike sing in 11th position and I cant understand why they have chosen that placing as they got the wildcard to pick their spot...... maybe it’s a lucky number in Bulgaria, but is it going to be lucky enough I just am not sure. I love this song and with the revamped performance could suprise us all.
The sultry ballad from Iceland follows the uptempo one from Bulgaria and for a ballad I think it stands out somewhat between the 2 uptempo songs from Bulgaria and Macedonia.
Its rock time then from FYR of Macedonia. I am not a rock fan and am not sure this will secure a qualification for the Macedonians, but then again they do tend to qualify 10th and then fade in the final.
Another Kalomira soundalike in this semi final but this time from Romania and with a not too bad sounding song, not sure how this will come across on the night, think it may bomb like Teresa did for Czech Republic last year.
Finland have gone for something completely different in 2009 to their previous 3 entries and instead of rock are sending dance and in my opinion a very good one and should be a guarantee for qualification.
Folk music with style is what Portugal are sending to Moscow and I am sure they will get another decent placing in the final on 16th May, as good as 2008 and am sure the fans in the arena will be shouting for this on the night.
Choosing to sing in 17th spot was Malta and with Chiara belting out another one of her ballads how can this not qualify, a good song from a brilliant singer and a fantastic position in the semi final.
Only 18 songs in this semi final now following the withdrawal of Georgia and the last song to be performed is that from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a strong song for them and one that could be compared to Lejla from 2006. A very nice end to the first semi final of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
So who do I think will qualify:-
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, Iceland, Finland, Portugal, Malta, Bosnia and Herzegonia and Andorra
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