Globen Arena was just a short train ride from our hotel, near Slussen. We could see it from the Main Street of Södermalm. Outside the Arena, Eurovision songs were blaring, free hugs were on offer, and everyone seemed to pick up on the excitement of the first broadcast show for 2016. This is no place to try and be cool. Most people are dressed up to represent a country – either their own or their favourite song for tonight – or a blend of both.
We arrived close to the entry time of 7pm and the queues moved quickly despite the security checks. We found ourselves in our stage right area in no time, with plenty of room to breathe. We met a few British guys, who had also been to see Dami at the SBS party, and chatted about all things Eurovision until a medley of Eurovision songs started playing, and everyone sang along.
The über-cool stage manager, Henrik, is back, striding on stage with I’m Sexy and I Know It pumping out! We were really pleased to see him. He is such a professional, making sure that the audience is aware of when to hold up their wrist bands and display their flags and warning those at the front about the pyrotechnics. Behind the scenes, it is interesting to see how he guides the performers around to make sure that they are ready on cue. He is a true professional.
Soon, the official Eurovision music is playing, everyone starts frantically waving their flags and the first postcard appears to signal the start of the show! It’s so exciting, and I’m already so glad I came all the way to see this live!
The starting number, with Måns singing a pared back version of his winning song, Heroes, was very moving. It also really gives him a chance to show off his voice. The children’s choir was great and emphasised the song’s aspirational meaning.
Sandhja from Finland, singer and national kickboxing medal winner, was a good opening act, with Sing it Away. A fun, happy song, with simple costumes and staging. It’s not very memorable, but a great way to start off the party that is Eurovision.
Utopian Land by Argo from Greece hasn’t been my favourite on the CD, the lyric, “with the rise of the rising sun” just isn’t right on the English speaking ear, but who could resist this enthusiastic delivery? That pop/ethnic fusion is really something we have come to expect from Eurovision and something would be sadly lacking if we ever lost it. I just love the part where they all break into a Greek dance.
Every year, there seem to be a few recurring themes with songs. Lidia Isac’s Falling Stars is the first of our star songs for 2016. It’s a pleasant pop song with an ethno-beat to the chorus and lots of fun for those of us on the floor to sing and dance along to. And don’t we love the astronaut that just randomly appears and then starts dancing! Although the astronaut is not popular with the voters! Just like Montenegro in 2013, Moldova failed to qualify.
Freddie from Hungary is a pretty cute guy, and his live delivery of Pioneer is much more engaging than the recording. He really gives it his all. Plus, how can you resist a big drum, and whistling? With its message of love and valuing the individual, “be proud, you were born to be real” there’s no wonder it was voted in to the final.
Croatia’s Lighthouse was a favourite song when it first came out, but it has a slow start. Nina was able to take advantage of that with the show’s first costume reveal! I did love the gown she came out in. It looked really fragile with the light shining through it, like butterfly wings. The second gown was certainly a Eurovision special, all fluffy and shiny. Like, um, a lighthouse…
The first time I saw Bob Douwe’s name, I did think of Australian comedian Bob Down. But this act bears no relation at all. The Netherlands continues its recent tradition of sending an entry that isn’t the usual power ballad or europop song with this laid back country tune, Slow Down. Bob is very engaging, with a very cute grin, and his band also does a great guitar solo.
Iveta’s costume choice of a sequinned leotard with sequins raised some controversy. I’m not sure whether it was channeling Beyoncé or just Physical Culture. Armenia’s Love Wave was delivered fairly powerfully. But it did need the pyrotechnics to keep everyone awake.
If Barry White and Boney M had a love child back in the 70s, it grew up into Serhat. Love him or hate him, you just can’t resist dancing and clapping along to this number that oozes disco appeal. Serhat is such a charmer! Apparently he has been dancing away at the Euroclub with the younger ladies. Well, no one else is, so why not? I do keep thinking that he will start singing “ra ra Rasputin” at any moment though. I’m very disappointed that it didn’t make the final, I would have loved to see this all dancing and singing number again!
So Sergey’s You Are the Only One may be purely formulaic Europop, but what’s wrong with that? This is Eurovision after all! Add to that a clever, fast paced special effects projection and his charming personality and we could have a hit! We saw Sergey doing a sound check in the Eurovision Village, and it was nice to see that he seems fairly humble, and was embarrassed by all the attention he was attracting for his rehearsal. “Thunder and lightning, it’s getting exciting!” He certainly gained an enthusiastic reception from tonight’s crowd.
Gabriela’s delivery of I Stand was very passionate, flawless, and featured a light up skirt and a strange sort of reveal where she lets her hair out by simply removing an elastic band. I don’t know that it was a real standout for me. Still, it made it through to the final.
Minus One from Cyprus chose to channel Lady Ga Ga in their rock performance of Alter Ego with each of the band’s musicians locked up in a cage, presumably for the safety of the audience. It may have been a novelty, but I did enjoy their performance; their singer really knows how to belt out a tune, it has a great beat that wakes everyone up, and very catchy chorus. And the guy howls! Ok, I was totally drawn in! I’m looking forward to dancing to this one again on Saturday!
It still seems a little odd to me that a German speaking country like Austria would submit a song in French. However, the audience clearly had no issues with that and ZOË is obviously one of the crowd favourites. Her delivery of Loin d’ici was effusive, with a sense of old-fashioned Alice in Wonderland innocence and wonder, which is refreshing in a contest that often overdoses on the sex appeal factor. Of course, it made the final. Perhaps there could be another win for Austria?
Jüri Pootsmann may have the most unlikely name for a pop star, but sadly his performance of Play was not as memorable as the postcard that features his (pixelated) bare backside. He certainly sings with a deeper voice than one would expect for someone so young. A bit like the Estonian Rick Astley.
Samra also chose body hugging gold sequins for her costume, opting for the coverage of a catsuit rather than Iveta’s skimpy leotard. It’s no Miracle that Azerbaijan is through to the final. This is a very catchy tune that those of us on the floor can’t help singing along to. It features all the spectacle and glitz, shooting flames, plus back up dancers who appear to have been trained by Pat Benatar’s choreographer. This is why I love Eurovision!
The Real Thing by Highway is my least favourite song this year. Montenegro has submitted a disjointed, heavy metal tune that is not made any more interesting by the live delivery. If I were at home I’d be making a cup of tea now. The audience takes the opportunity to check their phones.
Greta Salóme from Iceland has been one of my favourites this year with the rousing, Hear Them Calling. I was really looking forward to seeing this song performed live. It certainly did not disappoint and became a crowd favourite. Greta’s black, fringed costume was super-cool and used to good effect with the superb background effects. It appeared to have everything, a great song with strong delivery and exciting staging (and her creative director is a Brisbane boy). After the first 9 acts for the final were revealed, the audience actually started chanting for Iceland. Yet for some quirk of the voting process, it was sadly not to be.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entry, Ljubav Je was an attempt at blending four artists with different styles, which ultimately ended up sounding disjointed and bland, despite the red dress, barbed wire and stringed instruments – what could possibly have gone wrong with that? The studio audience is not really keen on anything featuring rap so we’re all pretty happy that we don’t have to listen to this again. Where’s that cup of tea? I didn’t even manage to get a photo.
Ira Losco takes us back to tonight’s most popular outfit, a revealing, sequinned costume – possibly not the most obvious choice for covering a baby bump – for Walk on Water, another catchy pop tune that ends the show on a high. She also knows what it takes to perform in Eurovision, having represented her country in 2002 with an entry that scored well. She must have been a mere child back then as she still looks amazing 14 years later. No offence to Malta, but we did just expect that Iceland would make the final. 
