Tonight we followed the rainbow to Eurovision Island.
The small boat in the foreground is ferrying the Danish Royal Family back to Amalienborg Palace after enjoying the afternoon’s Eurovision family show (yes, really).
Back we went to line up among the weeds. Seriously, it wouldn’t have taken much effort to send someone out with a whipper snipper the week before just to tidy things up a bit. While those in the know have told us that the technical side of the event has been fantastic this year, they are missing some of the basics for looking after the audience. Service vehicles drive through the door that people are queueing in front of, so we all have to move to let then through. There is no orderly way to get in to the hall. People are hanging around on the sidelines then pushing in front of those of us who have been in the queues for three hours once the doors open. Once inside, there are no signs directing the audience to the various seating and standing areas, and the crowd control staff don’t even have megaphones so they can only talk to the five people standing directly in front of them.
Malta
I love this song! What a great foot stomping, hand clapping start to semi final 2. Although I think they started off being a little nervous then started to relax once they realised the crowd was behind them. Malta have had some great entries in recent years and once again they have made the finals. How could Eurovision be complete without the Appalachian mountain dulcimer?
Israel
Ok, so during semi final 1 I was wondering where the cheesy choreography was. Semi final 2 has delivered and it’s only song number 2! Two back up dancers with a routine worthy of Miss Jane’s jazz ballet class dancing to a poppy dance song. It’s pure Eurovision.
Norway
Eurovision loves a ballad and Carl from Norway has delivered another powerful performance. It’s got him through to the final anyway. In his photos he just looks like such a regular Joe but there’s no denying that he definitely has a presence on stage. This year the audience wasn’t given wrist bands so we are just instructed to wave our mobile phones on torch mode. It’s a little bit DIY.
Georgia
Now this number is pure Eurovision gold! A waffling song based on traditional Georgian music that makes absolutely no sense and lacks a melody. And the best part – a drummer wearing a parachute for no apparent reason. This is what we have come to see!
Poland
Well, the audience reaction to this song confirms that there are plenty of straight men who go to watch Eurovision. Short skirts, a play on traditional folk dancing and butter churning girls with no purpose other than to display plenty of cleavage.
Austria
Conchita is clearly the crowd favourite. The auditorium just explodes when she appears on stage. Not only is she ‘different’ but she is clearly a talented performer and has incredible stage presence. The audience is just transfixed when she sings. She is like Shirley Bassey x 10. We were expecting nothing less than the glamorous, sequinned light up fishtail gown. The only thing I felt was missing from this performance was some flowing fabric for the wind machine.
Lithuania
I felt that this song was weak on the recording and, unlike Ukraine, the live version failed to impress. Although the tutu and the dubious dancing were right up there with the true spirit of Eurovision.
Finland
This is great! It’s a fun, positive pop song sung by young Finnish lads who are still in high school. And it features lots of silver!
Ireland
I just love any song based on traditional Irish music, and featuring cute boys doing Irish dancing in kilts. Sadly, they didn’t make the final, but at least they were saved the embarrassment of a super low score like last year’s entry. Maybe Ireland needs a change from drumming? It may look hot but it doesn’t seem to be working for them. Has Kasey stolen Conchita’s dress? Were there tense moments backstage in the wardrobe?
Belarus
The great thing about Eurovision is that there are songs that defy established genres. This song can only be described as funk/pop based on a traditional Belarussian folk beats. It’s a fun song and Teo just oozes charisma. He and his male back up dancers seem to be having a lot of fun and the vibe is very infectious. How could you go past that cheeky grin?
F.Y.R. Macedonia
This was one of my favourites going in to the competition but I don’t know that the stage performance really translated well. I was expecting dancers in sparkly silver, not a creepy looking guy in a hoodie??? Clearly the voters did’t get it either.
Tijana, behind you!!!
Switzerland
I really like this song. He whistles and he plays the fiddle! But I wasn’t expecting a folk song to start with fireworks! Sebalter and his band are enthusiastic and run around all over the stage! It’s a fun song but the delivery lacks any real power.
Greece
Semi final 2 just gets better and better! Now we have a guy on trampoline! Then the whole band joins him while still singing. What a great idea, particularly on a stage surrounded by water and fire! This is just fantastic Eurovision!
Slovenia
Unfortunately the blue dress blends into the background a bit. And whose idea was it to put green and yellow eyeshadow with a midnight blue dress? One you get past this, it’s a great song, although most of the effects are largely for the television audience. And hey, she plays the flute.
Romania
So much Eurovision gold tonight. This song features a visual effect with a disappearing singer and a classic, circular keyboard. What a great way to end the semi final.
Australia
Last year we had our own postcard. This year we have a semi final interval act. The moving of Australia to Europe so we could take part was well done. I don’t know about the dance routine at the beginning. It was culturally cringeworthy and looked like a bad school musical routine. And the hammerhead? Did we have the Sharks football club mascot or what? It would have been far better to just have Jessica Mauboy sing two songs with some backup dancers. Talking about Jess, she did us proud. What a great performance. What a fantastic gold dress! We even managed to include some classic Eurovision with the astronaut. She looked and sounded amazing and seemed to be having the time of her life. What a great representative.
The inevitable almost happened while all the contestants going through to the final were on stage, with one of the press contingent stepping a foot in the water surrounding the stage. This led to a barrage of security to stop anyone else from falling in!
