Eurovision 2015 (P)review – part 8 – Iceland, Ireland & Israel

All of this year’s songs have been selected, which means it’s time to start the countdown (cue Final Countdown) for the 2015 edition of our beloved Contest! I’ll be tackling the semis & the final in alphabetical order – on the menu today: Iceland, Ireland & Israel from semi 2!

 ICELAND

 

The Song: You could have told me that this was the Maltese entry, written by one of the Paelinck brother – I would have believed you. The sleepy, rolling rhythm is rather boring, and the lyrics don’t do anything for me. Too wishy-washy. Not a fan.

The Voice: She’s okay I guess, sings it rather well. Not blown away though.

The Performance: OMG, bare feet? That has néver been done before! *rolls eyes* Not keen on the modern dancers either. Dunno, the entire thing just rubs me the wrong way. I guess I’m too cynical to fall for something as sugary as this.

In one line: I’m guessing even Chiara would pass for this one
PERSONAL TOTAL: 40%
PREDICTION: Borderline qualifier, kinda leaning towards a no.

 IRELAND

 

The Song: Tori Amos & Jewel, two women & their piano who played their way into my heart while I was a fragile misguided mind growing up. That was mid & late ’90s. Happy to hear this kind of music making a comeback, in Eurovision even! I acknowledge it isn’t the most accessible build-up, but THAT CHORUS. So haunting and lovely, I’m just smitten.

The Voice: Jewel is never far away here either, especially the way Molly goes about her emotional phrasing. A peculiar sound, she possesses.

The Performance: Keep it simple. I don’t think she or the song benefit from anything else but letting them be themselves.

In one line: And these foolish games are tearing me apart, and your thoughtless words are breaking my heart…
PERSONAL TOTAL: 79%
PREDICTION: If people get this, it’ll go big. If they don’t, it’ll all be rather underwhelming as far results go.

 ISRAEL

 

The Song: If you thought Serbia was a potpourri of styles, along comes Israel. I was jokingly saying if this was a contest of mixing as many styles as possible in one song, and then I get this. Acoustic start, a bit of Timberlake-soul, an electro-pop bridge (all rather enjoyable up to that point) and then THAT CHORUS HAPPENS. What the actual hell is this? And what the hell is he ON about? This is…I can’t even…No. Just no.

The Voice: Eric Saade, the Mediterranean version. Interpret that as you wish.

The Performance: It’s Israel, I’m sure they’ll find a way to screw this up even more than it already is.

In one line: Golden boy? I don’t think gold is an option on any level, darling.
PERSONAL TOTAL: 18%
PREDICTION: Surely he’ll be back in Tel Aviv by Friday?

Current Standings:

Total:

1. Estonia – 84
2. Belgium – 81
3. Ireland – 79
4. Czech Republic – 73
5. Denmark – 71
6. Cyprus – 70
7. Romania – 69
8. Netherlands – 67
9. Azerbaijan – 66
10. Georgia – 65
11. Armenia – 64
12. Moldova – 63
13. Albania – 62
14. Finland – 60
15. Serbia – 55
16. Greece – 53
17. Belarus – 52
18. FYR Macedonia – 51
19. Iceland – 40
20. Russia – 38
21. Hungary – 32
22. Israel – 18

Semi 1:

1. Estonia – 84
2. Belgium – 81
3. Denmark – 71
4. Romania – 69
5. Netherlands – 67
6. Georgia – 65
7. Armenia – 64
8. Moldova – 63
9. Albania – 62
10. Finland – 60
11. Serbia – 55
12. Greece – 53
13. Belarus – 52
14. FYR Macedonia – 51
15. Russia – 38
16. Hungary – 32

Semi 2:

1. Ireland – 79
2. Czech Republic – 73
3. Cyprus – 70
4. Azerbaijan – 66
5. Iceland – 40
6. Israel – 18

Tomorrow: Latvia, Lithuania & Malta