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: Montenegro, Norway & Poland from semi 2!
MONTENEGRO
The Song: Is it just me, or are all those Balkan ballads starting to sound alike? Probably because 75% of them are written by Zjelko, true. I don’t mind the sound, it just doesn’t charm me anymore. Atmospheric, yes, but nothing I’d willingly listen to.
The Voice: Same goes for the vocals. Standard recipe and all that.
The Performance: Think they’ll bring back rollergirl?
In one line: FFWD.
PERSONAL TOTAL: 55%
PREDICTION: Hardly any friends in this semi – don’t think they’ll repeat their lucky final spot from last year.
NORWAY
The Song: A duet? No way! Heartbreaking lyrics again (except for the rather clumsy first verse, which I’ll just ignore), and this time they’re kinda hitting home – this is the kind of stuff that catapults me right back to the break-up I had to suffer, already quite a while ago. Cue goosebumps.
The Voice: Separately they sound a tad fragile, even though you can tell they’re quite accomplished singers. The harmonies however are to die for, especially when they turn it up after the bridge. Love.
The Performance: Just something straightforward with some clever camera-play like in MGP, takk. And Grace Adler may keep her Star Wars look if you ask me, gives a bit of an extra edge.
In one line: The ideal soundtrack for Heartbreak Anonymous.
PERSONAL TOTAL: 80%
PREDICTION: One of the darkest horses in the competition this year.
POLAND
The Song: The 90’s called, they want their sound back. It’s a proper ballad, alright, but a bit too by the book to rattle my cage. *suppresses a yawn*
The Voice: Have yet to hear her live, but sounds like she knows what she’s doing. Though in this song, that’s not exactly saying much is it.
The Performance: Girl’s got some cojones to not let her chair stop her from doing her thing, so please don’t let her sit on the floor like in the video. That just came across rather awkward. That said, if the atmosphere is anything like the video I’m gonna need a stiff drink to keep me awake.
In one line: Just shake what your momma gave ya – oh, wait, wrong year #sadface
PERSONAL TOTAL: 59%
PREDICTION: Ballad n° 534 – which one will survive these Hunger Games? Don’t think this is a Katniss.
Current Standings:
Total:
- Latvia – 85
- Estonia – 84
- Belgium – 81
- Norway – 80
- Ireland – 79
- Czech Republic – 73
- Denmark – 71
- Cyprus – 70
- Romania – 69
- Netherlands – 67
- Lithuania – 66
- Azerbaijan – 66
- Georgia – 65
- Armenia – 64
- Moldova – 63
- Albania – 62
- Finland – 60
- Poland – 59
- Serbia – 55
- Montenegro – 55
- Greece – 53
- Belarus – 52
- FYR Macedonia – 51
- Malta – 46
- Iceland – 40
- Russia – 38
- Hungary – 32
- Israel – 18
Semi 1:
- Estonia – 84
- Belgium – 81
- Denmark – 71
- Romania – 69
- Netherlands – 67
- Georgia – 65
- Armenia – 64
- Moldova – 63
- Albania – 62
- Finland – 60
- Serbia – 55
- Greece – 53
- Belarus – 52
- FYR Macedonia – 51
- Russia – 38
- Hungary – 32
Semi 2:
- Latvia – 85
- Norway – 80
- Ireland – 79
- Czech Republic – 73
- Cyprus – 70
- Lithuania – 66
- Azerbaijan – 66
- Poland – 59
- Montenegro – 55
- Malta – 46
- Iceland – 40
- Israel – 18
Tomorrow: Portugal, San Marino & Slovenia
Dimivision 
Montenegro – The song is written by Zelko Joksimovic and because of this i think it will have a lot of media attention for people around Europe who are originally from Yugoslav countries, based on this alone i wouldn’t rule it out just yet but its right on the edge.
Norway – I wouldn’t consider it a “dark horse” i consider it a genuine contender.
Poland – It really shouldn’t qualify but ORF have put it in a position where its virtually impossible to miss out, but now it will take the spot of something more deserving.