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: Sweden & Switzerland from semi 2!
AUSTRALIA
The Song: For a country that (in theory) only has one chance to snatch the Eurovision crown, this is a surprising choice. Granted, it sounds like it could camp in the charts, but whether it would be in the higher regions? It’s got the Bruno Mars vibe going on, which should help it along, but then again so did the Danish entry last year and that barely landed within the top 10. This one sounds better put together though, but it might be too ‘been there, heard that’ to really create the impact they’re hoping for Down Under.
The Voice: Have yet to hear the live version, but as mr. Sebastian shot to fame through a talent contest ànd managed to get a career out of it I suppose he knows his way around the spectrum.
The Performance: Bring out the funk big time and this entry might do better than the song is coming across right now.
In one line: Should have been Kylie though!
PERSONAL TOTAL: 74%
PREDICTION: A nice spot in the top 10 should do.
AUSTRIA
The Song: That first verse could be confused with a lot of songs – our own 1978 Eurovision entry to start with (Jean Vallée – L’Amour, ça fait chanter la vie). Which could be considered as a big NO, but in this case it makes you curious about where the chorus will go. Which is a rather mellow vibe, simple yet effective and it all gives me a Rock’n Roll Kids vibe. Yes, I went there.
The Voice: Jesus-in-hat sure knows how to use those vocal chords. He gives the composition some extra UMPH in his rendition, surely touching female hearts all around Europe! Borderline screaming at times though, the trap of overselling this is never too far away…
The Performance: I presume they’re gonna keep that rather straight-forward approach from the national final – presumably with some extra pyro effect, although that might ruin the entire vibe. They need to be careful not to go overboard with this. (side note: I hate it when people start the song at the piano, pretending they’re playing with heart and soul – only to stand up for the last verse, while the piano plays along merily… So clumsy!)
In one line: Ditch the hat, Jesus, and I might consider letting you be mine.
PERSONAL TOTAL: 77%
PREDICTION: I can see this pulling a Netherlands 2014 stunt, if not give Austria a rather unexpected back2back win!
FRANCE
The Song: Seriously, France? You haven’t had a win in nearly 30 years, do you really think you can stand a chance with a song that sounds like it could/should have participated 30 years ago? This is so oldfashioned I can smell the mothballs.
The Voice: Pity Lisa Angell has to work with such an outdated song, cause as a vocalist she sure knows what she’s doing. I just can’t see her saving this entry.
The Performance: Just her, I presume. Some spots, some candles – or, as it’s a WW1 tribute, a field of poppies. I’ll keep my cliché-vomit-bucket at the ready.
In one line: The most ironic song title this year.
PERSONAL TOTAL: 40%
PREDICTION: This’ll barely do better than that bundle of chaos they sent last year. Time to wake up and smell the coffee, France!
Current Standings:
Total:
- Slovenia – 89
- Latvia – 85
- Estonia – 84
- Belgium – 81
- Norway – 80
- Ireland – 79
- Austria – 77
- Sweden – 74
- Australia – 74
- Czech Republic – 73
- Denmark – 71
- Cyprus – 70
- Romania – 69
- Portugal – 68
- Switzerland – 68
- 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
- France – 40
- Russia – 38
- Hungary – 32
- San Marino – 20
- 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:
- Slovenia – 89
- Latvia – 85
- Norway – 80
- Ireland – 79
- Sweden – 74
- Czech Republic – 73
- Cyprus – 70
- Portugal – 68
- Switzerland – 68
- Lithuania – 66
- Azerbaijan – 66
- Poland – 59
- Montenegro – 55
- Malta – 46
- Iceland – 40
- San Marino – 20
- Israel – 18
Final:
- Austria – 77
- Australia – 74
- France – 40
Tomorrow: Germany & Italy!
Dimivision 