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!
GERMANY
The Song: The drama in the German final turned out to have the best outcome, if you ask me. Sure, Andreas Kümmert sounded great but his song wasn’t nearly as great as his other choice, or this one for that matter. I dig the Angie Stone/Anastacia/Mary J. Blige vibe in this entry. I do fear it might, just like those three examples, not be for everyone…
The Voice: In that final performance in the video, two things need to be pointed out. One: Ann Sophie had just gone through that ordeal with Kümmert – so the fact she was even able to pull off that vocal performance is amazing. Two: she’d only gotten the song two weeks before the national final. So I suppose she’ll pull out of vocal performance that sounds as if she’s been performing it forever come Vienna – kinda like her other NF entry (Jump The Gun) sounded in other words. Less shouty & better phrasing could make this more palatable for the general public…
The Performance: Girlfriend is digging the ’80s – Alexis Carrington all the way in that outfit! Makes her more mature, yes, but also a tad too old looking for such a young talent. She’s confident though, and that’s what really sells this entry. Just needs a bit of polish here and there to make it really shine.
In one line: Zeig deine Muskeln, Ann Sophie!
PERSONAL TOTAL: 75%
PREDICTION: Probably safely mid table.
ITALY
The Song: We have yet to hear the 3 minute version of this, but I doubt it will change my mind. I’m sure there are lots of fans of this genre, but I’m not one of them. The entire thing is so contrived, it really gets on my nerves. Those singing strings after the first chorus do sound awfully familiar, by the way – can’t put my finger on it though. Anyway, I won’t play this entry voluntarily and will probably never listen to it again after Vienna.
The Voice: I deliberately picked this video, as it’s one of the rare ones on YT where you can hear them sing it live. As expected, those grand harmonies in the studio version do not sound quite as convincing live, and the solo parts are a bit of a let-down as well at times. I’m no fan either way.
The Performance: If that terrible video (the actual one, not the one I picked) is anything to go by, we’re in for a a bit of a car crash. Is it bad of me to kind of hope they will?
In one line: The only thing I really like are those red glasses. But rather on me than on ‘the less pretty one of the three’.
PERSONAL TOTAL: 42%
PREDICTION: After Latvia 2007 & France 2011, I’m completely clueless as to how the Italian entry will do this year. I really don’t see it winning – but that might just be wishful thinking…
Current Standings:
Total:
- Slovenia – 89
- Latvia – 85
- Estonia – 84
- Belgium – 81
- Norway – 80
- Ireland – 79
- Austria – 77
- Germany – 75
- 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
- Italy – 42
- 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
- Germany – 75
- Australia – 74
- Italy – 42
- France – 40
Tomorrow: Spain & United Kingdom – and then we’re there!
Dimivision 