Eurovision 2015 (P)review – part 15 – Spain & United Kingdom + wrap-up

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: the last of the direct finalists – Spain & United Kingdom!

 SPAIN

 

The Song: Well, ‘song’… There’s hardly one there, is there? It sounds like a potpourri of wannabe ethnic freewheeling, so I’m not really swept off my feet. I do hear a ‘corazon’ or two in there, which always bodes well for me. It gives me a Ukraine 2013 vibe, for some reason. That one went nowhere to me either. But look at how that did…

The Voice: Heard the live version that was released recently and it was better than I had feared beforehand, even though she struggles in switching between the higher and lower parts. Suppose she’ll get some experience under her belt before going onstage in Vienna. Still sounds like she’s trying to come across as Shakira‘s sister. That might turn out okay. That might also prove to be a disaster.

The Performance: What the hell is that video all about? Seriously, someone try and explain this to me! If the live performance takes the same route, we might be in for some surprises. With the right setting (genre those Lord Of The Rings statues from the video – wishful thinking, 911) it could however come across very well.

In one line: Will this snowflake (which is the meaning of Edurne) prove to be really unique…or just melt straight away?
PERSONAL TOTAL: 70%
PREDICTION: If all elements come together, this might be a very dark horse. (Pretty big if, though)

UNITED KINGDOM

 

The Song: A breath of fresh air and highly needed fun for this Contest. This electro swing ditty really shakes things up. Thankfully. It’s as if Jungle Book‘s been brought to the 21st century! The Charleston vibe does make me wonder: is Strictly Come Dancing really thàt influential in the UK?

The Voice: Part one of where it might all go terribly wrong. From what I can tell from the studio version, Bianca Nicholas seems like a rather capable vocalist – loving that tongue-in-cheeck phrasing, let’s hope she can get it across live. Alex Larke, on the other hand, fills me with fear. His vocals are rather shaky in the studio version already, and I have yet to hear that old skool bopping on stage before I’m even considering trying to be impressed…

The Performance: Part one of where it might all go terribly wrong. Great video, too bad they won’t be able to do something even remotely similar on stage in Vienna. VERY curious how they will solve and sell this.

In one line: *gets jazz hands at the ready*
PERSONAL TOTAL: 71%
PREDICTION: Haven’t got a freaking clue – it depends on so much, this could either go BIG or go Scooch.

Soooooooo… What to make of it all? I’d love for every entry in my top ten to do well, but I fear for Latvia, Ireland & Germany.
Entries I think will do well: Sweden, Norway, Australia & Austria.
Entries that might be up there, provided they sell it well: Spain, Belgium & UK.
Entries I’m confused by in terms of prediction: Estonia, Italy & Slovenia.
Entries that will sadly do well: Russia, Finland & Azerbaijan.

So, all over the place, basically. I’m hoping that the voting will be all over the place as well, making it an exciting evening – which is all we can hope for, really. And a worthy, successful winner of course!

Final Standings:

Total:

1. Slovenia – 89
2. Latvia – 85
3. Estonia – 84
4. Belgium – 81
5. Norway – 80
6. Ireland – 79
7. Austria – 77
8. Germany – 75
9. Sweden – 74
10. Australia – 74
11. Czech Republic – 73
12. United Kingdom – 71
13. Denmark – 71
14. Spain – 70
15. Cyprus – 70
16. Romania – 69
17. Portugal – 68
18. Switzerland  – 68
19. Netherlands – 67
20. Lithuania – 66
21. Azerbaijan – 66
22. Georgia – 65
23. Armenia – 64
24. Moldova – 63
25. Albania – 62
26. Finland – 60
27. Poland – 59
28. Serbia – 55
29. Montenegro – 55
30. Greece – 53
31. Belarus – 52
32. FYR Macedonia – 51
33. Malta – 46
34. Italy – 42
35. Iceland – 40
36. France – 40
37. Russia – 38
38. Hungary – 32
39. San Marino – 20
40. 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. Slovenia – 89
2. Latvia – 85
3. Norway – 80
4. Ireland – 79
5. Sweden – 74
6. Czech Republic – 73
7. Cyprus – 70
8. Portugal – 68
9. Switzerland – 68
10. Lithuania – 66
11. Azerbaijan – 66
12. Poland – 59
13. Montenegro – 55
14. Malta – 46
15. Iceland – 40
16. San Marino – 20
17. Israel – 18

Final:

1. Austria – 77
2. Germany – 75
3. Australia – 74
4. United Kingdom – 71
5. Spain – 70
6. Italy – 42
7. France – 40

That concludes this year’s (p)review series! Stay tuned for more preview fun though!