Opening act, was very Russian, and although I liked the change I think it was a little cheezy. They showed off the expensive and lovely stage to it’s fullest. The dancing bears sort of made me wonder why they would critique the bloody Swedes so much for the intra-act during the Final of Melodifestivalen. Again the cheesy hosts were making me annoyed the entire time!

Croatia – Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea
Qualified

Another Balkan ballad that doesn’t work for me. The constant vabrato and desire for Croatia to be in the final makes me sick. I don’t like it at all.

Ireland – Sinéad Mulvey & Black Daisy

Well Ireland clearly stepped out of it’s comfort range this year. A girl rock band, that is alternative and emo is totally different than what we have seen in previous years. The pink and purple I liked, the singing was okay, but I’m not a fan of the way that it works. When I think of this song, I think that the title actually speaks wonders and says a lot about the actual meaning of the song: et cetera

Latvia – Intars Busulis

Graphics are cool, but I don’t really get this act at all. The main singer looks like he’s having a seizure on stage and the song doesn’t really have a melody at all. It’s more like just shouting out, and lights changing constantly. I don’t feel any sort of rhythm or melodies going on, it’s just a big mess. The outfit of the main singer, that is to say the pins on the chest of him were very tacky and too much of a message. It’s Eurovision remember!

Serbia – Marko Kon and Milaan

Well Serbia has totally gone down hill after a few years of some really good songs. A guy with a wig, a bunch of ballerinas or wedding outfits, and some accordion players don’t do it for me. Even if it’s funny in some weird way I don’t get it. What’s so special and what’s so lovely about this song? It sort of makes me think of a hippy generation totally gone wrong, but beyond any words can express!

Poland – Lidia Kopania

Another ballad comes out of Poland this year. I think that I like the voice of the singer, and the song isn’t that bad but there are too many ballads in this semi-final for me to be able to choose between them all. Simple performance, with dancers frolicking and the main singer standing still, I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to be watching at all the times. It’s sort of difficult to see what’s going on, and the theme of the song doesn’t really fit with the act. Le sigh.

Norway – Alexander Rybak
Qualified
Personal Favourite

Well Norway, since I found out what your song was, I knew Alexander Rybak would be received well by a vast amount of countries. There was a huge hype about him in the blogs, and in Scandinavia, and clearly he will get top points there, but all the Swedes I’ve talked to “don’t get” this song. It’s an old style lyrics with a more modern and folkish tune. The dancers are really good, Alexander is absolutly adorable, and the images on the screen went well. His smile is a million dollars, and he clearly had a great time! Kudos for playing your own fiddle, and writing your own song too! When he sings out “rise me high above” I think my heart just breaks a little bit. Absolutly fabulous, one of the best songs of the year!

Cyprus – Christina Metaxa

Another bloody ballad from Cyprus, as Carolina and I have said. Why does Cyprus keep doing this to Europe? It’s not really worth making a huge deal about. She’s really beautiful with her dress and the symplicity, but I wasn’t really getting what was going on stage. The spins, and the song lacked a lot of things, I think. The more I listen to it, the more I seem to like it, however. Just unfortunately each country only really has a few moments to choose. I also get the feeling that she’s trying to draw on the Balkan emotive songs, and as soon as her voice goes a little bit higher it’s all broken, and out of tune.

Slovakia – Kamil Mikulcik and Nela Pocisková

This song doesn’t work for me at all. The girl is pretty and sings well, and the guy is dirty and ugly looking and sings alright. It’s not chosen becasue it’s not really special, but we will give Slovakia some chance to catch up, after it’s their return after many years away, you know! Better luck next year!

Denmark – Niels Brinck
Qualified

A bit of a suprise that Denmark made it by this year, the song is basically done before and nothing really is special. His face looks so fake tanned it makes me want to barf, and he speaks English like a Yank, nothing wrong with that, just it’s really entertaining is all! The song itself is okay, but I reckon it will come middle of the pack on Saturday, given it’s appeal.

Slovenia – Quartissimo feat Martina Majerle
Personal Favourite

I actually really liked this act, and the fact that it had an orchestra on stage and that the singer was hidden. I do feel like at the end she was screaming and that it wasn’t really pleasing on the ears, but it’s a good song in general. Good compositionally I mean!

Hungary – Zoli Ádok
Personal Favourite

This is so hot words can not express. Well frankly speaking it screams “I’m gay” and it’s a great disco song from the 80’s with a 90’s twist. The short little Hungarian oozes sex appeal, gayness, and dances like he’s got no tomorrow left! You can tell he’s got a good body, but it’s tragic that he didn’t have guys dancing with him, and the skanky blonde girls. He does his own dancing, stunts, and aecrobatics; totally impressed. This is where my new friend Carolina and I were screaming “VI VILL UNGREN! VI VILL UNGREN! SÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ SEXIG!” And then when we found out that it didn’t advance we were gutted and were in a nice little bar screaming “SKANDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL” because well frankly we were so dissapointed. Fuck you Croatia, who took our spot!

Azerbaijan – AySel and Arash
Qualified
Personal Favourite

Purple rocks my socks, especially with a catchy song that comes from the East. This is a half-Swedish Arash with AySel who was clearly the star of the show. I think it’s tragic to hear Arash singing, his voice is just horrible, and it should have been the whole time AySel, who’s gorgeous. Every time I hear Arash I sort of cringe and wonder when it will stop! Graphics are cool too.

Greece – Sakis Rouvas
Qualified
Personal Favourite

Sakis Rouvas is the living version of sex on legs. He’s oozing sex appeal, dances well, and is a great performer. I can only wish to see him live at some point in my life before dying, and before he gets wrinkles. His belly and chest are basically falling out of his tight shirt, and the coerography is amazing. I think he did better job in the National Greek Final, but it works for Eurovision anyways!

Lithuania – Sasha Son
Qualified

What the hell happened here? I don’t get it. It’s a nice song, but it’s just not good enough to go on. It stole the spot of Slovenia, in my opinion! He looks so awkward on stage alone, I will say, but at least the piano was nice!

Moldova – Nelly Ciobanu
Qualified

I find it really strange that this advanced, as I don’t really get what’s so good about it. It’s just an Eastern-European beat and feeling to it, that has dancing and a woman with a huge mouth that looks like Shirley Clamp. What’s the deal? Why do we vote this in my friends?

Albania – Kejsi Tola
Qualified

What the fuck? Another albania pree-teen but this time we have a crazy green man dancing around. It’s catchy, but the dancing and be ballerenia dress are far too much.

Ukraine – Svetlana Loboda
Qualified
Personal Favourite

Well as much as I love this song, I feel like it’s a total rip-off from last year, with nearly the same melody and dancing. It’s basically a slut with huge lips running around the stage, and reminding me of Poland a few years ago and the pole dancing. Lucky for her, the camera focused very little on her actual face, and the dancers became a huge blur!

Estonia – Urban Symphony
Qualified
Personal Favourite

A chilling song, with a beautiful woman from the north. She sings with grace and beauty, and her eyes and lighting, camera work and such make the show really enjoyable! It kind of gives me goosebumps and makes me wonder if there is a boogey man under the bed, or something. I really dig it though!

The Netherlands – Da Toppers

Go home and get it right Holland, this song is so cheesy and horrible I don’t even know where to start. There is a crazy looking old DJ woman dancing around on stage while the lot of you are being gay and making gay rights activist messages outside of the competition. Threatening to not sing in the competition of Gay Pride Moscow doesn’t happen is kind of a little too far considering the Dutch companies that chose you want you to performe, even if it’s a horrible song with you wearing glitter suits. Go home!

Well the night was more or less successful with the right songs going through, no major upsets or anything so not much to report. Get excited for the Final, peeps! The camerawork was also improved and TV1 didn’t sepnd so much time looking at the stage like the last night!

• eurovision song contest 2009