In what turned out to be a bit of a hot mess, the the production of this second semifinal was mirrored with awkwardness and seemingly technical difficulties. However, it actually was a very strong selection of songs… Here we go.

Malta – Firelight
=> Qualified
❗ Personal Favourite

Malta comes firing out the gates, quite literally with their song “Coming Home” which represents a new step forward for Malta. It’s mainstream, it’s catchy, and it’s actually performed pretty well. This folk inspired song has ethnic connections that allows it to be “legit” but also the chorus is really quite good. Lead singer is charismatic and attractive, and it just adds to the whole “value” of this piece with a country-pop crossover. Thank you so much backing vocals for actually being decent. Good luck to Malta – I actually like it!

Israel – Mei Finegold
❗ Personal Favourite

Poor Israel – they have been having a rough few years. And interestingly with this song, which is super power alto inspired, I truly believe that this is one of the better ones of the night that didn’t make it out. Diva on stage, with catchy verses, a chorus, and two backing dances that know how to shake their hips and strut. I think that what made the song a disconnect with a lot of viewers is that halfway through it transitions to Hebrew. It doesn’t bother me and I’m used to it, but the drama of not Beating from the Same Heart, and having a bitchin’ key change and strong ending, I can’t help but imagine that an all English version will be released and played in da clubs.

Norway – Carl Espen
=> Qualified
❗ Personal Favourite

Well this was unexpected to say the least. When I saw him I wasn’t thinking that this song was going to come out of him, but I can’t help but think that with my eyes closed it would be better. But then I realized that halfway through the song, they decided to play with lights, which is extremely effective. He doesn’t have to move, he doesn’t have to have dancers, he doesn’t have to have anything other than the simple song that speaks to the depths of our hearts. I just can’t help but feel it when he sings “And sometime I’ll become…” and feel it. Not the most visually appealing singer, but his voice is very raw and speaks to the strings of our hearts. Top-10 for sure, at least I can hope. Good job Norway!

Georgia – The Shin and Mariko

What the fuck is this? I can’t help but wonder if this is actually English, but really what the hell has Georgia done here? I want to see the sheet-music, because really I can’t figure out how it’s written as the syncopation and the changes in tempo and rhythms and time signatures is enough to confuse a person. While our lovely female singer starts to sing I can’t help that the tone of her voice is just “typical” from that region. They all sound the same. It makes me think of some real flops in the English language in the past – this is up there with the awkward performances in recent years.

Poland – Donatan & Cleo
=> Qualified

I’m biased, I really am. If you’ve read my blogs over the last decade about my reviews of Poland, I’m always, frankly, harsh. But seriously I feel like I have reason to be. What the fuck are you doing Poland? Every time that you come to Eurovision (with few exceptions) you bring something slutty. Skanky, slutty, dirty, just ugh. Was it necessary to have boobs all over the place, and have “sexy” churning butter, and then more boobs popping out while washing clothing on stage? I don’t get it – really don’t get it. Why can’t you keep it classy? It’s ethnically charged, and English is horrible, and despite Cleo being pretty, it’s just wrong. GO HOME POLAND! By the way, who and where was Donatan?

Austria – Conchita Wurst
=> Qualified
❗ Personal Favourite

Arguably the most controversial entry this year, I was a bit perplexed. It started with a voice, which I felt sounded male, and then the figure in the shadows looked to be wearing a dress, and then the lights turned on and it was a transvestite female with a full beard. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it, but then it made sense. I thought, Austria… really? Maybe from somewhere more progressive, but Austria has always made me feel like they have something shoved up their bums. Then I listened and I was incredibly impressed by the strong song, the strong performance, which frankly just knocks you off your feet. Keeping your eyes closed you wouldn’t care, and because it’s such a disconnect from the visual it makes it difficult to judge. The LGBTAQ* community is behind this entry 100% so I wouldn’t be surprised if it won. It’s a dark horse, but a strong possibility. I just wish that she would stop saying “fabulous” and sounding like a drag queen diva. I mean that in the nicest way.

Lithuania – Vilija Matačiūnaitė

This one is a weird one. Lithuania does seem to have an interesting interpretation when it comes to music, but this black and neon green production just leaves me thinking “uhmm okay.” If we yelled a little bit more into the microphone it would be a little bit more unattractive, but really at the end of the day she has a decent voice. Seems like a bit of a try hard scat version of Rihanna. But then it just gets annoying whenever she says “Attention” and I frankly lose attention. This one might be one of the votes for worst dressed of the year – I feel bad.

Finland – Softengine
=> Qualified
❗ Personal Favourite

So Finland sends some teenagers from Seinäjoki with a teen band that sounds, well teen-bandish. And the odd part about the whole thing is that I’m oddly intrigued by it, and actually is a decent radio song. It won’t win, for sure, but it’s a strong entry that would appeal the straight male population that watches Eurovision (where are they?!). The song really picks up then the beat comes in, and then mixed in with a strange accent in English and a fabulous light show, it’s one of the more manly entries of the year. Only high school students have a good career ahead of them if they chose to pursue it. I was a little put off by the fact that the lead singer was having difficulties making eye contact with the camera, but it seems typically Finnish to me. And that’s why I find that culture so unfathomably hot. This song is a bit of what I would call “an anthem” that makes me close my eyes and just flail around dancing and bopping all over the place.

Ireland – Can-Linn feat. Kasey Smith
❗ Personal Favoruite

This one is a strange one for me. I like the song, it’s decent, but the visual representation of it really was the disconnect for me. It’s not a winning song by any means, but Ireland tried something different. They just can’t seem to break away from being typically Irish. I will explain: there are Irish images all over, men in strange outfits Irish Dancing and mixing it with modern hip hop dance moves, and then all of a sudden we have a singer that looks like she’s playing a tribute to ABBA and the 60s and 70s with a modern song. It took me awhile to figure out that the main singer is Kasey Smith, so who the heck is Can-Linn? I can only assume it’s the band. Men in skirts Irish dancing is always a risky move. This song would make a good acoustic ballad version, I think. Next time be… less Irish?

Belarus – Teo
=> Qualified

Go home Belarus. You send cheesy entries and ones that make me roll my eyes. Really tho, crusty goatees and trying to look like the rest of Europe and a modern country really doesn’t sell well especially when we know what goes on there. I hate this song, and I hate that it’s in the Final because it takes the spot of other decent songs that deserve it better. Boo, go home Belarus!

F.Y.R. Macedonia – Teo
❗ Personal Favourite

I’m in a fleeting relationship with F.Y.R. Macedonia and it’s entries in the past years. I sometimes like them and I sometimes don’t, and unlike Romania, it’s not always in the top choices for me. This one was really good, and it didn’t qualify. I’m gutted. It’s so simple – I mean she’s dressed in black and white with gorgeous blue earrings and nails. It’s the perfect accessories. This is the radio favourite of the year, I think. It’a true club summer mix – and I hope that I will hear it on the radio going forward because it totally deserves it. It was simple presentation and not too over the top, which is what I can some times like, and the backing vocals didn’t screw her over and actually contributed to the overall goodness of the production.

Switzerland – Sebalter
=> Qualified
❗ Personal Favourite

Lots of hate for this one, but I actually am quite impressed by the whistling. They are clearly francophone Swiss people, but really that doesn’t bother me. I think the lead singer is somewhat indulgent in himself and probably would do himself if he had the chance, and it comes through the camera. This folk-inspired pop song with a banjo makes us think of a springtime love song that doesn’t end very well. I’m a bit surprised that it qualified, but having said that this year there are a few surprises. It’s better than some of the other qualifiers, but alas I never win!

Greece – Freaky Fortune feat. RiskyKidd
=> Qualified
❗ Personal Favourite

What a hot mess on screen. It’s all over the place and I never really understood where it was going. They looked nervous, they sang decently, but the song is the stronger aspect of this (minus the rap). It’s a disconnect from the typical Greek beach time song, but really gets us to “Rise Up” and get dancing. Fusion of rap and club-mix turns out to be the Mandinga summer hit of the year. Greece seemingly can never fail to qualify (don’t understand that), but this song is a good one. It’s got catchy modern twist and decent vocals – just watching it is a bit of a struggle. Top-10 for sur, maybe even in Top-5 because Europe is just confused half the time. I mean they even have trampolines!?

Slovenia – Tinkara Kovač
=> Qualified
❗ Personal Favourite

Dat flute yo. As a flautist myself, I’m impressed when a singer can do both like me. I can sing and play, but that’s enough of tooting my own horn. Tinkara really rocks this one out. I have no idea what she’s saying half the time but I’m going round and round with her. This one is modern and it’s a mixture of strong and light, as the bass only poppa in here and there. Is it love or is it hate, as she says. The only problem is that songs that “what are we doing?” in the lyrics tend to get mocked by the viewers. I’m glad to see that this one made it through and we can see it again.

Romania – Paula Seling & Ovi
=> Qualified
❗ Personal Favourite

Returning this year from a few years back with a less inspiring song that is still interesting. A circular piano, female falsetto, and graphics that make Paula seem like she’s turning to dust and popping up somewhere else. It’s a club hit, for sur, and it will it end up somewhere in the middle, I just think it lacked something and just was a bunch of arms moving around. Flail is a good way to say, which is pretty sad considering the last time they did fairly well. They can sing, it’s true, but at least at the end of the day they will allow us to sing and dance along.

So after the evening is through, as you can see I had a lot of favourites but the best songs did get through for the most part. Congratulations for Australia’s début (unofficially) in the contest. Now all I have to do is make sure that I can find an internet connection good enough to stream on Saturday for the final!