As is now tradition, the opening portion of the first semifinal for the Eurovision Song Contest has to be grand, and the opening number fits that description. We have famously highly regarded high finishers Eleni Foureira (Cyprus 2018), Eric Saade (2011), and Chanel (Spain 2022) performing their now-iconic numbers "Fuego", "Popular", and "Slo-Mo" respectively. All were in top form, and I especially love the remix done on Eric Saade's song, as in its original mix I couldn't get behind it as I found it sounding like German duo Modern Talking in their 1980s heyday, which for me was what I associate with utterly tacky music as it was ubiquitously playing at jeepneys and low-grade honky-tonk bars when I was younger. Anyway, there was controversy in this opening sequence as Eric opted to wear a keffiyeh on his wrist, whic the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) officers view as an unwanted political statement denouncing the ongoing war in Gaza. But for me, Eric has a right to make such a statement because he is of Lebanese/Palestinean heritage and as much as EBU has to appease a key sponsor and the Israeli side of the situation, there should be room for the other side to express their views, albeit silently. This is why the EBU did not officially load this sequence in their official YouTube channel and we have to parse those sequences using other sources.
Of course, after the opening number, we were introduced to our hosts for the entire contest, actress Malin Åckerman and Petra Mede. Both of them hit the ground running and prove to be terrific hosts, Malin proving poised and polised and Petra always being amusing and witty. I especially love those quips Petra made about Malin being a famous Hollywood actress and her being famous mainly every time Eurovision comes along. They were both flawless throughout this evening.
As the competition went underway, of course we could not forget that to introduce each entry we have the postcards. This year, they have a format where they highlight clips from two entries from that country's history and then a TikTok-style video footage of the performers doing their everyday things. It's a well-executed package that I wonder how subsequent editions could top it.
After all the performances were done and the voting window was open, This of course calls for an interval act, and this time they hired the other perosn who won this contest two times--Ireland's Johnny Logan, who performed his cover of Loreen's 2012 winning entry, "Euphoria" He did a good job adopting the song into his ballad style and I respect him turning the closing "up, up, up, up, uuuup" line in the chorus into a single, lengthy, sustained "up". But I have to note his performance was far from perfect as there were a few cracks and the climactic high note wasn't sustained. Still much respect to this Eurovision legend.
After the voting window closed and the results being tabulated, we were treated to a performance by 2018 alumni Benjamin Ingrosso, whose 7th place finish was jokingly quipped by Malin as "a disaster". Benjamin performed a medley of his newer songs, "Look Who's Laughing Now", :Kite" and "Honey Boy". I normally don't like guys who decided to grow their hair long, but Benjamin delivers an Aaron Taylor Johnson-meets-John Travolta energy and swagger that I dig it and ultimately don't mind the look. It befits the disco direction his latest music is taking.
Then of course came the climactic moment of the evening, the announcement of the 10 qualifiers to the Grand Final. Though I tend to know who were going to make it and nine out of the 10 I got correct, I felt that rush of satisfaction when I hear the names of the countries that qualifed announced and as the last country was announced, I felt sorry for tose that are left out.
It's sad that the two Eurovision returnees turned into the most obvious non-qualifiers in this batch. We have to appreciate the effort MOLDOVA (Natalia Barbu) and ICELAND (Hera Björk) brought to their performances as vocally they were both on-point. It's just that that songs and staging didin't make as strong an impact as those who qualified.
I also appreciate the stagng delivered by AZERBAIJAN (Fahree featuring Ilkin Dovlatov) with those huge hand props and desert backdrop, but I knew the song just doesn't make that strong an impact.
We have to hand it to AUSTRALIA (Electric Fields) for bringing in a digeridoo player to jazz up the presentation, but we all know their standing was always precarious in this group. Much respect to them even if they delivered the second time shut-out from the Grand Final for this country.
I expected POLAND (Luna) to make it based on its staging and the expected diaspora vote, but apparaently the latter failed to materialize. I bet it only miss by a few slivers and perhaps what hurt its chances was that the vocals were not that pitch perfect.
Before we discuss the qualifiers, time to talk about the automatic qualifiers who performed alongside the semifinalists.
We have to salute GERMANY (Isaak) for the staging of the song and the strong vocal performance delivered by the artist. Though I wish there was a fireworks climax at the end, hope for this country not finishing last this time seems to be going brighter and brighter. Can they even rise above Bottom Five?
SWEDEN (Marcus & Martinus) as expected brought the Matrix-style presentation from Melodifestivalen to this stage and it's a spectacle to behold. It will become a jury darling, no doubt, but will the televoting public also rally behind it?
But in terms of staging, I like UNITED KINGDOM (Olly Alexander) the best, as I like those sexy backup dancers. They were such standouts that they were used in a gag where Petra needed help going down the steps so she can interview Bambie Thug and employed the assistance of Olly's backup dancers to escort her down the steps.. My worry though is that Olly's vocals are imperfect, so I don't know how that would impact in the voting.
It's time to discuss the qualifiers.
I know I didn't forecast CYPRUS (Silia Kapsis) as a qualifier as I thought her streetwear style would be overshadowed by POLAND, but I'm not that surprised that she actually did, as her vocals and dancing were generally on-point. And much respect as they didn't need GREECE's help to go through.
Now, I'm mightily pleased that the quality entries from SERBIA (Teya Dora) and SLOVENIA (raiven) got in, and though we can attribute it to a likely strong Balkan bloc that they form with powerouse CROATIA, I'm glad they seem to have enough support from the rest of the group to advance. Was there a diaspora factor at play here as well?
In a similar vein, I'm also extremely pleased at PORTUGAL (Iolanda) making it. I thought on LUXEMBOURG could propel this forward, but it seems the televoting public also appreciate a quality entry when they see one.
Speaking of LUXEMBOURG (Tali), I find her male backup dancers highly appealing that they rival Olly's hunks. There were some fans who fret that they are vulnerable and might miss the cut, but I'm glad there was enough popular support for this entry, and this considering that traditional allies like BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS, and FRANCE are not in their bracket.
The cheeky and flashy presentation delivered by FINLAND (Windows95man) is undeniably a televote magnet so qualification in this round is expected. Now, I'm curious on how it will fare with the juries in the final.
LITHUANIA (Silvester Belt)'s moody club light show is a highlight. Now can it deliver on its mission to bring forth this country's best finish in this contest ever?
IRELAND (Bambie Thug) delivered the artistic highlight of the evening, as indeed they cast an indelible spell with their presentation that combines interpretative dance and Wiccan rituals (yes, some conservatives may view this as "demonic"). I'm curious at how high it actually fared with both the juries and public at the Grand Final.
UKRAINE (Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil) can be relied upon to deliver epic staging and this entry doesn't disappoint in that aspect. Some might be divided about the shaky-cam effect made when Alyona Alyona did her rap (is it a bit of a fat joke or just a reflection of the heft of the message Alyona was delivering?) but the closing LED floor tableau of women reclining is gorgeous and iconic.
As expected by now, CROATIA (Baby Lasagna) proved why he's a frontrunner to win this contest, as he delivered on charisma and fireworks worthy of this rocking number. But tere are contenders performing from the second semifinal who could still wrest the crown from him. Still, undoubtedly he dominated this round and I'm rooting for him to shine in the Grand Final.
So far, an impressive start for this contest. Let's see how the second semi-final would unfold and how that would impact the Grand Final.
JUST ME!
JOSEPH
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