OK, so what I do every year is print out the running order for each Semi, and put a mark beside the songs I like as we go along. And then when all the singing is finished, I go back and pick a Top 4. (For the Final, I pick a Top 6). Then when the results are announced, I put a “q” beside those that have qualified, and see how they compare with my choices.
So, here are my Top 4 from Semi Final 1:
For the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] position, I was actually dithering between Armenia and Austria. But, in the end, I went for Armenia, because it was one of only 2 songs not in English (I prefer it when the songs are not in English).
There was no question of the order for the Top 3. Albania was my favourite the whole way through, until Switzerland came on and just blew the competition away. I loved Croatia, but preferred the other two.
So, I was surprised that only Albania made it through. And I was even more surprised when Scott Mills was talking about it being a shock that they got through.
Here are the other countries which I liked, in the order they performed:
In fact, there were only 5 songs I didn’t like:
ALL of them qualified! :shocked:
OK, so I am used to not all of my Top 4 getting through (although, I was disappointed to have got only 1 through). But for all of the ones that I didn’t like to get through?! That was a shock.
I did get one pleasant surprise. Ever since Graham Norton was promoted to presenting the BBC’s coverage of the Final, Scott Mills has been presenting the Semis. For the past few years, he has been joined by Mel Giedroyc, and she was a good co-presenter (although, I actually preferred her predecessor, Ana Matronic from the Scissor Sisters).
But, at the start of the show, I found out Rylan Clarke had replaced Mel. And I was like “NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!” I found him unbearable when he was a contestant on the X Factor. And ever since I have been avoiding anything he has been presenting.
So, imagine my surprise when Rylan wasn’t unbearable last night. In fact, he was actually quite good.
I hope it is the same tomorrow night.
And I hope that Thursday proves to be a better night for the songs that I like.
CaroLiza_fan
So, here are my Top 4 from Semi Final 1:
- Switzerland
- Albania (q)
- Croatia
- Armenia
For the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] position, I was actually dithering between Armenia and Austria. But, in the end, I went for Armenia, because it was one of only 2 songs not in English (I prefer it when the songs are not in English).
There was no question of the order for the Top 3. Albania was my favourite the whole way through, until Switzerland came on and just blew the competition away. I loved Croatia, but preferred the other two.
So, I was surprised that only Albania made it through. And I was even more surprised when Scott Mills was talking about it being a shock that they got through.
Here are the other countries which I liked, in the order they performed:
- Azerbaijan
- Iceland
- Belgium
- Lithuania (q)
- Belarus
- Bulgaria (q)
- Macedonia
- Austria (q)
- Greece
- Ireland (q)
In fact, there were only 5 songs I didn’t like:
- Czech Republic – just didn’t think it was good enough.
- Israel – the whole way through this song, I was thinking “What on Earth am I watching / listening to?” It was awful!
- Estonia – No doubt about it, Elina is great at singing opera. But I don’t like female opera singers.
- Finland – Don’t get me wrong, Saara was as brilliant as ever. But, I didn’t like the song she was singing.
- Cyprus – OK, so I admit that I was hostile towards Eleni going into this because she is not from Cyprus (she is from Greece). But, this didn’t come into my assessment of the perfromance – I just plain didn’t like it.
ALL of them qualified! :shocked:
OK, so I am used to not all of my Top 4 getting through (although, I was disappointed to have got only 1 through). But for all of the ones that I didn’t like to get through?! That was a shock.
I did get one pleasant surprise. Ever since Graham Norton was promoted to presenting the BBC’s coverage of the Final, Scott Mills has been presenting the Semis. For the past few years, he has been joined by Mel Giedroyc, and she was a good co-presenter (although, I actually preferred her predecessor, Ana Matronic from the Scissor Sisters).
But, at the start of the show, I found out Rylan Clarke had replaced Mel. And I was like “NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!” I found him unbearable when he was a contestant on the X Factor. And ever since I have been avoiding anything he has been presenting.
So, imagine my surprise when Rylan wasn’t unbearable last night. In fact, he was actually quite good.
I hope it is the same tomorrow night.
And I hope that Thursday proves to be a better night for the songs that I like.
CaroLiza_fan