Semi-Final 1: our last ratings
In the meantime it has become a tradition of eurovisionlive to do some last ratings before the live shows. That’s our impression and feeling about the entries, songs and singers.
Please forgive a little sarcasm and don’t take it too seriously:
01 Lithuania: Put on your dancing shoes and dance alone.
Wow, what a great opener for this Eurovision Song Contest under these crazy circumstances. Everything is in shrill colours yellow and lilac, there is a strong disco beat to the song “Discoteque”. Unfortunately, there is no dancefloor this year in the Ahoy Arena, instead the mega “Green Room” takes all the place. The Roop has been one of the favourites last year with “On Fire”, this year the song is even cooler, but in the bets it’s not under the top three. It’s a very sure qualifier for the Grand Final on Saturday. Everything is perfect and the guys are showing all what they can with such an enthusiasm. Enviable.
02 Slovenia: This is pure goose-bumps feeling, what a voice!
This is probably the dark horse this year! Ana Soklič has a deep and strong voice, it even sounds a bit like Conchita Wurst when closing the eyes. The stage show is beautifully, the Slovenian landscapes are wonderful as well. The big question is, why is Slovenia on the bottom of the bets? Didn’t the people listen to that song? This should not be underestimated, remember North Macedonia in 2019, which nobody had on its card.
03 Russia: Woman power with a big heart, from Russia with Love
Oh Russia, this is something very special. It all starts with a big Matryoshka, which has been made from cloth coming from all Russian regions. Manizha gets out of the Matryoshka and appears in a red overall. It’s all about women’s rights and Manizha seem to be the best ambassador for this tonight. The good choir is putting this song to an epic performance. This time it’s easy to like Russia a lot, and Manizha is a power woman, who will definitely get enough points for the Grand Final.
04 Sweden: A million voices – a million votes for Tusse, he deserves it
For the Swedes, the national final is the most watched show of the year, beside of the Eurovision Song Contest. Every Swede would like to know, how Sweden is shaping this year? Tusse is a very cool guy, who is still at school and has had a hard life already, who had to flee from Congo because of a civil war. What a story and development, now he is standing on the big ESC stage and representing the country, which has been taken him in. He is VERY popular in Sweden and he will get many new fans, wherever he will end up.
05 Australia: Music is art and this song is technicolour
Unfortunately, the Australian singer Montaigne and the entire Australian delegation could not come to Rotterdam this year. Even if the organizers say that’s no problem, it’s definitely not the same. Montaigne could not even sing live in a studio, it’s a recorded stage performance. The song itself is a bit weird and not easy to listen to, it’s a piece of art. This could be the first time that Australia does not make it into the Grand Final.
06 North Macedonia: Let the musical begin!
Now it’s musical time! Make sure to have enough sparkling drinks and some nice snacks. It feels like being in London’s Westend or on New York’s Broadway. For Vasil, a big dream comes true, the stage looks magnificent, the mirror pieces shining on his chest. Vocally, Vasil is one of the best this year. The song is a bit too schmaltzy and exaggerated, hence it’s more musical though.
07 Ireand: The flip books show
Lesley Roy extra travelled from New York to Rotterdam. She has left her home country Ireland some years ago and did not need any national final. Her stage show is different, a lot of silhouettes have been created for this, which is very unusual. She sings barefoot like Sandy Shaw and wears an Irish green jumpsuit. It’s fresh and fruity.
08 Cyprus: Let the devil go on stage – this is very sexy!
The Mediterranean country of Cyprus is on the right way to rock the ESC. Since a couple of years the entries are getting better and better. The songs “Fuego” and “Replay” have been very popular, now it’s time for “El Diablo”, another up-tempo song, with a lot of sexiness. The famous Greek-Cypriot singer Elena Tsagrinou shows a perfect choreographed dance show. For the Orthodox Church in Cyprus it was a scandal to title the song “El Diablo”. Even Zara Larsson will notice some similarities with her own performances. Nevertheless, it’s a great and powerful song, which could be the summer hit 2021.
09 Norway: An angel in chains with an important message
After all the dance songs it’s time for something smooth and beautiful. The Norwegian song “Fallen Angel” is also having the angel / devil reference. The melody is lovely and the singer TIX is singing of his inner twist between good and bad. The stage show is building on this, demons rotate around him and it’s very catchy. TIX is suffering from the Tourette syndrome and he is a self-proclaimed ambassador to live openly with it. In the dress rehearsal he lifted his sunglasses for the first time. Very cool!
10 Croatia: Intergalactic outfits dance to “Tick-Tock”
And there is another up-tempo song coming from Croatia. The lovely Albina will not be the last wearing silver this year, there is more to come. Her dress looks like the one of the beautiful TV creature “Species”. With her sexy background dancers Albina rocks the stage another time. With this modern dance song, Croatia seem to be on the right way for success. It would be great to see Croatia in the Grand Final again.
11 Belgium: Let’s enjoy a whiskey and listen to music
This is a really sophisticated entry with no chi chis, no colourful props and fireworks, just good music. The band is allocated on four different podiums and the lead singer Geike is in the middle. It’s all in black, the rhinestones are blinking on Geike’s black dress and it leads you into another world. It feels like a club concert somewhere in London or Sydney. Falling out of the ordinary is often been seen as positive at Eurovision. The TV viewers have time to relax their ears during this performance. Go Belgium!
12 Israel: The highest tone in Eurovision ever!
The Israeli entries are known for their good choreographies, it’s no exception this year. Lovely Eden Alene looks like a queen with her hair crown, surrounded by her male dancers. There is rhythm and joy. And no question, her high tone she is going to sing at the end of the song will be the highest in Eurovision history.
13 Romania: Too much amnesia will people make asleep
The land of Dracula is coming. The stage performance from Roxen is a bit scary too, as she is singing about amnesia. It’s not easy to act like this and fulfil three minutes. The background dancers put her up and down, but the melody does not come through. Roxen had big hits, which have even been in the charts in Mexico, but this one will probably forgotten after the recap.
14 Azerbaijan: Welcome to another exotic world with Efendi
As always there is something exciting coming from Azerbaijan. The stage setting is exotic, Indian Goddesses appear, a big snake, mystic dancing and a strain rhythm accompanies Efendi’s beautiful singing. The stage has no props this time, but the entire show demonstrates a good hand in choreography and building up musical excitement, the last part gets faster. This kind of song has never been heard at Eurovision. A masterpiece.
15 Ukraine: This one is to watch and dance
This is another unusual song. The ethno-techno song from the band Go_A is animating and hypnotic. It celebrates the beginning of spring, people should dance and leave the sorrows behind. The sound of the flute and the “white singing” of Kateryna, the lead singer is fascinating, different but very cool. They seem to be one of the safest qualifiers tonight. Sympathetic and extraneous at the same time.
16 Malta: The JESC winner is on her way to glory.
Destiny has already won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Is she able to win the Eurovision Song Contest as well? She is only 18 years old and spreads out very sympathetic vibes and joy. It’s great to see her enjoying her stage performance. In some parts she grows beyond herself, when the backdrop is glittering and she looks like a big US soul star.
