The Draw

[DanielLuis]

Its looks like SVT Wants to kill | semi2 is boring... so no prediction there..

Malta? Malta is almost 100% a sure qualifier now. Singing last in semis almost always guarantees qualification.

 

[ag89]

Russia 2015 was "fantastically unique"? Seriously? I agree with Albania 2012 and Latvia 2015 but Russia 2015? That was just some average cheesy ballad while the other two songs were truly different and outstanding.

You excluded the rest of my post: there is a reason why that song was unique. The reason is Polina, her charisma and presentation and I clearly wrote that.

She was not in my top 15 until I saw her in the semi-final. After that performance I was blown away and started to think she might win. Well, she was quite close.

 

[Chorizo]

You excluded the rest of my post: there is a reason why that song was unique. The reason is Polina, her charisma and presentation and I clearly wrote that.

She was not in my top 15 until I saw her in the semi-final. After that performance I was blown away and started to think she might win. Well, she was quite close.

Even a good singer doesn't make a rather ordinary song fantastically unique.

 

[ag89]

Even a good singer doesn't make a rather ordinary song fantastically unique.

Well, if you ask me she did and that's why I call it unique.

 

[Mii11]

You excluded the rest of my post: there is a reason why that song was unique. The reason is Polina, her charisma and presentation and I clearly wrote that.

She was not in my top 15 until I saw her in the semi-final. After that performance I was blown away and started to think she might win. Well, she was quite close.

If that's the case, why do you assume that Gabriela isn't charismatic ? We haven't seen the performance yet so maybe will blow everyone away, just like Polina.

 

[ag89]

If that's the case, why do you assume that Gabriela isn't charismatic ? We haven't seen the performance yet so maybe will blow everyone away, just like Polina.

I really hope she will because Czech Republic puts a lot of effort and they really deserve a decent result.

I have to admit I can hardly remember any female singer that was even close to Polina's charisma, but of course this is only my opinion.

 

[visstick]

What's up with all this conspiracy thinking.... I think the draw is actually well made and balanced.


(Yeah, i'm not at the SVT-is-evil-side)

 

[popavapeur]

I really hope she will because Czech Republic puts a lot of effort and they really deserve a decent result.

I have to admit I can hardly remember any female singer that was even close to Polina's charisma, but of course this is only my opinion.

You just said what i was thinking but with better words. Preach. (and thank you)

 

[ag89]

You just said what i was thinking but with better words. Preach. (and thank you)

You're welcome.

 

[Carrie]

Poor Rykka, that #3 may just ruin her. I think she can do it though

 

[Hele.]

This SVT power to decide about draw and their favoring of the favorites they like is really disgusting. Random order is only fair option despite all its lacks - if you get 1st or 2nd there you at least know you didn't have luck and not someone is intentionally ruing your chances. Really disgusting. Not more to add.

Eventually other suggestion would be to divide SFs into 4 quarters and final into 5 or even 6 parts. On this way they have really huge impact.

 

[Terence]

Ditto about Russia and Australia getting the best possible slots.

S1 - good opener from Finland. Greece COULD be in trouble but they will go through - with that song, almost any other country will fail from #2. I really hope The Netherlands and Czech Republic will go through - the latter will stand out after Russia.

With Iceland and Georgia requiring some possible big stage setting, you can tell where the ad breaks are?

Belgium closing SF2 ensures a sure qualification. Switzerland will finish last in S2. Slovenia second last. Poland somehow stands out. I don't think Albania will stand out, but Georgia will!

 

[Chorizo]

If that's the case, why do you assume that Gabriela isn't charismatic ? We haven't seen the performance yet so maybe will blow everyone away, just like Polina.

I think she will sound very classy after Sergey, so maybe SVT wanted to help her. Those that love Sergey might overlook her entry but those that don't like his style might like her much better in contrast to Sergey.

 

[VikingTiger]

Again we are speculating about what the draw will mean for the songs. It's not a good think to be amongst the first acts to perform. I think there are statistics that will support that... (?).

But once again I will ask: Do we really KNOW for sure if it matters if you are before or behind a favourite??? Coming in between two supposedly "bad" songs"; does it really enhance your chances to qualify??
I really cant get myself worked up by what I see as only empty speculations...

 

[tuorem]

But once again I will ask: Do we really KNOW for sure if it matters if you are before or behind a favourite??? Coming in between two supposedly "bad" songs"; does it really enhance your chances to qualify??
I really cant get myself worked up by what I see as only empty speculations...

I won't answer your questions because I'm not all-knowing but now that the draw isn't random anymore, one may assume that the EBU cares about spreading out favourites rather evenly in the draw, which may lead to think that in-between songs may be considered expendable material.

I think that it may be harder for the act performing after a favourite to impress, but it's difficult to tell because 1) some countries are never negatively affected by their starting positions and 2) the EBU tends to choose entries that won't stand a chance eventually (remember Iceland performing after Denmark 2013, Lithuania and Germany performing after Austria 2014, Switzerland and Cyprus performing after Sweden 2015..). Some will think it's just the result of mixing different genres well, I think they use some so-called "hopeless" entries to make others stand out even more. And somehow, it sounds logical: were you responsible for the draw, would you put all the favourites one after the other?

Of course, I have no proof - that you seem so eager to find - but so far nothing makes me think my assumption is untrue either.

 

[FilipFromSweden]

This SVT power to decide about draw and their favoring of the favorites they like is really disgusting. Random order is only fair option despite all its lacks - if you get 1st or 2nd there you at least know you didn't have luck and not someone is intentionally ruing your chances. Really disgusting. Not more to add.

Eventually other suggestion would be to divide SFs into 4 quarters and final into 5 or even 6 parts. On this way they have really huge impact.

How is it unfair?! Someone has to be 2nd no matter if it is random or decided upon producers. In the end the best song is going to win, not the starting position. The produced draw is here for a reason, to prevent a 2011 situation (you don't really want to open a show with a ballad) and there we're 3 slow songs after each other (France, Italy, Switzerland)

To be honest this #2 is just ridiculous. There is nothing wrong with that starting position, it is all just bogus. In 2011 the country that got the most had #2 as starting position (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

 

[VikingTiger]

the EBU tends to choose entries that won't stand a chance eventually (remember Iceland performing after Denmark 2013, Lithuania and Germany performing after Austria 2014, Switzerland and Cyprus performing after Sweden 2015..). Some will think it's just the result of mixing different genres well, I think they use some so-called "hopeless" entries to make others stand out even more. And somehow, it sounds logical: were you responsible for the draw, would you put all the favourites one after the other?

Of course, I have no proof - that you seem so eager to find - but so far nothing makes me think my assumption is untrue either.

So let's go back one year in time. It is true that Cyprus was placed right after Sweden. And not many people would have bet money on Cyprus. But I claim that most 2015 entires would werent concidered to be real contenders for the victory; so most entries would make "Sweden shine", I guess?
Norway was placed right before Sweden. A top 10 result for Norway was not a big surprise I think. So why didnt EBU put a "weaker" song before Sweden as well as after? And what about Norway - would they have ended even higher had they been followed not by Sweden, but by f.ex Austria??

On the other hand; Belgium was placed right after Australia. Two entries that were both mentioned on beforehand. And both did very well. Do you think these two lost votes because they were placed together? Could they have achieved even better results if they didn't try to "outshine" oneanother??

It just seems to me that many people in here are reading the running order with a very biased mind... One can always find "proof" or support for one's own theories or assumptions... So yes - I need proof; hard facts; in this case statistics.

 

[VikingTiger]

...moreover; Let's look a bit more on the results from 2015: From the final top 10 only Russia, Latvia and Italy were NOT placed with another entry from top 10.
Israel and Estonia were placed together. So were Australia and Belgium. On top of that you had the trio of Serbia, Norway and Sweden place together - all doing very well.

I am not at all sure of the impact the songs before and after makes on each and every entry's final score.

 

[Evalngelion]

The problem here is that the Ebu thinks we are 2 year old childs trying to convince us to believe that this Handpicked Running order is for making the contest more entertaining, In which Universe an order like this:

2. Poland
3. Switzerland
4. Israel
5. Belarus

In Semifinal 2 would make the contest more entertaining? i can't see any difference with Today's running order than 2009's
Random Order/Handpicked Order, aren't the same as obviously there's preference in th handpicked one, making it unfair and disgusting, Svt just turned the contest Bg Shit nowadays, always trying to change everything for their own pleasure.

 

[DanielLuis]

So let's go back one year in time. It is true that Cyprus was placed right after Sweden. And not many people would have bet money on Cyprus. But I claim that most 2015 entires would werent concidered to be real contenders for the victory; so most entries would make "Sweden shine", I guess?
Norway was placed right before Sweden. A top 10 result for Norway was not a big surprise I think. So why didnt EBU put a "weaker" song before Sweden as well as after? And what about Norway - would they have ended even higher had they been followed not by Sweden, but by f.ex Austria??

On the other hand; Belgium was placed right after Australia. Two entries that were both mentioned on beforehand. And both did very well. Do you think these two lost votes because they were placed together? Could they have achieved even better results if they didn't try to "outshine" oneanother??

It just seems to me that many people in here are reading the running order with a very biased mind... One can always find "proof" or support for one's own theories or assumptions... So yes - I need proof; hard facts; in this case statistics.

I absolutely agree with this, many people are just biased to see favouritism and conspiracies in this kind of thing. If they put favourites together they will say "they're trying to kill their chances", if they put the favourites apart with other songs between them "they're being so unfair to the songs placed around the favourites".

I think what matters is that the shows have indeed been more balanced these last few years.