ESC 2019 General Discussion Thread

[NemesisNick]

Today is Tuesday 14 May 2019. The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 First Semi-Final takes place at the Expo Tel Aviv (International Convention Center), Tel Aviv, Israel tonight, starting at 20:00 BST. The 17 countries taking part tonight, in order of appearance, will be:

Cyprus, Montenegro, Finland, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belarus, Serbia, Belgium, Georgia, Australia, Iceland, Estonia, Portugal, Greece, San Marino.

Each of those countries will be able to vote in tonight's semi-final. Three of the six direct finalists France, Spain, and the host country Israel will also be able to vote in tonight's semi-final.

The ten highest placed countries, by a combination of jury voting and televoting, will proceed to Saturday night's Grand Final. Those ten qualifying countries will be announced in a random order just before the end of tonight's semi-final; the actual results of all 17 countries will only be revealed to the public after Saturday night's Grand Final is all over. Anyway good luck to tonight's 17 semi-finalists, may the best ten qualify to Saturday night's Grand Final.

 

[Preuss]

I think it's between Greece and Australia to win the semi, and then hopefully Katerine and Kate get a good draw for the final although I don't think it matters where they're placed in the running-order

 

[Vittra]

Better late than never, but I FINALLY listened to and rated all the songs in Semi 1. It seems like this forum and I disagree on a lot of songs, especially Portugal and Iceland. My favourite tonight is Greece, followed by Serbia.

 

[Stargazer]

This is not the place for political discussion guys.

It's a very serious and highly relevant conflict of course, but we ask you to take that discussion to the Politics forum.

 

[Stargazer]

If you want to get into the Eurovision spirit for tonight, come join me and listen to/play all your favorite Eurovision songs!

[url]>>> https://plug.dj/eurovision-song-contest <<<[/url]

 

[Milos-BC]

My predictions for tonight's qualifiers (not my own taste in some cases, just to clarify):


Cyprus

Slovenia

Czech Republic

Hungary

Serbia

Belgium

Georgia

Australia

Iceland

Greece


Good luck to everyone!

 

[simonPL]

Did they change a way to announce 10 finalists from semi? I've heard some rumors on some blogs that they will be announced in different way but I don't know if it is true?

 

[Gitte]

Did this just happen? Really happen?

No hungary with ex-top 10'er Joci Papai, no epic Georgia, no hella interesting Poland, or Portugal. Not even my own country: good-song-bad-mehh-performance Belgium.

Instead, San Marino.

Like it more than Cyprus though. Her staging and the pre-show love (not from me ) probably saved her.

 

[Sammy]

Overall I‘m satisfied with the result. I would have prefered Hungary instead of Slovenia, but for the rest, I‘m ok with the outcome.

 

[Teaisloveable]

I think Portugal and Hungary should have been there tbh.
Also sad for Belgium and Poland.

Cyprus were shaky tonight, it was questionable if they should have got through.

Happy for Australia, Iceland, Czech Republic and Greece. Belarus really surprised me too!

Also BBC had a bit of a technical hickup at the end of the night... Luckily after the results were revealed! Certainly hope that won't be happening on Saturday...

 

[Antho]

I feel sorry for Portugal. They deserved to qualify, not only because the song was good, but also because this country has been struggling a lot before they won in 2017 and now that they were starting to be more involved in the contest they're just thrown away like shit. And San Marino qualifies instead. Disappointing

 

[FilipFromSweden]

Production - more than good enough, even though the camera work was wonky as hell. I love the roof triangles and how it showcases the flag, but the stage is a bit uninspiring overall. It's a bit like a diet version of the 2017 stage

Hosts - terrible as usual

- clearly doesn't live up to studio version but I like the overall energy and Tamta is fierce

- amazingly awful

- 40 year old age crisis in a song

- this is honestly one of the worst songs I've ever heard, I wanted it to be over in the first 5 seconds

- the most intimate song of the night, passionate and quite real. But it's bullshit that they don't actually wanna compete since they jumped when qualifying.

- I just can't remember how it sounded. A bit Armenia last year? Qami

- this is as plastic as it gets, but it somehow gets me a bit hooked. Zena is like a fish in water on stage and she takes over the song and not vice versa

- generic

- really surprised this failed, I thought it would make top 10 in the final. I adore the mellow pop feeling

- I like the passion and that's it

- beautiful, playfull and something different. Kate really comes through in this performance.

- I want this entry to make me a slave and use me

- it's like a Spice Girls song, it's nice once in a while

- I looooooooooveeeeed it. The middle eastern/southern tones, the choreography and the outfits, just everything about it. Direct to my Spotify

- Greece but it has overcome it's inner saboteur. This is the Greece I love! Shameless and romantic, a touch of Lana Del Ray

- he is back and better than ever. San Marino used to be this underdog who struggled but tonight they dragged several countries through the dirt with this energetic and colorfull entry

Cries a tear for and

 

[Preuss]

Whoever came 10th in the semi should be so grateful that MARUV pulled out

 

[Pawhlen]

Whoever came 10th in the semi should be so grateful that MARUV pulled out

I would guess that or might be the 10th in this semi or even maybe

I actually think was 7th or 8th

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Absolutely fantastic job Israel, brilliant hosts of Eurovision!

Tonight was one of the best semis in years! Fantastic show

 

[A-lister]

Wow, two of the worst entries of the semi and some of the worst of the whole edition ( , ) qualified? And this with so called "expert juries" onboard ? And continuous slaughter of all local sounds as per usual ( , , )... that's really a shame and I wouldn't be surprised when the full results come that juries pushed the more generic , , over those

On a good note though, my top. 3 in the semi ( , , ) all managed to qualify... I'm sad for in particular since that was one of my early favs , but the performance was weak unfortunately I would have exchanged , , , with , , , ... so all in all I only got 6/10 to the finals , not the best start so hope semi 2 will go more my way

The show and staging was great however, but we would have to go back to 2016 to have actual good hosts... I hope the trend with 3+ hosts with unnecessary lines will stop really although the balance of staging time was better here than in Portugal last year... generally good production and use of stage and screens though so congrats to KAN and Israel for the production value so far

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

My SF1 qualifiers were:



7/10

 

[midnightsun]

- 40 year old age crisis in a song

That‘s probably why I feel addressed and love it so much!

 

[mauve]

I am very happy about Iceland, Czech Republic, San Marino and Slovenia. And very sad about Georgia, Poland and Portugal. The rest I don't care much for. Now I am awaiting Semi 2. Maybe with many surprises again.

 

[Brandt]

I thought the flags weren't allowed in this year. What am I missing?