ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - As it happened

[bochan]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

1st half

 

[Avrovizyon]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

"The uploader has not made this video available in your country." - Well done, EBU.

Same here... They seem to have forgotten to unblock Germany.

 

[Avrovizyon]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

I see it on the webpage:
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/webtv?program=213573

Thank you, it works!!

 

[Musicosity]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

I see it on the webpage:
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/webtv?program=213573

Thanks!

 

[Eurovisionified]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

"The uploader has not made this video available in your country." - Well done, EBU.

"We live in a global world"

 

[midnightsun]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

I think with all the dance pop schlager songs out, there is an obvious pattern: voters liked slower songs, ballads, original rock songs.
This will help countries like the Netherlands, Israel, Ukraine, Australia in the final. Russia will have a very hard time winning. ATM I don't see it winning.

 

[Edward]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

Happy for &

Sad for , , &

 

[Jacketh]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

Do you know what time will the running order be announced?

This!

 

[Musicosity]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

Sanja sounds like she spends lots of time in the USA.

 

[Carian]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

I think with all the dance pop schlager songs out, there is an obvious pattern: voters liked slower songs, ballads, original rock songs.
This will help countries like the Netherlands, Israel, Ukraine, Australia in the final. Russia will have a very hard time winning. ATM I don't see it winning.

I think that actually Russia will stand out among these finalists... All of the countries you've just mentioned are rather slow paced, while Russia is an up-tempo song. So, Australia and Israel are totally in the same rang, and Ukraine is not far from them - also Netherlands is a rather easy going pop-country... I dont know...

 

[NemesisNick]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

Here are the results, which were announced in a random order at 21:58 BST.

My desired qualifiers: Latvia, Israel, Ireland, Lithuania, Australia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, plus two (and no more) of Poland, Switzerland, Belarus, Denmark, Norway

Actual qualifiers (in order of announcement): Latvia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Australia, Ukraine, Serbia, Poland, Israel, Lithuania, Belgium.

Bold entries represent the actual qualifiers that match my preferences.

OUT: Switzerland, Belarus, Ireland, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Slovenia, Denmark, Norway, Albania.

More about the results, including my personal opinions, is available here:
http://nemesis-nick.blogspot.co.uk/...t-2016-semi-final_12.html#ESC2016_SF2_results

 

[ParadiseES]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

Gosh, all the slow tempo songs are going to the first half. Only Bulgaria, Belgium and France are real uptempo in the first half.

 

[aef]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

2nd half for and !!

 

[aef]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

OMG I really don't want or to win :? Although s performance is amazing

 

[Musicosity]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

OMG I really don't want or to win :? Although s performance is amazing

Belgium! They deserve it for Laura and all their recent entries. And the time couldn't be better.

 

[tuorem]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

Ok, semi 2 is over and like on Tuesday night, I wanted to leave here my first impressions about the songs and results. This was the first time I listened to the songs, so my opinion about some of them may change when I get familiar with them. I must say it officially, but this year is WEAK AF! Weak like 2013, which was held in Sweden too... And I found the whole semi 2 lineup totally ABYSMAL, there are no bad songs, but hell, almost everything sounds the same to me, which isn't good a sign. :? I'm quite disappointed tbh.

Here are my impressions about the songs:

I had high expectations about this one since Aminata wrote it, but this is nowhere near as good and special as Love Injected. The arrangements are modern and neat, but the melody is really standard, lyrics are :? and I wasn't convinced by Justs's performance, I felt like it was shouting for shout sake. I'll give it another chance, maybe it's a grower, I don't know, but for now, I don't like it.
Powerful performance by Michal, I must say the song is really good, almost anthemic in its chorus, I enjoyed it a lot. His voice is nice and he was emotional, you've got my stamp of approval Poland!
I see now why this song was at the bottom of the odds, it's pretty to listen to but it's got nothing memorable. Time To Shine was stronger than this last year imo. The girl was cute, she did her job vocally, but that's all. Sorry Switzerland, it's weak.
Our commentators were 100% for Hovi, and I thought I'd be too... But no, the chemistry wasn't there. He's got a good voice, he performed well, but the song is meh (and I'm generally weak with ballads, so it says a lot). Milim was miles better in 2010.
I'm confused about this one. First visually, I didn't like all these "attention whore" gimmicks with Ivan naked, the baby at the end, etc. I need to listen to it again, but I found the song weak at first listen. I don't know what the studio version sounds like, but I felt like his vocals weren't good either. Overall, it was all show and no substance (the exact opposite of their 2015 entry).
Serbia was praised a lot on the forum. Yes, Sanja performed well, but her voice doesn't seem powerful enough for the song to me, it doesn't "explode" as much as it should. The song is a pretty ballad, not really original but probably one of the best ones this year, it lacks a climax though, I felt like the "tension" was too even throughout the song. I got Maja Keuc's vibes when the backing vocalists joined her at the end OK effort I guess, needs more listens maybe.
Now that was cheesy! Gosh, another Mans copy with nothing to offer in the musical department. His vocals were weird, he sounded like he was on the verge of singing out of tune several times, and seriously the song was inoffensive. No No No, sorry Ireland!
HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! I love Kaliopi and her voice, but what is this? No way she could qualify with such a dated and bland song with annoying chorus, the dress was random, the staging non-existent... Macedonia you did it again, this was 50 shades of wrong. Bring Crno i Belo back, thanks.
Mans copycat n°3456 with Swedish import. Big yawn actually, ok performance, nothing happens on stage, this is good enough for Melfest, not for Eurovision imo. Level zero of creativity.
So, here is the much talked about favourite... The song is not bad, I like the verses better than the chorus though, which is repetitive and not that interesting. I like big voices in general, but it kinda sounds like an excuse for vocal demonstration. I liked the presentation, quite simple but effective, Dami is cute. But it's not original, it will probably top the scoreboard in one way or another though.
Ok, I know I bashed the song because I find it mediocre compared with the other Slovenian option this year. BUT as the level of this semi is so low, I surprisingly enjoyed ManuElla's performance. The lyrics remain silly but the melody was quite ok and somehow "stood out" to me. Actually, I would have made her qualify if it was up to me.
another fave, I see why people like it, but I'm not sure about it yet. The part in Bulgarian is weird, but I must say I like this way more than Na Inat. I don't remember the staging, just Poli's gorgeous outfit and stunning black lipstick
After Slovenia, I've come to appreciate Denmark (what's wrong with me tonight?) Nothing amazing but the melody was actually way nicer than The Way You Are and their past bland entries. I wouldn't have minded them qualifying this time, but it seems they failed again! Oops!
Only highlight of the night for me. Jamala is just on another league. Oddly enough, I was expecting a more in-your-face chorus like Suus... BUT this one is amazing in every way. I can't see this winning unfortunately, but it should imo. Very emotional performance, love the Crimean Tatar language and the local instrument impersonation. Staging was awesome too, in one word: magnetic! Thank you Ukraine!
Norway didn't let me down either, but there must be one big unfair non-qualification every year, right? I enjoyed Icebreaker very much and the change of pace is precisely what makes the song special. Agnete's vocals were great. The staging was kinda random though, still it was worth a place in the final. Well done guys!
I surprisingly liked this (like Montenegro), not my fave but it stood out, the staging was epileptically psychedelic and the performance was on point. That's how you wash away all the plastic pop songs from your way. Bold choice by Georgia, lots of countries should learn something from them tbh.
Anonymous song with cliché lyrics, the performance wasn't convincing either. The melody was... there, nothing to move in it. Come on Albania, where are your amazing songs?
Cute act! Funk-ish music isn't my jam, but this was an enjoyable one. Laura was energetic and fun to watch, definitely added some variety to this homogeneous unexciting lineup.

Result-wise, I'm pretty satisfied, the only failure that truly breaks my heart is
I'm glad and made it. was of course among my faves.
Also very happy about qualifying against all odds, alternative music rocked da house!
Pleased to see qualifying after so many years, well deserved!
I'm ok with and getting through, even if I'm not that fond of them at the moment, they were among the best imo.
A big no to and , which go nowhere to me.

So, I got 7 countries out of 10. Not bad, even though deserved more.

Thanks for reading I'll review the songs in detail after the contest ends.

 

[popavapeur]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

Gosh, all the slow tempo songs are going to the first half. Only Bulgaria, Belgium and France are real uptempo in the first half.

I do think it's a very good sign to those 3 entries cause, people may want the second half but this year is veeeery crowded on that part and 3 "happy - up tempo" songs on first half will uplift them a lot.

 

[tuorem]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

Gosh, all the slow tempo songs are going to the first half. Only Bulgaria, Belgium and France are real uptempo in the first half.

The real question is: which one of these will be sacrificed to open the show...

 

[Alaska49]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

as much as I liked hear them calling and icebreaker (they were in my top 10 pre-show):

is anyone else perversely overjoyed with the entire nordic alliance sans hosts sweden falling down in the semifinals? because I am. after a good few years of them being way too successful, it's nice to have a change of pace. heh heh.

 

[Jacketh]

Re: ESC United LIVE from Stockholm - TONIGHT: Semi-Final 2 Live Show (Discussion Thread)

as much as I liked hear them calling and icebreaker (they were in my top 10 pre-show):

is anyone else perversely overjoyed with the entire nordic alliance sans hosts sweden falling down in the semifinals? because I am. after a good few years of them being way too successful, it's nice to have a change of pace. heh heh.

I guess so. It would be nice to move back into Eastern European territory for a few years.