I'm sorry that I'm not posting this as a blog, cause I've used too many characters. 
Anyway, here they are. I tried to be constructive and nice, for a change. You can write what you think, a.k.a. agree/disagree, or you can add on my "constructive criticism".
Semi-final 1:
Poland:
Poland has a great entry this year and it has a very high chance to advance to the final and chase a good result. It has a nice groovy feel, strong chorus and a charming singer performing the song. Magdalena opens the show and being first is a good thing, because she is setting the bar for all the other performers. Usually the first song is memorized by the audience, and hopefully it will leave a positive impact. She has to make sure that she is noticed and give breathtaking performance. Her vocals are good, she just needs to “polish” her performance and I am sure Poland would do just fine.
Norway:
Another good song follows Poland. The cool Nords are singing a warm, dance song with African beats. That is a great combination and Stella knows how to turn the audience on. She is warm, charming and beautiful gal and connects with the audience very well. Unlucky for Norway is that they are singing second. Stella needs to work on her vocals, because a song like this needs more than just a great atmosphere. She has to follow strong after Poland. If she manages to do that, she will have no problems in reaching the final.
Albania:
I am not fond of this song. The initial version was a big, shouty mess. However, Albanians are very good in transforming a 4-minute song into a 3 minute song that is less messy. The new version is slightly better, but doesn’t give them much chance to the final. The singer has a great, outgoing personality. She has a nice vocal, but she needs to control it throughout the song, especially the high notes. Aurela said in many interviews that is important to give a hearth-warm and give it all on the stage. That is what she needs to do, in order for the song to be more believable.
Armenia:
I am disappointed with the Armenian choice this year. All that boom-boom, chaka-chaka, is more appropriate for JESC (and probably not even there). What Armenia has by their side are the many voters that will massively vote for them, regardless if the girl sits on a toilet and reads a newspaper. I believe the juries will try and bring them down. Qualification is not guaranteed this time for them. She needs to make the song more believable and deconcentrate the viewers from the arty-farty lyrics. Her vocals need to be better. Right now it looks like she is singing this song to herself in the shower, not for the viewers.
Turkey:
Another diaspora-sends-them-to-the-final country follows. This time it is Turkey, with yet another rock entry of theirs. This sounds better to me, than the one from last year. They are fairly good singers and all they need to do is sell their song on the stage. Like Armenia, Turkey’s chance to advance to the final is not that great, but they can still do it.
Serbia:
This is a very nice retro song. Serbia for the first time sends a pop-song, but it seems and looks great. Nina is a great singer, with great vocal abilities and she gives a charming performance. Charming isn’t enough! At this point, we’ve seen many upbeat songs and this is another one of them. She needs to create an atmosphere, a cheerful atmosphere that would make the viewers feel the song. Then, she has an ace in her sleeve and she can do very well.
Russia:
The Russians are sending a nice mainstream dance song, officially sponsored by RedOne. I like this entry and I do believe this entry will go far. Russia has everything what it takes this year to do well. Alex is a talented singer and can connect with the audience very well. He should embrace his qualities to give an effortless and stunning performance. If his vocals are consistent throughout the song, he should be able to get a top5 with no problem.
Switzerland:
After a series of upbeat songs, we come across Switzerland. I don’t like this song. It just sounds so bland and uninteresting. The good thing about the Swiss is that they have a decent shot of making to the finals. This is a slow song, performing after many fast songs and I can see people getting attached to this. The girl needs to make the song more interesting. So far it looks like she is singing to her mother, before an Idol audition. I may not like it, but there are others who do. Therefore, she has to connect with the audience and make the song less dull.
Georgia:
Georgia is taking a ballad break and this year they are going to rock. The song is nice, but not nice enough for me. I find it messy and shouty. Some parts of the song are nice, but some turn you off and confuse you. These kinds of songs don’t do well usually, so I am not very confident that Georgia will shine this year. Her vocals are not always constant and she has to work in that area. Georgia needs to step up to the challenge, if they want to end up higher in the semi-final.
Finland:
Many people say that the idea behind the Finnish entry is clearly a rip-off from Dice’s song last year. I will agree with that statement to some extent. I didn’t like Tom’s song last year, so this doesn’t stand much of a chance in my ranking. It is just too whiney and makes me think that Justin Bieber is better and more pleasant to listen to. The song is the slowest one in the first half of the first semi-final. That should give the viewers a break from all the upbeat, and I can see this battling with Switzerland for points. I can see juries liking this, but hardly being liked by the viewers. The only suggestion I have to the singer is to try and make the song less whiney, because I can’t stand it the way it is right now.
Malta:
I can definitely see Glen as being a high spirited and very enthusiastic individual. He is full of energy and he can easily bring that energy to the song. Now the song is dated, but in Eurovision most things are. Malta has one of the lowest chances to advance to the final, let alone win the whole thing. Surprises do happen and Glen must work on his vocals. Being energetic on stage is one thing, but maintaining the vocals throughout the song with that energy is a completely different story. The choreography must be very convincing, if Glen wants to exceed fans’ expectations. He also needs to feel more confident with the language, in order for people to understand him better. The song has a potential, and it does look better after couple of listens.
San Marino:
Up next is the smallest country in Eurovision. Senit is a nice lady and sings a rather slow song. You usually can’t go much wrong with slow songs, unless they are messy. This isn’t messy, but it is very boring and dull. Honestly, I don’t think this has a chance to qualify. I also think that San Marino won’t be last, unless she messes the whole performance. A sincere presentation of the song could work well and might give San Marino a small boost.
Croatia:
I believe Croatia made the right choice. I love this song. It’s very good. The lyrics may be off-putting to some people, but I like them. They are simple and made exquisitely for this event. The instrumental beat sounds very Croatian (E.T., Colonia). This entry is in my top3. However, I doubt this will end in the top3 at the end. I would be very happy if they qualify and maybe steal the 10th place in the final. What I want is one thing, and reality is something else. As this is another pop song, Daria should make sure that she is noticed and this song is remembered. She is a great performer, but her vocals have to be consistent. She had ups and downs during the NF, and that shouldn’t happen on the jury-voting rehearsals and the actual semi performance. Her choreography must shine and everything must look good, so she can advance to the final.
Iceland:
Many Eurovision fans are disappointed with the fact that Yohanna isn’t representing Iceland this year. For that expense, this entry has been shut down by the fans. I find the entry really nice, and both, Icelandic and English, versions are very nice. There is no doubt that these singers will give an emotional performance on stage. The issue, I believe, is the fact that songs like this one do poorly. They really have to conquer the audience to get their vote. Another factor that may play a role will be the commentators. If they inform the viewers about the misfortune of the singer that was initially suppose to sing the song, then I might believe that viewers will have a better understanding of the song and they may cast more votes for Iceland.
Hungary:
And this is the last dance/pop song in the first semi-final. Hungary did it well. The song is trendy and cool. I like it, but I am not too impressed by it. The chorus is nice and powerful, the rest looks good. Hungary is considered as one of the favourites to win the competition this year. Kati’s vocals must be great. If she fails to do that, she might have no chance of doing well. A good choreography is also needed to boost Hungary on the top.
Portugal:
It is a rather poor choice from Portugal, going with a song about the economic crisis. The message of the song is alright, but this song rather not. I don’t hate the entry, but I don’t like it either. 6 people from 6 different working groups, and only the lawyer and the judge are missing. This will most likely be killed by the juries and I can see them in the bottom 3. What they can do is just be vocally consistent and be entertaining.
Lithuania:
Basically, what I said on the forum earlier. She has a great voice and she must make a full use of it. The song is ok. The chorus starts very strong, and then it falls apart. Perhaps adding some backing vocals would make this part stronger?? I think she and her team are going for a simple stage presence. That would be nice, but it needs an effect (like in 2009). She also needs to create an atmosphere and connect with that audience. This song has a potential to do well, and Evelina and her team must use the full potential and put Lithuania in the final.
Azerbaijan:
This is a great ballad, a modern and a catchy one. I like it and this is hanging on the 10th place on my ranking. The male singer has a great voice and really brings the song to a higher level. That is not the case with the female singer. She definitely needs to work on her vocals, because otherwise the song would be ruined. A simple choreography could be very effective. I don’t have much more to say. I believe Azerbaijan will easily qualify.
Greece:
Greece continued sending great songs on Eurovision. This time it is something melancholic, passionate with traditional Greek and some rapping parts incorporated. I like the song and I don’t mind the rapping part, as it still gives the entry a flow. This song comes after two ballads and he must try to be noticed on stage. Singing last isn’t always a bonus. The song needs a good stage presence. “Watch my dance” has a potential and has to be used. I’ve noticed that not many singers connect with the audience. He is not singing for 10 euros per hour in a taverna, he is singing in front of millions of viewers. Hence, he should connect with the audience, not sing for himself. Qualification is very possible.
The reviews for Semi#2 will come these days, hopefully.
Anyway, here they are. I tried to be constructive and nice, for a change. You can write what you think, a.k.a. agree/disagree, or you can add on my "constructive criticism". Semi-final 1:
Poland:
Poland has a great entry this year and it has a very high chance to advance to the final and chase a good result. It has a nice groovy feel, strong chorus and a charming singer performing the song. Magdalena opens the show and being first is a good thing, because she is setting the bar for all the other performers. Usually the first song is memorized by the audience, and hopefully it will leave a positive impact. She has to make sure that she is noticed and give breathtaking performance. Her vocals are good, she just needs to “polish” her performance and I am sure Poland would do just fine.
Norway:
Another good song follows Poland. The cool Nords are singing a warm, dance song with African beats. That is a great combination and Stella knows how to turn the audience on. She is warm, charming and beautiful gal and connects with the audience very well. Unlucky for Norway is that they are singing second. Stella needs to work on her vocals, because a song like this needs more than just a great atmosphere. She has to follow strong after Poland. If she manages to do that, she will have no problems in reaching the final.
Albania:
I am not fond of this song. The initial version was a big, shouty mess. However, Albanians are very good in transforming a 4-minute song into a 3 minute song that is less messy. The new version is slightly better, but doesn’t give them much chance to the final. The singer has a great, outgoing personality. She has a nice vocal, but she needs to control it throughout the song, especially the high notes. Aurela said in many interviews that is important to give a hearth-warm and give it all on the stage. That is what she needs to do, in order for the song to be more believable.
Armenia:
I am disappointed with the Armenian choice this year. All that boom-boom, chaka-chaka, is more appropriate for JESC (and probably not even there). What Armenia has by their side are the many voters that will massively vote for them, regardless if the girl sits on a toilet and reads a newspaper. I believe the juries will try and bring them down. Qualification is not guaranteed this time for them. She needs to make the song more believable and deconcentrate the viewers from the arty-farty lyrics. Her vocals need to be better. Right now it looks like she is singing this song to herself in the shower, not for the viewers.
Turkey:
Another diaspora-sends-them-to-the-final country follows. This time it is Turkey, with yet another rock entry of theirs. This sounds better to me, than the one from last year. They are fairly good singers and all they need to do is sell their song on the stage. Like Armenia, Turkey’s chance to advance to the final is not that great, but they can still do it.
Serbia:
This is a very nice retro song. Serbia for the first time sends a pop-song, but it seems and looks great. Nina is a great singer, with great vocal abilities and she gives a charming performance. Charming isn’t enough! At this point, we’ve seen many upbeat songs and this is another one of them. She needs to create an atmosphere, a cheerful atmosphere that would make the viewers feel the song. Then, she has an ace in her sleeve and she can do very well.
Russia:
The Russians are sending a nice mainstream dance song, officially sponsored by RedOne. I like this entry and I do believe this entry will go far. Russia has everything what it takes this year to do well. Alex is a talented singer and can connect with the audience very well. He should embrace his qualities to give an effortless and stunning performance. If his vocals are consistent throughout the song, he should be able to get a top5 with no problem.
Switzerland:
After a series of upbeat songs, we come across Switzerland. I don’t like this song. It just sounds so bland and uninteresting. The good thing about the Swiss is that they have a decent shot of making to the finals. This is a slow song, performing after many fast songs and I can see people getting attached to this. The girl needs to make the song more interesting. So far it looks like she is singing to her mother, before an Idol audition. I may not like it, but there are others who do. Therefore, she has to connect with the audience and make the song less dull.
Georgia:
Georgia is taking a ballad break and this year they are going to rock. The song is nice, but not nice enough for me. I find it messy and shouty. Some parts of the song are nice, but some turn you off and confuse you. These kinds of songs don’t do well usually, so I am not very confident that Georgia will shine this year. Her vocals are not always constant and she has to work in that area. Georgia needs to step up to the challenge, if they want to end up higher in the semi-final.
Finland:
Many people say that the idea behind the Finnish entry is clearly a rip-off from Dice’s song last year. I will agree with that statement to some extent. I didn’t like Tom’s song last year, so this doesn’t stand much of a chance in my ranking. It is just too whiney and makes me think that Justin Bieber is better and more pleasant to listen to. The song is the slowest one in the first half of the first semi-final. That should give the viewers a break from all the upbeat, and I can see this battling with Switzerland for points. I can see juries liking this, but hardly being liked by the viewers. The only suggestion I have to the singer is to try and make the song less whiney, because I can’t stand it the way it is right now.
Malta:
I can definitely see Glen as being a high spirited and very enthusiastic individual. He is full of energy and he can easily bring that energy to the song. Now the song is dated, but in Eurovision most things are. Malta has one of the lowest chances to advance to the final, let alone win the whole thing. Surprises do happen and Glen must work on his vocals. Being energetic on stage is one thing, but maintaining the vocals throughout the song with that energy is a completely different story. The choreography must be very convincing, if Glen wants to exceed fans’ expectations. He also needs to feel more confident with the language, in order for people to understand him better. The song has a potential, and it does look better after couple of listens.
San Marino:
Up next is the smallest country in Eurovision. Senit is a nice lady and sings a rather slow song. You usually can’t go much wrong with slow songs, unless they are messy. This isn’t messy, but it is very boring and dull. Honestly, I don’t think this has a chance to qualify. I also think that San Marino won’t be last, unless she messes the whole performance. A sincere presentation of the song could work well and might give San Marino a small boost.
Croatia:
I believe Croatia made the right choice. I love this song. It’s very good. The lyrics may be off-putting to some people, but I like them. They are simple and made exquisitely for this event. The instrumental beat sounds very Croatian (E.T., Colonia). This entry is in my top3. However, I doubt this will end in the top3 at the end. I would be very happy if they qualify and maybe steal the 10th place in the final. What I want is one thing, and reality is something else. As this is another pop song, Daria should make sure that she is noticed and this song is remembered. She is a great performer, but her vocals have to be consistent. She had ups and downs during the NF, and that shouldn’t happen on the jury-voting rehearsals and the actual semi performance. Her choreography must shine and everything must look good, so she can advance to the final.
Iceland:
Many Eurovision fans are disappointed with the fact that Yohanna isn’t representing Iceland this year. For that expense, this entry has been shut down by the fans. I find the entry really nice, and both, Icelandic and English, versions are very nice. There is no doubt that these singers will give an emotional performance on stage. The issue, I believe, is the fact that songs like this one do poorly. They really have to conquer the audience to get their vote. Another factor that may play a role will be the commentators. If they inform the viewers about the misfortune of the singer that was initially suppose to sing the song, then I might believe that viewers will have a better understanding of the song and they may cast more votes for Iceland.
Hungary:
And this is the last dance/pop song in the first semi-final. Hungary did it well. The song is trendy and cool. I like it, but I am not too impressed by it. The chorus is nice and powerful, the rest looks good. Hungary is considered as one of the favourites to win the competition this year. Kati’s vocals must be great. If she fails to do that, she might have no chance of doing well. A good choreography is also needed to boost Hungary on the top.
Portugal:
It is a rather poor choice from Portugal, going with a song about the economic crisis. The message of the song is alright, but this song rather not. I don’t hate the entry, but I don’t like it either. 6 people from 6 different working groups, and only the lawyer and the judge are missing. This will most likely be killed by the juries and I can see them in the bottom 3. What they can do is just be vocally consistent and be entertaining.
Lithuania:
Basically, what I said on the forum earlier. She has a great voice and she must make a full use of it. The song is ok. The chorus starts very strong, and then it falls apart. Perhaps adding some backing vocals would make this part stronger?? I think she and her team are going for a simple stage presence. That would be nice, but it needs an effect (like in 2009). She also needs to create an atmosphere and connect with that audience. This song has a potential to do well, and Evelina and her team must use the full potential and put Lithuania in the final.
Azerbaijan:
This is a great ballad, a modern and a catchy one. I like it and this is hanging on the 10th place on my ranking. The male singer has a great voice and really brings the song to a higher level. That is not the case with the female singer. She definitely needs to work on her vocals, because otherwise the song would be ruined. A simple choreography could be very effective. I don’t have much more to say. I believe Azerbaijan will easily qualify.
Greece:
Greece continued sending great songs on Eurovision. This time it is something melancholic, passionate with traditional Greek and some rapping parts incorporated. I like the song and I don’t mind the rapping part, as it still gives the entry a flow. This song comes after two ballads and he must try to be noticed on stage. Singing last isn’t always a bonus. The song needs a good stage presence. “Watch my dance” has a potential and has to be used. I’ve noticed that not many singers connect with the audience. He is not singing for 10 euros per hour in a taverna, he is singing in front of millions of viewers. Hence, he should connect with the audience, not sing for himself. Qualification is very possible.
The reviews for Semi#2 will come these days, hopefully.
Last edited:
