Draw for the semi finals

Today the draw for which country will be in which semi final in Oslo was made by the EBU. The starting positions however will be decided in March.

Semi 1 (Tuesday 25 May)

Serbia

Finland

Russia

Greece

Slovakia

Bosnia-Hercegovina

Iceland

Moldova

Malta

Portugal

FYR Macedonia

Latvia

Belarus

Belgium

Poland

Albania

Estonia

Semi 2 (Thursday 27 May)

Switzerland

Lithuania

Georgia

Turkey

Ireland

Slovenia

Sweden

Ukraina

Netherlands

Bulgaria

Croatia

Denmark

Azerbaijan

Cyprus

Romania

Israel

Armenia

Spain and Germany will be voting in the first semi whereas UK, France and Norway will vote in the second semi.

A double win for Norway?

Norway is a wealthy country. They are not afraid of arranging Eurovision two years in a row. Why else would they pick another song that will to VERY well? I was never a fan of Alexander Rybak but at the same time I could understand what other people were raving about. "My heart is yours" sung by young, handsome opera-boy Didrik Solli-Tangen is a much better song with a bombastic ending including a fireworks-wall on stage. Quite impressive!


Norway 2010 - "My heart is yours"

Norway will end up no lower than 5th place in May. I assure you. This is why:

- Most people in Europe have heard "You raise me up" over the years.
- This sound is doing well with all the Josh Groban look-a-likes and Susan Boyle at the moment.
- Don't forget that there's a jury in ESC that reward musicality as from last year.
- Didrik is a hearthrob, girls of all ages will televote.
- He is singing on homeground with the support of the whole audience in Telenor Arena.
- Statistically, Norway always do well when there's a Swede involved - this time Fredrik Kempe as the composer. (Kempe is in ESC for the third year in a row now and could compete against himself if Peter Jöback wins in Sweden... What a track record!)

Get my point?!

On a whole, NRK put together a national final of high standard. Kudos!
Click these links below to watch my other favourites from Norsk Melodi Grand Prix 2010.

Alexander Stenerud - Give it to me
Venke Knutson - Jelous cause I love you
Maria Haukaas Storeng - Make my day

Denmark's moment

The Danes selected a standard eurosong on Saturday in the style of a duet between Chanée and N'evergreen called "In a moment like this". I haven't decided yet what I think of the choice as I've only heard the song once and none of the other entries in Dansk MGP. Perhaps it was the best song on offer? Perhaps it's even better than that dire Ronan-song from last year? Still not sure if it's good enough. I only know one thing - we won't be going to Copenhagen next year.


Denmark 2010 - "In a moment like this"

Oh, I just found a recap of the Danish songs on youtube. Quite bland but they might be better in their full 3 minutes?!

Finland is VERY Finnish

Finland selected their entry last weekend in Tampere. It was a bland affair to be honest but there were two songs I kind of liked. Of course none of them even made it to the final 3... Your standards are slipping dear old Suomi!

The winning song is called "Työlki ellää" sung in a Finnish dialect by two blondes who call themselves Kuunkuiskaajat. (Try saying that out loud several times in a row..!) They remind me of 70s sisters Koivistolaiset who sang for Finland in 1971 together with Markku Aro. The sound is extremely Finnish ready to go with an accordion and violins. But really, violins are SO 2009 and the accordion has NEVER been in fashion. Not my cuppa and I think they will struggle in the semi final in May but at the same time I know that it could have been even worse. That horrid humppa song could have won.

Good luck Finland - you'll need it!


Finland 2010 - "Työlki ellää"

These two songs are the ones I would have preferred...


Sister Twister - "Love at the first sight" (Euroviisut 2010)


Heli Kajo - "Annankadun kulmassa" (Euroviisut 2010)

I don't know Iceland?

Last night was all about the Nordic countries with Iceland, Norway and Denmark having their national finals and Sweden kicking off Melodifestivalen. Let's start with Iceland...

Hera Björk sang backups for Eurobandit two years ago in Belgrade and this year she'll be fronting Iceland on stage in Oslo with the song "Je ne sais quoi" (I don't know what). She does indeed have a strong voice but to tell the truth the song in itself isn't all that. Unfortunately. She deserves something much better, but Hera has been involved with writing the song herself so there's nobody to blame really.


Iceland 2010 - "Je ne sais quoi"

Last year Hera came 2nd in the Danish Melodi Grand Prix with this super-schlager. Which one do you prefer?


"Someday" - 2nd in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2009

Gold for the Swiss?!

The second country to reveal their entry was Switzerland. I remember how hyped I was last year after I found out that Lovebugs were going to represent them. It only took me a short search on youtube to understand that I'd like the song based on their previous material. "The highest heights" got a full 5 from me and I am still a annoyed they never got an envelope in the semi final.

The Swiss hopeful this year is Michael Von Der Heide with the French "Il pleut de l'or" (It's raining gold). The song is quite pleasant and it grows on you but who will have time to listen to the song when all you see are two big ears on that stage? I'm not trying to be bitchy here as I do believe that anyone with a good enough voice should be successful no matter their visual appearance. But come on! I'm only saying what all you lot are thinking. Those ears are making Michael a living target for harsh comments.


Switzerland 2010. "Il pleut de l'or".

Early bird Albania

Albania kicked off the Eurovision season already back in the last decade as they always choose entry in December. That leaves them lots of time to produce the track so it will be tip top for Eurovision. Remember "The image of you" back in 2004 that nobody believed in until they saw and heard the final arrangement. And by all means their entry last year "Carry me in your dreams" that improved a great deal despite the green phantom and the two dwarfs on stage...

Albania is represented by Juliana Pasha in 2010 with the song "Nuk mundem pa ty" and I say they have a good start there. This sounds ok already from the beginning so good job! I have no idea if they'll switch language for English in May as they usually do but it won't be necessary if you ask me. The chorus has a feel of French in it for all of us who neither speak Albanian nor French and it works. What do you think?


Albania 2010. "Nuk mundem pa ty".