Eurovision 2013 - Preview of the 39 acts - Semifinal 1

It's that time of the year again which harks me back to my blogging ways, Eurovision is back! I love myself a competition and Eurovision is one-off addictive show that satisfies my cravings for junk. Anyway I've had a quick listen to the 39 tracks, as always there are highs and lows but I don't think there's an outright favourite like Loreen's Euphoria last year which could mean an interesting winner, however I think it's likely we'll see another Scandinavian country taking the title. It's also the tenth year since the introduction of semi-finals, which countries have fared well in this format? I'll do a brief overview of who have been the winners and losers of this format.

Note this post will have youtube videos of past entries so don't get them mixed up with the actual entry for this year.

Acts in Semifinal 1

Austria

Natalia Kelly - Shine

I actually quite like this performance, the song has a nice beat to it and the vocals are decent however she is starting first and Austria don't have a great history at Eurovision so I wonder if Natalia will make it.

Chances of making the final - Risky

Austria's record since 2004
Austria haven't been a regular at Eurovision and when they have they've generally not had much support. Last year they also got the lowest number of points out of any country (that wasn't their first time either).

Their best performance of late was with the power ballad "The Secret is Love" sung by Nadine Beiler in 2011.

Estonia

Birgit - Et uus saaks alguse

I think this is too muted but she will most likely make it through because she sings well enough and is pretty enough and the ballad is easy to follow.

Chances of making the final - Good


Estonia's record since 2004
Estonia have failed to reach the heights it did before the inception of the semifinals. They have been a religious follower of Eurovision but have only made the finals three times though twice they made it as high as 6th.

Their best performance was with the haunting "Randajad" by Urban Symphony. It was one of my favourites that year. Their entry last year "Kuula" was a close 2nd.

Slovenia

Hannah - Straight into Love

Another song using pointless dubstep, I think it will have its voters but I'm not keen myself.

Chances of making the final - Risky


Slovenia's record since 2004
Slovenia have fared even worse than Estonia having not made the Top 10 in any of the past nine years, their Eurovision performance before that wasn't that strong either.

Their best performance was in 2011 with the Christina Aguilera-esque "No One" by Maja Keuc

Croatia

Klapa s Mora - Mizerja

I quite like the subtlety of the Croatian track but it's not going to fare well at Eurovision and all its ponse and glamour especially since Croatia isn't among the powerhouse countries

 Chances of making the final - Low

Croatia's record since 2004
Croatia regularly made the finals at the start of the change even though they never made the Top 10 however they have failed to make the finals in the last three attempts.

Their best effort comes all the way back from 2005 with "Vukovi umiru sami" sung by Boris Novkovic ft Lado

Denmark

Emmelie de Forest - Only Teardrops

The current bookies favourite, I can understand why because it does stand out among the group. Emmelie is a beautiful girl as well so it's not hard seeing her winning. I like the backing track kind of has a "Fairytales" Alexander Rybak style to it. Will we see Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen? It does have a ring to it.

Chances of making the final - Definite

Denmark's record since 2004

Denmark is one of those countries that really have very few political affiliations which means one year they can excel and another they could fall all the way to the bottom. They have made it close twice in recent memory with "New Tomorrow" by A Friend in London but most successfully with "In A Moment Like This" by Chanee and N'evergreen in 2010.

Russia

Dina Garipova - What If

There is no doubt that this will make the finals, it's Russia for goodness sake they can send a squeaking chicken and half of Europe will still vote for them! Let alone a song that actually is ok and has a message.

Chances of making the final - Definite


Russia's record since 2004

A true Eurovision powerhouse which is odd that they've only won once. Be sure that when Russia get a catchy song they will undoubtedly make the Top 3, they have four times in the last nine years. They have never placed lower than 16th, is that pure talent or bloc voting? You decide.

Their best performance was a win in 2008 with "Believe" by Dima Bilan who also placed 2nd in 2006. They also pushed out their champion figure skater Evgeni Plushenko to draw in the votes (to which huge screams could be heard in the crowd!)

Ukraine

Zlata Ognevich - Gravity

Our belching diva this year this will surely find its audience at Eurovision and flying the flag for Ukraine isn't all that bad either. Bookies have predicted that it will do well but I just wonder if Eurovision is ready to open its arms to big divas again since they have shut them out for many a year.

Chances of making the final - Definite

Ukraine's record since 2004

Another Eurovision powerhouse Ukraine have won once and placed second twice! However they haven't had many a shot at the title since 2008 when Ani Lorak performed Shady Lady. Mika Newton's Angel brought them closest to the top, placing 4th. However it is Ruslana's "Wild Dances" all the way back in 2004 that continues to be Ukraine's best performance since the inception of semifinals.

Netherlands

Anouk - Birds

I like it, more because of the vocals than the song though. It's not something you expect from Eurovision so I wonder if it will score well though but I think this shouldn't have a problem making the finals even though Netherlands recent history at Eurovision is disastrous, not making the finals for eight years!

Chances of making the final - Good



Netherlands' record since 2004

No country has had it as bad as Netherlands since 2004 because they haven't made the finals since 2004. This year should really give the Netherlands' a shot since they've sent one of their best. Even when they did make the finals they scored a measly 11 points. So even though this is their best performance since 2004 it really isn't much to celebrate with. Presenting you with "Without You" by Re-Union (2004)

Montenegro

Who See - Igranka

This is messy but it is weirdly addictive however there are a lot of strong female soloists in this semifinal and Montenegro have never made the finals! It is however another dubstep laden track.

Chances of making the final - Risky


Montenegro's record since 2004
Montenegro has had a similar fate to the Netherlands but they haven't been as religious a follower as the Netherlands have been only appearing five times since 2007. Their best performance was when they just missed out on the finals by placing 11th in their semis in 2009 with "Just Get Out of My Life" by Andrea Demirovic.

Lithuania

Andrius Pojavis - Something

The performance of this song is quite creepy! However I can actually see people voting for this. Andrius really needs to get this performance sorted as its just random.

Chances of making the final - Risky


Lithuania's record since 2004
Lithuania has had a steady stream of acts making the final but with little success. Their best performance was back in 2006 with "We Are the Winners" by LT United, I vaguely remember this, such a shitty/ironic song. I guess Lithuania really couldn't be bothered and then Europe responded by trying to make them the winners!

Belarus

Alyona Lanskaya - Solayoh

I was starting to wonder if Eurovision 2013 wouldn't have their staple sexy dancing female soloist but I was wrong, she comes in the form of Alyona singing Solayoh. This will have its votes so we'll see you in the finals Alyona!

Chances of making the final - Good


Belarus' record since 2004

Belarus only joined when semifinals were inducted and they haven't fared well either - it seems like no country does well in Eurovision! They did however make it all the way to 6th in the final in 2007 with "Work Your Magic" by Dmitry Koldun. Yes I don't understand how either. 

Moldova

Aliona Moon - O Mie

This song will find its market, it's an ok track with a strongly accented English vocal. It will probably just make the finals however it is fighting against a lot of other female acts.

Chances of making the final - Risky

Moldova's record since 2004
They've only failed to make the finals once which was in 2008 though three other times they just scraped through. Their best performance is still with their wacky debut in 2005 with "Bunika Bate Toba" by Zdob si Zdub, who also represented Moldova in 2011 though with less success.

Ireland

Ryan Dolan - Only Love Survives

I personally don't like the performance, the song is quite generic though so if Ryan can perform better they might have a chance to make it. It's quite bad when I'm wanting to hear Jedward than their entry.

Chances of making the final - Low

Ireland's record since 2004

A former powerhouse who have really fallen on hard times, so much so that their best performance was by Jedward! They were so desperate they even sent Dustin the Turkey with "Ireland Douze Pointe"!

As mentioned their best performance was in 2011 with "Lipstick" by Jedward.

Cyprus

Despina Olympiou - An Me Thimasai

I wonder if the recent problems will affect their entry but Cyprus generally don't perform well at Eurovision so I wonder if this ballad would do them any good. It is quite sweet.

Chances of making the final - Risky

Cyprus' record since 2004

Since 2004 Cyprus have languished in the rankings with their best performance being last year 16th place by Ivi Adamou. With the recent news I wonder if Despina could bring Cyprus out of this rut. So we now go back all the way to 2004 with "Stronger Every Minute" by Lisa Andreas.

Belgium

Roberto Bellarosa - Love Kills

This isn't good but I don't think it's as bad as people are making it out to be. Yes Roberto's voice isn't the best but there are many who aren't great vocalists on Eurovision. However Roberto really needs to work on the peaks of the song. The song is very typical though.

Chances of making the final - Low


Belgium's record since 2004

If it wasn't for Tom Dice's inspired performance in 2010 Belgium would have had an even worse record than Netherlands, yes besides 2004 and 2010 Belgium have failed to make the finals and mostly by quite a margin. Anyway lets just remember the beautifully simple track "Me and My Guitar" by Tom Dice.





Serbia

Moje 3 - Ljubav je svuda

Girl groups haven't fared well recently but Serbia is a strong country in Eurovision so this trio might make it through. The song is catchy enough to score some points but it isn't going to be fighting for the top spots.

Chances of making the final - Good

Belgium's record since 2004

Since Serbia's split they have done quite well at Eurovision, sustaining a decent record and even winning in their debut with "Molitva" by Marija Serifovic. Last year they also climbed all the way to third.

My 10 predictions
Denmark
Russia
Netherlands
Ukraine
Belarus
Estonia
Serbia
Austria
Lithuania - there needs to be one guy!

Fighting for the last spot
Slovenia
Moldova
Cyprus