Eurovision 2024

[RunningAndSinging]

Anyone interested in the build up this year? I have been more aware this year as the songs are announced. I like Croatia, Ireland and Finland. Dizzy is hopefully going to do well which makes it exciting - Olli Alexander should be good performing live and he is well known in Europe.

Just reading about the controversy with Israel’s entry and I see that Iceland might send a Palastinian singer.

Ukraine have been the favourites for a while but Croatia is just ahead of them now.

Yes well done!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5070737-eurovision-semi-final-2-no-spoilers

Second Semi Thread.

Sweden confirms Sertab Erener as a Eurovision 2024 interval act. (2003 Turkish Winner)

She’ll lead a sing-along in Semi-Final 2 alongside Charlotte Perrelli (1999 & 2008 Sweden) and Helena Paparizou (2005 Greek Winner - she's also Swedish).

What's with all the pre-2009 acts? Eurovision is regarded as having been pretty shit until Lordi won in 2006 and the voting system changed in 2009!

I want Mans 😪

Betting as of this morning.

I think Denmark will qualify. That means someone else is in trouble. I hope it's not Belgium but possibly.

I also don't rule out San Marino. Not sure at whose expense though.

Definitely hoping for better vocals.

Off to Malmö this afternoon. Hopefully we will get to Abba night at the Eurovillage!

First rehearsal for the press at 3pm which Eurovoix and ESC discord live tweeted.

Are they saving Mans for Saturday night?!

Enjoy Red! Hope you have a ball!

Well this is interesting...

The qualifiers from last night have drawn for the final already.

First Half
Cyprus
Lithuania
Ireland
Luxembourg

Second Half
Slovenian
Finland

Producers’ Choice
Ukraine
Serbia
Croatia
Portugal

That's in addition to
Sweden 1st
UK 1st half
Germany 1st half

France 2nd Half

Italy Producers Choice
Spain Producers Choice

That means ALL the first half slots have gone now. The Netherlands CAN NOT draw first half. They are likely to win their semi so will get a good slot from the producers in the second half. Unless the producers are idiots/wankers. It's a second half song - possibly a closer - because of its upbeat main part and then the big slow reveal. I'd be surprised if they were anything but 25 or 26 in the final running order tbh. They usually put a Biggie in 25th with a toilet break for 26th. It's closing semi 2 for a reason.

https://eurovoix.com/2024/05/07/eurovision-2024-loreen-was-supposed-to-join-johnny-logan-at-eurovision-2024/

Loreen was supposed to perform WITH Johnny Logan! Allegedly.

I did wonder about that. His version of Euphoria went on and on and on, and I felt it was crying out to have Loreen come on and sing Hold Me Now/What's Another Year half way through. But then I assumed they were saving her for the finals.

Hmm. Somewhere is reporting the wrong draw for Cyprus. And they are actually second half. Hmm. So The Netherlands still could get the bum slot.

Grr
Dud reporting from Eurovoix
https://eurovoix.com/2024/05/07/eurovision-2024-semi-final-one-qualifiers-final-allocation/

Well this is embarrassing...
https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/melodifestivalen/a/4Bd6b9/eric-saades-palestina-kupp-i-eurovision

Translation below

MALMÖ. In the opening number of Eurovision, Eric Saade wore a Palestine shawl around his arm.

Now SVT regrets the incident.

"We think it is sad that he uses his participation in this way," writes Ebba Adielsson, executive producer Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

The first semi-final of this year's Eurovision began with, among others, Eric Saade , 33, performing his song "Popular".

But during the number he wore a Palestinian shawl, called a keffiyeh, around his wrist - something that violates the EBU's guidelines on not being political in the competition.

The first semi-final of this year's Eurovision began with, among others, Eric Saade , 33, performing his song "Popular".

But during the number he wore a Palestinian shawl, called a keffiyeh, around his wrist - something that violates the EBU's guidelines on not being political in the competition.

"Eric Saade is well aware of the rules that apply when standing on the Eurovision Song Contest stage. We think it is sad that he uses his participation in this way," writes Ebba Adielsson , executive producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 to Aftonbladet.

Nor are the EBU happy with Saade's coup.

"The Eurovision Song Contest is a live show. All artists are well aware of the rules that apply in the competition, and we regret that Eric Saade chose to compromise with the non-political nature of the competition," writes the EBU in an email to Aftonbladet.

Saade's Eurovision performance is the only one that has not been uploaded to the competition's official accounts on Tiktok and Instagram. Both Chanel and Eleni Foureira , who also featured in the opening number, have had their performances posted on Eurovision's social channels.

Protest against Israel's involvement
Eric Saade has previously said that he is participating in Eurovision's opening act as a protest against Israel being allowed to compete

"When you can no longer wear a symbol of your ethnicity in our so-called 'free world' it's even more important for me to participate," he wrote in an Instagram story last week.

Eric Saade: "Just love"
Aftonbladet has searched for Eric Saade, who has not returned. After the broadcast, he posted a story on his Instagram.

“A reminder: It's only love. It should be united by the music," he writes, followed by a heart..

Joost Klein fans this bodes well...

... During Luxembourg's performance they DID use augmentation to the performance for TV.

See screenshot of the leopards. It's about 1.41 in on the official video from Luxembourg from last night on Eurovision's official YouTube channel.

I would now be surprised if we DIDN'T see something video gamey in his performance.

He doesn't move from his spot, it fits with the video and there has been speculation along these lines.

Fingers crossed. But hoping it also doesn't detract too much either.

Did anyone see the BBC account this morning?

Says Olly’s battery detached - I hadn’t even noticed!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4r2ddkj7mo

I think any/all of Georgia, Austria, Belgium, Estonia could fail to qualify. With Denmark, San Marino, Czechia and possibly even Albania as surprise qualifiers.

Luxembourg was the first entry I heard this year and I really liked it so I'm really happy they went through, it's such a pretty song. I think it will do well with the juries but I fear it may get lost among the bigger performances on Saturday.

I'm sorry to say, I'm a bit worried for Olly. His vocals weren't great and the dancers weren't tight enough. Amazingly I found it quite forgettable by the end of the evening which I didn't expect. I think Ireland and Croatia will do better in the battle of the love/hate numbers. I still really love the song and what he's trying to do though.

Australia's performance was heartwarming and it went up in my personal ratings so I was sad to see them go out (although I didn't get the dancers at all).

Ukraine and Portugal are so classy.

As long as Armenia go through on Thursday I'll be happy.

Albania is a good song but dire staging so I think that's probably doomed it tbh.

I’m wondering if Albania will also get augmented reality. It’s another performance that’s strangely static in rehearsal footage.

The morning after!

I didn’t post last night as I was too busy watching, and dealing with comments on the family What’sApp, As expected, SiL was pretty shocked by Olly’s staging but moreso by Ireland – “satanism should be banned by the BBC”. Despite the presenter break, I do think the UK lost some impact, coming after Bambie.

My predictions were pretty close although I had made them without watching any clips – had only watched Olly and saw photos of most others – I did change my mind completely during the show and then it seemed that my original thoughts were closer to the mark after all, which is potentially a bit depressing really if you take that the mean that there were obvious candidate do go through, despite staging, performance etc.

I had previously been ambivalent, verging on dislike, of Croatia but it was a brilliant performance and I daresay potentially a worthy winner. I still think it’s contrived and as someone (RedToothBrush, I think) said upthread, a ChatGPT version of what makes a Eurovision winner but it does seem that Croatia really want it and have gone all out to find a winning formula and that’s to be admired really. I thought Baby Lasagne might just be going through the motions but he really gave an outstanding performance and seemed very genuine, so I’m ok with that.

Similarly I had thought Finland could implode and just be too gimmicky but their performance was the right side of bonkers and I’m glad they will be part of Saturday’s show.

I loved Ukraine from the first time I heard it and their staging and performance was fabulous and very emotive. Probably my favourite of the night.

Closely followed though, by Ireland – I adore Bambi and just love that they are doing something so different. It’s more a piece of performance art than a song but that kind of thing does will at Eurovision and Bambie is utterly mesmerising.

I hadn’t noticed Olly’s battery mishap but I guess that proves how good a performer he is, carrying on without it being noticeable. While I don’t think any of the acts would have crumbled exactly, I think less experienced artists may have been a bit more clunky in their handling of the battery pack. I do wonder if that explains some of his vocals but perhaps not as it seems that the pack became detached towards the end. I was disappointed and I hate saying that as I love Olly and want to see the UK do well. It should have been Eurovision magic but he was a bit flat in parts and really needs to improve the vocals before Friday’s jury show. He is so much better than what we saw last night. The staging is great though and it’s so amazing to see the UK actually making an effort on this front. I did think that some of the choreography was a wee bit toned down from the clips I’d seen but maybe I’ve just become too familiar with it (this is why I normally don’t watch clips), plus still reeling from Ireland’s performance.

It wasn’t a strong semi final overall though – Thursday’s line-up is much better and it’s funny how most years there is a strong semi and a weaker one. Dare I say it but I feel that a lot of the acts going through last night will be cannon fodder for the right side of the board on Saturday. I’m really pleased to see Cyprus make it through although I don’t see them doing well in the main event. They don’t even have a guaranteed 12 points from Greece these days after last year’s shock vote.

Roll on Thursday!

Oh, and Sweden were excellent.- that's a song which really came alive with good staging abd they should do well.

Johnny Logan on the other hand... I think I've only just uncringed. I know he's the king of Eurovision and I should love him but he really gets on my nerves and that incredibly sincere, eyes-closed rendition of Euphoria needs to be banished to the darkest recesses of my brain.

I actually think Sweden opening the final will work well, although I’m sure they’d have preferred a different position in the running order.

Albania have no budget. They have no money.

Does everyone think that Israel is certain to go though on televoting alone on Thursday? The song and performance is OK (though not my cup of tea) if the singer Eden Golan sticks to the agreed words, but I think the vocal range is going to be tricky live and the dance choreography is jarring, as is Golan's bandage dress.

Amusing(ish) snippet this morning: the Jerusalem Post (ex-pat fave in the region) is reporting that Olly Alexander didn't get through to the final. I don't think the reporter who watched last night's semifinal understands the rules and how the voting works! Hopefully it'll be corrected soon.

I'd forgotten they were opening- yes, I agree it's a good way to get things underway immediately and set the tone for the night. I still feel bad for Austria last year - it was a brilliant song but suffered from placing. The audience really needed warming up before that sort of song.

Looking ahead to tomorrow: Italy remains my overall favourite in the competition this year and I can't wait to see the performance.

I also still love Switzerland and would love to see them win but I know the staging and costume could harm the song.

Some giants will fall tomorrow but so long as Armenia, Switzerland and Netherlands make it through, I'll be happy.

I've seen quite a bit of confusion around this today. Not necessarily news outlets but social media posts and friends and family claiming that UK and Sweden failed to make it through (I guess Germany didn't register on anyone's radar 😂) . I don't think the inclusion of the big 6 was explained clearly enough for casual viewers.

Good morning! I didn't comment much last night as I was watching with my DD and we decided not to go on our phones.

Overall I enjoyed the show. I liked the hosts and Petra especially who was funny and self-deprecating. I liked that. The pacing was good as well. It was lively.

I agree with a lot of Douzepoint's comments. My dd noticed the mike/battery mishap. I'm not sure I would have noticed it. He seemed to carry it off well. Very professional. We both liked the act very much. DD said it was very impressive.

We were rooting for Bambie Thug 💚
We watched our national finals and voted for them on the basis that they were different, exciting and had potential to be brilliant. All the other entrants were mundane in comparison. A lot of work has gone into the final version of the song. I agree that it's like performance art. I'm bemused at the comments about Satanism. Isn't it all an act?! I think it's brilliant and I'm enjoying it. Next year we could be back to dull and mediocre ffs.

I was glad to see Finland go through. Bonkers in a good way. I agree that Croatia is contrived but it will be popular. I think Poland's song was good enough to go through. Ukraine was very good. Other songs were good but not very memorable. I thought the Azerbaijan entry was the weakest one. The song was quite good but the singing was poor.