The Semi -final

Ok ok...so all the votes are in at this very moment...and in my opinion these are the 14 countries out of which 10 will be chosen:

Israel
Cyprus
Belarus
Iceland
Switzerland
Netherlands
Denmark
Serbia
Macedonia
Norway
Malta
Hungary
Slovenia
Turkey

We'll see if I was right in a few more minutes... :)

Eurovison Daily

1. Bosnia Herzegovina

Singer: Marija Sestic
Song: Rijeka Bez Imena


The final of the Eurovision Song Contest is opening up with a ballad from Marija Sestic, representing Bosnia Herzegovina. The ballad is about a lost love. A very sad one indeed but the melody is beautiful. It has a little folk sound or if not exactly folk, I little something that reminds you of the country at the very background.

The video depicts what seems to be a post-war story. Marija's selection of costumes and the boat. I must admit I like the way the crew have been turned into musicians on the boat for the video. Wonder how many she will have on stage accompanying her on the night.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVyxXySkqnM

2. Spain

Singer: NASH
Song: I Love You Mi Vida


After Bosnia Herzegovina's quite ballad we immediately go into an up-beat Spanish Pop song performed by NASH. Well although there is some small traces of Spanish beats, this year the Spanish entry has moved away from the usual latin feel.

NASH are already a group and definitely there performance on stage will be a co-ordinated boy-band effort. The video has a black andwhite gimmick which seems to work well with the 4 young men. I wonder if they would consider having yellow and red to represent the Spanish flag?...we'll see.

View video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI4921a11WU

Eurovision Daily

27. Austria

Singer: Eric Papalya
Song: Get a life - Get Alive

Another song with a beat of rock, with a positive message. Eric sings for Austria, and tells the Eurovision views to get a life, a better life than what we are living now. To go after are dreams and to dare for a better future for ourselves.

A positive message indeed when considering that the video shows at the background the red ribbon for the fight against AIDS. Could this song be a wake up call to realize what is happening around us and probably in our own life? Who knows.

The video shows Eric singing in the spotlights. And I guess that is what he will be doing on the 10th May. Just this time there might be not just a spotlight, but an explosion of lights. We'll wait and see.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0JtLuUEohQ

28. Latvia

Singer: Bonaparti.lv
Song: Questa Notte

And after opening the Semi-Final with an up-tempo feel, it is closed in style by the Latvian entry, Questa Notte, which is a ballad with an operatic sound.

Wearing their tails and top hats, Bonaparti.lv sing in Italian, what could be considered a serenade and a declaration of love to a very special loved one.

The video shows the group singing on stage in jeans, top hats and stage. Who knows they might actually wear matching trousers instead of jeans for the Eurovision performance.

Anyway with that we finish the round of semi-finalists.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk5uFzJ5S1w

Eurovision Daily

25. Slovenia

Singer: Alenka
Song: Cvet Z Juga

Slovenia dared to bring the Phantom of the Opera to the Eurovision. However Alenka chose to have a more modern background to the song. But her voice blends in beautifully to the melody and beats, and the backing vocals sound great as well.

Unfortunately I haven't found a translation of these lyrics, so I have no idea what she is singing about. But if the performance is a great one, this song has the potential to make it to the final.

The video pictures Alenka in a ball gown singing to the top of her lungs in a very noble atmosphere, as well as reminiscing on the past. I think we can expect a few stage surprises from this act. Then again it maybe a simple as Alenka on stage alone.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7CcLHVxCo0

26. Turkey

Singer: Kenan Dogolu
Song: Shake it up Shekrim

An upbeat song, that is definitely music to one's ears. A mix of hip-hop and RnB, with a Arabic feel. It is a song which will definitely make you Shake it, Shekerim. Have to admit that the bridge reminds me of the previously winning song by Sertab, Everyway that I can. So will this song be a winner? Well it has the right ingredients and it is one of the favourites this year.

The video seems to be for a P.Diddy song on MTV. Very professional and very related to the song. Maybe Kenan is the next international star about to happen.

Performance wise I expect dancing girls in little, flowing dresses, just like the video…and who knows - Kenan might have some surprises reserved of his own.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHQSUO-j8D8

Eurovision Daily

23. Estonia

Singer: Gerli Padar
Song: Partners in Crime

Gerli Padar sings about her partner in crime to the Eurovision audience. The song with a light rock beat, has a nice sound to it. Gerli has a strong voice and it goes perfectly with the music presented in this song.

The lyrics present a dilemma between good and bad, showing that sometimes loving someone can turn out to be like a crime.

The video shows Gerli with her male dancers performing the song on stage. Not much imagination video wise and I guess that this is what the performance will look like on the night.

View the Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXm9wCfMZKc

24. Belgium

Singer: The KMGs
Song: Love Power

And like the 70's are back in fashion, they are back in the Eurovision, with some Soul Train grooving music.

The Love Power is a song that gives you the night fever sparks. The main singer seems to have walked out of Different Strokes or is one of the Jackson 5. Quite a break from the rock beats so should go well with the audience.

What to expect on stage I think can be easily viewed from the video. The main singer with the rest of the Krazy Mess Groovers shaking it on stage to this grooving tune. I wonder if they'll be wearing some flower power outfits as well.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L-SvsvDQ3I

Eurovision Daily

21. Andorra

Singer: Anonymous
Song: Salvem el Mon

And after the powerful melodic tune of the Maltese entry sung by Olivia Lewis we go to the sound of punk rock band Anonymous.

The song speaks about the world, or rather of what is becoming of the world today after all the harm we are doing ourselves. I believe the description of how we are treating the world today is Left, right, up and down and upside down, that's how we make the world feel now. A powerful message indeed from such a young group…maybe it is a message we should heed.

The video of this trio reminds me a bit of an Avril Lavigne video. And it definitely suits the style of the song. So performance wise I guess what we will see is the band Anonymous perform - as a band - and maybe some nice lighting affects…we'll see.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wEUG0VQK6s

22. Hungary

Singer: Magdi Ruzsa
Song: Unsubstantial blues

Doesn't this song make you feel blue? Well what do you expect it is a blues. And a very nice blues indeed.

The song is about a woman who loves a man who loves some other girl. I guess it is a song about everyday life no? However unsubstanial Blues is definitely a beautiful song.

The video is very artistic with its rewind effect. I love it.

The question is how will this song do in the semi final? Will its uniqueness be enough to get it through to the finals? I guess we'll have to wait till the semi finals begin for that.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E5m4Gw_PNg

Eurovision Daily

19. Norway

Singer: Guri Schanke
Song: Ven a Bailar Conmigo

Well before we had Cypriots who sung in French…now we have Norwegians who sing in Spanish!! Well not all the song just a line!

Ven a Bailar Conmigo sings Guri for her latin song. And to be honest this is a song that really got me dancing. The beat gets you shaking your hips in no time.

Performance wise…well what shall we wear tonight? The video has shown Guri changing hear outfit on stage in an nick of time. Reminds me a bit of I Wanna, the winning Latvian entry. I guess she might have a more dancers on stage was well. But I have to say that the routine presented definitely suits the song.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bREPwVPXk-o

20. Malta

Singer: Olivia Lewis
Song: Vertigo

Well well well…here we are little Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest. I know there are a lot of pictures of Olivia, but hey…I am Maltese and yes I do want to promote my country.

What do I honestly think of the song? It is a very powerful song. An oriental

melody, on a flamenco Spanish beat, against the strumming cords of a violin and the bang of a gong, accompanied by Olivia's strong and hypnotizing voice. I know you must think that I am exaggerating things as I am speaking about Malta, but it is an honest critic of the song.

The song is about not knowing where one stands in a relationship resulting in an uneasy feeling of Vertigo. The video on the other hand relates a story of being in a dream like Vertigo.

What to expect from Olivia on stage? Well

considering that the choreography is ready, done by a Cypriot choreographer, including a dancing fiddler, another dancer who plays the gong, and 3 backing vocals dancing at the background, with a few surprises that Olivia herself does not wish to reveal…I think this year the Maltese entry has given their very best.

Well I do hope we get through the final as I truly believe it is a song that deserves to pass. Well I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ZsNErViQs