[Eurovision] Semifinal 1, or: Holy shit!
I was SO not expecting the results of tonight's Eurovision semifinal.
I admit, I've become a somewhat jaded Eurovision viewer. Having watched all throughout the televoting-only era, I can expect things like Turkey and Armenia qualifying no matter what they send (I used to make references to "masturbating mimes" as a possible future entrant for either country as even then, it would still get points).
Well I stand corrected. NEITHER country qualified. I never thought I'd live to see the day, really. And while Turkey wasn't bad, its opening felt like a deception to both Carl and I; we were promised heavy rock and instead got something that sounded like an 80s pop tune that just happened to have an electric guitar. Armenia's vocals were pretty crappy and the song, while catchy, was also very very annoying (really? "Boom boom chaka chaka? Your love it like a like a"?? That's the best you can do??), and even people in Armenia didn't like the song to the point where they wanted a do-over. I guess I shouldn't be shocked, since the "diaspora support system" the two countries have (France, Germany, Belgium, etc.) are all only allowed to vote on the NEXT semifinal and not tonight;s.
I guess I can thank the jury votes for songs like Lithuania, Switzerland, and Finland getting in. I didn't actually like any of them and found them a bit plodding, but clearly SOMEONE liked them since they qualified, and it's nice to see Switzerland qualify for the first time since 2005, even if I've liked prior entries much more to "In Love For A While."
I seem to be the only person who liked Poland and I'm truly gutted to see her not qualify. But to be fair, what you got in the Polish national final and what we got tonight were two completely different things. There was a shakiness, a fear, and a lack of seduction seen tonight. It's a shame, really. It was one of my favourite non-English entries (the other being Serbia!).
WHO QUALIFIED: Serbia, Russia, Switzerland, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Hungary, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Greece
REGEV'S PICKS: Poland, Albania, Turkey, Serbia, Russia, Georgia, San Marino, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Greece
CARL'S PICKS: Poland, Turkey, Serbia, Russia, Georgia, Malta, Croatia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Greece
REGEV'S FAVE/LEAST FAVE: Hungary, Portugal
CARL'S FAVE/LEAST FAVE: Hungary, Portugal
I'm curious to see how semi #2 comes out. Don't disappoint me Bulgaria!
I admit, I've become a somewhat jaded Eurovision viewer. Having watched all throughout the televoting-only era, I can expect things like Turkey and Armenia qualifying no matter what they send (I used to make references to "masturbating mimes" as a possible future entrant for either country as even then, it would still get points).
Well I stand corrected. NEITHER country qualified. I never thought I'd live to see the day, really. And while Turkey wasn't bad, its opening felt like a deception to both Carl and I; we were promised heavy rock and instead got something that sounded like an 80s pop tune that just happened to have an electric guitar. Armenia's vocals were pretty crappy and the song, while catchy, was also very very annoying (really? "Boom boom chaka chaka? Your love it like a like a"?? That's the best you can do??), and even people in Armenia didn't like the song to the point where they wanted a do-over. I guess I shouldn't be shocked, since the "diaspora support system" the two countries have (France, Germany, Belgium, etc.) are all only allowed to vote on the NEXT semifinal and not tonight;s.
I guess I can thank the jury votes for songs like Lithuania, Switzerland, and Finland getting in. I didn't actually like any of them and found them a bit plodding, but clearly SOMEONE liked them since they qualified, and it's nice to see Switzerland qualify for the first time since 2005, even if I've liked prior entries much more to "In Love For A While."
I seem to be the only person who liked Poland and I'm truly gutted to see her not qualify. But to be fair, what you got in the Polish national final and what we got tonight were two completely different things. There was a shakiness, a fear, and a lack of seduction seen tonight. It's a shame, really. It was one of my favourite non-English entries (the other being Serbia!).
WHO QUALIFIED: Serbia, Russia, Switzerland, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Hungary, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Greece
REGEV'S PICKS: Poland, Albania, Turkey, Serbia, Russia, Georgia, San Marino, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Greece
CARL'S PICKS: Poland, Turkey, Serbia, Russia, Georgia, Malta, Croatia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Greece
REGEV'S FAVE/LEAST FAVE: Hungary, Portugal
CARL'S FAVE/LEAST FAVE: Hungary, Portugal
I'm curious to see how semi #2 comes out. Don't disappoint me Bulgaria!