Divided by Opinion (What I think will happen at Eurovision Tonight and what has happened)
Ok Before we assess our runners and riders lets look at the Fallen done by running order:
Semi Final 1:
I hate the formatting for this but don't know how to change it
Malta (on 2nd) - I thought this would qualify. The staging was great, they were charismatic and the song is fun and is sandwiched between two dark stagings and dramatic songs so would stand out. People said it though Malta barely ever gets a good public vote (small country, no neighbours, no dispora) and earlier songs in the running order (especially in the dread second slot) are at a severe disadvantage and so it proved. I could be wrong but I still don't think this missed by much though. A shame but there would be other upbeat songs making it through.
Lativa (on 4th) - had this been in the other semi it would have been through but it got the curse of being in this one and on early. Probably too low key and niche (although it's fans really really love it) to make it through under those circumstances but this too is such a shame as they did nothing wrong here (lovely song, nicely performed, nicely sung, nicely staged) and so gutting for the country on a long NQ streak that sent a really quality song this year only to miss out.....again. Keep trying Lativa and hopefully next year you'll actually get the luck as well as the quality.
Ireland (on 6th) - this was pretty much DOA, it's not a bad effort per se but calling it vanilla would be an insult to vanilla - it's not offensively by the numbers like Malta was last year but it's enough that you kinda mentally check out and just go ok - whatever. It was enjoyable enough on stage but between Portugal and Croatia in a final stacked with the great and the memorable it needed to be better than that. They were giving it a go but it didn't really hit anything quite right - the singer was trying to perform so much he sometimes wasn't very audible, the gold suit didn't really work, the staging was a bit between bland and a bit odd. Coupled with Ireland's lack of support in terms of neighbours and dispora I'd be very surprised if this wasn't last.
Azerbaijan (on 12th)- Like Ireland this was pretty much rated DOA going in and THEN it got put after Sweden in the running order and that probably hammered the nails into the coffin. Unlike the Irish though, the Azeris pretty much gave it their best shot and went down fighting. The twin brothers were in colourful outfits and apart from one of them breaking the strap on his bass and having to hold it all performance - it was good and it was nicely staged too. Another one that might have had a chance in the weaker semi 2. It's a shame as Azerbaijan is actually moving in the right direction by sending local talent and letting them submit their own songs rather than buying it all in everything from Sweden and these lads are talented but just unlucky in being outclassed.
Netherlands (on 14th) - this had quite a rollercoaster ride and perhaps shows the flaws you can get with internal selections, when they have mostly served the country better than national finals. The difference being that with the Netherlands generally they tend to select artists that they know can deliver and who have written their own stuff so they can perform it. With this they put together a couple of people who weren't used to performing together with a song they already had. The song is good and the singers aren't terrible and they done a lot to get them match ready so to speak and they've clearly worked hard but they had to change the key so they could sing it and some said that diminished the song's impact. The staging was good but the guy still didn't sound that great and the jury's out on if Mia's improv worked or not and they still didn't quite gel. Coming before Finland and trying to qualify without jury support its work was always cut out and it wasn't quite up to the task in the end. A shame as it is a lovely song with real meaning and heart but the approach was lacking and they were unlucky. With National Finals you kinda get to road test an entry so it's oven ready going in (although Romania would prove that's not always the case) and here showed that can be a real advantage.
Semi Final 2: I didn't watch this one as I was out but I'm going by what other people have said and what I've seen from rehersal clips and clips of the performances on the night.
Denmark (on first) - This was one of quite a few entries that was always going to be a bit touch and go but the answer to if Reily could sing a song that relied on vocal effects so much live appears to be mostly a not really - he did ok but the song lost it's impact from the adaptation. It was staged well enough but it wasn't as good as some others and Reily's army of Tik Tok fans didn't come through for him at least not enough and he didn't make it. Like Ireland - Denmark needs to take a look at themselves and sort themselves out although some have said the Danes don't seem bothered about being competive although they could at least try to qualify but their National Final like Ireland's seems to be wall to wall blandness and this is what it reaps.
Romania (on 3rd) - I feel for this poor lad, like Antonia Fraser's assessment of Katherine Howard he seems a young person who a freak wave has plonked him on an exposed shore of public scrunity that he wasn't prepared for - however the difference was that least Howard had canny people advising her and guiding her which helped her up to a point. I don't know if Theodore was just a bit of freak win or the Romania final just didn't bring up anyone better (the fact that there don't seem to be any of Romanian songs in the pick of NF rejects complilations that I've seen or heard would point towards the later) but between knowing that it wasn't a fan fav to begin with and probably being a bit cash strapped (three countries for last year this year did not show up because they just couldn't afford it although Montenegro was one of the ring of jury riggers last year, with Romania themselves being another, and were quite snitty about not coming out to play along with Bulgaria, North Macedonia were straight up and quite apologetic about being too broke and have said they'll be back as soon as they're flush enough) that they have basically just left the poor guy to stage it all by himself or at least come up with the ideas. Theodore has had some good ones like going accoustic for the first part showing off that he has a good voice, stage presence and can play a guitar but his NF staging was a bit of mess involving his mates in their undies and although this has a bit more class it's a mix of boring and confusing. You can't help feeling that Romania Qed and did fairly well last year because they lucked out with WRS who as well as being talented and charismatic knew how to write an appealing bop and already had a strong visual sense of how to present it well in a slick and engaging way with some great dancers - the staging last year was just an upgrade of his NF staging. He could have done with more support and advice but still I think Theo'll ultimately do ok out of this on the whole. He's a bit cookie dough in that he has some talent but he's undeveloped and a bit sloppy as a result but he's also 18 so time is on his side and he seems very likeable and being a bit of goofball is actually no bad thing in this community which likes characters and will accept anyone who is accepting themselves. If Theo doesn't develop better songwriting and staging skills then he's hopefully made some friends here who can help him or even do it for him. Showbiz is about contacts and it's possible he'll leave Liverpool with some useful ones. Theodore also seems the type of guy of cheerful, can do guy who will take the lemons he got and see if he can turn them into lemonade.
Iceland (performed 7th) - I know this has its fans especially within the ESC fan community but I've never cared for this and although I'm wary of using me and my mates as a representative sample it would seem I wasn't alone. I can't really put my finger on why that is apart from finding the pppppower hook mildly annoying and not being much of a fan of very electronically dance music and it's been described as drum and bass which was never my jam. It's not especially original but then that's not necessarily unique or a barrier to me enjoying things. Dilja is incredibly likeable, has energy enough to power the M&S Bank Arena by herself and greater experts than me testify to her ability as a singer (some even calling her one of the best in the competiton) and so none of this song's failure is down to her. The staging is competent and looks nice but I guess it wasn't wow enough and maybe the problem is that the song just doesn't find it's own niche like many of the qualifiers - uptempo girl bop isn't an unique category this year and a few people have said something about the song just doesn't engage - it's tells a perfectly ok tale of getting on without an ex but there's nothing outstanding about it. All in all it's one of those songs that too many people were just meh about. After three years of uniqueness Iceland finally hit blandness again and their Q streak ended. Like many I suspect people would love to see Dilja back again, just maybe with a better song.
Greece (performed 8th) - there's a bit of a trio of mismanagement around teenaged contestants this year and in Victor's case this was the exact opposite of Theodore's case in that it seems he was effectively swamped by his delagation. Made to wear an unflattering outfit that has been described as making him look like a boy scout, a helper at Australia Zoo or young Indiana Jones, hampered with overly busy staging and encouraged to bounce around which hampered his vocals while images of him wearing said outfit are projected around him. Like with Denmark - people were a bit polarised on the song and its chances to begin with although it's got more about it than Romania's and like with Romania a lot of people think this is a very young guy with some potential (including a great voice) but he was thrust into the spotlight before he was ready (he was internally selected) and they feel a bit sorry of him because of it, although he also might have got some positive attention and contacts because of it. However unlike Theodore the pressure seems to have been piled on him and he doesn't seem to have had much fun. I hope he's ok and the whole thing hasn't discouraged him from coming back again in a few year's time when he's a bit more ready and has got more of sense of who he is and how he wants to present himself and can resist pressure from others to make him be something else and enjoy himself more. It's a bit worrying to that he wrote this song and it appears to be quite depressing in its lyrically content. A few people found his rehersal footage hard to watch as they felt protective of him and it broke their hearts to see him struggle. Are you ok Victor? Some people need to know you are. I think this is because at 16 he's the baby of the contest but like with Theodore this means he's got plenty of time and if this doesn't make him give up he can grow through this.
Georgia (performed 11th) - this is the NQ (along with Iceland in some quarters) that people were the most upset about including Iru herself who some scrote filmed crying her eyes out afterwards and put it online. Like Latvia - Georgia must be wondering what they need to do to qualify and break an NQ streak that is now up to 6 contests on the bounce. This was certainly the most shocking NQ of the contest - Iru has a great voice, the song seemed popular and was certainly memorable and dramatic and the staging in the clips of rehersal looked gorgeous and seemed to match the drama of the song. There were some issues with her singing and the staging looked one note some have said but then there's Poland. However to the question of what Georgia needed to do, some would say that actually singing in the native language might well have helped as even early on the English lyrics to Echo are kinda so imcomprehensible and random that they seem to be almost sureal to the point of Dadaism. In a way some of spectualated that Albania may have stolen the ethnic Eastern Europe vibe as it went deeper into that territory while like with Iceland the lack of friendly neighbours and dispora that Poland could rely on may have deprived them of an edge to drive them over the line along with a lack of juries who would have rewarded Iru's vocals along with Dilja's. This perhaps a failure of the pure televote semi to stop songs and artists like this getting a raw deal.
San Marino (performed 12th) - the lack of the same factors like neighbours and dispora likely to carry the card for your country no matter what drek you send means that in essense San Marino are always in an uphill battle to qualify especially in a televote only situation (I'm still not over that their debut entry Complice in 2008 came absolute stone dead last in a year of some absolute garbage from some other countries and it took them three years to come back after that - it was probably why San Marino was one of the circle of jury riggers last year too and there was a rather suspicous exchange of 12pts with Poland the year before that - it's bad but understandable considering they are on a titled stage here) plus they are not a big place so they struggle to attract talent. Piqued Jacks certainly possess that but like with Georgia this song suffers from lyrics that increased in naffness by losing something in the translation to English. Like Georgia it's performed well and staged well but aside from everything else it's never brilliant if you end being the least favourite in a genre that there seems to be a lot of in that year and there were two other rock songs in that semi that people prefered because they are doing something a bit more in terms of being original and were more engaging as a result. Like An Animal isn't bad but it's not the song that either of them are and it's always been low down in the fan rankings. You suspect that these guys along with the country knew they were on to a loser from the start but also that it was more about the exposure than the qualification this year and both San Marino and Picqued Jacks gave it their best shot and so did themselves justice. The band also put on a show on the night and were gracious in defeat thanking the organisers and playing tribute to their fellow NQers so both them and the mircostate have done themselves proud and hopefully it will help them both long term. They were probably still last but they can legit say the result wasn't from a lack of trying.
So our runners and riders are:
This is a lot harder than last year because the juries are a completely unknown quantity and we know that everything here apart from the automatic qualifiers has at least some public support. We also have a very strong field here.
Ok lets get this out of the way - no I do not think randomly drawn running orders are the way to go. Anyone who thinks that needs to revisit the last time Loreen came to slay where she was lucky to draw a position deep into the second half and Pasha Parfeny was lucky to draw to be closing. Others were not so lucky and since a lot of those drawing the first slots including my own fair nation were ballads and this helped neither any of those countries or the show which meant that it took ages to feel like it got going. I'm sure that it wasn't personal was a great comfort to those artists - that's sarcacism if I ever publish this and Matt of ESC United gets to read that. Also it doesn't prevent artists getting a raw deal - if you think that it not being personal helps that go and tell Dino Merlin who drew very early slots in both his semi and the grand final and had to be helped by juries. Random orders are like democratic elections they have their flaws and are subject to things going to heck in a hand basket because of the whims of people but they are still better than the alternatives.
Opening - Austria - First off I do not envy the poor soul who had to put this together. In an ideal world that person who had to sort this out would have got a free spa weekend with at least a back massage and facial included and no access to social media to read about people kicking off. I said when all the front runners got drawn into the first half after semi 1 that all it needed was for the Austria and Australia to get draw there too and the organiser's headache would be complete and lo and behold! The showrunners claim that they don't know the breakdown of the results in the semis but things like this invite speculation that they do and maybe the Austrians didn't qualify in the top of their semi like expected. Although the options for the opener were a bit limited - they can't have the two likely winners, Poland would be a very bad look as the opener needs to be a good foot forward (also Austria isn't part of a large block of countries some of who might be on the verge of pulling out if you are seen to be picking on one of them) and you need something lively (as I said the biggest arguement against a random draw is that do not want a Love Will Set You Free opening ). So what are the consequences for Austria here - well they're not winning but that was always an outside bet at best and the upshot is that this should be memorable enough not to completely flop with the televote and it should get some jury points. I did a prediction list for a digital spy forum and I had these guys in 12th.
Portugal - 2nd - Poor Mimicat she had to qualifying with no help from her staging apart from some dancers. Portugal seem to be so potless that they couldn't even let her have the sofa she used in the NF that belonged to the tv company. That said she's pretty amazing and should get some jury and televote points but I've put her in 20th as I think in a strong field and with the worst position in the running order she's going to struggle although she won't be last.
Switzerland - 3rd - Normally you'd say that this Qed on jury vote alone and no one will vote for it or maybe not but it's fought it's way out of a tough semi on the televote alone and to be honest like with Portugal I called this. As unlike the Portegeuse the Swiss went all out with the staging and it looks impressive and should hold attention despite being early and now the juries are here to signal boost it and with Remo's great vocals and performance skills this should get some love from them. It's not going to storm to the left of the board like Portugal but the juries enough should see it out of the bottom six - I think it's going get 17th.
Poland - 4th - I think the running order has deliberately buried this and if the juries couldn't shell out for River and Ochman's great vocals last year then I'd surprised if this gets any points at all (or I'll be side eying for jury corruption if it's not in single figures at least- you know from the NF and the jury rigging circle last year that the Polish aren't above it). Televote - well it's on early but it has memeability - bayba, boppiness and dispora and neighbour voting going for it, as well the fact that people who find Switzerland boring and/or Serbia too weird are likely to respond postively. I don't think it will be high but it won't be zero. I think though they are still coming last but I guess we find out if that's wishful thinking.
Serbia - 5th - Here's another well supported country that can rely on neighbour and dispora voting but again another early running order but it's not got the same meme factor or favourable slot that In Corpore Sano had last year to really pull votes in from beyond the base. I honestly don't know if the voters and juries will reward it's artistry or find it too weird and in the semis they had problems with the vocals not being loud or clear enough that they need to work on. I love this song but there's better placed and more accessible stuff this year. I still think that since it's Serbia placing in the 20s is impossible so they're 19th.
France - 6th - I think this is a reflection of some sinking stock. When the staging was revealed it looked like it might do a 1944 and win through coming 2nd in both votes or thereabouts but the vocals we've heard since then hadn't been convincing and this slot doesn't seem a ringing endorsement. A lot rests on if La Zarra can deliver but I think that juries will respect this and the televoters will respond to the gorgeous staging and her classy performance of a classy and accessible song that's catchy and easy on the ear so I think it's coming 4th.
Cyprus - 7th - what's good about this is it isn't risky, what's bad about it - well ditto. This is a year of bold and this is solid with some cheating in using pre recorded vocals. The juries have been known to be a bit vanilla in their tastes and go for slick packages that don't break ground above the weird but wonderful before now and some people think they haven't changed but sometimes they can surprise. However it will get some love from them and the televote isn't going to leave a handsome dude with a good voice hanging even if he is on early. As it's a fairly typical Cypriot entry in doing the safe thing well rather than taking risks I think it will get a typically Cypriot position - 16th.
Spain - 8th - and here to come to the wild card that could come anywhere entry. It's got a middling slot in the first half and especially after Cyprus you won't forget this but is it likeable. It's incredibly polished and very well performed but it's probably the artiest thing of the night in amongst a whole lot of arty. Blanka Paloma sings well something that isn't easy to pull off but I can see this being seen as a woman howling for those who don't vibe with it. It's very Spainish and may not travel or it may fascinate and be compelling. I'm not excluding the idea that those who bounce off it may include juries - it's less risky than the French entry last year Fulenn especially since the performer is incredibly skilled and able to deliver on point live but there's a similar risk that it won't be understood and flop. I still think it won't but I don't see it as a front runner because of the risk - 9th.
Sweden - 9th - and here we go, the odds on favourite. It's certainly very strong - Loreen is a good singer and a great performer, she has a big flashy prop and a whole Fremen aesthetic and the brand recognition to speak (people outside of the Eurovision bubble know Euphoria). It's accessible, it's well constructed enough to appeal to the juries and music nerds but.... maybe it's because I don't want it to win but I can't quite accept it's victory is ineviatable and I can see a world where it doesn't. Much depends on the juries - this will do well with them but how well and more importantly how well will its rival do. Also traditionally/satistically this is a bit too early for the winner usually that's in the 11th-13th zone if they draw first half and got all the hype train work against it especially in the televote. Will the televoters who love it's rival vote for it too - hard to say. Personally idk if it's wishful thinking or I just can't bring myself to accept it because I don't think it's a winner that will date well (it's a bit too safe and I'd rather have something that's vibrant and will offer something different to the mainstream) and outside of the ESC fan bubble does Loreen's name really carry that much weight and with more avant garde and rockier songs winning now as the concert becomes more credible and publisised and attracts a wider audience beyond bop and ballad fans is there a chance that it's not quite as cut and dried as everyone thinks or is it just me? Anyway I've put her in second because I just can't go along with the crowd here and I'm not admitting defeat yet but I know I could well be wrong.
Albania - 10th - Well the concert has varied it up this year and decided not to shaft the Albanians by putting them on 2nd but it's done it by putting them after Loreen instead. In fairness this was never going to push for the win. Albania tends to get this treatment for the same reason they tend to either edge into finals or just lose out on them it's because they have a lane or a niche and don't really veer out of it very often, they aren't so much filler as garnish or spice - they definately add something but it's not the main part of the smaugersboard and not people's favourite bit so doesn't really get a huge amounts of points. This is well performed and staged and adds an ethnic flavour but it doesn't break new ground, was likely a borderline qualifer and is likely to be low on the leaderboard - I've got it second to last.
Italy - 11th - a good slot bodes well for Marco Megoni here and maybe the showrunners know something we don't but it's Italy - it's a rare year when they don't get a high amount of votes in either half of the scores and this won't be an expection - likely to do better with the juries who will love this beautiful song sung by a very good and distinctive singer but I don't think the televoters will ignore him either. It won't win but will do well - I've got him 6th.
Estonia - 12th - this is a jury song if ever there was one and it's been quite badly nerfed by been put after Italy, although again never in the running for the top. If Albania are spice - this is tomato sauce - it's well done tomato sauce and much appreciated by those who love it but I don't and find it boring. I suspect many voting in the final which will include those who didn't vote into the final will to and it will not linger in the memory considering what it's before. The juries will give it love and appreciate it but not enough to put it on the right of the board and I think it's going to be in the bottom six in a strong field - I've put it in 22nd.
Finland - 13th - it's crazy, it's party, it's topping the televote probably by a country mile and it's going to be in top five on that alone especially given the best slot it could get - because us Brits know how to put on a show and the voting will be more exciting if it's close and it's fairer to give the televote darling the best chance to have a clear shot at the jury darling, (also Sweden needed a slot near a break to get their lightbox sarnie on and off stage, that wasn't this one) how much better it does and if it wins depends on the jury and that will depend on how good Karija's vocals were during the schlarger bit at the end. They weren't sounding the best in the semis but he had a couple of days to rest his voice so hopefully they'll have been better for the jury show. I want this to win and so will be voting this and not for Sweden - how it shakes it who knows but I'm not willing to admit defeat yet. I go Cha Cha Cha and I've got this as the winner - how much egg ends up on my face we'll see but I've got a hunch or a wish - I guess we find out.
Czechia - 14th - well it's a dirty job following Finland but someone had to do it and I guess it was them or Armenia (who are too much of a fan fav to nerf like that)- much as I might have wished for Lithunina it would have been too jarring. Poor Czechia - they are always early in whatever half they draw and I think they've been really nerfed here - however the Slavic soldarity theme might net some televotes especially in Eastern Europe and the song's well constructed enough to get some jury love but I think this is bottom six - I've got it in 21st.
Australia - 15th - I think this is another reason why Czechia aren't doing well. Australia do well with juries whatever they send and I think this is likely to get a big televote too especially with staging including a car. I've got this third.
Belgium - 16th - This one's hard because I think juries will like it, he's a good performer and singer and it's a melodic radio song but the staging is good and it's upbeat and I think the LGBT+ community will love this camp happy camper. It won the NF against the odds, it qualified against the odds and I think the community has been underating it from day one but I could be wrong and Australia could nerf it. I've got it in 14th.
Armenia - 17th - this a fan community darling and I can see juries really rewarding her vocals but will the general voters love this? It's beautifully staged and a good constrast to Belgium but will people find it dull? I've got it in 10th - I think jury alone should be enough for them to do well and the televote won't be terrible.
Moldova - 18th - I think the community is underating this but it could be because I love it although the fan community often underates Moldova as do the juries but I think it's televote will be strong - especially in Eastern Europe, its not coming second in it like last year but I think it'll go into 13th place - it's visually and aurally striking enough to get attention and fills the Shum/Stefania ethnic vibe slot.
Ukraine - 19th - I'll say this now - the bookies are wrong and Ukraine are not winning this twice or getting a huge televote this year but this should do well, it's well staged and well performed, I personally find this a bit dull but their voices might mean I enjoy more on the night and the message will reasonate in Eastern Europe at least and I can see quite a bit of jury vote for this. I've got it in 8th.
Norway - 20th - people were thinking this might challenge for the win at first but the vocals and performance weren't quite there in semi 1, Alessandra's had a bit of time to conquer her nerves, rest her voice and enjoy herself and she's got a much better slot and the pressure of being the first is off - she should do extremely well in both votes - I've got her in 5th
Germany - 21st - this is probably the hardest to predict - probably low jury mark but high televote - the nordics should go big for this and Georgia who like a bit of rock, some pundits think this is bottom six and one thinks it could be last I think they're wrong - I've got it in 18th but could get closer to the middle.
Lithunina - 22nd - I guess this is the calm before the storm or the eye of it that could work for or against it, it's a warm, well constructed song with nice staging and a relatable story but I find it a bit dull and it might get a bit lost in all the liveliness with the televoters but not everyone likes rock or craziness or dance breaks so could do better than you'd think, juries I think will like this, I've got this in 24th but it's because I forgot about it (can't be bothered to rethink the entire list) and think the eye catching stuff will overshadow it with televoters and the juries will go elsewhere but I could be wrong although I can't see it troubling the left side of the board.
Israel - 23rd - and this is what will make Lithunina forgetable. This will do well with both votes - it's slick and radio friendly which will appeal to juries who tend to like Israel anyway and in a year of poverty this is obviously the country that can flash the cash - cube light boxes, unicorns on screen and there's a dance break where Noa shows what she was practicing while all of the pre parties were happening. Do you wanna see me dance? Fans will shout yes and casuals will go yes I did and I never knew. It's a bit too generic to challenge for the win and being three songs glued together might cost it some jury points but she'll do very well out of this. - I've got this 7th but if it's not top 10 I'll eat a stuffed unicorn toy.
Slovenia - 24th - if this isn't on the left of the board I'll be royally pissed off, this was the first song that made me realise that I might actually like this year after all my musically tipping point, I love them, the fandom seems to love this, whoever deciedes what order the qualifiers are announced in owes me for scaring me by announcing them last which makes me think they weren't the top qualifier but I think they were probably 3rd or 4th like Norway. Likely to be big in televote I'm a bit nervous about that considering what's on after them but I think they're lively enough not be nerfed. Juries - hmmm, it's not obvious jury bait but it's not poison either and their Balkan neighbours should dish out points at least. I've got them in 11th but that could be a wild overestimate or a bit of underestimate. ESC United thinks it's top 10 so if I'm overestimating I'm at least in good company.
Croatia - 25th - Oh this one! Well outside the Balkans this ain't getting many jury votes but the televote? Consider the Brits who love a wacky joke are now able to vote for this and that you are going to get some very drunk people watching this - it may well be massive, most likely to leap frog up the board from low down when the televotes come in but by how much? Or it could be that the televote isn't actually that much - dunno I guess we find out. I've split the difference and put Croatia in 15th overall.
United Kingdom - closing - oh dear. Well we've nerfed ourselves putting Croatia on before us but will we look like a sane and vocally sound choice in comparison or will we looking boring and generic to the televoters? This looked mid table originally and then Mae seemed to struggle vocally and then came ommissions of rehersal footage and excuses for shonky vocals when it emerged plus host entries have a tendancy to flop. I'm not feeling confident here but hope I'm wrong. The staging looks cool though so at least the BBC are showing willing by not having giant trumpets anymore. - I've got this coming 23rd and I might have underestimated Lithunina. I could be wrong and the cool staging might net us some teenage or young adult votes and maybe coming after Croatia we'll look good in comparison and the plan will work or maybe Mae will nail the vocals either way I want to be wrong here because otherwise the bloody right wing press won't let us hear the end of it plus Mae seems really cool. Although the BBC will earn some points for having putting on a good show this year and Hannah Waddingham should get quite a bit of work out of this.
Anyway - let the games begin.
Slovenia -