[and now the analysis]
1. Estonia (did not qualify) 10/10
It is the best song of the year, and the best song for many years in eurovision (it’s better than “Et s’il fallait le faire”) so I was very nervous for it : apparently so was he. The usual excellent show he does was still there but he was at first a bit too nervous and apparently people noticed. I knew as soon as I saw Russia qualifying that it wouldn’t make it (though I hoped until the end). Only juries could have made it a qualifier but they went for Russia instead, now who said esc was not political and based on money? Not to mention diaspora votings still very strong in televotes and definitely better for Russia than for Estonia. This is still the most impressive song in eurovision. A non-eurovision well thought-out entry that puts all the europop to shame.
2. Serbia (qualified) 9,1/10
If the fun but amateurish “cipela” managed to get 12 from the French televoting last year, the excellent “Ovo je balkan” by non other than Goran Bregovic who is very popular here should have done the same (and I’m quite sure French juries would love it and I expect it to get 12 if Tom Dice does not get it Saturday). Milan’s hair is quite bad but it’s unique and something everyone would remember : in esc that matters so much. The live did lack some power elements one could expect (after all, this IS the balkans) and yet it was hell fun and he definitely appeared as enjoying it every second and that also helps selling the entry. Overall, the “gay” straight young man is very popular in pop culture and he plays this card very well, with one of the very very best songs of the year I expect Serbia to be back in the top to save the final results.
3. Belgium (qualified) 8,7/10
No surprises there : as everyone the song sounded good to me and the live was perfect. He did what he had to do. The song is simple, strong and effective and he has a very good voice to sell. So he did what he had to do and what is a great but a bit boring song comes very well and the 3 mns even feel short. After all the years Flanders were disappointed by being among the favorites and failing to make it (Xandee in 2004, Kate Ryan in 2006 and the funky Ishtar in 2008) this looks like not only the best result by far for Belgium since the so close runner-up place in 2003 but definitely and by far the best result ever for Flanders. I can only see Germany, Sweden and Israel to stop it from winning with Greece, Serbia and a few others to play the middle part.
4. Finland (did not qualify) 6,7/10
Now the surprise of the night, with such a fun show (and not at all messy as I thought it would be from the rehearsals) I thought Finland could get another high result and definitely a 5th year in a row in the finale. But there is always a song that everyone and I do mean everyone likes and yet that gets no votes because no one loved it enough (a good example of that is France 2000) and this was Finland this time. Let’s hope it won’t stop Finland having their amazing national finals and songs in Finnish there. The nice little song came off very well with what seemed a simple and very enjoyable show. Too bad it lakced sparks enough for people to vote but with the juries voting for Waldo People’s last year and saving Finland, I thought it would happen still : first year in a long time that not all of the 4 nordic countries will be in the finale.
5. Bosnia & Herzegovina (qualified) 5/10
I always loved the Bosnian entries (and said so a million times). After the 2005 huge mistake, Bosnia came stronger than ever and gave us the best entry of the decade. Since then, never a flaw and always in my top 5. Of course I had great expectations and the entry did not meet them : it’s a nice rock entry without the sparks. His great voice gets a bit lost in the English language. The guitar bit is a bit forgetful : but Bosnia remains Bosnia and they made a big live to save their entry. Once more Bosnia made it to the finale and even if I don’t expect them to continue their climbing up (11th in 2007, 10th in 2008 and 9th in 2009) it will stay as one of the songs to not hate nor love of the year. Serbia will definitely be the highest ranked balkan country but this can come second.
6. Albania (qualified) 4,9/10
I kept thinking the same thing throughout the performance : how perfect, too bad the song is a crap ! Seriously, the song is not that bad but it’s a boring irrelevant europop that only has electro elements to try to save it. With the horrible performance of a very similar song Albania managed to qualify so of course someone like Juliana would too. Apart from Robin and Tom, Julianna is the only woman to have made a perfect performance all throughout. The right smiles at the right time, the right amount of power at the right time and more importantly, without moving an inch on the stage. It’s the proof we don’t need to shake it all over or to have a huge stage to make a perfect live for an upbeat song. It reminds me of the first Charlotte, when she won with a similar live (and the pink as well!) Seriously, if Albania had a stronger song this could go all the way. Now it will do something like Iceland 2008 probably.
7. Moldova (qualified) 4,4/10
I liked Sun Stroke Project a lot last year but with Olia Tira I thought it was a letdown. And it is, musically. But livewise they were enjoyable. How short the 3 minutes felt, especially for a first entry of the year (twice Montenegro with upbeat entries failed at this). Definitely one to look out for, I wouldn’t be that surprised to see Moldova reaching the top 10 a third time even if I wouldn’t put my money yet on it. The draw is good, another early one but after two ballads this time (or at least slower entry). Anyway I was mostly surprised at how good Olia sounded after all those rehearsals and even the national finals performance were she was just bad. But she tried hard and without being perfect, she did save it. Then Sun Stroke Project just did what they know how to and it was good to go. A bad song, quite bad, but a real surprise live. After two good entries in esc, Moldova continues to climb in my esc esteem.
8. Russia (qualified) 4,3/10
I was one of the very rare ones to defend it as a song. I still will but unlike Moldova, I was highly disappointed by the live. Why when it was the same one than in the national final? Maybe but the importance of esc makes me see it differently. In a rather good russian national final, Peter was not the best at all but the overall results were disappointing and he was mong the best ones of the top. The song audio wise is fine but the kitschy “I look at your photo” was hilariously bad. The juries did help it and with the diaspora televotes, I don’t think Russia will ever miss a finale anymore, like Greece, Ukraine, Turkey, Armenia or Azerbaijan. That is somehow disappointing.
9. Slovakia (did not qualify) 4,1/10
I knew this one would not make it and frankly I don’t care that much. It’s hard to explain everything going on there. It’s a bad song and a terrible horrible live that just killed it. It’s a nice not too schalger entry that many esc fans love but I knew it had no chance. The reason I am sad is that Slovakia tries really hard and twice in a row now had an amazing national final but they kept chosing the wrong song and never made it to the esc finale. Will they join Czech Republic and withdraw again from the competition? Maybe and I’d be disappointed but this was by far the worse slovakian entry ever (I have Slovakia 4th for 94, 96 and 98 and 11th last year, this is the first time in five entries that I don’t have Slovakia above 5/10).
10. Iceland (qualified) 3,5/10
Seriously? She did a terrible live. When you sing the biggest schlager pop entry of the year, you have to make it big and I don’t mean like the second Charlotte but I mean like Ani Lorak. Charlotte with Ani’s live would have won in 2008. I know that Hera is not the same physically and she can’t play the hot girl. But she doesn’t play any other cards so it ends up being rather bad : the moves are slow, heavy and they don’t go anywhere. The dresses are all bad just like last year. Iceland wants to do well without winning but this year this is definitely going to end up between 15th and last and no higher. We all know the juries saved Charlotte in 2008 and probably will save Iceland this year (like they did Denmark last year) but there are no chances for the top 10. Still, there are songs that are much worse so habing it 10th in my list is definitely reasonable. It should be in the finale after all.
[still had to cut.. do something about this rely, i make long thoughtful comments]
