I really think I enjoyed Semi 1 much more than this one. This semi started out REALLY slow and it was also filled with a lot of generic songs which just don't do it for me. I'm quite pleased with the results, but then again, I really didn't care who qualified. The only thing I was stressed about was the possibility of Croatia taking the last spot since the cameras kept panning over to him. Only real failure I'm disappointed in is Romania, but the wide camera angles really took on a life of themselves during her performance. Anyways, here's my country by country reaction -
1. Armenia
Whoever in Armenia's broadcaster decided the best course of action was to have Srbuk standing alone doing nothing on the stage should be fired. This had A LOT of staging potential, but instead, the staging was just boring and fell flat. Srbuk also didn't seem to be hitting the high notes that well tonight either. Can't say I'm all too disappointed or surprised this flopped. I need Iveta back to save Armenia.
2. Ireland
I really love this performance and Sarah, as you all know. She looked a little nervous at the beginning but really improved by the end. I was hoping since she got a lot of camera time throughout the show it'd encourage people to vote for her, but alas, it didn't. I still love this song and I'm really happy with how the staging and the performance were!!
3. Moldova
Yawn. I cackled when she evaporated for literally no reason. "Snow" art was nice, but the song was boring.
4. Switzerland
This song has really grown off of me, but I really enjoyed it tonight!! The staging looked sleek and professional, and Luca performed it very well! I'm happy Switzerland is finally back in the final!
5. Latvia
Lovely song that I enjoy, but it just got swallowed and forgotten in the competition.
6. Romania
Ugh robbed!! Only real song I'm sad about not qualifying. I thought the stage show was really good, and she really stood out in the lineup of all of the songs. The camera angles were horrendous during this song though, which really took away from everything happening on stage. I really hope she got 11th, because this doesn't deserve to be Romania's worst result.
7. Denmark
BORING. WHOEVER voted for this should be ASHAMED of themselves, when there were so many more quality songs in the semi. The performance just came across as creepy and extremely forced. Doesn't deserve the final, but the locals have struck yet again.
8. Sweden
I laughed when this came on, because the production value of the first 5 seconds of this song was better than all of the previous songs combined. John was honestly getting swallowed by his backing vocalists at the end of the song, but it's a deserved qualifier I guess. This really doesn't deserve to win though.
9. Austria
I enjoyed the performance, but it didn't really do anything to stand out from the rest. A nice performance, that just like a lot of other songs in the first half, just couldn't compete amongst the big names and high production songs.
10. Croatia
I enjoyed this more than I thought, but the song is still absolutely dreadful. I was REALLY worried this was about to pull a shock qualification, but I'm VERY pleased that it didn't make it. May Tower of Babylon now rest in peace.
11. Malta
Poor Malta being saved for last. I have this as my winner of the semi, because I really loved her vocals and the performance was sleek and very engaging. Really deserved to qualify, and I was so happy seeing how pleased Michela was after being announced!! A great act and song!!
12. Lithuania
I was also really worried this was going to pull a shock qualification, but luckily, it didn't. The song was growing on me, but the staging did absolutely NOTHING to help it. Just standing still with flashing lights is quite boring, so I'm fine with this not making it.
13. Russia
Boring. The song is still dated, the lyrics are terrible, and I don't like his staging. I stand by the fact that if Sergey and Russia weren't sending this song it wouldn't have qualified.
14. Albania
YES JONIDA!!! SO happy with her qualification!! LOVE her and her vocals are FANTASTIC!! The staging didn't even look as bad as everyone made it out to be?? A very pleasant surprise that this was able to qualify, and I'm super happy that we will be seeing Albania in the final yet again!!
15. Norway
Still don't like this song, but the performance was night. I think my main problem of the song is the joiking, which while I appreciate the sentiment of including native Norweigan heritage, just doesn't go well with the song. Nonetheless, after the performance, i wasn't shocked that this went through, as the staging was very good with solid vocals.
16. Netherlands
I made myself laugh because at the beginning of the performance I said that I was bored, yet by the end, I felt myself getting increasingly sad. A beautiful song, beautiful performance, and everything about this was magical. The part where the light drops down then shines over the audience was breathtaking. Really hope this is able to win on Saturday, as it's probably my favorite of the possible winners!!
17. North Macedonia
YES!!!! This song has been growing on me quite a bit. But I'm mostly happy for the fact that Tamara got justice after being robbed in 2008, and is getting vengance for our fallen heroes Jana and Eye Cue. If they stick this at 2nd in the running order I'll be livid. A beautiful and classy performance that deserved to qualify for Macedonia!!
18. Azerbaijan
I actually gagged when Chingiz went into falsetto for the first time oops. I really don't like the chorus, and I don't think his singing is all that good either, but the staging was nice and I can't say I'm surprised it was able to qualify.
- MY SEMI FINAL TWO RANKINGS -
1. Malta
2. Albania
3. Netherlands
4. Ireland
5. Romania
6. Switzerland
7. North Macedonia
8. Armenia
9. Lithuania
10. Latvia
11. Austria
12. Sweden
13. Azerbaijan
14. Denmark
15. Norway
16. Russia
17. Moldova
18. Croatia
PYN/Comment to be tagged
Also please feel free to leave your thoughts/opinions down below :)
No big shocks tonight, fortunately. I got 9/10, though in my head I was thinking that Albania would make it over Romania so it could have been 10/10!
Albania qualifying makes me so happy. I'm glad she wasn't overshadowed by what was around her. The last six acts all advancing is kind of iconic, and well-deserved imo. They had some of the best performances from the semi-final.
I had 9/10 with Romania and Albania swapped too!! I'm very happy it ended up being Albania though because I love Jonida and her song is SO good. I really thought someone in the last 6 was going to be overshadowed too, but I think the first half being so dreary really helped all of them be able to stand out on their own and qualify!
