Eurovision 2008 Semifinal Report (Part One – “The Good”)

(As part of our ongoing Eurovision coverage, penned with effortless brilliance by our Euro Correspondent Will, we proudly present Part One of Will’s report on the second semifinal.)

THIS IS OFFICIALLY GETTING RATHER EXCITING: Some half-baked notes on Eurovision 2008 Semifinal number 2

Now then. This semi was something of a litmus test for the new semifinal voting system (intended to prevent the regional bloc voting that has plagued the results of this contest during the past decade), and on the basis of the results, it seems to have worked to some extent (if “working” means “each of the 5 Scandinavian nations qualifying”). In fact I am EXTREMELY HAPPY with 80 per cent of the entries that qualified, if a bit surprised. This is a nice counter to my usual “IS THIS A JOKE” reaction to previous Eurovision semifinals, is it not? People will probably bitch now about how the Balkan voting bloc has been replaced by a seemingly all-powerful Scandinavian one, but being a gay fond of a key change and a wind machine, I am far more comfortable with a Nordic balance of power than a Slavic one. It is also worth noting that, as with the previous semi, one of last night’s 10 finalists was jury-selected, rather than voted through by the frequently moronic viewers. But we don’t know which one!

SO WHAT HAPPENED THEN.

I am so glad you asked.

THE GOOD

1. Sweden qualified – thankfully Charlotte’s increasingly terrifying GIANT FOREHEAD OF DEATH didn’t put off the viewers too badly. The French broadcaster’s commentators I was listening to made a point of noting that Charlotte is a walking advertisement for aesthetic surgery, which seems a bridge further than Terry Wogan would have taken things.

Oh it’s GOOD this song isn’t it! Look out for the laser spazz-out bit in the last minute. She is just a very strange looking woman.
2. Iceland qualified! This is an astounding result, given the trouble that Iceland have had with this contest recently and their lack of neighbours to vote for them. This opened the show last night and although I was desperate for it to qualify as it is just the sort if thing I enjoy, I was fairly certain it wouldn’t due to a little bit of ropeyness and lack of dancers.

These two, Euroband, are professional Eurovision loons who have studied this contest long and hard and presumably know what they’re doing, though I would be astounded (and delighted) if this came top 10 on Saturday. This style of music is still very popular in central and eastern Europe though, so you never know.

3. Ukraine, one of the favourites this year, qualified effortlessly.

Even though I don’t think “Shady Lady” is a very good song, particularly when it’s compared to the balls-to-the-wall, hypermelodic amped-up Europop blowouts of both Iceland and Sweden preceding it, this was by far the most proficient stage presentation of the evening, perhaps of the two semis put together. Ani Lorak just looks like a winner. Ukraine are so good at creating that impression in this contest. This could very well win tomorrow, and while it would be a more deserving victor than Russia, it would be a pity if a song this weak was rewarded.

4. Latvia qualified too! This is Pirates of the Sea with “Wolves of the Sea”:

Because this reminds me of early-era Aqua and the outfits are reminiscent of a 1982 Vivienne Westwood collection, I do rather enjoy this, though my viewing companions were horrified by it, and you can imagine the views of the French commentators on France 4.

(I honestly have no idea at all how this qualified.)

5. Portugal’s Casey Donovan tribute act also qualified!

Good for them. I actually can’t remember a time Portugal had any success in this contest – Wikipedia says their best position ever has been 6th, and they have participated 41 times. So just qualifying last night is, I suppose, akin to winning for the Portuguese. I do not particularly care about this big silly ballad but I am pleased that the success of countries like Portugal and Iceland will go some way to reigniting the interest of western Europe in Eurovision.