Eurovision 2022 Spotlight: Semi Final One

 

 

I still can't believe it's May already (probably due to the coldish weather we've been having), but it's finally time for Eurovision week! This year it's in Turin, Italy, after the win last year for the rock band Maneskin, who have gone on to have quite a bit of success worldwide, including a massive hit in America, though NOT with their winning song "Zitto e Buoni" but with a remake of a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song from the 1960s "Beggin"" they did when they were contestants on Italy's version of The X Factor. This year 40 countries are competing, with Armenia and Montenegro returning and Russia getting the boot obviously for their invasion of Ukraine. Tonight is the first of two semi-finals where either 17 or 18 countries vie for 10 spots in the final, where they'll be joined by the "big five" of Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the UK, who finance the contest enough so they get a free pass. This year doesn't really see a clear winner (other than the sentimental inclusion of Ukraine), and it truly can be anybody's game. However, I must say the first semi is a bit "softer" in quality than the second (there's always a semi of death), but here is who's in it for tonight...

1. Albania - "Sekret" by Ronela Hajati

Ronela really worked to win this year's FIK (Albania's national song contest that usually picks their Eurovision entry). I have to admit there's a little bias on my part, as I was rooting for Alban Ramosaj's "Theje" to win, and the string of blond females representing the country gets a little old, but I can't fault Ronela's effort to go all out. She does most of the song vacillating between Albanian and English, and as opposed to previous years, there's only two "vampy ladies" numbers, with Spain's Chanel not appearing until the final, so this will most likely go through easily in the semi but may not match Chanel in the final.

(6/10)

2. Latvia - "Eat Your Salad" by Citi Zēni

 

 

One of the first songs picked in national competitions, this one by the band Citi Zēni is clearly a novelty about veganism and "green living", though of course the opening line either grabs you or turns you right off. As a band they're playing is tight, though in the Eurovision universe where everyone playing an instrument on-stage is faking it, it always weirds me out in general. Let them play! They are completely into their message, and their sunny party delivery will go over well with the audience, unsure about the jury.  

 

(4/10)

 

3. Lithuania - "Sentimentai" by Monika Liu

 

 Remaining in the Baltics, we have Lithuania, coming on a top ten finish from The Roop, one of my faves of the past two contests. This year the country tones it down with the jazz-pop of Liu, singing in her native language. If you like Basia, you may like this, and I believe the juries will, but it may be a bit subdued for the rabid Eurovision voting audience.

(5/10)

4. Switzerland - "Boys Do Cry" by Marius Bear

Switzerland picks their entries without a contest, and it worked well last year, with G'Jons Tears winning the final jury vote and coming in third overall with my #1 from 2021, "Tout L'Universe". This year they sent a retro-style ballad that sounds like a Christmas advertisement for a London department store. 

(3/10)

5. Slovenia - "Disko" by LPS

Apparently trying to cash in on the success of the Roop and Dadi & Gagnamid's neo-disco top ten successes of last year, this band too young to be alive during disco's reign seem like a hotel lounge tribute act, with a lead singer that's totally dead behind the eyes. With them and Melania, is that a country trait?

(2/10)

6. Ukraine - "Stefania" by Kalush Orchestra

My, have things changed since the national finals in this country. After original winner Alina Pash was disqualified for lying about traveling to Crimea, the runner-ups Kalush Orchestra have come and really captured the hearts of the Eurovision fandom and are the current betting favorites to win the whole shebang. The hip-hop electrodance song doesn't grab me like Go-A's "Shum" did last year (it was my third place) but it definitely deserve the love it's getting. Fun fact the bassist here was the flute player in Go-A.

(7/10)

7. Bulgaria - "Intention" by the Intelligent Music Project

If there's one country that's receiving the "hate" from the Eurovision fandom, it's Bulgaria, and I don't quite understand why. Sure, it's a manufactured act with a ringer singer from Chile that sang for Rainbow and Michael Schenker at one point, but that only gives their hard rock creds some receipts. Compared to the dismal and offensive Finnish metal last year, this is a much better constructed song, even though it's not my fave by any means, again the band faking onstage gives me bias.

(5/10)

8. the Netherlands - "De Diepte"  ("The Deep") by S10

Last year's Eurovision hosts, the Netherlands, return with a emo-girl ballad sung in Dutch, which I give points for, and the atmosphere is nice, which will woo the juries, but I'm not sure how her live performance will go over, I remember too well the blank-eyed Blanche from Belgium a few years back.

 

(6/10)

 

9. Moldova - "Trenulețul" ("The Little Train") by Zdob si Zdub and Fratii Advahov

 

 Somehow this collaboration of acts from the small Eastern European nation of Moldova went from being derided at the bottom of the rankings to having the second-best reaction from the stadium at rehearsals in Turin. Zdob si Zdub represented the country back in 2005, and this is by far the most "ethnic" of the songs this year, with the folk stylings punched up with energy. Not my bag, but worthy of attention to those who like it.

 

(4/10)

 

10. Portugal - "Saudade, Saudade" by Maro

 

 Yes, there's a song about the meaning of a word that can't be translated into English simply. About the feeling of mournful nostalgia, it's very timely of course, and Maro and her four backup singers harmonize beautifully on this understated but emotional ballad sung in English and Portuguese. Juries will love, may get a boost from an older voting bloc.

 

(8/10)

 

11. Croatia - "Guilty Pleasure" by Mia Dimšić 

 

 This adult-pop song isn't really getting love from the Eurovision bubble, and its placement behind the equally subdued Portugal may hinder Mia's chances, but it's a perfectly nice song, though not really stand out for winning.

 

(5/10)

 

12. Denmark - "The Show" by Reddi

 

 Denmark goes the rock route this year as well, with this all-female group. It's not bad, but it's a little movie-cute, like it was taken out of a Pitch Perfect sequel.

 

(4/10)

 

13. Austria - "Halo" by LUM!X with Pia Maria

 

 Oofdah. We're taken to Eurodance circa 2002 with this entry from Austria. Total studio concoction that doesn't really translate live. Not a fan.

 

(2/10)

 

14. Iceland - "Með hækkandi sól" ("With The Rising Sky") by Systur

 

 Well you definitely can't accuse Iceland of doing the same thing every year, with the neo-disco of Dadi Freyr replaced by this Lilith Fair in Icelandic folk number that seems to be what that Eurovision movie from Will Farrell meant for the finale. Real-life sisters harmonize well together, and it's easy on the ears, if not truly memorable in the end.

 

(4/10)

 

15. Greece - "Die Together" by Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord

 

 Compare this to the adult pop companion of Croatia's, and you can tell how this is one of the faves, and I think possibly will win the semi (and most likely win the jury vote). The vocal processing on the studio recording is offputting to me, but she can deliver this live

 

(8/10)

 

16. Norway - "Give That Wolf A Banana" by Subwoolfer

 

 There are two songs in this year's contest that I actively despise. This is one of them. Pure Eurodance novelty cheese that belongs in a beach club, not a song contest. I don't care if they really are the guys behind Ylvis, and I am not convinced that they are not really singing live with those masks. Of course the public vote will go apeshit for this.

 

(1/10)

 

17. Armenia - "Snap" by Rosa Linn

 

 I'm quite stunned the producers chose this song to close the first semi. It's a laid back indie-folk than sounds like a Lumineers out-take. Her chances depend on the reaction to the stage gimmicks more than the song itself.

 

(4/10)

 

And here we are. I'll be back with the much more competitive second semi-final preview on Thursday.