Douze Points for Dustin!

Having heard the Irish finalists this afternoon, we have been very impressed by the quality this year. Dervish is a distant memory now as Ireland has really pulled out all the stops to change the usual ballad stereotype from the Emerald Isle...and how!

Donal Skehan was up first with a Swedish schlager song Double Cross My Heart. A very europop song worthy of Alcazar and very different for Ireland. Nice song, should do well...but
was totally eclipsed by what came next....

Dustin the Turkey's Douze points for Ireland. He mentions practically every European country in the song and with his female accomplice, belts out a very unusual rap-disco-comedy song that is so catchy, it just has to win the Irish selection. And then, who knows??

Maya from Slovenia's song Time to Rise is a powerful ballad but I'm afraid Maya murdered it. Nuff said.

Next up was Leona Daly with Not Crazy after all which sounds a bit like The Kinks' Lazing on a sunny afternoon. Quite a contemporary song and should be interesting to see how she performs it on Saturday. One to watch.

Next up - Liam Geddes with Sometimes. This was a predictable Irish Eurovision ballad song. Not bad, very musical theatre, but totally outclassed this year, I'm afraid.

Last up, Marc Roberts who is no stranger to Eurovision. His song Chances is uptempo but not a patch on Mysterious Woman. Now we see why he is last in the betting. Sory Marc, not your year.

So, we think it's Dustin for Belgrade! Leona and Donal to fight it out for the runner-up place.

Well done Ireland for some great songs this afternoon.