Moldova and Albania

MOLDOVA -
A performance with loads of energy, and no props! Nelly is confident and the backing dancers are great. It's a real 'ethnic' entry, full of fun. We're pretty certain this will qualify.



ALBANIA -
A great song, but we really aren't keen on the stage act. Kejsi sounds good, but the man in a sequined lycra mask is just bizarre, and quite frightening, as are the other 2 dancers who wear make-up like The Joker from Batman. For us this was a definite qualifier, and we still think it could do, but inspite of the performance, and not because of it.

Greece and Lithuania

GREECE -
You have to hand it to Greece - they know how to put on a show. Sakis, dressed in white, and his team of 4 backing dancers, put on a faultless show. The moving platform prop is used to great effect. It enables Sakis to jump on the word 'Fly', and then it looks like he is effortlessly sliding along the platform. Then all 5 performers lock their feet into some device that allows them to bend back and forward. And, then, as if that's not enough, the platform opens up to reveal the Greek flag beneath. We do prefer other songs this year, and would love a simple performance to win, but, entertainment-wise, this is quite possibly the best 3 minutes we've yet seen. So we could well be heading back to Greece next year.


LITHUANIA -
This is a well-liked entry, but it's not really to our taste. But, fair's fair, Sasha Son is one of the better singers at this year's contest. The feeling is this will qualify, and we'd be happy enough if it did.

Hungary and Azerbaijan

HUNGARY -
This looks good on stage, especially at the beginning where Zoli lies on the stage and a very clever 3D effect is created with 'blocks' appearing behind him. Vocally again not brilliant, but not bad. The song, similarly, is ok but not great. Another entry that might just make it, although we think it will probably just miss out.


AZERBAIJAN -
This is more like it! A catchy tune that looks good. Arash particularly looks relaxed and like he's enjoying himself. The dancing is good, and there's a memorable bit when AySel mounts a small metal stage area and a strong gust of wind blows her dress all around her - visually impressive. This is, of course, qualifying.

Denmark and Slovenia

DENMARK -
Like an oasis in a desert, here comes Denmark with a really good popsong. Brinck does struggle with the higher parts of the chorus, and we're a little concerned that the countries in this semi may not be as friendly to this song as we are. But Norway and Ireland will certainly throw it some sizeable points. This is one of the best songs so far, and we will be very disappointed if it doesn't get through.



SLOVENIA -
This song caused some real problems earlier today. Setting the stage is tricky, as there are 5 doorframes, each covered with paper. So the short break has been moved to before this song to give the stage crew more time to set things up. The performance looks a bit messy, with bits of paper hanging off the doorframes, and I think visually the shadow idea gets a bit boring. The lead singer tonight was struggling with the vocals (but as you will have worked out, she can join a long list of performers who aren't quite hitting the notes....) A borderline qualifier, but more likely not to get through.

Cyprus and Slovakia

CYPRUS -
This could be a good song, and the stage performance is quite nice. There are 3 big sugar lumps, one of which revolves with Christina on top. The main problem, and this comes as no real surprise, is that the vocals sound poor. Greece will vote for it, but will anyone else? Not a qualifier.


SLOVAKIA -
By this stage in the proceedings the viewing public might be hoping for something great, but although Slovakia's performers are fantastic, the song isn't. There's no real melody to hook you in. We can't believe this will qualify.

Poland and Norway

POLAND -
This is a decent enough song, but the vocals are very weak. Lidia is backed by 3 singers dressed in what look like white sheets, and 2 dancers (also in white). A surefire non-qualifier.


NORWAY - Alexander's performance is almost a carbon copy of that seen at the MGP. Maybe we've heard it too many times, but this isn't quite hitting the spot for us. We'd be very happy with a Norwegian win, and although it's a definite qualifier, it's certainly not a guaranteed winner on Saturday.

Latvia and Serbia

LATVIA -
We think this is possibly the weakest song in the Contest. It's all very shouty. Intars runs around the stage facing a steady cam for much of the song. If this qualifies, we will be disappointed.



SERBIA -
This looks good on stage. Marko Kon is having fun and the routine, although cheesy and naff, is polished. The backdrop includes large cartoon versions of Marko, which is very suitable. Not a song we like, but this is likely to make it through.

Croatia and Ireland

CROATIA -
We've only just got the live stream in the press centre so we've missed Croatia, but when we saw it at this afternoon's rehearsal it was a perfectly competently performed entry. A nice song, but unlikely to qualify.



IRELAND -
Sadly, Ireland is going to find it hard to qualify. The set and spreading the girls out on stage doesn't really help this song. Sinead's costume this afternoon was quite bizarre, mainly black with a pink 'flying saucer' style short skirt. This evening Sinead's changed a black top for a pink one, which looks better. This is one of the better songs in this semi, but without (m)any friends, it looks like Ireland will not be making an appearance on Saturday. A shame.

Semi-Final 2 - The opening

The 2nd dress rehearsal has just started. The start is, in our opinion, better than that presented at the first semi-final. There are numerous traditional Russian musicians on stage, who perform Volare, Waterloo, Diva and Believe. Traditional and contemporary dancers perform to the songs.

The theme for this opening is comedy, so we are treated to a number of Russian stereotypes, including 3 massive Russian dolls, cossacks and big bears.

LIVE blogging tonight from Moscow..Semi 2

Tonight we will do another Live blogging session when we review the songs in the 2nd semi-final. We have seen them in the arena this afternoon and later will see what they look and sound like on screen. There were some setup problems, especially the setup of Slovenia when there was a lengthy delay. However that's what rehearsals are for. We hope it will be alright tonight.

We will also have pictures from the rehearsal later so you can see what the performers will look like tomorrow night.

We'll also give our predictions for the qualifiers from Semi-Final 2 after the rehearsal tonight.

LIVE blog starts at UK/Irish time 17:00, CET 18:00, Moscow Time 20:00

As a taster here is a shot from the opening sequence...

In the running....

We've had a little while to digest the positions that were drawn last night by the qualifiers from the first semi-final. But the real winner isn't one of these 10 - the country that has done best from the draw is the United Kingdom.

The UK is in 23rd position, and a ballad either side of it could really have dented its chances, but Romania is on 22nd and Finland drew 24th. So the UK is flanked by 2 uptempo entries. And of course another fast song - from Spain - is performing in 25th and last position.

We're a little disappointed that Iceland drew 7th but it could have been worse - they could have drawn 2nd - unfortunately for Israel, that's the spot they will be singing in.

Bosnia-Herzegovina to perform in position.....12

And that completes our coverage for tonight!

The videos on the right have been adjusted to reflect the running order so far determined.

Malta to perform in position.....14

Portugal to perform in position.....6

Finland to perform in position.....24

Romania to perform in position.....22

Iceland to perform in position.....7

Israel to perform in position.....2

Turkey to perform in position.....18

Armenia to perform in position.....9

Sweden to perform in position.....4

Running order news....

The 10 qualified acts are being brought into the press conference in the order in which they performed, and not in the order they were drawn, so Sweden will pick its position first and Bosnia last. At least we think that's what will happen.

Running positions available soon....

The press conference of the 10 qualifiers will begin in about 10 minutes. Those who are through to Saturday's Final will be drawing numbers out of a hat to determine the position in which they will sing. We'll bring you all the news as soon as we have it.

Thank You Europe!

They made us wait right until the end, but thankfully Iceland got through to the final! They were joined by their nordic neighbours Sweden and Finland. Unfortunatley Andorra and Switzerland didn't get through.

The qualifiers were:

Armenia
Finland
Sweden
Turkey
Iceland
Romania
Malta
Israel
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Portugal

Overall we're pleased but tinged with disappointment that Switzerland didn't make it.

We are now waiting for the draw for these countries' positions in the final!

What a night!

Semi-Final 1 tonight!

We will be in the arena for the first Semi-Final tonight and back here in the Press Centre for the draw afterwards. We will update the songs on the right-hand side of the screen into their final positions when known!!

The excitement is building! Bon chance to all, especially ICELAND, we will be waving your flag tonight!