Israel and Denmark

Israel

This is somehow thir favourite to win.  Harel looks good, and can certainly sing, and we can see the merits of the song, but it leaves us somewhat cold.  We don't feel emotionally engaged at all.  Of course the ending is good (although today Harel slightly missed one of the high notes), but it all strikes us as style over substance.  A surprise non-qualifier we think.

Denmark

One of the pre-contest favourites, this song has disappointed during its first two rounds of rehearsals.  But it does look and feel better today.  We're still not convinced about the chemistry between the 2 singers, but this was definitely the most assured performance that they have given since their arrival in Oslo.  Much improved and now back in the race.

Lithuania and Armenia

So we're off, live blogging the 2nd semi-final. 

Lithuania

After a quick, simple beginning it's time for the first song.  A good, fun opener.  A jokey, slightly political song, with 5 men playing with fake instruments who then pull their trousers off.  It's what gives Eurovision its tacky reputation.  Some of the lighting towards of the song seems too dark, but we think this could well qualify.

Armenia

The guy who plays the wind instrument at the sonng was a little late placing the instrument in his mouth, so the backing track came in but it didn't look like he was playing it.  This is a well liked entry, but we're not totally convinced by the stage act, with a man dancing round with a big stone.  Some are tipping this as the winner of the Contest, which we don't see at all.  But a likely qualifier.

The draw for the Final.....so far!

Here are the positions in Saturday's final secured by the successful semi-finalists, and those finalists already known.

1
2 Spain
3 Norway
4 Moldova
5
6 Bosnia-Herzegovina
7 Belgium
8 Serbia
9 Belarus
10
11 Greece
12 U.K.
13
14
15 Albania
16 Iceland
17
18 France
19
20 Russia
21
22 Germany
23 Portugal
24
25

The blanks will be filled in on Thursday after Semi-Final 2! Off now to the Euroclub for the After Party!!!

Semi 1 qualifiers

Moldova
Russia
Serbia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Belgium
Albania
Greece
Portugal
Belarus
Iceland

Pleased apart from the omission of Finland.  And quite amazed that Russia and Portugal are in the final....!

Our predictions for semi 1

After watching tonight's dress rehearsal we think the following countries will qualify:

Moldova
Slovakia
Finland
Serbia
Belgium
Malta
Albania
Greece
Belarus
Iceland

And now time to go the Israeli party followed by Euroclub!

And finally Iceland

Apologies that our last few posts didn't have photos.  Our camera ran out of juice! We'll make sure it's fully charged for the 2nd semi rehearsal we blog on.

Iceland

After some slow songs thank goodness for a real stomper, from the fabulous Hera Bjork. As always Iceland has acquitted itself as one of the friendliest delegations in the Contest.  Hera sings with real guts and looks like she's having a great time, and we have to say that if this doesn't qualifiy we will be really disappointed.  Go Hera!

FYR Macedonia and Belarus

FYR Macedonia

After a break featuring some footage of what's been happening here in Oslo, it's time for Gjoko.  Quick word on the postcards: what looks like golden dust fades into the flash mob from that country and then creates each country's flag.  Anyway back to FYR Macedonia.  Gracious...some very scantily clad girls dance around Gjoko.  And then there's some rap and a guitar solo.  We would be amazed if this qualfied. 

Belarus

This song is credited ads 3+2 featuring Robert Wells (he's the chap on the piano).  The song starts pretty subtly, although to be honest it's very hard to understand exactly what the group is singing, so you have to let the tune do the work for you.  We think the bit when the the butterfly wings are released on the girls' dresses is a bit much, but we fully expect this to qualify.

Greece and Portugal

Greece

What did we say about a surefire qualifier?  In fact the most surefire is probably Greece.  Giorgos and his Friends give a passionate performance of another crowd-pleaser.  This isn't one of our favourite entries by a long chalk, but you have to hand it to Greece, they know how to put on a show.  See you on Saturday guys!

Portugal

Another example of a good singer with an average song.  Filipa looks pretty in a creamy white dress drawn in at the waist with a black belt at After the success of the last two years, Portugal will really struggle with this.

Malta and Albania

Malta

Thea is in fine voice for this better than avarage (although not amazing) ballad.  We just wish the strings on the backing track were real. Ironically after all the hype with Chiara last year, this should actually do better.  In our opinion a qualifier.

Albania

If there's a surefire qualifier, it's this!  Energetic, bouncy song, what more could you want? We love it, and it just has to be in the final.  Go Juliana!

Poland and Belgium

Poland

This is full on angst to say the least! Marcin is a great singer, but this is another song that doesn't fall on the ears easily. Towards the end Marcin pulls some rather strange faces. We have to say that Marcin has come across as one of the nicest competitors in the Contest, but this is a non-qualifier.

Belgium

After a little break, when we see Marcin take his seat in the green room and a reminder that you can vote for all songs in the semi throughout, it's time for Belgium.  Simplicityis the key word here.  Tom is positioned at the end of the catwalk dressed in grey trousers and waistcost.  And his hair's looking nicely coiffured.  Juries will love it.  This has to qualify.

Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina

Serbia

Time for some fun from Serbia.  Dressed in white and light blue, Milan is in fine voice and sports what looks like a red flower on his lapel.  After the somewhat less than uplifting performance from Latvia, this is likely to go down very well indeed.  A definite qualifier.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Vukasin is sporting jeans and a red jacket.  He gives a perfectly decent rendition of a generic rock song.  After a string of decent results, Bosnia & Herzegovina is going to falter.  A definite non-qualifer.

Finland and Latvia

Finland

Before we arrived in Oslo we thought this was a borderline qualifier, but we're pretty certain now it will be seen on the Saturday night.  Sounds good and is a real crowd pleaser, especially the clapping hands bit.

A little break before the next song.

Latvia

We just can't bring ourselves to like this song.  Although it's quite well performed, it's very screechy and unmelodic.  Towards the end Aisha was pretty shaky on some of the high notes.  For us a definite non-qualifier.

Estonia and Slovakia

Estonia

Another vocally competent performance from Malcolm Lincoln, but this song never quite reaches places we'd like it to.  When it starts to increase in tempo you think you're headed for lift-off, but then it doesn't go anywhere.  Highly unlikely to qualify.

Slovakia

A good folksy effort now from Slovakia.  Kristina seems to be holding back somewhat, and this isn't quite as amazing as many fans originally thought.  There needs to be a little more energy.  It really should qualify, but we're not as confident as we once were about its chances.

Moldova and Russia

Moldova

A good, lively opener from Sunstroke Project and Olia Tira!  This looks good on screen, and sounds pretty good too!  We reckon this is a definite qualifier!

Russia

Peter Nalitch and Friends are in good voice.  Fake snow looks like it's dropping in the background.  Apparently this song is ironic, but we wonder whether most of Europe will just think that the bit about looking a 'her photo' is just silly. Someone today tipped this to win the whole Contest.  We don't even think it will qualify.

Let's come together

So this evening's dress rehearsal of the First Semi Final has begun.  It starts with a video of people, possibly across Europe, waking up and getting ready for the Contest.

We then meet the 3 presenters: Nadia Hasnaou, Erik Solbakken and Haddy N'jie, before Moldova takes to the stage.

Get ready!

Time for live blogging of the first semi final.....

City Hall Spectacular!

The famous surroundings of Oslo City Hall - where Barack Obama received his Nobel prize - was the setting for the official opening reception of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest last night. All of the delegations were there and some other famous ESC artists were spotted too - Fredrik Kempe and Tomas G:Son amongst them.

The Oscars have the red carpet but last night everyone made their entrance up the "pink" carpet! Once inside there was an abundance of food and wine and everyone got into the spirit when Bobbysocks perfortmed La Det Swinge with backing from a very enthusiastic Male Voice Choir!

A great night was had by all and then the party continued at the Euroclub until the wee hours!

Thank you Oslo for a great opening party!

We're off on a boat cruise this afternoon but we will be blogging LIVE from the dress rehearsal tonight as it happens!!!

We Shall Go To The Ball!!

It's the official opening reception tonight (even
though we've been here a week already!) at Olso City Hall and we've been invited!

Full report tomorrow and also Live blogging of tomorrow night's dress rehearsal of Semi-Final 1.

Georgian hospitality and Swiss gold

Last night we enjoyed the hospitality of the Georgians at the fantastic Opera House (below).  It was a very swish affair.  In addition to a performance of Shine by Sofia, we were treated to some more traditional Georgian songs too.  Oh, and the food and wine was excellent!

Afterwards we made out way to Voi Voi at Ballroom, where the performers from Estonia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Iceland sang their Eurovision entries.  Take a look at the Swiss performance below.  As always, Hera Bjork went down a storm, giving us renditions of Someday, Knock on Wood, Waiting for the Night and, of course, Je ne sais quoi.

Satellite fails to go into orbit!

One of the pre-contest favourites up next - Germany with Satellite. Blue lights hanging from the top of the stage gave a chandelier effect during the song. Lena was centre stage with three backing singers to her right. . She  stood in the same spot throughout with bright beams of light shining from behind her.

Lena's performance was not spectactular and failed to live up to the high expectations. We can't see this being in contention on the night.

Now we have seen and heard all competing songs in this year's contest, we can say that it really is a wide-open competition, and it is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and exciting years for a long time!

Quick change of clothes and then off the the Georgian party at Oslo's fabulous new Opera House!

Working out with France

The French song is like something you'd hear at the gym, and the performance is, appropriately enough, similar to a work-out video.  Jessy and his troupe offer a very energetic interpretation, but this is one of the most repetitive songs in the contest.  Quite why some people are tipping it to win we have no idea!

The back wall occasionally creates the word ALLEZ, but the song itself feels it goes on far longer than the designated 3 minutes.

After last year's major effort from France it really is a case of Quelle Dommage.

Josh in a Box!

The UK rehearsal, and 11 different sized boxes which light up, are assembled on stage. On top of the boxes are 3 female backing singers wearing black and white, each with a long flowing veil.

Josh starts the song in the middle box, with 2 male dancers in the boxes next to him.  After that it's a case of dancing and singing around the stage and over the boxes.

It's a vocally solid performance from Josh, but we think it's unlikely to emulate Jade's 5th place last year. 

Can Norway do the double?

Norway now. Didrik is dressed in a black shiny suit backed by 5 other singers in purple.  Didrik's hair is a little more ruffled than we've seen before, and he looks very tanned (maybe he's been sunbathing in the exceptionally warm Oslo....).

Using the red curtain backdrop that we've already seen used for Belarus, this is a simple and elegant performance, and the vocals are faultless. 

It may come just a little too early in the contest to win, but it's a great effort from the host nation.  Bravo!

 

The Big 4 enter the ring - first up - Spain!

Today sees the first rehearsals of the Big 4, with Spain kicking off proceedings.

Algo Pequeñito was the song that knocked Coral off her perch in the Spanish Final and is one of our favourites this year. Unfortunately Daniel is singing in the dreaded position number 2, from which no country has ever won. Can he be the first? We hope so.

Daniel keeps the "children's toys" theme of the song, with just one backing singer and four dancers, including a toy soldier and a jester. Daniel's vocals were faultless, and the choreography really adds to the mood.

All in all a very good first rehearsal.

Back to blogging...next up - The Big 4 plus Norway

Having reported on several parties, it's time to get back to blogging at the rehearsals. Later today we will report on Spain, Norway, UK, France and Germany.

Also, we will be blogging LIVE during the dress rehearsal of Semi-Final 1 on Monday evening!