It’s almost time! I am not going to dare trying to do too many precise predictions as inevitably I will get them hopelessly wrong. I will do a bit of a quick preview of the Big 5 + Ukraine as I haven’t covered them yet post-rehearsals. I do think this year will end up being much harder to call than we originally thought – at least 3 or 4 songs are in strong contention to win… Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 grand final: preview and thoughts”
After getting it almost right for my semi 1 prediction, here’s the preview for tonight’s semi-final. France, Germany and Ukraine will also be voting in this semi. I am loathe to make predictions for this one as aside from a couple of obvious qualifiers and non-qualifiers, this is an incredibly open semi. Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 semi-final 2 – previews and predictions”
So it is almost upon us! I’ve been following all the rehearsals carefully, and also the very important jury show last night (Monday 8 May) which is the run through of the semi-final that the juries watch and cast their votes. Here’s my brief thoughts on chances of qualification of tonight’s 18 entries… Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 semi-final 1 – previews and predictions”
We have reached the summit! And I don’t think this year’s winner will come as any surprise to you It’s the second year in a row a Big 5 country has topped this chart – last year it was France, and they ultimately finished 6th in the grand final. Since their return in 2011 from a 14 year long break, two-times winners Italy have had claimed a runners up spot, a third place and two other top 10 results. They won the public vote in 2015 but came 3rd overall – will 2017 finally be Italy’s time?
Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #1 ITALY – Francesco Gabbani – “Occidentali’s Karma””
In the runner’s up spot, it’s a country that has really refound its Eurovision mojo in the last couple of years. One of Eurovision’s founding countries, Belgium has had a mini-renaissance recently, with several top 10 results, not all of them expected (I certainly wasn’t expecting them to do as well last year!) There are high expectations this year, can the 17-year-old Blanche meet them and bring Belgium another top result?
Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #2 BELGIUM – Blanche – “City Lights””
Earning a place in the top 3 once again is Eurovision’s current superpower, Sweden. Last year’s hosts, they and Ukraine are the only countries to have won more than once since semi-finals were introduced in 2004. Six times winners, and rarely out of the top 10 in finals in recent years, it seems inevitable Sweden will eventually take Ireland’s crown of most successful Eurovision country. Could that be this year?
Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #3 SWEDEN – Robin Bengtsson – “I Can’t Go On””
Our penultimate big 5 country is one facing a big choice this Sunday in their presidential election – it’s last year’s chart toppers, France. 5 times winners, last year France went in as one of the favourites, and while they didn’t quite hit the peak they did in this chart last year, they still finished a strong sixth in the actual final, their best result since 2002. Can Alma repeat that renewed success this year with France’s 60th appearance at the contest? Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #4 FRANCE – Alma – “Requiem””
Finally into the top echelons of the countdown and we begin the top 5 with the top Balkan country. If you’d said (before we knew the songs) that Macedonia would be the top Balkan country, I’d never have believed you. But Jana has taken Macedonia to new heights in this chart. Can she do the same in the actual contest? Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #5 FYR MACEDONIA – Jana Burceska – “Dance Alone””
Aside from Australia, Azerbaijan is home to Eurovision’s most easterly capital and also its most recent entrant. They have been in it to win it from the start, triumphing in 2011 on only their fourth appearance in the contest. They haven’t hit the top 10 in the past three years but have always qualified for the final. Can Dihaj maintain their 100% record? Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #6 AZERBAIJAN – Dihaj – “Skeletons””
