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””
Celebrating their 40th appearance in the contest, three-time winners Israel are sending the biggest party banger song of Eurovision 2017. The unbelievably hot Imri Ziv represents them this year, having been a backing singer for the last two Israeli entries. After some lean years, Israel has had a mini-revival with those last two songs, finishing 9th and 14th in the grand final. Can Imri bring Israel to the grand final again, and making it a hat-trick of final appearances for Israel and for himself? Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #7 ISRAEL – IMRI – “I Feel Alive””
Our penultimate Nordic country are three-times winners Denmark. The won as recently as 2013 but their year of hosting, 2014, marks Denmark’s last appearance in the grand final. Two boy bands in a row failed to even get close to qualifying and Denmark seems to have learned its lesson, with solo female singer Anja Nissen triumphing (after coming second in the Danish national final last year). Can she bring Denmark back to the final and their Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #8 DENMARK – Anja Nissen – “Where I Am””
Gracing the top 10 once again is Bulgaria – after many years of non-qualification, they stormed to 4th place last year with Poli Genova and the hyper-catchy “If Love Was a Crime” (my favourite song from last year’s contest). It seems when Bulgaria qualify, they do very well as in their other time in the final (in 2007) they finished 5th. Can Kristian Kostov reach the final and maintain Bulgaria’s top 5 record?
Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #9 BULGARIA – Kristian Kostov – “Beautiful Mess””
