Eurovision Song Contest: 1st Semi-Final (presentation)

As is our grand tradition (translation: we've only done it once before), this week we'll deal with the gayest song contest of them all, the Eurovision Song Contest. We'll start today by presenting the songs from the first semi-final, which will take place tomorrow, as well as three of the six countries that proceed straight to the final. Tomorrow, after the show, we'll have our thoughts on it. Let's go!

Montenegro: Slavko Kalezić

Opening the semi-final will be Robin Bengtsson from Sweden with the song I Can't Go On. Robin entered the Sweedish Idol talent contest at 17 - and nine years later he's already a father and his country's ambassador to Eurovision. He's pleasant looking and the song is pleasant sounding. Nothing to write home about, but Sweden is usually doing well in Eurovision. It already has 6 wins. I think that the song will go on to the final and probably end up in or very close to the Top 10.

Next up is Georgia with Tamara Gachechiladze and Keep The Faith. Tamara often takes part in international Jazz festivals. She's a nice looking girl with a good voice, and the song would stand a good chance of winning had it taken part 30 years ago. It's a tricky one, nevertheless; it could go far or do nothing. That mostly depends on tomorrow's performance. Georgia's best position in Eurovision finals is the 9th, so far.

Next up is another typical European country, Australia. It is represented by 17 year old Isaiah, who is an Indigenous Australian artist, with the song Don't Come Easy. Isaiah, who has already won the X Factor Australia has a Harry Styles-type charm and a much better voice. I like the song and I believe that it will proceed to the final. Australia has taken part in the competition twice before and has done very well, finishing 2nd and 5th. Will this be the one to win? We'll know more after tomorrow's performance.

Appearing next will be Lindita Halimi from Albania with a song called World. In 2009 Lindita started her career as a solo artist going on to win Top Fest in Albania. She another pleasant looking girl with a rather generic song, which will be very lucky to proceed to the final. Possibly not. So far, Albania managed to continue to the grand final 7 times, with #5 as its best position.

Appearing fifth in the semi-final is Blanche (real name Ellie Delvaux) from Belgium with City Lights, a stylish song that's Indie enough to be respectable and Pop enough to be fun. Blanche's voice has a deep, attractive hue. She also sounds like a fun person; when asked: "What are the three most impressive facts about you?" her answer was: "I can move one of my toes telepathically." Belgium has been taking part in Eurovision since the start (1956) and has one win, in 1986.

For the next artist, I feel tempted to copy/paste his own presantation on the Eurovision web page: "Artist. Theatre. Music. Movies. TV series. TV media. X Factor. One man show. Vegetarian. Cosmopolitan. Those few words describe the diversity of Slavko Kalezić, who will represent Montenegro in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Space." Slavko, who has an impressive braid (see photo), has pinged my gaydar, while the song is a Eurodance tune that may struggle to get to the final. Montenegro has made it to the final only twice, and held positions 13 & 19 respectively. I wish him well.

Now here's another good Indie song: Finland's Blackbird, performed by a male-female duo called Norma John, comprised of Leena and Lasse, two long standing friends. I really like this song and I hope that it'll go far. So far Finland has only had one victory. Time for the second, maybe?

Next up is Azerbaijan with the song Skeletons. performed by Dihaj (real name: Diana Hajiyeva.) Diana has studied in London and got involved with the local underground music scene by singing in a progressive trance trio Looper & Mancus. When she returned to Baku she started her own band, Dihaj, an electronic music collective. Her song grows on you. She will make it to the final, where she'll probably achieve a respectable placing. Azerbaijan has only been taking part in Eurovision for the last decade and has already achieved one victory, in 2011.

Time for one of the favorites: Amar Pelos Dois (For The Both Of Us), is sung in singer Salvador Sobral's mother language, Portugese, and was penned by his sister Luisa. It's a Jazz-tinged song, a Chet Baker meets Tom Waits affair. It certainly stands out. Will the fact that it's not in English hurt its chances? I hope not. Portugal has been participating in Eurovision since 1964, with best position being #6 in 1996.

Greece has been taking part in Eurovision since 1974 and has one victory in 2005. This year's participating artist is Demy with the song This is Love. It is an OK yet not memorable song, but if the singer does a good job tomorrow, it will probably move on to the final. After that, I don't expect much. Hopefully it will land in the upper half of the scoreboard.

Poland joined Eurovision in 1994 and came second: it's been downhill ever since. This year it will be represented by Kasia Moś with the song Flashlight. The song is pleasant if uninspiring. A good performance tomorrow will take it to the final. After that, I think that it will be very lucky to make the final top 20.

Moldova's first time was also their best: they came 6th in 2005. This year they will be represented by the Sunstroke Project with the song Hey Mama. It's a novelty song, and it's not among my favorites. I expect a comical presentation in the semi-final, which may help them to gather enough votes to go to the final. We'll see...

Iceland joined Eurovision in 1986 and came second twice. This year's performer is Svala and the song is called Paper. Svala has been singing since she was 7 years old. The song, unfortunately, is a by-the-numbers slice of Scandinavian Pop that will struggle to make it to the final.

The Czech Republic joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 and did poorly ever since: it only made the final once - and came 25th. This year it is represented by Martina Bárta, a talented Jazz singer who is also popular in Germany, and the song My Turn. I like the song, but the people in the know don't think it will make it to the final. Perhaps they know better...

Cyprus entered the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 1981 and came 5th - three times. This year's song  is called Gravity and is performed by Hovig Demirjian, a singer songwriter of Armenian origin, born in Cyprus in 1989. The song is written by Thomas G:son, who has already written a dozen more songs that proceeded to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, his biggest being winner and international hit Euphoria.

I'm afraid Gravity will not steal Euphoria's crown anytime soon. It's a pleasant but generic song that will struggle to make it to the final. I wish it well though.

After Hovig, comes his country of origin: Armenia entered the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2006 and has been doing relatively well since: it has come fourth, twice. This year, the "specialists" also expect it to crack the Top 5. The song, Fly With Me, is an Oriental/Dance Pop hybrid and the singer, Artsvik, is quite in control. Not my favorite song, but it may grow on me. It'll probably do very well.

Slovenia made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993. The best that it's done so far is 7th place, twice. This year's performer is Omar Naber, with the song On My Way. It's a rather old fashioned song, with little chance of going any further.

Latvia had a successful debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000 when it placed third. A couple of years later, it won the competition for the first and (so far) only time. Triana Park will represent Latvia with the song Line. It's a Dance song, not bad, in fact it's rather pleasant, but no more. It too will struggle to make the final.

Before hearing the three out of the six that will proceed directly to the final, here are my predictions for tomorrow: The 10 countries out of 18 that will make it to the final may be: Portugal, Belgium, Finland, Australia, Greece, Azerbaijan, Sweden, Armenia, Moldova, and Poland. Countries that I hope will make it to the final, but don't really expect to, are Montenegro, Cyprus and the Czech Republic. We'll know in a few hours...

The contest's host and former winner, Ukraine, goes straight to the finals. This was the country's second win; not bad, considering that it only began participating in 2003. This year they will be represented by the band O.Torvald and a song called Time. The song is a rather generic Arena Rock piece, something that Journey would consider including in an album, finally deciding not to. I don't expect it to do much in the final.

On the gossipy side of things, there was much worry that Ukraine would not have the show's infrastructure ready in time. There was even a contingency plan to move the contest to another country, if necessary. Also, Ukraine banned the Russian singer from travelling to Ukraine for political reasons. Rather than send another performer, Russia decided to withdraw from this year's contest altogether.

Italy first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. As one of the Big Five, it goes straight to the final. In 1997 the country withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest but returned in 2011, finishing in second place. Italy's Sanremo Music Festival was the inspiration for the Eurovision Song Contest. It was victorious only twice, although it deserved more wins. This year, however, it's the favorite. Occidentali's Karma is a jolly little song, sung with gusto by Francesco Gabbani. It's catchy enough to prompt enough people to vote for it and to bring it to the top. However, beware; the betting favorites don't always win.

Finally for today we have another one of the Big Five, the United Kingdom, which made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957 and has five victories so far. These are the good news. The bad news are that its last victory was 20 years ago. This year's performer, Lucie Jones, is a singer and actress from South Wales who has a wealth of stage experience, beginning with The X Factor in 2009 where she was a finalist. The song, Never Give Up On You, is an emotive ballad, written by Danish/Swedish singer/songwriter Emmelie de Forest, whose song Only Teardrops brought the Eurovision trophy to Denmark in 2013. The betting odds place the song at the bottom half of the final Top 10. That in itself is not bad, considering that the last time that the UK made the final Top 10 was in 2009. Anything more than that will be heartily welcomed.