Romania: Nico & Vlad Mirita - Pe-o Margine de Lume

 

Some bloke who sounds like he came from a Romanian version of Il Divo duets with a powerfully lunged female singer. This is a nice tune that strangely reminds me of Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand's You Don't Bring Me Flowers. If they can nail it live, this could do very very well for Romania. A potential winner. 9/10

 

 

Russia: Dima Bilan - Believing

 

A good lucking young male singer, singing a really good acoustic ballad. Definitely in with a shout of winning, as the song is very good. I could easily imagine a Shayne Ward or a Chris Brown singing this. Another potential winner. 9/10

 

 

San Marino: Miodio - Complice

 

.. and we're back down to earth. Another piece of mediocre power balladry with an unremarkable tune that wants to be OneRepublic's Apologise but is not. 4/10

 

 

Serbia: Jelena Tomašević - Oro

 

Another haunting ethnic sounding operatic ballad sung by a female. Not quite as good as last year's winner, but it is definitely a Top Six contender. 7/10

 

Slovenia: Rebeka Dremelj - Vrag Naj Vzame

 

It's looking like most of the best songs are down towards the end of the nations alphabet. Another good tune, but is more uptempo with a very catchy chorus, that builds very nicely as the track goes on. Another contender. 8/10

 

 

Spain: Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila el Chiki Chiki

 

Give me strength. This novelty track deserves to be given the contempt it deserves. Terrible 0/10

 

 

Sweden: Charlotte Perrelli - Hero

 

This reminds me of Anastacia. Very good. Note to the UK = This is what we should be coming up with (if we took the competition remotely seriously). This could easily be a Top 5 hit in the UK in its own right. Another song with a very real chance of winning if Eastern Europe don't keep voting for each other. 9/10

 

 

Switzerland: Paolo Meneguzzi - Era Stupendo

 

A better than average ballad, that you could imagine the lighters/mobile cameras being waved around in the killer anthemic chorus. But the drums don't feel right when it builds up its tempo. 7/10

 

Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi - Deli

 

Ooohhh, a decent melodic rock song with that Turkish spice in it too. That sound like an inferior Manic Street Preachers meets the Green Day. A shame the tune does not quite match its potential. But I like it. 7/10

 

 

Ukraine: Ani Lorak - Shady Lady

 

Another Anastacia sound-a-like, with a well composed song, with a great arrangement & vocals. The verse is really good, but the chorus lets it down a bit. But I'd expect this to easily make the Top 10. 8/10

 

 

United Kingdom: Andy Abraham - Even If

 

This sounds like mediocre 1970s cabaret by a black US band like the Stylistics or the Drifters when appearing on 3-2-1. This will go down as well at Eurovision as an Afro-Caribbean attending a Football match in Eastern Europe in the home sides end. We should have picked the Revelations, but truth be told none of our six Song for Europe finalists were as good as the Top 6 songs in this year's competition (nor as good as last years UK Song For Europe runner up by Cyndi).. 2/10

Interesting read Rich ^_^ Taking a look at the semi-final orders, with 9 qualifiers + 1 jury qualifier from each, who do you think will qualify and join the Big 4 + Serbia in the final? ^_^