ScottyEm

This isn't panning out well for me...

EUGH! Can't bare this

Didn't expect these to slip in

I'll ping over my results around lunch time... Agreed this semi is a mixed bag but can still easily do a decent top ten.

Can't complain, generally speaking, about those qualifiers. The final looks pretty intense.

I've been away for a while (got married). What's occurring? Can't believe I've missed all these heats! Anyway I'm confident my faves have made the final cut... I will of course be voting. Also glad to see my all time joint faves have been separated...

This woman baffles me. Her Eurovision entry was beyond awful even at the time and yet she's managed to yield enough fans to sustain a career in the Euro bubble, of sorts. San Marino is waiting for you Nicki love.

Snap. Shady Lady is wholly responsible for turning me into casual viewer to dedicated fanatic.

My thoughts exactly. Sofia 2018 and Poli Genova to present the whole bloody thing on her own!

Marvellous top 4 there!

The press results show Bulgaria as a very close third. Given the relative strong diaspora they have, it could this that gives them a criucial edge. I still think Sweden are in contention. I don't know... My wish is UK to break the top ten more than anything.

As much as I dislike the Portuguese entry, at the end of the day, it's Portugal. Plus Lisbon will be a doddle to get to next year. I still think Sweden could do it again though...

I would've preferred UK after Bulgaria but anyway I won't quarm over being sandwiched between two entries that were tipped as very borderline qualifiers.

Croatia and Belarus are apparently better than Macedonia and Estonia. LIVID! Oh well, I'm a glass half full sort and I have two takes: Norway qualifying is good on the basis that they on,y had Denmark as a buddy and is surfaced amongst the kitsch. It won't do well on Saturday though. The Louis Walsh man boy project not going through is also a massive, lovely silver lining. Looking good for Lucie...

Molly had "nice" staging, but it just didn't excite. Camera angles were all over the shop, was she part of a band? Hard to tell. I did love the song though and she was hindered with bad decisions on the staging.

This is, IMO, the hardest semi to predict. I think this is where televotes and juries will be very divided. In an ideal world, I want music to be the winner (hi Macedonia) and ear raping dirge (bye Croatia and Ireland) to jog on. There's also lots of fighting for the beige title. This isn't a great semi, it really is a proper shit sandwich.

If Joe and Jakes well meaning but very basic and amateur performance can score 17th place with the juries, in reality this should be dumped high in the top ten. It's the only performane that gives me the same chills as Aminata and Jamala and we know how well they turned out!

On holiday and wi-fi issue in the villa. Briefly went into meltdown but had to retrospectively catch up once all fixed. I think Belgium is testament to how far a GREAT and contemporary song can go especially with juries. I thought she vocally held it together and the staging was lovely. Finland were indeed a bit of a shocker not going through (but not really overly bothered about it, it's just overblown smoke and mirrors IMO). Latvia was my disappointment even though the staging?performane was a bit iffy. Montenegro was the worst. I don't actually particularly mind it, but Slavko looked like he couldn't be arsed and I got bored quite quickly (Moldova did what Montenegro should be done - cheesy but also slick and memorable). I do suspect Australia squeezed in. Apparently his jury perf was on point... Just as well, but I think Oz are potentially heading for the bottom 5 this year. Also Portugal and Italy in the first half and Sweden, Belgium and UK in the second half is doing wonders for me (Lucie is bloody brilliant!).

I've not heard a song more woeful and dire this year. It's putrid. Defo my 42nd this year, no mean feat given there is also Croatia in the mix.

I predict: Sweden Australia Belgium Azerbaijan Finland Portugal Moldova Cyprus Armenia Latvia

If only these are the actual finalists. I'm also on board with Portugal not qualifying (I know there isn't a cat in hells chance).

Barring a couple of songs, it's either extraordinary bland (Denmark, Switzerland) or excruciating (Croatia, Ireland). I know the former are popular on here, but these songs are so bad that they make Lithuania sound palatable. But, just my opinion...

Done... And I didn't realise how rough Semi 2 was until I got voting. There's well over ten songs I'd gladly never wish to hear again!

Poor sods coming out of the semis will have hardly any seconds halfs left - France have pulled out 2nd half too and Ukraine of course have a second half slot. But EXCELLENT for our Lucie! Her rehearsal is magnificent.

Nailing that 15th place love. No really, I'm glad the BBC are giving a shit with the staging and we all know Lucie will kill the stage and work the cameras.