ScottyEm

FYR Macedonia - PLEASE sort it out! I'm not emotionally prepared for this to NQ!

I think Belgium will qualify (the fact I'm having to even assume it'll qualify is alarming). The juries will see through underwhelming visuals and recognise a brilliant crafted pop track. The televotes will be the one that COULD kill it off though.

I hope Belgium will sort their shit out.

2017 is NOT going my way - all my faves are getting various levels of panning from the press (Belgium, Macedonia, Iceland). To add to this, the songs I cant abide (Austria, Armenia, Netherlands) are getting high praise. Pray for Macedonia - indeed.

Just stuck a tenner on Latvia getting a Top 10 finish on the night (9/1!). Now watch the rehearsal be a wreck...

I'm watching the 30 sec rehearsals BUT will refrain from the 3 minute ones, when second round of rehearsals come to light. I must admit, Montenegro really catches my eye. Gagging to see Azerbaijan also on the night. I agree the anticipation of Belgium has marred the scoring here. I don't accept Sweden that far down given its a cut n paste from MelFest.

Apparently there was a lot of blame placed on camera angles with Belgium. So hopefully this can be easily salvaged (and has nothing to do with the fact this is my favourite entry this year).

Oh I think she'll qualify and I don't particularly dislike the song, im just cant see this sticking out much.

I'm a little bemused as to why this is considered a shoe-in for the final. She has a knock-out vocal, but it's extremely generic and lacking in any sort of hook. I think it might edge into the final though, will be saved by the jury.

She was as flawless as per on Graham Norton tonight. It felt the backing track was really sped up so she had to keep up, a big ask given its a very vocal-heavy track as it is. She pulled it off with ease. If the visuals are on point and she gets a decent slot in the running order, I think she will get a spot on the left hand side (granted were depending on the juries).

Swap Austria with Ireland and I agree!

Alice over Benjamin? Let me digest this information....

"Shady Lady" was THE song that turned me from casual (but CONSISTENT) Saturday night viewer only, to the concerning obsessive of today. I remember downloading it the next day and feeling a bit dirty for playing a Eurovision track on repeat. It remains one of my faves. "Anti-Crisis Girl" was my deux for 2009. 2010 was terrible (wasn't 2010 terrible, period?). Back on track for 2012 and following years were well above average.

I love 3 of these. And couldn't literally give the remaining 4 anything beyond 2 out of 10. This will be a tough one...

I've heard the Belarus song on several occasions and can't recite the melody. Anyway it's an opinion, happy to be surprised and see how it translates on the night. It just feels very niche and not in a way that will resonate (like potentially Portugal).

I'm putting my opinions about the song to one side on this. I don't see how singing in a language which is only fully or partially recognised in 4 other countries makes it likeable? English is a second language in the majority of EU countries. I agree you could argue that is may seem the contest is becoming homogenised, but the bottom line is that entries want to win (I don't put the UK in this category, we just want to yield sufficient to viewers) so why not sing in a universally understood language. If it qualifies, then egg on my face. But I don't see it even coming close.

I've anticipated Belarus in bottom three in the final. It's messy and dirgey with no major hook to latch on to, I don't know what you guys are hearing that I'm not! Not singing in English isnt an advantage either (I'm aware Italy will likely win, btw, so. Slight contradiction but still...).

Isn't Belarus dead on arrival already? Can't see it coming even close to qualifying.

It still baffles me how Love Injected was loathed by the fans at the time. I ADORED it in studio form and my insides almost exploded on the night.

Hmmm... NOT feeling f bomb dirge shite succeeding retro pop bomb from Ingrosso. I feel there's a bizarre irrational hate for him on here? But, good work, I enjoyed the twist at the end!

Done - and I'm not up for the Ingrosso bashing!

Is Boris really that bad?!

Voted... Sorry if they're too late

By contrast, I think Macedonia are in a good slot. They either follow Austria or Russia - both drab as f***. I think they'll be fine. I think this is the Poli Genova of 2017, though not as momentous, but surely should navigate their way out of the semi. I never had Latvia as a DNQ and their draw only reconfirms that. Georgia - keep the faith by all means, but might as well book a return flight back to Tbilisi for The Wednesday now...

La La Love still delivers after 5 years. I forgot how much this broke through Europe also, seems odd it underperformed (more so with the televoters if I Remember?)