Colm

It's been scrapped. Back to the old way. Yay! EBU. BBC. “After trying a new system of presenting the qualifying countries in Dress Rehearsal 1 of the First Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 it was decided by the production team to revert back to the previous reveal sequence used in recent years with artists learning whether they will progress to the Grand Final together with their delegations in the Green Room. Whilst this change will not now be implemented this year there are other innovations in the show for viewers to look forward to.”

The law of diminishing returns strikes the Empire. As Dandy says, the audio quality may have hampered its impact. I didn't think it would underperform Magnetic Fields.

Live Forever is all time great. I could never stand Parklife and would remove it from the album if I could.

Top 10 prediction for the Sp'Empire?

Sweden and Finland may also get drawn first half.

That's France not winning then. :(

It's jumped from 6th to 3rd in the odds

This is getting widespread condemnation everywhere I've seen.

I just read that this is officially the way that the semi results will be announced.

Totally agree. We shouldn't really be humiliating reality tv contestants either.

That really cheapens the whole experience.

I don't live world wide.

Listen through this evening?

The DNQ spin off would be kinda cool. But does everyone get to compete? If so, this is possibly another opportunity for any bias to become obvious!

This doesn't apply to the Spodic Empire because running order hasn't affected us, but does anyone feel that they are regularly getting late slots in the semi running order and that that has impacted their qualification success?

It's difficult for me to see people take the rejection to heart because I take it badly too. I am enjoying this qualification run because I know it wont last forever.

She is exceptional.

Done!

Votes incoming (maybe)

It's a pity that someone can't just stand there and sing a great song really well to have a chance at winning.

And who puts Pure Shores among those guitar songs?!

I have honestly never heard of that Sting track, and I don't recall that Elton track either. But it isn't a bad selection and thankfully not as watered down as I feared. Of course, I'd have sequenced it better.

Is the s2 listen through tonight?

Does there need to be a theme? I think hosting at short notice would negate the necessity of having a theme.