Note: The opinion expressed in this article are those of the author and are not necessarily the one of EuroVisionary.com.
1.Poland - Magdalena Tul - Jestem
Magdalena delivers a solid number of a plesant song but is the song and number really enough? I saw this as a qualifier before the rehearsals started but I'm not sure anymore. I think it will be a bit forgotten.
2.Norway - Stella Mwangi - Haba haba
This felt like a sure finalist the first time I saw it. I think the song is instant but it also a song I grew quickly tired of. Are the viewers gonna find it as instant as I did the first time? In that case it's a qualifier, but like with Poland I am not as sure as I was before I came to Düsseldorf that I will se it qualify. Judging my first impression of the song, I still think this should make it through to Saturday.
3.Albania - Aurela Gace - Feel the passion
Aurela possesses a strong voice. She also wears more make-up than most women and that in combination with the red hair gives a quite scary look I think. I never believed that this is a qualifier and I still don't think it is.
4.Armenia - Emmy - Boom boom
Emmys voice is not very good during the performance and the song is rather childish. Armenia has never failed to qualify but with this rather weak song & seeing that they are in a semi final where they are missing many of the countries they usually can count to get votes from I think that they just might miss out the final this time or be a borderline qualifier.
5.Turkey - Yüksek Sadakat - Live it up
Turkey and rock songs has always been a successfull combination and this is no exception I feel. Will reached the final and probably give Turkey another top 8 place there.
6.Serbia - Nina - Caroban
Quite a lot of people has written this down as a qualifier but I am not sure if it really will make it. Borderline qualifier if so but my guess is that this will miss it out the final.
7.Russia - Alexej Vorobiev - Get you
A good performance and quite a big show on stage from Alexej and his dancers will easily take Russia to the final.
8.Switzerland - Anna Rossinelli - In love for a while
This is my personal favourite of the whole contest. I am not sure at all though if Anna's charisma is strong enough to attract votes from all over Europe though.
9.Georgia - Eldrine - One more day
Georgia has a nice record of qualifying and looking at which countries that are voting in the semi final I think it could be enough to take them to another final once again.
10.Finland - Paradise Oskar - Da da dam
A charming little song that give strong Tom Dice-vibes ("Me and my guitar") from last year). If Tom could win his semi final I see no reason for Paradise Oskar to repeat or come close to Toms achievment
11.Malta - Glen Vella - One life
Glen does what he can to lift the song with his energy but like people in common I don't think this stands a chance to qualify. It's more a hot candidate for a bottom 3 place I think.
12.San Marino - Senit - Stand by
The lovely Senit does a professional job with delivering the song but the song itself can probably only be saved from a last place if the jurygroups around Europe goes voting for it.
13.Croatia - Daria Kinzer - Celebrate
A song that tries to be catchy but comes across as rather cheap And the also rather cheap cloth changes won't help it to qualify I think.
14.Iceland - Sjonni's Friends - Coming home
I must admit I am not left untouched knowing that this song is sung by the friends to the late Sjonni. I have a feeling that this will make it through to the final, even if I am not sure if eastern europe would vote for a song like this, but I have a feelling that this is a dark horse.
15.Hungary - Kati Wolf - What about my dreams?
This song has divided people into two groups - one who think it can win the whole contest and one that think it will flop. I would like to say that I do believe it will make it to the final but I am not sure if it will do top 10 there.
16.Portugal - Homens da Luta - A luta e alegria
As crazy and entertaining this bunch of people who perform their song is, I think they don't stand a chance of qualifying. The lyrics are important in such a song andthe message of the song will get lost due to singing in a language that most europeans won't understand. But I am quite sure it won't be last.
17.Lithuania - Evelina Sasenko - C'est ma vie
Some people think this might be a surprise and be in the final. I find it only totally uninteresting and can only see this come close to the bottom 3.
18.Azerbaijan - Ell & Nikki - Running scared
This seems to be the one to beat in this semi final and I don't want to bet against that really. But this is also not my kind of song really and they don't come across as a believable couple though I must say. But the feeling is indeed that this will do well.
19.Greece - Loucas Giorkas ft. Stereo Mike - Watch my dance
Greece never missed a final and even if some people believe in that it in fact could miss the final this time I think Greece is pretty safe to go to the final this year again.
This is my prediction of the semi final:
1.Azerbaijan
2.Finland
3.Russia
4.Norway
5.Greece
6.Turkey
7.Hungary
8.Iceland
9.Georgia
10.Armenia
11.Poland
12.Serbia
13.Switzerland
14.Albania
15.Croatia
16.Portugal
17.Lithuania
18.Malta
19.San Marino
