Denmark

Music/Lyrics: Harmath Szabolcs, Villa Attila/Harmath Szabolcs, Villa Attila

NOX brought Hungary back to the contest after a seven year absence - and what a return! It is vibrant, full of style and energy and very, very infectious. The choreography did its job of selling the song without taking over.

Music/Lyrics: Javine Hilton, John Themis/Javine Hilton, John Themis

For once, a relatively famous singer stepped forward to represent the United Kingdom. Her song was more Turkish than then Turks own entry, but there was also a very contemporary styling.

Music/Lyrics: Chiara Siracusa/Chiara Siracusa

Chiara’s second entry is like her first, a calm, steady ballad which contains no surprises. She wasn’t finished yet! There would be another one like it four years later.

Music/Lyrics: Christian Faur/Christian Faur

The presentation, particularly the use of props such as metal barrels as drums, was very irritating at times and distracted from the song. That was a pity, as Let Me Try is a strong, up-tempo song in its own right. Having won the semi-final, it could have won the final without all the mucking around. 

Music/Lyrics: Trond ‘Teeny’ Holter/Trond ‘Teeny’ Holter

From the opening refrain of ‘come on, come on, come on’, Norway’s experienced rockers hook everyone close enough to hear - and that would have been a very large radius! Hard enough for fans of proper rock, but also accessible for everyone else, the contest needed a song like this.

Music/Lyrics: Erden Tunç/Göksan Arman

Gülseren was hampered by choreography that required her to dance in one area of the stage, stop, move to another area of the stage and dance some more. There was no fluency to it. The production of the song lacks the pace the melody needs. 

Music/Lyrics: Zdob si Zdub/Zdob si Zdub

Moldova’s debut featured Granny gently rocking to and fro in her chair. Suddenly, tired of taking it all in, up she gets and starts banging her drum, as the translated title demands. All this is set to a rock soundtrack.

Music/Lyrics: Adrian Hila/Pandi Laco

The lyrics of the Albanian song are based around a woman talking to her mother the day before her wedding. The song also has a wedding dance feel to it, with the celebratory nature of the arrangement.

Music/Lyrics: Constantinos Christoforou/Constantinos Christoforou

It was starting to seem as if there were no other singers in Cyprus. This was Constantinos’ third appearance in ten contests and his second in four. His songs were getting worse! The lyrics are trite and the tune is forgettable. 

Music/Lyrics: Alfredo Panebianco/Alfredo Panebianco

It was a good thing there were three of them. The singing is non-stop as soon as the intro is over, pausing only for a very brief instrumental. They would also have been able to deal with the man in large sunglasses lurking in the background.

Music/Lyrics: Pini Aronbayev/Pini Aronbayev, Eyal Shachar

It doesn’t get much better than this! While there had been many epic, anthemic ballads from Israel before, Hasheket Shenish'ar has extra passion, emotion and soul about it that lifts it above the rest. 

Music/Lyrics: Slaven Knezovic/Milan Peric

Montenegrin boy-band, No Name, were chosen to represent the only two areas of the former Yugoslavia still together, although this wouldn’t last much longer. Zauvijek Moja is a fairly formulaic boy-band ballad, but the choreography was, erm, interesting.  

Music/Lyrics: Jacob Launbjerg, Andreas Morck Jacob Launbjerg, Andreas Morck

There is the merest hint of reggae about the Danish song. The performance was designed to give the backing singers plenty to think about.

Music/Lyrics: Niklas Edberger, Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren/Niklas Edberger, Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren

Unsurprisingly, Las Vegas is a very ‘show time’ type of song. Martin struts around the stage with an attitude suited to the culture of the eponymous city. It might have finished in the bottom six, but it is a good song to listen to. 

Music/Lyrics: Dragan Vučic/Ognen Hedelkovski

For many, this was a surprise finalist. The Balkan pop song was considered too lightweight and weak in comparison to its competitors. It took more than neighbourly voting to help it qualify, and worse songs than his found themselves needed on the day of the final.

Music/Lyrics: Roman Kalin, Roman Kostyuk/Roman Kalin, Roman Kostyuk

With Ukraine bubbling with a new sense of national pride, Razom Nas Bahato went down a storm with the locals. Their rap/rock song perhaps wasn’t understood beyond the Ukrainian borders.

Music/Lyrics: David Brandes, Jane Tempest/John O’Flynn

Gracia shared David Brandes and John O’Flynn with the Swiss, whose song they also wrote. He gave Vanilla Ninja the best song of the two by a mile! Run and Hide is tolerable, synth based rock.

Music/Lyrics:  Franjo Valentic/Boris Novkovic

After many attempts as a singer or writer, Boris finally won the chance to represent his country. His ballad is reflective and is given a haunting touch with the effective use of the flute. 

Music/Lyrics: Christos Dantis/Christos Dantis, Natalia Germanou

Helena brought Greece it’s long awaited first win with a strong, modern pop tune. A firm beat runs throughout the song and, as with her 2001 Eurovision song; it retains a Greek flavour while being mainstream. 

Music/Lyrics: Victor Drobysh/Mary Applegate, J.P. Chase

What a crafty piece of writing! Using a strong, girl-rock track, the Russians took the opportunity to have a dig at their great political rival, America, by making a girl called Erica the subject of the lyrics, which talks about the culture of out of control violence.

Music/Lyrics: Andrej Babic/Andre Babic

This is nothing more than a cheap cash -in on the 50th anniversary of the contest. The lyrics and music make the most of all the available clichés

Music/Lyrics: David Brandes/John O’Flynn

After scoring no points in the semi-final the year before, Switzerland came back with a potential winner! Estonian girl rock band, Vanilla Ninja, sounded good and looked the part in a contest where rock was a more common genre than ever before. Cool Vibes explodes into life, grips the listener tightly and never lets go until it’s good and ready. Great stuff!

Music/Lyrics: Mărtins Freimanis/Mărtins Freimanis

Simplicity was the order of the day for Latvia. Walter & Kazha sat on stools strumming their guitars before (predictably) dispensing with the instruments to stand. It was their entire soft rock ballad needed.  

Music/Lyrics: Ortal, Saad Tabainet/Ortal, Saad Tabainet

Ortal’s mid-tempo ditty is light and easy on the ear. It has a slightly unusual construction which isn’t detrimental. However, there is a feeling that something is missing that would have made the song a lot stronger. 

Music/Lyrics: Christof Spörk, Edi Köhldorfer/Christof Spörk

Yes it’s different, but the oompah band style is messy and the brief yodel adds nothing positive.

Music/Lyrics: Bobby Ljungr, Billy Butt/Bobby Ljungr, Billy Butt

The presentation was a little amateurish and Laura wasn’t the best of singers, but despite finishing last, her song was strong enough to deserve a place in the final. It’s a bit rock for children and perhaps that was the problem. 

Music/Lyrics: Jose de Ponte, Alexandre Honrado, Ernesto Leite/Jose de Ponte, Alexandre Honrado, Ernesto Leite

2B were a male/female duo. The chanted verse leads to a big chorus. The chances of qualifying were reduced by the manic yet static choreography.

Music/Lyrics: Zdob si Zdub/Zdob si Zdub

Moldova’s debut featured Granny gently rocking to and fro in her chair. Suddenly, tired of taking it all in, up she gets and starts banging her drum, as the translated title demands. All this is set to a rock soundtrack.

Music/Lyrics: Mărtins Freimanis/Mărtins Freimanis

Simplicity was the order of the day for Latvia. Walter & Kazha sat on stools strumming their guitars before (predictably) dispensing with the instruments to stand. It was all their soft rock ballad needed.  

Music/Lyrics: Phil Bosco/Phil Bosco

Even employing the services of the Paris Symphony Orchestra couldn’t lift Lise into the final. Her majestic ballad clearly went straight over the heads of most viewers. 

Music/Lyrics: Pini Aronbayev/Pini Aronbayev, Eyal Shachar

It doesn’t get much better than this! While there had been many epic, anthemic ballads from Israel before, Hasheket Shenish'ar has extra passion, emotion and soul about it that lifts it above the rest. 

Music/Lyrics: Nikos Terzis/Nektarios Tyrakis

Although Angelica won the Belarusian final with a different song, Boys and Girls, she was allowed to choose another song in order to make her feel happier about her chances. The song she settled for is a slightly camp disco anthem.

Music/Lyrics: Robert D Fisher/Bruce Smith

The Martin Luther-King style ‘I have a dream’ at the beginning sets the tone very early. Whitney Houston would perhaps have used My Impossible Dream to fill an album, but there isn’t enough punch that epic ballads must have. 

Music/Lyrics: Thorvaldur Bjarni Thorvaldsson, Vignir SnærVigfússon/Thorvaldur Bjarni Thorvaldsson, Vignir SnærVigfússon

On the strength of her 1999 success, many expected Selma to qualify for the final. Past glories mean nothing to a voting public who probably didn’t remember her, and this pop song just wasn’t strong enough.   

Music/Lyrics: Alec Mansion, Frédéric Zeitoun/Alec Mansion, Frédéric Zeitoun

Belgium chose Portuguese Nuno to represent them with a rather sub-standard, French style ballad. It’s all right at the beginning but starts dragging towards the end.  

Music/Lyrics: Sven Löhmus/Sven Löhmus

The unusual sight of five ladies behind turntables greeted viewers when the camera focused on the Estonians. There are sections of their pop/rock song that suited these props, but they look out of place for most of the song.

Music/Lyrics: Trond ‘Teeny’ Holter/Trond ‘Teeny’ Holter

From the opening refrain of ‘come on, come on, come on’, Norway’s experienced rockers hook everyone close enough to hear - and that would have been a very large radius! Hard enough for fans of proper rock, but also accessible for everyone else, the contest needed a song like this.

Music/Lyrics: Christian Faur/Christian Faur

The presentation, particularly the use of props such as metal barrels as drums, was very irritating at times and distracted from the song. That was a pity, as Let Me Try is a strong, up-tempo song in its own right. Having won the semi-final, it could have won the final without all the mucking around. 

Music/Lyrics: Harmath Szabolcs, Villa Attila/Harmath Szabolcs, Villa Attila

NOX brought Hungary back to the contest after a seven year absence - and what a return! It is vibrant, full of style and energy and very, very infectious. The choreography did its job of selling the song without taking over.

Finland - Geir Rönning - Why? (English)

Music/Lyrics: Mika Toivanen/Mika Toivanen

Geir’s heartfelt ballad wonders why there is so much bad in the world instead of complete harmony. He sings with immense feeling, but it was never going to reach the final.

Music/Lyrics: Dragan Vučic/Ognen Hedelkovski

For many, this was a surprise finalist. The Balkan pop song was considered too lightweight and weak in comparison to its competitors. It took more than neighbourly voting to help it qualify, and worse songs than his found themselves needed on the day of the final.

Music/Lyrics: Rafa Tanit/Daniel Aragay, Rafa Fernández

Beneath the strong rhythm is a well constructed song that perhaps needed a bit more grit to win enough votes from the public. The costumes of the backing dancers had the look of ‘been worn in the jungle for some time’ about them. 

Music/Lyrics: David Brandes/John O’Flynn

After scoring no points in the semi-final the year before, Switzerland came back with a potential winner! Estonian girl rock band, Vanilla Ninja, sounded good and looked the part in a contest where rock was a more common genre than ever before. Cool Vibes explodes into life, grips the listener tightly and never lets go until it’s good and ready. Great stuff!

Music/Lyrics:  Franjo Valentic/Boris Novkovic

After many attempts as a singer or writer, Boris finally won the chance to represent his country. His ballad is reflective and is given a haunting touch with the effective use of the flute. 

Music/Lyrics: Vesselin Ivanov/ Vesselin Ivanov, Ovin Pavlov

It was always going to be difficult for Kaffe to reach the final. Their smooth jazz number is musically credible and sophisticated, but not instant enough to fare well in a competition of this nature. When the 2005 contest is listened to in years to come, Lorrraine will have aged better than many.

Music/Lyrics: Karl Broderick/Karl Broderick

Donna and Joe are siblings. Donna was clearly the more accomplished performer, but boy was Joe determined to enjoy himself! He bounded around the stage like a spring lamb enjoying the sunshine. The duo’s song is chirpy and enjoyable, while the presentation throws in a bit of sexy Irish dancing to remind viewers of Ireland’s glory days.

Music/Lyrics: Omar Naber/Urse Vlasič

Stop starts in quiet, reflective fashion, builds a bit with the introduction of an electronic drum (never a good move) before building into a rock song. 

Music/Lyrics: Jacob Launbjerg, Andreas Morck Jacob Launbjerg, Andreas Morck

There is the merest hint of reggae about the Danish song. The performance was designed to give the backing singers plenty to think about.

Music/Lyrics: Lukasz Lazer/Ivan Komarenko, Pawel Radziszewski

Ivan and Delfin travelled to Kiev with a gipsy folk song, complete with accordion. It would have had its fans, but is too niche to have enough of them to make a difference. In fact, it was a bit surprising that they got as close as they did to qualifying for the final.

Music/Lyrics: Mika Toivanen/Sillanpää

Jari’s voice was bound to sell his song well, but it was never going to be enough to lift the modern tango tune into the top 10.

Music/Lyrics: Aleksandra Kirsanova, Konstantin Drapezo/Alexey Solomakha

Belarus was the first of the debutants and it wasn’t a promising start! Aleksandra’s southern American drawl didn’t suit the folk nature of the song, while Konstantin looked like he felt surplus to requirements. 

Music/Lyrics: Greg Manning/Greg Manning

Poor Piero!! He became the first person to score no points in a semi-final. In truth, it was what the song deserved. The lyrics are worse than corny and the tune is nonexistent. 

Music/Lyrics: Guntars Racs/Tomass Kleins

In a move that demonstrated you can stage a song effectively without going over the top, they used two drummers and gave them some choreography to emphasise the strong beat. It worked really well, and it’s a pity that the accessible rock song wasn’t rewarded with a place in the final. 

Music/Lyrics: David D'or/David D'or

Were his trousers too tight? David’s remarkable soprano voice certainly caught everyone’s attention and added an extra layer to what otherwise would be a grand and worthy, though run of the mill, Israeli anthem. He can count himself unlucky to just miss the final in 11th place. 

Music/Lyrics: Jofre Bardagi/Jofre Bardagi

Andorran broadcaster, RTVA, bravely decided to use the nations own language when, it would be argued by some, more points would have been gained using French or Spanish, also widely spoken in Andorra. We’ll never know if the use of one of those languages would have lifted the mid-tempo, repetitive plodder the necessary eight places it would have needed to reach the final. 

Music/Lyrics: Paulo Neves/Paulo Neves

Since 1999 (with the exception of 2003), Portugal had been suffering a drop in quality as they tried to move away from the Portuguese sound to something more commercial and European. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Foi Magia!

Music/Lyrics: Philip Vella/Gerard James Borg

There is much to enjoy about the Maltese entry. The tune is joyful and memorable, Julie’s performance is perky and when it ends, you want to hear it again. 

Music/Lyrics: Philippe Bosco/Philippe Bosco

Maybe in an attempt to sound modern and up to date, Monaco’s first entry for 25 years is accompanied by a dance beat. It would have sounded better as a ballad. 

Music/Lyrics: Nikos Terzis/Nextarios Tyrakis

Like him or hate him, no-one can deny that Sakis is an accomplished performer. His commercial Greek ditty was always going to be popular. 

Music/Lyrics: Ruslana/Oleksandr Ksenofontov

The bookies had Ruslana at 25/1 at one point. Had they not heard it first? It stood out as an obvious winner with its infectious rhythm and driving beat. A well choreographed routine did her chances no harm either. 

Music/Lyrics: Michalis Antonio, Linas Adomaitis/Camden MS

Linus wore a shirt with a flashing heart adorned on it. He seemed really proud of it, but it looked ridiculous! His duet with Simona started badly with a rasping trumpet, and doesn’t improve when it develops a touch of jazz.

Music/Lyrics: Edmond Zhulali/Agim Doçit

Every expense was spared on the presentation. No-one should complain that it was left to Anjeza and her backing singers to sell Albania’s first entry, an up-tempo, feel good number whose success surprised many. 

Music/Lyrics: Mike Connaris/Mike Connaris

Lisa was plucked from her regular life in Kent, The Garden of England, to sing from the country of her ancestors. Despite her voice cracking briefly at the end, her performance of this gentle, understated ballad was very good; especially considering the arrangement is quietly in the background. 

Music/Lyrics: Jovan Jovanov/Damjan Lazarev, Irena Dukic

Tose was a very popular young singer whose life was tragically cut short in 2007 in a car accident. He left us this happy memory of him, a dramatic song with a punchy performance.

Music/Lyrics: Simon Gomilsek/Diana Lecnik

Surely the Slovenians didn’t expect to qualify for the final with this package! The song is tuneless and Diana can’t sing to save her life. 

Music/Lyrics: Priit Pajusaar, Glen Pilvre/Aapo Ilves

With a manic chap, who banged the drums (hard) with his bare hands, for protection, the quintet of Estonian ladies walked in formation while sharing vocal duties in their sprightly folk song.  

Music/Lyrics: Ivan Mikulic/Dusko Grubolovic, Marina Mudrinic

It would have been a scandal if Ivan had been left out of the final. Croatian ballads don’t come much more charming, tender or romantic than this. 

Music/Lyrics: Ivar Lind Greiner/Ivar Lind Greiner

Tomas was sporting a pair of shoes which turned into roller skates, allowing him to whizz around the stage. The camera managed to keep up with him. His mid-tempo MOR song was worthy of a place in the final. Maybe the striking red suit put people off.

Music/Lyrics: Željko Joksimović/Leontina Vukomanovic

Other former Yugoslav republics had been competing in the contest for about ten years, but Serbia and Montenegro had stayed away until now. On this evidence, we have been deprived of some great songs. Lane Moje is an instant classic, a Balkan ballad with a poetic beauty. 

Music/Lyrics: Vesna Pisarovic/Vesna Pisarovic

With more camp than Milletts, Deen took to the stage with (and the clue is in the title) a disco number. The choreography gave him ample opportunity to show off his dancing skills, doing as much work as the backing dancers. This is always risky when there is a song to sing, but he pulled it off.

Music/Lyrics: Ed van Otterdijk/Angeline van Otterdijk

Shock was the first emotion felt when this was announced a qualifier. Another of the soft rock ballads (although sung by a duo rather than a solo male), it’s also rather dull.