Eurovision 2010: Semi Final One

The Eurovision season is upon us (well me, at least).

So now that all the countries have picked a song and are ferverently rehearsing and touring Europe in order to gain favour, I'm going to start working through the preview videos to see where I can have my toilet breaks come the actual night(s) of the contest.

The semi-final system is still running, which means freaks like me get 3 nights of pure Europop gold to sit through/enjoy/wish would just end.

The first semi-final gives us a clue as to the tone of the contest this year. The tradition is for everyone to try and copy the previous year's winner, and then usually the country that doesn't do that wins.

So the past few years have been inundated with violins, and an alarming trend towards folk music. Brilliant, I do love a Moldovan goat-herding chant mixed with Turkish base beats.

So over the next few weeks, you'll get to see what I think of the best* of European talent, starting with the first semi-final, which will see 10 acts make it to the final to join France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Norway. If you care why this is, take a look at Wikipedia.
So we don't get to vote in this semi-final, but who do I want to see through to the final?

1 Moldova
"Run Away" - SunStroke Project & Olia Tira

Liking the use of violins (but a year too late mate). Far better is the saxophone and the overuse of pink glitter and Helsinki Blonde hair dye in this actually not-so-bad number from the bizarrely named SunStroke Project.

2 Russia
"Lost & Forgotten" - Peter Nalitch & Friends

Oh dear, starting the song wailing away is never going to endear anyone now is it? Not that this improves. It's like a Channel Five reality show where a load of workmen get together to make a song in 3 days with hilarious consequences. And the facial expressions made by the lead singer seem to suggest he doesn't quite understand the lyrics he's singing. It's all worth it for the high notes near the end though. Not.

3 Estonia
"Siren" - Malcolm Lincoln and Manpower 4

Wow this is bleak. Not that I don't like it, indeed quite the opposite, I think it's quite cool, in a final-year arts student way. Even the video is like some concept piece. I think it's actually quite good. Not sure how this will translate to stage though... I can see it being phenomenal, but then again, I can see it looking like a main wailing for 3 minutes.

4 Slovakia
"Horehronie" - Kristina

Hmm. It's not so bad this in fact, but it never seems to go anywhere. The dancer blokes look utterly ridiculous in their green plastic leaf costumes playing with giant elastic bands but at least it's more interesting than the folk waistcoats at the end of the video.
The song is apparently an ode to the Horehronie tourism region, how exciting.
It's all nice but a bit dull. Which means it might do quite well. But I'm bored already.

There's 13 songs to go (and that's just the first semi-final) so expect more blogs...