The ballads (girls)

Next up in this years seemingly ballad-heavy Eurovision review are the girls. Girls with big lungs traditionally do well in Eurovision, remember this is the contest that "gave the world Celine Dion. There have been several high-scoring lady-ballads in recent years, most notably Serbia's Marija Šerifović winner in 2007...(a little more danced-up for the repeat performance)


Can 2011's ladies hit the right notes (ahem)...?

 

 

Switzerland/Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera – "In Love For a While" – Anna Rossinelli

This has a really cute plinky-plinky start, and the feel-good factor continues throughout. “I love everything about you” may not be 100% true about this song, but it’s near enough. There's an irrepressable urge to "La la la" along with her after the choruses. Beware the video has some dodgy stomping "dancing", which is not gonna attract her smiley violin/bass playing boyfriends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtlhYGVtZlk

 

 

Bulgaria/България – "Na inat" ("In spite") – Poli Genova

The Bulgarian P!nk with an angry ballad (though it looks like mum is on the keyboards) that is okay really. Depending on what is either side of it in the running order might make all the difference, because there’s nothing else really like it, and its all fairly well accomplished, though it doesn’t really leave you wanting more.
The video has power stations, police banging their riot shields and a dove trying to fly around in a cage (of course it gets released in the end). 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwH2VU7Vqss

 

 

Ukraine/Україна –"Angel" – Mika Newton

I think I like this just for the Ukrainian accent saying “I lurve yooo” and the rhyme “we are angels, we’re in danger”. All in all, one of the better ballads, though some of the high notes leave a lot of room for disaster in the live show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtfetx1u8I0

 

 

San Marino – "Stand By"- Senit

Okay, I’ll admit, the smaller the country, the more likely I am to fall in love, but this is a really beautiful song that makes me melt. Senit has got the “smize” down to a tee and her voice is just lovely. The accompanying video veers between godawful tourist promo and blissful black and white. The more I think about it, I just love this song actually! You just kind of have to forget that this is a country with a population smaller than Altrincham, Stretford or Fareham.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owh0pnNzh0Y

 

 

Lithuania/Lietuva - "C’est ma vie" – Evelina Sašenko

Full of bad lyrics, a plodding tune that is (admittedly) adequately sung by Evelina, this is very forgettable. That’s all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWsuBnfYQBw

Eurovision 2010 Semi-Final 2: part two

8 Ukraine
"Sweet People" - Alyosha

You do wonder about the quality control measures in place when you watch this OFFICIALLY RELEASED promo for the Ukraine. The first 30 seconds nip in and out of tune and the camera focus is mental. I can't even remember if I like this or not. I know it doesn't make any sense.

9 Netherlands
"Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" - Sieneke (I'm in love)

A slightly mental circus opening distracts from what is a sort of catchy song but this is unlikely to turn the tides against the Netherlands bad luck/choices over the past few years.

10 Romania
"Playing with Fire" - Paula Seling & Ovi

I really like the hook in this song, but there's bits that are awful and I'm not sure how I feel at the end. The video's the same: the dual piano is pretty cool, but the whole video game aspect is just desperately lacking in focus. And as usual with these Eastern European duos, they pair up a hot girl singer with some lardy bloke. "A" for effort but not for the finished product.

11 Slovenia
"Narodnozabavni rock" - Ansambel Žlindari & Kalamari (Native Folk Rock)

The damned accordions are back and they're still not welcome. This is just an embarrassment from my adopted home country. A simple "No" suffices here. Oh dear.

12 Ireland
"It's for you" - Niamh Kavanagh

This is actually quite pleasant and reminiscint of the type of entries that Ireland used to win with back in the 90s. Trouble is, that was 20 years ago. Nevertheless the start is right out an X-Factor winner's song, which might be a good thing. And we haven't even got to the tin whistle, making a welcome return.

13 Bulgaria
"Angel si ti" - Miro (You're an angel)

This is one of my favourites, assuming he sings well which you can never judge from the video. Love the "oh-woh-woh bits", and actually the Bulgarian I don't understand but he makes me want to... there goes another Eurovision crush.

14 Cyprus
"Life Looks Better in Spring" - Jon Lillygreen and the Islanders

It may well be true but I'm not feeling this song. Boring. Boring. Yawn.

15 Croatia
"Lako je sve" - Feminem (Everything is easy)

Feminem represented Bosnia-Herzegovina a few years back with a decididly camp number so I was surprised to see this. Pleasantly surprised, I'm a sucker for Balkan angst and moody black and white videos.

16 Georgia
"Shine" - Sopho Nizharadze

A quite nice ballad really from a quite nice singer. And I like the cleaning element of the chorus "Wipe the dust off your love". You'd never get a native English person coming up with genius lyrics like that. I'm not even sure if I'm still being sarcastic.

17 Turkey
"We Could Be The Same"- maNga

These fellas are described as "the Turkish MUSE", which is not a bad comparison. However, whilst the chorus of this song is quite good and catchy; the verses are dull fillers, unlike Muse. The video is pretty cool though.

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So there we are, that's all the semi-final songs in round 2. The only five we haven't looked at are France, Germany, Spain, Norway & the UK, as they all automatically qualify for the Final. I'll get round to them though, don't worry.

So who should go through from the second semi final?

My favourites here are the ever-catchy Azerbaijan ("Drip drop drip drop"), which is tipped to win with odds of 2-1 or less. Bulgaria is a close second. Lithuania, Croatia, Georgia, Armenia and Denmark also probably deserve to go through. And as much as it pains me, Slovenia, is the least deserving country.