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The semi finals are over and we have a result. The running rider comes later, for now let’s look at the winners and losers from Thursday night.
Eurovision Insight Podcast: Daily News From Stockholm, Saturday 14th May
And so it comes to this. Dawn breaks on the day of the 61st Eurovision Song Contest. The Jury Final is over, the internal acts are prepared, the world awaits. Ewan Spence previews the Grand Final with Samantha Ross, Ben Robertson, and Benny Royston.
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Thanks for another fantastic year for coverage guys! ESC fortnight wouldn’t be the same without you!
Time to say THANK YOU again 😉
Firstly, I would like to echo Ben Cook and thank Ewan and the team for their sterling efforts over the past few weeks.
I would agree with Ben Robertson that it has been a strong year – not in the sense of the contending songs at the top of the board which have been stronger in other years – but in terms of the strength in depth. Of the 26 songs that have made the final there is hardly a dud among them. It is good that the competition is moving on from the high camp and bing a bong, la la la eras. The problem is that from my friends and colleagues in the UK the first response I get is ‘Eurovision – I’m not watching that rubbish’. So if SVT are taking steps to demolish outdated stereotypes more power to them. Yes, Eurovision is in part about pyrotechnics and big staging but that should be in the service of a good song and good singing not as a substitute to it.
There are four countries maximum that can win this year. Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and Australia. The point that was made in the podcast is that the final is effectively in two legs. When you look at it that way, there are effectively about 9 other countries that juries, if they are doing their job, could legitimately prefer over Russia. I predict that Russia will come no higher than fifth or sixth with the juries. Although they will most likely win the televote that gives other countries a fighting chance.
I feel the momentum is with Australia. They will probably come first or second with juries and (from the indications of itunes downloads) they will also be high in the televote. However, your comments about Frans interested me. I compared the preview performance he gave at the Jury Semi on Monday with his Melodifestivalen performance. Both performances are staged in more or less the same way, but on Monday what we got (from the performance) was Frans the surly teenage brat. Now it appears the smiles and looks to camera are back and that makes him a real contender.
Enjoy the final everyone.