The final starts !!!
It starts off pretty low key with our three hosts opening the show in English, French and German. Stefan then explains how the reprise of the winning song is a bit diffcult as Lena is performing later so they take it upon them sleves to sing the reprise Rockabilly style :o) Lena joins in half way through.
FINLAND: The song gets a huge cheer even before he starts singing. As the first chorus arrives another cheer as the specatulat backdrop comes into focus. He seems comfortable with his singing and at time actualy looks like he is enjoying himself. This could be a favourable draw but may well be forgotten in 2 hours time...
BOS-HER - the dreaded 2nd slot goes to Dino Merlin. The whoel stage act is very well hehearsed. The song sounds very good although at times I wish the backing singers were a little louder. The background for this song chages quite a lot and makes little impact. Will get tonnes of votes form Balkan countries.
DENMARK - They guys have a very well made production the black and white theme is very clever, especially the white moving lines. The song is passable, The verses are clevery made but I am still waiting for it to go double time never the end. Not sure what the kicking of the white balloon at the end is supposed to signify...?
LITHUANIA - one of the surprise qualifiers this year. It is a very old fashioned song, with great musical theatre tradition. Although not the catchiest of songs, it is very individual. Evelina has a very good voice and is pitch perfect throughout even when doing the sign language. Her hair is off putting though...
HUNGARY - Kati Wolf is joined by 2 backing singers and 3 dancers. IN thatdress she does look like a very bad transvestive... which is just up Eurovision street really. The whole srobing lights give it a very retro disco feel. Her voice is OK sounds very breathy and nervous. The arena seems to be enjyong it though.
IRELAND - I think Jedward has found their niche. OK, they are not the best singers or the best dancers but put on the best show. The person who made the backround show is a genius! Their image is really good and I don't think they are shying away from the fact they don't sing everything - with that routine I don't think anyone could!
SWEDEN - Eric Saade is joined by 3 dancers and 2 singer, who are shoved off at the side. He is very flat during the first verse and it only the over-powering bass that stops you hearing him off key int he chorus. I mean the choreography of the show is amazing but he cannot sing and dance at the same time.
ESTONIA - Getter looks about 5 years old in that outfit. Not helped by the two faux Minnie Mice behine her. There is so much going on in this performance one cannot keep up with it all. By the time we gett to the slow part in the middle she looks (and sounds) absolutely exhausted. The arena doesn't seem to involved.
GREECE - another shock qualifier. I really do not see any value to thes song whatsoever. I could very easily listen to 3minutes of Loucas singing his traditional Greek ditty but that awful rap in the middle is just ear splitting. The changing of the backgrounds is clever. The dancing is quite nice to watch too.
RUSSIA - The problem about this song is that it is all a bit too self assured. It is a good song. He is a good singer. The whole thing is a strong act. And bloody hell don't they know it. I very much abhor the backing singers being relegated to being behind the LED screens and having to move them around. tut tut tut.
FRANCE - one of the pre-race favourite stakes the stage. He starts off well but you can tel thereare some nerves there. Surprsingly the power of the beat of the backing track really doens;t come through and the track seems a little limp at times. The background is just stunning. Shame he didn't comb his hair beforehand.
ITALY - Another great background of the paino playing starts up. Raphael doesn't really perform or give a show. It is all very laid back a cabaret jazz club feel. His voice is actually very good, especially during the shouty bits at the end of the chorus parts. Is it to highbrow or soghisticated for Eurovision?
SWITZERLAND - Anna produced another high quality performance just like she did in the semi-finals. What fascinates me about her is that if you look very closely at her close up when she sings she has a roaming toungue. Although she saysthe right sounds she makes them in a vety strange way.
UK - a change of backing track of the start of the song makes slightly uncomfortable listening at first. The boys are dressed in dark blue suits which not only look formal but also don't stand out from the stage. The boys are singing quite well and interact with the cameras well. The arena seems to like the song too
MOLDOVA - another slightly surprising addition to the final. Their slightly bizarre set up will appeal to the mad quaretr of every country. However I deny anyone to be slightly moved and infected by that acid Balkan brass going on! The song is very strange with its many changes of tempo. Maybe monocles are cool in Moldova...?
GERMANY - Lena takes the stage for the second time tonight. A very diferent song and perfornace than last years winner. The background has more dancers in the silver catsuits which really works. Lena really sells the song and the audience goes mad during the instrumental part. The breaking glass at the end is very clever.
ROMANIA - The sing is a bit of a damp squib for me. To start with the stage looks really bare and gappy. The outfits are really unimaginative. The background is a lottle bit nondescript. The choreography is very uninspiring and the song is just well, a bit stereotypical eurovision. Who voted for this?
AUSTRIA - Nadine has made a bit of a name for herself in this contest. She is one of the best singers and performs flawlessly every time. The song is a little old fashioned and not exactly sing-along-able but does have a memorable gospel hook to it. How on earth does she stand up in those heels?!?!!?
AZERBAIJAN - Ell and Nikki are the duet although a lot of the 'oh-oh'-ing is done by their four very pretty backing singers. Their singing is much better than the semi. The staging and outfits of this song are white and lots of flashing and strobing. The choreography is a bit over the top but does make it look very professional.
SLOVENIA - Maja is a very confident performer and has a very showy-offy voice which suits this very contemoprary song. The staging is a little unneccessary as I feel Maja would do evry well with just backing singers behind her rather than doing dancing. There is also too much camera movement which detracts from the singing.
ICELAND - The guys must be so happy to be here ! You can absolutely tell that they are enjoying themselves and probabaly feel very grateful to the semi final voters! The guys sing really well and interact really well too. The background is a little bizarre but it does make you focus on the song rather than that.
SPAIN - This is just odd. The backing singer/dancers are really over the top and poor Lucia muct feel embarrassed that she is in front of them. I guess they are trying to create a carnival atmosphere but fail misreably. Not even the flares help. Lucia does sing the song really well but it is a poor song to start with.
UKRAINE - Mika is back with Miysic Meg the sand artist. Believe me, people WILL NOT be voting for this song due to Mika's looks, her chicken dress,her singing ability or personality. They are voting for the beautiful images behind her and the skill of Ksenia. I bet Jamala is back at home wondering what could have been...
SERBIA - This could easily be taken as a piss take but Nina and her 3 singers do a really good job at this one and keep it fun and light hearted. It is also nice to hear a song in the native tongue too! The main downside is that if you stare at the background for too long you get serious motion sickness :o/
GEORGIA - FFS how they hell did this one qualify?!?!? I guess the emo quarter of each country voted for this one earlier in the week. Give them their due, the main singer does a very good job singing a very hard song. The outfits are dire and the lighting and flashing a little .