[OFF TOPIC] Eurovision Song Contest 2017

[Pablita 187]

We're working very hard to make a great performance in Kiev, let's have a look

 

 

 

[Federer91 3,077]

Nothing that spectacular so far. Only the first 1/2 has rehearsed, but i have the feeling that this year, in addition to the weaker songs, we will have weaker staging, than what we had the last few years. Liked Latvia, Poland, Finland, Moldova and Azerbaijan from this 1/2.

Edited May 1, 2017 by Federer91

[rybak 3,329]

Next spamm 

 

[rybak 3,329]

[Werloc 3,191]

Welp, my predictions on who will be good and who will flop seem pretty accurate after 3/4 rehearsals. The singers which I had the feeling wouldn't do well vocally, don't sound good in the first rehearsals either and the truth is finally coming out now that they can't hide behind their recordings.

The songs that I actually loved and had expectations for that are letting me down a bit:

Belgium looks very bland at the moment.

Azerbaijan is very good, but I still want a bit more vocal power & assurance to come from Dihaj.

Czech Republic needs a clothes change and they're fixed.

 

Songs that do not sound great at the moment (perhaps it'll get better on further rehearsals, though I'm sceptical)

Serbia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro (no surprise here).

Otherwise everyone else is pretty legit on the vocals, though I still expect flops from Spain, Bulgaria has a brilliant song, but I think Kristian will have troubles on his falcetto, good example was the meet in Amsterdam, also I'm not sold on Switzerland, judging from the lives that I've heard before, but I guess tomorrow will answer most of these questions.

[mrv86 3,255]

49 minutes ago, Werloc said:

Belgium looks very bland at the moment.

 

Well, for me this is the most overrated song in this edition... Sure she has a good voice and the video is absolute art, as it captures the meaning of the song and translate it well into image and motion.  However her delivery is the dullest from all singers in the competition, for me she can't convey the emotions that are in the song, she's just content with singing practically monotone, when she actually has a very interesting, unique voice.. and the music, for me, it's barely outside of a waiting tone you may be put while waiting your call to enter.

[dezbee2008 827]

I haven't been able to watch all of the rehearsals (I mostly saw pictures) and predictions are hard to come by with only 40 seconds each, but what I'm seeing right now is:

 

 and  has got to qualify. Both countries are between 28-32 on my personal top, so normally countries ranked in the middle somewhere on my list have the highest chances to qualify

 

I have never seen  as a winner (bullshit, I did consider only once) and her performances in various preview parties had given me the green light to write her off

 

I'm super worried about  since Svala is my personal winner this year (as I do with my recent personal winners, i.e. Donatan and Cleo, Loic, and Poli), so it's natural. My second favorite  might sail through, and my third favorite  (he had his rehearsal today) will have no problem.

 

It's between  and  for the Barbara Dex award for me (though I'm leaning towards Czech Republic. I mean a golden track suit for a bland song?)

 

We need  in the final. No questions asked!

 

And on a personal note, I'm doing VPN manipulation for the first time ever because the same TV station that aired Eurovision here in the states last year is doing it again this year (with different commentators) and I am NOT looking forward to it because of the aftermath last year (ex. videos geoblocked on YouTube) and I'm expecting the same result this year. Because Viacom. Viacom bullshits on YouTube, so there's your answer for everything.

[rybak 3,329]

[Federer91 3,077]

So, the second rehearsals were today for almost everyone in the first 1/2. I reckon i'd give my humble opinion on the staging and qualifiers at this point. Things are really closer and there seem to be more borderline qualifiers than usual, because of the weak year. Also it doesn't help that some countries with popular studio songs messed up the staging (Belgium, Azerbaijan) , while others made the opposite (Finland, Latvia, Moldova). The juries would play a big factor like always (yawn), but i'm not counting there part as much in my ranking.

 

Certain qualifiers:

Sweden - A perfect Sweden ESC 1.0 song, slick, polished, probably is going to win this 1/2, even from the opening position;

Finland - Great staging and in an awesome position in the running order. After the trainwrecks and unmemorable songs before it, it will easily stand out;

Greece - An upbeat song with a popular artist (it seems?) around many ballads. A classic Greece entry, like we have seen in the past, and because of that it would get a lot of voted, even if the juries vote it lower. Can't see Greece failing for a second year in-a-row;

Poland - Great song & performance, with a nice staging. Certanly better than the other ballads. Plus big diaspora, it will go through.

 

Borderline qualifiers (from most to least likely): 

Azerbaijan - A weird staging, that isn't coming so good on TV for now. Don't know if it will resonate so good with the audience, as the song should have prior to the contest. It was one of the most liked from a studio version.

Portugal - This song, i don't know what to say about it. It is so unique and nothing we see hardly at all. The comments are in the two opposites all the time when it comes to it. If it resonates with the audience it could do miracles (certanly the bookies think this way), but it could just as much be ignored and not understanded. The juries would likely push it through, because it will be in their top almost certanly.

 

Moldova - Memorable and fun staging, for a fun song, surrounded by ballads. It will stand-out for the good and i hope it qualifies, no matter how much the juries dish on it. The final needs epic Sax guy. 

Australia - This shouldn't qualify, because it is the blandness of the blandness stuff. I hope the novelty of voting for Australia goes away and it being in the beginning tips things for it to stay in the 1/2. Again juries would be decider probably, because EBU need big country Australia in the final;

Albania - I wouldn't actually mind if this qualified. The song has grown on me and the staging looks intersting. I hope it stand-outs coming after Georgia and Australia and before Belgium and Montenegro. Definately deserves more to qualify than Australia.

 

Likely no chance:

Belgium - How? Why? Has everyone been high when coming up with the staging. Everything is a trainwreck. It will be a miracle if this qualifies and only if enough people liked the studio version and closed their eyes on the live performance.

Cyprus - So bland and unmemorable, plus it is almost a copycat staging like Belgium 2015, with a worse song. It will get lost.

Iceland - If they didn't qualify last year, with a far more better song, then this has no chance.. 

Georgia - Good singer, but the song is boring, the staging is boring, being second in the order is a curse and it will be scraping for viewer votes. Even if the juries actually throw a few votes towards Georgia it would hardly be enough.

Montenegro - No, just no.. Though i'd give it that i at least smile for the lolz 

Czechia - Even with Montenegro in here, there is another song heading for that last place. It's just 3 dull and empty minutes. I'm sorry for the singer, because she is not bad and tries her best, but everything is bad, everything...

 

The last three countries that didn't rehearse today and didn't watch the TV version of their performance.

 

Armenia - Seems like a popular song, with just enough staging to go through. Seems there is enthusiasm for it and being in the end of the order will definately help it. Likely qualifier. 

Latvia - For me, a very fun song, with a memorable staging, that will help it a lot in this sea of blandness. Closing the 1/2 is a huge advantage, like with Armenia. Likely qualifier.

Slovenia - Maybe the song that was least expected from this year, but the first rehearsal seemed good. Omar is a great singer, unlike many others and this could be a surpise if things go it's way. Again being in the end, could give it a nice chance. Borderline.  

Edited May 4, 2017 by Federer91

[rybak 3,329]