Eurovision 2014: Semi-Final 1 RESULTS

Well, what do I know, eh? What a crazy night!! Well, a crazy morning for me, it’s a lovely Spring morning in Japan, and I’ve just been watching the show via a rather buggy connection on SVT’s playback service. At least it was up (no thanks, iPlayer…). So let’s take this one stage at a time.

For reviews of ALL the competing entries in the 2014 contest, as well as coverage of all the national finals and all sorts of other news, please visit my Copenhagen 2014 Hub by clicking the link, or the “Copenhagen 2014″ menu on the top banner, or the “#Joinus” crystal on the left-hand bar.

Eurovision 2014: Semi-Final 1 Preview

Wow, it’s come quickly hasn’t it? Only one day from now, the first 16 will take to the stage of the B&W Hallerne in the Danish capital of Copenhagen. But only ten will make it to next Saturday’s Grand Final – who is going to make it?

For reviews of ALL the competing entries in the 2014 contest, as well as coverage of all the national finals and all sorts of other news, please visit my Copenhagen 2014 Hub by clicking the link, or the “Copenhagen 2014″ menu on the top banner, or the “#Joinus” crystal on the left-hand bar.

Road to Copenhagen 2014: Axel Hirsoux – “Mother” (Belgium)

Belgium were one of my favourites in 2013’s contest in Malmö. While Netherlands might have had the claim for “Underdog of the show”, it’s been no picnic for Belgium over the last decade. Roberto Bellarosa’s mid-table finish with “Love Kills” was a rare qualifier for one of Eurovision’s founding nations.

One of the last to decide on their participants, doing so at the end of a long audition process, with a national final making the final decision. The Belgians settled on the big-voiced Axel Hirsoux, with an ode to his beloved mother, and perhaps taking one of the bigger gambles of this year’s contest.

Not that there’s anything risky about Axel particularly, it’s clear that this vocal talents stand apart from many representatives this year. It’s more the overblown theatre of the song itself that will either hit or miss.

Brussels calling: Belgium’s 2014 Eurovision pre-selection

This is it! The last one!! Belgium’s decision on 16 March was the last contestant selection for Eurovision that the public had anything to do with, and marked the end of the pre-selection season. Thank God for that, I’m sure you’re all sick of it by now, aren’t you? Is there anyone left?

Belgium were here from the start, a founding father of Eurovision and only absent from three contests – forcibly removed after being relegated for bad results. They’ve only got one win to their names, all the way back in 1986, and had victory cruelly snatched away in Riga, coming a very close 2nd in 2003. But since the semi-finals have come in, things have been tough.

Of its 9 entries put through the semi-final process, only two made it to the final, though last year’s 12th place finish for the delightful Roberto Bellarosa made it clear that they can still get noticed with the right song. 2010’s Tom Dice even won his semi in Oslo, though had to settle for 6th on the night.

Eurosong decided the Belgian representative, with an extensive audition process governed by three jurors, and later on also the spirited Ukranian winner Ruslana. 30 competitors were thinned down to 12 semi-finalists (4 via a second-change ‘callback’ round), who finally performed their songs in 3 semi-finals. Six acts survived to the final, where a Belgian jury, several international juries and a televote decided the winner. I like when the televote scores are proportional to the votes, I’m just like that. Let’s hope this was worth the wait though, this contest is still wide open.