We’re hours away from the first semi-final of Eurovision 2019. I’m very excited (and can I remind everyone that Australia is just off the coast of Ireland*).
I’ll be getting up very, very early to catch the action live from Tel Aviv and may not be coherent, so here are the songs I’ll be cheering for.
01. Sweden – Too Late For Love performed by John Lundvik
It’s got all the elements and – catchy, big finish, and a key change! (my 11yo laughingly observed, “It makes you feel like you’ve achieved something…even though you haven’t!”). My tip for the win.
02. Greece – Better Love performed by Katerine Duska [MADE IT TO THE FINAL]
The next Adele? Katerine’s voice is sensational. The clip is sensational. What will she do on the night? Hope it’s sensational.
03.Belgium – Wake Up performed by Eliot [BOMBED OUT IN THE SEMI]
Love the broodiness of this song, I just hope it translates to the big Eurovision stage…
04. Norway – Spirit in the Sky performed by KEiiNO
Even though this feels a bit like Finland’s 2018 entry (Monsters), it is undeniably catchy.
05. Australia – Zero Gravity performed by Kate Miller-Heidke [MADE IT TO THE FINAL]
I am not biased…
06. Cyprus – Replay performed by Tamta [MADE IT TO THE FINAL]
Tamta probably plays Lady Gaga on repeat but whatever, it’s hard not to love the beats in this one.
07. Switzerland – She Got Me performed by Luca Hänni
Hate the hat, love the song.
08. Moldova – Stay performed by Anna Odobescu
My power-ballad pick for the year.
09. Spain – La Venda performed by Miki
They really look like they’re having fun in Spain.
10. The Netherlands – Arcade performed by Duncan Laurence
Beautiful song but will depend on staging.
And my dark-horse pick:
11. Poland – Fire of Love (Pali się) performed by Tulia [ROBBED IN THE SEMI!]
Reminds me of The Clapping Song. But Polish. With lovely headdresses.
I feel bad about leaving Estonia[MADE IT TO THE FINAL] , Denmark, Russia and the Czech Republic [MADE IT TO THE FINAL] off this list. I also like the UK’s song this year (shame no one votes for them, which will be even worse because of Brexit).
Also check out Maria Helena’s predictions here.
*pop over to Twitter if you have a problem with Australia getting a guernsey – lots of people there are similarly aggrieved.