Eurovision Semifinal 01
May. 9th, 2023 03:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yuuagoI took today off at random, completely forgetting that it was an ESC day. It was really nice to be able to watch it, rather than my usual tactic of "listen while working".
Thoughts on the entries under the cut.
1. Norway | Alessandra - Queen of Kings
This is kind of silly, but I'm digging it. The song is eh, but I like the energy and the costuming.
2. Malta | The Busker - Dance (Our Own Party)
I'm enjoying the saxophone, but not crazy about the rest. Could grow on me, though. I'm curious about the studio version. Performance-wise, it's one of those that's made for TV; I don't think the stage show would look so great in person.
3. Serbia | Luke Black - Samo Mi Se Spava
This is kind of weird. I like it. Plus, bonus points for partly being in Serbian. And the vampire vibe is cool. (....wait, is that a black ribbon? Discworld reference? Maybe I'm overthinking it.)
4. Latvia | Sudden Lights - Aijā
OH!!! The style of this - whatever is going on here, it reminds me of stuff I used to listen to in high school and university. It gets love from me purely for that. Even visually, whatever's going on here is... yeah, yes please, thank you!!
5. Portugal | Mimicat - Ai Coração
Um. Lol, what. This is absurd. Her dress looks like she murdered a muppet. ...As for the music, I'm not into it. It sounds like the kind of thing that'd be challenging to sing though, so props to her for that.
6. Ireland | Wild Youth - We Are One
Wow, those are some sparkly clothes on the singer. The song's nothing special, very typical "love love peace peace" kind of Eurovision. But I can see it growing on me later.
7. Croatia | Let 3 - Mama ŠČ!
Oh man, what on earth. Well, it's certainly unique. Uhhh. I think I'll have to look up the lyrics later, because I'm sure there's something going on here, but it's all going over my head. I can't see it making it to the final, but I kind of want it to just for the WTF factor.
8. Switzerland | Remo Forrer - Waterguns
I like the dancing. The song, well... It's pretty. Ballad-ish but not level of snoozer for me. But the lyrics are kind of on the nose re: current events/war, I think.
9. Israel | Noa Kirel - Unicorn
I think is the first one so far that I didn't like at all. Not the song, not the performance, no nothing. Though the dancing at the very end was kind of cool - or at least it clearly took a lot of skill and I can appreciate that.
10. Moldova | Pasha Parfeni - Soarele şi Luna
Whoo! Costuming, drums, native language. They're making some callbacks to Kalush Orchestra's entry from last year in terms of like, framing/staging/lighting + a few musical cues, but it's enough its own thing that I can't get fussed at all. Song-wise, I liked this one a lot.
11. Sweden | Loreen - Tattoo
Loreen again? Well, okay. I'm not sure how I feel about the visuals; not really my thing, and I dislike the costuming. But the song itself I like in spite of myself - it's kind of similar to Euphoria, but I did enjoy that too, so... yeahhh.
12. Azerbaijan | TuralTuranX - Tell Me More
This duo looks like hobbits. I mean, they have a Merry and Pippin vibe, visually, ha. Also, love the costuming, whatever is going on with those outfits. But the song - no thanks! It's simultaneously a snoozer and grating. I could do without the rap. Maybe I'll like the studio version more? Strangely enough, though, I kind of hope it'll go to the final - like, it's kind of a mess, but it's Different enough to be memorable.
13. Czechia | Vesna - My Sister's Crown
Oh YES! YES YES!! Oh, this is the same group who did the song Morana which I stumbled across a few years ago and enjoyed very much. Always a surprise when a group I've heard before performs in Eurovision. Anyway, this act - I'm not a fan of the costuming, but I'm digging the song.
14. Netherlands | Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper - Burning Daylight
This one is a snoozer. I have no comment.
15. Finland | Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha
LOL, what even is this. Well, it's very memorable! Quite an act! To the final please, thank you! Ah, one of my mates really hopes that Finland will win ESC this year, and you know - I find this entry so entertaining that if it did win, I wouldn't be disappointed, even though I don't like the song itself. Oh, this is pure Eurovision!!
Personal top 5: MOLDOVA, Finland, Czechia, Serbia, and... Norway and Latvia can fistfight for fifth place.
Actually got through to the final: Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Finland, Czechia, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia, Norway
My only complaint is Israel getting through, since I disliked their song so much - well, and I'm also disappointed that Latvia got the boot. But aside from that, I'm happy enough with the results! Especially Moldova - I think that's my personal favourite for this year. Both the act and the song were great!
Thoughts on the entries under the cut.
1. Norway | Alessandra - Queen of Kings
This is kind of silly, but I'm digging it. The song is eh, but I like the energy and the costuming.
2. Malta | The Busker - Dance (Our Own Party)
I'm enjoying the saxophone, but not crazy about the rest. Could grow on me, though. I'm curious about the studio version. Performance-wise, it's one of those that's made for TV; I don't think the stage show would look so great in person.
3. Serbia | Luke Black - Samo Mi Se Spava
This is kind of weird. I like it. Plus, bonus points for partly being in Serbian. And the vampire vibe is cool. (....wait, is that a black ribbon? Discworld reference? Maybe I'm overthinking it.)
4. Latvia | Sudden Lights - Aijā
OH!!! The style of this - whatever is going on here, it reminds me of stuff I used to listen to in high school and university. It gets love from me purely for that. Even visually, whatever's going on here is... yeah, yes please, thank you!!
5. Portugal | Mimicat - Ai Coração
Um. Lol, what. This is absurd. Her dress looks like she murdered a muppet. ...As for the music, I'm not into it. It sounds like the kind of thing that'd be challenging to sing though, so props to her for that.
6. Ireland | Wild Youth - We Are One
Wow, those are some sparkly clothes on the singer. The song's nothing special, very typical "love love peace peace" kind of Eurovision. But I can see it growing on me later.
7. Croatia | Let 3 - Mama ŠČ!
Oh man, what on earth. Well, it's certainly unique. Uhhh. I think I'll have to look up the lyrics later, because I'm sure there's something going on here, but it's all going over my head. I can't see it making it to the final, but I kind of want it to just for the WTF factor.
8. Switzerland | Remo Forrer - Waterguns
I like the dancing. The song, well... It's pretty. Ballad-ish but not level of snoozer for me. But the lyrics are kind of on the nose re: current events/war, I think.
9. Israel | Noa Kirel - Unicorn
I think is the first one so far that I didn't like at all. Not the song, not the performance, no nothing. Though the dancing at the very end was kind of cool - or at least it clearly took a lot of skill and I can appreciate that.
10. Moldova | Pasha Parfeni - Soarele şi Luna
Whoo! Costuming, drums, native language. They're making some callbacks to Kalush Orchestra's entry from last year in terms of like, framing/staging/lighting + a few musical cues, but it's enough its own thing that I can't get fussed at all. Song-wise, I liked this one a lot.
11. Sweden | Loreen - Tattoo
Loreen again? Well, okay. I'm not sure how I feel about the visuals; not really my thing, and I dislike the costuming. But the song itself I like in spite of myself - it's kind of similar to Euphoria, but I did enjoy that too, so... yeahhh.
12. Azerbaijan | TuralTuranX - Tell Me More
This duo looks like hobbits. I mean, they have a Merry and Pippin vibe, visually, ha. Also, love the costuming, whatever is going on with those outfits. But the song - no thanks! It's simultaneously a snoozer and grating. I could do without the rap. Maybe I'll like the studio version more? Strangely enough, though, I kind of hope it'll go to the final - like, it's kind of a mess, but it's Different enough to be memorable.
13. Czechia | Vesna - My Sister's Crown
Oh YES! YES YES!! Oh, this is the same group who did the song Morana which I stumbled across a few years ago and enjoyed very much. Always a surprise when a group I've heard before performs in Eurovision. Anyway, this act - I'm not a fan of the costuming, but I'm digging the song.
14. Netherlands | Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper - Burning Daylight
This one is a snoozer. I have no comment.
15. Finland | Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha
LOL, what even is this. Well, it's very memorable! Quite an act! To the final please, thank you! Ah, one of my mates really hopes that Finland will win ESC this year, and you know - I find this entry so entertaining that if it did win, I wouldn't be disappointed, even though I don't like the song itself. Oh, this is pure Eurovision!!
Personal top 5: MOLDOVA, Finland, Czechia, Serbia, and... Norway and Latvia can fistfight for fifth place.
Actually got through to the final: Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Finland, Czechia, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia, Norway
My only complaint is Israel getting through, since I disliked their song so much - well, and I'm also disappointed that Latvia got the boot. But aside from that, I'm happy enough with the results! Especially Moldova - I think that's my personal favourite for this year. Both the act and the song were great!
Yuu. Fic writer & book lover. M/Canada.
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Date: 2023-05-10 09:40 pm (UTC)