A stage show can really lift or lower a Eurovisionlåt. It happens that the visual becomes more important than the actual song material. In tonight’s semi-final, it became clearer than ever.
Take the Australian contribution. Kate Miller-Heidkes song ”Zero gravity” is certainly not much to hang in the christmas tree, let the observed. A flortunn, kitschy operaschlager that sounds like a pastsich; much like the soundtrack of a cheap komedifilm if Eurovision would allow. But as we come to the visual setting, which is downright dazzling. Kate Miller-Heidke on an input stick, surrounded by two dancers on their own sticks, high up in the air in a hypnotic swaying choreography, which you cannot tear your gaze from. I would not be surprised if Australia actually received the most viewer votes of all in this semi-final – or if they position themselves really well in the finals on Saturday, bad song.
the page. Eliot’s ”Wake up” is a stylish ballad that had been able to sail to the final, if not for the absolutely mind-boggling scenshowen which among others, included the three jättetrummor, languid costuming and unharmonious colors. (That, and a certain amount of falsksång then, which, incidentally, minted a handful of the evening’s performances.)
Sweden competed in the semi-finals – but the Swedish Victor Crone represented Estonia and made it to the finals with the ”Storm”. Iceland’s refreshing contribution, Hatari with ”Hatrið mouth sigra”, went happily to the final – it’s not every day hatred-industrisynt combined with catchy falsettrefräng and tonartshöjning, and such should be rewarded.
In other respects, distinguished himself also in Greece with Katerine Duskas Florence & The Machine-scented ”Better love” and the Czech republic in Lake Malawi, which with simple means created a clear and the small private rooms on the scene, and (despite the slightly unnerving krystad fejkbrittisk dialect) went to the final with funkpopdängan ”Friend of a Friend”.
ten finalists will be fighting on the snatch victory on Saturday? Possibly Australia, although it should be a better song for the absolute top spots; in general it is doubtful. Instead, it has a disproportionate number of the pre-tournament favourites gathered in the much harder the launcher the next semi-final, where Sweden and John Lundvik get to fight topptippade the Netherlands, Russia and Azerbaijan.
Read more: We need a public broadcaster more than ever, writes Hanna Fahl
Read more: Edward af Sillén and Charlotte Perrelli will lead us through the competition
