ESC Etc.

Malta
Huge glow-up. I definitely see a path for this to advance to the final and I really admire how Malta took what they had out of their national final (which was not a lot), put the work in, and gave it such an impressive upgrade. The song itself isn’t majorly competitive to me, but Sarah’s working her ass off, and the overall package will definitely make a statement (the clip is a bit of a spoiler re: the highlight of Sarah’s routine, so be warned).

Albania
I’m afraid this is DOA. Every time I’ve seen this on stage it’s looked different and somewhat unfinished, like there really isn’t much of a driving idea behind it. Besa looks completely stone-faced throughout the entirety of the clip. The LED graphics are giving woman taking a shower in a shampoo commercial.

Greece
We know this is going to play out as one uninterrupted camera shot, so I’m sure they’re still working the kinks out, but this was an odd choice for a promo clip. LED looks like a National Geographic ad, Marina seems a bit unsure where to look, and the choreo feels more like a transitional moment between two different set pieces.

Switzerland
Within a couple of hours of Nemo’s rehearsal pictures/footage getting released on Tiktok, Switzerland’s odds started drifting (-8% at the time of this post) and Croatia quickly replaced them at #1. That’s rough. At the same time, the reception for this whole staging package was so overwhelmingly negative that I sorta get why. Not a lot is working for me – the outfit is unflattering and the platform looks like a swiveling satellite dish – but there’s still time to fix it!

Czechia
I still think this song isn’t competitive, but this also got a welcome and much needed upgrade. I’m definitely into the fashion and the stage effects, but the choreo looks a bit inconsequential (“now we’re picking her up…hold…hold…and now we’re putting her down”). I do think Czechia gave themselves a shot, though, which is all I wanted for them.

Austria
I’m really into this. Looks like we’ll be getting a bit of a laser show, Kaleen looks amazing, and it’s fun and energetic and a little slutty. Can’t wait to get the full choreo.

Denmark
This staging package really stood out to me in the national final, but I do see now how Denmark might struggle especially in this half of semi 2 that is packed with girl bops and lots of dancing and movement. Saba’s styling is a bit austere in context, and I’m kind of wishing they could have used her outfit as a screen to project some lights or graphics to add a bit of movement to a performance that’s otherwise completely static.

Armenia
This is doing exactly what it needs to be doing, and it’s going to look like even more of a party with the audience actually there. It’s just fun and colorful and energetic and it will sail right through.

Latvia
I absolutely love the styling (yes, the chest piece in particular) and Dons is a beautiful beautiful man, but I’m just not sure the song can muster enough enthusiasm in this field. This looks elegant and tasteful and a bit boring, but at least we’ll get a flawless vocal.

San Marino
I think this looks really striking and fun, I love the color palette and the goth/punk vibes, and there seems to be movement and meaningful choreo. On balance I do think this should advance, but I’m concerned regardless because San Marino just struggles every year even when they’re objectively serving quality.

Georgia
This is called Firefighter and there’s a lot of fire. Fire on stage, fire in the LEDs, fire in the lighting schemes, fire in the styling palette. I am eating it all up. This woman is doing the damn thing and it’s time to welcome this country back in the finals.

Belgium
Much like Nemo, Mustii also took a major dive in the odds when we collectively realized the live vocal is pitchy and the staging is giving dusty attic. What a shame. To be fair, the first half of the song is organized around Mustii on a spinning platform surrounded by mics – the same prop from the music video – which looks effective if not particularly original, but once again RTBF is giving us nothing. I’m actually not sure this is advancing anymore.

Estonia
This is chaotic and messy enough that I feel it’s still safe to advance just based on the party vibes alone, but I’m a bit disappointed that the staging and the LEDs are a bit of a nothing burger. I absolutely love each and every performer involved in this, and the song slaps, but I was hoping for a clearer point of view and I didn’t quite get it.

Israel
Yeah, I don’t know what the goal is here. A hamster wheel and awkward interpretive dancing.

Norway
These camera cuts are giving me whiplash, but otherwise this is the same staging from MGP and it works because it was already perfect there. I’m really excited to sit in front of the whole thing and I find them somewhat underrated.

Netherlands
This is a tough one. The delegation tried to sell this performance as the ESC equivalent of the moon landing (that’s literally how they described it) and…it’s not, and Joost took the biggest hit in the odds as a result after we got pixelated graphics on the LEDs and a man dressed up as a penguin DJing in the background. Is he trolling us? The clip shows the coda to the song that will be performed on stage to close the show, and that remains the most powerful moment of this whole semifinal. I just need this to be amazing and I’m a bit worried.

Best: Georgia

Needs the most improvement: Albania

(Featured Image: Sarah Louise Bennett)