This is the most modern entry that France has sent in – in my opinion. For the vast majority of the song it is a great song, but there are bits like the start and once or twice in the song when it sounds like reversing that put me off it. But this is by far my favorite so far – yes there are only 5 entries, but unlike every other year most of these are good songs before the ‘tweaking’ happens. I have a feeling that there will be a slightly revised version, plus it may look and work perfectly live on stage – which we have yet to see. Anggun will be doing a lot of touring through the various national finals around Europe to promote the song.

Also smart move on their part for putting part of it in English, it’ll have people singing it remembering it  And at the end of the day, as a French friend said to me – “At least we have a song to dance to  ”

Hands up here who was surprised with the “Land of Fire” reference?

So here is the obligatory post about all the countries now

43 in total:

• Albania (RTVSH)
• Armenia (AMPTV)
• Austria (ORF)
• Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV) (Host Broadcaster)
• Belarus (BTRC)
• Belgium (VRT)
• Bosnia & Herzegovina (BHRT)
• Bulgaria (BNT)
• Croatia (HRT)
• Cyprus (CyBC)
• Denmark (DR)
• Estonia (ERR)
• Finland (YLE)
• France (France TV)
• FYR Macedonia (MKRTV)
• Georgia (GTVR)
• Germany (NDR/ARD)
• Greece (ERT)
• Hungary (MTV)
• Iceland (RÚV)
• Ireland (RTÉ)
• Israel (IBA)
• Italy (RAI)
• Latvia (LTV)
• Lithuania (LRT)
• Malta (PBS)
• Moldova (TRM)
• Montenegro (RTCG)
• The Netherlands (TROS)
• Norway (NRK)
• Portugal (RTP)
• Romania (TVR)
• Russia (RTR)
• San Marino (SMRTV)
• Serbia (RTS)
• Slovakia (STV)
• Slovenia (RTVSLO)
• Spain (RTVE)
• Sweden (SVT)
• Switzerland (SRG/SSR)
• Turkey (TRT)
• Ukraine (NTU)
• United Kingdom (BBC)

Interesting how Lithuania won the Jury vote on the Semi for the UK, it is like a disney song after all. Hopefully other countries will follow suit, but it’s proving my theory that Italy did very well with the Juries.

GRAND FINAL

Combined scores of both Jury and Televote

12 – Ireland

10 – Switzerland

8 – Moldova

7 – Italy

6 – Lithuania

5 – Denmark

4 – Iceland

3 – Sweden

2 – Austria

1 – Spain

Telephone Vote

12 – Ireland

10 – Moldova

8 – Iceland

7 – Lithuania

6 – Spain

5 – Sweden

4 – Greece

3 – Denmark

2 – Hungary

1 – Germany

Jury Vote

12 – Switzerland

10 – Italy

8 – Ireland

7 – Austria

6 – Denmark

5 – Serbia

4 – Georgia

3 – Sweden

2 – Lithuania

1 – Azerbaijan

SEMI-FINAL #1

Combined scores of both Jury and Televote

12 – Lithuania

10 – Hungary

8 – Greece

7 – Iceland

6 – Finland

5 – Poland

4 – Azerbaijan

3 – Portugal

2 – Switzerland

1 – Norway

Telephone Vote

12 – Greece

10 – Lithuania

8 – Poland

7 – Hungary

6 – Iceland

5 – Portugal

4 – Turkey

3 – Finland

2 – Albania

1 – Norway

Jury Vote

12 – Lithuania

10 – Hungary

8 – Finland

7 – Azerbaijan

6 – Iceland

5 – Switzerland

4 – Serbia

3 – Norway

2 – Georgia

1 – Malta

Source BBC.co.uk/eurovision

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Its all over, and I for one has recovered form the Eurovision! But I think there is a number of points that need to be made!

Jedward gave an excellent performance on Saturday and I for one cannot remember the last time that Ireland got 12 points from more then one country! The fact that we came 8th in both our Semi and the final shows consistency and great performances by the lads and the entire Irish Delegation.

The last time we did better was in 2000 when Eamonn Toal came 6th with “Millenium of Love”, Brian Kennedy got us to 10th in 2006 with “Every Song is a Cry for Love”. So fair play to the boys for returning Ireland to the the top of the Eurovision award.

Also before the Final, Jedward were awarded the Marcel Bezençon Artistic Award. This was voted upon by the 43 commentators. So at least they are not going home empty handed!

Also Austrailian viewers of Eurovision who watched the final on Sunday evening on SBS voted Jedward the winners. So we have a moral victory there!

So to Jedward, you did us proud! Hopefully we will build on your success next year in Azerbaijan.

Image by @jivecork

So its tonight. The big final! Jedward are performing 6th in tonight’s final. All we can do now is hope and pray. Jedward did us proud in Thursday’s Semi so hopefully they can iron out the little kinks and completely wow Europe tonight.

Go by the trending on twitter we will hopefully do well as we were trending in a number of countries including the UK and the Netherlands, so hopefully we will get a good few douze points from around Europe!

So do tune into RTE2 or BBC2 tonight at 8pm, spike up the hair and put the lipstick on! And dont bite off all your fingernails!

Also do join our liveblog as we follow what people on twitter are saying about the final!

Related articles

• Jubilant Jedward jump into final (irishexaminer.com)
• Second Semi Qualifiers & Running Order for Final (escireland.com)

Jedward have done it!! They have qualified for the final on Saturday night! After a much stronger semi then Tuesday’s  there was still a few surprise’s in the qualifiers. The following are the qualifiers:

1. Estonia,
2. Romania,
3. Moldova,
4. Ireland,
5. Bosnia & Herzegovina,
6. Denmark,
7. Austria,
8. Ukraine,
9. Slovenia,
10. Sweden

The draw for places took place after the semi. The running order for the final is as follows:

1. Finland
2. Bosnia & Herzegovina
3. Denmark
4. Lithuania
5. Hungary
6. Ireland
7. Sweden
8. Estonia
9. Greece
10. Russia
11. France
12. Italy
13. Switzerland
14. United Kingdom
15. Moldova
16. Germany
17. Romania
18. Austria
19. Azerbaijan
20. Slovenia
21. Iceland
22. Spain
23. Ukraine
24. Serbia
25. Georgia

The position of 6th is not an excellent start for Jedward. We are surrounded by a number of up-tempo songs and with other good songs at the end we could be lost.

Also the last time someone won from 6th position was in 1957. Though some good omens, that was the first time the competition was hosted by Germany. This is the first time Ireland have been in a Eurovision final in Germany. We hadn’t entered Eurovision back in 1957 and we withdrew in 1983. So it is a possibility.

So fingers crossed for Jedward on Saturday!

Related articles

• The First Qualifiers (escireland.com)
• Jedward’s Second Rehearsal (escireland.com)

Designed by @jivecork

Tonight Jedward will be flying the flag for Ireland in Düsseldorf! Reports from the arena last night are that they did fantastic and should qualify! But we still need to be behind them!

So tune into RTE 2, BBC 3 or BBC HD and have your lipstick on to support the boys as they do us proud in Germany and hopefully will finish it all on Saturday Night!

GET IN!!!

Related articles

• Jedward’s Second Rehearsal (escireland.com)
• Jedward Sell themselves! (escireland.com)
• Jedward with Katherine Lynch (escireland.com)
• Google’s Eurovision 2011 forecaster: Lena & Jedward are at top (escireland.com)
• Spillers Semi 2 Preview and Prediction (escireland.com)

So tomorrow sees the Second Semi Final of the Eurovision Song Contest. For us in Ireland it is extremely important as Jedward will be flying the flag for Ireland and of course we get to vote! As well as the 19 countries that will be battling it out France, Germany and Italy will be voting in this Semi.

So who are we up against?

01 Bosnia and Herzegovina Dino Merlin “Love in Rewind“

An interesting entry from Bosnia. A nice love song. It did impress me. Should qualify.

02 Austria Nadine Beiler “The Secret Is Love”
Austria also enter a Love song. This is a strong modern ballad, which has a bit of Disney influence. Nadine is a good singer and with very few ballads in the competition it may do well. A lot of ballads qualified last year, so it looks good for Austria

03 Netherlands 3JS “Never Alone”
This year the Netherlands are sending 3JS. This three piece band have a nice sound. It is very mainstream Pop/Rock. Its very hit and miss for the Netherlands lately and the early draw means it may be forgotten about with the uptemp songs still to come.

04 Belgium Witloof Bay “With Love Baby”
This year Belgium are entering an Acapella song after an experimental national final. Not the first acapella song in Eurovision, Latvia did enter one in 2006. This reminds me a bit of that entry, but this been a male and female group gives it a different sound. I am not a fan of it, but it may grow on me.

05 Slovakia TWiiNS “I’m Still Alive”
This is a fantatsic pop song from Slovkia. I really enjoyed it. Should be a strong contender. Definately will qualify.

06 Ukraine Mika Newton “Angels”
A modern ballad from Ukraine. A nice entry, but may find it hard to stick out with the uptemp songs to come.

07 Moldova Zdob si Zdub “So Lucky”
I must say I always look forward to Moldova’s entry as they are always entertaining. This year is no exception. I have no idea how to describe the band apart from they were here before with their Grandmother! But it is an uptempo rock number that is full of energy! Should provide a great perfromance on the night.

08 Sweden Eric Saade “Popular”
Eric Saade finally makes it to Eurovision! I must say I have been a fan of his since last year’s Melodifestivalen. And hes a ride! (back on topic spiller! – ed) This song is a really uptempo pop number and very different to last years entry which didnt do so well. This is a strong contender to qualify. (Though some do disagree!)

09 Cyprus Christos Mylordos “San Aggelos S’Agapisa”

Cyprus has entered a very traditional meditterean song. I for one am not impressed with it. Also with the UK, Greece and Turkey missing from this Semi, Cyprus could find it hard to qualify.

10 Bulgaria Poli Genova “Na Inat”
Bulgaria have entered an excellent song this here in “Na Inat”. I really enjoy this number. With a number of “neighbours” in this semi (Romania and Moldova) could do well and qualify.

11 Macedonia Vlatko Ilievski “Rusinka“
Macedonia have gone modern this year! Normally they enter very traditional Balkan songs, but this year, while sounding traditional, it is quite modern. They have learned from their Greek neighbours. Could do well going by Greece last night

12 Israel Dana International “Ding Dong”

Shes back! The Girl who opened the closet on Eurovision! She is repeating the tactic of singing in English and Hebrew and it sounds good, but will the song let her down? Its a fun song, but is that enough this year?

13 Slovenia Maja Keuc “No One”
And here we have a Ballad from Slovenia. Its a very strong ballad. Though Ballads can get lost on the massive stage in Düsseldorf. Though this is nice an with Switzerland getting through, it might bode well for Slovenia.

14 Romania Hotel FM “Change“
This song has grown on me a lot since the National Final in Romania. This is really good song and one that I think will definately qualify!

15 Estonia Getter Jaani “Rockefeller Street“
This is one of the Pre-Contest favourites and for good reason! A really uptempo and cool song! I personally love this one! It has my vote!

16 Belarus Anastasia Vinnikova “I Love Belarus”
So Belarus have decided to enter a song that will also feature on their tourist ads? Or just one to sing to their dictator? This song is a fun rock song. Though Belarus could find it hard to qualify with Russia being missing from this semi.

17 Latvia Musiqq “Angel in Disguise”
Now if this doesnt qualify, there is something wrong with the presentation on the night. I am loving this song.

18 Denmark A Friend In London “New Tomorrow“
This is a nice song, though sandwiched between two uptempo songs, but it is distinctive enough and should be impressive on stage and may sneak through!

19 Ireland Jedward “Lipstick”
At the start I was not enamoured by this song at all, but now I love it! I think they can go all the way! Go on JEDWARD!

So that is 19 entries. So which ten will qualify? My ten are:

• Ireland
• Estonia
• Sweden
• Latvia
• Slovakia
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Ukraine
• Israel
• Macedonia

Do you agree? Disagree? Have a go yourself!

Remember to tune into RTE 2, BBC 3 or BBC HD to watch the show from 8pm BST tomorrow night!

Related articles

• The First Qualifiers (escireland.com)
• Liveblogging and Predicting the Eurovision! (escireland.com)
• How to take part in our liveblog! (escireland.com)
• My Predictions (escireland.com)

Image by kjelljoran via Flickr

So the first Semi-Final of the 56th Eurovision Song Contest took place last night and the ten countries that qualified are as follows:

• Serbia,
• Lithuania,
• Greece,
• Azerbaijan,
• Georgia,
• Switzerland,
• Hungary,
• Finland,
• Russia,
• Iceland

The results go to show the pot allocation and the jury votes have stopped the block voting with Armenia and Turkey missing out on qualifiacation. Delighted that Iceland and Finland go through. Last night was definitely a victory for songs rather then countries with Switzerland first qualification from the Semi-Finals! A lovely song!

So what does the running order for the final look like now?

1. Finland
2. -
3. -
4. Lithuania
5. Hungary
6. -
7. -
8. -
9. Greece
10. Russia
11. France
12. Italy
13. Switzerland
14. United Kingdom
15. -
16. Germany
17. -
18. -
19. Azerbaijan
20. -
21. Iceland
22. Spain
23. -
24. Serbia
25. Georgia

The ideal draw for Jedward will be 17, 18 or 20, with a Ballad drawn in the others! We need to avoid the number 2 spot!!

So can you predict who will fill the remaining ten places? Have a go here!

Related articles

• Liveblogging and Predicting the Eurovision! (escireland.com)
• How to take part in our liveblog! (escireland.com)