Eurovision 2011 - Semifinal 2

1. Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Good use of the LED screen, and they did the best to fill the stage. The vocals weren't quite spot on though, and it just didn't have the impact that the song alone has.
Verdict: Maybe
Result: Through

2. Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love (Austria)
It was a great idea to let the song sell itself. Nadine's vocals were excellent, and the sparkly staging worked brilliantly.
Verdict: Yes
Result: Through

3. 3JS - Never Alone (The Netherlands)
One of my favourites, though I appear to be alone in that. They did a cracking job. I'd vote for them if I could.
Verdict: Yes
Result: Out

4. Witloof Bay - With Love Baby (Belgium)
No. Just no. Thankfully, their vocals weren't quite up to it anyway. Hell on Earth.
Verdict: HELL NO
Result: Out

5. Twiins - I'm Still Alive (Slovakia)
Two very pretty girls sing a very pretty song very prettily. Shame the backing vocalists decided to fuck it up for them.
Verdict: Yes (just)
Result: Out

6. Mika Newton - Angel (Ukraine)
Mika did an ace job with some very difficult vocals. Best use of the LED screen so far, courtesy of Ukraine's Got Talent. Inspired. I like the song too, btw...!
Verdict: Yes
Result: Through

7. Zdob Si Zdub - So Lucky (Moldova)
Hats off for the visuals. Eat your hearts out, Pet Shop Boys. Shame about the racket. Someone forgot to tell them it's a SONG contest.
Verdict: No
Result: Through

8. Eric Saade - Popular (Sweden)
The vocals weren't 100% but that performance just shot that song way up my list of favourites. Had no idea what Eric looked like before this, but he gave it his all.
Verdict: Yes
Result: Through

9. Christos Mylordos - San Aggelos S'Agapisa (Cyprus)
What a phenomenal performance! Loved the MJ tilts and weird light balls. Still a useless song though.
Verdict: No
Result: Out

10. Poli Genova - Na Inat (Bulgaria)
I'm not sure they did the song justice, but it was a strong vocal and I loved the splashy backdrop.
Verdict: Maybe
Result: Out

11. Vlatko Ilievski - Rusinka (FYR Macedonia)
Another great use of the backdrop, with its effective 3D effect. When I hear this song I always pictured Cossack dancers. It appears I wasn't alone. Dreadful song though.
Verdict: No
Result: Out

12. Dana International - Ding Dong (Israel)
Not the strongest vocalist in the world, but she looked fabulous. After some mediocre performances, this has actually stood out in a good way. And the new remix kept me interested too.
Verdict: Maybe
Result: Out

13. Maja Keuc - No One (Slovenia)
This would have made a much bigger impact earlier, but unfortunately Austria's singer out-performed her. She did a decent job, but didn't lift it into a winning league.
Verdict: Maybe
Result: Through

14. Hotel FM - Change (Romania)
They kept it all relatively simple, and the live vocals were strong. But it sounded SO old-fashioned, and not in a cool Serbian retro kind of way.
Verdict: Maybe
Result: Through

15. Getter Jaani - Rockefeller Street (Estonia)
A nicely energetic, colourful performance. But yikes on the voice. Not sure it sold the song in its best light, but still strong enough.
Verdict: Yes
Result: Through

16. Anastasiya Vinnikova – I Love Belarus (Belarus)
The monochrome look actually worked in a way I didn't expect. Given how poor the vocals are on CD, she actually did a decent job.
Verdict: Yes
Result: Out

17. Musiqq - Angel In Disguise (Latvia)
The lead singer did a fantastic job with a very wordy song. A very understated performance, letting the song sell itself. Still my favourite.
Verdict: Yes
Result: Out

18. A Friend In London - New Tomorrow (Denmark)
Odd that they've placed a guy with a tall blond quiff on before Jedward. They actually did a decent job of selling the song for me- another one of the few that's moved up on my list.
Verdict: Yes
Result: Through

19. Jedward - Lipstick (Ireland)
Ah, THAT's the Jedward I remember. Phew, I was really worried I'd enjoy that. The outfits were awful, the vocals were worse. Car crash indeed.
Verdict: Yes. What the hell.
Result: Through

So Latvia and Netherlands didn't make it. :-(

Moldova did. 'Nuff said.