We qualified! I’m not sure how anyone else is after the scoring last night but janey my heart was in my mouth until they called Jedward’s name. Cartwheeling their way onto the stage and into the final they are a tonic, and I have a good feeling about Saturday!

But there’s another semi final to go, and this one has Sweden – one of the hot favourites. I have to say I am in love with the song.

Let’s get down to it and we kick off with a ballad.

Serbia : Zljko Joksiovic – Synonym

(Photo: www.eurovision.tv)

It’s a bit meh, but they always do well hanging out down there in the Balkans, I expect them to qualify. They are placed 4th in the betting odds so you never know. He’s very easy on the eye.

IFATE: He was runner up in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest as a performer, he also took third and sixth places respectively as a composer in the 2006 and 2008 contests. That makes him like the Serbian Johnny Logan.

F.Y.R. Macedonia : Kaliopi – Crno E Belo

(Photo: Dejan Milicevi via www.eurovision.tvc)

Strong performance from Macedonia, she’s a lovely girl! It was one of those songs that grew on me. Should qualify.

IFATE: Kaliopi has been given the title of Honorary UNHCR Ambassador, Honorary Ambassador of the Macedonian Economy in the World. Also, among the many awards and recognitions over the years, she was awarded with the Mother Theresa statuette for her distinguished and dedicated humanitarian work. She must be loving Azerbajhan as they are famed for their human rights *cough*.

3. The Netherlands : Joan Franka - You And Me

(Photo: Vossen Foto via www.eurovision.tv)

Joan, Joan, Joan; what is with the outfit? Seriously, no wonder you are courting controversy, I really hope you leave it at home tonight, be cause its not doing anything for you.
The Netherlands have never known what to send to the contest, its either a carnvialesque song, (which I love by the way) or this. Perhaps she’s trying to distract us from the song.
Bye Joan.

IFATE: She likes being creative, including with her wardrobe. Oh that’s what the headdress is about, her being creative.

Malta : Kurt Calleja - This Is The Night

(Photo: Kris Micallef via www.eurovision.tv)

I always have a soft spot for Malta. They usually bring a bit of oomph into the contest. This year its cutie Kurt who tells us this is the night. They must have a conveyer belt of cuties coz remember Glen from last year? Seriously, after Croatia, Malta is next on my list for eye candy. I like the song, it has the obligatory  “This is the night, eh, eh, eh, eh yeah, eh” which
is only surpassed by the la la la la love from Cyrpus. Should make it through to the final.

IFATE: In 2008 Kurt moved to the UK for a year to work as an air steward.

Belarus : Litesound - We Are The Heroes

(Photo: BTRC via www.eurovision.tv)

Ah Belarus, I still haven’t recovered from last year’s I Love Belarus, which sounded scarily like a propaganda song but this one is a vast improvement. Good song.

IFATE: On their fifth attempt, they finally won the Belarusian national selection this year, and thus will represent their country in Baku with We Are The Heroes. God loves a trier eh?

Portugal : Filipa Sousa – Vida Minha

(Photo: Cátia Castel-Branco www.eurovision.tv)

Poor Portugal, they never really do well, yet they persevere. Filipa has a great voice and it’s not a bad song.

IFATE: Portugal has never won the contest, being the longest country in the contest without a win.

Ukraine : Gaitana Be My Guest

(Photo: Lavina Music via www.eurovision.tv)

The Ukrainian entry made headlines for the wrong reasons in Feb when a nationalist politician made racist remarks about the singer, of African origin, who will represent the country at this year’s Eurovision song contest.

“The show’s millions of viewers will see Ukraine represented by someone who does not belong to our race, and they will think Ukraine is located somewhere in Africa,” Yury Sirotnyuk of the Svoboda (Freedom) party told local media.

Thanks for that Yury, you idiot. Gaitana, you can be my quest anytime. Hot damn, * fans self * The song isn’t bad either

IFATE: She wrote the music and lyrics herself. Fair fecks to ya Gaitana

Bulgaria : Sofi Marinova – Love Unlimited

(Photo: Sunny Music via www.eurovision.tv)

More controversy, janey, it’s like the controversial semi final eh? Apparently, Sofi is of Roma descent and the Bulgarians were supposed to be unhappy about her representing their country. But the wife has a Bulgarian mate who says it’s rubbish and Sofi is really popular in Bulgaria so there ya go, you can’t believe everything you read. I love this song, really catchy even though I haven’t the foggiest what she’s singing about!

IFATE: Bulgaria has given the most points to and received the most points from Greece. Who knew! They love each other so much, it’s a beautiful thing.

Slovenia : Eva Boto – Verjamem

(Photo: Ziga Culiberg, RTV Slovenia via www.eurovision.tv)

The song is really good as is Eva, but what is with her backing singers and the spaceships that have crash landed on their heads? It’s taking away from the song and they’d better not appear on stage tonight in that getup. In the words of everyone’s parents, “you’re not going out dressed like that”. Also in other news Eva is a mere 16 years of age. Sixteen?! When I was sixteen I was trying to struggle through my inter cert and study, this girl is in Baku.

IFATE: She is now a second-year student attending the Ravne na Koroškem High School, but she is already thinking about continuing her studies in Graz, Austria, or London where she would like to study soloist singing.

Croatia : Nina Badric – Nebo

(Photo: Darko Drinovac via www.eurovision.tv)

If this is the controversial semi final, it’s also the semi final of eye candy. Is there such a thing as an unattractive Croatian? I need to go on holiday there for about a month. The song isn’t great though, which is a pity, I’ll just watch her on mute. Douze points from Serbia.

Sweden: Loreen – Euphoria

(Photo: SVT via www.eurovision.tv)

Have I mentioned I am in love with the Swedish entry? It is one of my all time favourite Eurovision songs and that is a lofty title let me tell you, countries have tried for years to make it onto that playlist without much success and then along comes Loreen. Sweden do have a long heritage of classic Eurovision songs, however they haven’t won it since 1999 when Charlotte wanted to take you to her heaven. Back to Loreen and her awesome song. I can’t articulate how much I love it. Just sit back and listen it.
Goosebumps! If Jedward don’t do it I am behind Loreen all the way.

IFATE:Loreen won Melodifestivalen, the Swedish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, with record figures; more than 670,000 of the four million viewers called in to vote for her song Euphoria. The Swedish selection is notorious for being the toughest selection process in Europe.

Georgia : Anri Jokhadze - I’m A Joker

(Photo: Leli Blagonravova via www.eurovision.tv)

Drop the r from the last word Anri. This song should is a joke. Georgia, what were you thinking? Really. Next.

IFATE: Anri Jokhadze is the first male singer ever to represent Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Turkey : Can Bonomo - Love Me Back

(Photo: Berfu Merve BOLULU via www.eurovision.tv)

Dodgy lyrics alert. Not as bad as San Marino, but pretty close. Also he reminds me of the 80s band Curiosity Killed the Cat, remember them?
Strangely enough they are high up with the bookies. Not at all sure why.
Never sink my ship and sail away, hop onto my ship baby I’ll make you fly. Like me like I like you. Sorry Can, I just can’t.

IFATE: Can Bonomo is a DJ, producer and musician.

Estonia : Ott Lepland – Kuula

(Photo: Toomas Volkmann via www.eurovision.tv)

Sorry I just dozed off there. Estonia, come on now, you wowed us last year with Rockefeller Street, you won it in 2001 with Everybody. What is this?
He is very cute, though. Over-all, this semi final is winning on looks alone. What? Shallow? Me? Why yes. As a puddle.

IFATE: His vocal coach Maiken has this to say about Kuula: “This song has the potential to be the I Will Always Love You of this century – it is a powerful and simple balance with the potential to become an international hit.”

Em, yes Maiken.

Slovakia : Max Jason Mai- Don’t close your eyes

(Photo: Jan Varchola via www.eurovision.tv)

Holy god, would you have a gander at the abs on Max? Forget the song, check out the six-pack. Ever since Lordi, thank you Finland, there’s always at least one metal/rock song and it doesn’t work. Lordi broke the mold cause they were so different. Max, as long as you appear shirtless on the night I will be a happy woman.

IFATE:He believes that music can and should change the world, he loves people with a sense of humour and the good things in life.

Who doesn’t though? Imagine saying I love the bad things in life cause I am a bad ass man with fabulous abs.

Norway: Tooji – Stay

(Photo: Hans Fredrik Asbjørnsen via www.eurovision.tv)

Cutie alert and a great song. You can always depend on Norway to do the business.
Norway, much like Malta, appear to have a lot of cuties. Remember Alexander and his fairytale? Well Tooj was born in Iran but he’s lived in Norway since he was 1 so in my head he’s Norwegian. vActually Tooji, you and Loreen should get together and produce gorgeous, talented children.
A match made in heaven. The song is very Ke$ha me thinks, maybe I’ve been listening to Ke$ha too much. Final bound.

IFATE:Tooji completed his studies in child protection, and he now works as a child protection consultant in the department of after-care, a job he finds intense and socially important, challenging and vital.

Bosnia & Herzegovina : Maya Sar Korake ti znam

(Photo: mayasar.com via www.eurovision.tv)

Song is okay, she’s lovely. Can’t see them not qualfiying, they have a very successful history in the Eurovision. I would like to block last year out of my mind though, Dino. Bosnia, there was no need to inflict that upon us.

IFATE: She is the founder of a regional humanitarian project, which helps to fight against cervical cancer.

Janey, all those people working with humanitarian projects must be loving working in Azerbaijan.

Lithuania : Donny Montell - Love Is Blind

(Photo: www.atlikejai.com via www.eurovision.tv)

Donny I really hope you loose the blindfold for the semi final cause its not doing anything for you. Its pretty bad.

IFATE: Lithuania threatened to boycott the 2009 contest “if Russia continues to showcase power and ignores international law” (ironically since Russia is the country Lithuania has given the most points to).

There you have it folks!
You can catch SF2 on RTE2 from 8.00 with Marty Whelan and on BBC3.

Official Eurovision Website