This year’s Eurovision song contest is the most interesting competition in years with a stack of great tunes, and some incredibly captivating performances.
OUTinPerth’s Graeme Watson is in Copenhagen and got a close up look at the performers who will appear in Sunday night’s final.
Between the second semi-final and the Grand final there is an additional show. The Jury final was on last night. It’s identical to the grant final and serves as a sort of dress rehearsal for the big event.
It’s no casual production though, it had an audience of 11,000 people and it’s the show where all the countries juries send in their votes. This makes up half of the contestants final scores.
Having seen all the different countries in the finals up close, the final winner is definitely too close to call, but here are some stand out performances in the field.
Getting to the Eurovision Island involves catching a boat from downtown Copenhagen,a short nine minute ride and then a walk to the impressive venue which inside a old ship building factory. People in the crowd wave the flags of their country, strangers chat to eat other with friendly rivalry. There are a lot of people wearing beards in support of Austria’s Conchita Wurst, Artline beards.
Inside the massive stadium a DJ warms up the crowd, playing Eurovision hits and misses through the years. Everything from Sandie Shaw’s ‘Puppet on a String’ to ABBA’s ‘Waterloo’. An obscure synthesiser track that Belgium got behind in the early ’80s is given an outing. Jedward’s ‘Lipstick’ get’s a play. By the time it’s ready for the show to begin Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ which won the competition for Sweden in 2012 has the crowd in a passionate frenzy.
The show is faultless, even though this is officially a dress rehearsal, you’d never be able to pick the difference. In fact the show is recorded as a back up should anything go wrong during the final.
There were some entrants though who stood above the field though.
Austria’s Conchita Wurst got the biggest applause of the night and is now the favourite to win.
Iceland’s colourful band singing about ‘No Prejudice’ was very popular. France’s energetic submission also got the whole auditorium on their feet. Greece’s trampoline jumping rappers had people screaming support. Britain have their best chance in years with ‘Children of the Universe’ and Switzerland and Malta’s entries for the crowd dancing.
Unlikely to win, but also finding favour were The Netherlands who probably have the best song in the contest, but not enough Eurovision sparkle to make it through.
The Ukraine’s ‘Tick Tock’ went down well, and Teo from Belarus can certainly entertain – but a song comparing your girlfriend to cheesecake?
Denmark’s Bassim got a big response – but he had the home side support in the crowd.
There are a few we can probably rule out though. Russia was not well received, there are a lot of politics in that one, but the song just isn’t that good either.
Poland, Italy, Norway, Azerbaijan and Germany are also unlikely to be successful.
Without doubt though this is one of the best line-ups Eurovision has had in years, it’ll be worth tuning in for!
Graeme Watson from Copenhagen. Images: Andres Putting (EBU), Thomas Hanses (EBU)
