Second Semi-Final: Your Country-by-Country Guide

The second semi-final contestants have now completed their jury performances and are busy glueing on sequins ahead of tonight’s live broadcast. Team Wiwi grabbed a front-row seat for the action at yesterday’s run-through and can now let you know who turned us on—and who had us saying, “WTF?” In addition to our mini-previews below, we also list where the contestant finished in our fan prediction poll and with the Wiwi Jury. To read our more in-depth song reviews, click on the country’s name. Read this ahead of the show, or follow along as the contestants take to the stage tonight at 21:00 CET. Consider this our pre-recorded commentary. Love, Team Wiwi

1. Latvia: PeR with “Here We Go” 

Memorable lyrics: “I slide through the darkness”

The postcard that leads to the first entry really sets the tone. You know it’s party time, as it shows the boys on turntables getting ready to throw down. I love the Latvians dearly, but sadly their spacesuits sparkle way more than the song. This act is all about making the best out of a bad situation. The audience wave dive at the end is great. Will PeR qualify for the final? That’s about as likely as their outfits becoming hits at Riga Fashion Week.

Poll Ranking: 10    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 16

2. San Marino: Valentina Monetta with “Crisalide” 

Memorable lyrics: “I must die to start living”

Valentina Monetta has resurrected her Ikea lamp for Malmö! We hope the crew let this thing cool down before tonight’s semi-final: Otherwise she is going to burn her tongue (lady rubs this lamp everywhere). Eurovision fans will love this number, but it may not translate to casual viewers at home. Valentina takes this contest VERY seriously. Her voice is totally on point, and she delivers in full measure. Music experts won’t fail her this time. Vola—straight into the final!

Poll Ranking: 6    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 1

3. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Esma & Lozano with “Pred da se razdeni” 

Memorable lyrics: “If you come back to me, the good times will come back again”

This two-in-one number has improved a great deal since we first heard Esma caterwauling in Skopje. I’m starting to see the value in this—and why Lozano and Esma were thrust on the stage together. It’s great that the artists each own their section of the stage, but at times this  has the effect of turning it into a battlefield. When they do join forces, however, Esma—who appears to be dressed as a red wedding cake—electrifies. This woman shows the girls of Eurovision how it’s done!

Poll Ranking: 14     Wiwi Jury Ranking: 12

4. Azerbaijan: Farid Mammadov with “Hold Me”

Memorable lyrics: “We’ve hit overload, about to explode”

Farid is a total hearthrob and he knows it! (See our interview with him here). This is one song I can hear over and over again without getting tired of it. Sadly, the staging has gotten progressively worse. The man that mirrors Farid inside the glass box should really be in shadow rather than encased in glass with his face showing. It would read much stronger. Still, Farid is the star of plenty of wet dreams here in Malmö, so, all is forgiven. (A fellow wiwiblogger objects: “This staging is THE BOMB and the closest thing to perfection at ESC 2013,” he says). We’re going to assume said blogger is thinking with his head and not his wiwi.

Poll Ranking: 1    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 3

5. Finland: Krista Siegfrids with “Marry Me”

Memorable lyrics: “I’m your slave, and you’re my master”

I may have marked her down in the Wiwi Jury rankings, but after interviewing her both in London and Malmö, I am sold on Team Ding Dong. The staging is very convincing. This could be Ceasar’s Palace in Nevada, and the burst of girly pink is welcoming. I love the lesbian kiss at the end. This message of equality deserves to be shared with 120 million viewers on Saturday. When Krista says “Marry me” I can’t help but say, “I do!”

Poll Ranking: 7    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 7

6. Malta: Gianluca  Bezzina with “Tomorrow”

Memorable lyrics: “Risk assesment is his investment”

Malta relies heavily on audience participation. Not a clever idea considering that most of that audience looks disengaged. Gianluca is really lovable, and he will be remembered fondly as ESC’s Mr Amity. Sadly, it may stall here. (The lyrics popping off of the screen almost seem hostile). But whatever: I’ll be playing the track all year.

Poll Ranking: 3    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 6

7. Bulgaria: Elitsa and Stoyan with “Samo Shampioni”

Memorable lyrics: “Give us young ones, Give us happy ones, and the whole village comes”

Honestly, why did they bother returning? It’s the same old folklore snoozefest we’re used to from Bulgaria, and its opening bars are more suited to a Nintendo game than they are to Eurovision. To their credit, the intense drumming elements of this do have a way of getting into your head. If you choose this number for your potty break be careful: You might end up tapping your foot and could miss the toilet.

Poll Ranking: 11    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 13

8. Iceland: Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson with “Ég á Líf” 

Memorable lyrics: “Don’t think about anything until the following day”

And here comes our Norse king who gives deep interviews. A spectacular performance that totally connects with my deepest emotions. He is not pop fodder. He is the dark horse in this competition. The camera focuses on him, and eventually his backing choir comes into the frame towards the end. His LED backdrop is by far the most creative in this semi-final. Splendid! We totally get why his gilfriend has succumb to his charms and why she accompanies him on romantic walks to the grocery store.

Poll Ranking: 12    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 9

9. Greece: Koza Mostra with “Alcohol is Free” 

Memorable lyrics: “Alcohol is free”

The sloppy slow motion opening needs more practice. The Greek boys are pure eye candy, and serve up the perfect key change in a contest full of ballads. I don’t like this and I suspect that the professional jury will share my view, but it has proven to be incredibly popular with fans across the continent. They appeal to both young and old, the East and the West. The neon guitars should be binned. But the party atmosphere and spirit of fun should be blasted loud during these austere times.

Poll Ranking: 5    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 14

10. Israel: Moran Mazor with “Rak Bishvilo” 

Memorable lyrics: “I’m still trying to catch a smile from his lips”

Israel is a masterpiece. There is no other way to describe it. Moran Mazor is smouldering,  her wardrobe and styling nods to Nana Mouskouri. She is in total control of her voice. Singing in Hebrew is no easy feat, but she executes this effortlessly, and the staging compliments her well. This is by far the best solo performance in her semi final. And not just because she shows us some titty.

Poll Ranking: 9    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 5

11. Armenia: Dorians with “Lonely Planet”

Memorable lyrics: “Who can save you?”

The Dorians have a good message, which they were all too happy to tell me about earlier this week. The staging adds no value, and although I’m a huge fan of their beliefs, I’m not convinced the Armenian team have taken the competition seriously enough this year. We all know that this won’t qualify, so, let’s just add more fireballs at the end. Pity.

Poll Ranking: 17    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 15

12. Hungary: ByeAlex with “Kedvesem” 

Memorable lyrics: “She plunges into the deep sea and dances up on top of clouds”

When you’ve had too many barbiturates, then it’s time to take some downers. Enter Alex, aka Lorazepam. The staging is in direct conflict with their mood on stage. The best thing about this act is the hunk on the guitar that we don’t see enough of. Definitely a non-qualifier. Bye Alex.

Poll Ranking: 15    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 11

13. Norway: Margaret Berger with “I Feed You My Love” 

Memorable lyrics: “Bring the fire, I don’t care if it hurts”

Margaret is great and she comes across even better because of her Hungarian predecessors. Slight errors on the camera angles today, but very minor in the grand scheme of things. Her performance today is identical to her winning performance at The Melodi Grand Prix back in Oslo. She embodies Scandinavian cool and lives up to her reputation as one of the best performing artists in Scandinavia. When she offers to feed the Eurovision audience, a large portion of them will eat. This is shooting into the Top 5. No doubt.

Poll Ranking: 4    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 4

14. Albania: Adrian & Bledar with “Identitet” 

Memorable lyrics: “You’re thirsty, you’re craving”

Yes, it’s the only rock number in the contest this year, but even rock fans are switching off. Sorry, Adrian & Bledar but 17 acts aren’t advancing tonight. Seven need to go! To their credit, the staging—with its sparks and black and yellow lights and generally hard edge—fits the music perfectly. Douze points to SVT for that…

Poll Ranking: 16    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 17

15. Georgia: Nodi & Sophie with “Waterfall”

Memorable lyrics: “Feels like I’m flying like if I had wings”

The Georgian postcard is totes amaze, and sets the romantic tone beautifully. This is a lovely ballad performed by two lovlier people. Backed by a solid team employing the highest production values, this is GOOD! Some say it’s yet another ballad that just gets louder and louder, but such a reduction misses the point. As Nodi and Sophie pump up the decibels, they take us all higher.

Poll Ranking: 13    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 2

16. Switzerland: Takasa with “You and Me” 

Memorable lyrics: “We build castles with our hands”

Takasa’s backstage rehearsal has a celestial feel. Their wardrobe is inoffensive, and serves as a stage uniform. Although this element slightly borders on the foundations of occultism, Takasa pull it off. The LED is somewhat confusing. What’s all that shattered glass effect meant to symbolise? Still, despite the odds, the audience is left with a hymm that is rousing, and a performance that’s memorable.

Poll Ranking: 8    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 10

17. Romania: Cezar Ouatu with “It’s My Life” 

Memorable lyrics: “It’s my life and I know it’s not forever”

The introductory postcard shows Cezar’s butch side—the perfect counterpoint to the high-pitched singing we’re about to hear. Falsetto may be so 80s, but what’s Eurovision without borrowed elements? What I love most about Cezar is that he isn’t mediocre. Even when he does kitch, he commits to it fully. He is the modern new romantic with the charisma of swanky politician. He promised us EGO and DRAMA. He delivered!

Poll Ranking: 2    Wiwi Jury Ranking: 8

Photos: Dennis Stachel (EBU)

You can read our song reviews on the Wiwi Jury page. Then read the lyrics to this year’s entries on our contestants page. And then vote for your favourite contestants in our various polls.