Booing Russia is so last year. Tonight during semi final 1 of Eurovision 2015, the audience erupted into rapturous applause for Russia’s Polina Gagarina and her song “A Million Voices”. The bookies’ favourite sailed through to the final, along with the bookies’ other favourites, including Estonia’s Elina & Stig (shadowy monochrome magic) and Georgia’s Nina Sublatti (other worldly Gothic realness). Denmark’s Anti Social Media won’t be joining them: their non-qualification is Denmark’s first since 2007. Finland’s PKN — the punk band that was a favourite to win all of Eurovision — has also crashed out.

In case you missed the results — who are you?! — here are the qualifiers for the first semi final.

Semi final 1 Qualifiers

Albania: Elhaida Dani with “I’m Alive”

Armenia: Genealogy with “Face the Shadow”

Russia: Polina Gagarina with “A Million Voices”

Romania: Voltaj with “De La Capat

Hungary: Boggie with “Wars for Nothing”

GreeceMaria-Elena Kyriakou with “One Last Breath”

Estonia: Elina & Stig with “Goodbye to Yesterday”

Georgia: Nina Sublatti with “Warrior”

Serbia: Bojana Stamenov with “Beauty Never Lies”

BelgiumLoïc Nottet with “Rhythm Inside

Semi final 1 non-qualifiers

The Netherlands: Trijntje with “Walk Along”

Belarus: Uzari & Maimuna with “Time”

FYR MacedoniaDaniel Kajmakoski with “Lisja esenski”

Denmark: Anti Social Media with “The Way You Are”

MoldovaEduard Romanyuta with “I Want Your Love”

Finland: Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät with “Aina mun pitää”

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Photo: Andres Putting (EBU)

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hilarious t Shirts
8 years ago

I do agree with all the concepts you’ve offered on your
post. They are really convincing and can definitely work.
Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for newbies.
May just you please extend them a bit from subsequent time?
Thank you for the post.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
8 years ago

8/10: My top 16:
1. Georgia
2. Russia
3. The Netherlands
4. Estonia
5. Albania
6. Belarus
7. Greece
8. Armenia
9. Romania
10. Belgium
________________________________________________________________
11. Serbia
12. Moldova
13. F.Y.R. Macedonia
14. Hungary
15. Denmark
16. Finland
Greets from The Netherlands:)!

Himela
Himela
8 years ago

I’m happy with the qualifiers, the only song I really don’t get is Belgium. I can see the guy is great on stage etc but I still find the song mediocre. Is a good performance enough for a good place? I was happy Finland did not make it, I hate people asking for pity votes and the song was more than noise to be honest, if they were singing next to my house I would have called the police. I hope Elhaida sings better on Saturday, I could tell she was nervous. Maria Elena was perfect. I was pleased to… Read more »

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

For the record, I had absolutely no problem with the way the girls announced the qualifiers. They didn’t beat around the bush, and they didn’t concern themselves with the completely irrelevant concept of suspense in this matter, because it wasn’t going to change what was on that piece of paper that Jon Ola Sand gave them! They got right to the point! The only suspense there was in the announcement was the last qualifier, because I thought, for a moment, that the bookies were actually going to get their due with Finland (who was ranked 6th by the oddsmakers), leaving… Read more »

Bionda
Bionda
8 years ago

I think the winner of this semi is between Greece Estonia and Russia.I have heard the cheerful crowd

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

@Homer: Hungary qualified because (1) it was a simple song (vocals and an acoustic guitar), easy to understand, between two up-tempo songs (Serbia and Belarus), and (2) by NOT standing out between those 2 songs, it actually stood out between them.

That is probably why Cyprus will qualify as well. Bookies ranked John 12th on Monday morning, and he will be singing between one song that many think will qualify (Slovenia), and one that many think will have trouble qualifying (Switzerland).

Homer
Homer
8 years ago

I agree with the qualifiers but Hungary over Belarus is something really stupid! It was the jury that saved Hungary just because it has a good (but cliched) message but it was soooooo boring! Uzari & Maimuna be like = They hate us cause they ain’t us!

nino
nino
8 years ago

LOL @ Hungary & Georgia being awesome live. Also the serbian singer sounder like a crazy cow and the song was very cheesy.

adriana_gabriela
adriana_gabriela
8 years ago

1.HUNGARY-EXCELLENT
2.RUSSIA-EXCELLENT
3.BELGIUM-EXCELLENT
4.GREECE-EXCELLENT
5.ROMANIA-EXCELLENT
6.SERBIA-EXCELLENT
7.ESTONIA-EXCELLENT
8.GEORGIA-EXCELLENT
9.ARMENIA-OK
10.ALBANIA-AWFUL JUST AWFUL

adriana_gabriela
adriana_gabriela
8 years ago

I keep reading Albania done that ,was the best bleah bleah,nothing special ,her voice was awful last night ,stop being so deperate Albanian people she won gonna win ,grow some brains.

Leaf
Leaf
8 years ago

My late SF1 review: Qualifiers Albania: Elhaida Dani with “I’m Alive” I personally enjoyed this, I think what she was wearing was amazing, so slick and modern. The song left such a huge emotion in the arena that it was just purely magical. I did not mind her vocals at all, the message came across and she will probably get even better on Saturday night. Armenia: Genealogy with “Face the Shadow” I died on this one. This was so freaking boring I felt like they tried to emote something that they just didn’t feel and It’s final result was a… Read more »

nikolay
nikolay
8 years ago

I really liked Albania, Estonia and Russia. Albania was so emotional, i almost like it more than the studio version. Estonia was nice but in my opinion just because the song is good, the performance was so-so. And, Russia had perfect staging, even though the song is mediocre. I think one of these three will win ESC and I am happy about it.

marc jones
marc jones
8 years ago

Maria Elena was stunning yesterday, in my opinion she had the best performance. She had such a power on the stage. With the crying eye one the stage and the lyrics of her song i think that she want to pass a political message for the crisis situation in Greece: I’ m begging you take me out of this firing hell come back and save me what happened wasn’t fair nothing left all that I have is one last breath only one last breath I also like Esthonia , great vocalist and great performance! I think the winner will be… Read more »

Dana
Dana
8 years ago

Tbh yesterday’s concert was a huge disappointment for me. I had only heard a couple of songs beforehand so most were new to me, and I was surprised that they were so average and old-fashioned (take Moldova, Serbia, Macedonia for ex.). The staging also for my taste seemed like it would fit better if it was 2005 not 2015. I hate to be that person but last year was more impressive.

Jerome
Jerome
8 years ago

Glad to know I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed Albania’s performance. While it wasn’t technically perfect, she was really emotional, and she transmitted her inner wolrd to me.

Really disappointed by Estonia. I think the guy ruined the whole song.

Sokol
Sokol
8 years ago

I THINK :
ALBANIA – PREETY GOOD (CAN DO 100 % BETTER)
GEORGIA – SURPRISE
RUSSIA – GREAT VOICE
ROMANIA – BAD
ESTONIA – BOOOOORING
HUNGARY – SURPRISED
SERBIA – NO COMMENT
GREECE – GOOD
BELGIUM – GOOD
ARMENIA – PRETTY GOOD

2015
2015
8 years ago

1. Georgia
2. Russia
3. Belgium
4. Estonia
5. Albania
6. Armenia
7. The Netherlands
8. Romania
9. Hungary
10. Greece
11. Serbia
12. Moldova
13. Belarus
14. F.Y.R of Macedonia
15. Denmark
16. Finland

Serbia in, the Netherlands out 😉 so i’m happy with the results anyway… i was really afraid that Finland and Denmark would be in the final. Please vote this wisely also in the second semi 😉 Well done Europe!!! agree 99%

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

@George: Quite a possibility; but better for me to leave it to those who have watched the whole thing from start to finish for more than 3 years.

Suffice to say, my scores are from a composite of 10 criteria that I applied to their performances on stage; and as you can see, my top 10 were the 10 that qualified, although quite probably not in the same order.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

@Jacob: HOLY SHIT!!! I GOT ‘EM ALL AS WELL!!! I was at work in NYC while this contest was going on (3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M., E.S.T.), and I made it a point to isolate myself from any news whatsoever on the Web that was related to this contest until I could get home, watch Day 1 and evaluate them all. Here is how I saw it: 9.50 Estonia That ’60s-style shadow graphic opening won me over even before they started singing. The retro-graphics fit extraordinarily well with a song that is also a flashback to the late-1960s. Elina and Stig should… Read more »

Chris
Chris
8 years ago

I was feeling so awkward listening to Albania. Was it really her real voice? Or was she ill?
And can someone (maybe from Wiwibloogs) explain me why there was no the Interval Act? I think it was the first time in the history. Strange.

Nott
Nott
8 years ago

I’m so glad Finland and Denmark didn’t get through to the final.

Racal
Racal
8 years ago

I only made one mistake in my personal ranking: I had the Netherlands qualifying instead of Serbia. And I still think that Trijntje should have qualified over that screaming noise from Serbia (I think they only qualified with the neighboring votes from Albania and Macedonia)… My big disappointment was Armenia. I think their performance sounded awful and off key most of the time. It’s too bad cause I like their concept and the studio version. Albania also missed a couple of important notes, she was clearly not at her best. Georgia was as vulgar and tacky as ever… On the… Read more »

MeandI
MeandI
8 years ago

Sorry for my English What was ORF thinking of when they put the green room at the back of the arena? It is not a good decision. The arena seems to be small and everything looks a bit messy. I think the stage is good, the size is accurate. This edition (at least watching on TV) is an step back compared to other years as many others sayed. I feel it’s lack the magic of Eurovision. I didn’t like Conchita neither, her dialogue with the contestants was so artificial. The presenters jokes weren’t funny enough, so there was absence of… Read more »

Deea
Deea
8 years ago

@Eva: Well, if you have watched the semifinal and you concluded that Daniel (FYR Macedonia) was the only one of key, then you probably didn’t pay enough attention to the entire show.
There was at least one other singer that “butchered” a song far worse that Daniel did. Yet, the other singer got into the Final. It is that person that should be ashamed for finding excuses for bad performances and keep promising that next time will get it right. At least Daniel went down with dignity, not using mass-media to beg for voters’ compassion for it’s froggy throat.

Nicky
Nicky
8 years ago

I am only sorry for the Netherlands.
p.s. To all those who were saying: ”Nicky, you are the only one who likes Serbia”, I have a message to send… 🙂

Eva
Eva
8 years ago

Shame on you,FYR Macedonia. Really loved the studio version on “Autumn leaves” but the live performance was just horrible.

Daniel_2015
Daniel_2015
8 years ago

I am dissappointed about Belarus…. Why Uzari and Maimuna didn’t make it, while Boggie did, I don’t know…. This is the only change I would make…

Armenia and Albania were a mess vocally, still they deserved ro qualify. But if they don’t improve until Saturday, I don’t think they will do very well…

To sum up what I posted in a different thread – the worst, amateurish show in a very long time… Very dissapointed!

Thales
Thales
8 years ago

About the contenders of this semi final, after show (of course) Moldova: Annoying song. Bad singer. Neither the dancers or the stage (lights, background) could save this performance. The worst of this year. Armenia: I was really surprised by this group. When they released the song (that I really liked since the first listening), I thought would be hard to make a good stage on this one, but everything works perfectly. My 4th favorite of this semi final. Amazing voices! Belgium: This guy surprises me day after day. Excellent performance! Great vocals, nice dance, and one of the best songs… Read more »

Lucas
Lucas
8 years ago

Anyone with a normal functioning brain would see that all of these countries were absolutely N O T H I N G comparing to Georgia’s NINA Sublatti !
She was the queen of the night ! She came out alone and she slayed it ! Yeah People she’s too good to me to compare to other contestants no offence to anyone but she showed you all how it’s done ! Love you NINA

Paraoxonase
Paraoxonase
8 years ago

I predicted 7 out of the 10 qualifiers;
I would gladly change Hungary and Serbia with The Netherlands and Belarus as BOTH were totally ROBBED ! but I’m fine with Romania qualifying. they had a good performance.
and why Elhaida was such a mess ? she sounded awful..
on the other hand, Estonia was a pleasent surprise, that staging and those camera angles were amazing.
I think either Estonia or Russia was the winner of this semi !

Shira
Shira
8 years ago

I know that Sweden got a lot of criticism when it hosted the Eurovision 2013. But seriously! Loreen’s opening was fantastic with the kids on the scaffolding and I still watch it and get chills all over me. But what happened to Conchitas opening? It was lame and had no WOW. She is wonderful. Why did the production make her her small when she sould conquer the arena by her charisma ?? It was not her fault, production errors. how ever, the three women were terrible hostess with poor English with bad chemistry, and they looked uncomfortable together. Thanks Sweden… Read more »

Steve Gray
Steve Gray
8 years ago

The Netherlands deserved to qualify over Armenia and Romania

Melissa J
8 years ago

WOW! 2015 is outrageous this year! I loved the opening ceremony where Conchita called everyone to the stage and then left to go to the green room–a true passing of the torch! Also loved the stage and arena design. Graphics packaging is top notch this year, so glad they are using the orbs to form the country flags! My personal favorite was the bit about Nikki Lauda. At least, Formula One and Eurovision meet!! Belgium was OUTRAGEOUS tonight! What a strong voice! His staging is at times weird, but also very modern and fresh. I was watching this and thinking… Read more »

guest
guest
8 years ago

Albania=Dark Horse.

Bronson
Bronson
8 years ago

@Daniel

A good punk song? Did you not hear the lead singer tonight? He was literally shouting into the microphone. When he wasn’t, he was making strange grunting noises.

It wouldn’t make a difference whether the performers of this song were disabled, had one arm missing, had 90% burns all over their body or were perfectly fine. The song sucked, the performance was awful and THAT’S why it didn’t qualify.

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

All of you gloating about Finland being out and throwing around words like “charity” should be ashamed. That song had the strongest message of the evening, regarding the frustration that arises from not being the master of ones own life. Nearly everybody should be able to relate to that, because we all are forced into certain patterns by our surroundings. Also, taste is not objective. The Finns had a good Punk song. I’m no fan of Punk but I know enough about it to recognize a good Punk song when I hear one. It seems some people on here lack… Read more »

Yudhistira Mahasena
8 years ago

Why? Why Denmark??? Why they don’t qualify?

Adam
Adam
8 years ago

@ct: my scalp is missing my heart is ripped out and my ass is left gaping after Bojana’s performance. Definitely top 6, the most fun and lively performance tonight. Im typing this from beyond the grave because she slayed me. Hope I’m not disappointing you too much!! 😉

ct
ct
8 years ago

@ adam

“Serbia was definitely the crowd favorite and absolutely deserve being 6th favorite to win now”

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the semi tonight. Why do you have to bring my spirits down? Ok, I agree there were six songs worse than Bojana tonight, but Serbia’s kitchathon a crowd favourite? I am officially disappointed with humanity!

George
8 years ago

@ Aron F.

Wow,sorry I was mostly keeding. But I still thing it was memorable for being unmemorable.

Annie
Annie
8 years ago

Yaaayy go Armenia & Belgium !! I didn’t like the Netherlands to be honest, I understand why they didn’t make it.

George
8 years ago

Wouldn’t it be interesting if there were sound meters on the stadium , so we could know which country had the biggest applaud?
Erm #justmakingidiotthoughts

Aron F.
Aron F.
8 years ago

George,
Yes, it was memorable. In fact, one musical movement can easily last 3 minutes without getting boring, if it’s good enough. I think this one is definitely good enough. But even if you think it was a nap, which you may, it was at least memorable. You can distinguish a nap from the sheer mediocrity of most of the songs and performances, and, believe it or not, people often like a nap more than having to listen to weak songs. It stood out, in one way or another.

Adam
Adam
8 years ago

Seriously though Serbia was definitely the crowd favorite and absolutely deserve being 6th favorite to win now. I wish I was there in the arena just to be around the fantastic and hyped atmosphere that Bojana brought! Omg im slayed im murdered by her performance, I think it was the best tonight. I was slightly disappointed by Russia and Greece but only in the way where their staging didnt compliment their vocals at all. Watching the rehearsal previews were a lot better. A little surprised by Hungary going through, because I wanted it to go through for sure but I… Read more »

Vicente
Vicente
8 years ago

So happy with the result :DDD Especially Hungary!!!!!! I’m so proud of Boggie and her friends and also their team for doing such an amazing job before and during the performance!!

The only pity is that Daniel didn’t qualify 🙁

ct
ct
8 years ago

My thoughts on semi1: 1) Conchita is Austria’s national treasure. The intro, the white swan dress, the pantsuit, the interviews. A star like no other. 2) I got 9 out of 10 of my predictions right, but then this was an easy semi to predict. I had Denmark in instead of Serbia, even though to be fair Denmark was terrible really and much worse than I expected. Seeing it live, they did not deserve it, even though I’m still not that keen on Serbia. 3) The three best performances by a mile: Belgium (just wow), Estonia (speechless) and Russia. Very… Read more »

Amerivision
Amerivision
8 years ago

@Enets

When your 13 year old niece said that he looks like Justin Bieber trying to act tough with long hair and fails, you know it’s bad.

But it’s kinda in the “so bad that it’s good”.

She also said that Stig (Estonia) looks like Louis from 1D.

George
8 years ago

@ Eugene ESC UK
Seriously? So, Serbia is the new Finland!

King
King
8 years ago

Am I the only one who thinks 60th Eurovision looks poor and empty? (Sorry Austria) ..I felt like I was watching a random concert. Well let’s start from Moldova- whatever…cheap..I feel bad for that shirt.They sacrificed a shirt but did not make it to the final. Albania – aweful vocals…she was struggling. If she was pregnant , she would have baby on stage. Armenia- only country that used the stage wisely..amazing live performance , looked expensive. Not a winner tho. Belgium – I love this song!!!..but bad staging ..btw why did he lay on the floor (???)..I do not get… Read more »

mark dowd
mark dowd
8 years ago

Weak semi. Of those songs, only Russia and Estonia will make top Ten. In Semi two, Norway, Sweden, Azerbaijan and Slovenia will make Top Ten and be joined by Italy and Aus……

Sweden, Russia or Norway to win. Norway’s price will drop a lot after Thursday.