When audiences tune in for Junior Eurovision 2017 this Sunday, they may want to have their dancing shoes at the ready. That’s because Cyprus’ Nicole Nicolaou will open the show with her Mediterranean dance number “I Wanna Be a Star”.

The fresh, upbeat number is no doubt a producer’s dream opener, but it was, of course, the result of chance. Nicole drew first position in this evening’s running order draw during the Opening Ceremony.

Italy’s Maria Iside Fiore drew position number 16, and will close the show with her inspirational ballad “Scelgo (My Choice)”.

Georgia’s Grigol Kipshidze — the host country’s star, who will drop the ballad “Voice of the Heart” — will perform ninth.

The remaining contestants all drew “empty” boxes, and as such their fate in the running order was decided by producers, whose job it is to create the most interesting show possible — aka, spacing out ballads and dance numbers so there’s never a sense of monotony.

In their mind, that means following the fun Cypriot entry with Poland’s Alicja Rega, whose dramatic ballad “Mój Dom” is a stark contrast. The Dutch boy band Fource  (“Love Me”) takes things pop and uptempo again, before Armenia’s Misha throws his own dramatic ballad “Boomerang”.

Belarus’ Helena Meraai comes next with “I Am the One”, followed by Portugal’s Mariana Venâncio with “Youtuber”, Ireland’s Muireann McDonnell with “Súile Glasa” and FYR Macedonia’s Mina Blažev with “Dancing Through Life”. The electro-ballad, bossa nova, Irish folk and euro-dance ordering is a real mishmash to say the least!

Georgia opens up the second half of the show, followed by Albania’s Ana Kodra with “Mos ma prekni pemën”, Ukraine’s Anastasiya Baginska with “Don’t Stop”, and Malta’s Gianluca Cilia with “Dowra Tond”.

The final lot of songs include a number of fan favourites.

Russia’s Polina Bogusevich performs “Wings” in 13th position, before Serbia’s Irina Brodic and Jana Paunovic with “Ceo Svet Je Naš”, Australia’s Isabella Clarke with “Speak Up!” and Italy’s Maria Iside Fiore with “Scelgo (My Choice)”.

The kiddies — and indeed our Georgian blogger Rezo and guest photographer Marc Mingels — had a blast. We’ll be sure to upload all of our snaps from the party in a special post/gallery on wiwibloggs by the morning. As for now, be sure to follow us on Instagram for plenty of live-action shots!

READ MORE JUNIOR EUROVISION NEWS

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Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago

Perdorming 2nd is usually the worst, so sad that Poland got that running order position AGAIN (Kasia got it as well)

Benito Bonito
Benito Bonito
6 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

Sadly, I think that Poland got 2nd running order, both in May and now, because EBU still thinks that Michal Szpak’s huge televote was from diaspora. It’s not fair. ”Color of your life” is a song that still doesn’t have the recognition that deserves, is one of the most controversial songs, in the most weird way. Europe liked it and EBU still doesn’t believe this.

Anabela
Anabela
6 years ago
Reply to  Benito Bonito

I also still cannot understand how Poland did so well with televoting in 2016 to be honest. That was one of the most forgettable ballads of 2016 imo. ._.

Benito Bonito
Benito Bonito
6 years ago
Reply to  Anabela

I’m not Polish, but the song is anything BUT forgettable. I still hear the ooooooooooo tell me black or white.

Dew
Dew
6 years ago
Reply to  Benito Bonito

“Color of your life” got lots of votes but the chart performance around Europe is still really bad after Eurovision. I’m still confused how that song did that well as well.

Benito Bonito
Benito Bonito
6 years ago
Reply to  Dew

How 1944 did? I’ve heard it did well only in Laos.

Ronda
Ronda
6 years ago
Reply to  Benito Bonito

C’mon, I thought it was obvious to everyone that Poland did so good in 2016 just because of its diaspora votes. The song had nothing special, it was typical eurovision ballad with chessy lyrics. Plz

Benito Bonito
Benito Bonito
6 years ago
Reply to  Ronda

Where was diaspora in 2017? Kasia had 64 points overall (jury+televote).

Matt
Matt
6 years ago
Reply to  Benito Bonito

I was about to say something similar. How could 2016 be due to the Polish diaspora when their 2015 entry finished 23rd and their 2017 entry was 22nd?

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago

It’s Malta…. again!!!!
Dawra Tond!!!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Only 16 songs, the running order doesn’t really matter, especially without a clear favourite.

Riki
Riki
6 years ago

2014 – Bulgaria performed 2nd and came 2nd
2015 – Slovenia performed 3rd and came 3rd
2016 – Russia performed 4th and came 4th
2017 – I sincerely hope that Belarus performing 5th does not mean that they will finish 5th

Graph
Graph
6 years ago
Reply to  Riki

It could happen…

Regardless of running order, I think Belarus will finish 4th-6th. This is a common placing for songs that have massive appeal to the ESC fandom.

I don’t have anything against Belarus’s song. But somehow I’m not sure that it has the appeal to the general viewing public needed to win.

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  Riki

Croatia in 2003 performed 2nd and they won the whole thing. You just never know.

Graph
Graph
6 years ago

Georgia, Ukraine, Malta, Russia are among the strongest songs and they have the best quarter of the show.

Right now, I think Georgia is most likely to win. I would give them odds of 5/1

I think Russia is 2nd most likely with odds of 10/1

Tuxbert
Tuxbert
6 years ago
Reply to  Graph

I absolutely agree. Georgia, Ukraine, Malta and Russia are respectively my 1st, 2nd, 6th and 3rd favourites. I also place Netherlands and Australia at 4th and 5th.

EBU
EBU
6 years ago

australia will win

James
James
6 years ago

I just love how people here go crazy over running orders.

SpirK
SpirK
6 years ago

Fairly good running order, still predicting that the top five will compromise of Russia,Armenia,Australia,Belarus and Malta.
Don’t the rehearsals start tomorrow? Is there a schedule?

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

It’s not like running order means anything for the results. Bulgaria performed 2nd in 2014 and overwhelmingly won the televote.

Ferr
Ferr
6 years ago

From the running order, I think Russia has a big chance to win.

sam
sam
6 years ago

running order really favors russia and malta, imo. i expect both to be in the top 5. on another note, this system was extremely flawed and was extremely confusing. i much prefered malta’s way of choosing the running order last year.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Malta comes relatively late, after 3 ballads. That is good. Being before Russia less so.

DenizNL
DenizNL
6 years ago

I wanted The Netherlands indeed later in the show.

My top is:
1 Macedonia
2 Belarus
3 Russia
4 Australia
5 Poland
6 Netherlands
7 Cyprus
8 Armenia
9 Malta
10 Ukraine
11 Ireland
12 Italy
13 Portugal
14 Serbia
15 Georgia
16 Albania

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

Serbia will finish last again I think, unless they go all out with the staging and Polina misses all her notes. The draw is great, I don’t like The Netherlands and Armenia next to each other, and after that 5 female songs. Also Albania and Ukraine will even eachother out. Great draw though, it shouldn’t have too big of an impact. I did NOT like the fact that the songs weren’t drawn in halfs, but I see why they did that. Will Deban and William travel to Georgia?

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

correction: 4 female songs after Armenia (wich is the same after Mata btw)

Matthew
Matthew
6 years ago

Well Muireann goes after Portugal which is good news. But Macedonia next!!!!! Uh oh. Poland are also in a sticky situation, after Cyprus and before The Netherlands. And Serbia are DEAD, after Russia and before Australia.

MrBrightside
MrBrightside
6 years ago

2016 – Micha? 2nd in his semi
2017 – Kasia 2nd in the final
2017 JESC – Alicja 2nd

WTF EBU? XDDD

Jackqulen
Jackqulen
6 years ago
Reply to  MrBrightside

EBU likes to order it so that the shows starts with a upbeat and then follow it by a slow ballad.

Poland sends ballad…

Josip Nedic
Josip Nedic
6 years ago
milkyy
milkyy
6 years ago

Poland on 2nd position again? 🙁 Seems like the producers don’t like us, even they are from another country…

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
6 years ago
Reply to  milkyy

They’re probably aware of the fact that poland will do good with the online vote anyways (because of the massive polish audience) so this is probably meant to lighten up that a little bit . Also it fits well next to the upbeat song from cyprus

Radiologistology
Radiologistology
6 years ago

RIP Serbia

Junaslatoskovis
Junaslatoskovis
6 years ago

Think this is a good draw for Russia!

My top:

1. Russia
2. The Netherlands
3. Belarus
4. Australia
5. Poland
6. Cyprus
7. Malta
8. Armenia
9. Albania
10. Ukraine
11. Serbia
12. Italy
13. Portugal
14. Macedonia
15. Georgia
16. Ireland

DenizNL
DenizNL
6 years ago

Good order.

Junaslatoskovis
Junaslatoskovis
6 years ago
Reply to  DenizNL

Yes, good order but I wanted The Netherlands a bit later in the show! Wat do u think?

CharlieChan
CharlieChan
6 years ago

Yasss me to

Junaslatoskovis
Junaslatoskovis
6 years ago
Reply to  CharlieChan

Whats your top?

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

My top 16.

01) Belarus – 10/10
02) Armenia – 10/10
03) Italy – 10/10
04) Malta – 9.5/10
05) Poland – 9/10
06) Macedonia – 9/10
07) Russia – 8.5/10
08) Netherlands – 8/10
09) Australia – 8/10
10) Georgia – 7.5/10
11) Cyprus – 7.5/10
12) Portugal – 7/10
13) Ireland – 7/10
14) Ukraine – 6.5/10
15) Serbia – 6.5/10
16) Albania – 6/10

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago

Me too