Eurovision 2018: Semi-Final 2 qualifiers draw running order half during press conference

Eighteen acts came to the second semi-final of Eurovision 2018, but only 10 made it to the qualifiers’ press conference. They dried their tears, fielded questions and then let loose. Here’s what went down.

Serbia: Sanja Ilic & Balkanika – “Nova deca”

First half

Were you confident that you’d qualify? “Of course. It’s really important that people understood the things we are about to say, or were saying, about new children, about love and about those children who make a better world for us. We are those new children, so start making this world better. Have you heard it?”

How did you feel when you were the first announced to have qualified? “I feel really, really great because my mother didn’t have to wait for 10th or eight of ninth. She suffers from stress and everything.”

Will Beovizija return, HoD? “Yes, it is popular not just in Serbia, but also in the region.”

That’s how you make the final! @rybakofficial #eurovision #pressconference #qualifiers

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Moldova: DoReDos – “My Lucky Day”

Second half

Composer Philipp Kirkorov: “I am proud of my guys. We tried to make a three-minute musical spectacular on the Eurovision stage. It’s very hard, but we are here.”

“Thank you for all who give out our vote. I am so, so happy and exciiiiiting. Please vote in the final. Thank you.”

Philipp: “We have an international team — Russia, Greece and I am Bulgaria, we have Ukrainian [dancer] and tonight I was really sad about our Russian girl Julia. I am Russian I am sad. She is brilliant. She has a very big heart. I think she is brave. Julia, you are brave. You are strong. I am Russian.”

Hungary: AWS – “Viszlát nyár”

Second half

“I studied statistics in university, but I don’t yet [if we will win]. We want to do another metal show. Let’s work it out and maybe it will win.”

@erschh from @awsofficial advancing to the finals. #pressconference #sf2 #eurovision2018 #eurovision #allaboard #lisbongram #lisbon2018 #lisboa2018 #eurovisionentrant #eurovisionstar #esc2018?? #eurovisionsongcontest #ESC #esc2018 #aws #adal

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Ukraine: Mélovin – “Under the Ladder”

First half

What will your perfume be if you win Eurovision? “I say it will smell like sex”.

Did any Eurovision stars call you to wish you luck or congratulate you? “Actually I was texted by Verka Serduchka and he already congratulated me, but the phone is in the dressing room. Before the show Verka told me, ‘Set the hearts of people on fire.'”

@melovin_official likes to keep his flag tidy! #eurovision #semifinal #qualifiers

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Sweden: Benjamin Ingrosso – “Dance You Off”

Second half

Are you going to win our seventh victory on Saturday? “I don’t know. First of all I just want to say thank you all for voting for me on social media and stuff. I am so thankful and blessed to be here. I’m so honoured to represent my country Sweden in the final.”

HoD: “Benjamin is amazing. he’s a great performer. Benjamin is really having the time of his life on stage. But you know I don’t want to jinx everything. let’s see what happens on Saturday. The final is going to be so tough. There are so many great songs. ”

“Going to the final is amazing.”

“No. There is nothing I can do if the lights don’t work. With or without lights, I think I’m going to perform.”

@benjaminingrosso from #Sweden #pressconference #sf2 #eurovision2018 #eurovision #allaboard #lisbongram #lisbon2018 #lisboa2018 #eurovisionentrant #eurovisionstar #esc2018?? #eurovisionsongcontest #ESC #esc2018

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Australia: Jessica Mauboy – “We Got Love”

Second half

“It felt nerve-racking, but at the same time with that type of crowd — there is so much love. What my song represents is that and the crowd. It’s meant to make you feel something. I honestly felt that back. It’s a wonderful feeling.

The difference is I’m competing this time amongst greatness. It’s always completely changing — every step of the rehearsal you’re getting better at it and you’re changing things. We have such a great team we’ve brought with us. We’re a tight group and we’ve made it a great show. Bringing the song ‘We Got Love’ to life…you write something and then you feel it there and then you go with it at that point.

“It is the crowd, it is the audience. It’s completely silent. No one is in there besides the production crew, the camera team. When you have so many people who travel from around the world…it’s amazing. We were watching the screen in the events center and I felt my heart was about to jump out of my body. It is that feeling. You can’t deny the love within the room and the people’s love for the show. There are so many people coming together in different languages.

@jessicamauboy1 from #Australia. #wegotlove #pressconference #sf2 #eurovision2018 #eurovision #allaboard #lisbongram #lisbon2018 #lisboa2018 #eurovisionentrant #eurovisionstar #esc2018?? #eurovisionsongcontest #ESC #esc2018

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Norway: Alexander Rybak – “That’s How You Write a Song”

First half

“I have to wake up from a deep dream now. Isn’t she [Jessica Mauboy] an angel?”

“I feel pressure to perform and to entertain. I’ve done this before and now I’m taking up some other’s place. i just want to entertain people.”

We have lost a lot of Eastern European countries. How do you feel about this? “I will see about the votes. Regarding the bloodbath, I would call it a strong music competition. Bloodbaths are kind of serious, but this is a serious music competition. I hope people will vote for me in the Eastern European countries as well. Everything is up to our show.”

“It’s a very fun experience. Fairytale in 2009 will forever be my calling card. It’s a huge thing for an artist to have a song or event people remember you by. But of course I want to make such a strong impression this year so that people think of me this year they will think yeah that’s how you write a song.”

Denmark: Rasmussen – “Higher Ground”

Second half

“For me the competition is more recent now. We made it to the final and I believe that anyone can hit the right mood on Saturday and just take it.”

“We would have felt more pressure if Denmark always sailed through to the final. Not that much pressure. We just really wanted to go through to the final.”

Which musical describes your Eurovision experience? “A musical has to have a down and an up in the end…we haven’t had that.”

The Vikings are getting their flag ready #eurovision #pressconference #semifinal

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Slovenia: Lea Sirk – “Hvala, ne!”

First half

“It’s really funny because to every country you are talking about your last win was 13 years ago…Slovenia never won!”

“The difference is I am here as a leading vocalist, last time I was a backing vocalist so I didn’t see the press conference nobody asked me anything. It’s not a competition of songs, but of souls. They are all beautiful songs. I am happy to be here. I didn’t expect it.”

“I wrote my song in 10 minutes. That’s why it sounds like that. I wrote it in 10 minutes right before sending it to the national selection. I will change the colour of my hair, but I can’t change it now before the final. I like my song, but I’m really excited to write my next one.”

“I actually don’t know what is electronic music. I just try to find the good grooves when I am alone with my machine at home…women in electronics, women with Slovenian electronics? I don’t know what that means. I’m writing songs and I find it good in the final because it’s something good in Eurovision. I like people singing and dancing with me. I love it.”

Congratulations @leasirk – #hvalene #pressconference #sf2 #eurovision2018 #eurovision #allaboard #lisbongram #lisbon2018 #lisboa2018 #eurovisionentrant #eurovisionstar #esc2018?? #eurovisionsongcontest #ESC #esc2018 #leasirk

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The Netherlands: Waylon – “Outlaw in ‘Em”

Second half

“2014 the same story. We were called last in the semi-finals. But we’re so happy.”

“Stay true to your craft and do what you feel. You have the right to try it your way at least once? Stand by it. Don’t care about what other people say about it. My song is written by a Russian, and an American and a Dutchie. I’ve got dancers from the Congo doing a different style.”

Some media gave the act negative reviews. How do you feel about it now? “Still the same. We went over here with a team — and the team is the most important thing to stay true too. I stay true to the team. The thing with the dancers…the only thing I really would like to say is we’re all different people and we all do what we believe in. I hope, at least. The things that I read on the Internet about the dancers and the staging. Some people should be so fucking ashamed of themselves for real.”

“When I first saw these guys dance  it was so natural. What these guys do is natural to them, and what I do is natural to me. i want to thank these guys from the bottom of my heart. These guys are my brothers for real.”

Congratulations @official_waylon_music #pressconference #sf2 #eurovision2018 #eurovision #allaboard #lisbongram #lisbon2018 #lisboa2018 #eurovisionentrant #eurovisionstar #esc2018?? #eurovisionsongcontest #ESC #esc2018 #waylon

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