The semi-final allocation draw is underway in Rotterdam. Today is the day which truly begins to shape the landscape of the Eurovision season. We’ll learn which countries will sing in each semi-final of Eurovision 2020 and also which semi-finals the Big Five and The Netherlands will be voting in.
Eurovision 2020 semi-final allocation draw stream
Although we won’t know the running order or many of the competing songs for some time, speculation is well and truly underway. That’s because the semi-final allocation draw can offer some clues as to who may or may not qualify. It allows fans to begin to point out historical voting patterns to determine how certain countries may fare this year.
It also allows delegations to begin to plan their time in the host city and notifies broadcasters about which dates their countries will be performing on.
The pots for the semi-final allocation draw were unveiled last week. There were some slight changes from last year, most notably a reduction in the number of pots from six to five. The pots are based on countries with similar voting patterns in the last 15 years.
The semi-final draw also includes the transfer of the host city insignias. Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv, Zippi Brand Frank, was on scene to pass on the keys to Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam.
When do the Big Five and The Netherlands vote?
Semi-final 1
- Italy
- Germany
- The Netherlands
Semi-final 2
- France
- United Kingdom
- Spain
Eurovision 2020 semi-final allocation draw:
Semi-final 1
First half
- North Macedonia
- Belarus
- Lithuania
- Sweden
- Slovenia
- Australia
- Ireland
- Russia
Second half
- Norway
- Cyprus
- Croatia
- Azerbaijan
- Malta
- Israel
- Ukraine
- Romania
- Belgium
On first glance, this year’s draw has offered up a rather open field. The first semi-final contains both Australia and Ukraine — the only remaining countries with perfect qualification records. Regular qualifiers Russia, Azerbaijan and Sweden are also present.
Azerbaijan will benefit from being drawn away from Armenia for the first time since 2015, while Ukraine and Russia may divide the Eastern European vote. There is also a strong Balkan influence here, with three of the four competing ex-Yugoslav countries in this semi-final.
Two of the bookmakers’ early favourites will perform in the first half of the first semi-final, with Italy also voting in this semi-final. If they are to be believed, we may have our eyes on the favourites early. With the exception of Switzerland and the automatic qualifiers, all of last year’s Top 9 countries are competing in this semi-final. This may suggest that semi-final 1 may be the tougher on paper.
We have our #Eurovision Semi-Final allocations! How do you think the semis stack up? ? pic.twitter.com/BGupzxm1pS
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) January 28, 2020
Semi-final 2
First half
- Austria
- Moldova
- Poland
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Iceland
- Czech Republic
- Greece
- Estonia
Second half
- Denmark
- Bulgaria
- Switzerland
- Finland
- Armenia
- Latvia
- Georgia
- Portugal
- Albania
You could argue that the field is also rather open in the second semi-final. Greece and Moldova will be without their most loyal allies in the form of Cyprus and Romania respectively. Serbia are also rather isolated as the only former Yugoslav country in this semi-final, but they do have neighbours Bulgaria, who return after a one year hiatus.
On the other hand, Estonia will be pleased to be joined by both Finland and Latvia. Armenia will benefit from being away from Azerbaijan as well, and are also joined by neighbours Georgia. Portugal will be pleased to have Spain voting in this semi-final.
There is also a strong central European contingent here. Austria, Switzerland, Poland and Czech Republic are all in the second semi-final.
Producers will release the exact running order based on this draw after all the songs have been released. This announcement usually comes in late March or early April.
What do you make of the semi-final allocation draw? How does the draw help or hinder your country? Let us know in the comments below.
Lots of working to do for every presenter. But since it’s early stage, they might make the most of it – fingers crossed.
My team would have been totally different, but sInce this is it, we should them all the best wishes and much luck! I hope they all shine and come out victorious! <3
Saw a quote on twitter saying that the winning song has been in the same semi in which the UK has voted in for the past 9 years. Not sure if that’s correct as i’ve not fact checked. Wiwi?
Its true i think, so maybe CZ, Iceland or Portugal will win
I would take a long guess at Swizerland as I have loved the past 2 entries. They are upping their game each year. Possibly France too if we are including the big 5 in this voting semi.
I know we need to hear the songs, but this is just fun!
Bye bye Australia! Your national selection this year sucks. So glad we’ll have them out of the final this year and have a TRUE Eurovision Grand Final. Hopefully after 2023 they’ll get booted out of the competition too. They’ve overstayed their welcome for far too long.
Hater.. Hoping for someone to get booted!
why don’t you say the same for Azerbaijan or Israel
Be nice for once in your life
I would have said it in a different way, but I agree. Australia shouldn’t be in eurovision.
Form the bits I saw, very competent show and presenters. I am so glad that the Tel-Aviv horror is finally over. Never saw such a country that thinks is the greatest without anything to show for it…
Italy was drawn first: it’s a clear sign from the heaven.
Yes probably to become the FIRST runner up again…. HA
Don’t get too excited yet saying Australia will qualify. So far the first 6 songs in the NF are very average with no real stand outs . Wait until the national finals to say is we are going to qualify .
It’s Australia…..that is all.
lessons of love is really good. Vanessa can hit those notes live, it’s perfect jury bait, so it comes down to staging.
I can’t believe people are genuinely arguing over a draw. Come on guys its not that serious. If a country has a standout song it will qualify, no matter its placed.
On paper Semi Final 1 certainly is a battle of the big guns, but remember what happened in 2018, Russia didn’t qualify, Azerbaijan didn’t qualify… these countries can have off years so there is no point writing off countries like Croatia or Ireland just yet.
I’m looking forward to seeing how it all plays out 🙂
2018 was such a disaster for Russia. I am glad that did not qualify.
They’re usually so tight with staging and vocals. It was like a bad national final entry, not a country coming off a third place finish.
Seems like I’ll have to watch both semi finale this year then ?
Why why why is all the heavy hitters always placed in the same god damn semis.
Underdogs in Semi 1 are DOA.
Countries like Ireland shouldn’t even bother.
Australia, Ukraine, Sweden, Russia, Azerbaijan, Norway already in.
In that case: How could Israel with 0 Neighbours won then 4 times? and Portugal with one won to? That seems very strange both could that if everything is already decided. So i dont agree. Ireland have to step it up. That poor girl in 2019 could not even sing live so what do Ireland expect….
The first 3 times where different times, the 4th time, the song was big in the fandom. You can’t use Israel as an example here.
Portugal has clearly been a one-off.
The same countries have ended up in the same semis consistently. The same countries are thrown into the group of death all of the time, while other countries get a easy ride in the weaker semi, ALL THE TIME.
This response makes no sense to me. Both Israel and Portugal and the Netherlands in the last three years all prove that if you have a good song you will win. This has absolutely nothing to do with geopolitics, neighboring support, historical voting records, statistical analysis, and betting odds If you are a small country or if you get stuck in the semi of death and you’re unsure about what to do — here’s your answer: do the one thing that always work, choose a good song and a good artist and a good staging, and you will win.
It’s not even about winning it’s about being given an equal chance at just a mere qualification like other countries get.
All countries have the same chance.
What grounds do you have to say that Portugal was a one-off? How can you tell? Why do you put that country so much down? It’s like for the Netherlands. The last time they won was 1975!!! But yet they won again.
@Vic considering they only won 1 time in the previous 50 years of participating, then instantly went back to NQing, it is so far a one off. No comparison to Netherlands who have won many. Hardly putting the country down when it’s a fact at the moment. I loved Lisbon 2018 and I like their entries usually so I’m happy to be proven wrong. @Bart I don’t agree. Ireland (among others) is always thrown into the group of death with about 8 sure fire qualifiers, meanwhile other countries (like Greece and Serbia among others) go into the easier more open… Read more »
I also think many of you picked me up wrong. My first comment isn’t even about the eventual winner, I believe that can be anyone in the final 25, however my issue is with the running order and participation of the semis. It’s made easier for the same group of countries to qualify all of the time, and made harder for others.
Okay @Una So, take Ireland for example. We don’t send enough quality to actually win the thing, but we don’t actually send the worse songs either, (2009, 2015 for example would have qualified) Ireland seems to always land in a semi final where it will struggle to qualify, regardless of what they send, usually being placed in a semi alongside heavy hitters like Russia, Sweden, etc etc you know the countries I’m talking about. Meanwhile in the other semis, it seems more open and a country like Ireland, sending the kind of songs that we send would probably qualify. I’m… Read more »
Your whole argument seems dependent on “heavy-hitters” like Sweden, Ukraine, Russia sending quality songs and Ireland sending weak songs. I agree it will probably be tough for Ireland to qualify, but that’s because they will probably send a weak song. All they have to do to even out the balance is to rise to the level of the other countries.
@Jonas we all know that it’s not just that simple. And yes I refer to the heavy hitters because let’s not lie, these are going through regardless. I just think the semi final allocation is very unfair and favour some countries more than others. It’s easy to say we don’t know yet because we haven’t heard the songs, or underdog countries just need to up their game, at the end of the day, some countries are favoured and pushed to progress as a result of allocation or just who they are, while others aren’t given half as many chances. I… Read more »
I’d be in favor of a 1 by 1 allocation yeah. No pots, put all the countries into one pot and draw from that. 18 countries in a semi, first 18 go into semi 1, the rest in semi 2.
Or
All countries placed in one pot, first picked goes into semi 1, the next into semi 2, third into semi 1 and so on.
The current system doesn’t work and is very unfair to many countries.
“Open Up! FBI!” Xd
Just on who’s in which semi final, on paper, Semi Final 1 definitely looks like the tougher semi final, particularly with the likes of Australia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine all in the same semi. But we don’t know the songs yet, so anything can happen this year. Looking forward to hearing the songs!
Kinda embarrassing that a lot of comments are about diaspora/neighbour voting.
You are from Russia or Lithuania?
semi1 seems tough, many powerhouses like Sweden, Russia, Ukraine. Very strong Norway, Australia, Romania, Azerbaijan. That’s already 7 very strong Eurovision country nearly always going to the final. And still then we have Cyprus, Belgium. That’s tough.
semi2 seems weaker, only two powerhouses Greek, Serbia. Some very strong countries like Denmark, Bulgaria. But that’s nowhere close semi1. Plus semi2 has historically weakest countries – San Marino and Moldova.
forgot that last year Moldova took 3rd place.
Uh, I think you got your years mixed up there. Moldova came 3rd in 2017 and didn’t even qualify last year.
This year’s North macedonia’s singer can be compared to jacque Hodek.. he sings pop and opera.. and will try to repeat tamara’s success.. there is a chance of going with some sort of etno traditional song.. we;ll see in the following couple of days..
sf1 seems to be the hardest, but let’s see..
As for semi 1 we could pretty much assume that Russia, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Ukraine are IN. Cyprus, Romania, Belarus and Azerbaijan can be strong. Belgium and Serbia can pull out something interesting at times. North Macedonia has again a strong singer = jury votes. hmm.. Looks like a blood bath to me. Malta and Israel know how to surprise. I expect Croatia, Slovenia, and Ireland not to pass. Do not get panicky, it is just an observation. Yes we haven’t heard anything yet, I agree, that doesn’t mean we are not allowed to play with imagination and historical patterns.
I’m confused, because you mentioned some countries from semi 2 as semi final 1 participants?
only Serbia, it is in semi 2, and i forgot lithuania cuz never really left significant impression, otherwise it is good..
Israel will return very strong this year with Ella Lee.
I expect top 5 for israel this year at least
Serbia need to send Hurricane. I dont think any country is planning to send a girlband. They will stand out.
We still don’t know the songs so we can’t judge. However, the presenters were definitely amazing. Professional and comfortable. Great choice
Couldn’t agree more about not sending the roop. It’s gonna be an interesting national final for sure.
I have always been facinated how the lithuanians abroad always vote like maniacs for Lithuania every year. Can some lithuanian explain why? many of the songs are not even good so i am only facinated by so many votes from Ireland,Norway, UK. Is it a nationlistic thing? I dont get the thing to vote for a bad song to support your country.
Maybe it’s you who have a bad taste and don’t think a good song is good. Or you’re from a country where people are not united. Then I feel sorry for you.
Lithuania had the best song in semi-final 2 last year, according to Irish, English and Norweigan televoters.
but every year its the same. Dont you think thats weird?
So what, what is your problem actually, you want to order people how to vote?
so you dont think its weird at all to vote for the same country for 10 years no matter what they send? thats the point what im saying. If you dont think anything is wrong with that. Then thank god we dont have 100% televoting
You don’t seem to mind when juries vote for Sweden every year no matter what they send. I wonder why is that?!
You can argue all you want. But you know that John and Benjamin were bops. So thats why. If we sent UK or Belarus songs last year. We would never in a million years be 5th or 7th. you know that to. we have 3000 songs sent to MELFEST. If you have a BIG selection its bigger chance to choose a good one. thats a reason 2.
Televote disagree.
Its only hardcore fans like you who wants Sweden to fail. Normal people dont care about the countrys name if they like a song.
@xohxoh
Well Sweden at least sending quality POP songs (ok they are also generic in some way, and same but still they are good)what about Lithuania ?? Lithuania had only in 2016, 2018 and Maybe in 2011 good song. The others song were strange and i am honest. ..Sweden don’t have a diaspora as Romania, Russia Turkey, Azerbajdzan, Arm,Poland, or Lithuania …ok Sweden is overateed with jury, but same is Malta and Australia. And guess what Lithuania still never won BUT i must admit this year i like 9 songs from semis so fingers crosted for Monique 🙂
De hatar Namnet Sverige bara. Hade vi hetat Serbien hade de älskat oss. tragiskt men sant.
The jury points still come from people with different nationalities but diaspora points come from your own people. You can’t compare that.
The problem is that other countries FAIL to qualify because Lithuania qualifies purely thanks to diaspora. It’s really unfair. I’d feel quite bad and embarrassed to vote desperately for my own country every single year. Russia of course gets even more diaspora points but they at least have good songs usually. But Lithuania is usually one of the weakest of the year and their diaspora pushes them to televote top10, whereas the country who comes 11th in the semi final fails. And also the British and Irish people never have a chance to give the most points to their favourite… Read more »
You’re kidding, right? There are estimated about 150k Lithuanians in the UK. Among 66.5 milion people of other nationalities. And about 50k Lithuanians in Ireland, among around 5 milion people in total. Now tell me how max 200k people can out-vote 71 milion? Your name suits you, you’re spitting nationalistic venom.
Lithuanian diaspora seems to be very active. I mean… absolutely every year 12 points from the UK, Ireland, usually from Norway too
Yeah because they have loads of Lithuanians living in those respective countries. They want their own countries to win so they vote for themselves, it’s as simple as that.
I will NEVER understand how they are thinking. im just not like that at all.
They’re just simple and desperate. Do they really hope that people won’t notice that those televote points to Lithuania come from Lithuanians themselves?
So whats the point then to have a contest if you are ALWAYS voting the same every year anyway? Then ESC dont need to even exist. The stuff about united people is just stupid.
Well, Rasmus, you support Sweden like a maniac in every wiwibloggs article where Sweden/Melfest is mentioned, so it’s basically the same 😉
no the diffrece is i would never vote for Sweden if i didnt like the song.
Suuure. Be scared tho, Sweden is next, Lithuanians are on their way. Soon Lithuanian diaspora will conquer all of the Europe and they will rule the contest. Mwahahahaha.
isnt that sad if that happens? i would think that. i dont like diaspora voting
yep, I am a Lithuanian and I can confirm that’s a nationalistic thing.
Eurovision here is taken quite(almost very) seriously. It’s very popular.
It’s just the way it is. I guess that is because Lithuania felt(still feels) a bit forgotten in Europe, a small quite poor country in the fringes of Europe and especially in the past Eurovision became one of the only ways to showcase ourselves to Europe. I guess that’s why this competition is taken so seriously even until now. Psychologists would say that’s a lack of self-confidence on our part.
I see. but i dont really know why they were so exited for Fuesmarc or last years entry. But its there money so. I hope Lithuania needs more then 3 countrys to qualify.
Hard to say. Probably patriotism. Actually there are only ~36k Lithuanians in Ireland, ~45k in Norway. I have no idea how such numbers can fate Lithuania being in top 10 every year in those countries. Every Lithuanian should vote 😀
The same way you’re such a maniac for Sweden and anything Swedish.
I dont get why your mad at me? I just wondered why the lithuanias vote for the same every year even when they DONT like their song. I dont controll 42 jury groups with 5 persons in each. If they want to vote for Sweden they can. Its really hard to choose a bad song when we have 3000 sent to us.
Who told you that they don’t like their song, clearly they do if they vote for it. Oh poor you, damn those Lithuanians, as if other countries don’t benefit from diasporas and neighbor voting. Lithuania’s biggest achievement 6th place 14 years ago, they have qualified to the final 8 times out of 16, and you’re so worried about Lithuanian diaspora, lmao.
im not worried about it. I just think its boring that Uk,Norway,Ireland give their 12 points to Lithuania EVERY year. Even to Fusedmarc…. that bothers me.
Well i think it’s boring that Sweden gets to qualify every year with their trash, generic songs, but am i complaining? And just because you don’t like something doesn’t make it bad. Fusedmarc won the televote in Lithuania, is it really that hard to imagine that people with the same mentality would vote for them? Lithuanian diaspora is so strong and big that they didn’t even qualify, lmao, and neither did Jurijus last year. And in fact they didn’t qualify 8 out of 16 times. Where’s the benefit? They have reached top 10 only 2 times out of 20 and… Read more »
I cant discuss wiht you if you think Sanna,Robin, benjamin, John were trash entrys…. thats sad to hear you say that becasue everyoen can hear they are not
Lithuania and Russia benefit way more from diaspora voting than other countries.
Lithuania benefits so much that they are one of the worst scoring countries in the competition, lmao.
but they would have much lower scores without their massive diaspora. They should’ve been NQ-s in 2018 and have lower places in the grand final in 2016, 2013, 2011, 2015 etc
Um, 2018 is one of their best entries, so is 2016… If you’re doing this revision, do it for everyone. Stay pressed tho. I low-key wish that Fusedmarc had qualified so y’all could fume more.
Maybe due to the economic failure, they need to find something to stay together and show how they love their country.
Rasmus, you’re like the broken record. You want rational explanation for irrational things, that’s impossible. People love their country, simmple as that, nationalist tend to support country, gays tend to support gays, then there’s teen audience, senior audience, hipster audience, conservative audience, rock audience, random viewers who usually go for the most flashy performance, etc., etc. We have juries who suppose to be objective but in the end they are human also and go after their views and feelings, politics also included. Which song do you like is highly subject thing because it’s based on people feelings. But in the… Read more »
Exactly.
then i dont think eurovosion should exist no more if everyone voted for themself. Lokk at Poland in JESC. Poles votes like crazy for Poland. Do you want that ? I cant argue with a a such nationlistic person like you. its no point
Everyone been voting like that since forever, get over it. It ain’t changing anytime soon. If you want to complain about something, complain about Russia having like 100 free points with their diaspora.
So, you would not vote for Sweden if you were watching the contest from another country?
Lithuanians love Eurovision, even if some of them are denying that
1 ; Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Romania, Slovenia, Belguim
2: Greece, Bulgaria, Iceland, Serbia, Czech R., Armenia, Estonia, Albania, Poland, Moldova
😀
We don’t even know all of the songs yet so it makes no sense to predict the qualifiers now
yes we don’t know songs yeat, but there is nothing wrong to guess, just for fun ))
I still don’t know why Gaja Prestor is such a thing to foreigners??? Here on Wiwi everyone is talking about her! I don’t understand why – she is completely unknown in Slovenia, the general public doesn’t know her. Only kids know her from Instagram, she is an influencer and actress. I had to google her, noone over 20 has ever heard of her. Her music is not known or played on radios at all. The big guns are the two mega-stars Tinkara Kovac and Lina Kuduzovic, it will be between these two. On the other hand we have Klara Jazbec… Read more »
I am honestly really hoping for you guys to send the Slovenian Korn aka INMATE they seem to be the most interesting choice in your NF
Don’t underestimate YouTubers or instagram “influencers” just because you may not have heard of them. Bilal should have taught you that lesson.
Yes, but the Slovene NF works like this: the jury (meaning RTV) chooses 2 super finalists and then the public can vote. If the influencer goes to the public, then yes, she can win. But RTV will never ever let her go to the vote. They will send Tinkara (100%) and then either Lina or the two acts the radios are pushing: Klara or Manca.
They might send her to the final two precisely because of the demographic she reaches. That’s what TV stations obsess about. Still, you’re probably right.
Great hosts. Love them…..
Can we also appreciate the artwork? Specifically the stripes when the country appears is weirldy satisfying to me. I love it. I’m a sucker for nice minimalist designs and oh boi I feel like a vampire.
More good new for Armenia (besides being in a different semi from Azerbaijan), Armenia just announced the 12 acts competing and some very interesting names:
1. Vladimir Arzumanyan (winner of JESC 2010) returns!
2. Athenia Manoukian is competing – really hope it’s a BOP like XO’
3. Tokionine is competing (composer of Walking Out);
4. Miriam Baghdasaryan is competing – competed in Voice of Canada and was in Lara Fabian’s team
ooh I really hated XO but I hope she does well anyway 🙂
I think North Macedonia will struggle because none of their neighbors are voting in their semi. Slovenia could give them some points but I don’t think it’ll be enough. Portugal on the other hand will benefit from its draw because Spain, France, and Switzerland are all voting in its semi and all three of those countries usually give Portugal lots of points.
How can you say that when last year they came 2nd in a semi? and 7th in the final. If they have a great song they wont. They came also 6th in Junior ESC. So they dont struggle anymore
Macedonia last year had Albania, Croatia and Switzerland in its semi (all of whom usually vote for Macedonia).
Also Junior Eurovision and Eurovision are two completely separate competitions.
they got votes from almost EVERYONE so i dont believe that anymore:)
Those were jury votes. Also there’s no guarantee that Macedonia will qualify and do well this year simply because of last year’s result.
they got a lot of televotes to.
actually u just made the main point. Macedonia figured out all of this and learned that they should go with great singer and try to pick as much as possible jury votes.. which they did for this year again.. they are after the jury votes and whatever comes from the televote will be extra
it would pretty much depend on the song and the staging.. they have selected a great singer, so jury votes quite secured..
looks like semi 1 is stronger but we will see, hope my favs Australia, Ukraine and Belgium will qualify from semi 1
Also I really want to see Georgia in the final with a good song)
do you have faves BEFORE the songs are out? I dont
yes I have , I loved almost all their previous songs and i hope they will have good enough songs to qualify again, what is wrong with having favs Eurovision countries ?
i thought you meant you meant you are voting for them no matter what song they send. I dont like that but fave countries ofc you can have:). i have to
yeah, that’s what I meant, lol
And sorry to burst the bubble but we’re not winning
It’s not about winning. Do you really think we could do a great show at Siemens or Žalgiris arena?
To be honest, the Lithuanian NF is quite good this year. Most of the serious acts would guarantee a qualification at least.
Belarus and Russia don’t normally vote for us, mostly our votes are from Latvia. Ireland, Britain and Norway
I predict that Greece will open Semi 2 with Stefania (she will be officially announced next Monday) with her ethno-pop banger
Why so many downvotes? I just made a wild guess concerning the running order hahaha
so again we in the same semi with Sweden, Australia and Russia.
well, i hope Khayat will win Vidbir this year and we will qualify, good luck to everyone!
What a pity for my country Poland 🙁 No Ireland, Norway, Germany nor The Netherlands 🙁 It will be very hard for us to qualify to the grand final :/
if Poland sends Albert, they’ll get Czech Republic points
The truth is that if we have a good song, we’ll go through either way. 2019 was even worse if we’re talking about the countries with big Polish diaspora and we missed the final by only two points. I’m really hopeful about this year, I think we’ve got a format that will likely give us at least a decent place in Rotterdam.
*cough* the UK *cough*
That means you’ll finally need to come up with a good song!
The uk televote always give poland top marks.
There was no Ireland, no Germany, no the Netherlands, no the UK voting in SF1 last year but Poland still managed to come the top10 in the televote, so I don’t think it’s very bad for you + Poland has usually good songs.
However the jury never likes Poland so who knows…
Semi 1: Im not impressed with Australias and Norways selections. Romania, Azerbaijan,Russia have missed finals already so i feel its very open for all. I hope Ireland, Slovenia,Croatia have a great song.
Semi 2: Portugal,Georgia,San Marino are the 3 countries i feel that have to step up their game the most if they want to ever qualify again. The others are evolving fast i feel. I hope Latvia sends Samantha Tina and Iceland sends IVA.
Russia only missed one final, and let’s face it, they wanted to fail that year, Azerbaijan also only 1 year. I wouldn’t exactly call it THAT open.
Only Romania seems to be in a decline at the moment but I’m fully expecting them to return to form this year.
Oww, it’s a big problem for Slovenia. We only qualify when we’re in the same group as Serbia. Serbia is normally the only country that gives us high points and vice-versa. Being in the same group as Croatia and North Macedonia means that Croatia will get SLO and MAC votes and advance, especially if Indira or Colonia will sing. But Croatia never or very rarely gives points to SLO or MAC. Plus all the “automatic qualifyers” are here: Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Australia, Australia. They are sure things, on the other hand Croatia, Belarus (thanks to Russia) and Cyprus and Norway… Read more »
I get your concern but i think 2018 proved that there are no safe qualifiers, so don’t worry. We don’t even have the songs yet.
Dont be sad :). Slovenia have qualified 2 years in a row so its not over yet :). Armenia,Romania have missed finals 2 years in a row and they always qualifies. My country Sweden 1 time so you never know when a country miss. Australia and Ukraine will also miss some time.
i agree with that. Their selection is not WOW to me yet.
You’ve qualified at least three times with no help from Serbia, as I recall.
2011, 2014, 2015
We are ONE of 17. Get over Sweden. We have missed in 2010. we are no superheroes
What about Macedonian chances in this Semi?
I hope he has a great opera song or pop song:)
Not good
neither.. i think macedonia is planning to go with ento vibes..
I love the hosts! They seem so relaxed and lovely
My grandparents got married in the same room as it took place
In my hometown it is usually free (in the past on mondays, I don’t know whether it’s still the case) to marry in the city hall
Does anybody noticed that last country from big 5 and host country was Netherlands( last year winner) then they started allocation draw for semis and the first 2 countries were N. Macedonia (jury winner) and Norway (televote winner) lol
Now that you’ve mentioned… LOL
The three big N’s from last year.
Also, somebody mentioned below that we’re ballyhooing Greece and Cyprus being split while Finland, Iceland, Estonia, and Denmark are all in the same semi and aren’t they neighbors? Listen, twenty years ago, that might’ve worked to some of their advantages (back in the days when Denmark and Estonia typically did really well, ergo, they’d vote for each other), but it’s not a given that any of them’ll vote for each other. Iceland and Finland typically wind up in the same semi but they’re also the Nordic countries with the farthest distance between each other, and they won’t vote for each… Read more »
Iceland is NO neighbour of any of those countries.
I thought Germany had requested to vote in semifinal 2 as in previous years?
Can anyone explain why they were pulled out in vote in semifinal 1?
I guess they forgot? If they wanted to, Jon Ola would’ve said.
Jon Ola said there had been no requests this year, and they just randomly got semi-final one in the draw.
They got 2 semi randomly last year as well 🙂
@whisker i think sometimes they have a different kind of programs at the same date like ESC is 😀 i mean The voice or Idol or i dont know ( previously Switzerland, and Italy also requested)
Deputy Mayor keeps talking and talking
Chantal: Speaking of Dare To Dream, I’m
always dreaming of more time in live
television but we don’t have that time
I wish they brought back Ron Huldai and his recorder.
I can’t believe that Germany FINALLY will be voting in the 1 semi, they last time voted in 1 semi in 2010 lol …Belgium can profite cause they have Holland and Germany +Australia and Sweden in semi …Cz, Ice and Port are finally in 2 semi ..last time they were in 2 semi was in 2015. ….BTW Czech Republic were only 2 time in 2 semi. Also happy about Spain, they last time voted in 2 semi in 2013 .. Fin and Greece are finally in 2 semi they were last time in 2014 in 2 semi. Romania is finally… Read more »
I forgot to say Australia and Austria never been in one semi together, its interesting lol
That way at least no one can confuse them when it comes to voting haha
At least they’re connected through epic opening of 2017 televoting – “0 points goes to Austria, 2 points goes to Australia”… 😀
As an Aussie I find this hilarious! I would also say Australia debuted in Vienna 2015 so that’s another connection
Aren’t we gonna talk about how the host country is once again voting in SF1 lol. Russia, Norway, Germany and Ukraine were the only countries who voted in SF2 while hosting the concert
Yeah, I think Ukraine is the only one in recent years that voted in the second semi.
Yeah its interesting haha
Also, Cyprus may not have Greece to save their hides, but don’t forget that Sandro Nicolas got his start on The Voice of Germany, and guess who’s voting in their semi?
iveta mukuchyan was on the voice of germany and she got 2 televote points from them in the final… and she made it much further than sandro nicolas who was axed in the early stages of the competition
Huh. Maybe not. But don’t forget it’s also a smaller voting pool in the semi, which could work to his advantage. He might get bypassed in the final (if he makes it that far, who even knows?), but if a guy with German name recognition, mild or not, is in the semi they’re voting in, it doesn’t hurt. (Also, Germany has a large Greek diaspora, and now they can’t vote in Greece’s semi, so those votes have to go somewhere…)
the greek diaspora never bothered with cyprus + it ain’t that big considering greece’s televote points from germany + sandro is pretty much irrelevant in germany
That’s not true for the UK – their Greek diaspora is mostly Cypriot so both do well from Britain
nah, the uk televote gave cyprus: 0 in 2015, 2 in 2016, 0 in 2017, 8 in 2018, 1 in 2019. definitely not a relevant enough diaspora.
I dont know ??
Starts with a “G” and ends in a “y.”
Wait… Is Guernsey a country?
Surprise! Meet the 42nd contestant!
Morocco ?
What is Guernsey’s status actually? The channel islands are technically not part of the UK (right?) so I guess they’re just not represented at all ever? Like the Isle of Man?
The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a self-governing dependency of the British Crown, and thus neither a part of the UK nor the British Overseas Territories. The Channel Islands are not a part of EU, they’re not a member state of the Commonwealth, they’re not even considered sovereign states, but rather “territories UK is responsible for”. It’s a weird case really.
just noticed sf1 has three ex-yu countries (croatia, macedonia, slovenia) and sf2 only has serbia!
Serbia’s still got Switzerland and Austria so it ain’t over for them. (And if they pick whatsherface who almost represented Austria, even better).
Yes , but in 2013 all Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Croatia ( plus Austria (diaspora voting)) were in the same sami final, but non of them go to the final 😀
They had bad songs actually, well apart from Montenegro
What really sucks is that Montenegro would have qualified with the new system
we still don’t know the split points from 2013 lol it’ll always stay a mystery
But we know the placement each country got with Jury and Televote. Montenegro got second last with juries but 4th with televote which would in theory qualify them with the new system.
Yayy Estonia has Latvia ja Finland our dear neighbours :)) And Georgia (we could send our Georgia song lol). Poor Ukraine has to be in same semifinal as the bully .. but good for televote maybe…
Jeez, it’s not that Ukraine and ‘the bully’ (maybe they should change the country’s name) cannot be in the same room. What if they both play in the final? Oh no, poor Ukraine… lol
Knowing just one song, I won’t dare pointing one semi as stronger than the other. What I can say for now is that I loved the broadcasting. The hosts were great, they spent just the right amount of time with each segment and it was very nice to see former winners talking about their running order. The Netherlands are doing a great job so far and I trust they will deliver one of the best contests ever.
And not recent winners, either! The most recent of them was Jorgen Olsen and he won twenty years ago. They know their history!
They obviously gathered them together when they were in Amsterdam to perform at Het Grote Songfestivalfeest. Lenny got hers wrong, though – she was actually 8th, not 3rd…
I figured as much. I do believe one of the winners performed third though (I think Spain?)
Yeah, Spain. Ireland 1994 was third too, so Lenny was right, it can happen!
And Monaco in 1971. Four of the last six winners were drawn in the first half, so who knows?
It also made me happy seeing the former winners reacting to the moments where they won. Niamh looked giddy all over again. (It’s also worth pointing out that Izhar and Katrina owe at least one of the top marks that led to their victory to the Netherlands).
Katrina was a little dismissive of the other entries, I thought. The Olsen Brothers were actually 15th, not 17th, so that’s another one that was wrong. If it was recorded at the time of the Amsterdam concert, they could have had Johnny Logan, Linda Martin, Eimear Quinn and Loreen bond over their 17th place wins. All on leap years too, useless-information fans.
Yeah, Johnny performed 17th on both of his winning entries, then Linda won with one of his songs! Must be a lucky number.
They got a nice mix of countries too. I think it was the first time I’ve seen Nicole out of her Eurovision performance.
Irelands really going to have to send Una or Aimee to qualify. Also if Armenia send Athena M, Armenia 12 points?
My initial reaction is the draws to be better balanced this year without a typical semifinal of death. We still need to have all the songs decided but I think it’s going to be a wide open contest this year. I have only heard one song this year from one of the National final that gives me winner vibes and I haven’t heard it live yet so those winner vibes can go away if the song is not delivered we’ll live.
What song is that?
I will be scared for Anna Bergendahl with Sweden’s position…how awful would it be for history to repeat itself ten years later?
She will not win probably, my swedish roots telling me it will be probably some boy
jag är Svensk med:) Visste inte du var:)
I’ll be damned if she represents us once again and fails to qualify AGAIN on the tenth anniversary of the worst results ever for us
Omar Naber 2.0
What would be weirder would be Laura winning in Estonia but failing to qualify for the third time…
@Eurovision fan haha true, but this year there will not be Irish winner who represented ireland in 2010 …