Over the past six weeks the Wiwi Jury—our in-house panel of musical unprofessionals—has been busy writing reviews and coming up with our preferred rankings. But now it’s time for us to predict who we think will qualify, rather than who we want to qualify. We polled our 19 jurors, who hail from the UK, US, Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Finland, Austria, Australia and beyond. After hours of cat-fighting we can now present our predictions. The percentage represents the percentage of our jurors who think the act will qualify for the final. 0% means none of us think they’re going through…Please note that in instances where countries received the same percentages we have listed them in running order, not order of preference. You can see the percentages below along with a few of our collective thoughts. You can click on the song title to see read our entire review.

On Monday, we published our prediction for the first semifinal, where we correctly predicted 7 out of the 10 qualifiers. Let’s hope we do better this time…

Predicted to qualify…

1. Israel: Mei Finegold – Same Heart 100%

Mei has a strong voice and a really good song. We love female empowerment, and Mei is most definitely empowered. It’s not a ballad. And thank god: In 2014 we have way too many of them. Fresh, bilingual, unique.

2. Austria: Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix 100%

Austria will definitely qualify. Conchita has a strong personality, a stunning voice, and an important message. The song is a masterpiece! She’s not just rising like a phoenix, she’s soaring like one too. YASSS!

3. Ireland: Can-linn feat. Kasey Smith – Heartbeat 100%

Can-linn feat. Kasey Smith have a stunning song built on Celtic tradition. There’s something unique yet universal about this sound. The Rivedance elements give this an organic feel, and Kasey is one hot mama. None of us doubt that this will qualify.

4. Greece: Freaky Fortune feat. Riskykidd – Rise Up 100%

This is a call to revolution told through the lens of creativity and youth. The song makes us jump. The song makes us want to “Rise Up”. The boys make us drool. This may win the public vote by a huge margin. Greece has done extremely well in past 10 years and we can’t see why this wouldn’t keep the party going. Opa!

5. Romania: Paula Seling & Ovi – Miracle 100%

This will make the final, not only because “Miracle” is a fabulous dance track, but also because of the love Europe has for Eurovision veterans Paula Seling & Ovi. Paula brings the Romanian diaspora. Ovi brings the Norwegian-Scandi vote. And the incredibly expensive hologram will bring in votes from everywher else. Qualificaiton is not a miracle. It’s expected.

6. Norway: Carl Espen – Silent Storm 80%

Carl might not be the best singer in the contest, but he will ride a wave of emotion into the final. He is a tattooed giant who shows vulnerability. Pass the tissues, please. The staging is absolutely stunning and fits the song perfectly. It might take a while for televoters to get into the song, but we are sure the jury will be climaxing by the second verse.

7. Finland: Softengine – Something Better 80%

It’s the only rock song in this semi-final and we’re sure there will be some rock music fans watching. The song is catchy and they look professional on the stage, even if the performance is a bit shouty and the staging nothing special.

8. Slovenia: Tinkara Kovac – Round and round 80%

Every year there’s a country that gets written off early, but somehow manages to defy the odds and qualify. We think Slovenia could be that country this year. Tinkara’s mystical staging and mysterious voice could leave viewers and jury members wanting to know more. For what it’s worth, she’s the most talented flutist on stage tonight.

9. Malta: Firelight – Coming Home 60%

Malta surprised everyone when it made the Top 10 last year. Unfortunately “Coming Home” lacks the charm of “Tomorrow”. However, it’s unique sound—coupled with lackluster competition—should see it through. Their voices are quite strong, and no one else is bringing a dulcimer to the ESC stage. It can count on jury support for its Mumford & Sons sound.

10. Poland: Donatan & Cleo – My Slowanie – We Are Slavic 60%

A modern song with traditonal sounds, and one that sends up stereotypes of Poles. The staging is hot—and we’re not just talking about all the cleavage on show. Love those traditional Polish patterns on the LED screens.

Expected to go home…

11. Lithuania: Vilija Mataciunaite – Attention 40%

If they had any chance of making the final, their ugly dresses robbed them of it. This is a total mess from head to toe. The song is shouty, Vilija comes off as an angry cow, and musically this is just…no. It’s an insult to Lithuanian culture.

12. Macedonia: Tijana – To The Sky 40%

It’s not a bad song but Macedonia has a really dated performance, and Tijana seems timid at times. Tijana is a superstar in the Balkans, but this year there are next to no Balkan countries competing. We love her as a woman and a singer, but the modern dancer in the white jumpsuit is a bit lame. It wreaks of Kati Wolf 2011. 

13. Switzerland: Sebalter – Hunter Of Stars 40%

Switzerland and Malta will fight of the same votes and we think that Malta will win them over. Sebalter is handsome, but the whistling gets old. That said, Switzerland performs later in the night so may have the edge. It’s a real toe-tapper. We’re just not sure if the toe-tapping will be as effective in the recap.

14. Belarus: Teo – Cheesecake 20%

It’s fun, but way too silly and cheesy to grab enough votes. Their performance is professional and relaxed, but quite boring. Apparently not much appens when you’re baking cheesecake. This will likely place last with the jury.

15. Georgia: Mariko & The Shin – Three Minutes To Earth 0%

There’s no question about this. It’s too weird and boring for this competition. We have no doubt about their talent but we would like to know what drugs they took while crafting this performance. The parachute is handy. Many audience members will want an escape….

29 Comments
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S
S
10 years ago

Ireland’s song was gimmicky and clichéd. I felt all along that we wouldn’t qualify.

Marcelo N
10 years ago

@ Robyn – Your is the very first coment I’ve read since the end of Semi 2 (it aired in the middle of the afternoon here where I live, and I’ve just made it back home from late work). I will certainly comments more, much more everywhere about Israel’s NQ, but I’d like to begin by reminding you that there could have been two “empowered women” in the Final, as much as there usually are more than two lousy ballads, or two generic pieces of Europop… Just think about it. Mei’s NQ had absolutely nothing to do with any concetration… Read more »

Maya
Maya
10 years ago

GO, POLAND, i believe in you! <3 also Switzerland is the best, they should be the winners this year, i hope they'll get the high note. i don't know why people like Austria so much, though, i mean– nothing special, sorry. and Finland! yay, the boys were handsome : D -Polish girl here, Europe

Micky
Micky
10 years ago

Sorry, but I’m with Igor on this.

Israel not qualifying had nothing to do with bad performance, like it was with Belgium.
U were right about it not qualifying but you were wrong about your comparison to Belgium and the reason for its disqualification.

kaden
kaden
10 years ago

@ Igor —- i think you will find that I was right!!!

just like Belgium in Semi Final 1 who failed to qualify —– my point was that I felt Israel will also NOT qualify. (yet both countries were expected to do well in the finals)

Wergie
Wergie
10 years ago

I liked Macedonia and Switzerland.. (fingers crossed for them)
Romania, Austria, Greece will surely go through.. Ireland, Finland and Israel perhaps too, although they were not at their best, especially Ireland (sorry Ryan boy;)
My absolute favorite is Norway (def.final)

Igor
Igor
10 years ago

“Israel is like Belgium”???

Can I try some of that s**t you smoke, kaden? I’m in the mood for some hallucinations…

Darren
Darren
10 years ago

I hope the following songs qualify:
Ireland
Romania
Greece
Switzerland
Norway
Israel
Finland
Austria
Poland

Easpag
Easpag
10 years ago

8 out of my top 10 qualified from Tuesday’s semi, so I hope that I get similar results. I agree with most of your top 10, but if prefer Switzerland over Malta.

While I’d prefer Lithuania over Finland, I don’t really mind. I like neither song.

Thiefo
10 years ago

Sebalter is more likeable and his staging is far more memorable than Firelight, so if you think they’ll fight each other because of being country songs I disagree with you guys, I think Switzerland would win over Malta, plus we have the running order in favour of Sebalter. But we’ll see in just a couple hours! I actually hope both of them to pass!

Timselvision
Timselvision
10 years ago

1. Malta – because this is the opening entry it makes me doubt, but I hope they´ll pass. They have a great and epic song. 2. Israel – MUST GO TO THE FINAL. It would be a crime if Israel would stay in the semi! 3. Norway – will persumably get 12 points from Finland and well deserved. My #3 / #4 (it´s such a difficult year xD) from tonight! 4. Georgia – I like it, but not enough for the final. 5. Poland – I don´t think they will but I hope they will! 6. Austria – I don´t… Read more »

ichhh
ichhh
10 years ago

And Lithuania will qualify, it is modern catchy song, 5-7 place.

ichhh
ichhh
10 years ago

Austria will definitely qualify? LOL. If will, it will be from 9-10 place. Welcome in reality.

Charles
Charles
10 years ago

I wonder … “there are too many ballads” … funny … 10 years ago and after that I never heard anyone complaining “there are too many uptempo songs” … … yet ballads are still a target for embarrassment and mocking … and again: people don’t quite understand the difference between “quantity” and “quality” … and people don’t quite grasp why Eurovision lacks musical credibility … but keep jumping the trampoline if that makes music revolutionary in any way.

Aleksi
Aleksi
10 years ago

Go Finland 😀

Ivan
Ivan
10 years ago

This article is too critical for Lithuania in my opinion, I don’t think that the song is so bad. And really, “this year there are next to no Balkan countries competing”: what is Greece?(I know that they usually don’t give them votes though). And Georgia’s entry is beautiful for me, too bad that this will not qualify, but who knows, maybe it will be this semi’s Iceland. I hope Switzerland will make it too.

Erica
Erica
10 years ago

Go Greece!!!!!RISE UP EUROPE 😉

Maya G
Maya G
10 years ago

I like your top ten, I’d really like to see Lithuania make it to the final but i guess the odds are indeed slim.
I think we may have a favorite surprisingly failing to make it to the final. I would like it to be Romania as their song is absolute rubbish IMO, but I’m sure they’ll go through anyway. I have a bad feeling Israel, Ireland and Austria are not definite finalists, though I love all three of them and hope they will qualify.

Tom
Tom
10 years ago

POLAND!! ?

Gabriel
Gabriel
10 years ago

Romania! Bucharest 2015 friends <3

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
10 years ago

I think if Finland don’t pull something out of the bag tonight. They might be in trouble. I love this song, it’s one of my personal favourites. But the staging is lethargic and the vocals are very weak. It might qualify. But then again, it could get caught up in the LED storm and fail to qualify. 🙁

kaden
kaden
10 years ago

01 Malta – like it, and hopefully it will qualify (don’t like the section when the women starts singing) 02 Israel – to me like Belgium in semi final 1 (and so won’t qualify) 03 Norway – like it and will qualify 04 Georgia – shouldn’t qualify 05 Poland – may qualify (don’t like it) 06 Austria – like it and it may qualify 07 Lithuania – shouldn’t qualify 08 Finland – like it and it may qualify 09 Ireland – like it and it may qualify 10 Belarus – may qualify (don’t like it) 11 Macedonia – may qualify… Read more »

LEAPerce
LEAPerce
10 years ago

Carl Espen is 100% SURELY. Although judging by the crap predictions by wiwibloggs on the last semi-final, I’m not too sure about this one. I think Switzerland will go through because of Sebalter’s charm, and the fact that Malta are first yet Seb is 12th, an advantage surely.

Dan RO
Dan RO
10 years ago

I really hope Switerland qualifies!!! It’s in my personal top 10 (out of 37).

kala
kala
10 years ago

Greece will be 1 in the semi final..There is no doubt about that..

redarrow
10 years ago

my 12 points goes to malta great song defrent from the others grat voices and great vedeo to .. so good luck malta you deserve the 12 points ..

adriana_gabriela
adriana_gabriela
10 years ago

the first 6 definitley go into the final 🙂

Nolan
Nolan
10 years ago

C’mon Greece!