Semi-Final 2 of Eurovision 2023 has been written off by many as the weaker of the two semis. But if you tilt your head and look at the show from another angle, perhaps this is the more exciting semi-final because of its relative weakness. Countries that have struggled to make the grand final in recent years have a shot to sing their way to Saturday. This semi feels wide open and all 16 artists will want to make the most of that opportunity.
This all leads to one very big question: Who do you think should win? And who are your 10 qualifiers? Vote in our poll down below to let us know.
Eurovision 2023: Semi-final one line-up
Running Order
During the semi-final allocation draw, the sixteen countries were drawn into the first half or second half of the semi. Producers are now deciding the precise running order based on making the most interesting show (considering things like visual flow) and also practicality (the time and difficulty of moving acts and their props on and off the stage).
First half
Armenia — Brunette
Belgium — Gustaph
Cyprus — Andrew Lambrou
Denmark — Reiley
Estonia — Alika
Greece — Victor Vernicos
Iceland — Dilja
Romania — Theodor Andrei
Second half
Albania — Albina & Familja Kelmendi
Australia — Voyager
Austria — Teya & Salena
Georgia — Iru
Lithuania — Monika Linkyte
Poland — Blanka
San Marino — Piqued Jacks
Slovenia — Joker Out
Who should win semi-final one of Eurovision 2023?
But we want to know: Who is your winner? And which 10 countries do you want to see qualify for the final? Support your ten qualifiers by voting in the poll below. You can vote for as many countries as you want, but you can only submit your votes ONE time. Be sure to click the box next to each country you want to support before hitting submit.
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Gogo belgium
Australia – voyager
Without a question of a doubt out shine every other country. It’s the year of metal synth to conquer.
My current qualifiers and placings
The weakest semi final ever. For now, I don’t feel like any of these songs has winner material, even to win a semi. But someone has to come first, I guess.
Hard to say without seeing at least a clip of the rehearsals to see what type of staging is being used. Typically, the most visually fun presentation wins the semifinal televote, with 2022 being the exception. That being said, I could see Georgia winning if they have those “ninja” dancers with some exciting choreography. Slovenia with some hyper lighting could contend for the top. Austria has potential for some eye-catching dance sequences which could vault it to first.All I can say is you must have some sort of visual pop to do well this year.
Definite NQ are Poland and San Marino, most likely Romania too, even though I’m one of his few fans lol. Albania too, although I really like the family vibe. That leaves one NQ spot, which I think will be between Greece, Belgium, Iceland and maybe Australia….although I really hope not, they’re one of my favourites. Denmark will quite likely get through, kids will vote for that.
Armenia is good this year. You want to listen to it again and again
I think clear winner is Georgia there, top 3 with Slovenija and Armenia
My prediction Sure Q 1.Austria 2.Armenia (potential winner of semi 2) 3.Georgia 4.Slovenia Should be Q 5.Estonia 6.Lithuania 7.Iceland 8.Cyprus Borderline (more likely Q) 9.Australia 10.Greece Borderline (more likely NQ) 11.Denmark 12.Belgium 13.Albania Sure NQ 14.Poland 15.Romania 16.San Marino This semi is harder to predict than semi 1. First four nations should get through without problems with Armenia as potential winner. And behind them I see two Baltics, Iceland and Cyprus. And for last two places will be battle. I think that is more likely to see Australia and Greece through, but Denmark, Belgium and Albania has their chances (I… Read more »
I would swap Australia and Belgium with Greece and Albania. I think Australia doesnt have a chance without juries support, same with Belgium.
For me countries that will qualify no matter what are:
– Austria,
– Slovenia,
– Armenia,
– Lithuania,
– Iceland,
– Albania.
Other than that, almost anyone could get in based on performance. Like, i wanted to say Cyprus/Georgia too, but if they can’t sing at all live, then they’re not going through.
Countries that i think are safe NQs are San Marino and Romania.
It’s televote only, so i think it’s toss up between Austria and Slovenia.
No idea how to explain the chokehold Austria has on me… poe poe poe poe
I think Poland will close the show and sail through
Close the show? With those vocals?
I mean, Blanka’s winner’s performance was actually not that bad. In almost all of the other performances, they all also had weird vocals, so the mixing was probably the root cause on why Blanka sounded so bad in her official performance.
Yeah the playback performance was not that bad. Literally look at her lips in that video. They are not even moving a lot of times lol
even my favourite last year (Emma Muscat) couldn’t qualify, and she has better vocals
this one is far bigger cliché of all cliché’s, spoiled girl with very rich parents, mommy being a model too in many catwalk shows and her bulgarian daddy being a big wig businessman in szczecin, owns quite a few businesses there + having such a condescending unlikeable personality, i really feel bad for Jann and i’ve grown towards his song Gladiator more, after what the comment on social media she liked basically one mocking him how he is from a poor family
Blanka lacks personality, energy and vocals
It´s on the same very low level like Switzerland 2004 (0 points with only televoting)
No, she should open. Maybe not the show, but the official results video of ”Top 16 of Semi 2”. 😉
I am more or less sold on 9 qualifiers (in no particular order):
1. Slovenia
2. Austria
3. Cyprus
4. Lithuania
5. Georgia
6. Estonia
7. Armenia
8. Australia
9. Iceland
I’m gonna guess Belgium for the 10th spot but Denmark could also get in
San Marino, Poland, Greece, Albania and Romania probably NQ, but we’ll see
I don’t see Estonia and Iceland qualify in a Tele only semi tbh
I think quite a few people are fans of Bridges and Power
I don’t see these two acts being knocked out in THIS semifinal
Estonia *should* qualify by any means even in an only televoting format. She reminds me a lot of Tamara Todevska who finished 7th at televoting in a much more competitive semi with Duncan Laurence, Keiino, Sergey Lazarev and Luca Hänni among others. Singing in the first half obviously doesn’t help, but I don’t think there’s so much quality in this semi for Alika to miss out on the final. I’m not sold on Diljá yet. Song is nice although a bit repetitive, but the main issue for me is her vocals and the fact that she doesn’t really fill up… Read more »
Really awkward semi-final to be in. I only like Austria and Australia and Slovenia. The rest are somewhat of a struggle with varying degree. Though I do have a soft spot for Iceland and Estonia. Adding in the no jury voting and this will be incredibly difficult to predict!
Oops I put Cyprus twice.
4. Cyprus
6. Lithuania
No particular order, the ones that should qualify for me are
Cyprus – Albania – Georgia – Romania – Lithuania – Estonia – Denmark – Austria – Slovenia – Australia
In this case, I was doubting between Cyprus and Armenia, but I choose Cyprus cuz if he could sing LIVE those high notes, could be a worthly qualifier. I know Brutnette is a favourite among fans and it’s good the use of Armenian language but at least het studio version doesn’t catch my whole attention.
Everybody hates Romanian and Danish entries this year but I find them catchy
My faves from this SF are Slovenia, Armenia and Austria, and I think anyone else (except for Poland and San Marino) has a chance to make it through 🙂
Come on! Why is the fandom sleeping on Australia?!
Because Voyager promised us that everything’s gonna be alright. 🙂
Do people really think that greece is not gonna qualify? Cyprus is gonna give 12 points, Denmark is also gonna give points to Greece because Victor is half Danish, then San Marino and Albania and Armenia always give points to Greece because they are neighbors regardless the song Greece sends… so please stop saying that Greece won’t qualify
Also you know that Greece always sends innovative stagings. So you already know Greece will probably have a good staging that will potentially elevate the song… I know there is a lot of hate for Greece but I am just trying to be realistic
I love your positivity. Keep it up. However, no way in hell will Greece qualify.
Armenia is not Greece’s neighbor
Greece won’t qualify. It’s simply not good or memorable enough to make an impact. Neighbour voting never saved a mediocre song and I can’t see what kind of staging can elevate this one.
There are no jury votes and you can’t Control televote
I would not be 100% sure of that
lmao Denmark will not give Greece points just because he is half danish
I’m struggling to get excited about this semi final, there are some amazing vocalists but most of these songs are nothing special. I like Austria and Slovenia the most. I really hope that the live performances in Liverpool will improve some of these songs for me.
top 5:
1.Armenia
2.Slovenia
3.Romenia
4.Greece
5.Austria
…
the others are just “whatever” to me!
It’s a very varied Semi, with lots to cover.
Austria might be bringing the best “parody song” ESC has ever had. It’s brilliant, I’m happy to see how popular it is. 🙂
Obviously I’ll be voting for Estonia, because I’m “piano predictable.” I also like the songs from Greece, Cyprus and Georgia. But I get the impression that the qualifiers here might come down to the popularity of the artists rather than the songs.
People are sleeping on Lithuania. That’s understandable though, as the studio recording is too autotuned for my taste either. I prefer Monika’s performance on the final night, she was faultless and sounded fresh compared to the studio recording, where I cannot even recognize her voice. Fingers crossed it won’t cancel itself with Estonia, Iceland, and Georgia showing the power of voice too.
Her live performance at the NF was amazing, so heartwarming and impactful. I hope she will keep backing singers on stage with her, instead of prerecorded vocals.
Lithuania is in my top 10! I really like the song, especially the Lithuanian touch in cores:)
I can’t stand autotune: such damage has been done, as it permeates modern pop music. Except hip-hop – but that’s another (nightmare-inducing) story!
I only like Austria poe poe poe poe poe therefore i’ll also cheer for my own country go belgium who i’ll guess will open this semifinal
i only really like five songs in this semi….it would be cool to see slovenia top it i guess? it would be cool to see them possibly get one of their best results this year
watch poland qualifying for these people’s dismay
I hate to say but I’m afraid this will happen. The song has a hook and bad vocals might be overlooked by the televoting if the staging is decent. Undeservingly so but it’s a likelihood we need to accept.
This is one of the weakest semis I can remember there being for a number of years.
So this is totally unrelated but idk where else to post this. Is anyone else getting these super offensive banner ads about “bringing Jesus to Israel”??
Those ads are also popping up on my screen! What the hell is that about?
I use browser Brave to not see ads, so no. 🙂
A pretty weak semi-final overall.
Austria and Slovenia are the only clear qualifiers in my opinion, the others could be hit or miss depending on staging.
I really hope Belgium qualifies, I’m tired of Gustaph being underrated.
i’d say Australia is solidly in there as well imo
I do not get this Slovenia hype .. it sounds like sonething I’ve heard before
It’s a good song, they can perform live, it’s in Slovenian and the cute lead singer will charm the entirety of Europe. I can’t see why it wouldn’t be a clear qualifier.
When I first listened to Slovenia I thought that this is a nice song but nothing special indeed, and it didn’t really grip my attention until I watched the live performance. Their energy is infectious and the band oozes charm and talent so I’m now convinced that not only it sails through to the final, but this is a dark horse for a Top 10 finish. Juries will probably love this one too – it’s very well written and performed and this is exactly what juries like to reward.
Many songs look like others we already heard before, some of them are even favorite to win the contest. Slovenia is great!
Georgia and Armenia for me. just managed to listen to Austrias’s song. if they manage to replicate this live then it gets to my favourite list as well
All for Austria, Slovenia and Estonia
AND Armenia
by far – Austria – this year we know all will work good – they got 2 experienced excellent singer-songwriters and their message is outstanding great to convince as well the jury and with one of the best stage composers – Marvin Dietmann they will deliver as well a great staging
Definitely- Joker Out because of the ‘pretty boy/ 5 seconds of summer’ vibe. Should but might not because there is still so much resentment about the country even being there in the first place- Australia. Hopefully- Georgia. … let’s not forget that social media will drive both semi finals this year so ‘pretty’ will probably outweigh substance. I fear ESC may well regret getting rid of the judges votes in the semis this year.
Options are so limited in this SF, haven’t really got any massive favorites but the ones I’m considering voting for are Georgia, Slovenia, Austria and Australia.
I fully support Slovenia here <3
Australia, Estonia or Slovenia are basically the only ones I really care about for qualifying.
as we talk about quality and singing skills,estonia has by a mile the best song!
so i have voted for “bridges”.
🙂
Loving Georgia, Romania, Australia, Albania their entries
Only one i hate in this semi is the unlikeable rich girl from Poland, my winner there was lift u up by the wonderful Natasza Urbanska
Natasza Urba?ska is awful too.
Georgia is the only one I like.
CYPRUS 4da win
Australia and Slovenia are my two winners of this semifinal. It’s notably weaker than the first, that much is universally agreed upon, but it really isn’t THAT terrible
Counter-point: It really is.
Feels like the biggest difference in quality between two semis in the same year, that I can recall
Besides Armenia and Austria, which are the only contenders to win this Semi – SF2 is so bad that is unpredictable to guess any other qualifiers because among these equally bad songs anyone can go through, haha. I’d say Austria, Armenia, Albania, Iceland, and Lithuania are the only ones I’m sure will qualify 100%.
The only ones that I seriously don’t see getting many points is San Marino and Romania – no chances.
One of the worst this year for my taste is Greece. But there is absolutely no chance that Greece will not go to the final.
They start at least with 28 points ( 12 Cyprus, 8 Albania, 8 Armenia (maybe even higher from Albania and Armenia)), + Romania, Georgia, Australia, Denmark..
But probably not with this song….
Greece is one of my favourites in this semifinal. For my taste as it’s pleasant and unpretencious.
It’s one of those songs that could work better with locals than fans. It happens every year.
Armenia, Georgia and Slovenia are my top three this year and this is supposed to be the weaker semi lol
1. Austria
2. Georgia
3. Albania
4. Poland
5. Greece
6. Slovenia
7. Iceland
8. Belgium
9. San Marino
10. Australia (unfortunately)
11. Lithuania
12. Cyprus
13. Denmark
14. Estonia
15. Armenia (flop)
16. Romania
4.Poland xD xD xD
I want Austria to win the semi.
I could not care less who else qualifies with Austria.
Poe
Poe
Poe poe poe poe poe poe poe
Edgar Allan Edgar Allan
Who The Hell Is-
I always say this, but there is no winner. Ten countries qualify. That said, Austria should get the most points.