Just over a week ago, we launched wiwivision 2016 – our alternative song contest. The aim was to banish those post-Eurovision blues, and it seems to have worked. Y’all voted in your thousands and went crazy in the comment box. The wiwibloggs team may have picked the entries, but you were all determined to make your opinions known! After counting a whopping 5,390 votes, we can now confirm that the results of the first semi-final are in! Have your favourites made it through to the grand final? Remember, the poll only accounted for half the vote with the remainder coming from the Wiwi Jury.
wiwivision 2016: Semi-final one results
Watch the video below to discover the 13 qualifiers. In the interest of both fairness and entertainment, they are listed in random order. The actual ranking and points breakdown will be revealed after the grand final.
We highly advise that you watch the results video before you scroll any further. Spoilers lie ahead!
Final warning!
Semi-final 1 qualifiers
Malta: Lauren Aquilina “Kicks”
Selected by Patrick.
wiwivision history: Malta finished 24th in the 2015 grand final. The island nation was represented by Red Electrick featuring MPO with “Young Again”.
Sweden: Zara Larsson & MNEK “Never Forget You”
Selected by Josue.
wiwivision history: Zara Larsson first represented Sweden in 2015 with “Weak Heart”, coming ninth in the grand final. She has since gone on to become a global superstar.
Finland: Evelina “Sireenit”
Selected by Sami.
https://youtu.be/52F1zF_DcJE
wiwivision history: In 2015, the country was represented by Miriam Bryant with “Dragon”. The Swedish singer of Finnish descent placed seventh in the grand final.
The Netherlands: Eva Simons feat. Sidney Samson “Bludfire”
Selected by Mike.
wiwivision history: Kensington and “Riddles” earned 10th place for the Netherlands in the 2015 grand final.
Armenia: Sofi Mkheyan “Hamadzayn Em”
Selected by Denise.
wiwivision history: Armenia are through to their first wiwivision final. Last year, they finished last in semi-final one with Christine Pepelyan and “Anavart Trichq”.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Anabela “Nocna patrola”
Selected by Edd.
wiwivision history: Bosnia & Herzegovina are debuting at wiwivision 2016.
Austria: Flowrag “Helden”
Selected by Andy.
wiwivision history: Austro-Icelandic singer Thorsteinn Einarsson represented the Eurovision 2014 winners in 2015. He came 17th with “Leya”.
France: Olivier Dion “De Mes Propres Ailes”
Selected by Zakaria.
wiwivision history: France finished 23rd in the 2015 final. They were represented by Shy’m with “La Malice”.
Croatia: Maja Suput “Ne lomi mi srce”
Selected by Mario.
wiwivision history: Croatia are debuting at wiwivision 2016.
Cyprus: Giorgos Papadopoulos “Na Na Na”
Selected by Billy.
wiwivision history: In 2015, the island nation was represented by the British singer of Greek-Cypriot descent Tulisa. She placed 15th in the grand final with “Living Without You”.
Spain: Fuel Fandango “Salvaje”
Selected by Luis.
wiwivision history: Spain finished 21st in the 2015 final. Xoel Lópes sang “A Serea E O Marineiro”.
Czech Republic: Jakub Ondra “On the Menu”
Selected by Mikhail.
wiwivision history: The Czech Republic just missed out on qualification in 2015. Lukas Landa finished 11th in the second semi-final with “This Is This”.
Russia: Leningrad “Eksponat”
Selected by Dayana.
wiwivision history: Qualification eluded Russia by the narrowest of margins in 2015. Nargiz Zakirova placed 11th in semi-final one with “Ya Ne Tvoya”. She was just nine points off making the grand final.
Semi-final 1 non-qualifiers
In order of appearance:
- Hungary: The Biebers “Sun Is Shining” — Selected by Judit.
- Estonia: Merlyn Uusküla “Raju reede” — Selected by Kristín.
- Iceland: Milkywhale “Birds of Paradise” — Selected by Steinunn.
- Moldova: Carla’s Dreams “Sub Pielea Mea” — Selected by Bogdan.
- San Marino: IROL “Il Mio Futuro” — Selected by Robyn.
- Montenegro: Ana Milenkovic “Budalo” — Selected by Maria.
- Azerbaijan: Dihaj “Geceler Kecir” — Selected by Gökhan.
- Greece: Demy “Tha Meineis Feugontas” — Selected by George.
Semi-final two results will be announced on Thursday. And voting for the grand final will open on Saturday.
In case you’ve missed all the wiwivision fun so far — who are you?! — here are some all important links to get you up to speed.
- INTRODUCING WIWIVISION 2016: OUR ALTERNATIVE SONG CONTEST
- WIWIVISION 2016: THE FIRST SEMI-FINAL
- WIWIVISION 2016: THE SECOND SEMI-FINAL
But San Marino should have qualified instead of Spain.
Sweden, Spain and France are the strongest candidates in this semi-final. Let’s see if Ireland, Poland and the UK qualify. It’s going to be a strong final!
But… Moldova.. Song was great.
YAASSS CROATIA
Iceland and Azerbaijan should have passed instead of Cyprus and Austria.
My favs for the win from this Semi are Sweden,Russia,Malta and Finland
Voted for Azerbaijan and San Marino. Both are out. NICE.
Maja Šuput for Croatia? Who the f*** picked her to represent Croatia? -.-
So weird seeing Azerbaijan on a list of non-qualifiers :/ that would never happen in Eurovision.
Azerbaijan should have qualified.
Demy could not even qualify in Wiwivision with this saccharin infused ballad. Who in his right mind chose it?
Greek deluded fans think Greece will win Eurovision if we go with Demy and same composer of “Tha meineis feugwntas” Dimmy Kontopulos.
HOW DID AZERBAIJAN NOT PASS NOOOOOO WHY
I scored 9/13
01 – Sweden 9/10 [Qualified]
02 – Armenia 9/10 [Qualified]
03 – France 9/10 [Qualified]
04 – Finland 8/10 [Qualified]
05 – Malta 7/10 [Qualified]
06 – Croatia 7/10 [Qualified]
07 – Czech Republic 7/10 [Qualified]
08 – Austria 5/10 [Qualified]
09 – Cyprus 5/10 [Qualified]
10 – Hungary 5/10
11 – Estonia 5/10
12 – Iceland 4/10
13 – Montenegro 2/10
My top 9 qualified!
And yes, Leningrad is hilarious
My faves are Netherlands and Sweden
My favourites Sweden, Malta and Netherlands are trough! Now hoping Australia, Albania and Norway will qualify
Sweden! My fave…
And generic entries*
Russia is easily the best!
Why they don’t send this kind of songs (written by Russians) and is what represents their sound.. it feels more authentic than all the cheap and generic they are sending recently.
@Maru fr
“Eksponat” is wonderful. I love Leningrad and I voted for it:)
I voted for Russia, Armenia, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Spain, France and Cyprus. These results made me happy:) My favourite is Leningrad from Russia In live is better than this video:)
11/13
Estonia and Greece instead of Austria and Croatia for me.
After listening to all the qualifiers, the songs that I can still remember are Czech rep., France and Spain, the others sound all a little bit the same.
But I think Poland will win, with Ireland in top 10. Last year, the big fanbases were in Ireland and Georgia, but the georgians did either hate Nika and YGL, or stopped reading wiwibloggs. Sad with both alternatives, but there has grown a new fanbase, in Poland.
I would´ve replaced Croatia with Greece and Russia with Azerbaijan. But otherwise, super happy with the results! Semi-final 2 I can only hope for the best…
the Netherlands<3
I’m curious about the place Spain will achieve now we are qualified for the final. In general, these were the best songs from an average level semifinal and most of them were sure qualifiers like Sweden, Malta or The Netherlands.
Or wait, I forgot my fourth must-have, Australia
Sad for Azerbaijan 🙁 the one time they’re represented by a truly azeri song and they don’t qualify lol.
Azerbaijan and Greece should have qualified instead Finland and Armenia. :s
OMG my two must-haves did get through, Bosnia and Czechia. Only Latvia left.
Yass, i’m so happy that Russia qualified, it’s so fresh and nice song 🙂 Greetings from Poland
Bosnia/Armenia are heads and shoulders above the rest. Finland and Cyprus on the other hand *shudders*
RUSSSIAAA YASSS WE MADE IT! I thought we weren’t
Iceland is not in final? 🙁 Milkywhale was one of my favourites. Azerbaijan should’ve make it too.
Although I am happy to see Spain (the other favourite from this semi-final), Malta, Austria and Czech Republic in final 🙂
I agree all the way with Daniel here. I think what happened is that the voters didn’t get the genre of the song. The opposite of this happened in Eurovision 2015 where Aminata (with her Burkina-Faso realness!!) had a very different style. Some of us thought she wouldn’t go well but she went on to place 6th out of 40 countries. I’m also dissapointed for Hungary, Greece and San Marino. But by far I’m mostly dissapointed for Azerbaijan.
11/13 Is fair good
Cyprus & Finland weren’t in my Top 13
Azerbaijan and Iceland were
I voted fr Russia, Malta, Czech Republic and Austria. All of them qualified! 🙂 greetings from Poland 😉
Great bunch of songs! Would’ve had Greece and Azerbaijan through myself.
France for the victory !
Russia qualified? haha
I literally cried when my favorite Azerbaijan didn´t make it but Russia my 21st did. Like owww! Thank you everyone who did vote for Azerbaijan!
ouf!!!! Spain is here!!!
But sad for Greece, it was my second best song…
I am surprised that Russia was qualifier… 😀
Awesome! My favourites Finland, The Netherlands and Cyprus passed! 😀