After watching the rehearsals, we can try to predict the qualifiers of semi-final 1.
We would like to remind you that a detailed review (in 7 chapters) can be found in the following links:
- Chapter 1 (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia) is available here
- Chapter 2 (Armenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine) is available here
- Chapter 3 (Austria, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, The Netherlands) is available here
- Chapter 4 (Cyprus, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia) is available here
- Chapter 5 (Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Israel, Poland, Romania) is available here
- Chapter 6 (Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Sweden) is available here
- Chapter 7 (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, UK) is available here
Semi – Final 1 Running Order
#1. 🇦🇱 Albania: Ronela Hajati – Sekret
A wonderful and energetic way to open semi-final 1. Ronela brings powerful and uplifting performance. She is accompanied by 4 male dancers and 1 female dancer.
This is a kind of ethnic pop with a lot of character.
I must confess that vocally I wasn’t convinced as usual and also camera angles are not the best that they could have suggested.
Prediction: Border line
#2. 🇱🇻 Latvia: Citi Zēni – Eat Your Salad
A colorful band (and not only because of their outfits). It catches the listener from the first listening section already. The message is funny and entertaining, but at the same time there is a great idea behind the text. Vocally they perform it easily and with colorful lighting, graphics and group dynamics. That’s why I believe they have the potential to qualify, even from the 2nd slot.
What bothers me is that I’m not sure that we will get both Moldova, Norway and Latvia all together in final.3
Prediction: Border line
#3. 🇱🇹 Lithuania: Monika LIU – Sentimentai
Monika Liu will perform a retro disco song, influenced by French chanson.
Her performance is namely based on her own charm and charisma on stage.
Therefore, the staging is quite simple as well.
The song is performed in the Lithuanian language. I see it more appreciated by the jury rather than the public. However, some diaspore and neighboring countries might support.
Having said this, I’m not sure it will be enough.
Prediction : Border line
#4. 🇨🇭 Switzerland: Marius Bear – Boys Do Cry
One of the simplest songs of this year. It is an inner ballad with the quite trivial message – Man can cry as well and in general expressing feelings.
The staging is simple but very impactful, with a wise use of LED lights and effects. Another advantage here is that Marius is a strong vocalist.
Not to ignore that this is a radio – friendly ballad that will get some love from the jury.
Prediction: Qualifying
#5. 🇸🇮 Slovenia: LPS – DISKO
LPS is a band of young musician at their beginning of the road in the music industry.
They bring a lot of naivety to the stage, but it also reveals their disadvantage: lack of experience. Disco should make you dance and enjoy. But I’m not sure the message is well delivered in this performance. They have brought a giant disco call to the stage.
But what’s most important is missing – charisma.
Prediction: Not Qualifying
#6. 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra – Stefania
A mixture of ethnic folk and rap will be the formula of Ukraine this year.
The staging will feature ethnic motifs on the visual side, which might be impactful as well.
Singing in their native language and putting the heart and soul into the recipe looks like an excellent recipe for qualifying and much beyond.
It isn’t a secret that Ukraine always gives an unforgivable performance with magnificent staging, not different this year.
Prediction: Qualifying
#7. 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: Intelligent Music Project – Intention
The lead singer sings about being in the safety zone, and maybe this is the best explanation of this song’s fate.
It plays too safe, a traditional rock song (with heavy influences on the 1990-2000 music).
Vocally it is on point and things do happen on the stage.
But we have heard such things million times. It isn’t a bad song, not at all. But at the same time, I can’t see people voting for this massively.
Prediction: Not Qualifying
#8. 🇳🇱 The Netherlands: S10 – De Diepte
S10 will try to conquer our hearts with a personal dynamic ballad. She takes the risk of singing in the Dutch language. But in fact, it is magical. She touches the lanterns heart.
The staging is very simple: She is alone on the stage, standing in the center. The lights follow the flow of the song and there are some nice effects (sun, moon, watershed or sea and more).
Worth mentioning that she is a wonderful singer.
Prediction: Qualifying
#9. 🇲🇩 Moldova: Zdob și Zdub & Frații Advahov – Trenulețul
The lyrics promise us folklore and Rock & Roll, and it is what we get here.
With the use of traditional elements like accordion, they try to make us celebrate and dance. Personally, I see this song as a little bit lazy: having almost 3 identical parts and being messy at the same time. On stage, you’ll be able to see combination of all possible colors. They have fun on stage, but also lost direction. People would love it, as this is the only ethnic song in this semi-final (besides Albania). Moldova usually tends to qualify with this kind of songs.
Also we can mention that some Balkan countries will vote in this semi-final.
Prediction: Qualifying
#10. 🇵🇹 Portugal: MARO – Saudade, saudade
Another ballad in this semi-final, but probably one of the most impactful and catchiest.
Maro delivers simplicity but in a very authentic way. Being surrounded by 4 female backing vocalists, standing in a circle on the secondary stage. The combination of 2 languages works perfectly.
Maro is a true artist and she is strong enough to smash the stage.
Prediction: Qualifying
#11. 🇭🇷 Croatia: Mia Dimšić – Guilty Pleasure
Mia is a professional singer. She tries to tell the story of being in a relationship while thinking about another guy. The staging is really good, backed by 3 dancers (2 men and a woman) who help in telling the story. She wears a hot flamenco dress, equipped with her guitar. The performance is dynamic. However, we have a lot of female pop folky-indie songs in this semi-final.
The song is great but doesn’t have the X-factor. The running order isn’t in her favor.
Prediction: Not Qualifying
#12. 🇩🇰 Denmark: REDDI – The Show
The song starts as an emotional ballad on the piano that develops into an upbeat rock after the first chorus. The band consists of 4 women, one of them singing and the other playing.
They have great charisma and chemistry on stage.
However, I’ve paid attention that a lot of people find this song too messy, having those 2 parts.
It has potential, but my gut feeling tells me it won’t qualify.
Prediction: Not Qualifying
#13. 🇦🇹 Austria: LUM!X feat. Pia Maria – Halo
It should have been one of this year’s surprises. An electro dance song with great energy that sticks to your mind after the first time. But there are 2 things to put on the table.
First one, Pia Maria doesn’t give a great vocal in live performance. She is backed up by massive backing vocals which make it a little bit unnatural. Second of all, it isn’t a secret that electro dance songs tend to fail at Eurovision.
Prediction : Not Qualifying
#14. 🇮🇸 Iceland: Systur (Sigga, Beta og Elín) – Með hækkandi sól
The 3 sisters Sigga, Beta og Elín will be joined by their brother Eythor on the drums. It is an indie folk that serves high quality. They look great on stage and what we namely remember is the orange color on stage. The use of lighting is smart and elevates the song. Vocally, they sound excellent, especially with the harmonies. Towards the end, they sing in a higher octave. Each one of them holds a guitar and brings the unique input to the stage.
It looks like a typical song to be appreciated by jury, more than the public.
I can see them as the “Hooverphonic” of Eurovision 2022, suggesting adult music.
Will that be enough? I hope so, but I’m not sure.
One last point: I’m not sure that the running order is in their favor. Austria will be remembered for good or bad reasons. Greece will give a wonderful performance.
Prediction: Borderline
#15. 🇬🇷 Greece: Amanda Tenfjord – Die Together
Amanda wears a white sparkling white dress and looks like a beautiful bride.
The song starts in a Capella style. Amanda sings it accurately and you can how connected she is to the text. The stage looks wonderful, with the blue color dominating. She has some blue chairs on the stage, all of them except one are broken (she is sitting on the non broken chair).
There are visual effects, such as lighting that makes the broken chairs melt of the floor.
On a LED screen on the right on the stage, we can see a video art of Amanda and a man dancing (but all you can see is their shadows).
I think it is a contender to reach the top 4 in this semi-final.
Prediction: Qualifying
#16. 🇳🇴 Norway: Subwoolfer – Give That Wolf A Banana
Give that wolf a banana! They are 2 guys who drive anyone crazy, without even officially know who stand behind the masks. The song is catchy and entertaining. They are accompanied by 3 female dancers (That wear costumes as well) and DJ Astronaut with a fold space suit.
The lighting is namely blue and yellow. Part of the lyrics will be written on the TV screen.
I can see it smashing the public’s vote, but not picking a lot of points from the jury. It will be enough to advance, and even reach the top 5 of semi-final 1.
Prediction: Qualifying
#17. 🇦🇲 Armenia: Rosa Linn – Snap
Rosa Linn brings us an American country pop song. The melody is based on guitar playing. This in one of the most interesting stagings in this semi-final. The staging will include a paper-made house. This house includes bed, 2 lamps and a couch. Thus gives an intimate and authentic vibe. Rosa wore a white outfit, while holding a white guitar. Vocally, she sounds very good. I think that many people will be attracted by the staging concept.
Prediction: Qualifying
Prediction
Sure Qualifiers
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra – Stefania
- 🇳🇴 Norway: Subwoolfer – Give That Wolf A Banana
- 🇬🇷 Greece: Amanda Tenfjord – Die Together
- 🇳🇱 The Netherlands: S10 – De Diepte
- 🇵🇹 Portugal: MARO – Saudade, saudade
- 🇲🇩 Moldova: Zdob și Zdub & Frații Advahov – Trenulețul
- 🇦🇲 Armenia: Rosa Linn – Snap
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: Marius Bear – Boys Do Cry
Border Line
- 🇦🇱 Albania: Ronela Hajati – Sekret
- 🇱🇻 Latvia: Citi Zēni – Eat Your Salad
- .🇱🇹 Lithuania: Monika LIU – Sentimentai
- 🇮🇸 Iceland: Systur (Sigga, Beta og Elín) – Með hækkandi sól
Non Qualifiers
- 🇸🇮 Slovenia: LPS – DISKO
- 🇭🇷 Croatia: Mia Dimšić – Guilty Pleasure
- 🇩🇰 Denmark: REDDI – The Show
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: Intelligent Music Project – Intention
- 🇦🇹 Austria: LUM!X feat. Pia Maria – Halo
But wait, we only have to pick 10!
Final Prediction
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra – Stefania
- 🇳🇴 Norway: Subwoolfer – Give That Wolf A Banana
- 🇬🇷 Greece: Amanda Tenfjord – Die Together
- 🇳🇱 The Netherlands: S10 – De Diepte
- 🇵🇹 Portugal: MARO – Saudade, saudade
- 🇲🇩 Moldova: Zdob și Zdub & Frații Advahov – Trenulețul
- 🇦🇲 Armenia: Rosa Linn – Snap
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: Marius Bear – Boys Do Cry
- 🇱🇻 Latvia: Citi Zēni – Eat Your Salad
- 🇦🇱 Albania: Ronela Hajati – Sekret
But there’s definitely a chance that Iceland could take the place of Albania.
Read all about Eurovision 2022 on our homepage
You were really-really close. 👌
Thank you, Lithuania was kind of shocking qualifier!