Eurovision Song Contest 2024

[hopeful traveller]

This is one of the widest open years in a long time. There is a small format change which now means the big five will perform during the semi final entries (the UK will be performing 5th tonight).

Italy, Croatia, Netherlands, Switzerland all will do well and it is so hard to call a winner this year.

The Israel situation is an interesting one and the police presence here in Malmo is very large indeed. They do have the best ballad in the competition and will probably be top 10.

The UK won't be last (that'll be Germany, almost certainly) but apparently the staging is so good they're now talking about the UK being up at the sharp end. I can't see it myself, but I do think we'll be solidly mid table.

Predictions for tonight:

Cyprus, Lithuania, Ireland, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Finland, Portugal, Luxembourg

I have ranked all 37 entries in reverse order, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbRzXNJ-c4s

[hopeful traveller]

9/10. Not bad.

[Oggm]

I'm quite disappointed that Poland didn't get through.

[tubeguru]

I'm quite disappointed that Poland didn't get through.

Her vocal wasn't all that great, to be honest. I didn't think Serbia's was either - it was lost in the mix.

[hopeful traveller]

Tonight I predicted Malta, Switzerland, Czechia, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Georgia, Belgium, Israel, Netherlands.

I got a paltry 6, but how on earth did Latvia make it?

The Israel reaction in the hall was odd. There were loud vocal minorities on both sides who kept trying to drown the other side out with boos/cheers as appropriate. I had two very loud Israelis behind me so it was hard to tell who won that battle.