cartharticscribbles

[cartharticscribbles]

Anakin Skywalker

[cartharticscribbles]

Obi Wan

[cartharticscribbles]

Rating ALL Eurovision semi final performances

Disclaimer: This is just my opinion, please don't be mean about it. I will be giving both positives and negatives about each performance so it's a fully rounded review. To make it fair for all countries I will be using their semi final performances as a basis for my ratings.

Albania: 'Sekret' - Ronela Hajati: 4.5/10

👍 Ronela has an incredible and magnetic stage presence that really keeps you engaged. She exudes confidence and it is incredible to watch. Ronela hit every move with fantastic precision, leading the viewers on a fun ride.  

👎 The live performance, which takes a more sexy route doesn't compare to the national final performance. The song presented at Eurovision lacked the authentic Balkan flavour and sentimental beauty of the original. It is a real shame to watch the two performances back to back and see the watered down, oversexualized version in the semi finals.  

Armenia: 'Snap' - Rosa Linn 6/10

👍 Perhaps the best part of this performance is the incredible staging, that uses the set to reveal different pieces that help you remember key lyrics. This in turn makes the whole song that much more fascinating and engaging. Despite the fumble with the final reveal, the gamble definitely paid off. It would be criminal not to mention Rosa's beautiful vocals that carry 'Snap' past just a generic breakup song.  

👎 While undeniably beautiful, the song feels somewhat one note at times. There are moments where the song seems like it's going to pick up, but it ultimately leaves you feeling a little dissatisfied toward the end. The guitar playing at the beginning also ends up feeling rather redundant, as it doesn't really end up adding much.  

Australia: 'Not the Same' - Sheldon Riley  8/10

 👍 Sheldon has truly stunning vocals, his voice paints a tragic picture of the autistic experience and you feel all the raw emotion. It is such a beautiful thing to be able to experience and I am so happy we were able to. Paired with the striking visuals, Australia's entry truly is a sight to behold this year!

👎 Unfortunately, 'Not the Same' has quite repetitive lyrics that can leave the listener rather bored by the end of the song. It is a real shame that Sheldon's raw talent is confined to a song that ends up doing more harm than good.

Austria: 'Halo' - LUM!X feat. Pia Maria  5/10 

👍 'Halo' is classic Europop mindless fun. The chorus is jubilant and catchy, and a perfect dance number. Perhaps the song is more suited to a club than the Eurovision stage, but it is wonderful to see just how much fun both Pia and LUM!X were having.  

👎 While not entirely Pia's fault (she apparently contracted COVID a week before the performance), the live vocals are definitely one of the song's weaker points. They are not bad by any means, but they fail to reach expectations. The song doesn't bring much new components to the table, and sounds more like a 2016 summer song than a Eurovision entry.

Azerbaijan: 'Fade to Black' - Nadir Rustamli  8.5/10

👍 Nadir's vocals carry this song over the finish line in a competition swamped with impressive vocals. He is able to convey so much emotion through his powerful vocals. There is a real rawness to the song that is just so captivating that you can't help but keep your eyes glued to the screen.  

👎 The performance's choreography is the main thing that doesn't elevate 'Fade to Black' to a 10. It feels a little juvenile and disjointed to such an emotional song. Thankfully, the back up dancer takes over for the latter half of the song and brings more emotion to the most dramatic part of the song.

Belgium: 'Miss You' - Jérémie Makiese  7/10

👍 'Miss You' has an undeniable Bond inspired sound, taking elements of R&B and weaving it into something new. Jérémie's vocals are on point through the whole performance and really uplift the song. The staging is relatively simple, but this mainly works to the performance's advantage with striking lighting effects adding to the Bond theme as a whole.

👎 The chorus can become a little repetitive after a while, with no real variation. After such a strong and dramatic start, the rest of the song falls a little flat, abandoning almost all the pizzazz for a more pop feeling.

Bulgaria: 'Intention' - Intelligent Music Project  4.5/10

👍 It is clear the band is having fun on the stage and that is great to see. Intelligent Music Project leans heavily into the dad rock genre and has fun with it, surely stirring up nostalgia in many a viewer.  The guitar solo was also a strong point.

👎 Unfortunately, 'Intention' just fails to stand out in any way. The lyrics and music are very typical to the genre. The song feels like something you've heard before, and lacks the punch other great Eurovision rock performances have.

Croatia:  'Guilty Pleasure' - Mia Dimšić 8.5/10 

👍 Mia's delicate vocals add an almost fairytale like quality to this song, which is complemented by a gentle guitar track. The lyrics are incredibly truthful, painting a picture of forbidden lust and the surrounding guilt. It truly is a beautiful track and I really hoped it would rank better. The switch to Croatian truly adds to the performance and it is wonderful.  

👎 The song is one of the calmer ones, leading to it possibly being forgotten amongst the more energetic numbers. The staging may have also negatively impacted the performance, as the dancers distracted more from the performance than complimenting it.

Cyprus: 'Ela' - Andromache  7/10

👍 'Ela' is a beautiful mix of dreamy vocals and ethereal music. Andromache's voice is beautiful, but is clear that nerves got the best of her in the live performances. The language blend is perfect, with the Greek parts feeling even more magical. The staging is beautiful, and it works amazingly for the song.  

👎 Nerves clearly affected the live performance, leaving the vocals sounding a little shaky. The dancers didn't add much to the performance, seeming a little awkward at times, and the performance as a whole was quite static. Andromache was clearly more comfortable singing in Greek, so perhaps that's what the whole song should've been in.

Czech Republic: 'Lights Off' - We Are Domi 6.5/10 

👍 We Are Domi create a vibrant electro pop track with 'Lights Off'. The track is certainly upbeat and catchy, especially the pre chorus. I have to admit "changing my furniture, change my bed covers" has got stuck in my head several times. The backing track is fun, and watching the way it is created is actually quite interesting. Another plus for me is the staging, which is quite striking.  

👎 However, 'Lights Off' didn't stick with me by the end of the programme. The song feels like something that would be in a clothes shop while you're browsing, one that you listen to but never really care for. It doesn't exactly bring anything new to the table, but it is not awful either. 'Lights Off' just ends up feeling unremarkable.

Denmark: 'The Show' - REDDI  5.5/10

👍 Both parts of 'The Show' are wonderful. Siggy's vocals fit both the ballad start and the more upbeat rock part that follows. Watching each member of the band have a blast on stage was wonderful to see, and a little bit of their joy rubbed off on the viewer. When the rock kicks in, you want to get up and dance along, it is just so fun.

👎 The biggest weakness of the song is how long the genre switch takes. While the ballad part is undeniably beautiful, it lasts too long, and ends up taking up half the song.  REDDI is clearly a more rock oriented band, so the choice to focus so heavily on the ballad section seems a little odd.

Estonia: 'Hope' - Stefan  9.5/10

👍 'Hope' has a surprising country twang that somehow absolutely works. The song would be right at home on any number of Western movies, with a bubbly and energetic message of hope during a dark time. It is a perfect anthem for those hoping for a better day, and Stefan's incredible stage presence cemented its score from me.  

👎 The only critique I have for the performance is the overly simplistic staging. While Stefan makes good use of the stage, it ultimately still feels a little empty at times.

Finland: 'Jezebel' - The Rasmus 7/10

👍 'Jezebel' is an incredibly catchy rock number from The Rasmus who certainly know their way around the genre. Fun lyrics telling a more modern story of the biblical figure lead you through the song, which boasts an amazing instrumental thanks to Emppu, Aki and Eero, who expertly craft the melody. The Rasmus knows the aesthetic they want and embody it perfectly, with their 'It' reference and striking colour scheme pulling the whole performance together.

👎 Some of the lyrics are a little incoherent at times, which can make a listen quite confusing. The chorus can also get rather repetitive, leaving the listener frustrated by Lauri's 25th "Jezebel!"

France: 'Fulenn' - Alvan and Ahez 6.5/10

👍 'Fulenn' is a wonder just in the fact is sung in an endangered language: Breton. As if this wasn't interesting enough, Alvan and Ahez add another layer of intrigue to their performance with striking imagery and great vocal work. All four voices come together much better than in the grand final performance. It really is a marvellous song.  

👎 Despite the semi final performance being more cohesive than the grand final, there are still some issues with the vocals and modulations being a bit off.

Germany: 'Rockstars' - Malik Harris  5/10

👍 'Rockstars' is a blend of ballad and rap, which works relatively well in a quite modern performance. The song in no way reinvents the wheel, but it doesn't have to. What it does bring to the table is a emotional and honest song that is well performed by Malik.  

👎 Unfortunately, 'Rockstars' is quickly lost in the sea of Eurovision songs as it doesn't provide anything to make it stick out. It is one of those songs that won't be remembered by next year, which is a real shame as Malik is a talented singer.

Georgia: 'Lock Me In' - Circus Mircus 5/10

👍 'Lock Me In' is a delightfully and unapologetically weird song, with some even weirder visuals. From the 'House of a 1000 Corpses'-esque clown character, to the cyberpunk attire, to the tiny puppet panorama, everything about Circus Mircus is odd, but it is also very charming. The beat is very catchy, and the repetitive lyrics will worm their way into your head after a listen or two.  

👎 Despite being a fun experience, the song is downright incoherent at times, leaving the listener completely baffled. The repetitive lyrics can also become a little irritating after a while.

Greece: 'Die Together' - Amanda Tenfjord 8/10

👍 'Die Together' definitely isn't short of beautiful vocals and compelling visuals. The lyrics are a little bleak, but tell a compelling story. The slower pace leaves the song with quite a haunting but not overdramatic sound, that absolutely works for the song. Amanda's performance is also fascinating and it is quite hard to look away from her or the abstract scenery on the stage.  

👎 The quiet start ends up being quite hard to understand, and leaves the listener confused. With the heavy use of vocoder and synth causing a sense of emptiness on the emotional side of things, it feels a little too overproduced to leave much impact.

Iceland: 'Með Hækkandi Sól' - Systur 5.5/10

👍 'Með Hækkandi Sól' boasts some of the most beautiful vocals of the whole contest. The way each of the sister's voices blend together so perfectly is so audibly pleasing. Icelandic is a beautiful language and so is this song. Add to this the soothing instrumentals provided by three guitars and drums and you have an almost lullaby like track.  

👎 However, this song ends up a little boring by the end. The slow pace and minimal staging doesn't help the song at all. It ends up feeling a little lackluster and unmemorable, which is a real shame seeing as the vocals are so beautiful. 'Með Hækkandi Sól' ends up as one of the most skippable songs by the end of the night.

Ireland: 'That’s Rich' - Brooke  6/10

👍 'That's Rich' is a fun pop number full of bounce and excitement. It is clear how much Brooke's performances have improved and it's great to see her flourish in the semi final. The lyrics have a feistiness to them that make you smile and want to raise a middle finger up to those hypocritical exes. It is sure to be a club hit this summer.  

👎 The staging and choreography let 'That's Rich' down the most. Most of the dancing feels awkward and like it's the second time it has been performed, this was most likely down to nerves. A lot of the costumes also looked a little cheap and mismatched, which doesn't bide well for a song that has quite braggy lyrics.

Israel: 'I.M' - Michael Ben David  5/10

👍 'I.M' is a song full of confidence and a message to believe in yourself. There are heaps of sass and charisma along with a fierce dance routine that Michael and his dancers complete perfectly. It is sure to be a club favourite with fun vocals and bubbly backing track.  

👎 This song has the feeling of an empowering song but seems a little too cookie cutter to leave much impact. After a few verses, the song can come across as more arrogant than confident, leaving a slightly bad taste in your mouth.

Italy: 'Brividi' - Mahmood & BLANCO  8.5/10

👍 'Brividi' is one of the most beautiful songs presented this year. Mahmood and Blanco's voices blend together so well to sell you a song full of emotion, regardless of whether you understand Italian or not. The simple staging is perfect for the song, and watching how the pair interact and just how supportive they are during each other's parts is truly fascinating and heartwarming.  

👎 The only downside to the version performed at Eurovision is that the vocals seem a bit more tired than those presented at Festival di Sanremo, although this is said to be due to the fact the pair were touring a lot before the shows.

Latvia: 'Eat Your Salad' - Citi Zēni 5/10

👍 'Eat Your Salad' starts with possibly the most attention grabbing line of any Eurovision songs. It gives an early indication of the more satirical take on its subject matter. The song is able to promote a vegan way of life in a way that doesn't come across as overly preachy. With a funky and fun beat, it is hard to not get the chorus stuck in your head.  

👎 However, the more satirical lyrics may not be everyone's cup of tea as they are quite lewd. The lyrics and beat are also quite juvenile in nature and that makes it stand out a little less than other entries. 

Lithuania: 'Sentimentai' - Monika Liu 10/10

👍 'Sentimentai' is such a classy song, with enchanting lyrics provided by Monika. The beat takes inspiration from the popular 70's jazz style and the silky smooth vocals work perfectly together. 'Sentimentai' doesn't need complicated staging or extravagant props, Monika's incredible stage presence is all she needs. The best party vocally is the low vocalisations which end in a dramatic gasp.

👎 Perhaps the staging could be a little more interesting, but it is not a big issue.

Malta: 'I Am What I Am' - Emma Muscat 5/10

👍 'I Am What I Am' is a very uplifting pop song, full of bounce and life. Emma's vocals are absolutely beautiful, and the chorus is incredibly catchy, easily sticking in your head for a while afterwards. Emma looks absolutely fabulous and her audience interaction really makes the performance that much more interesting. She is also able to make great use of the song's closing to show off her powerful pipes.

👎 Unfortunately, the song ends up feeling incredibly generic, almost like every inspirational song cliché was thrown into a blender and 'I Am What I Am' was the end product. Each beat feels like you could predict it and you're left completely unsatisfied by the end. Staging wise, when her backing dancers come in, it feels too late. Perhaps if the backing dancers had been introduced sooner, or not included at all, the performance would feel a little less awkward.

Moldova: 'Trenulețul' - Zdob și Zdub & Advahov Brothers 5/10

👍 'Trenulețul' is full of joy and excitement, and it is hard to not at least crack a smile while listening. The song is uniquely and unapologetically Moldovan, and has so much soul. Utilizing the Advahov brothers was a great decision, as the interaction between every person on stage is great.

👎 However, the song feels a bit messy at times, feeling more like a drunken dads a birthday party than a piece performed at Eurovision. The song also drags on a little, getting rather dull towards the end.

Montenegro: 'Breathe' - Vladana 6/10

👍 'Breathe' is an incredibly emotional song that clearly means a lot to Vladana, and it is wonderful to watch her passion. Her voice is powerful and so beautiful that it really moves you, even if ballads aren't your thing. The staging is also very compelling, though quite simple that really makes Vladana stand out and seem like the star she is.

👎 Some of the lyrics are a little pre-school level at times, with their overly simple nature taking away from how impactful the song could be. This could be the result of a dodgy translation or just poor songwriting, either way it is a great shame as it definitely holds the song back. The song should have perhaps stuck to Vladana's native language for a much more impactful punch.

The Netherlands: 'De Diepte' - S10  7.5/10

👍 'De Diepte' is a beautiful song that deals with serious issues in a way that is accessible for a lot of people. S10 sings about her struggles with mental health and how it has affected her, a subject that many people can unfortunately relate to. She does this all in her native language, which is always a bonus seeing as her voice is gorgeous.

👎 The pre chorus and chorus get quite repetitive, leaving you rather bored by the end of the song.. There is no real climax to the song, which stays at the same level the whole time. Without a climax and with very little development with the staging, it is hard to feel much excitement for 'De Diepte' in the end sadly.

North Macedonia: 'Circles' - Andrea 5/10

👍 'Circles' is a gritty and honest song about feeling frustrated in a relationship. Andrea's more stripped down vocals add real emotion to the song, perfectly conveying her frustrations, resilience and pain. The song utilizes a hip hop inspired beat to spread a message of knowing your worth, and the live performance is fascinating to watch.  

👎 'Circles' inevitably ends up falling into the more generic pop song territory, with a very repetitive chorus that ends up (like the title suggests) going in circles. There are no levels to the song, it stays one note for the whole performance. With a second verse that is lacking lyrically and an overly repetitive chorus, it isn't hard to zone out for the second half.

Norway: 'Give That Wolf a Banana' -  Subwoolfer  9/10

👍 'Give That Wolf a Banana' is a entertaining and bizarre number from start to finish. The song boasts fun lyrics that stick to a consistent theme, the story of Little Red Riding Hood with a twist. There is no way you will be able to get the lyrics out of your head, even from only one listen. Subwoolfer manages to create two completely unique and mysterious characters that leave the audience craving more. Who are Keith and Jim? Why are they dressed as yellow wolves in suits? It doesn't make sense, but it doesn't have to. This Eurovision at its finest.

👎 The song can get a little repetitive after a while, 'yum' begins to feel like a fake word after hearing it for the 15th time.

Poland: 'River' - Ochman  10/10

👍 'River' is the best male ballad of this year by a long shot. Ochman provides beautiful vocals that show his range beautifully served with emotional piano melodies. The song takes you on a journey to a beautiful visual river, it almost feels like you are flowing down the river with him, and it is absolutely wonderful. When the climax finally comes, we are treated to some of the best vocals of the competition as he belts out the notes with pure passion. It is an absolute crime that Ochman didn't place higher.

👎 The lyrics are a little cryptic, so the meaning is not immediately clear and the staging is can be rather distracting at times.

Portugal: 'Saudade, Saudade' - MARO 7.5/10

👍 'Saudade, Saudade' is a very pretty song, full of beautiful harmonies provided by Maro and the women she sings with. The song deals with issues such as love and loss in a way that doesn't feel too heavy. It uses a blend of English and Portuguese to great effect, showing the world how beautiful her native language is.

👎 The song's slow pace works to its detriment in many ways. With staging that leaves no room for audience interaction and a very repetitive chorus, 'Saudade, Saudade' ends up getting lost in the sea of much more interesting and interactive acts.

Romania: 'Llámame' - WRS 6/10

👍 'Llámame' is a fun throwback to Latin 2000's pop that dominated our radios years ago. The song balances this with a sense of freshness that is very refreshing. WRS brings so much life to his performances that it is hard not to have fun with him. A mixture of sounds, taking samples from across the globe; Latin, Middle-Eastern and European, 'Llámame' somehow creates a new sound while still remaining faithful to is references. WRS also completely sells the performance, which makes the performance that much more interesting to watch.

👎 The song leans quite heavily on its older counterparts, which leaves it sounded rather dated at times. It is also a shame that Romania chose to focus so heavily on Spanish influences instead of their own culture.

San Marino: 'Stripper' - Achille Lauro 5/10

👍 'Stripper' is a pop punk song full of life and sass. Achille gives it his all in this performance, serving that jolt of energy that is well needed after the entries before. With lyrics that preach self love and not letting other people judge you, as well as its overtly feminist undertones, the song is definitely one that has been thought out well. It is truly a fun song with an insanely catchy chorus.

👎 While the song is certainly fun, it does have a kind of generic sound to it. It is one of those songs that anyone could make and slap their name on. Achille is a fantastic musician and I wish he had made the song more 'him', because the end result is a little lazy in some places.

Serbia: 'In Corpore Sano' - Konstrakta  8.5/10

👍 'In Corpore Sano' is able to make a statement on a very important issue without it being too overbearing. The song critiques not only the healthcare systems, but beauty standards as well, and promotes the importance of taking care of mental and physical health. A simple performance steeped in symbolism, Konstrakta delivers a performance that will truly stick with you for a while after. It is impossible to not get the chorus stuck in your head after a listen or two.

👎 The song can get rather repetitive, which can get a little frustrating after a while.

Slovenia: 'Disko' -  LPS 5/10

👍 'Disko' is a fun throwback to a more funky time in music. The song manages to blend its old school references with more modern sounds as well, in a way that never feels too dated. LPS is clearly having a lot of fun on stage, which is always wonderful to see. It is hard not to at least crack a smile while watching how excited the group are.  

👎 The song falls victim to being rather low energy, which means it unfortunately gets lost in the shuffle. It also doesn't feel as grand as the other entries, which may be because of the slow pace or the song's production.

Spain: 'SloMo' - Chanel  7.5/10

👍 'SloMo' is an incredibly upbeat song that is full of catchy lines and jaw dropping choreography. Performance wise, Chanel's dance break is the best choreographed in the whole competition. She brings so much poise and confidence to the song, which is also beautifully sung, with the highlight being her high note.

👎 The song is once again very repetitive, and the lyrics fall flat in a few places. 'SloMo' ends up sounding like many a J-Lo song, which dampens its creativity. This song doesn't have the spark it needs to be rated higher for me.

Sweden: 'Hold Me Closer' - Cornelia Jakobs 8.5/10

👍 'Hold Me Closer' is a gritty and incredibly emotional song that tackles how painful breakups can be. Cornelia sings about not wanting to let go of a relationship, despite the fact it has run its course, all done with beautifully raw vocals that add to the performance's punch. With the very simple staging, it centers her as the star of the show.

👎 The simplicity of the staging is quite boring, with it not adding much to the performance as a whole.

Switzerland: 'Boys Do Cry' - Marius Bear 4.5/10

👍 'Boys Do Cry' is one of the more restrained ballads presented in the contest. Bear's wonderful voice croons about toxic masculinity, over a refined jazz backing. It a simple song, but it works. The use of projections on the stage are very interesting, illustrating the main points of the song.

👎 Unfortunately, the song's important message is given in a bit of a clunky way. The Cure manages to do this in a much better way, with more nuance and excitement, so I'd be much more likely to choose the Robert Smith song.

Ukraine: 'Stefania' - Kalush Orchestra 8.5/10

👍 'Stefania' expertly blends traditional Ukrainian folk music with rap to create an incredibly fun song that perfectly presents the band's beautiful culture. The lyrics tell a story of a mother and child, and the hardships of motherhood. An incredibly upbeat song, 'Stefania' is sure to stick in your head for a while after listening.

👎 The instrumental section is quite long and runs the risk of getting quite boring.

United Kingdom: 'Space Man' - Sam Ryder 10/10

👍 'Space Man' is a song full of beautiful vocals and catchy lyrics as well as an impressive guitar solo. Choosing Sam as the UK's choice was a fantastic idea, as his strong vocals and relative TikTok popularity make him an absolute star. The song is distinctly British, with echoes of Elton John with its own unique flavour. It isn't easy to fill a whole stage with just one person, but Sam effortlessly does so, seeming like a complete sweetheart.  

👎 The lyrics can get a little repetitive after a while.

Thank you for reading. I know a lot of my ratings may be very different from yours and that's totally okay! I hope you enjoyed my list, and if you want to share your opinion feel free!

- Max

[cartharticscribbles]

finland slayed and im sick of people acting like they didn’t