Eurovision 2022: Grand Final

[passionpop]

First thing to note that if you have not watched the semi's yet, this post contains spoilers - Links to semi/preview performances included 

Firstly, despite not qualifying it appears that Israel may have been disqualified due to the interaction Michael ben David had with the hosts in the second semi. He didn't qualify anyway and some are reporting it is lost in translation (not Qualify v disqualify), but it makes the semis interesting. 

As for the grandy, we know Ukraine is going to win, to the point that I don't even care to watch the voting this year. It is a shame because there are some quality songs and performances that deserve to get the gong. Not Australia though, but others... 

Czech Republic - We Are Domi - "Lights Off" 200/1 - to be fair enough should be on 200/1 to win. this is a great dance song. it is a shame the singer is left to fill the stage and is lost in the space. 

Romania - WRS - "Llámame" 500/1 - Strictly come dancing/Dancing with the stars has nothing on this routine, but I am still surprised this qualified. Good on ya Romania. 

Portugal - Maro - "Saudade, saudade" 250/1 - Pretty song, uninspiring performance. 

Finland - The Rasmus - "Jezebel" 250/1 - This song rocks, but the presentation is a bit meh and the props get in the way of the cameras. 

Switzerland - Marius Bear - "Boys Do Cry" 500/1 - If you believe the leaked results of Semi one, that the bookmakers seem to believe, this got through on Jury votes alone. It got no love from the public. It is actually a surprisingly good song. Needs trousers that fit though. 

France - Alvan and Ahez - "Fulenn" 300/1 - The first of the big 5. it is an interesting song but perhaps to trance for the Eurovision audience... though Trance is retro and the audience likes retro....  

Norway - Subwoolfer - "Give That Wolf a Banana" 66/1 - popular early on but dropping. the pull aways t the test are a bit distracting in the live context

Armenia - Rosa Linn - "Snap" 250/1 -  sweet little tune to calm the audience before the local favourite. This song is mainly filler or a toilet break.

Italy -  Mahmood and Blanco -  "Brividi" 14/1 - the San Remo performance had more chemistry and I think it is because they know each others lines and they are anticipating the words rather than performing the song. Shame. This was beautiful at San Remo. 

Spain - Chanel - "SloMo" 14/1 - there is a lot of energy in this performance and I think if Romania and Spain worked together they would make an epic dance show. should do well. 

Netherlands -  S10 - "De diepte" 66/1 -  Not the most exciting song or performance, it will sit in the middle at the end of the show at best. 

Ukraine - Kalush Orchestra - "Stefania" (Стефанія) 4/3 - fvcking politics getting a very average song the gong. Featuring Dumb Donald from Fat Albert and a couple of car wash machines

Germany - Malik Harris - "Rockstars" 500/1 - this song doesn't seem to be connecting despite being quite good. It could be that a 24 year old is singing about the fact that "We used to be the rockstars". Seems like a song for a 40 or 50 year old, not a child. 

Lithuania - Monika Liu - "Sentimentai" 300/1 - many were surprised by this qualifying but it is an interesting song by an interesting performer. Pity the staging is less interesting. 

Azerbaijan - Nadir Rustamli - "Fade to Black" 300/1 - another surprising qualifier with a lacklustre performance. 

Belgium - Jérémie Makiese - "Miss You" 500/1 - he is a great vocalist and the song deserves better than such long odds. should be in the middle somewhere. 

Greece - Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord - "Die Together" 66/1 - morbid song and I don't understand the appeal. The performance feels like empty and the vocals are really not enough to carry the song alone, but it is popular. 

Iceland - Systur - "Með hækkandi sól" 300/1 - this is a simple and cute performance that always could qualify but is filler in then final. 

Moldova - Zdob și Zdub and Advahov Brothers - "Trenulețul" 150/1 - Best song of the night. I was not sure of the reworking with the extra rocky bits at the semi, but now I love it

Sweden - Cornelia Jakobs - "Hold Me Closer" 6/1 - another lacklustre performance from a song that could be winner in any other year. 

Australia - Sheldon Riley - "Not the Same" 200/1 - with the shit we have sent to Eurovision the last couple years, I bet most of Europe will be glad to see the back of us after next years contest. Bottom 5

United Kingdom - Sam Ryder - "Space Man" 6/1 I will admit that I panned the UK for sending some tiktok star to Eurovision, but this is the most engaging song the UK has sent to Eurovision in decades. I would not be surprised if the UK gets a lot of votes as apology for the double doughnut from last year, but this song, and performance are good. 

Poland - Ochman - "River" 66/1 - Boy is too clean cut looking for Eurovision in this century. will be a top 10 song though

Serbia - Konstrakta - "In corpore sano" 66/1 - Probably the most interesting song of the evening and really quite universal. What good is a healthy body without a healthy mind. 

Estonia -  Stefan - "Hope" 250/1 - despite the bookmakers I think this is top ten, possibly top 5. Yes it is spaghetti western music but he can sing and the song isn't bad. 

Other than Ukraine, who I despise for making this a political win rather than a musical one, Estonia, Sweden, UK, and Greece should be at the top with Moldova, Czech Republic, Norway, Serbia and either France, Spain , or Switzerland rounding out the top ten.  

Bookmakers: Ukraine, Uk, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Serbia, Poland, Greece, Norway, Netherlands

Fvcking Netherlands... Ok whatever. Either way tonight is the end of the song contest. yay for politics