Eurovision 2017: Australia

Australia
Semi Final 1
Artist: Isaiah
Song: It Don’t come easy
Odds: $51

Word of the day:
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate

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Isaiah won X-Factor Australia last year and even before he won he was already the popular choice for Australia’s Eurovision entry. He is and good singer and a great story but this song has rightfully dropped in the odds in the last week because the package is not right. The singer, the look, the story, the song and the performance don’t gel. It is almost an epic fail.

The biggest issue is this song. SBS internally selected Isaiah and the song writers DNA. DNA provided a song that was perfect for Dami last year or an artist in their late 20s or early 30s. Isaiah is 17. How can he sing about multiple failed relationships when he is 17.

SBS appear to think that resolve this year’s glaring issues they should case internal selections and hold a national selection. On SBS, who is going to watch that? There will be more hard-core international Eurovision fans watching it than domestic viewers. On top of this no genuine artist will take part. At least with internal selection SBS can get a brown paper bag from a record company.

Dami was a good artist to song match. SBS should not get her back, but they should look artists who can provide their own song. Forget this year happened and thing of the good times of 2016

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Eurovision 2017: The Odds

In 6 days we will find out if Italy has won Eurovision 2017.

There has been a few shifts in the odds over the last week as rehearsals take place in Kyiv. The current top 5 are

Italy - $1.70
Portugal - $8.10
Bulgaria and Sweden - $11.50
Armenia $19.80

 

The odds for winners from the semis are (main number is Grand final odds, number in brackets is odds to win their semi):

Semi 1
Portugal - $10.20 ($3.50)
Sweden - $11.50 ($4.33)
Armenia - $19.80 ($3.25 - Favorite to take out the semi)
Azerbaijan - $29 ($10)
Australia - $51 - around double what they were 3 weeks ago ($13)
Finland - $52 ($15)
Belgium - $70 - they were top 5 three weeks ago. ($15)
Greece - $121 ($10)
Poland - $151 ($41)
Moldova - $151 ($67)
Iceland - $151 ($126 - equal longest)
Latvia -$211 ($81)
Georgia - $211 ($81)
Cyprus - $261 ($101)
Montenegro - $321 ($126 - Equal longest)
Slovenia - $321 ($101)
Czech Republic - $321 ($101)
Albania - $421 ($101)

Semi 2
Bulgaria - $11.50 ($1.72 - Favourite to take out the semi)
Romania - $24 ($6.50)
Denmark - $52 ($8)
Ireland - $67 ($51)
The Netherlands- $82 ($11)
Estonia - $121 ($10)
Hungary - $121 ($26)
Macedonia - $151 ($34)
Norway - $151 ($11)
Israel -  $151 ($13)
Croatia - $156 ($51)
Serbia - $261 ($41)
Austria - $261 ($41)
Lithuania - $261 ($201 - equal longest)
Belarus - $261 ($41)
Malta -  $321 ($101)
Switzerland - $321 ($67)
San Marino - $501 ($201 - Equal longest)

 

What does all this mean. Not much.

In the first semi there are more songs that are highly rated. The top 4-5 songs in that semi are almost definitely through to the final and the bottom 4-5 are almost definitely going home. The middle 8-10 countries are pot luck who makes the final, but wont be a threat.

In the second semi will probably go along with what the bookies think for the most part. The top 6 are through and the next 4 are probably through, again though beyond about the top 3 they are just there to make the numbers

 

As for the songs already through the to the Grand Final, the odds are

Italy - $1.70
France - $52
UK - $82
Germany - $151
Ukraine - $201 - possible political backlash
Spain - $301 - which is generous.

Most of these will probably lengthen once the semis are over.

 

the three I would put money on are Italy, Portugal and Armenia (as a roughie-ish).

 

The ones I would probably vote for.... I will get back to you on that...