Most of the fan-sphere seem to concur that tonight’s Semi will be decidedly more closely-fought than Tuesday evening’s show.  I’m steadying myself for heartbreak, but hoping for the best, since more than a few of my personal favorite entries appear on stage tonight.

My expected Finalists from Semifinal Two are:

• San Marino
• Azerbaijan
• Finland
• Malta
• Iceland
• Greece
• Norway
• Albania
• Georgia
• Switzerland

My personal Top Ten, however are:

• Azerbaijan
• Finland
• Malta
• Iceland
• Greece
• Israel
• Armenia
• Hungary
• Norway
• Albania

So, how disappointed will I be tonight after the results flit onto the screen? Let’s find out in a few hours, shall we?

…and who am I to argue with tradition?

If I were to make an educated guess about tonight’s Qualifiers, I’d guess that the Top Ten will be:

• Austria
• Belarus
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Ireland
• Moldova
• Netherlands
• Russia
• Serbia
• Ukraine

However, if we were going simply on my personal preferences, my Dream Team would be:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Ireland
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• Slovenia
• Ukraine

Who are your picks?  Leave a comment, send a Tweet (@escinsider)…have your say!

Also, if you’re looking for alternate commentary, look no further than ESC Insight, who will be providing a downloadable mp3 (available here) as well as our new App (available for Apple devices, downloadable here)!

1. Latvia: Similar outfits and vibe as the National Final performance, with the iPads-on-stands being replaced by an iPad/Keytar hybrid.  They make good usage of the second stage, although it was more than a bit awkward to hear them prompt an audience made up entirely of cardboard cutouts to sing along.
2. San Marino: Valentina’s voice is as strong as ever, and she’s finally given a song that suits her.  You know exactly where the costume change and wind machines come in with this one.  It’s definitely a fan favorite, and it got a massive reaction in the Press Centre.
3. Macedonia: Much like San Marino, this feels like two songs in one: Lozano’s r&b/pop ballad and Esma’s gypsy ululation.  In the eyes of some, the contrast can appear distracting…but for others it’s a peek into an often-misunderstood cultural tradition.
   

   Esma and Lozano…like peanut butter and jelly, or lamb and tuna-fish? (Photograph courtesy EBU)

4. Azerbaijan: You just knew that Azerbaijan weren’t one to simply phone in their presentation.  Farid sounds great (and his English has been polished a bit while still retaining a charming accent), and the dress on the featured female dancer is nothing short of modern art.  But the showstopper is the male dancer in the lucite box on stage.  Trust me on this.  After watching this presentation, I felt a pang of anxiety about having to get my hands on another Azerbaijani visa…
5. Finland:  Peppy, frenetic, cheeky, hyperactive fun!  Krista has been cavorting around the Press Center nearly constantly, wearing a cavalcade of wedding dresses.  She’s working the PR circuit just as well as she’s working the camera.
6. Malta: Sunny, sweet, and perfectly comfy.  The backdrop is basically just a lyrics video of the entry, potentially turning this song into the world’s largest karaoke session.  Gianluca looks like he’s having the time of his life up on stage; his smile is constant and genuine.
7. Bulgaria: There were really few entries as divisive as “Samo Shampioni” among the people I spoke to.  Some love the high energy of this percussive entry, and others simply find the song piercing or discomforting.  The only major change from the Official Video/National Final performance is the replacement of the older bagpiper with a young breakdancer, who ends the show carrying a massive traditional mask meant to ward away evil spirits.
   

   Elitsa, Stoyan, and the hip-hop Kukeri (Photograph courtesy EBU)

8. Iceland: From bagpipes and drumming, we go to a sleepy fishing village and the gorgeous voice of Eyþór Ingi.  It’s stirring and moving, even if you speak no Icelandic.  (And this is one of those songs that if you find it boring, just put it on mute and you can still find it enjoyable, if you know what I mean.)  Could it be this year’s “Kuula”?
9. Greece: Bouncy, good-humored fun!  I can’t wait to see this in a full hall, where they’ll be surrounded by bouncing ESC fans as they bound down to the satellite stage.  This isn’t supposed to be a serious, straight-faced entry…Koza Mostra are having a ton of fun with this, and it’s more or less infectious!
10. Israel: On the plus side, Moran’s voice is absolutely stunning.  On the minus side, her outfit (which is nearly identical to her Kdam dress) is heartbreakingly distracting.  It draws the attention away from her vocals and puts the focus firmly on her…erm…assets.
11. Armenia: A perfectly straightforward middle-of-the-road rock ballad.  Nothing wrong with it, but nothing truly groundbreaking, either.  That being said, Gor’s voice is really quite beautiful (and even though his spoken English is minimal, there’s no major accent detected when he sings).
12. Hungary: ByeAlex is completely chill and laid-back on stage, almost to the point of disconnection.  He’s not really playing into the hype; he’s just out there, doing his thing.  This went over huge in the Press Centre, much to my surprise, considering its supreme subtlety.  This is either going to go big or go home.
13. Norway: The same sleek, sexy, and dark performance that we saw at MGP (only with a wee bit more bedazzling) is on in full force here in Malmö.  If you liked it then, you’ll like it now.
14. Albania: As anybody who knows me ESC tastes knows, the entries that appeal to me the most are those with a sense of authenticity.  Adrian and Bledar are authentic musicians, and genuine friends.  They’re having a blast on stage, and seem to be putting everything out on the table.  But will the Albanian-language ethno-rock song appeal to a wider audience?
    

    Bledar Sejko rocking out. (Photograph courtesy EBU)

15. Georgia: Much like Bledar and Adrian before them, Sofie and Nodi have a natural comfort and chemistry on stage together.  Voices are spot-on, the fire curtain falls on cue, and the wind machine is out in full force.  There are no shocks here; blend “Quédate Conmigo” and “Running Scared”, and you’ve basically got the idea.  This is a Eurovision Love Duet by the numbers…and it could just win it for Georgia.
16. Switzerland: Completely straightforward and static; the six members of Takasa standing in a row and performing their song capably.  No massive shocks or surprises, no major bells or whistles.  With this one, what you see is what you get!
17. Romania: I’m not even going to bother saying much of anything on this one.  If you’re looking for over-the-top camp insanity, you’ve found your man in Cezar.
    

    Brace yourselves…it’s about to get real, y’all… (Photograph courtesy EBU)

1. Austria: A comforting way to start the Contest, with a straightforward performance from a relatable singer.  Nothing truly outstanding, but nothing wrong with the performance, either.  It feels casual (she’s even planning on wearing jeans)…all in all, it’s much like one of those commercials where teenage girls talk to each other about getting contact lenses.
2. Estonia: I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again…this is a sorbet song.  If you’ve ever been to a big multi-course banquet where you’re served a little bowl of sorbet between the entrée and cheese course, you’ll know what I mean.  The little intermezzo is always pleasant, but it’s not what you remember when the meal is done.  Birgit’s voice has never been in doubt; there’s a reason she was Estonia’s first “Idol” winner.  But the song fades back into the ether once it’s over, only to be overshadowed.
3. Slovenia: This is the first real injection of energy in the show so far.  Hannah’s got a tough job in front of her, balancing demanding vocals with equally demanding choreography (and in a killer pair of shoes, to boot!).  We’ve heard more original dance-pop entries in the past, but this is simply fun.
4. Croatia: The first male voices of 2013 are heard in this highly traditional entry, down to the costuming on the six gentlemen on stage.  They sound fantastic together (let’s be honest here, they were selected to blend well), and even acapella in the Press Centre, they were perfectly en pointe.  This has really grown in my estimation.
   

   Croatia’s Klapa s Mora (photo courtesy EBU)

5. Denmark: Shot-for-shot, this is almost identical to the DMGP staging, down to the camera angles.  Outfit’s been slightly changed (a bit less Alyosha, but still very organic-looking).  I still expect this to do well at the end of the day.
6. Russia: Well-sung from Dina, but almost clinical in its execution.  She’s singing about world peace and love and harmony, but it doesn’t feel genuine.  Even her interviews felt clinical, as if her interpreter were feeding her the answers.
7. Ukraine: What can I say that I’m sure has been said by every other ESC site, blogger, pundit, or twitter account on the face of the planet?  Zlata sounds incredible, looks ferosh (even when she almost tripped off of her plinth…”Gravity”, indeed!)…but that doesn’t matter when you’re distracted by the opening twenty seconds of the song, as the tallest man in America (who is of Ukranian lineage…about 243 cm/nearly 8 feet) literally picks her up and plunks her on her mark.  At its best, it’s random.  At its worst, it’s exploitative.  What could have been magical becomes uncomfortable.
8. Netherlands: Contrasting with the theatricality of Ukraine, we’ve got the Netherlands.  Understated, simple, and subtle, this lets Anouk do what she does best.  She’s out at the satellite stage (that is, surrounded by spectators), mostly darkened stage…it’s reminiscent of Patricia Kaas.
9. Montenegro: From subtlety, we move straight on to insanity, and I’m loving every second.  Astronauts, cyborgs, and enough wub-wubbing to make non-Eurovision fans take notice.  People will either love or hate this, and I know exactly which side of the camp I’m on.
10. Lithuania: Leather jackets and facial expressions…yep, this is Andrius.  It is what it is…nothing truly spectacular.
11. Belarus: Well, they’ve thrown the kitchen sink at this one!  Alyona emerges from a massive disco ball, surrounded by beautiful dancers.  Like Russia, it’s clinical, only more upbeat.  Step one-two-three, arm movement here, a flick of the hip there…it’s very “by-the-numbers”, and I just can’t connect to it.  I can definitely see others loving this, though!
12. Moldova: Possibly the most impressive performance from Day 2′s rehearsals.  Those of you who remember Sabina Babayeva’s dress from last year (or Carrie Underwood’s from the Grammys) will recall the trick of the projector-dress, but Aliona Moon literally takes it to a whole new level.  Beyond that, her vocals are flawless!  She will be keeping the entry in Romanian, as anticipated…the first time we’ve heard an entire entry in the language since 1998!  This one really resonated with the fans in the Press Centre…but can Chișinău afford to host the Contest?
    

    Moldova’s Aliona Moon (photograph courtesy EBU)

13. Ireland: A wee bit of bodhrán (and shirtless hotties to play them!).  While “Only Love Survives” is a pop song at heart, it’s probably the most traditionally-inspired entry since 2007′s “They Can’t Stop the Spring”.  Ryan’s charming on camera (and, if you’re not a fan of the song, might I just remind you of the shirtless bodhrán players?)
14. Cyprus: Straightforward presentation, no-nonsense, no real tricks or distractions from Despina and her song.  For the record, she’s wearing a beautiful lace illusion gown…elegant!
15. Belgium: For those of you who have only heard Belgium’s song from its National Final performance, do yourself a favor and give this another listen.  It might not be a winner, and who knows about qualification, but it’s certainly better than the rhinitis-addled Sunday-morning-performance that we heard that cold December day.
16. Serbia: Gone are the angel-and-devil motif from the National Final…only to be replaced by escapees from Willy Wonka’s mental asylum!  While the previous outfits were a touch dodgy, at least they brought some sort of context to a song whose lyrics might not be understood by most viewers.

So, there you have it…Semi 1 in a nutshell!  There is still just under a week for delegations to tweak and modify their performances, so who knows what the second set of rehearsals (or the second semifinal) will bring?  Stay tuned!

(And for more information, check out ESCInsight.com, where I’ve been contributing to interviews and podcasts!)

And with that, away we go!

Love it, love it, love it!

• France
• Hungary
• Italy
• Montenegro
• Norway

Really Like It!

• Albania
• Armenia
• Denmark
• Iceland
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Sweden

Not Bad!:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Georgia
• Greece
• Ireland
• Israel
• Moldova
• Slovenia
• Spain

So-So…:

• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Finland
• Germany
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Macedonia
• Russia
• Switzerland

Not for me…:

• Azerbaijan
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom

Ummm…No.

• Belarus
• Romania

The majority of my guests had not heard any of the songs before the event, and so all scores were based purely upon first impressions.  Some had attended my little shindig last year, but others were complete and utter Euro-virgins.  As we munched on spanakopita and sipped Belgian beer and Portuguese wine, we let our snarky sides run wild and free, rating each song on its own merits on a scale from one to ten.  There was almost no talk of running order, cultural voting blocs, or previous Eurovision history (except for a wink and a nod to Valentina Monetta’s other contribution to the ESC).  Here’s how the dozen or so of us voted:

Our Top Ten were:

1. France (8.45)
2. Greece (7.71)
3. Malta (7.71)
4. Switzerland (7.68)
5. Finland (7.63)
6. Norway (7.58)
7. Denmark (7.35)
8. Latvia (6.83)
9. (FYR) Macedonia (6.79)
10. Iceland (6.75)

Greece and Malta were tied on the scoreboard, and even had the same number of 10s, but as Greece nabbed 2 9s, over Malta’s single, Gianluca will have to settle for our bronze.  Honorable mentions went to Germany (6.73), Italy (6.55), and Spain (6.23).  Rounding out the bottom were:

• Lithuania (2.50)
• Romania (2.55)
• Belarus (2.70)
• Armenia (3.04)
• Georgia (3.55)

Of course, it’s not a Eurovision Party at Sam’s place without some witty repartee from the gallery.  Here were some shining comments from my friends:

• On France: “Sounds like Voodoo Skyfall in Louisiana.”
• On Greece: “Greek men in kilts?  THAT’S what I’ve been missing in my life!”
• On Malta: “It’s a Target commercial!ʺ ʺThat was so cute, it was vomit-inducingly-trendy.”
• On Latvia: “This is like that time when George Michael and Vanilla Ice toured together in that dream I had.”
• On Macedonia: “This woman is awesome.  She could be wearing or doing anything up there, and giving no fucks.”
• On Iceland: “Icelandic Thor-Jesus goes out to catch a whale with his bare hands.”  “Can he give the other contestants beard lessons?”
• On Italy: “So…did he just get all of Moldova’s leftover hairspray, then?”
• On Ukraine: “I refuse to give any song higher than a 5 if it should be airbrushed onto the side of a van.”  “It was a slideshow of Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers!”
• On San Marino: “I love lamp.”
• On Sweden: “I just want to hug him and pinch his cheeks!”
• On Croatia: “So THAT’s where Michael Stipe has been!” “So, they’re called the Klapa of the Sea, but this isn’t a shanty?  Minus one for not being a sea shanty!!”
• On Bulgaria: ”On one hand, I don’t like it…but on the other hand, I could “WEAPONIZE it!”
• On Israel: “She looks like Tracey Ullman.”
• On the United Kingdom: “I would not want to carry a glass of red wine through that house.”  “I want my 80′s back!”
• On Georgia: “This is completely vanilla…but vanilla’s the world’s most popular flavor.” “Compared to Lithuania, Armenia and Azerbaijan, he needs more eyebrows.”
• On Armenia: “This is like the worst Calvin Klein commercial ever!” “Lonely Planet?  This totally precludes the existence of aliens.”
• On Belarus: “We play-o? We play-o? Sounds like 7th grade Spanish class.” “Can we Photoshop Andrius’s brows over her eyes?”
• On Lithuania: “He makes Christian Slater look normal.”  “He has no idea what’s going on…and it’s kind of adorable.”  “I wish my brows were that emotive!”  “Other songs lost to this.”

So there you have it…this year’s Eurovision roster through the eyes of the generally uninitiated.  What’s your take on our votes?  Spot-on, off the mark, or out of our minds?

…so, now what?  It’s just a bit over two weeks before rehearsals officially start, and the customary press conferences and interviews soon afterwards.  Instead of just sitting and twiddling our thumbs, let’s take a quick peek at Eurovision 2013′s entries, by the numbers!

(Need to catch up on the songs this year?  Check out Eurovision.tv’s official YouTube playlists for Semifinal One, Semifinal Two, and the Automatic Finalists.)

Who’ll be performing?

• Solo Male (10): Azerbaijan, Belgium, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Sweden.
• Solo Female (16): Austria, Belarus, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Israel, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
• Duets (4): Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Macedonia
• Groups (9) : Armenia, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Montenegro, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland

How were the songs  chosen?

• Internal Selections (12): Croatia, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia, United Kingdom
• National Final Winners (23): Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
• Internal Artist Selection, Public Song Choice (4): Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain

Songs changed from original winner/announcement?:

• Belarus (“Rhythm of Love” to “Solayoh”)
• Bulgaria (“Kismet” to “Samo shampioni”)
• Macedonia (“Imperija” to “Pred de se razdeni”)
• Moldova (song stayed the same, but switched from English to Romanian)

What language will the songs be performed in?

• English (22): Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom (No songs selected in a non-English language were swapped to English, a first since the language restriction was lifted after the 1998 Contest.)
• No English (17 countries, 16 languages): Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Spain

How many are returning to Eurovision?

• Albania: Bledar Sejko (backing for Aurela Gaçe, 2011)
• Armenia: Gor Sujyan (backing for Eva Rivas, 2010)
• Bulgaria: Elitsa and Stoyan (lead, 2007)
• Croatia: Bojan Kavedžija (backing for Severina, 2006)
• Moldova: Aliona Moon (backing for Pasha Parfeny, 2012)
• San Marino: Valentina Monetta (lead, 2012)
• Serbia: Nevena Božović (lead, JESC 2007)

How many had previously performed in a National Final?

• Belarus: Alyona Lanskaya (2012, disqualified after allegations of cheating)
• Estonia: Birgit Õigemeel (3rd in 2008, 7th in 2012)
• Latvia: PeR (finalists in 2009, 10th in 2010, 5th in 2012, also last in the 2013 Final)
• Macedonia: Lozano (4th in 2009, 4th in 2010)
• Slovenia: Hannah Mancini (finalist in 2011)
• Spain: Raquel del Rosario (participated in the 2011 Sanremo Festival)
• Ukraine: Zlata Ognevich (5th in 2010, second in 2011)

How many had taken part in vocal talent shows (not including National Finals)?

• Azerbaijan: Farid Mammadov (“The Big Stage” participant)
• Belgium: Roberto Bellarosa (“The Voice” winner)
• Estonia: Birgit Õigemeel (“Eesto otsib superstaari” winner)
• Finland: Krista Sigfrids (“The Voice of Finland”, semifinals)
• France: Amandine Bourgeois (“Nouvelle Star”, winner)
• Georgia: Nodi Takishvili (“Geostar” winner), Sofi Gelovani (“Morning Star” winner)
• Iceland: Eythor Ingi (“Bandið hans Bubba” winner)
• Israel: Moran Mazor (“Eyal Golan is calling you”, winner)
• Italy: Marco Mengoni (“X-Factor”, winner)
• Moldova: Aliona Moon (“Star Factory” participant)
• Norway: Margaret Berger (“Idol”, runner-up)
• Russia: Dina Garipova (“The Voice” winner)
• Serbia: Mirna, Nevena, Sara (“Prvi Glas Srbije” top 3)
• Sweden: Robin Stjernberg (“Idol” runner-up)

If we like what we hear, and want to know more, who has released albums?

• Armenia: Dorians (1)
• Austria: Natalia Kelly (1, to be released soon)
• Belarus: Alyona Lanskaya (1)
• Belgium: Roberto Bellarosa (1)
• Cyprus: Despina Olympiou (6)
• Estonia: Birgit Õigemeel (3)
• Finland: Krista Sigfrids (1)
• France: Amandine Bourgeois (2)
• Georgia: Nodi Tatishvili (1)
• Germany: Cascada (5)
• Greece: Koza Mostra (1), Agathonas Iakovidis (numerous)
• Italy: Marco Mengoni (2 studio, 1 live)
• Latvia: PeR (1)
• Macedonia: Esma (numerous), Lozano (2)
• Montenegro: Who See (2)
• Netherlands: Anouk (8 studio, 3 live, 1 compilation)
• Norway: Margaret Berger (3)
• San Marino: Valentina Monetta (1)
• Spain: El Sueño de Morfeo (5)
• Sweden: Robin Stjernberg (1)
• United Kingdom: Bonnie Tyler (16 studio, numerous compilations, 2 live)

What’s the age-range for artists this year?

Younger than 20:

• Austria (Natália Kelly – 18)
• Belgium (Roberto Bellarosa – 18/19)
• Latvia (Ralfs Eilands – 19)
• Serbia (Nevena Božović – 18, Sara Jovanović – 19)

Older than 40:

• Albania (Bledar Sejko – 40/41)
• Bulgaria (Stoyan Yankoulov – 46)
• Greece (Agathonas Iakovidis – 58)
• Macedonia (Esma Redžepova – 69)
• Switzerland (Katharina Hauri – 46, Michel Sterckx, 47, Emil Ramsauer – 95, and now the oldest participant in Eurovision history)
• United Kingdom (Bonnie Tyler – 61)

Who wasn’t born in the country they’ll be representing?

• Austria (Natália Kelly = America)
• Slovenia (Hannah Mancini = America)
• Ukraine (Zlata Ognevich = Murmansk, now Russia)
• Ireland (Ryan Dolan = Strabane, Northern Ireland/UK)
• Serbia (Nevena = Kosovska Mitrovica, now considered Kosovo, Sara = Italy)
• Albania (Adrian Lulgjuraj = Ulcinj, Montenegro)

So, there you have it…some facts, figures, and miscellaneous trivia on the thirty-nine acts that will pop onto your television screen this May.  Some are fresh-faced newcomers, others have been on the scene for decades…all will be vying for your attention, and for your votes.  Who has caught your eye?  Is is the Swiss Salvation Army band?  The gentle Estonian songstress carrying her first child?  The Macedonian May/December duet?  The Maltese doctor?  Everyone’s got a backstory, but only one can claim the 2013 Eurovision title.  And in less than a month, we’ll find out who gets to raise the trophy.

Soon after the victory, however, it was announced that there would be a minor swap from Chisinau: instead of being sung in English, Miss Moon (real name: Aliona Munteanu) would be performing in Romanian, making it the first time that the country has had their song presented entirely in its native language.  Furthermore, this will be the first Romanian-only song heard at Eurovision since 1998′s “Eu cred“, sung by the late Mălina Olinescu.  Here’s “O Mie“.

Does Aliona look a wee bit familiar to you?  Turns out that she was one of Pasha Parfeny’s backing singers in Baku!  It appears that Pasha has returned the favor, though…not only can you see him behind the piano on “A Million/O Mie”, but he actually composed the number, as well.  Will Aliona continue Moldova’s now-four-year qualification streak in a year full of ballads?

According to the Sanmarinese Delegation, Valentina was a late addition to the “Social Network” cast last year, as the originally-intended performer pulled out at the last-minute.  While 2012′s entry was well-performed, the poppy, tongue-in-cheek English-language entry simply didn’t fit a singer in her late-30s who typically specialized in jazz and ballads.  It also had the unfortunate tendency to overshadow the singer’s actual vocal talent.  It seems that this year’s song will really allow Valentina to come into her own, just as a butterfly might emerge from her cocoon.

Azerbaijan, the host of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, finally wrapped up its veritable marathon of a National Final process, the Milli Seçim Turu.  Starting all the way back in December, eight week-long heats of either eight or nine singers eventually gave way to a ten-singer Final round.  Taking the victory in Baku on Thursday night was 21-year-old Farid Mammadov (or, to be more precise, Fərid Məmmədov) and his powerful ballad “Hold Me“.

Farid will be the first solo male performer to sing on behalf of the Land of Fire at Eurovision, and he’s taking with him a song with a pedigree.  “Hold Me” was composed by the Greek producer Dimitris Kontopoulos, who also produced “Shady Lady” for Ani Lorak and wrote “This Is Our Night” for Sakis Rouvas.  (Then again, Kontopoulos was also responsible for producing the remix for Litesound’s “We Are the Heroes” that turned what was originally a pop-rock song into a number that was a bit too disco for the boys from Belarus, so take that as you will.)

Since their debut in 2008, Azerbaijan has never failed to reach the Top 10, and have stayed firmly put in the Top 5 since 2009.  Will Farid continue this trend?

As I mentioned earlier, the “Milli Seçim Turu” is a long and drawn-out process, but it definitely has its redeeming moments.  Singers are asked to sing international hits, Azerbaijani favorites, and Eurovision classics, often with some incredible results.  While Farid’s version of Donny Montell’s “Love Is Blind” was actually pretty decent, other covers over the years haven’t quite been as successful…watch, if you dare…