mans zelmerlow

  • Eurovision 2015 Semi Final 2 Results + Postmortem

    Eurovision 2015 Semi Final 2 Results + Postmortem

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    I got to watch the Second Semi-final of the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest after the fact, albeit a bit earlier than the first. Watch the full Eurovision 2015 SF2 on Youtube, and also check out the International Sign Language version, which is a new addition to the contest this year.

    © Andres Putting (EBU)

    To start things off, let’s find out how Europe (and Australia!) voted on the songs that are part of Semi-final 2. Here are the second semi-final results in their running order (the ones marked in bold qualified to the final):

    1. Lithuania — Qualified to the Final
    2. Ireland
    3. San Marino
    4. Montenegro — QF
    5. Malta
    6. Norway — QF
    7. Portugal
    8. Czech Republic
    9. Israel — QF
    10. Latvia — QF
    11. Azerbaijan — QF
    12. Iceland 😮
    13. Sweden — QF
    14. Switzerland
    15. Cyprus — QF
    16. Slovenia — QF
    17. Poland — QF

    Thanks to the votes from all across Europe (and Australia!) Sweden, Slovenia, Poland, Norway, Montenegro, Lithuania, Latvia, Israel, Cyprus, and Azerbaijan are all through to the finals on Saturday (Sunday morning in Australia, and where I live). Now that I’ve watched the full second semi-finals show (thanks to Youtube), here is how I rank the qualifiers going into the final:

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  • Eurovision 2015 Semi Final 1 Results + Postmortem

    Eurovision 2015 Semi Final 1 Results + Postmortem

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    Since I’m both a Eurovision fan and timezone-challenged, I only got to watch the First Semi-final of the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest after the fact. However, I’m luckier than the Aussie fans who have to watch this at 5 in the morning. The dedication!

    To start things off, let’s find out how Europe (and Australia!) voted on the songs that are part of Semi-final 1. In their running order (the ones marked in bold qualified to the final):

    1. Moldova
    2. Armenia — Qualified to the Final
    3. Belgium — QF
    4. The Netherlands
    5. Finland
    6. Greece — QF
    7. Estonia — QF
    8. F.Y.R. Macedonia 😢
    9. Serbia — QF
    10. Hungary — QF
    11. Belarus 😭
    12. Russia — QF
    13. Denmark
    14. Albania — QF
    15. Romania — QF
    16. Georgia — QF

    Thanks to the votes from all across Europe (and Australia!) Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Russia, and Serbia are all through to the finals on Saturday (Sunday morning in Australia, and where I live). Now that I’ve watched the full first semi-finals show (thanks to Youtube), here is how I rank the qualifiers going into the final:

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  • Amiciness Picks Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Top 10

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    Here are my top ten picks for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Fingers crossed that all of them score high on the finals scoreboard. (Read my previous Eurovision post for my picks 20-11.)

    10. Austria
    The Makemakes — I’m Yours

    This sounds like a classic rock ballad from yesteryear. That’s a good thing considering this sound is sort of making a comeback on the airwaves, with the popularity of Sam Smith and Hozier among many. Will this song win? Probably not. But I’m expecting this to at least be on the left side of the scoreboard come finals.

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  • The Men of Swedish Pop

    Most people around the world are familiar with American pop, with the U.S. having the biggest music market worldwide. Japanese pop, or J-pop, and Korean pop, or K-pop, are growing in popularity and influence thanks to its widespread coverage on the internet.

    Many people though are unfamiliar with the pop coming out of Sweden; arguably, the birthplace of pop music itself.

    Remember, ABBA, the 4-member co-ed group? Yes, they’re from Sweden, and gained worldwide recognition with hits, such as song-turned-musical “Mamma Mia” among their long string of hits in the 60’s and 70’s.

    The fame attained by ABBA paved the way for other Swedish artists like Roxette (“It Must Have Been Love”), Ace of Base (“The Sign”), Robyn (“Do You Really Want Me”, and more recently “Call Your Girlfriend”), and the A*Teens (“Upside Down”) which started as an ABBA tribute group.

    Now that I’ve given a crash course on Swedish pop, let me focus on their male pop artists.

    1. Eric Saade

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    The Swedish representative to 2011’s Eurovision, and finishing 3rd place, Eric Saade has already been popular in his homeland. With his participation in the Eurovision he has made his name known across Europe. He has even made a single with Dev, U.S. rapper and often collaborator to The Cataracs and Far East Movement.

    Pronunciation note: His surname is pronounced /Sa·a·de/.

    Popular – Eric Saade

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