Eurovision 2024: which country do you think will make it through the semi-finals? (2 Viewers)

[Belgizen]

Was gonna post this first in Western music but Eurovision is a world event so I posted it here.

Eurovision is in 2 months and EBU just announced the running order for the semi-finals, so I'm curious what you guys will predict.

Spoiler: For our non-European friends

Eurovision (Song Contest) is an annual music competition held by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Participants are countries who are a part of the EBU and thus are not solely European countries (e.g. Australia is also a participant).
Participating countries have to submit an original song.

There are 37 entries this year. In the finale, 26 countries will compete to be the winner.
The winner will be decided through televoting by national juries and viewers (it used to be European, but since 2023, people from all over the world can vote).

If you want the full story:

There are 6 countries that go through to the semi-finals directly:
Last year's winner and thus host of this year's contest (Sweden) and then the "Big 5" (biggest contributors of the EBU): United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
This means that from each semi-final, 10 other countries will go through to the final round.

Which country do you think will advance to the finals?
And which country do you want to advance to the finals? (and who's your fave?)

Semi-Final 1:
Confirmed: UK, Germany, Sweden


Semi-Final 2:
Confirmed: France, Spain, Italy

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Prediction (not in order):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Favorite (in order/not in order):
1. ☆
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

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[Belgizen]

Ok here's mine (yes I prepared this in advance. Yes, I breathe Eurovision. No, I am not ok).

I've watched quite a few rankings so I base my prediction from what i've seen.
I tried to be as neutral as possible for my predictions, despite my personal feelings towards certain participating countries.

Semi 1:
Prediction (not in order):
1. Cyprus (has been doing quite well to mid from what I've seen)
2. Serbia (has also been ranked quite highly)
3. Lithuania (one of the fan faves this year)
4. Ukraine (was predicted to win for a long time by the bookmakers)
5. Croatia (let's face it, this is most likely the winner)
6. Slovenia (used to score quite high in the beginning, dropped in the odds but it was announced they will release a Eurovision version)
7. Finland (classic Eurovision)
8. Portugal (scores mid, some people have ranked it in their top 10)
(now I am purely guessing for the last 2)
9. Australia
10. Luxembourg (scores quite low in the rankings. I found the live version quite subpar. Need to work on staging).

Semi 2 (as always, semi 2 is a bloodbath:
Predicition (not in order):
1. Greece (been scoring very good, almost always in the top 10)
2. Switzerland (praised a lot)
3. Austria (also scores good, people love that it's new for Eurovision and reminds them of the eurodance times)
4. Denmark (has been scoring good, mid or low, will probably make it through because it's safe and good vocals)
5. Armenia (people love the ethnic vibe (it's Eurovision, duh) + Armenia does well generally)
6. Belgium (not biased, scores mid to high. People are waiting for the staging)
7. Israel (despite the boycott and people being mad at EBU for allowing them (and Azerbeijan) to enter, I think it will go through)
8. Netherlands (highest streams, think it's the most viewed MV of this year's entries, people love it or hate it. Typical Eurovision song)
9. Georgia (like Denmark quite a safe song, scores in the top 15 from what I've seen)
10. Malta (I think that Malta is the strongest out of the ones that are left)

Favorite (in order):
1. ☆ Armenia. I love the ethnics. Armenia is usually my favorite entry each year. Song has been stuck ever since it's been released.
2. Greece. Is also generally one of my faves each year. Ethnics but with a modern twist. I am very curious to see the live version.
3. Slovenia. Been in love with this song ever since it was released. Raiven Queen.
4. Belgium. We created a bop again. Love that the choir part was sung by ordinary people who submitted it. I think staging will be important for our odds.
5. Austria. Was super excited to see queen Kaleen participate. Loved her stand-in rehearsal for Fuego in 2018. Guilty pleasure.
6. Malta. ngl, they re-released the song and it lost a bit of its power but still good.
7. Sweden. Unforgettable bop.
8. Cyprus. It's like vanilla ice cream. Everyone loves it, but not special.
9. Poland. It's a nice feel good song. Poland finally doesn't use capcut effects so good on them. We're proud of you.
10. Georgia. I love the song but I hope they will bring more power to the stage. The dancing in the MV looks very mechanic and very unnatural.

 

[athenaaa]

I love Serbia’s song but I doubt they will qualify l. I want solvenia and austria too. But france and Italy, although already qualified, are in my top 5

 

[Belgizen]

I love Serbia’s song but I doubt they will qualify l. I want solvenia and austria too. But france and Italy, although already qualified, are in my top 5

Ooohh i think Serbia will tho.
From what I've seen, people rank it quite high. Dunno about the ranking in the final but I'm quite sure that it'll qualify.
Most fan faves are in Semi 2.

Oooh yeah Italy is bound to be in the top 3. I'm 99% sure.

 

[athenaaa]

Ooohh i think Serbia will tho.
From what I've seen, people rank it quite high. Dunno about the ranking in the final but I'm quite sure that it'll qualify.
Most fan faves are in Semi 2.

Oooh yeah Italy is bound to be in the top 3. I'm 99% sure.

I don’t like a lot of the ones I keep seeing on top for the odds (Netherlands, Croatia, Switzerland) so thats just personal preference but they will definitely qualify as they are fan favourites

 

[Belgizen]

I don’t like a lot of the ones I keep seeing on top for the odds (Netherlands, Croatia, Switzerland) so thats just personal preference but they will definitely qualify as they are fan favourites

Yeah I agree.
Netherlands is the typical meme song that will be in like top 5 but no winner material.
I don't like Croatia's song. It's basically Cha Cha Cha copied but more edgy. If this wins, Eurovision has become too predictable.
Switzerland is ok but I think the MV helped a lot with their song.

These are pretty much a given and will probs be in the top 10 in the finals

 

[Ahsoka]

I thought Eurovision was a European thing

 

[Belgizen]

I thought Eurovision was a European thing

Hahaha not exactly, lots of people who have heard of it get confused.
Australia joined in 2015 and Israel has been part of the contest for quite some years too.

I think it started out as a European Union thing but then countries just joined even though they weren't EU

 

[Belgizen]

10. Luxembourg (scores quite low in the rankings. I found the live version quite subpar. Need to work on staging).

Update: just read on Eurovoix that they will release a new version on March 29 and it will be very different. Tali will have new looks too.

 

[athenaaa]

Yeah I agree.
Netherlands is the typical meme song that will be in like top 5 but no winner material.
I don't like Croatia's song. It's basically Cha Cha Cha copied but more edgy. If this wins, Eurovision has become too predictable.
Switzerland is ok but I think the MV helped a lot with their song.

These are pretty much a given and will probs be in the top 10 in the finals

Meme songs can be entertaining if done right… I don’t feel that this time around. I am just really excited for the semis
(and probably the only person from a non-EBU country that is)

 

[Belgizen]

There are quite some countries that will revamp/release new versions so the odds could change.
Here's an overview:

Luxembourg - to be released on March 29 (rumors of an added dance break)
Czechia - released on March 21st
Italy - song was 7 seconds too long
Malta - different feel, more pop song
Albania - Changed lyrics to English
Norway - some lyrical changes
Slovenia - will get a Eurovision version

 

[Belgizen]

Meme songs can be entertaining if done right… I don’t feel that this time around. I am just really excited for the semis
(and probably the only person from a non-EBU country that is)

Yeah, Cha Cha Cha could've won if it weren't from the jury votes.

Hahaha, I get tbh. I never watch the semi's live. They wanna build suspense, I get it, but I hate when they do it in the semis.

 

[Ahsoka]

Hahaha not exactly, lots of people who have heard of it get confused.
Australia joined in 2015 and Israel has been part of the contest for quite some years too.

I think it started out as a European Union thing but then countries just joined even though they weren't EU

So can any country join? Can South Sudan join?

 

[athenaaa]

Yeah, Cha Cha Cha could've won if it weren't from the jury votes.

Hahaha, I get tbh. I never watch the semi's live. They wanna build suspense, I get it, but I hate when they do it in the semis.

Who was your top pick from last year?

 

[Belgizen]

So can any country join? Can South Sudan join?

If the country's broadcasting joins the EBU, then yes, but requirements are super technical.
This is what's listed on the EBU's official site:

Admission

There are three ways of belonging to the EBU: as a Member, as an Associate and as an Approved Participant. To belong to the EBU, an applicant has to be established in a country of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

www.ebu.ch

BUT
a South Sudanese artist can participate in Eurovision if a country picks them to represent them.
Celine Dion, a Canadian, represented Switzerland.
This year's entry for Sweden are Norwegian artists for example.
In 2020 (when the contest got cancelled), the Armenian public picked a Greek artist, Athena Manoukian, to represent them through voting.

 

[Belgizen]

Who was your top pick from last year?

Ooooohh that's such a hard one.
After the finals it was Armenia, but during the finals it was Austria.

 

[athenaaa]

Ooooohh that's such a hard one.
After the finals it was Armenia, but during the finals it was Austria.

Mine was probably either Norway or Czechia

 

[Belgizen]

Mine was probably either Norway or Czechia

ooohhh yes both were in my top 5
I dosnloaded Czechia even on my phone.

 

[athenaaa]

ooohhh yes both were in my top 5
I dosnloaded Czechia even on my phone.

Ohh nice

 

[badcrookshanks]

rooting for austria in the semis and italy in the finale