Preview of the second semi-final (Part 2)

Now we've reviewed the first half of the second-semi final, we're back to review the final part of the semi-final participants.

                                          

19 countries will participate in Semi Final 2 but only 10 will advance to the Grand Final. Semi Final 2 will be taking place on Thursday 12th May.

11 - Albania - Eneda Tarifa - Fairytale

Albania once again selected their Eurovision entrant via Festivali i Këngës and chose 34 year-old Eneda Tarifa to represent the country with "Fairytale" - the same title that won the contest for Norway back in 2009. I really preferred this before the revamp into English, and it seems that many also believe this as Albania is currently low down in the betting odds, being 39th out of 43. I unfortunately doubt a qualification for Albania in 2016.

12 - Bulgaria - Poli Genova - If Love Was A Crime

After a two year break from Eurovision, Bulgaria is back to the contest, sending ESC 2011 representative and JESC 2015 "hostess with the mostest" Poli Genova with "If Love Was A Crime". I believe that this could do very well for Bulgaria, maybe even getting them their best result since their most recent appearance in the Grand Final in 2007. Could we be heading off to Sofia for Eurovision 2017?

13 - Denmark - Lighthouse X - Soldiers of Love

Denmark held another edition of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix to decide their entry for Eurovision, choosing three-piece boyband Lighthouse X with "Soldiers of Love". After a non-qualification in 2015 with a boyband, I was quite surprised with the choice of Lighthouse X, especially with the presence of the other 2 superfinalists, Simone and Anja Nissen, but only time will tell whether Denmark will qualify for the Grand Final again.

14 - Georgia - Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz - Midnight Gold

Unlike most people, I actually really like Georgia's entry this year, more than Nina Sublatti last year. Nika & YGL were internally selected by the Georgian broadcaster, but had a national final with 5 songs from the band to decide which song would represent Georgia at Eurovision. The winner was "Midnight Gold", met with bad reception from fans and press, but after a revamp more people warmed up to the song. Even though a qualification for Georgia this year seems unlikely, I wish them the best of luck.

15 - Romania - Ovidiu Anton - Moment of Silence

With a national selection full of broken legs and thousands of Euros wasted, Ovidiu Anton was victorious with his drama-filled song "Moment of Silence". With this being the official song from Romania, many are doubtful over Romania keeping their 100% qualification record as the song is by no means one of the favourites. Ovidiu's voice is very good but with this song Romania could destroy their 100% qualification record.

16 - Slovenia - ManuElla - Blue and Red

ManuElla was selected to represent Slovenia through EMA, a national final with 10 songs. With all the hype surrounding the 2015 Slovenian entrants, Maraaya, ManuElla hasn't brought a song that can bring the same hype, and with some questionable lyrics (e.g. cause blue is blue and red is red) and with the song being 37th out of 43 in the betting odds to win Eurovision, this could possibly bring Slovenia their first non-qualification for 3 years.

17 - Norway - Agnete - Icebreaker

10 songs competed to represent Norway at Eurovision 2016 and the winner emerged as 21 year-old Agnete with the song "Icebreaker". Agnete will be a familiar face to Melodi Grand Prix watchers, as the winner of Junior Melodi Grand Prix 2008 and 2nd place in Melodi Grand Prix 2011 as part of The BlackSheeps. "Icebreaker" is a quite divisive song, with many being thrown by the tempo change that occurs at the start of the chorus. I think the song is very good once you get over the tempo change.

18 - Ukraine - Jamala - 1944

Ukraine returned from their 1 year break from Eurovision with a national final, which let a combined vote from the public and a jury choose Jamala and her heartfelt song "1944", about Stalin's mass deportation of 240,000 Crimean Tatars and her grandmother's heartache of this event. With lyrics such as "When strangers are coming, they come to your house, they kill you all and say we're (the Russians) not guilty", Jamala doesn't hide her heartache during the performance. "1944" could do very well for Ukraine.

19 - Belgium - Laura Tesoro - What's The Pressure

The final song competing in the semi-finals is Belgium, who chose Laura Tesoro with "What's The Pressure", a funk-filled dance song guaranteed to get people up and dancing in their living rooms all across Europe and the world. Many have warmed up to this song, and with a new and fresh artist like Laura, this could have a Bojana-style success. Good luck Belgium!