Eurovision Song Contest 2015: The Grand Final Preview

You don't have to go anywhere!  We've done all the bitchy
judging for you, right here at Radio Free Järbo

It's here!  Finally it is time for the Grand Final.  You've read the other preview commentary, now here is what we have to say about those who automatically qualify for the final.  Come back to the blog later for live comments and for the official results of the New York Jury.  Scroll down for our predictions.  

France
Lisa Angell
"N'oubliez Pas"
Lisa has a nice voice with the best of Edith Piaf's qualities and without the annoying ones.  The song builds nicely and is well done in the video, made more moving with its scenes of the beaches from D-Day.  Well timed, with the recent 70th anniversary of VE day recently, the song should do well, but we guess it is only a top 15.  Still, it is a far, far cry from the absolutely horrid, execrable song France sent last year. 

United Kingdom
Electro Velvet
"Still in Love with You"
We really like this swing throwback song.  Far from Eurovision standard issue, it is spirited, bouncy, and has the best, most clever English language lyrics in the whole contest.  I wish their voices were just a little better, and they will need to nail their performance tonight in order to get into the top 10, where I think they belong.

Someone is glad Australia
is in this year. 

Australia
Guy Sebastian
"Tonight Again"
We wonder how many executives of television stations around Europe are saying, "Why the [bleep] did we let them in?!"  This is a great, fun, song and Guy has been making friends all over Europe this week.  If he nails the performance tonight, we would not be surprised to see him in the top 5. 

The current reigning Queen of Austria
poses before her flag. 

Austria
The Makemakes
"I Am Yours"
This is a really nice soft rock ballad and could be a bit of a sleeper spoiler tonight if Europe is paying attention.  It has all the best qualities of a George Harrison song.  They perform it nicely in the video.  The lead's voice is good and clear and it overall makes for good listening.  It might just be a little too soft to get high in the voting.  I predict it gets a number of 1-6 point votes but few 8, 10, or 12's.   Will they burn the piano tonight?

Equal time for the two straight
male readers of my blog. 

Germany
Ann Sophie
"Black Smoke"
Ann Sophie has a smokey voice herself, which we would normally like.  But I can't quite get behind this song, as much as we want to like it.  It never really seems to take off.  

Where are all these half
naked hunks
with flags coming from?

Spain
Edurne
"Amanecer"
This is another song that should be more interesting than it is.  It starts soft and builds throughout, and she has a beautiful that can do soft and loud equally well.  But the full package doesn't deliver.  Speaking of packages,  Gunnar says even the man's full nudity in the video couldn't save the song.  That says something right there.  

Truer words than this have
never been spoken. 

Italy
Il Volo
"Grande Amore"
I think this song has a very good chance to win (förlåt mig Måns) because it has everything going for it.  The song itself is great in the way that it builds, in that popular Andrea Bocelli way.  (Their manager has worked with Bocelli, in fact.)  The Three Adorable Tenors, as we have dubbed them, individually each have great voices and they blend perfectly when they sing together.   They have extensive experience with performing all around the world.   All pulled together, they could win this shindig.  The only thing they have working against them is that no one seems to vote for Italy.  Maybe the Three Adorable Tenors can change that.


Our prediction for the top five:
Serbia:  If she has a night like she did Tuesday, she could win.
Italy:  See above.  They have it all.
Sweden:  The bookies have Sweden as a favorite, but there is competition.
Australia:  This is a great song and should get into the top five if Europe keeps an open mind.
Russia:  Polina seems to have some momentum.  She could hit the top five if Europe doesn't take Putin's politics out of her.

Who would be our top five?
Serbia, Italy, Australia, Cyprus, Sweden.