Welcome to Radio Free Järbo's continuous coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014
Semifinal 1
The results are in after last night's big show. Radio Free Järbo did not do too badly. Our original rundown is below with our original assessment and predictions:
** = We predicted it would make the finals, and it did
* = We predicted it would not make the finals, but it did.
- = We predicted it would make the finals, but it did not.
DJ Dävid's reaction: "I am disappointed that Albania did not make it through to the finals and would gladly have switched out Iceland for it. The Albanian song is much more complex and well written. Hersl has a lovely, mellifluous voice that is very pleasing. I am a bit baffled by how she was overlooked. On the other hand, we are very glad that San Marino did make it through, even against our original predictions. She deserved if more for last year's song, in our opinion. Better late than never. Montenegro also goes to the finals for the first time. This is just a beautiful song by a seasoned performer. All of that shows, and I am sure, had an impact on the professional jury. We are heart broken for Belgium's entry. We like the song and hoped our prediction was wrong. He can really sing, though, and I hope he is back again with a song like this that shows his power. I think in the end, Europe is not ready for a long song to mothers. And BRAVA till Sanna! She nailed it on the night it needed to be nailed. Bra gjort."
Semifinal 2 has it's own page.
Armenia**
Aram MP3 "Not Alone"
While we are not 100% sure what the song is really about, the tune (and the visuals in the video) really draw you in. And if the song is to make you not feel alone, there's something to that. The countries of the Caucasus really work to make their entries good and back that up with professionally produced videos worthy of MTV, if they are in fact the standard of "good music videos."
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes
- Nominee: Best Video
- Nominee: Best Looking Man
Aarzemnieki "Cake to Bake"
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it not to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will not make it to the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes; he didn't even want to look for it on iTunes.
Tanja "Amazing"
We have really liked some of the Estonian entries of the past, particularly Ott Lepland (whose songs we have bought on iTunes). Estonians really seem to know how to sing a ballad. So we were looking forward to this year's entry. But we were disappointed, alas. The song, while good to dance to, seems just, you know, eh. Not horrible, but not wonderful. I am sure there are better Estonian songs out there. Nice male dancer in the video, though.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it not to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will not make it to the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes and won't try
Sanna Nielsen "Undo"
OK, we might be a little biased. After all we are are a Swedish-language radio station at heart (även om det är Rynkaby svenska i bland), but we do like this song. It is a ballad that builds. The words are easy to understand without being banal or--that dreaded undoing of many ESC songs--"Abba English." Sanna is a seasoned performer and can really deliver the song, which is a good match of her voice with the music itself.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes because it wasn't available
Pollapönk "No Prejudice"
Like with Estonia, the Icelandic entry is one we usually await eagerly. Iceland is one of those countries that always seems to do well in the ESC but never seems to win it. We don't think they will win it this year, either, unfortunately. While the song has energy and a really good message, and the group singing it has a really good time with it, we can't bring ourselves to like the song in the end. Only the interesting video kept us from hitting the "stop" button before it ended.
- Radio Free Järbo does not vote for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will not make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes (although he has many other songs from Iceland)
Albania-
Hersl "One Night's Anger"
Wow! The Balkans seemed to get together this year and decide to send only really good songs! We like this one and her voice is perfect for the song. We like the way it builds throughout the song, which helps hold the listener in.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes because it wasn't available
Russia*
Tolmachevy Sisters "Shine"
As much as we wanted to hate this song for political reasons, we couldn't totally hate it. While it is not the best song of the bunch by any stretch, it is not the worst of them either. The video is pretty basic, though, and that draws attention to the fact that the song isn't very complex or well constructed. The delivery is only passable.
- Radio Free Järbo does not vote for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will not make the finals (it probably deserves to but we think politics will take it eventual toll)
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes
Azerbaijan**
Dilara Kazimova "Start a Fire
This is at its heart a beautiful song and she is a very beautiful woman (who wears the hell out that that black and tan dress!). Her voice is beautiful, but, at least in the video version, the way she sings it detracts from the beauty of the song, especially on the higher notes. She deserves a better song for her voice and this song deserves a better delivery.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes
- Nominee: "Best Looking Woman"
Marlya Yaremchuk "Tick Tock"
There is not a whole lot to like about this song, unfortunately. The tune is a little catchy but the lyrics don't keep your attention. It is just so-so, which is too bad. I think it would be better if the song made you repulsed enough to really hate it. Even Madonna's terrible songs made you like to hate them.
- Radio Free Järbo does not vote for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes
- Nominee: "Best Looking Woman"
Belgium-
Axel Hirsoux "Mother"
There are a lot of love songs in this year's competition and in the past, but this is the only love song to mothers. There is a part of me that thinks this is a little--well--corny. But the music is absolutely beautiful and Axel can really sing it. In the video he gives it all he has got, which makes me think he must have one hell of a mother. I'd like to meet her. It looks like she is a good cook.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes. He is still considering it.
Christine Scarlat "Wild Soul"
The unexplainable video aside, this is an interesting song. I am not sure what it means, mind you, but the tune is quite nice and she sings it quite well. Good on you Moldova!
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes. He is still considering it.
San Marino*
Valentina Monetta "Maybe"
Her song last year should have brought her through to the finals but Europe didn't vote for it. We can't tell if that was because those who vote missed that that was a good song or that San Marino just has too low a profile to get many votes. Be that as it may, this year's song is not as strong. We hope we she will go through to the final to make up for the travesty of justice last year. We just don't think this is such a better song than many others. Good luck anyway, Valentina.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will not make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes (but he did buy last year's entry from San Marino)
Portugal
Suzy "Quero Ser Tua"
We had a number of Portuguese friends growing up. In fact, just this morning we had toast made from traditional Portuguese sweet bread. But this song is horrible. If the hot, Celtic tattooed drummers didn't work for Ireland last year with a great song, an overweight harlequin painted drummer is not going to work for Portugal this year with a crap song.
- Radio Free Järbo does not vote for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will not make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes. He'd rather run his iPod over with a tractor than to put this song on it.
The Netherlands**
The Common Linnets "Calm After the Storm"
This song has an American feel more than a European one. So it is no wonder that the group spent time in Nashville learning how to make a more "country" sound. The song itself is well constructed and performed well. We liked the "road trip" feel of the staging in the semifinal, which fits the beat of the music. Even though it is in black and white, the video is quite artistically done.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes
Sergej Ćetković "Moj Svijet"
We love this song, even though we don't know what it is about. The violins are captivating, as is his voice. Here again, it makes a difference when you have a seasoned performer singing a ballad like this one. We think this is going to the top 10 in the finals at least, more proof that the Balkans really have it this year. The video makes me want to go to Montenegro and climb a mountain.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes (but he bought other music by Sergej Ćetković
- Nominee: Best Video
- Nominee: Best looking man
Hungary**
András Kállay-Saunders"Running"
I know what you're thinking. You think he gets special treatment because he is half American. No. This is a great song. The words are poignant and poetic. The tune draws you into the song and the lyrics actually mean something. We like his voice. All tolled, this is a potential winner, easily top 5.
- Radio Free Järbo votes for it to make the finals
- Radio Free Järbo predicts it will make the finals
- DJ David did not buy it on iTunes (but he tried to and eventually will)
- Nominee: Best Video
- Nominee: Best looking man
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