Speaker: 00:00:02

We are looking good to go.

00:00:05,998 --> 00:00:08,488

I'll count myself in.

00:00:08,488 --> 00:00:11,118

Three, two, one.

00:00:11,118 --> 00:00:15,458

Hello, I'm Stephen Perkins and this is

Doucepoir, the Eurovision podcast from the

00:00:15,458 --> 00:00:17,178

team behind BingeWatch.

00:00:17,178 --> 00:00:20,738

Right now it is Tuesday the 7th of May, it

is 10 .28pm.

00:00:20,738 --> 00:00:25,678

I've just watched the Eurovision semi

-final number one and so what better time

00:00:25,678 --> 00:00:29,578

than the middle of the night practically

to sit here and do a quick analysis of

00:00:29,578 --> 00:00:31,398

everything that we've just witnessed.

00:00:31,438 --> 00:00:34,628

And I'm delighted to be joined once again

by producer Liam.

00:00:34,628 --> 00:00:35,182

Liam.

00:00:35,182 --> 00:00:36,650

Welcome back to the podcast.

00:00:36,894 --> 00:00:42,654

Hello Stephen, yes I am with you in spirit

for this semi -final.

00:00:43,034 --> 00:00:46,454

So I've had the day in Norwich just to

give people some unnecessary backstory to

00:00:46,454 --> 00:00:47,894

my life today.

00:00:48,214 --> 00:00:54,334

So I missed most of the performances so

I'm very excited to find out your thoughts

00:00:54,334 --> 00:00:54,874

on them.

00:00:54,874 --> 00:00:59,314

I am however in the spirit of Eurovision

enjoying a little tipple while we record

00:00:59,314 --> 00:01:00,142

this.

00:01:00,642 --> 00:01:01,602

it song number nine?

00:01:01,602 --> 00:01:03,282

Have you tippled?

00:01:04,942 --> 00:01:10,582

Yeah, I mean, I guess we can talk a little

bit about everything that happened.

00:01:10,582 --> 00:01:13,562

I think first and foremost, I just want to

talk about the results we've just

00:01:13,562 --> 00:01:17,922

witnessed because for me, what was strange

was when they started reading out the

00:01:17,922 --> 00:01:20,152

results, I was like, have they got the

right sheet of paper there?

00:01:20,152 --> 00:01:23,214

Because the first three, I think that they

announced...

00:01:23,214 --> 00:01:26,694

were all sort of three that I kind of had

down as non -qualifiers.

00:01:26,694 --> 00:01:29,614

So when the first ones they announced

through were like Serbia, Portugal and

00:01:29,614 --> 00:01:33,344

Slovenia, I was like, okay, this is not

going the way I expected it to.

00:01:33,344 --> 00:01:37,254

But then that's the joy of Eurovision is

that the vote never goes the way I

00:01:37,254 --> 00:01:37,654

expected it to.

00:01:37,654 --> 00:01:39,793

There's always a curve ball in there

somewhere.

00:01:39,838 --> 00:01:40,808

Yeah, do you know what?

00:01:40,808 --> 00:01:45,418

I think we had the same conversation last

year in that they announced the favorites

00:01:45,418 --> 00:01:46,738

towards the end.

00:01:46,738 --> 00:01:50,738

And I kind of see the logic for both in

that you start off with a couple of

00:01:50,738 --> 00:01:54,038

outsiders and then it sort of shakes

things up a little bit.

00:01:54,038 --> 00:02:00,158

However, I also kind of feel like when you

leave Croatia and Finland and Ireland to

00:02:00,158 --> 00:02:06,338

the last few, the element of sort of

unpredictability is kind of gone because

00:02:06,338 --> 00:02:08,402

you know they're going to be there.

00:02:08,910 --> 00:02:12,929

Yeah, I think a lot of the speculation

today about who was going to be the last

00:02:12,929 --> 00:02:15,330

one announced through, I think a lot of

people were saying Ireland just because

00:02:15,330 --> 00:02:18,290

obviously they haven't qualified for quite

a while.

00:02:18,290 --> 00:02:22,770

And, you know, it would have been such an

upset tonight if they hadn't got through.

00:02:22,770 --> 00:02:26,590

So, but I can understand totally why they

left Luxembourg till the end, because that

00:02:26,590 --> 00:02:28,280

was kind of the borderline one.

00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,570

I think obviously everyone was, was

rooting, certainly everyone in the arena

00:02:31,570 --> 00:02:35,278

was rooting for Luxembourg to kind of

stage their dramatic comeback and...

00:02:35,278 --> 00:02:38,498

I was always a bit kind of borderline with

that one because I mean I threw them a

00:02:38,498 --> 00:02:42,278

pity vote myself but I was sat there going

the conversation we just we literally just

00:02:42,278 --> 00:02:45,878

had in my living room was that like if if

this wasn't their big return after 30 odd

00:02:45,878 --> 00:02:48,198

years and they hadn't been put on last

would they be getting through with that

00:02:48,198 --> 00:02:48,488

song?

00:02:48,488 --> 00:02:49,598

Probably not.

00:02:49,598 --> 00:02:50,358

Hmm.

00:02:50,358 --> 00:02:51,258

I agree.

00:02:51,258 --> 00:02:54,258

I think, you know, it was a big return,

what, 30 odd years?

00:02:54,258 --> 00:03:00,138

And it's, it kind of felt like they had to

put them through because it would have

00:03:00,138 --> 00:03:03,998

like, they'd have gone, I think they never

would have seen Luxembourg again if they

00:03:03,998 --> 00:03:04,698

didn't.

00:03:04,698 --> 00:03:05,108

exactly.

00:03:05,108 --> 00:03:07,858

You'll see Martin Osterdahl out there in

the corridor chucking a few votes in just

00:03:07,858 --> 00:03:09,038

in case.

00:03:09,418 --> 00:03:10,408

It's a joke, it's a joke.

00:03:10,408 --> 00:03:11,698

Don't sue me anyone.

00:03:12,658 --> 00:03:16,698

But yeah, I mean, let's, shall we have a

little talk through the big moments of the

00:03:16,698 --> 00:03:17,618

night?

00:03:17,982 --> 00:03:20,022

Yeah, let's do it.

00:03:20,122 --> 00:03:25,942

I have to say, I actually, before we get

started on the performances, the host

00:03:25,942 --> 00:03:28,002

tonight, kudos to her.

00:03:28,002 --> 00:03:31,562

She was brilliant from what I saw.

00:03:31,562 --> 00:03:33,478

So fantastic job.

00:03:33,738 --> 00:03:37,558

Yeah, I mean Petra Meda obviously, you

know, Eurovision royalty at this point,

00:03:37,558 --> 00:03:38,938

absolutely brilliant.

00:03:38,938 --> 00:03:43,838

Knows exactly what she's doing, brilliant

comedy, brilliant hosting.

00:03:43,998 --> 00:03:46,708

Marlene Ackerman, I liked, I thought she

looked quite nervous.

00:03:46,708 --> 00:03:49,438

I think you could tell this was a little

bit outside of her comfort zone.

00:03:49,438 --> 00:03:50,718

I think she did a fine job.

00:03:50,718 --> 00:03:53,378

And I think it was one of those things

where by the time we get Saturday and

00:03:53,378 --> 00:03:56,458

she'll have two shows under her belt,

she'll be flying by that point.

00:03:56,458 --> 00:03:59,598

But you could sort, you could slightly see

the nerves with her, particularly when...

00:03:59,598 --> 00:04:02,518

if Petra was off somewhere else and Marnie

was on the stage on her own, you could

00:04:02,518 --> 00:04:05,638

sort of see her thinking, I want my friend

back here, I want my friend back here.

00:04:05,638 --> 00:04:10,478

But yeah, I mean, the thing about Sweden

is if you say what you like about them,

00:04:10,478 --> 00:04:12,218

but they know how to put a Eurovision on.

00:04:12,218 --> 00:04:16,858

I mean, it was in terms of just having,

you know, fun things to happen when they

00:04:16,858 --> 00:04:20,578

were trying to fill an ad break, you know,

that little like grinder skit that they

00:04:20,578 --> 00:04:22,038

did was great.

00:04:22,438 --> 00:04:26,598

They had, you know, and they had some

great moments with like getting Johnny

00:04:26,598 --> 00:04:28,418

Logan out.

00:04:28,718 --> 00:04:32,458

getting Benjamin Ingrosso to perform,

fantastic.

00:04:32,778 --> 00:04:40,798

And I mean, we had a lovely opener with

Eleni Ferreira, and then we had Eric Sada,

00:04:40,798 --> 00:04:44,898

and then kind of, bless them, they kind of

felt like they were the warmup act for

00:04:44,898 --> 00:04:47,638

Chanel to come out and absolutely wipe the

floor with both of them, I thought.

00:04:47,638 --> 00:04:51,338

I mean, she's just, you know, there's

something just pneumatic about that woman

00:04:51,338 --> 00:04:52,998

and the way she performs.

00:04:53,378 --> 00:04:57,038

And, you know, I always slightly feel for

her, because I feel like in...

00:04:57,038 --> 00:05:00,998

in another year she could have walked a

win easily and she was just kind of

00:05:00,998 --> 00:05:07,358

unlucky that she was kind of the same year

as Ukraine being the inevitable winner and

100

00:05:07,358 --> 00:05:10,698

also UK having an unexpected resurgence.

101

00:05:11,742 --> 00:05:12,702

Yeah.

102

00:05:12,702 --> 00:05:18,102

Well, on the, on the subject of, the UK,

very tenuous link there.

103

00:05:18,622 --> 00:05:24,612

I want to know your thoughts on Ireland

because they've been surging up the,

104

00:05:24,612 --> 00:05:28,962

bookies, sort of rankings, in the last few

weeks.

105

00:05:28,982 --> 00:05:34,462

They're now solid top 10 and they

qualified tonight.

106

00:05:34,562 --> 00:05:37,382

This is very unconventional Ireland.

107

00:05:37,962 --> 00:05:40,674

did their performance live up to

expectation?

108

00:05:40,782 --> 00:05:41,642

Yeah, absolutely.

109

00:05:41,642 --> 00:05:45,042

I mean, for me, Ireland were the event of

the night.

110

00:05:45,322 --> 00:05:49,822

I mean, I normally my process for

Eurovision is that I try to avoid as much

111

00:05:49,822 --> 00:05:52,822

of the songs as I can up until the semi

finals.

112

00:05:52,822 --> 00:05:55,682

Then obviously, as I started doing this

podcast, I've not been able to do that

113

00:05:55,682 --> 00:05:57,362

because I've had to because I've had

things to talk about.

114

00:05:57,362 --> 00:06:01,062

So now my process is that although I

listen to all the songs, I try to avoid

115

00:06:01,062 --> 00:06:02,272

finding out too much about the staging.

116

00:06:02,272 --> 00:06:04,342

So I've at least got some surprises

waiting for me on the night.

117

00:06:04,342 --> 00:06:07,022

And I was just hearing so many things

about what Ireland had planned.

118

00:06:07,022 --> 00:06:09,326

And I was like, I can't wait to see this

one.

119

00:06:09,326 --> 00:06:11,106

And it just did not disappoint at all.

120

00:06:11,106 --> 00:06:15,786

It was, there was so much going on and it

was, I mean, the thing that I loved, I sat

121

00:06:15,786 --> 00:06:19,146

there going, this is airing at like 8 .30

on BBC one.

122

00:06:19,146 --> 00:06:21,006

And it's like something out of Dracula.

123

00:06:21,006 --> 00:06:28,886

It's just, you know, there's all of this

kind of, you know, witchcraft and demonic

124

00:06:28,886 --> 00:06:34,566

imagery and things happening and you know,

pentagrams on the floor and all this sort

125

00:06:34,566 --> 00:06:39,022

of stuff and lighting candles and you

know, a big reveal where.

126

00:06:39,022 --> 00:06:43,102

where their dress melts and suddenly

they're in this, you know, this like trans

127

00:06:43,102 --> 00:06:44,412

flag bikini type thing.

128

00:06:44,412 --> 00:06:50,482

And I'm just, I mean, the whole thing was,

you could sort of see that Ireland had

129

00:06:50,482 --> 00:06:53,442

stepped back this year and gone, you know

what, what we've been trying the last few

130

00:06:53,442 --> 00:06:54,502

years has not been working.

131

00:06:54,502 --> 00:06:59,082

So let's just do something very, very

different.

132

00:06:59,302 --> 00:07:02,382

And, you know, if it doesn't work, then

we've, you know, all we've done is we've

133

00:07:02,382 --> 00:07:04,802

just added an extra gear onto our losing

streak.

134

00:07:04,802 --> 00:07:08,934

But, you know, this year, I think, you

know, I...

135

00:07:08,974 --> 00:07:14,074

I still don't think it's an outright

winner, but I think, you know, they have

136

00:07:14,074 --> 00:07:19,754

kind of, they've sort of come from being,

you know, a borderline hopeful qualifier

137

00:07:19,754 --> 00:07:23,994

to being a dead -cert qualifier to, I

think, genuinely being in contention to do

138

00:07:23,994 --> 00:07:25,334

really, really well on Saturday.

139

00:07:25,334 --> 00:07:32,154

I think, you know, depending on what sort

of draw they get and position, I think,

140

00:07:32,154 --> 00:07:34,934

yeah, I think that's an island, the one

that we should all be scared of, quite

141

00:07:34,934 --> 00:07:36,998

frankly, in both senses.

142

00:07:36,998 --> 00:07:42,718

I feel like Ireland are going to end up

being that country where, because of how

143

00:07:42,718 --> 00:07:46,018

they announced the results in the grand

final and they leave all the public votes

144

00:07:46,018 --> 00:07:47,518

to the end.

145

00:07:47,618 --> 00:07:54,798

I feel like Ireland are going to be the

ones who might actually cause an upset

146

00:07:54,798 --> 00:07:55,498

somewhere.

147

00:07:55,498 --> 00:07:58,678

They're not going to win themselves, but I

think they're going to get a lot of votes

148

00:07:58,678 --> 00:08:04,574

and that could take, well, that will take

points away from other countries.

149

00:08:04,574 --> 00:08:09,964

So I think Ireland could be a catalyst in

the final.

150

00:08:10,446 --> 00:08:14,366

Yeah, I mean, I think I don't want to get

too ahead of ourselves here because we've

151

00:08:14,366 --> 00:08:15,796

got enough to discuss with the semifinals.

152

00:08:15,796 --> 00:08:18,346

But I think, you know, what's going to be

interesting this year in the finals, I

153

00:08:18,346 --> 00:08:22,586

don't a lot of the front runners, Televote

wise, aren't necessarily going to be big

154

00:08:22,586 --> 00:08:23,966

jury players and vice versa.

155

00:08:23,966 --> 00:08:26,906

So it's not going to be like it was last

year when you kind of had Lorene who just

156

00:08:26,906 --> 00:08:30,046

romped home with all the jury and was

always going to be kind of, you know, top

157

00:08:30,046 --> 00:08:31,466

five absolute minimum at Televote.

158

00:08:31,466 --> 00:08:35,466

So you kind of knew everyone else was

going to have their work cut out to

159

00:08:35,466 --> 00:08:36,156

capture this year.

160

00:08:36,156 --> 00:08:40,110

It does feel like, you know, things like

Croatia.

161

00:08:40,110 --> 00:08:45,870

and Finland and Ireland are all going to

do really well on the televote but how I

162

00:08:45,870 --> 00:08:49,770

don't know how the jury is going to

respond to those kinds of songs so it's

163

00:08:49,770 --> 00:08:53,350

going to be a really interesting result

session on Saturday I think.

164

00:08:53,502 --> 00:08:54,302

Definitely.

165

00:08:54,302 --> 00:08:59,122

And you, you mentioned about, staging, a

few minutes ago.

166

00:08:59,122 --> 00:09:04,642

And, so I want to know what were the other

standouts, you know, was there any staging

167

00:09:04,642 --> 00:09:08,142

that particularly impressed you or really

disappointed you tonight?

168

00:09:08,142 --> 00:09:11,622

I mean I loved Poland staging, it was an

absolute mess but I loved it.

169

00:09:11,622 --> 00:09:16,181

It was real, I read on Twitter, I don't

know how true this is, but it's the same

170

00:09:16,181 --> 00:09:20,202

person behind the staging of that was also

the person who did the two trumpets for

171

00:09:20,202 --> 00:09:24,482

Embers, which explains a lot if that's

true.

172

00:09:24,602 --> 00:09:28,642

But you know, it was a lot of kind of

ideas being thrown at it with no real kind

173

00:09:28,642 --> 00:09:29,902

of cohesion.

174

00:09:30,042 --> 00:09:34,742

She was sort of striding a giant red horse

at one point which I absolutely loved.

175

00:09:35,566 --> 00:09:39,346

But yeah, it was kind of an endearing

mess.

176

00:09:39,346 --> 00:09:43,586

But I think actually that the one country

other than Ireland who really stood out

177

00:09:43,586 --> 00:09:47,466

for me stating what it was, was Ukraine

because they just had a very kind of

178

00:09:47,466 --> 00:09:50,026

simple staging concept.

179

00:09:50,706 --> 00:09:55,446

There was like a bit of big rock on the

stage and Gerry was kind of like traipsing

180

00:09:55,446 --> 00:09:57,246

up it very kind of determinedly.

181

00:09:57,246 --> 00:10:00,666

And, you know, there was some kind of sort

of slightly messianic imagery going on,

182

00:10:00,666 --> 00:10:03,406

but it was just so incredibly well

executed.

183

00:10:03,406 --> 00:10:05,206

And I mean, I love that song anyway.

184

00:10:05,206 --> 00:10:06,266

I think that song is beautiful.

185

00:10:06,266 --> 00:10:13,166

And I think they had such a beautiful

combination of staging and performance and

186

00:10:13,166 --> 00:10:14,846

song all kind of together.

187

00:10:14,846 --> 00:10:20,626

So I think, you know, again, can't ever

rule out Ukraine at Eurovision.

188

00:10:20,626 --> 00:10:22,494

They just, they're so good at it.

189

00:10:22,910 --> 00:10:26,850

Yeah, they've got the formula down for

Eurovision and you're right, they're

190

00:10:26,850 --> 00:10:30,730

always, it would be a surprise at this

point if they ever didn't qualify, I

191

00:10:30,730 --> 00:10:31,730

think.

192

00:10:31,970 --> 00:10:38,969

But talking of staging, I think one of the

real standouts in the highlights reel is

193

00:10:38,969 --> 00:10:44,450

in terms of, you know, my God, like I need

to see the full performance of this is

194

00:10:44,450 --> 00:10:45,570

Finland.

195

00:10:45,970 --> 00:10:52,190

I mean, well, from what I've seen, it

basically...

196

00:10:52,190 --> 00:10:57,810

looks like the entire performance was

based around Windows 95 man looking for

197

00:10:57,810 --> 00:11:01,998

clothes and was that a fair reflection?

198

00:11:01,998 --> 00:11:02,808

Yeah, I think so.

199

00:11:02,808 --> 00:11:05,798

I mean, basically, the whole thing was

that he was wandering around looking like

200

00:11:05,798 --> 00:11:08,138

he had no pants on, but obviously he did

have pants on.

201

00:11:08,138 --> 00:11:11,158

And they'd blocked the whole thing so that

there was always something kind of

202

00:11:11,158 --> 00:11:14,698

comedically happening in front of him that

was going to block seeing his genitals.

203

00:11:14,938 --> 00:11:18,598

And I think I've been on a bit of a

journey with that song because when it won

204

00:11:18,598 --> 00:11:23,538

the national final, I was like, this is

too leaning too hard into the stupid

205

00:11:23,538 --> 00:11:24,428

comedy gimmick thing.

206

00:11:24,428 --> 00:11:26,028

They're trying too hard here.

207

00:11:26,028 --> 00:11:30,110

You know, this is I don't like it when

people are making it that much of a joke.

208

00:11:30,110 --> 00:11:30,926

Mm.

209

00:11:30,926 --> 00:11:33,086

And I've been on the site journey with it

because I watched it tonight and I was

210

00:11:33,086 --> 00:11:36,006

like, you know what, actually I'm laughing

my head off at this because it's so

211

00:11:36,006 --> 00:11:37,586

wilfully stupid.

212

00:11:37,746 --> 00:11:41,676

But no one is kind of trying to make this

anything that isn't.

213

00:11:41,676 --> 00:11:43,126

This is a joke entry.

214

00:11:43,126 --> 00:11:45,346

They are having a laugh and that's fine.

215

00:11:45,446 --> 00:11:48,686

And, you know, and that will, I think that

will do very well on the Televote on

216

00:11:48,686 --> 00:11:51,026

Saturday night because, you know,

particularly when people have had a few

217

00:11:51,026 --> 00:11:53,266

drinks, they'll just be like, wee.

218

00:11:53,886 --> 00:11:57,906

But yeah, I mean, I think you've got a lot

to look forward to when you see that one

219

00:11:57,906 --> 00:11:59,942

in full because it's just...

220

00:12:00,142 --> 00:12:06,442

daft and crude and you know all those

sorts of things that that makes a

221

00:12:06,442 --> 00:12:08,134

memorable television I suppose.

222

00:12:08,350 --> 00:12:14,530

Yeah, I mean, talking of memorable,

probably going in completely the opposite

223

00:12:14,530 --> 00:12:15,590

direction.

224

00:12:15,850 --> 00:12:19,180

So the UK performed their song for the

first time this year.

225

00:12:19,180 --> 00:12:23,450

The Big Five get to do a performance

during the semifinals.

226

00:12:23,770 --> 00:12:29,490

We're obviously very aware of the UK

because we're from there and we want Oli

227

00:12:29,490 --> 00:12:30,550

to do well.

228

00:12:30,550 --> 00:12:33,990

Doesn't seem like he's really going to

crack it this year.

229

00:12:33,990 --> 00:12:36,228

But what was the performance like?

230

00:12:36,654 --> 00:12:40,534

Yeah, it's interesting because, again,

I've been avoiding spoilers as much as

231

00:12:40,534 --> 00:12:41,154

humanly possible.

232

00:12:41,154 --> 00:12:42,814

Obviously, I've seen some pictures.

233

00:12:43,834 --> 00:12:48,994

And a lot of people have kind of said,

who'd been at the rehearsal, the rehearsal

234

00:12:48,994 --> 00:12:56,774

performances, that kind of the trifecta of

Ireland into the United Kingdom, into

235

00:12:56,774 --> 00:13:00,434

Ukraine was kind of the highlight of the

night and the thing that was kind of,

236

00:13:00,434 --> 00:13:01,704

everything else was measured by.

237

00:13:01,704 --> 00:13:04,874

And I kind of felt that the United Kingdom

was the weak part in that actually I

238

00:13:04,874 --> 00:13:06,638

thought...

239

00:13:06,638 --> 00:13:09,578

vocally we were not great.

240

00:13:10,318 --> 00:13:13,498

There were some quite iffy moments there.

241

00:13:14,198 --> 00:13:18,868

And the staging, I wonder if we've

slightly overreacted.

242

00:13:18,868 --> 00:13:24,258

I think we've almost gone too hard on the

staging, I think.

243

00:13:24,258 --> 00:13:29,238

No pun intended, but I think we've gone

for such a kind of like an in -your -face

244

00:13:29,238 --> 00:13:33,198

piece of staging and really trying to make

something out of it.

245

00:13:33,198 --> 00:13:36,098

And I wonder if that's going to end up

slightly putting people off, particularly

246

00:13:36,098 --> 00:13:36,846

if...

247

00:13:36,846 --> 00:13:40,806

if we don't kind of pull the actual

performance back and get that under

248

00:13:40,806 --> 00:13:45,226

control, because it felt like we'd put all

the tension on this huge dramatic upside

249

00:13:45,226 --> 00:13:49,106

down, round and round, camera shaking

piece of staging.

250

00:13:49,106 --> 00:13:52,806

And actually the performance at the heart

of it was quite wobbly.

251

00:13:53,125 --> 00:13:57,246

And if I'm from another country watching

that, I'm thinking, well, you've got your

252

00:13:57,246 --> 00:13:58,726

priorities wrong here.

253

00:13:58,906 --> 00:14:04,406

So I may have kind of completely misread

the mood of Europe on this one, but I was

254

00:14:04,406 --> 00:14:06,054

watching this one thinking I...

255

00:14:06,094 --> 00:14:10,534

I don't know if this is the right staging

for us.

256

00:14:11,474 --> 00:14:13,304

And I'm happy to prove them wrong.

257

00:14:13,304 --> 00:14:15,034

I really hope it does well.

258

00:14:15,034 --> 00:14:17,824

But I was sort of sat there feeling

slightly disappointed when I watched it,

259

00:14:17,824 --> 00:14:19,108

to be perfectly honest.

260

00:14:19,326 --> 00:14:25,806

Yeah, I mean, I'm yet to see it live on

stage, but it feels like we're going to be

261

00:14:25,806 --> 00:14:27,406

disappointed this weekend.

262

00:14:27,406 --> 00:14:30,290

But yeah, I hope I'm wrong.

263

00:14:30,478 --> 00:14:34,618

Yeah, it just, I think one of the things I

wrote in my notes was that it was all fur

264

00:14:34,618 --> 00:14:35,918

coat and no knickers.

265

00:14:37,198 --> 00:14:40,278

Although kind of almost it was all

knickers and no fur coat.

266

00:14:41,374 --> 00:14:42,494

Yeah, exactly.

267

00:14:42,494 --> 00:14:46,834

I'm just going to quickly pause and get

the dog in because I had to let him out

268

00:14:46,834 --> 00:14:48,374

and now he's barking.

269

00:14:48,774 --> 00:14:50,334

Bear with me.

270

00:15:22,110 --> 00:15:23,270

Okay.

271

00:15:23,390 --> 00:15:27,230

Sorry about that, but that should stop him

from creating for the rest.

272

00:15:27,230 --> 00:15:27,840

Okay.

273

00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:28,662

Right.

274

00:15:31,602 --> 00:15:38,982

So besides the UK, which I think is

probably going to disappoint us at the

275

00:15:38,982 --> 00:15:44,782

weekend, were there any other performances

either from the Big Five or from any of

276

00:15:44,782 --> 00:15:47,724

the qualifiers that were just a big let

down?

277

00:15:49,590 --> 00:15:56,470

yeah, I think, I'm struggling to sort of

find much to get excited about with

278

00:15:56,470 --> 00:15:57,150

Germany.

279

00:15:57,150 --> 00:16:00,850

I'm not a big fan of the song anyway, and

the fact that they appear to have have

280

00:16:00,850 --> 00:16:05,490

literally a bin fire on stage is not a

metaphor I would be leaning into

281

00:16:05,490 --> 00:16:06,590

personally.

282

00:16:07,370 --> 00:16:12,290

I, yeah, I think a lot of the ones that I

was less keen on did fall by the wayside a

283

00:16:12,290 --> 00:16:12,970

little bit.

284

00:16:12,970 --> 00:16:15,230

Although then a few of them did get

through.

285

00:16:15,230 --> 00:16:16,494

I mean, Portugal.

286

00:16:16,494 --> 00:16:18,394

wasn't been that one at all.

287

00:16:18,394 --> 00:16:19,994

That one just felt very nothingy to me.

288

00:16:19,994 --> 00:16:21,164

I was very surprised I got through.

289

00:16:21,164 --> 00:16:24,574

I know it was on near the end, which may

have helped them.

290

00:16:24,574 --> 00:16:28,514

But I almost sort of forgot that one while

I was watching it.

291

00:16:29,054 --> 00:16:34,574

So yeah, it will be interesting whether

that one gets a little bit lost in the

292

00:16:34,574 --> 00:16:37,834

shuffle on on Saturday.

293

00:16:37,834 --> 00:16:38,794

It will be interesting to be seen.

294

00:16:38,794 --> 00:16:42,534

I was pleased actually that although I had

the donors non qualifiers, I did like

295

00:16:42,534 --> 00:16:44,094

Serbia and I like Slovenia.

296

00:16:44,094 --> 00:16:45,966

So I was pleased I did get through.

297

00:16:45,966 --> 00:16:51,546

But then it meant losing a couple of the

ones I was hoping to see get through.

298

00:16:52,226 --> 00:16:57,226

The thing that feels wild to me is that

we've had this two hour 20 minute show for

299

00:16:57,226 --> 00:16:59,326

the purposes of eliminating five songs.

300

00:16:59,846 --> 00:17:01,446

Five songs!

301

00:17:01,446 --> 00:17:06,966

little bit overkill, but I also feel like

there's a kind of irony to like really

302

00:17:06,966 --> 00:17:13,966

celebrating qualifying because if you're

genuinely really like surprised, excited

303

00:17:13,966 --> 00:17:19,006

that you've made it to the final, it

probably just means you've got no chance

304

00:17:19,006 --> 00:17:21,496

whatsoever in the final itself.

305

00:17:21,578 --> 00:17:22,668

yeah, I think so.

306

00:17:22,668 --> 00:17:23,008

That's the thing.

307

00:17:23,008 --> 00:17:26,678

I mean, obviously the ones that kind of,

you know, are not worried about their

308

00:17:26,678 --> 00:17:29,958

places in the finals because as you say,

they're tipped to do well.

309

00:17:29,958 --> 00:17:35,248

So yeah, but then it's like, it's always

so hard watching that bit where, you know,

310

00:17:35,248 --> 00:17:38,058

because the thing that really got me when

they were, you know, announcing the

311

00:17:38,058 --> 00:17:41,578

results was they kept cutting to Poland

and just seeing Luna's face and she wanted

312

00:17:41,578 --> 00:17:42,338

it so badly.

313

00:17:42,338 --> 00:17:43,818

You could just, it was written all over

her face.

314

00:17:43,818 --> 00:17:47,138

And I felt so when, you know, as the kind

of things went on, I was like, I just

315

00:17:47,138 --> 00:17:48,858

don't think there's room here for Poland

to get through.

316

00:17:48,858 --> 00:17:50,094

I just don't think, you know.

317

00:17:50,094 --> 00:17:53,914

all the countries that haven't got through

yet we were left with kind of you know

318

00:17:53,914 --> 00:17:58,874

Luxembourg and Australia and Poland all

vying out for the final slot and I was

319

00:17:58,874 --> 00:18:02,114

like it's gonna be one of those three and

I don't think it's gonna be Poland you

320

00:18:02,114 --> 00:18:04,574

know it's probably either Australia or

Luxembourg.

321

00:18:04,574 --> 00:18:13,194

And on that note, I mean, are we starting

to see the appeal of Australia wear off?

322

00:18:13,314 --> 00:18:19,454

And is it viable for them to continue

competing at Eurovision if they're not

323

00:18:19,454 --> 00:18:21,216

guaranteed a place in the final?

324

00:18:21,614 --> 00:18:23,594

I mean, you raise a good point there,

actually.

325

00:18:23,594 --> 00:18:27,714

I mean, I think their participation this

year had a big question mark hanging over

326

00:18:27,714 --> 00:18:29,274

it for a long time.

327

00:18:29,734 --> 00:18:33,524

And they, yeah, I think a lot of people

were really rooting for them.

328

00:18:33,524 --> 00:18:35,194

I really liked the song.

329

00:18:35,214 --> 00:18:37,394

I thought there was an absolutely

beautiful vocal on it.

330

00:18:37,394 --> 00:18:39,734

The staging was, unfortunately, it was a

mess.

331

00:18:39,734 --> 00:18:42,434

I mean, it was very kind of end of the

wedding reception.

332

00:18:42,434 --> 00:18:45,894

And I think that hurt them a little bit,

perhaps.

333

00:18:46,974 --> 00:18:49,774

But yeah, I think, you know, you say about

the...

334

00:18:49,774 --> 00:18:51,554

sort of the love affair ending with

Australia.

335

00:18:51,554 --> 00:18:54,774

I think the thing that's hurting them

slightly is that they've never been

336

00:18:54,774 --> 00:18:58,174

particularly strong in the televote other

than kind of once or twice.

337

00:18:58,614 --> 00:19:02,014

And you know, it's always, they've always

been very strong with the juries and

338

00:19:02,014 --> 00:19:05,913

that's had to kind of shore up that

they're underperforming in the televote.

339

00:19:05,913 --> 00:19:10,174

And then obviously now that the semi

-finals qualifications are televote only,

340

00:19:10,174 --> 00:19:11,734

they haven't got that to fall back on.

341

00:19:11,734 --> 00:19:15,094

So I did think, you know, given where they

were in the running order this year, I

342

00:19:15,094 --> 00:19:18,254

thought they were actually in a fairly

good spot to get through.

343

00:19:18,254 --> 00:19:22,734

I was quite surprised that they didn't,

but I did kind of have that slight vibe

344

00:19:22,734 --> 00:19:23,304

when I was watching.

345

00:19:23,304 --> 00:19:26,694

I was like, I just don't know if they've

done enough.

346

00:19:26,694 --> 00:19:30,994

So yeah, it will be interesting because I

think it is, you know, it's difficult

347

00:19:30,994 --> 00:19:32,454

logistically for them.

348

00:19:32,454 --> 00:19:37,334

But then at the same time, a lot of, you

know, there are countries dropping out of

349

00:19:37,334 --> 00:19:38,264

Eurovision and not returning.

350

00:19:38,264 --> 00:19:41,954

So I imagine the EBU will probably want to

keep Australia in if they can, because

351

00:19:41,954 --> 00:19:44,302

they don't really want, you know,

they're...

352

00:19:44,302 --> 00:19:47,682

getting alarmingly close to not being able

to justify having two semi -finals.

353

00:19:47,682 --> 00:19:48,742

So...

354

00:19:49,470 --> 00:19:54,010

And, you know, I think the, one of the,

one of the problems is as you kind of

355

00:19:54,010 --> 00:19:59,710

pointed out is that they're only getting

rid of five songs, which makes competition

356

00:19:59,710 --> 00:20:04,470

for those last couple of spots really

actually quite fierce, I think, because,

357

00:20:04,590 --> 00:20:09,590

you end up with a lot of favorites and,

and, you know, sort of dead sets that

358

00:20:09,590 --> 00:20:10,530

they're going to get through.

359

00:20:10,530 --> 00:20:14,590

And then the last few are sort of

scrambling for that kind of last place or

360

00:20:14,590 --> 00:20:15,450

two.

361

00:20:15,790 --> 00:20:16,958

how much.

362

00:20:16,958 --> 00:20:21,558

Just the sort of running order of the show

impacts that because I noticed this

363

00:20:21,558 --> 00:20:26,578

evening you had Ireland and Croatia

performing very close together.

364

00:20:26,578 --> 00:20:30,438

What does that do for the chances of the

songs that are either side and in between

365

00:20:30,438 --> 00:20:31,530

them, you know?

366

00:20:31,598 --> 00:20:32,708

Yeah, I think that's a good point.

367

00:20:32,708 --> 00:20:36,078

I think that we seem to have quite a

confident start to the evening and we had

368

00:20:36,078 --> 00:20:37,018

quite a strong end to it.

369

00:20:37,018 --> 00:20:39,818

And it was a lot of the songs in the

middle that were kind of got a bit lost in

370

00:20:39,818 --> 00:20:40,518

the shuffle in the end.

371

00:20:40,518 --> 00:20:48,238

I mean, I think we had, you know, you had

Ireland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Croatia, all

372

00:20:48,238 --> 00:20:49,158

on very early.

373

00:20:49,158 --> 00:20:51,408

And then we went straight from Croatia

into Iceland.

374

00:20:51,408 --> 00:20:55,438

And I was like, you know, I didn't didn't

make Iceland to get through anyway, but

375

00:20:55,438 --> 00:20:59,298

not going straight on the heels of

Croatia, because it just it just didn't

376

00:20:59,298 --> 00:21:00,254

hold up.

377

00:21:00,254 --> 00:21:00,962

Yeah.

378

00:21:00,962 --> 00:21:06,002

that's a shame for them, but you know,

it's someone's got to go after the big

379

00:21:06,002 --> 00:21:08,066

hitters and unfortunately it was their

turn.

380

00:21:08,574 --> 00:21:09,554

Yeah.

381

00:21:09,554 --> 00:21:11,794

So, yeah, sorry, Iceland.

382

00:21:12,134 --> 00:21:15,714

but, well, yeah.

383

00:21:16,454 --> 00:21:23,034

so in terms of the show itself, so I saw

from the, you know, when, when all the

384

00:21:23,034 --> 00:21:26,214

voting's happening and they've got all the

bumps going on and the stuff happening

385

00:21:26,214 --> 00:21:29,874

between, you know, to sort of fill the

time basically while people are voting.

386

00:21:30,504 --> 00:21:33,374

there was, there was an odd, mid show bit.

387

00:21:33,374 --> 00:21:38,046

They were really going in hard on the fact

that, Sweden and Ireland.

388

00:21:38,046 --> 00:21:45,866

had equal Eurovision trophies and they

brought on Johnny Logan.

389

00:21:45,866 --> 00:21:46,676

Is that right?

390

00:21:46,676 --> 00:21:48,066

Is it Johnny Logan?

391

00:21:48,586 --> 00:21:49,626

Yeah.

392

00:21:49,626 --> 00:21:56,566

And who performed Euphoria, which Loreen

obviously won with Sweden with in 2012.

393

00:21:57,146 --> 00:21:59,662

That was an odd moment.

394

00:21:59,662 --> 00:22:05,362

It was, I mean, it was kind of like the

Magic FM version of Euphoria, wasn't it?

395

00:22:05,602 --> 00:22:10,842

But I mean, it was, I think it was a

really nice thing to do because it kind

396

00:22:10,842 --> 00:22:16,542

of, obviously, Lorine winning twice not

only took Sweden level with Ireland in

397

00:22:16,542 --> 00:22:20,162

terms of number of overall wins, but it

also meant that he's no longer, Johnny

398

00:22:20,162 --> 00:22:23,122

Logan's no longer the only person to have

won Eurovision twice as a performer

399

00:22:23,122 --> 00:22:24,422

because now Lorine's done it as well.

400

00:22:24,422 --> 00:22:28,532

So that to me felt like a really nice kind

of gesture of, you know, no hard feelings,

401

00:22:28,532 --> 00:22:29,038

you know.

402

00:22:29,038 --> 00:22:32,158

you did it first and you know you'll

always be in the Eurovision legend why

403

00:22:32,158 --> 00:22:34,868

don't you come on and perform one of the

Lareen songs for her.

404

00:22:34,868 --> 00:22:38,058

I mean someone on Twitter was saying that

they hope Semifinal 2 has got Lareen doing

405

00:22:38,058 --> 00:22:40,894

Hold Me Now which I am very here for if

that happens.

406

00:22:40,894 --> 00:22:43,454

Yeah, that would be great.

407

00:22:43,454 --> 00:22:47,174

I feel like they're probably holding

Lorraine for the for the final.

408

00:22:47,854 --> 00:22:49,654

But yeah, let's.

409

00:22:49,974 --> 00:22:53,974

Yeah, that'd be great with hologram of

course.

410

00:22:55,174 --> 00:23:01,314

But yeah, in terms of the other show

elements, one thing that was new this year

411

00:23:01,314 --> 00:23:05,494

that I'm assuming they're going to do on

Thursday and on Saturday, but won't be as

412

00:23:05,494 --> 00:23:09,214

much of a surprise, was the big reveal of

the green room.

413

00:23:09,214 --> 00:23:09,694

Now.

414

00:23:09,694 --> 00:23:12,302

I don't know about you, but I loved that.

415

00:23:12,302 --> 00:23:14,842

That was a great piece of telly, wasn't

it?

416

00:23:14,842 --> 00:23:18,882

Because you sort of, you didn't really

think about where the green room was and

417

00:23:18,882 --> 00:23:21,522

then suddenly the stage just opens up and

there it is.

418

00:23:21,522 --> 00:23:23,502

I mean, it was just brilliant.

419

00:23:24,322 --> 00:23:28,022

And that, I think, is again, it's just a

sign of why Sweden is very, very good at

420

00:23:28,022 --> 00:23:28,382

this.

421

00:23:28,382 --> 00:23:34,822

They just, they know how to kind of take

the, as you say, the slightly dull bits of

422

00:23:34,822 --> 00:23:37,542

the show and do something interesting with

it.

423

00:23:37,726 --> 00:23:38,326

Yeah.

424

00:23:38,326 --> 00:23:38,846

Yeah.

425

00:23:38,846 --> 00:23:44,246

And I think over the years, because it's,

I mean, you know, when you look at the

426

00:23:44,246 --> 00:23:50,666

Eurovision timeline of 60 odd years, the

kind of introducing the green room as an

427

00:23:50,666 --> 00:23:55,626

element within the arena is fairly new.

428

00:23:55,946 --> 00:23:59,926

And over the years, they've gotten a

little bit more creative with how they've

429

00:23:59,926 --> 00:24:02,086

kind of incorporated that into the arena.

430

00:24:02,086 --> 00:24:04,246

But I think it's gone next level this

year.

431

00:24:04,246 --> 00:24:06,306

I really loved that reveal.

432

00:24:06,502 --> 00:24:09,342

And the fact that, you know, it's

difficult to incorporate the Green Room

433

00:24:09,342 --> 00:24:12,802

when we only got two hosts, because we've

normally, you know, the standard now is to

434

00:24:12,802 --> 00:24:17,422

have kind of, you know, three,

occasionally four, but you sort of knew

435

00:24:17,422 --> 00:24:22,462

when Sweden were going back, because, you

know, like, they've, Petra did it by

436

00:24:22,462 --> 00:24:25,462

herself the first time, and then she did

it with with Manzelma the second time.

437

00:24:25,462 --> 00:24:28,442

So I was kind of like, they don't need two

people to help Petra mid out, she knows

438

00:24:28,442 --> 00:24:29,342

what she's doing.

439

00:24:29,342 --> 00:24:33,294

So, you know, I think that it's she and...

440

00:24:33,294 --> 00:24:37,294

Merlin are going to be really busy on

Saturday, but I don't doubt that they can

441

00:24:37,294 --> 00:24:38,886

cover it all between them.

442

00:24:39,326 --> 00:24:40,426

Hmm.

443

00:24:40,626 --> 00:24:41,666

Yeah.

444

00:24:41,776 --> 00:24:46,986

however, you know, I think on the whole,

it seemed like, the show itself was really

445

00:24:46,986 --> 00:24:48,486

well put together this year.

446

00:24:48,486 --> 00:24:53,726

and if the grand final is any, or if, if

tonight is any indication of what to

447

00:24:53,726 --> 00:24:57,046

expect in the final, I think it's going to

be a really good show.

448

00:24:57,326 --> 00:24:58,846

I, I love the arena.

449

00:24:58,846 --> 00:25:03,786

I, I kind of, I was a bit skeptical about

the cross shaped stage, but I think that

450

00:25:03,786 --> 00:25:04,596

works really well.

451

00:25:04,596 --> 00:25:06,760

I think, I think all the elements there.

452

00:25:06,922 --> 00:25:08,942

a bit lukewarm on the cross shape stage.

453

00:25:08,942 --> 00:25:14,902

I think we were sort of saying here, I

think it slightly forced some acts to

454

00:25:14,902 --> 00:25:16,842

incorporate things they probably didn't

really want to incorporate.

455

00:25:16,842 --> 00:25:19,262

They all kind of had to have something

happening on the floor.

456

00:25:19,262 --> 00:25:21,782

And you could sort of see that some people

had kind of done their national final

457

00:25:21,782 --> 00:25:24,642

performances with an idea of what they

were going to do at Eurovision and got

458

00:25:24,642 --> 00:25:27,062

there and was like, it doesn't work on

this stage, we have to do something else

459

00:25:27,062 --> 00:25:28,302

now.

460

00:25:28,382 --> 00:25:30,782

It was fine.

461

00:25:30,782 --> 00:25:33,072

I'm not against it.

462

00:25:33,072 --> 00:25:33,294

I think.

463

00:25:33,294 --> 00:25:37,154

think it worked really well for some, it

worked best well for others.

464

00:25:37,154 --> 00:25:39,354

But it's an experiment.

465

00:25:39,394 --> 00:25:42,634

You've got to keep mixing it up and trying

different things.

466

00:25:43,114 --> 00:25:45,638

And I think for the most part, it was

absolutely fine.

467

00:25:45,758 --> 00:25:49,767

Yeah, I mean, as long as they don't have a

sort of ampersand shaped stage next year,

468

00:25:49,767 --> 00:25:52,774

because there'll be all sorts of accidents

with that.

469

00:25:52,774 --> 00:25:55,230

we're gonna have a hashtag shaped stage at

some point, I'm sure.

470

00:25:55,230 --> 00:25:57,350

Well, yeah, it's coming, isn't it?

471

00:25:57,350 --> 00:25:59,290

Yeah, hashtag Eurovision.

472

00:26:00,170 --> 00:26:05,790

So, yeah, OK, let's get some sleep and get

ready for Thursday.

473

00:26:05,790 --> 00:26:11,830

But before we say goodnight to everyone,

Steve, remind us who were the qualifiers

474

00:26:11,830 --> 00:26:13,272

and who lost out.

475

00:26:13,272 --> 00:26:14,862

should we quickly run through?

476

00:26:14,862 --> 00:26:19,762

So the qualifying acts are in order of

announcement at Serbia, Portugal,

477

00:26:19,762 --> 00:26:26,632

Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland,

Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Luxembourg.

478

00:26:26,632 --> 00:26:28,922

Those are our 10 qualifiers from this

round.

479

00:26:28,922 --> 00:26:32,522

That does unfortunately mean that the ones

who didn't get through for the first semi

480

00:26:32,522 --> 00:26:38,002

-final were Australia, Poland, Iceland,

Moldova and Azerbaijan.

481

00:26:38,682 --> 00:26:41,538

I'm still gutted about Poland, I'm sorry,

I liked Poland.

482

00:26:43,198 --> 00:26:48,818

All right, well, I think I'm for one, I'm

glad Ireland got through, I'm glad Croatia

483

00:26:48,818 --> 00:26:53,102

got through and I think the final was

shaping up very nicely indeed.

484

00:26:53,102 --> 00:26:56,282

Yeah, and I think the second semi -final

is probably the more competitive of the

485

00:26:56,282 --> 00:26:58,558

two, so I think Thursday night is going to

be really interesting.

486

00:26:58,558 --> 00:26:59,556

Mmm.

487

00:27:00,558 --> 00:27:02,678

Well, thank you very much, Liam, for

joining me this evening.

488

00:27:02,678 --> 00:27:05,378

I think you're very right that we should

both go off and get some sleep now.

489

00:27:05,378 --> 00:27:06,828

We will be back.

490

00:27:06,828 --> 00:27:11,478

We'll be doing another live reaction show

on Thursday night, ready to go up on

491

00:27:11,478 --> 00:27:12,058

Friday morning.

492

00:27:12,058 --> 00:27:14,908

So do make sure you hit subscribe on your

podcast platform.

493

00:27:14,908 --> 00:27:18,218

If you haven't done so already, you can

494

00:27:18,218 --> 00:27:23,218

underscore pod or me at Stephen Perkins,

just to make sure you catch all of our

495

00:27:23,218 --> 00:27:24,768

exciting updates over the course of this

week.

496

00:27:24,768 --> 00:27:29,170

But until next time, good night, Europe

and good morning, Australia.

497

00:27:31,326 --> 00:27:33,020

Alright, I'm going to stop there.