Eurovision 2016 – This morning has seen the draw take place to decide which country will perform in which semi-final in the 2016 Contest. As Stockholm officially received the key to take on the contest, the logo ‘Come Together‘ and the artwork was revealed…a dandelion showing resistance and resilience.
The draw then took place with the following results:
Semi-final 1 – 10th May
1st half
Croatia
Finland
Moldova
Armenia
Greece
Hungary
Russia
The Netherlands
San Marino
2nd half
Azerbaijan
Cyprus
Malta
Bosnia Herzegovina
Estonia
Czech Republic
Montenegro
Iceland
Austria
Sweden, Spain and France will vote in semi-final 1
Semi-final 2 – 12th May
1st half
Belarus
Latvia
Ireland
Switzerland
FYR Macedonia
Australia
Lithuania
Poland
Israel
Serbia
Australia, Latvia, Belarus, Ireland, Switzerland, FYR Macedonia, Lithuania, Israel, Poland, Serbia
2nd half
Albania
Bulgaria
Denmark
Georgia
Romania
Slovenia
Norway
Ukraine
Belgium
Germany, UK and Italy will vote in semi-final 2
The Eurovision Times 
Ireland should get a few points from the UK in the semi-final.
From Azerbaijan, Russia, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina with 100% success and Armenia with one miss; Cyprus and San Marino with promising artists to Iceland, Hungary and Estonia holding some interesting NFs SF1 is bound to be competitive.
I have tickets for the second semi and I’m happy with that line-up.
Greece again in the first half of the first semi…
With the things we know till now and the countries competing in the first semi,it looks it’s going to be the most competitive one.
Second semi looks like the semi of the underdogs.
Well at least for Greece that’s random. Imagine France’s fate last three years… and on purpose too…
Well,France doesn’t have to worry about qualification anyway.
Too early to say which semi will be stronger but I’d like to wish luck to all countries competing 😊
Russia,Greece,Bosnia,Armenia,Azerbaijan all with great qualification records in semi 1.Plus,countries that have promising line ups in their NFS like Estonia,Finland,Iceland,Hungary,the Netherlands and possibly Austria.It’s going to be a bloodbath. :/
you can almost tell which ones will loose and miss out in that bloodbath, just hope the right countries make it.
the… “right”(?!) countries?
How I understand it the countries with the weakest songs. At least I hope.
Which ones are the left?
Well Finland will pick one of their usual disasters in their preselection so 1 qualifier less :P
“Rise Up” is extremely popular so you may be right.I still have some hope they may do the right thing and pick Mikael. :(
If Finland goes for the best song.
Czech R. could once again struggle with a weak song in such a semi and the way I see it now Belgium is a qualifier already!
A great allocation for FYROM with Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria and Slovenia in same semi.
Poland,Ukraine,Belarus,Latvia, Lithuania,Georgia seem like a pretty strong block to me too. Taking into consideration that Ireland and UK vote in semi 2 I can see Poland and Lithuania through if their songs are at least ok…
Judging from the Norwegian snippets I say Norway is doomed this year (no support in semi 2 either)…
Azerbaijan and Armenia start with one less country voting for them and Cyprus-Greece start with 12 p already !
Well Switzerland is out too :)
And Australia can easily win that SF.
Why should Australia easily win the semi?Unless you feel they’re gonna have the jury support no matter what the song.
Nope. They have the potential to win that easily if they pick a valid artist and strong song.
”Cyprus-Greece start with 12 p already”
Exactly, as it happened last year.
Denmark could miss the final again too considering their line-up.But we have to watch the live performances in their final because a strong live can improve their odds.
Denmark has Simone who could sail through
True despite the rofl title.”Blue Horizon” is growing on me too.
another good one!
You’d think Greece and Cyprus are guarenteed a 12 from each other but lets not forget what happened in 2015 :P
Interesting allocation. Probably some of the most balanced ones I ve seen in a while. I honestly dont have much to say. Russia has it quite good once again, Azerbaijan may have a problem with only Russia, Moldova and the Czech Republic as more standard supporters.
Semi 1 seems to be more predictable with more “standard” qualifiers while semi 2 seems more exciting.
Should be an interesting year.
Feance gets Estonia, Bosnia and Finland in the semi so Im happy but we also have Armenia so that’s a certain 12 from televote
And again Armenia and Azerbaijan are in the same semi! It neutralizes televoting somehow!
Grete Paia performing “Stories Untold” live:
Not surprisingly, I like this version much better than the electro one!
I love the violin but she needs to improve her vocal performance.
Yes, she does, and like in 2013 I’m not certain she’s that charismatic (while very pretty). But this version is much better. While Laura is charismatic as hell and a very distinct voalist (though not strong per se, but still good). I see both in danger of not being in the superffinal actually.
However,Laura was really bad during her own live performance of “Supersonic” both vocally and visually.
insanely awful
Time to clean our chakras with “Parmupillihullus”.LOL! http://menu.err.ee/v/eestilaul/24ed331a-3750-430b-b7cf-d86792b90c96/eesti-laul-2016-meisterjaan-parmupillihullus
This is quite a weird one, I’d say…
I have written the first three song reviews. In the next couple of months I will be going through them all: https://escsongreviews.wordpress.com/2016/01/25/songcheck-2016-albania-ireland-belgium/
I have just left a comment and look forward to reading the ones to come in the next weeks. :)
bookmarked :)
Get ready!Ruslana joins the jury panel for the Ukrainian NF. :P
Hm. We haven’t been in Semi 2 for ages – or since 2011 – so how will it go.
One more song from the German Final “Unser Lied fur Stockholm” :
Typical Schlager stuff, really. Like they couldn’t get Helene Fischer so they’re bringing this instead.
Zzzzzzzz
I agree.It’s the weakest of those revealed so far but i really like Keøma,Jamie-Lee Kriewitz and Alex Diehl
I only like Keøma out of those I have listened too. Alex Diehl gets a big NO from me.
Italy volte sure for ROMANIA, Albania, po Land, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Serbia, switzerland..And. .Ucraine!
Could only five of the ten Unser Lied für Stockholm songs on Spotify, but I put them all in a playlist anyway: https://open.spotify.com/user/hyperren/playlist/5ixUA0VTENynFZP4elm2Rv
Heard the JOCO song for the first time today, not bad.
Poor Croatia will have a tough time in its semi especially that they on early. Hopefully Bosnia and Montenegro can help them out.
Glad the UK can vote for Australia and Ireland. We’re actually forming something resembling a voting block, about 10 years too late admitted but still it’s a start.
FIRST SEMI: Azerbaijan will receive 12 points from Moldova, Czech Republic and maybe from San Marino and 10 points from Russia. Montenegro will receive 12 or 10 points from Bosnia and Croatia, Bosnia will receive 12 or 10 points from Croatia and Montenegro, Croatia will receive 12 or 10 points from Montenegro and Bosnia , Greece will receive from Cyprus 12 or 10 points, Cyprus will receive from Greece 12 or 10 points, Armenia is going to receive 12 points from Russia and Russia is going to receive 12 points from Armenia , Finland is going to give 12 or 10 points to Estonia and Estonia is going to give 12 or 10 points to Finland . SECOND SEMI: 12 points from Albania to FYR Macedonia, Belarus 12 points to Ukraine and 10 points to Georgia, Ukraine 12 points to Georgia, Georgia 12 points to Ukraine, Denmark 12 points to Norway and vers, Latvia 12 points to Lithuania, Lithuania 12 points to Latvia and 10 points to Poland, Poland 12 points to Lithuania, FYR Macedonia 12 points to Albania and 10 points to Serbia :P Does anybody have doubt for this results ? :P