ESC 2015: first set of finalists chosen
Sixteen nations battled in the first semifinals to qualify for Eurovision Song Contest finale on May 23. Ten qualified. When the jury and spectators' votes were counted, they served up some surprises.
After a glamorous downbeat delivered by last year's winner, Conchita Wurst, it was on to the contest, whose results surprised experts and betting agencies. Among the favorites, the Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät didn't advance to the next round. With its fairy tale backdrop and theme of genocide, "Face The Shadow" seems a bit over-composed, but the song by Armenia's band Genealogy found favor with jury and spectators. Having placed its bets on a very young artist, Belgium made the finals as well. Loïc Nottet gave a strong and idiomatic song-and-dance performance of "Rhythm Inside" on a black-and-white stage set. Greece also took the hurdle with the pathos-laden ballad "One Last Breath," sung by Maria Elena Kyriakou (picture above). Viewers also gave the thumbs-up to Estonia's pop rock song. In "Goodbye to Yesterday," Elina Born and Stig Rästa rendered the bleak mood of a one night stand in song. Their Tuesday evening performance wasn't a one night stand, however; they'll be back at Saturday's finale. Big show, down-tempo sounds Serbia sent a substantial singer Bojana Stamenov to the stage. In "Beauty Never Lies," the "Serbian Beth Ditto" delivered an explosive song, and her magnificent big dress generated the highest-octane glamour of all. Hungary qualified with Boggie's folksy and understated antiwar song, "Wars For Nothing." Peace and reconciliation is also the subject of Russia's powerful ballad "A Million Voices," with which Polina Gagarina made it to the final. Giving her all for Albania, Elhaida Dani squeaked "I'm Alive" in the highest pitches and entered the final round. Rumania's Voltaj convinced listeners with "De la capăt," a song about parents who work abroad and leave their children behind. An energetic final number was delivered by Nina Sublatti from Georgia. Accompanied by a hectic laser show, she screamed "Warrior" into the audience, which then delivered the necessary votes for her to proceed to the final. Only 16 countries voted The order in which the songs were performed was not coincidental. Host broadcaster ORF (Austrian Public Broadcasting) had carefully chosen the starting positions so that the audience wouldn't be lulled to sleep with multiple slow songs in a row. But with the majority of entries in the 2015 edition of the ESC being ballads - performed with varying degrees of bombast and considerably removed from the zeitgeist - the risk of a certain boredom looms. The finale will benefit from a couple of up-beat exceptions like Belgium's young dance performance. All 16 acts were required to perform for the jury on Monday, which then awarded half of the points. The television audience then had the opportunity to call in their votes in Tuesday evening's show, with only the participating countries allowed to vote and none permitted to vote for their own country. The next semifinal is set for Thursday. A starting position is guaranteed to host country Austria and the five highest contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU): Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain and Italy. This year, Australia was invited to participate and will also be among the 27 countries vying for the top honor on Saturday. Ann Sophie in good spirits After having given a splendid rehearsal performance, Germany's entry, Ann Sophie, gave a press conference on Tuesday. Calm, composed and spontaneous, she chatted casually with journalists from various countries in impeccable English and gave a brief impromptu rendition of part of a song by her favorite singer, Beyoncé. Wrapping up the appearance, she followed up with an acoustical sample of her ESC song "Black Smoke," joined by her guitarist.
ESC
Electronic_stability_control Electronic_speed_control Eurovision_Song_Contest Escape_character Esc_key European_Society_of_Cardiology Elite_SC European_Shooting_Confederation Electronic_Systems_Center Ekenäs_Sport_Club European_Skeptics_Congress Eurovision_Song_Contest_2015 Juventud_Escuintleca Easington_Colliery_A.F.C. Beyond_Twilight Twenty-Fifth_Air_Force
2015
Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision_Song_Contest Eurovision_Song_Contest_2009 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2006 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2015 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2016 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2005 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2010 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2014 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2008 Eurovision_Song_Contest_1969 Eurovision_Song_Contest_1965 Eurovision_Song_Contest_1983 Eurovision_Song_Contest_1974 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2007 Eurovision_Song_Contest_1977 Eurovision_Song_Contest_2013
May 23
winner
Conchita Wurst
Conchita_Wurst
Finnish
punk band
Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät
Pertti_Kurikan_Nimipäivät
Face The Shadow
Face_the_Shadow
Armenia
Armenia Armenia_national_football_team Armenia,_Colombia Kingdom_of_Armenia_(antiquity) Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Armenia Armenian_Soviet_Socialist_Republic Football_Federation_of_Armenia First_Republic_of_Armenia Armenian_Kingdom_of_Cilicia Armenia_national_under-21_football_team Arminiya Armenia_Fed_Cup_team Armenian_Highlands Roman_Armenia Medieval_Armenia Armenia_women's_national_football_team
band
Genealogy
Genealogy Genealogy_(band) Genealogy_of_Jesus Genealogy_(philosophy) Trojan_genealogy_of_Nennius Mendelssohn_family Genealogy_book Family_tree Genealogies_in_the_Bible On_the_Genealogy_of_Morality
Belgium
Belgium Belgium_national_football_team Royal_Belgian_Football_Association Same-sex_marriage_in_Belgium Belgium_women's_national_football_team Ultratop Battle_of_Belgium Belgium_national_under-21_football_team Royal_Belgian_Cycling_League Belgium_Davis_Cup_team Belgium_national_rugby_union_team Belgium_Fed_Cup_team Belgium_national_basketball_team Football_in_Belgium Belgium_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest Belgium_men's_national_field_hockey_team
Loïc Nottet
Loïc_Nottet
Rhythm Inside
Rhythm_Inside_(Loïc_Nottet_song) Rhythm_Inside_(Calum_Scott_song)
Greece
Greece Greece_national_football_team Kingdom_of_Greece Ancient_Greece Greece_national_basketball_team Greek_Basket_League Hellenic_Football_Federation Battle_of_Greece Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Greece Greece_(town),_New_York Greece_national_under-21_football_team Greece_women's_national_football_team Greece_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest Second_Hellenic_Republic Greece_Fed_Cup_team Greece_(European_Parliament_constituency)
ballad
One Last Breath
One_Last_Breath_(Creed_song) One_Last_Breath_(Maria_Elena_Kyriakou_song)
Maria Elena Kyriakou
Maria_Elena_Kyriakou
Estonia
Estonia Estonia_national_football_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Estonia Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Estonia Estonian_Football_Association Estonia_women's_national_football_team Estonian_Soviet_Socialist_Republic Estonia_men's_national_basketball_team Estonia_national_under-21_football_team Estonia_Fed_Cup_team Football_in_Estonia Estonia_under_Swedish_rule Estonia_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest Governorate_of_Estonia Estonia_Davis_Cup_team Duchy_of_Estonia_(1561–1721)
Goodbye to Yesterday
Goodbye_to_Yesterday_(No_Angels_song) Goodbye_to_Yesterday_(Elina_Born_&_Stig_Rästa_song) Estonia_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2015
Elina Born
Elina_Born
Stig Rästa
Stig_Rästa
Tuesday
Saturday
Serbia
Serbia Serbia_national_football_team Kingdom_of_Serbia Principality_of_Serbia Republic_of_Serbia_(1992–2006) Socialist_Republic_of_Serbia Football_Association_of_Serbia Serbia_men's_national_basketball_team Basketball_League_of_Serbia Serbia_national_rugby_league_team Serbia_national_under-21_football_team Serbia_national_under-19_football_team Serbia_Davis_Cup_team Serbia_in_the_Middle_Ages Serbia_Fed_Cup_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Serbia
singer
Bojana Stamenov
Bojana_Stamenov
Beauty Never Lies
Beauty_Never_Lies
Serbian
Beth Ditto
Beth_Ditto
Hungary
Hungary Hungary_national_football_team Kingdom_of_Hungary Kingdom_of_Hungary_(1920–1946) Hungarian_People's_Republic Hungarian_Football_Federation ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Hungary Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Hungary Hungary_national_under-21_football_team Kingdom_of_Hungary_(1526–1867) Hungary_women's_national_football_team Hungary_national_handball_team Hungary_in_World_War_II Hungary_women's_national_basketball_team Hungary_Fed_Cup_team Hungary_national_speedway_team
Boggie
song
Wars For Nothing
Wars_for_Nothing
Russia
Russia Russian_Empire Russia_national_football_team Russia_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Russia_men's_national_junior_ice_hockey_team Tsardom_of_Russia Russia_national_rugby_union_team Russian_Soviet_Federative_Socialist_Republic Russian_Football_Union Russia_women's_national_football_team Russia_national_basketball_team Russia_national_rugby_league_team Russia_Fed_Cup_team Russia_national_cerebral_palsy_football_team Russia_national_handball_team Russia_Davis_Cup_team
ballad
A Million Voices
A_Million_Voices_(song)
Polina Gagarina
Polina_Gagarina
Albania
Albania Albania_national_football_team People's_Socialist_Republic_of_Albania Italian_protectorate_of_Albania_(1939–1943) Albanian_Football_Association Principality_of_Albania Caucasian_Albania Albanian_Kingdom_(1928–1939) Albania_(placename) Albania_national_under-21_football_team Football_in_Albania Albania_women's_national_football_team Legislative_elections_in_Albania German_occupation_of_Albania Albanian_literature Miss_Universe_Albania
Elhaida Dani
Elhaida_Dani
I'm Alive
I'm_Alive_(Celine_Dion_song) I'm_Alive_(The_Hollies_song) I'm_Alive_(Jackson_Browne_album) I'm_Alive_(Elhaida_Dani_song) I'm_Alive_(Electric_Light_Orchestra_song) I'm_Alive_(Willie_Nelson_song) I'm_Alive_(TV_series) I'm_Alive_(Jackson_Browne_song) I'm_Alive_(Kelly_Keagy_album) I'm_Alive_(Tommy_James_and_the_Shondells_song) I'm_Alive_(book) Heartlight_(album) Worship_Music_(album) Neil_Diamond I'm_Alive_(EP) Neil_Diamond_discography
Rumania
Romania Romania_during_World_War_I Rugby_union_in_Romania Kingdom_of_Romania Socialist_Republic_of_Romania
Voltaj
Voltaj
De la capăt
De_la_capăt
Nina Sublatti
Nina_Sublatti
Georgia
Georgia_(U.S._state) Georgia_(country) Georgia_Bulldogs_football University_of_Georgia Georgia_national_football_team Georgia_national_rugby_union_team List_of_United_States_Senators_from_Georgia Georgia_Bulldogs_basketball Georgia_Bulldogs List_of_United_States_Representatives_from_Georgia Georgia_Bulldogs_baseball Georgia_Lady_Bulldogs_basketball Province_of_Georgia Georgia_Gymdogs Georgian_Soviet_Socialist_Republic Miss_Georgia_USA
Warrior
Warrior Warrior_(2011_film) Warrior_(comics) Warrior_(Kesha_album) FC_Warrior_Valga Warrior_tracked_armoured_vehicle Warrior_(band) Warrior_(character_class) Warrior_Sports Warrior,_Alabama Warrior_(TV_series) Warrior_(Nina_Sublatti_song) Warrior_(B.A.P_song) Warrior_(Kimbra_song) Warrior_(Havana_Brown_song) Warrior_(Amber_Bondin_song)
broadcaster
ORF
ORF_(broadcaster) Open_reading_frame Orfeas_Nicosia ORF_eins Orf_(disease) ORF_format ORF Orf,_Iran Raw_image_format Norfolk_International_Airport
Austrian Public Broadcasting
ORF_(broadcaster)
2015
ESC
Electronic_stability_control Electronic_speed_control Eurovision_Song_Contest Escape_character Esc_key European_Society_of_Cardiology Elite_SC European_Shooting_Confederation Electronic_Systems_Center Ekenäs_Sport_Club European_Skeptics_Congress Eurovision_Song_Contest_2015 Juventud_Escuintleca Easington_Colliery_A.F.C. Beyond_Twilight Twenty-Fifth_Air_Force
Belgium
Belgium Belgium_national_football_team Royal_Belgian_Football_Association Same-sex_marriage_in_Belgium Belgium_women's_national_football_team Ultratop Battle_of_Belgium Belgium_national_under-21_football_team Royal_Belgian_Cycling_League Belgium_Davis_Cup_team Belgium_national_rugby_union_team Belgium_Fed_Cup_team Belgium_national_basketball_team Football_in_Belgium Belgium_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest Belgium_men's_national_field_hockey_team
Monday
Tuesday
Thursday
country
Austria
Austria Austria_national_football_team Austrian_Empire ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Austria Habsburg_Monarchy Same-sex_marriage_in_Austria Archduchy_of_Austria Austrian_Football_Association First_Austrian_Republic Ö3_Austria_Top_40 Austria-Hungary Austria_women's_national_football_team Austria_national_under-21_football_team Duchy_of_Austria List_of_non-marine_molluscs_of_Austria Federal_State_of_Austria
European Broadcasting Union
European_Broadcasting_Union
EBU
European_Broadcasting_Union European_Boxing_Union Ebu_(album) Ebu English_Bridge_Union Badminton_Europe Embu_language
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
France
France France_national_football_team France_national_rugby_union_team French_poetry French_Third_Republic France_national_rugby_league_team Kingdom_of_France French_Rugby_Federation French_Football_Federation France_women's_national_football_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_France Cinema_of_France First_French_Empire A1_Team_France Early_modern_France Second_French_Empire
Great Britain
Great_Britain Great_Britain_national_rugby_league_team Kingdom_of_Great_Britain United_Kingdom A1_Team_Great_Britain United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland Great_Britain_Olympic_football_team List_of_non-marine_molluscs_of_Great_Britain Great_Britain_national_speedway_team Peerage_of_Great_Britain Great_Britain_at_the_Olympics Great_Britain_men's_national_field_hockey_team English_poetry Great_Britain_Davis_Cup_team Great_Britain_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics Great_Britain_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics
Spain
Spain Spain_national_football_team Royal_Spanish_Football_Federation Liga_ACB Spanish_Empire Spain_men's_national_basketball_team Spain_national_rugby_union_team Restoration_(Spain) Habsburg_Spain Francoist_Spain Royal_Spanish_Cycling_Federation Spain_women's_national_football_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Spain Spain_national_under-21_football_team Spanish_poetry Spain_national_beach_soccer_team
Italy
Italy Italy_national_football_team Italy_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Italy Italian_Football_Federation Italy_national_rugby_league_team Italian_Campaign_(World_War_II) Italy_women's_national_football_team Lega_Basket_Serie_A Italian_Rugby_Federation A1_Team_Italy ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Italy Italy_national_basketball_team Kingdom_of_Italy_(Holy_Roman_Empire) Italy_national_under-21_football_team Cinema_of_Italy
Australia
Australia Australia_national_cricket_team Australia_national_rugby_union_team Australia_national_rugby_league_team Australia_national_soccer_team Rugby_Australia Australia_women's_national_cricket_team Australia_women's_national_soccer_team Australia_(2008_film) ARIA_Charts Australia_international_rules_football_team Football_Federation_Australia A1_Team_Australia Australia_Davis_Cup_team Australian_Recording_Industry_Association Kent_Music_Report
Saturday
Ann Sophie
Ann_Sophie
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
Ann Sophie
Ann_Sophie
Tuesday
English
English_language England English_people English_poetry English_studies Kingdom_of_England English_Americans United_Kingdom English_literature Australian_English England_national_football_team American_English Philippine_English English_law English_Canadians English-speaking_world
singer
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Beyoncé_(album) List_of_songs_recorded_by_Beyoncé
ESC
Electronic_stability_control Electronic_speed_control Eurovision_Song_Contest Escape_character Esc_key European_Society_of_Cardiology Elite_SC European_Shooting_Confederation Electronic_Systems_Center Ekenäs_Sport_Club European_Skeptics_Congress Eurovision_Song_Contest_2015 Juventud_Escuintleca Easington_Colliery_A.F.C. Beyond_Twilight Twenty-Fifth_Air_Force
song
Black Smoke
Black_Smoke_(song) Soot Gunpowder Black_smoke_(The_War_of_the_Worlds) Black_carbon
Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision_Song_Contest
meta::todo slot::keyword topic::none type::entity type::misc
Conchita Wurst
Conchita_Wurst
gender::male iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 slot::keyword topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
European Broadcasting Union
European_Broadcasting_Union
slot::keyword topic::media type::entity type::media type::organization
Austrian Public Broadcasting
ORF_(broadcaster)
slot::keyword topic::media type::entity type::media type::organization
2015
topic::none type::time type::value
May 23
topic::none type::time type::value
winner
topic::none type::role type::value
Finnish
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
punk band
topic::none type::role type::value
Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät
Pertti_Kurikan_Nimipäivät
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::music_band type::organization
Face The Shadow
Face_the_Shadow
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Armenia
Armenia
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
band
topic::none type::role type::value
Genealogy
Genealogy_(band)
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::music_band type::organization
Belgium
Belgium
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Loïc Nottet
Loïc_Nottet
gender::male iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Rhythm Inside
Rhythm_Inside_(Loïc_Nottet_song)
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Greece
Greece
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
ballad
topic::none type::role type::value
One Last Breath
One_Last_Breath_(Maria_Elena_Kyriakou_song)
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Maria Elena Kyriakou
Maria_Elena_Kyriakou
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Estonia
Estonia
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Goodbye to Yesterday
Goodbye_to_Yesterday_(Elina_Born_&_Stig_Rästa_song)
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Elina Born
Elina_Born
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Stig Rästa
Stig_Rästa
gender::male iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Tuesday
topic::none type::time type::value
Saturday
topic::none type::time type::value
Serbia
Serbia
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
singer
topic::none type::role type::value
Bojana Stamenov
Bojana_Stamenov
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Beauty Never Lies
Beauty_Never_Lies
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Serbian
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Beth Ditto
Beth_Ditto
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Hungary
Hungary
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Boggie
Boggie
meta::todo
song
topic::none type::role type::value
Wars For Nothing
Wars_for_Nothing
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Russia
Russia
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
A Million Voices
A_Million_Voices_(song)
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Polina Gagarina
Polina_Gagarina
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Albania
Albania
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Elhaida Dani
Elhaida_Dani
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
I'm Alive
I'm_Alive_(Elhaida_Dani_song)
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Rumania
Rumania
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Voltaj
Voltaj
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::music_band type::organization
De la capăt
De_la_capăt
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Nina Sublatti
Nina_Sublatti
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Georgia
Georgia_(country)
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Warrior
Warrior_(Nina_Sublatti_song)
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
broadcaster
topic::none type::role type::value
Monday
topic::none type::time type::value
Thursday
topic::none type::time type::value
country
topic::none type::role type::value
Austria
Austria
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Germany
Germany
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
France
France
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Great Britain
United_Kingdom
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Spain
Spain
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Italy
Italy
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Australia
Australia
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Ann Sophie
Ann_Sophie
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
English
English_language
topic::none type::entity type::language
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
gender::female iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::artist type::entity type::musician type::person
Black Smoke
Black_Smoke_(song)
iptc::01000000 iptc::20000018 topic::culture type::entity type::misc type::music_title type::work_of_art
Finland