Eurovision 2018
Lisbon, Portugal

THE YEAR OF NO GREAT BREAK THROUGHS
or
THE YEAR OF BLACK, WHITE AND METALLIC GREY
or
THE YEAR THAT PANTS OUTNUMBER DRESSES*

Where’s the passion? Where’s the guts? And really: All Aboard!? That means there’s a TRAIN COMING, peoples! Nothing to do with the ocean.

THE OFFICIAL TOP THREE
Israel
Cyprus
Austria

MY TOP THREE
Denmark
Czech Republic
Italy

DENMARK. RASMUSSEN. HIGHER GROUND.
Anthemic. Powerful. And a KEY CHANGE. Could have done with a bit more of the Ruslana-Wild-Dances-type-choreography but mesmerising anyway. And beautifully crafted lyrics and imagery.  Freeze the arrow in the air, boys!

CZECH REPUBLIC. MIKOLAS JOSEPH.
LIE TO ME.
Exuberant. Cheeky. Fun. Was there a camel in his backpack?

ITALY. NON ME AVETE FATTO NIENTE. ERMAL META & FABRIZIO MORO.
Honest, earnest with a driving melody. Go Ermal & Fabrizio.

Special mention to:

MOLDOVA.  MY LUCKY DAY. DoReDoS.
How can you not love this song? Saucy. Upbeat. And choreographed to perfection! So clever.

 

SERBIA. NOVA DECA. SANJA ILIC & BALKANIKA.
Hey, the drums don’t work! Almost brilliant but not quite. Dramatic traditional flavour.

FRANCE. MERCY, MADAME MONSIEUR.
Exquisite. 

FINLAND. MONSTERS. SAARA AALTO.
Polished and powerful and catchy. Great performance, Saara! 

* What does this mean for Eurovision? Not sure.