#11: First!

This week we begin our analysis of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in earnest. First up: the first half of the first semi-final! Which entries are locks for advancing to the Grand Final? Who might get help from the running order? Why is Staples playing Eurovision songs from 2016? Episode Summary * Eurovision Viewing Parties (3:50) * Why is Staples playing “Sunlight”? (5:20) * Analyzing the semi-final (9:36) First Semi-Final Running Order * Azerbaijan – Aisel – X My Heart (9:36) * Iceland – Ari Olafsson – Our Choice (14:48) * Albania – Eugent Bushpepa – Mall (19:52) * Belgium – SENNEK – A Matter of Time (27:16) * Czech Republic – Mikolas Josef – Lie to Me (31:27) * Lithuania – Ieva Zasimauskaitė – When We’re Old (37:44) * Israel – Netta – Toy (43:29) * Belarus – Alekseev – Forever (47:44) * Estonia – Elina Netšajeva – La Forza (52:22) * Bulgaria – Equinox – Bones (58:09) Links * Oddschecker: Overall | First Semi-Final | Second Semi-Final * Eurovision Viewing Party form