Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Eurovision 2018: Prediction for Tuesday's first semi-final

Yes, it's that time of the year again, and with non-heartfelt apologies to the handful of people who traditionally storm off in disgust at this point, here is the eleventh (gasp!) running of the annual ritual of the Scot Goes Pop Eurovision prediction.  As David Dimbleby used to say about the BBC exit poll, it's sometimes accurate...sometimes not so accurate.  2010 was my golden year when I got almost everything right, although I've correctly picked the winner for five of the last ten years.  Sometimes that was relatively easy because there's often an overwhelming favourite, but I've noticed over the years that overwhelming favourites for the Eurovision tend to go one of two ways - they either win by a landslide as expected, or they crash and burn and don't even get close to winning.  In a sense, the latter is what happened to last year's Italian song Occidentali's Karma (although admittedly by that point it had been caught in the late betting by Portugal).

This year, as you may know, there's once again been an overwhelming favourite over the last few weeks in the shape of Israel.  I must say I have my doubts about whether it will win, although I'd better be cautious in case my own personal tastes are interfering with my judgement.  But I have a suspicion that the juries won't go for it, and that it may even be a bit too 'challenging' for a lot of televoters.  [UPDATE: And I see in an echo of last year that Israel has just been unexpectedly displaced as bookies' favourite by Cyprus.]

I don't think Israel will have any great problem qualifying from tonight's semi, though.  In no particular order, here are the ten countries I think will make it through...

Estonia
Cyprus
Lithuania
Albania
Greece
Israel
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Finland
Azerbaijan

Of those, the one I'm least sure of is Greece - although with Cyprus in the same semi, there's a guarantee of points from at least one source!

44 comments:

  1. Cromwellian ThurppeMay 8, 2018 at 9:03 PM

    The best so far:
    1. Lithuania
    2. Estonia
    3. Albania

    The worst:
    The rest. Why do they sing in that horrible international English?

    ReplyDelete
  2. We need a good British Unionist singer like Lulu or Sir Cliff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oscar de la RentboyMay 8, 2018 at 10:02 PM

      I'd like to go to one of Sir Cliff's parties in Portugal.

      Delete
    2. Boom Bang a Bang.

      Delete
    3. Oscar de la RentboyMay 8, 2018 at 11:27 PM

      He did. Ouch!

      Delete
    4. It's talking to itself again...

      Delete
    5. Neighbours went to Portugal on holiday. Dump. Fat sweaty hags eating garlic mushrooms and chips. No fun

      Delete
    6. State of this.

      Delete
    7. State of Israel. Right back at you, pish parrot!

      Delete
    8. State of this and its impotent rage.

      Delete
    9. This must be what trolly means by a proper Unionist entry for Eurovision:

      https://wingsoverscotland.com/where-the-friendship-is/

      There are, after all, several "patriotic" songs in there...

      Delete
    10. That's it, trolly, just you keep up that self-loathing routine.

      (shakes head) Poor benighted creature. All that hate...

      Delete
    11. Don't your neighbours mind you calling them obese toothless old crones?

      Delete
    12. It wouldn't have the bottle to say anything like that to their faces. No doubt it's sleekit that way.

      Delete
    13. You jocks are the worst neighbours a country could have, fat sweaty hags, obese old crones and scagends off their heids on smack, crack and frosty jacks.

      Delete
    14. You're so classy, sweetheart.

      Delete
  3. Jesus. Is this the worst Eurovision show ever? Looks like we'll be going out on Saturday night for the first time in years.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You got 8 out of ten. I expected Greece to get through as Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Cyprus were voting in this round and would have given them a leg up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Macedonia vote for Greece?!?!

      Delete
  5. If only we had a Scottish entrant. Lena Martell and sweet jesus would do it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ask your Tory overlords.

      Delete
    2. How about Callum Kenndy and his backing group the JFKs?

      Delete
    3. You lazy scrounging jocks are so off yer face on crack and the vino you won't have a clue who's singing.

      Delete
    4. State of this racist troll.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous, I reckon you have made at least seven posts so far!

      Delete
    6. Wrong again, troll.

      Delete
    7. How do you know I am wrong?

      Delete
    8. I repeat. How do you know? Pish parrot!

      Delete
    9. Because even a stopped clock has a better record than you, trolly. Now, hadn't you better get a move on? No doubt the Tory club won't like it when the help are late...

      Delete
    10. That is about ten posts now. There cannot be another prick, surely!

      Delete
    11. No, dearie, just you.

      Delete
    12. Nah it is definately you nancy bhoy.

      Delete
    13. Homophobic ad hominem with typos and sectarianism. What a touch of class you are, trolly.

      Delete
  6. So big Tam was at the Nat si rally. I did not see a red flag in any of your pics James! Maybe the big yin has converted to nationalist socialism and wraps himself in the Saltire now.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The only flag you jocks fly is the white flag of surrender.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, sweetheart. Thanks for availing us of your accumulated wisdom again. You have a nice afternoon.

      Delete
    2. I get it you're desperate for some non-jock cock I don't blame you, but I wouldn't touch a jock with Salmond's.

      Delete
    3. Your tactic is so obvious that even the regular troll wouldn't use it. By the way, I'm completely comfortable with my sexuality. Are you comfortable with yours?

      Delete
    4. I have a fwend who lives in Wome called Bigus Dickus.

      Delete
    5. Sheer laziness, nicking from the Pythons when your own material is so execrable. Best not referencing that particular classic around your DUP masters; they'll be a bit twitchy about it to say the least.

      Delete
    6. Surprised you have heard of the Pythons... You nat sis are not noted for having a sense of humour.

      Delete
    7. Wrong yet again...
      Indulging your deranged gibberish gives us plenty of laughs, trolly.

      Delete
  8. Looking forward to tonight's Euro semi-final with trepidation, and hoping the presenters tonight will not aim for the dizzy heights of humour and wackeroo reached by On The Buses and You're Only Young Twice.

    Maybe they could conduct the show through mime and save our ear drums a punishing.

    ReplyDelete