Eurovision 2014 Semi Final 1: Everything you need to know!

The first semi-final is over! Joining automatic qualifiers; United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Italy and last year's winners, Denmark, in saturday's grand final will be... Montenegro, Hungary, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, San Marino, Ukraine, Sweden, The Netherlands and Iceland. Find out all you need to know about the qualifiers, right here!

Yes, it’s that time of the year when no sparkle is too sparkly, no glitter is too glitzy and there’s no such thing as over the top, or so we like to think. But Eurovision is a serious business, with talent from all over Europe, just waiting to impress.

Of the automatically qualifying countries, Spain, France and Denmark voted in semi-final one, along with the countries that took part. See our run down on the acts that performed in tonight's show below. 

Armenia: Aram MP3 – Not Alone

First off the rank this evening, Aram is something of a household name in his home country, with presenting spots of X Factor and Armenian Idol under his belt. Not Alone, co-written by Aram himself, starts off as a huge ballad before getting its swag on, bringing in a dubstep wobble two thirds of the way in. 

EUROVISION FORM: Armenia’s best showing in the Eurovision Song Contest so far was fourth place in 2008.

Latvia: Aarzemnieki – Cake To Bake

Aarzemnieki’s German singer Jöran Steinhauer first enjoyed huge success as a YouTube sensation when he wrote a song about the Latvian currency. After the vid got 100,000 views in one week, Jöran added some band members to his solo act and the rest is history.

Cake To Bake is a very jaunty, acoustic number that’s not actually about baking. 

EUROVISION FORM: Latvia are previous winners of Eurovision – Marie N’s I Wanna took the prize at the 2002 contest in Tailinn, Estonia.

Estonia: Tanja – Amazing

Hey Estonia, we were just talking about you. Russian-born Tanja (below right) is a big star in Estonia; she’s been in numerous bands and has played big roles on stage, including Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Amazing is an uplifting dance banger that isn’t a million miles away from Rihanna’s We Found Love. 

EUROVISION FORM: Estonia already has a Eurovision win under their belt – they took the trophy home in 2001, and they’ve had three Top 10 finishes since then, so they’re definitely a contender.

Sweden: Sanna Nielsen – Undo

An early favourite, Sanna Nielsen (above left) tried out to represent her country at Eurovision an incredible six times before it was seventh time lucky in 2014’s Melodifestivalen.

Sanna’s been releasing music since she was 12 and certainly knows her way around a stage. Undo is a huge electronic ballad – think Wrecking Ball but with considerably more clothes on.

EUROVISION FORM: Sweden are, of course, among the Royals of Eurovision, taking home the gong five times, starting with ABBA’s Waterloo in 1974. Their most recent win was 2012’s, er, euphoric song Euphoria, from Loreen.

Iceland: Pollapönk – No Prejudice

Bright-suited band Pollapönk are big names in their native Iceland, releasing their first album in 2006. No Prejudice is a fun song with a message – be nice to each other. It’s a bit like Busted, with a dash of McFly and a side order of beautifully bonkers. Their disco dancing with guitars is a thing of wonder.

EUROVISION FORM: Iceland has finished second a couple of times, but have no wins yet. Their most recent runner-up spot was 2009’s Final, when Yohanna sang Is It True?

Albania: Hersi – One Night’s Anger

Despite being just 24 years old, Hersi (above right) has already had five goes at being selected to represent her country at Eurovision. A child prodigy, she first found fame in a TV talent contest. One Night’s Anger is a dramatic midtempo – Hersi’s distinctive reminds us a bit of Shakira.

EUROVISION FORM: Albania’s best showing at Eurovision so far was just last year, when Rona Nishilu finished fifth with Suus.

Russia: Tolmachevy Sisters – Shine

Russia have a secret weapon in these twin sisters from Kursk – they’ve won Eurovision before! Well, kind of. The girls were champions of 2006’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest at the age of nine. Awww.

Now they’re back and want a piece of the main contest action with Shine, a powerful dramatic track which has more than a hint of Mutya-era Sugababes, along with a few traditional elements.

EUROVISION FORM: Russia has taken home the Eurovision trophy once, when Dima Bilan won with Believe in 2008.

Azerbaijan: Dilara Kazimova – Start A Fire

It’s Dilara’s third attempt to represent her country at Eurovision, and after some big successes for Azerbaijan over the last few years, she has some big boots to fill. Start A Fire certainly has big ambitions, with sweeping strings and a bucket of emotion from Dilara.

EUROVISION FORM: Azerbaijan has finished in the top 5 every year since 2009, winning in 2011 and grabbing second place last year – can they do it again?

Ukraine: Marima Yaremchuk – Tick-Tock

Coming from a musical family, Mariya first found fame in her own right as a contestant on The Voice, eventually finishing in fourth place. Tick-Tock, which Mariya wrote herself, is a genuine toe-tapper – not to mention hand-clapper – and its tune probably wouldn’t be too out of place on a Marina And The Diamonds album. Maybe not the lyrics, though.

EUROVISION FORM: Ukraine won 10 years ago with Ruslana’s Wild Dances, and finished third last year.

Belgium: Alex Hirsoux – Mother

Another former The Voice contestant hoping for a shot at Eurovision glory is Belgium’s Axel Hirsoux (above right). Mother is a stripped back ballad which showcases Axel’s powerful, almost operatic voice and is a real lighters in the air moment. If you shut your eyes it could almost be Celine up there. Sort of.

EUROVISION FORM: Belgium has won just once, when Sandra Kim’s J’Aime La Vie (I Love Life) romped to victory in 1986.

Moldova: Cristina Scarlat – Wild Soul

Classically trained Cristina (below left) is keeping it in the family: her song was actually written by her 23-year-old niece Lidia, who graduated from Royal Holloway in London.

Wild Soul starts off a moody ballad before – yep, you’ve guessed it – a dubstep-inspired beat kicks in, to brilliant effect. Cristina sounds not to be messed with.

EUROVISION FORM: Moldova has yet to win and, so far, haven’t bettered their sixth place finish during their first ever Eurovision in 2005.

San Marino: Valentina Monetta – Maybe (Forse)

Valentina (above right) has Eurovision form: she represented San Marino in both the 2012 and 2013 contests, both times stalling at the semi-final stage. Optimistic ballad Maybe magically gets its hands on a light disco beat halfway through.

EUROVISION FORM: Before 2014, San Marino had never made it past the semi-final stage.

Portugal: Suzy – Quero Ser Tua

Suzy’s career started off as part of children’s band Onda Choc, before she went it alone on Christmas song Esta Noite Branca, which is still a festive favourite in Portugal. Quero Ser Tua (meaning “I want to be yours”) is the first song of the evening not sung in English – it’s a breezy, calypso-esque track.

EUROVISION FORM: Portugal hasn’t made it past the semi-final stage since 2010. Its best showing so far was sixth place back in 1996.

The Netherlands: The Common Linnets – Calm After The Storm

Two solo singer-songwriters, Ilse DeLange and Wylon (above right) have joined forces to represent their country. Ilse has been a huge star in her home country for 15 years, while Waylon first found fame on Holland’s Got Talent in 2008.

Calm After The Storm is an atmospheric track that sounds a little like Lana Del Rey might if she speeded things up a bit or covered a Crowded House tune.

EUROVISION FORM: Netherlands has won four times – but not for quite a while. Their last victory was with Teach-In in 1975.

Montenegro: Sergej Cetkovic – Moj Svijet

Sergej has been in the business 14 years and is a huge popstar in Montenegro. Moj Svijet (meaning: “my world”) is a haunting, traditional ballad and the only other song on the night not to be sung in English.

EUROVISION FORM: Prior to this year, Montenegro have never reached the final. 

Hungary: András Kállay-Saunders – Running

New York-born Andràs is another former talent show star hoping he can grab the Eurovision crown. After trying twice to represent Hungary, it was third time lucky for Running, Andràs’ self-penned, tragic tale of domestic violence.

Despite the serious subject matter, there’s an uplifting drum and bass feel to Running – think Emeli Sandé’s Heaven.

EUROVISION FORM: Hungary’s best placing so far is fourth in 1994, but András looks like a strong contender to better that.

Voting tonight but not performing:

Spain: Ruth Lorenzo – Dancing In The Rain

Eage-eyed readers may recognise the name of the Spanish entry. Why, yes, it is the UK X Factor’s very own Ruth Lorenzo, who finished fifth on the show in 2008. Ruth still looks and sounds as great as ever on Dancing In The Rain, a Ryan Tedder-esque tune sung in both Spanish and English. Ruth co-wrote the track with McFly’s producer, and it’s already been a Top 10 hit in Ruth’s native Spain.

EUROVISION FORM: Spain won consecutively in 1968 and 1969 – but they haven’t done any better since then, despite coming second four times.

France: TWIN TWIN – Moustache

France are certainly having fun with their entry this year, with TWIN TWIN bringing an LMFAO-style flavour to the competition.

Moustache is a bouncy, unashamedly cheesy dance track about that problem many young men face – the inability to grow a moustache. Yes, really.

EUROVISION FORM: France has won five times, but it’s been a while since their last victory, when Marie Myriam took the trophy home in 1977.

Denmark: Basim – Cliché Love Song

The reigning champions have gone for a completely different sound from last year’s winner Emmelie de Forest. Cliché Love Song has a definite Bruno Mars feel and former X Factor star Basim definitely does. The upbeat love song is backed by a joyful stage performance with lots of dancing – can Denmark make it two years in a row? We shouldn’t rule it out!

EUROVISION FORM: Denmark has won three times: 2013, of course, then 2000 and then waaaay back in 1963!

Who are you backing?

Got a fave? Rooting for a song, or maybe just the one you fancy the most? It’s what Eurovision is all about! Drop us a tweet to tell us who’s your contender!