Eurovision 2014 Semi Final 2: Everything you need to know!

As the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 looms, we take a look at the latest batch of Eurovision hopefuls keen to smash through the second semi-final.

After the excitement of Tuesday’s first semi-final, it’s now time for round two! Who will join the 15 countries ready and waiting in the Grand Final?

We cast our beady Eurovision-loving eye over the hopefuls polishing their sequins and warming up their vocal chords for the night of their lives…

Unlike the first semi-final, the UK gets to vote in this one, so their fate is in your hands! Which 10 do you think will make it through?

Malta: Firelight – Coming Home

Richard, the lead singer of folk band Firelight tried out for The X Factor UK the same year Leona Lewis won, making it through to bootcamp. Coming Home, which has a flavour of Gary Barlow’s Let Me Go, is an uplifting tune that should see Malta make it to the final.

EUROVISION FORM: Malta has never won, but has finished in second place twice. Will Malta improve on bridesmaid position this year?

Israel: Mei Finegold – Same Heart

Singer and actress Mei (above right) shot to fame on talent show A Star Is Born on 2006, and has been a permanent fixture on the Israeli music scene ever since. Same Heart is a rocky EDM banger sung in both English and Hebrew.

EUROVISION FORM: Israel’s most famous, and most recent, victory came in 1998 with Dana International’s Diva, but they have two other wins under their belt.

Norway: Carl Espen – Silent Storm

It’s a family affair for newcomer Carl Espen, who sings a song composed by cousin Josefin. Despite entering and winning a local singing competition as a youngster, Carl (below left) is brand new to the music industry, never before releasing any singles. Will it be beginner’s luck for Carl with this piano-led ballad?

EUROVISION FORM: Norway has won three times, most recently in 2009 with Alexander Rybak.

Georgia : The Shin and Mariko – Three Minutes To Earth

Georgia are taking things back to basics with a traditional song that brings together band The Shin (Georgian for “home”) with solo jazz singer Mariko (above right). Can Three Minutes To Earth’s rousing message impress the voters at home?

EUROVISION FORM: Georgia has never won, their best showing being ninth place in 2010.

Poland: Donatan & Cleo – My Słowianie – We Are Slavic

My Słowianie is the first collaboration between producer Donatan and former X Factor contestant Cleo (below left). The tune mixes traditional Polish sounds with an Iggy Azalea vibe, if you can imagine such a thing. It’s pretty good!

EUROVISION FORM: Poland haven’t qualified for the Grand Final since 2008, when they finished 24th. They managed second place in 1994, with Edyta Górniak.

Austria: Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix

Every Eurovision needs a bit of drama and the second semi-final’s slice comes thanks to drag artist Tom Neuwirth, performing under his stage name Conchita Wurst (above right).

Rise Like A Phoenix is a melodramatic torch song that wouldn’t be out of place as a Bond theme or maybe on a Celine Dion album. Conchita’s eye-catching look is definitely one to watch – he’s been the talk of Eurovision and this one’s a serious contender.

EUROVISION FORM: Austria last won in 1966, so they are long overdue another taste of victory. Can Conchita carry it home?

Lithuania: Vilija Matačiūnaitė – Attention

Vilija (below left) is a singing contest veteran – she’s got four under her belt already, and she’s even won one of them. Attention is well-named: Vilija’s powerful voice teamed up with a dubstep beat makes this a song that stands little chance of being ignored. But will the voters give it the attention it craves? If there were a vote for Best Hair at Eurovision, Vilija woud definitely be Top 3.

EUROVISION FORM: Lithuania has never won the contest. Its last placing in the Top 10 was a number six finish in 2006 with a song called, erm, We Are The Winners. It was a nice try, though, eh?

Finland: Softengine – Something Better

Finnish band Softengine have enjoyed a whirlwind trip to Eurovision – they were signed to a record label only this year. It’s easy to see why – Something Better doesn’t sound too unlike anything our very own Bastille would if they were in uptempo mood. It’s even got some chanting thrown in.

EUROVISION FORM: Finland scored an unforgettable victory in 2006 with metal act Lordi, pretty much changing the face of Eurovision for ever.

Ireland: Can-Linn (FT Kasey Smith) – Heartbeat

Kasey (below left) started out in Wonderland, a girlband mentored by Louis Walsh and Westlife’s Kian Egan. She tried out to represent Ireland in 2013, but missed out. She’s now teamed up with traditional Irish music band Can-Linn for Heartbeat, which takes its musical cues from last year’s winner Emmelie de Forrest and her song Only Teardrops.

EUROVISION FORM: Ireland are pretty much the dons when it comes to Eurovision, with seven victories behind them, including three consecutive wins from 1992–94. They have to look all the way back to 1996 for their most recent win however. Is the luck of the Irish on their side this year?

Belarus: Teo – Cheesecake

And now we come to the second patisserie-themed song of the semi-finals, after Latvia’s Cake To Bake, which failed to qualify on Tuesday. Cheesecake is an acoustic-style funk pop number that has definitely shared a taxi with Olly Murs’ Troublemaker at some point on its journey. Teo (above right) is a solo singing star who looks like he’s currently on a beard-share with George Michael.

EUROVISION FORM: Belarus’ best performance so far saw them make it to sixth place in 2007.

FYR Macedonia: Tijana – To The Sky

Tijana (below left) has been releasing music since 2000 and has tried for Eurovision glory before, but this is her first shot at the big one. To The Sky, a good old EDM banger, has a big hill to climb – Macedonia have never finished in the Top 10 of the Grand Final. Has Tijana got what it takes to break that run of bad luck?

EUROVISION FORM: Tijana stole the show backstage at Tuesday’s semi-final as she chatted to presenter Scott Mills, so she’s already a winner in our eyes. When it comes to Eurovision, she needs to finish at least 11th in the Grand Final to be Macedonia’s most successful entrant.

Switzerland: Sebalter – Hunter Of Stars

You’ve got to get a gimmick if you want to stand out on Eurovision, and Sebalter’s hoping his whistling and his fiddle-playing will be enough to make voters pick up the phone. Oh that and his dreamy eyes, of course.

Hunter Of Stars, a folky-rocky uptempo number, is Sebalter’s first solo single – he spent 12 years playing in Swiss rock band The Stalkers.

EUROVISION FORM: Switzerland’s Lys Assia won the first ever Eurovision in 1956, and their most recent win was in 1988 with someone you may have heard of – only Celine blinkin’ Dion! Oh yes.

Greece: Freaky Fortune FT RiskyKidd – Rise Up

Duo Freaky Fortune is getting down with the trumpets in this summery dance track, and they’ve brought London-born rapper RiskyKidd along for the ride. The insanely catchy Rise Up sounds like about a hundred different songs playing at once – in the best possible way.

EUROVISION FORM: Greece has won just once before, with Helena Paparizou, in 2005. Interesting fact: Helena was in the running to represent Sweden this year, but Sanna Nielsen beat her to it.

Slovenia: Tinkara Kovač – Round And Round

Tinkara (above right) brings something a little different to Eurovision – she’s also a talented flautist. The flute does make an appearance in Round And Round, which is sung in English and Slovene and was co-written by Slovenia’s 2013 Eurovision entry, Hannah Mancini. Tinkara does, as you can see, really up the stakes when it comes to hair, too.

EUROVISION FORM: Slovenia’s best placing so far was finishing seventh back in 2001.

Romania: Paula Seling & Ovi – Miracle

It’s second time around for these big Romanian stars. Famous in their own right, but regular duetting partners, Paula and Ovi (below) first represented Romania in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, where they finished third. Miracle is a Guetta-esque dance track which comes from Ovi’s brilliantly titled album A Bit Of Pop Won’t Hurt You.

EUROVISION FORM: Romania has never won, but they have managed third place twice.

Countries voting tonight but not performing

Our lucky three tonight with a free pass straight into the Grand Final are…

Germany: Elaiza – Is It Right

Trio Elaiza (below right) mix traditional instruments like the accordion and the double bass with bang up-to-date beats and lyrics on Is It Right, showing how common pop-folk crossovers (or “neofolk” songs) are becoming on Eurovision. Elaiza are relative newcomers to the music scene, forming last year.

EUROVISION FORM: Germany has taken the Eurovison crown twice, first with Nicole in 1982 and then with Lena in 2010.

Italy: Emma – La Mia Città

Rock singer Emma (above left) is one of many Eurovision hopefuls who got their big break on a talent show. Since winning Amici di Maria De Filippi in 2010, Emma has had big success in Italy and has won lots of awards.

But can the Eurovision prize belong to her? La Mia Città (meaning: “my city”) is a ballsy rock song along similar lines to some of Girls Aloud's more bolshy efforts, with added guitar. And then some more guitar on top of that.

EUROVISION FORM: Italy has won twice, last taking home the trophy in 1990.

United Kingdom: Molly – Children Of The Universe

And finally, our very own Molly, who’s hoping that Children Of The Universe can be just the song we need to end the UK’s dry spell when it comes to Eurovision glory.

In a recent interview with OfficialCharts.com, Molly told us: “[Children of the Universe] is about feeling a bit lost and worthless and then realising you are everything and you are integral to everything that’s happening at this present time. It’s a bit deeper than baking a cake and some of the other entries that are in Eurovision!”

EUROVISION FORM: We’ve won five times, but our most recent victory was back in 1997, when Katrina And The Waves broke a 16-year drought with Love Shine A Light.

 

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!