Eurovision 2015 Semi Final 2: Everything You Need To Know

Let's meet the 17 hopefuls anxious to score a place in Saturday's Grand Final!

So it’s one down, one to go before the Grand Final on Saturday. 17 hopefuls – one more than Tuesday – are limbering up for their big moment. We look at the runners and riders who hope to join Tuesday’s successful semifinalists.

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Quiz: How much do you know about Eurovision?

1. Lithuania

Image: LRT

Monika Linkytė has tried out for the Eurovision selection every year since 2009, but this team-up with Vaidas Baumila has finally helped her realise her dream.

What's the song like? This Time is a happy, bouncy guitar-led duet that really gets going once the drums kick in – there’s even a big “HEY!” near the end. It’s a bit of a sped-up version of Gary Barlow’s Let Me Go. It’s kind of like watching your mum and dad do karaoke on their wedding anniversary, but in a really good way.

2. Ireland

Image: Richie Mooney

The Eurovision dons with seven victories, Ireland are looking to 17-year-old Molly Sterling to make them octo-champs.

What’s the song like? Playing With Numbers is a fairly downbeat piano-led track with a few traditional elements to make sure there’s no mistaking its origin. (Ireland FYI.)

3. San Marino

Image: Carlo Terenzi

Anita Simoncini & Michele Perniola are Eurovision old hands – they have both participated in Junior Eurovision, and not that long ago! With a combined age of 32, the teenagers are the youngest duo to compete in the contest.

What’s the song like? We’ve got some high drama here, with urgent lyrics and strings which are soon joined by an R&B beat for the chorus. Chain of Lights then totally changes tack and goes kind of cutesy, ending up a completely different song.

4. Montenegro

Image: Bojan Stanic

Bestselling artist Knez’s career goes back 20 years, and his 11th album is out later this year.

What’s the song like? There’s a heck of a long intro with some traditional sounding strings and when Knez finally kicks in, a mournful ballad gives way to a midtempo track with some faint beats.

5. Malta

Image: Aaron Briffa & cngfotography

23-year-old Amber has had a crack at representing her country five times and has even sang backup on stage in 2012.

What’s the song like? The second song in the contest called Warrior (Georgia’s entry from Nina Sublatti has already made it through from Tuesday's semi final), Amber’s version is just as exhilarating. She really goes for it in the chorus.

6. Norway

Image: NRK and Kim Erlandsen

It’s six years since Norway took the trophy home, though they’ve had a few Top 10 placings. Mørland is from Norway originally but has actually lived in the UK most of his life – he was an opening act for Girls Aloud on tour. Debrah Scarlett, who never met Mørland before this collaboration, came second on the Norwegian edition of The Voice in 2013.

What’s the song like? Dark ballad A Monster Like Me is an atmospheric slow burner – and barely even a hint of percussion until over two minutes in. And then it all kicks off. Like, whoa. In with a shot, we reckon.

7. Portugal

Image: Edgar Vale Fonseca

Portugal last graced the final in 2010 and they’re pinning all hopes on Leonor Andrade to take them there once again. Like many Eurovision contestants, she became famous on The Voice.

What’s the song like? Há Um Mar Que Nos Separa is a song of yearning and longing. There are drums, a guitar jangling away and, of course, Leonor. If you like Sheryl Crow, maybe this will be your thing.

8. Czech Republic

Image: Monika Navrátilová

Another male-female duet for us, now, with Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta, who are both big in their home country. Marta has also been a judge on Popstars in Germany.

What’s the song like? Yet again we’re in the throes of high drama – Václav’s rocky voice and Marta’s considerable lungs battle it out for supremacy over the strings in this moody ballad.

9. Israel

Image: Ronen Akerman

Arguably scoring one of the most famous Eurovision victories in 1998 with Dana International, Israel are putting their hopes in French-born 16-year-old Nadav Guedj. Nada won The Rising Star, a huge talent show in Israel.

What’s the song like? Its intro tricks you into thinking we’re in ballad territory again, before a Justin Timberlake-style beat comes in from nowhere. For its super-catchy chorus, Golden Boy goes traditional before slinking back to the JT beat. Three songs for the price of one! You won’t forget this one in a hurry.

10. Latvia

Image: Martins Cirulis

Latvia last won in 2002 and talented singer Aminata will be hoping she makes it to the Grand Final – no other Latvian act has managed it since 2008.

What’s the song like? Love Injected is a little different for Eurovision. Obviously there's the usual drama, but the track’s experimental beats – which never quite break out into a dubstep wobble but clearly want to – and sparse synths, teamed with Aminata’s powerful vocals, set this apart from other entries. It’s all a bit Kate Bush with a donk on it. Latvia will certainly get noticed.

11. Azerbaijan

Image: Magnus Ragnvid

If Elnur Huseynov looks familiar, it’s because he’s performed in the contest as part of duo Elnur & Samir, finishing eighth in 2008. This year he won the Turkish edition of – yes, you’ve guessed it – The Voice.

What’s the song like? It’s another ballad, but Hour Of The Wolf is bringing out the big guns: there’s even a choir on board.

12. Iceland

Image: Jonatan Gretarsson

Coming from a small town in northern Iceland, Maria Olafs is hoping to improve on last tear’s Grand Final position of 15th that colourful quarter Pollapönk managed.

What’s the song like? Yes, it’s another ballad, but there’s a bit of oomph along with the familiar themes of self-belief and empowerment. Not a million miles away from Emelie de Forrest’s winner of 2013.

13. Sweden

Image: Per Kristiansen

Coming second last year with Sanna Nielsen’s Undo, performing 13th may be unlucky for some, but few countries have a Eurovision record as impressive as Sweden.

Måns Zelmerlöw is a well-known singer and presenter in Sweden; it took three attempts for him to be selected for Eurovision.

What’s the song like? Finally, a banger. Heroes has more than a hint of Avicii in its verses and its powerful chorus is bound to get the crowd going. Could they be heading for a sixth win?

14. Switzerland

Image: SRF/Oscar Alessio

Switzerland were the first ever winners of the contest with Lys Assia a full 60 years ago, and won again in 1988 with Céline Dion, so the pressure is on in this diamond anniversary year.

Singer-songwriter Mélanie René actually studied her musical training in the UK, which is where she wrote her entry Time To Shine.

What’s the song like? Imagine if Destiny’s Child released Survivor now – I know, amazing – and you’re not too far away from the spirit and the sound of Time To Shine.

15. Cyprus

Image: Louis Loizides Mitsu

Another of the Junior Eurovision alumni, 20-year-old John Karayiannis says his influences are Ed Sheeran and John Mayer.

What’s the song like? Written by Brit Mike Connaris, who also wrote Cyrpus’ 2005 entry, One Thing I Should Have Done is an acoustic ballad in the vein as One Direction’s Little Things or Story of My Life.

16. Slovenia

Image: Ziga Culiberg

Finishing 25th last year with zany flautist Tinkara, have turned to real life couple Maraaya – Marjetka and Raay to their nearest and dearest – in the hope of victory. And you know, this year they might just do it.

What’s the song like? Like Serbia’s Beauty Never Lies (which has already secured a place in the Grand Final), Here For You features lyrics from Charlie Mason, who wrote 2014’s winner for Conchita Wurst. It’s a jaunty pop number with a super-catchy chorus, and Marjetka sounds a bit like Duffy.

17. Poland

Image: Stanisław Leszczyński

And finally, the country who caused a storm at last year’s contest with their saucy milkmaids. This year’s contestant Monika Kuszyńska, who was partially paralysed following a car accident, was lead singer of Polish band Varius Manx.

What’s the song like? In The Name Of Love was written by Monika herself and yep, it’s another empowering ballad.