Ukraine's Zlata Ognevich Outstanding Vocal Photograph:Thomas Hanses (EBU)
Well, that was different. A change from the massive stage and mega effects and a more intimate production. David Mann of Eurovision Norwich who is reporting for W12P, alongside JP and the Radio International team, had already told us over the weekend that the arena is a lot smaller than those of Baku (2012) and Dusseldorf (2011). Earlier today David also told us that the sound quality inside the arena would not be quite to the same standard as in recent years but like Swedish Television and the EBU had announced Malmo 2013 was going to be one for the TV Audience and that it certainly was.
One could not but help (one meaning of a certain age) noticing a kind of retro feel to the delivery of Semi Final One in front of 11,500 fans. Apparently Swedish TV were at one stage contemplating making the event a standing room only show but the idea had (thankfully for me on a personal level) been scrapped.
One could not but help (one meaning of a certain age) noticing a kind of retro feel to the delivery of Semi Final One in front of 11,500 fans. Apparently Swedish TV were at one stage contemplating making the event a standing room only show but the idea had (thankfully for me on a personal level) been scrapped.
 The Netherlands Anouk triumphant. Photograph:Thomas Hanses (EBU) |  Lithuania's Andrius Pojavis providing the only real surprise of the night. Photograph: Thomas Hanses (EBU) |
The stage and production set up with a standing audience around the stage couldn't help us but think that this would be extremely beneficial to a band - dare we say one with a female singer - and of course Bonnie Tyler who is the UK's representative in Malmo sprung to mind, particularly when the production reminisced legendary UK music show Top Of The Pops which of course Bonnie has made so many appearances on.
In the UK we were treated to Loreen and the mixed ability choir with a moving rendition of last years classic winning entry Euphoria which led into the excellent solo host and top Swedish comedienne Petra Mede.
Unfortunately we had to endure BBC's Scott Mills occasionally unnecessary voice over but the addition of American Scissor Sister Ana Matronic whose Serbic roots shone brightly through the usual BBC diatribe came as a rare and welcome commentary treat. The Mills led interval interviews however were a nightmare with guests Dr Paul Jordan aka Doctor Eurovision treating his slot as a political swipe at Belarus (the BBC is a large organisation with programming designed to accommodate such remarks) and the tedious loud mouth Julia Zemiro the Australian commentator who tries so hard to be hilariously hip and funny and fails badly. Poor Loreen, the third guest. Upon being asked to sing a part of Anouk's Birds while an interval act was performing away loudly in the background I just wondered do the BBC ever, ever learn. Enough. The Show.
In the UK we were treated to Loreen and the mixed ability choir with a moving rendition of last years classic winning entry Euphoria which led into the excellent solo host and top Swedish comedienne Petra Mede.
Unfortunately we had to endure BBC's Scott Mills occasionally unnecessary voice over but the addition of American Scissor Sister Ana Matronic whose Serbic roots shone brightly through the usual BBC diatribe came as a rare and welcome commentary treat. The Mills led interval interviews however were a nightmare with guests Dr Paul Jordan aka Doctor Eurovision treating his slot as a political swipe at Belarus (the BBC is a large organisation with programming designed to accommodate such remarks) and the tedious loud mouth Julia Zemiro the Australian commentator who tries so hard to be hilariously hip and funny and fails badly. Poor Loreen, the third guest. Upon being asked to sing a part of Anouk's Birds while an interval act was performing away loudly in the background I just wondered do the BBC ever, ever learn. Enough. The Show.
Happy together (from left to right) Russia Dina Garipova, Ireland Ryan Dolan and Belgium Roberto Belarusso Photograph: Thomas Hanses (EBU)
First up was Austria's Natalie Kelly whose nervous start was clear for all to see but managed to hold her voice well and she grew in confidence as her set progressed but 'Shine' it did not and the Brazilian/Irish Austrian former Kiddie Pop band Gimmie Five member found her way on the plane home to Rio/Dublin or Vienna.
Friend of the W12P show and last weeks requester on the listeners choice show Estonia's Birgit Oigemeel beautifully sung her way into the first half of the draw for Saturday's final. Slovenia's Hannah Mancini quickly followed and lived up to her 200 - 1 bookmakers odds with a weak vocal and uninspiring performance only equaled by Croatia's Klapa S who had the voices but not the song and both joined Natalie Kelly in the Eurovision recycling unit for (hopefully) just another year.
 Moldova's Aliona Moon fantastic performance Photograph: Thomas Hanses (EBU) |  Estonia's Birgit Oigemeel (left) and Belarussia's Alyona Lanskaya Photograph: Thomas Hanses (EBU) |  Denmark's Emille de Forest living up to billing. Photograph: Thomas Hanses (EBU) |
Emillie de Forest booked her grand final slot (Second half of the draw) for Denmark with an assured performance but one that annoyed more than entertained. Staring with the big Celtic drums Emillie sat and squatted, bare footed, in a very Loreen type (last years winner) culminating in a finale which saw a coloured light shower engulfing her which was also very reminiscent of Ellie and Nikki's 201 winning performance. Lots of gimmicks and an audience half - full of her own Danish supporters created an addition to a song which I am now beginning to tire of.
The big back to back clash saw Russia's Dina Garipova sing her composition perfectly and was followed by the much talked about Zlata Ognevich whose vocal performance was outstanding. It seemed that everyone waited with baited breath as to how Zlata's 'Disneyescque' styled video was going to be recaptured on the Malmo stage. The answer was to hire an extremely large man, dressed as a giant and carry Zlata onto a rock in a fairy garden and leave her to it. Unnecessary? Well, the Eurovision jury isn't still out as they put Zlata through to the Grand Final (second half) draw but the W12P jury remains locked. That bit of nit picking may be the difference between winning or second place - just ask Emillie de Forest and her team. Dina Garipova made it into the Grand Final (second half). Nice.
Anouk saved The Netherlands from another year locked in Eurovisions Room 101 with their first qualification since 2004 but I for one was not one of the 'cool' people who went on about Anouk as if she was the only singer at last nights show with any real credibility. In fact, while I really like the song the performance was as thin as a crisp and I couldn't help but term as nondescript.
Another strange one was Alyona Laskaya. I'm not going to give Dr. Eurovision's comments any more space but for me the Belaruss delegation just about had it all wrong. It was a big night for the former Soviet Union as all six competitors from 'the hammer' of old managed to qualify as did Alyona with her 260 inch heels.
 No pressure but . . . Greece Koza Mostra and Agathonis Iakovidis set for Semi Final Two on Thursday |  No pressure but . . .Bulgaria's Elitsa & Stoyan set for Semi Final Two on Thursday |
Then, we are incidentally out of sync here so we can draw comparisons, Ireland's Ryan Dolan performed a predictable 'big drum' number in 'Only Love Survives' concluding Semi Final One's grand final second half draw and the evenings biggest surprise in Lithuania's Andreus Pojavis who somehow and still I am seeking justification, even the slightest little teeny bit, as to how on earth this song was selected to go further in the competition. Please let me know through the contact page here or Social Media as nobody else seems to know either.
Montenegro's dub stepper Who See provided a really entertaining performance but it was always an iffy punt at qualification and they joined Croatia in what is soon sadly (in our opinion) to be a very full Balkan recycling bin this year. Serbia were last up and straight in to said receptacle in a curious performance. Yes, let's just say that it was curious. Serbia surely can't be happy with what the Moje 3 girls delivered as the song itself is quite catchy. There may be an inquiry as Serbia's short Eurovision history has produced so many high quality songs, performers and performances but not tonight.
Despina Olympiou sang beautifully but failed to sway the vote but Robert Belarusso did although I find the song extremely average. That with the most strange choreography for the young Belgian's backing dancers concludeds our review of the evenings events except of course for this:
In W12P's opinion Moldova's Aliona Moon, backed by composer and performer of last years wonderful grand final song Latour, Pasha Pomferey on piano, produced the performance of the night with O Mie (A Million). A simple yet extremely effective bit of special effects and a wonderful vocal by Aliona made it our star choice for the night.
To sum it all up I would say that this years contest may not be as strong as last years in song quality but like I always remind myself, 'we say this every year' and I have a strong feeling that the Grand Final may well deliver something that Eurovision fans have been denied for many years and that is a true, nail chewing, climax at the voting stage.
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