Recommendations of the Editorial team
The whole of Vienna was discussing: Is the Finnish Linda Lampenius allowed to play her violin live? The contributions to the ESC usually take place in so-called half-playback because the conversions would be too complicated. But the Finn attached a microphone directly to the violin, got permission from the Broadcasting Union and furiously fiddled to the singing of her colleague Pete Parkkonen.
Moderation between hussar and coffee house
The first semi-final in the Wiener Stadthalle was moderated by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski. Swarovski wore a classic red dress, Ostrowski appeared as a kind of hussar or strizzi. In Austria they don’t have to worry about ridicule – the first reviews lack the insults. But the ESC is not an ironic event. Hands are constantly being formed into hearts. The Green Room was designed in a dignified coffee house style. During the voting, an elongated musical play was performed that dealt with the phonetic proximity of Austria and Australia and the differences between the two countries. You have to figure it out first! A fairly simple ESC quiz also contributed to the entertainment.
Klamauk, kitsch and hard rock
As usual, the show combined “clamauk” (Hubert Aiwanger), pathos, kitsch and Euro-trash. The Greek Akylas danced hysterically across the stage, Moldova chanted “Viva Moldovia!”, Poland surprised with a gospel ballad, Sweden brought over-the-top electronic junk, and the Serbian group Lavina performed one of the better hard rock pieces that have been part of the ESC’s inventory for several years. Thorsten Schorn, the German commentator, described the performance as “progressive and psychedelic rock”. I would say: Rammstein epigones. They all qualified for the final – and so did Israel with Noam Bettan. Boy George, San Marino’s mascot, sat gracefully in the audience, but the song was one of five remaining in the counting.
Italy, Germany and the semi-final tendency
Italy and Germany, both out of competition, presented their songs. Sarah Engels danced spectacularly across the stage to pyrotechnics, this time the Italians are reflecting on their San Remo culture.
Two things are apparent: the semi-final shows are becoming more and more pompous, and the preparation programs with relevant experts are funnier than the shows themselves: Constantin Zöller, Carolin Worbs and Miguel Robitzky on ARD One are always a joy.
