Eurovision Season 2018: The Projected Running Order
Greetings from the void that is the week between the 43 songs being confirmed and the pre-parties kicking off next week (I think Riga has one coming up very soon). Anyway, it is only a matter of time before the running order gets announced. I am actually a big fan of a producer-led running order because it allows the best to come out of the show more than a random draw does. We have little idea what the running order will be except for the information of who will be in the first and second halves of each semi. With this in mind, I am throwing my hat into the ring in trying to predict the running order and to explain my thinking.
Semi Final 1
1. Czech Republic
2. Iceland
3. Israel
4. Belarus
5. Estonia
6. Belgium
7. Albania
8. Bulgaria
9. Azerbaijan
10. Lithuania
11. Finland
12. Armenia
13. Croatia
14. Switzerland
15. Greece
16. Austria
17. Ireland
18. FYR Macedonia
19. Cyprus
The Czech Republic would be the perfect song to kick off the 2018 festivities. The song is relatively simple whilst being suitably rousing and anthemic. Whilst the case could also be made for Israel to kick off the show, I get the feeling that the producers will go for the Czech song. Israel effectively will have the opportunity to re-start the show after Iceland's song heads into the deadly second slot (sorry Iceland, but I just ran my rankings and yours came 43rd). The real challenge of planning this semi is going to be trying to separate out the favourites enough to still be able to showcase them. Belarus is sandwiched between hot favourites Israel and second favourites Estonia with chasers Belgium just after (I think there's enough contrast for them to both stand out). Albania will represent the building up of the energy before high energy (but stylistically different) songs from Bulgaria and Azerbaijan lead us to the Lithuanian ballad bringing the first half of the first semi to a suitable close.
The second half will pick up from the emotional lull of Lithuania's entry with Saara Aalto getting the Lisbon crowd on their feet and ready to go again for an exciting second half. The number of favourites packed into the first half means that anybody who shines in the second half, will shine particularly bright. If Saara's team nail the staging and she nails the vocals on the night, she could easily win this semi. The majority of the songs in this second half really exist to move the night along and everybody from Armenia-FYR Macedonia in this running order will need to seize the moment and show why they deserve to go through against the excellent quality of songs from the first half. FYR Macedonia will fit in nicely as the penultimate song before a fiery Cyprus show closes the first semi. We still have to wait and see what the Cypriot team decide to do with the staging, but I predicted in my last post that they could place in the top 10 and for the reasons previously mentioned in this post, if everything is perfect on the night, Eleni could win this semi.
Semi Final 2
1. Norway
2. Serbia
3. Moldova
4. The Netherlands
5. Russia
6. San Marino
7. Australia
8. Denmark
9. Romania
10. Poland
11. Slovenia
12. Malta
13. Sweden
14. Montenegro
15. Ukraine
16. Latvia
17. Georgia
18. Hungary
With all the hype among Eurovision's biggest winner returning to the contest, I can easily see the producers letting Alexander Rybak kick off the show for Norway. Serbia performing second will effectively represent an alternative start to the show, as will Moldova. The business end will really kick off when Waylon takes the stage for the Netherlands with Russia and San Marino (both weak entries for different reasons) sandwiched between the Dutch and Australia (the Aussies being the favourites to win this semi). The Aussie feel-good entry will be followed by the rousing anthem from Denmark before Romania closes Semi Final 2 with the suitably titled 'Goodbye' (something I think they will be saying once the results come in).
Soft EDM from Poland will follow on Romania's soft rock followed by soft pop from Slovenia (you guys can put the song in Slovenian, it doesn't distract from the song not being strong enough). This softness will be contrasted nicely with the energetic but mis-placed Maltese entry before Sweden (my prediction on who will win this semi) kick off the business end of proceedings. The Montenegran ballad will be placed in between Sweden and Ukraine so as not to bother anybody. Ukraine's staircase-piano piece of set will fit nicely in between what I predict will be rather simply staged songs from Montenegro and Latvia. Latvia will keep it classy as we wind down the second semi before Georgia keep it VERY classy and then Hungary scream us out.
So there we have it, my prediction is out there and it will be interesting to see if the EBU have noticed any of the same things I have in this blog. Do you want to try and predict this year's running order? Have a go in the comments! Coming up on this blog, we'll talk staging, we'll talk rankings and we'll analyse the favourites to talk about who needs a win the most this year!
Semi Final 1
1. Czech Republic
2. Iceland
3. Israel
4. Belarus
5. Estonia
6. Belgium
7. Albania
8. Bulgaria
9. Azerbaijan
10. Lithuania
11. Finland
12. Armenia
13. Croatia
14. Switzerland
15. Greece
16. Austria
17. Ireland
18. FYR Macedonia
19. Cyprus
The Czech Republic would be the perfect song to kick off the 2018 festivities. The song is relatively simple whilst being suitably rousing and anthemic. Whilst the case could also be made for Israel to kick off the show, I get the feeling that the producers will go for the Czech song. Israel effectively will have the opportunity to re-start the show after Iceland's song heads into the deadly second slot (sorry Iceland, but I just ran my rankings and yours came 43rd). The real challenge of planning this semi is going to be trying to separate out the favourites enough to still be able to showcase them. Belarus is sandwiched between hot favourites Israel and second favourites Estonia with chasers Belgium just after (I think there's enough contrast for them to both stand out). Albania will represent the building up of the energy before high energy (but stylistically different) songs from Bulgaria and Azerbaijan lead us to the Lithuanian ballad bringing the first half of the first semi to a suitable close.
The second half will pick up from the emotional lull of Lithuania's entry with Saara Aalto getting the Lisbon crowd on their feet and ready to go again for an exciting second half. The number of favourites packed into the first half means that anybody who shines in the second half, will shine particularly bright. If Saara's team nail the staging and she nails the vocals on the night, she could easily win this semi. The majority of the songs in this second half really exist to move the night along and everybody from Armenia-FYR Macedonia in this running order will need to seize the moment and show why they deserve to go through against the excellent quality of songs from the first half. FYR Macedonia will fit in nicely as the penultimate song before a fiery Cyprus show closes the first semi. We still have to wait and see what the Cypriot team decide to do with the staging, but I predicted in my last post that they could place in the top 10 and for the reasons previously mentioned in this post, if everything is perfect on the night, Eleni could win this semi.
Semi Final 2
1. Norway
2. Serbia
3. Moldova
4. The Netherlands
5. Russia
6. San Marino
7. Australia
8. Denmark
9. Romania
10. Poland
11. Slovenia
12. Malta
13. Sweden
14. Montenegro
15. Ukraine
16. Latvia
17. Georgia
18. Hungary
With all the hype among Eurovision's biggest winner returning to the contest, I can easily see the producers letting Alexander Rybak kick off the show for Norway. Serbia performing second will effectively represent an alternative start to the show, as will Moldova. The business end will really kick off when Waylon takes the stage for the Netherlands with Russia and San Marino (both weak entries for different reasons) sandwiched between the Dutch and Australia (the Aussies being the favourites to win this semi). The Aussie feel-good entry will be followed by the rousing anthem from Denmark before Romania closes Semi Final 2 with the suitably titled 'Goodbye' (something I think they will be saying once the results come in).
Soft EDM from Poland will follow on Romania's soft rock followed by soft pop from Slovenia (you guys can put the song in Slovenian, it doesn't distract from the song not being strong enough). This softness will be contrasted nicely with the energetic but mis-placed Maltese entry before Sweden (my prediction on who will win this semi) kick off the business end of proceedings. The Montenegran ballad will be placed in between Sweden and Ukraine so as not to bother anybody. Ukraine's staircase-piano piece of set will fit nicely in between what I predict will be rather simply staged songs from Montenegro and Latvia. Latvia will keep it classy as we wind down the second semi before Georgia keep it VERY classy and then Hungary scream us out.
So there we have it, my prediction is out there and it will be interesting to see if the EBU have noticed any of the same things I have in this blog. Do you want to try and predict this year's running order? Have a go in the comments! Coming up on this blog, we'll talk staging, we'll talk rankings and we'll analyse the favourites to talk about who needs a win the most this year!
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