When the Cheshire emerges...

Still on the Charlie Pickering thing, Sam Pang was critical of the lowness of Eldar's tie. My mother thinks Eldar's scary, but I think he's just nervous so that's why he fixes his smile. Leila's maroon dress was beautiful.

Serbia - Love Is Not A Thing by Zeljko Joksimovic - I like this guy. Love that the Serbs keep choosing native-language songs, this is a decent ballad. And I'm always more for the Eurotrash stuff.
- 61 per cent yay from #SBSEurovision viewers following the song's completion

FYR Macedonia - Crno i Belo by Kaliopi - in Macedonian,  a black pantsuit. Operatic ballad, simple stage. Until the... TWEET: "Her pantsuit was appropriate until the rock music began. There's no glitter leotard to be revealed underneath? #SBSEurovision". Hand over face and "I love you" to end to ruin ending.
- 45 per cent

The Netherlands - You and Me by Joan Franka - Surprised her feathers aren't on fire from the that surround her to go with the theme of 'light your fire' to beat any pyrotechnics display. WTF? That was horrible, country-style and really not with lyrics worth caring about.
- 25 per cent

Malta - This Is The Night by Kurt Calleja - Skinny pants with suit jacket looks great, the song's definitely catchy enough (except the female vocalist, she's a waste)... and woah, putting on the MJ - no wait, Elvis moves on. Go Malta!
- 66 per cent

Belarus - We Are The Heroes by Lightsound - Elijah Wood gone blonde, taller and metal on us. That's Belarus. The guy was alright... the song was boppy, but too much with the graphics in the background... of what, machine parts?
- 47 per cent

Interview with the lady running the wind machine... genius. The hosts giving roses - nice, but random. Lighting guy: "Is the hug for free?" Aw, bless.

Portugal - Vida Minha by Filipa Sousa - It sounds like there should be some dramatic tussle between a couple, montages thrown in. It's a movie song. And someone tweeted she was channeling  34

Ukraine - Be My Guest by Gaitana - TWEET: Miss Universe on the catwalk there with the start of Ukraine, turning into an 'I Will Survive"-esque power pop tune. Weird dress for backup dancers. Only words I can remember are 'be my guest'. But finally - WHITE.
- 66 per cent

Bulgaria - Love Unlimited by Sofi Marinova - THIS is what I'm TALKING ABOUT. Euro-dance gets me up like nothing else. Her outfit (white, yesss) looks like a superhero gone wrong but at least there weren't any dancers to clash with her on stage.
- 41 per cent

Slovenia - I Believe by Boto - Only 16 years old, looks old to Sam and me too. But more white and native-languageness... I didn't mind it at all actually.
- 41 per cent

Croatia - Neno by Nina Badric - Another ballad? They said it was the power ballad semi, and this was good in Croatian. But I need more Euro-dance...
- 62 per cent

Sweden - Euphoria by Loreen - Yes, the one everyone raved about. The song - amazing. The choreography not so much. Comfy being barefoot for sure, but the MC Hammer and Karate Kid mix was just a bit too weird for me. But she'll do well.
- Missed it because of damn Twitter running slow. But Australia's going gaga. 83 per cent afterwards.

Georgia -   - Crazy lace suit from the dancer. Hard act to follow, and it was so-so. Lots of backup dancers, not a lot of substance (well duh, but just stating the obvious).
- 37 per cent

Turkey - Love Me Back by Can Bonomo - Turkish indie apparently where the singer's voice changes from high to low and high again. Come on Sacha Baron Cohen, reveal yourself.
- 39 per cent

Estonia - Kulla by Ott Lepland - Won Estonian Idol and was in their High School Musical (dubbing?) Has nice teeth. And a really nice voice. But I'm kinda over the ballads because there were so many. He was a nice guy - cute blonde with a sweet-sounding song but not a standout.
- 61 per cent

Interviews: what a rocker Max from Slovakia is, trying to pick up Julia like a total, well... rockstar. Meanwhile, Sam's discovering a girly Lena (much better, she looks gorgeous) wants to have a Eurovision 2013 with baby animals and a farm.

Slovakia - Don't Close Your Eyes by Max Jason Mai - back to the 80s, Van Halen style. He can pick me up too if he wants. The song was a nice change for the night.
- 71 per cent



Norway - Stay by Tooji - beautiful hair, great outfit (love that look). Don't know if he hits the high note very well. But TWEET: Oh this lights my fire alright... come over to Australia and stay. Please. #SBSEurovision
- 72 per cent. A winner (w/o knowing Sweden's).

Bosnia and Herzegovina - I Know Your Steps by Maya Sar - Channeling Adele with dramatic black but hair hasn't been straightened properly. Nice, but not enough this year with all the competition.
- 36 per cent

Lithuania - Love Is Blind by Donny Montell - His eyes are the dealbreaker looks-wise... and for a while he's in a glittery blindfold so makes it difficult. An okay end to the show.
- 32 per cent

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The aftermath:

AHAHAHA Julia Zemiro: "Penelope Cruz, Charlie Pickering and another lady". I'm still trying to figure out who she is too.

I think black's the new black this year, not nearly as much white as normal. Maybe they've realised a lot of Aussies drink off that...

LOL Julia with the Norwegian dancers was the BEST presenting I've ever seen. Why I'd love to present one day...

Hottest guy award tonight's much harder... I think Tooji of Norway's taking it out with that photo I've got up. But close was definitely Estonian guy, and even the Turk and Slovakian rocker. All had something about them. However, thinking I'll be heading to Germany if Roman sticks around.

And seeing Dima Bilan again... swoon. Line up of the last five winners was great - until they butchered Waterloo. HOW DID NIKKI NOT KNOW THE WORDS? They did rehearse that right?

***