When the Cheshire emerges...

It's all OVER! Can you believe it? I'm going to feel all sad now taking everything down and having to wait another year. I've never decorated before!

I tweeted this to @SBSEurovision to say that it was Julia's first Eurovision experience so I wanted to make it one she wouldn't forget. The amount of actually great songs in the final made that job a little bit easier! And she really enjoyed herself :)

To spare you from reading (and myself from writing) recaps of most of the songs, you can look at my wrap-ups of semi-final one and semi-final two. For now, my thoughts on hearing the Big Five and host nation's hopefuls.

UK -  Love Will Set You Free by Englebert Humperdinck - The only song I'd heard in full before any Eurovision coverage. And I didn't mind it then. But since hearing the other songs, it's a shame that there was such strong competition. BUT: he hit the notes right and like Julia Zemiro, I REALLY liked it.
- Liked 49 per cent on the SBS Eurovision website after the song's completion.


France - Echo (You and I) by Anggun - This chick reminds me of Crystal, someone I used to work with. Almost a dead ringer. What I'd seen of the preview sounded better... I like her, but the chorus was the best. Great use of the wind machine. "Anggun: Queen of the Desert." - Julia.
- 39 per cent


Italy - Out of Love by Nina Zilli - Liked this much more than expected, especially for the fact it's Italy. Nice and poppy, with a bit of attitude. She looks like a trashy (or better?) Amy Winehouse.
- 77 per cent


Azerbaijan - Love Come by Sabina Babayeva  - The effects hologrammed on her dress? A bit weird. The whole thing's stuck in the 90s jst a little bit - and all the feathers... too much below the shoulders. The song's not too bad though, and she's beautiful.
- 51 per cent

Spain - Paedora zoler - Cat eye makeup did not work, sorry hun. The song was a really safe ballad. Someone tweeted she'd look like the Statue of Liberty if she had a torch... fair call.
- 42 per cent




Germany - Standing Still by Roman Lob - Goodness me, how amazingly good-looking he is, really casual but great *sigh*. However, the name Roman immediately makes me think of Days of Our Lives. Thankfully there's no actual resemblance. Oh the song? Pretty great actually. Mainstream - but not strong enough to win.
(TWEET: "If the ladies of Europe had their way we'd be back in Germany in 2013. With Lena's farm and small dogs of course)
- 71 per cent
***

Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang highlights:
- Julia with Anggun - what Julia knew in Indonesian, somehow: "I'm going to the market to buy a chicken". Excellent.
- Sam in the blue wig to go with Nina Zilli, looking like her brother apparently.
- Julia telling Ivi Adamou is a mix of Anne Hathaway and Liv Tyler and the poor girl doesn't know who they are. She WILL google it later.
- Sam to Kurt Calleja asking about his time as an airline steward. Hilarious.
- Sam still annoyed with the lack of trombonist in the Romanian song.
- Julia convinced Tooji jinxed his results for not doing an interview with SBS.
Also: costume changes... the Penelope Cruz looked pretty doll-like (re: gorgeous) in every change. Nice different dresses that show off how incredibly teeny her waist is.

White count - only four or five I think. Terrible.

And hottest guy award goes to *drum roll...* Germany! I think I knew that long before, but he had some real decent competition this year. So well done Roman, you're now held in very high esteem.
***

The interval act... Amin(?)...

TWEET: Oh for God's sake, I could've gone to the toilet this whole time...

 - Azerbaijan president's son-in-law. Of course he is. Longest wait for an entrance possibly ever. But he was okay actually. Better looking then he did sing... a Shannon Noll correlation from Julia and Sam totally made sense.

***

The voting...

So SO disappointing. For possibly the strongest overall final I've ever seen, I'm as confused as Julia with Denmark and Norway's disappointing results. Especially Norway!!! That was one of my top three on SBS Eurovision (with Greece and Sweden in a tough choice). And although the UK's used to languishing these days, I truly feel sorry for Engelbert Humperdinck. The Hump deserved better than that.

AHAHAHA Leila was trying not to laugh when Lordi tried being smart about Finland. The changing nature background, taking three minutes longer than everyone else... boooo.

We saw a clapping Mrs Doubtfire and a redux of Tony Manero's white suit among the spokespersons, and the whole thing generally ran through pretty quickly.
***
The win...



Euphoria by Loreen. Excellent club hit from Sweden.

Sam called it at about the three-quarter mark. He wasn't wrong. This was a LANDSLIDE. We knew the song was good. But this year was damn strong. I didn't even really have a standout favourite! I truly think this year deserved to have a close result more than any other contest I've seen. As much as I'm cool with the win I'm a bit disappointed with such a skewed result.
So Sweden 2013. Julia put it first: will ABBA come out of retirement for a special performance?
***

Well! That's it! I've been busy blogging Eurovision steadily over the last few weeks and it's done! If you want to have a read about my love for the song contest in the time I've watched, catch up on the rest of the My decade of Eurovision series.

My decade of Eurovision: the beginning
My decade of Eurovision: the Greek affair
My decade of Eurovision: repeat offenders
My decade of Eurovision: whitewash
A year ago today: Dusseldorf, Eurovision Song Contest
My decade of Eurovision: wailing for Wogan
My decade of Eurovision: special guests
My decade of Eurovision: 2012

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

***

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?

***