When the Cheshire emerges...

10.35pm: That's a wrap! Will do my best to make updates for semi-final 2 and Jessica Mauboy's performance tomorrow night.

10.32pm: YES! The Netherlands! Excellent. And Iceland! This is really excellent. Just Latvia and their cake that missed out from my guesses - oh and Portugal. Hm, I think Europe's picked well.

10.32pm: Ukraine's in. And Sweden. Two more.

10.31pm: Armenia was good... knew Azerbaijan, but that means one I like is gone. OH and San Marino gets through! That's pretty awesome.

10.29pm: Montenegro, Hungary and Russia. Three from three... ooh but they're booed...

10.26pm: Alright, previews for the Big Five and previous winner look good, already looking forward to the final. But a whole other semi to go!

And Jon Ola Sand, love to see he's still featured in the broadcast as he looks over the running of the night.

10.23pm: So it's just clear that Eurovision loves Jedward. Australia loves Jedward. They are fair amazing.

10.19pm: So Armenia, Latvia, Sweden, Iceland, Russia, Ukraine, Portugal, The Netherlands, Montenegro and Hungary are my picks for entry into the final. Although Azerbaijan will likely be in there, and likely one or two others instead.

10.10pm: And he pulled out the silver BIG TIME! Ha, and he's still ugly Julia? How mean.

10.08pm: The Ugly Duckling is this semi-final's interval act. How could Denmark not feature something of Hans Christian Andersen? But they've tried to make it modern to say a young guy can't breakdance.


10.05pm: Ooh, good voice to end the semi-final on. For almost all of it, he faltered at the end. But András Kállay-Saunders brought some DNB to Eurovision. Awesome. That was great. And it's over already.


10.02pm: DNB!!!

10pm: Sergej Ćetković is not singing in English. And Moj Svijet sounds like a nice song. I like that I don't understand this.

9.56pm: Calm After The Storm from The Netherlands... sung after a trip to Nashville for The Common Linnets. This is beautiful and not Eurovision-y at all. I am calling this as my favourite so far.



9.52pm: I. Called. It. Lace and sheer, lace and sheer. I like that we're finally hearing a song in the native language. Quero Ser Tua  is alright Suzy.

9.48pm: Ha. I've always focused on the white... but they're right. Silver is also a winner.

And I'd have both the judges too Julia, but if they're fighting over Portugal we have no chance.

9.40pm: There are only four more songs? This is going to be harder to pick than I thought...

9.38pm: Third time lucky? Valentina Monetta is ironically trying with a song called Maybe. She is clearly San Marino's only export if she's been selected three years running.

9.35pm: Wild Soul by Cristina Scarlat. Moldova! Finally, something that feels a bit more epic. Mad medieval costume... but struggling to love the vocals.

9.32pm: Nice Paul Potts reference from Julia. Oh, Axel Hirsoux from Belgium has a back-up dancer in the shadows. His mother I take it. OK, bad pun for a song called Mother. Too bad they've already had their Mother's Day and that Australia can't vote.

9.28pm: Ukraine's Mariya Yaremchuk - she is just beautiful! And love the man in the hamster wheel...




9.19pm: Again with the lace... Azerbaijan's ballad Start A Fire sounded beautiful. Wasn't sure if I was meant to understand all the lyrics. But Dilara Kazimova looked enthused.

9.13pm: Russia's Tolmachevy Sisters with Shine.

I thought they were going to go around with their hair intertwined the whole time. Fail. This is an ABBA-esque song and look, which I guess is acceptable given the 40th anniversary of their win this year.

9.10pm: Albania. This year's Shakira. Second lace and sheer dress, could be this year's key trend.

9.05pm: Jedward! I witnessed the act with Eurovision's highest hair in person. Feeling blessed.

9.03pm: "Just stand still and focus on the singing." Sanna Nielsen is beautiful AND clued in. Eurovision, you've changed.

8.56pm: Pollaponk's No Prejudice: Iceland are always entertaining. These guys are suited-up Wiggles with a bit of edge. And some mean beards. Great mix of kitsch and actual singing talent.

8.53pm: Sanna Nielsen from Sweden with Undo, finally on stage after seven attempts to represent her country. She's a stunner. With a really nice voice. Understandably one of the favourites. Do agree with Julia Zemiro that it's Celine Dion-esque. But it's a strong contender so far.





8.47pm: Amazing! The white has ARRIVED! Where's my wine... ah shit. Not tonight. But Tanja from Estonia has my favourite Euro sound with a heavy dance-pop element.

8.45pm: Ask your mother how to bake a cake? Nah, I can make a cake pretty well from scratch, but thanks Aarzemnieki from Latvia. Cake To Bake was sung with a folk sound/look to it.

Mix some dough and add some love. The best lyrics ever?!

8.41pm: You're Not Alone - Armenia's Aram mp3... there we go! The favourite rocking it in a half-military, half-Matrix ensemble. Confusing, but it's alright.

And the stage is epic this year.

8.38pm: Three hosts again. I really think we'll have 10 in another five years... And WOW. Pilou's hair (on left). SO hipster.



8.36pm: Emmelie De Forest is without shoes again. But still looks amazing - and I thought that before Sam Pang. The webcam shots are back.

8.35pm: #JoinUs is a great theme, but the webcam shots seemed a bit... well, I'm not sure really.

8.33pm: Julia's already a bit tiddly getting her facts wrong about Danes voting for Emmelie.

8.28pm: We're getting ready to go, Eurovision 2014 is finally here! I am yet to hear any of the songs so am very curious for what Copenhagen has to show.

I'll be attempting my first live blog tonight, taking you through any quips I have on each song as they come on. Feel free to comment on the blog and make your views known too.
**Please note this is in Central Standard Time**