I've categorised songs in three ways: miss for those that are a bit bland; hit for the better ones; and star for the best.
And, as always, feel free to send your opinions below!
Lindita - World (Albania)
A powerful song vocally but lacks any spark or huge chorus that really makes it stand out. Verdict: Miss
Artsvik - Fly With Me (Armenia)
Entirely un-Eurovision. Bland with no highs or emotional moments. Boring. Verdict: Miss
Isaiah - Don't Come Easy (Australia)
This is more like it, with a stronger start, though after a promising opening the song doesn't really go anywhere, which is a shame compared to the previous entries from the country down under. Verdict: Miss
Nathan Trent - Running on Air (Austria)
The first of the songs that deserves more than a couple of listens. Smooth and slick with a laid back summery feel, this is a nice soulful number. Verdict: Hit
Dihaj - Skeletons (Azerbaijan)
Interesting from a production point of view, this is quite a dark and semi-electronic number, and Dihaj's vocals are atmospheric, though the song doesn't quite have the progression you'd hope for. Verdict: Hit
Blanche - City Lights (Belgium)
'City Lights' is quite downbeat for a Eurovision song so that might work against it but it's an interesting and atmospheric 80s-sounding number. Verdict: Hit
Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess (Bulgaria)
'Beautiful Mess' isn't quite that in terms of its style but it's a bit bland and lacking any emotional highs. Forgettable. Verdict: Miss
Naviband - Story of my Life (Belarus)
The first entry here to be sung in their native language. Though the lyrics may be in need of a translate it's difficult to ignore the enthusiasm and energy in this fun poppy number. Verdict: Hit
Timebelle - Apollo (Switzerland)
The first of the memorable tracks, this is a catchy pop number with a strong central chorus and a radio-friendly vibe. Nice. Verdict: Star
Hovig - Gravity (Cyprus)
With hints of Robbie's 'Party Like A Russian' from earlier this year this is a storming like gritty pop number with a catchy chorus and a strong production feel. Verdict: Star
Martina Barta - My Turn (Czech Republic)
The first ballad that peaks my interest this is a smooth, touching, stripped back little number that showcases Barta's loveable vocals. Verdict: Star
LEVINA - Perfect Life (Germany)
With a neat backing track this lacks the power of some of the other big hitters but LEVINA's vocals and the David Guetta-style production values (Titanium anyone?) work in its favour. Verdict: Star
ANJA- Where I Am (Denmark)
Poppy and fun with a building energy and strong vocals, it just doesn't really doing anything special to lift it up above the usual Eurovision fodder. Verdict: hit
Manel Navarro - Do It For Your Lover (Spain)
Souding even more like Bruno Mars' 'Millionaire' than even the Austrian entry, this bilingual number has a catchy summery vibe like both tracks and a nice little riff, but the repetition of the title several times shows a lack of imagination even if it does give it a certain memorability. Verdict: Star
Koit Toome and Laura - Verona (Estonia)
Name-checking Romeo and Juliet, this power ballad has its moments and a bouncy production, and is certainly a grower. Fun. Verdict: Hit
Norma John - Blackbird (Finland)
'Blackbird' is a nice enough little song but it is pretty one-note and though the lyrics are touching and well written musically the song fails to ignite. Verdict: Miss
Alma - Requiem (France)
Naturally sung mostly in French 'Requiem' has plenty of power through its vocals and strings and is a little Shakira in its delivery but doesn't feel like a grand Eurovision number. Verdict: Hit
Lucie Jones - Never Give Up On You (United Kingdom)
This newer version is a little bit of an improvement on the original but, to paraphrase the Beatles, this wasn't even the best song in our internal semi-final. It's growing on me but it still lacks that interesting chorus and the song never reaches a particular peak. Verdict: Miss
Tamara Gachechiladze - Keep the Faith (Georgia)
Sounding like a song that could be a back-up Bond theme, Gachechiladze has some lungs on her and delivers the song with power, and the harmonised and call-and-response ending is pretty grandiose. Verdict: Star
Demy - This Is Love (Greece)
It's electronic focus suggests something modern and contemporary but actually it just sounds too much like a generic clubland track. Different but not really appropriate. Verdict: Miss
Jacques Houdek - My Friend (Croatia)
Splitting the vocals between Justin Bieber and Pavarotti would form a song like this before it emerges into a big bombastic chorus. Lyrically it's uplifting, if not a little cheesy, but the mix of vocals just comes across as unintentionally funny and at times is a little overpowering and perhaps pretentious. Verdict: Miss
Joci Papai - Origo (Hungary)
Sung in their native language this is well produced and focuses mostly on the music than the lyrics, which descend into rap half-way through, but it's missing something. Verdict: Miss
Brendan Murray - Dying to Try (Ireland)
A powerful song from the youthful singer which certainly ticks the box of Eurovision sounds. A good entry from our neighbours. Verdict: Hit
Svala - Paper (Iceland)
Sounding much more credible than what you'd expect from the competition this could well be a non Eurovision pop song. The lyrics at times might be a little cliched but the production, vocals and energy work really well. Verdict: Star
IMRI - I Feel Alive (Israel)
'I Feel Alive' with its building music and club-based chorus can be filed under the Calvin Harris-sound-a-like box. Nothing special. Verdict: Miss
Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma (Italy)
With music that sounds like The Wanted's 'Chasing the Sun' this is a high-octane hefty-pop number that definitely brings plenty of energy to the playlist. Fun. Verdict: Star
Fusedmarc - Rain of Revolution (Lithuania)
You can't deny the enthusiasm and energy of the singer but the song is a little too eclectic for my tastes and too unstructured. Has its moments but too off-the-wall. Verdict: Miss
Triana Park - Line (Latvia)
Latvian entry 'Line' has its highlights but, like others in the competition, falls into the same trap of club-hefty music that doesn't do anything special. Verdict: Miss
Sunstroke Project - Hey Mamma (Moldova)
'Hey Mamma' is another song that falls back on a club-style chorus, this time with a saxophone, therefore lacking the vocal hook it needs to be memorable. Verdict: Miss
Jana Burcheska - Dance Alone (F.Y.R. Macedonia)
You can't go wrong with hand-claps in songs. Fun and funky this is a neat little pop tune that settles in nicely. It lacks a huge chorus but certainly has a strong poppy outlook. Verdict: Star
Claudia Faniello - Breathlessly (Malta)
Claudia Faniello - Breathlessly (Malta)
Landing firmly in the power ballad category, this is a smooth, gentle number delivered with energy though it's perhaps a little run of the mill to really excel at Eurovision. Verdict: Hit
Slavko Kalezic - Space (Montenegro)
This song might as well be a piece of rock that has the word 'Eurovision' written all the way through it. Catchy, perky, a little cheesy and full of energy, this is what the competition is about! Verdict: Star
OG3NE - Lights and Shadows (The Netherlands)
OG3NE's vocals are sweet and very listenable with some great harmonies, and there's a slight tropical theme to the production, and the snatches of guitar and the faster paced vocals in the final third lift it up. Verdict: Star
JOWST - Grab the Moment (Norway)
Dramatic and bombastic, 'Flashlight' sounds just like a Eurovision power ballad which might be its fault as it doesn't really sound that distinctive. Verdict: Miss
Salvador Sobral - Amar Pelos Dois (Portugal)
Far too good to be a Eurovision song, this is a gentle, smooth, throwback track of beautiful piano work and soaring strings. Sadly it's not the sort of thing that will do well in this competition. Verdict: Hit (But not for Eurovision)
Ilinca feat. Alex Florea - Yodel It! (Romania)
Don't be thrown by the mentioning of yodeling; this isn't some Slim Whitman song. This is a Script-sounding modern pop hit with a catchy chorus with the yodelling fitting in very well. Verdict: Star
Julia Samoylova - Flame Is Burning (Russia)
It's a shame that Russia has been excluded from the competition as this is an enjoyable powerful ballad with a catchy hook. Alas for them, no Eurovision success. Verdict: Excluded
Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson - Spirit of the Night (San Marino)
A strong duet, this is a catchy number with strong pop undertones and of course the key change! Fun. Verdict: Star
Tijana Bogicevic - In Too Deep (Serbia)
Another strong Eurovision ballad but like some of them in this year's competition doesn't really do that much to make it stand good. Still good though. Verdict: Hit
Omar Naber - On My Way (Slovenia)
Ticking the Eurovision box for power, this is a strong enough ballad but again fails to do anything that makes it stand on its own feet. It does have a good chanting end to it though. Verdict: Hit
Robin Bengtsson - I Can't Go On (Sweden)
One of the few songs on the tracklist that comes across as an rnb song masquerading as a Eurovision number, this feels surprisingly credible for the competition. Verdict: HitSlavko Kalezic - Space (Montenegro)
This song might as well be a piece of rock that has the word 'Eurovision' written all the way through it. Catchy, perky, a little cheesy and full of energy, this is what the competition is about! Verdict: Star
OG3NE - Lights and Shadows (The Netherlands)
OG3NE's vocals are sweet and very listenable with some great harmonies, and there's a slight tropical theme to the production, and the snatches of guitar and the faster paced vocals in the final third lift it up. Verdict: Star
JOWST - Grab the Moment (Norway)
The youthful sounding JOWST brings this upbeat catchy number that mixes the Eurovision sound with something a bit more modern. Verdict: Hit
Kasia Mos - Flashlight (Poland)
Dramatic and bombastic, 'Flashlight' sounds just like a Eurovision power ballad which might be its fault as it doesn't really sound that distinctive. Verdict: Miss
Salvador Sobral - Amar Pelos Dois (Portugal)
Far too good to be a Eurovision song, this is a gentle, smooth, throwback track of beautiful piano work and soaring strings. Sadly it's not the sort of thing that will do well in this competition. Verdict: Hit (But not for Eurovision)
Ilinca feat. Alex Florea - Yodel It! (Romania)
Don't be thrown by the mentioning of yodeling; this isn't some Slim Whitman song. This is a Script-sounding modern pop hit with a catchy chorus with the yodelling fitting in very well. Verdict: Star
Julia Samoylova - Flame Is Burning (Russia)
It's a shame that Russia has been excluded from the competition as this is an enjoyable powerful ballad with a catchy hook. Alas for them, no Eurovision success. Verdict: Excluded
Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson - Spirit of the Night (San Marino)
A strong duet, this is a catchy number with strong pop undertones and of course the key change! Fun. Verdict: Star
Tijana Bogicevic - In Too Deep (Serbia)
Another strong Eurovision ballad but like some of them in this year's competition doesn't really do that much to make it stand good. Still good though. Verdict: Hit
Omar Naber - On My Way (Slovenia)
Ticking the Eurovision box for power, this is a strong enough ballad but again fails to do anything that makes it stand on its own feet. It does have a good chanting end to it though. Verdict: Hit
Robin Bengtsson - I Can't Go On (Sweden)
O. Torvald - Time (Ukraine)
Even though they're the home country they've not phoned in their entry with this Linkin Park-style dramatic rock number that offers something fresh to end on. Verdict: Hit
The Final Verdict
So with all 43 songs listened to, here is my top ten in the traditional Eurovision order. On Saturday we'll find out if I'm correct...
Timebelle - Apollo (Switzerland) - 12pts
LEVINA - Perfect Life (Germany) - 10pts
Slavko Kalezic - Space (Montenegro) - 8pts
Svala - Paper (Iceland) - 7pts
Hovig - Gravity (Cyprus) - 6pts
Jana Burcheska - Dance Alone (F.Y.R. Macedonia) - 5pts
Ilinca feat. Alex Florea - Yodel It! (Romania) - 4pts
Manel Navarro - Do It For Your Lover (Spain) - 3pts
Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma (Italy) - 2pts
OG3NE - Lights and Shadows (The Netherlands) - 1pt
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