MaltaMedia.com

In his top ten predictions for semi-final 1 on Tuesday evening, Eurovision observer Dr Toni Sant has suggested that Malta will make it to the final of the Eurovision contest due on Saturday.

Writing in his blog, Sant said that the number of people who contacted him asking about his Eurovision 2010 “predictions” in the last few days was staggering. There is no stand out act this year, he wrote, even if Azerbaijan have spent more than Malta spends in 10 years on this contest to promote their 2010 entry.

Dr Sant expressed surprise about the fact that the Google worm is steady for Germany’s Lena. He noted that the top two acts tipped to win the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest are not taking part in the first semifinal along with Malta. His pick for semi-final 1 are the following in order of appearance:

Russia: Just because the Russians clearly aren’t taking Eurovision seriously this year, it doesn’t mean they can’t make it to the final.

Slovakia: The interesting staging, if nothing else, will make this a memorable entry on the night. Will that be enough to get Kristina Pelakova to the final?

Finland: What a country of extremes! It’s one of the most kitschy songs in this year’s contest but it’ also horribly infectious. Traditional Eurovision fans will love this. I’d also make a special note of the fact that they’re all dressed in white.

Bosnia & Herzegovina: I have it from someone who knows these things well that this is one to watch, for a particular group of Eurovision fans. However, he may be overlooking the fact that they’re also the same fans who don’t really like rock guitars.

Poland: Most Maltese people who bother voting on the Eurovision semi-final will probably like the staging of Legenda but they’ll possibly also take into account the fact that Malta’s own Thea Garrett seems to have found a soul mate in Marcin Mroziński. If they both make it to the final, she may very well be joining him on the cast of Les Miserables when it opens in Warsaw in September.

Belgium: One of the very few songs that don’t conform to the mainstream Eurovision genres and sub-genres. Will a good looking young man strumming an acoustic guitar and singing about, well, his guitar, appeal to the mostly middle aged female voting audience? Watch this one closely: it will either soar above the schlagers or sink majestically.

Malta: Malta has one of the most alluring entries in years. I’m saying Thea will take My Dream to the final. The backing singers are divine but perhaps our young singer is hampered by two of the handicaps that kept Jade Ewen from achieving a higher placing for the UK at last year’s final: (a) the song doesn’t grab you in the first 30 seconds, and (b) a young dynamic singer is made to perform like an aging diva.

Albania: If Juliana Pasha manages to make it to the final, it will prove that the new voting system has eliminated the possibility of bloc voting from excluding entries from countries without friendly neighbours.

Greece: Combing kitsch, ethnic stereotypes, and a catchy chant will ensure that Opa takes the Greeks to the final to provide what many will consider the most entertaining of this year’s entries. I’d also make a special note of the fact that they’re all dressed in white.

Iceland: In spite of giving us all that volcanic ash this spring, Iceland shines at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with a singer that will not only take the northern-most island nation in the contest to the final but can most likely also secure it a top 10 placing (or better) in the final voting round.

“DISCLAIMER: The “predictions” made in his blog post are for the amusement of the readers only, Dr Sant writes. He says he is pretty sure that these will not be the 10 countries whose songs will actually qualify for Saturday’s final. CLAIMER: Toni says he would be greatly amused to see how many of his 10 picks are also the ones that will be seen/heard again on Saturday.

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