On a completely unrelated note would any of you be willing to do weekly/once in two weeks top 20's in different topics like Best Stage Performances, Best Female/Male Voices, Most Underrated Songs, Best Non-Qualifiers etc. I've been seeing these kinda videos on my youtube suggestions and it looks fun
Upping this cause why not? It would help staying on the first page
This is a personal list including the 20 biggest injustices in the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals since 2004. The following songs have fallen victim to Armenia and Turkey's migrant voting, to the Balkan reciprocal voting, or simply to Europe's bad taste. Here are the "20 songs that would've passed with stellar marks if they had represented Russia"!
20. Sílvia Night - "Congratulations" (Iceland 2006)
The crowd in Athens quite didn't get this performance's irony, but at least the other parody act from Lithuania made it despite the huge boos. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Süper Star" (Turkey), "Without Your Love" (Armenia)
19. Agnete - "Icebreaker" (Norway 2016)
After two years of uneventful ballads that were somehow voted up to the top ten by the juries, Norway was back with a very polarizing song sung by a stunning young lady that didn't deserve the treatment it got. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Made of Stars" from Israel
18. Greta Salóme - "Hear Them Calling" (Iceland 2016)
Despite the weak vocals, she managed to serve a very good performance and gave justice to a very current-sounding song. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "You Are the Only One" from Russia
17. Selma Björnsdóttir - "If I Had Your Love" (Iceland 2005)
Okay, maybe her voice wasn't fantastic. Okay, maybe the performance looked a bit like a pilates session. But we can't deny this club banger deserved a place in the final (the bookies had her as one of the favorites to win up until the semi night!). Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Talking to You" (Denmark)
16. María Ólafs - "Unbroken" (Iceland 2015)
Another time when the vocals were a let down, but the song itself was really good and deserved the final. María's performance was very simple but cute, and come on, she didn't sound dreadful. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Hour of the Wolf" (Azerbaijan)
15. TWiiNS - "I'm Still Alive" (Slovakia 2011)
A classic midtempo pop song with a well-staged performance, maybe a bit too inoffensive for the European televoters, who preferred Moldova's extravaganza. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "So Lucky" (Moldova)
14. Kristína Peláková - "Horehronie" (Slovakia 2010)
At first one of the bookies' favorites, Kristína's celebration of her own country backfired in favor of Serbia's own celebratory song. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Run Away" (Moldova), "Lost and Forgotten" (Russia), "Ovo je Balkan" (Serbia)
13. Valentina Monetta - "Crisalide (Vola)" (San Marino 2013)
Lately the Eurovision hasn't been here for songs in languages that are not English, but this beautiful song in Italian that arrived 2nd in the OGAE poll definitely deserved a spot in the final (and in the top ten). Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Lonely Planet" (Armenia)
12. Felipa Sousa - "Vida minha" (Portugal 2012)
A stunning, heartfelt ballad sung in Felipa's native language that was perhaps penalized by the uneventfulness of its first half. The last chorus alone was worth the final, though! Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Be My Guest" (Ukraine), "Stay" (Norway)
11. Kaliopi - "Dona" (Macedonia 2016)
Further proof that the juries want songs in English: this nostalgic, classical ballad was 8th in the televoting. The juries weren't convinced by Kaliopi's powerhouse vocals and got certain other forgettable songs by people who were barely singers through. K. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Made of Stars" from Israel
10. Evridiki - "Comme ci, comme ça" (Cyprus 2007)
Considering that there were no other electrorock songs in that semi, I wonder how the televoters of Europe slept on it. How I wish the two semi-finals system had been introduced before, we wouldn't have had to endure Ireland's song in the final. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Shake It Up Şekerim" (Turkey)
9. Rebeka Dremelj - "Vrag naj vzame" (Slovenia 2008)
Slovenia is notoriously criminally underrated at the Eurovision, but that year it's their fault they didn't qualify. The song was a proud, anthemic dance piece with sassy, bitter lyrics, but the performance... a mess. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Pokušaj" (Bosnia & Herzegovina), "Day After Day" (Azerbaijan)
8. Sieneke - "Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" (Netherlands 2010)
This would've made it with televoting, and it's no surprise to me considering that the arena went down with this fun performance of this trashy but beyond enjoyable Dutch schlager song. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Life Looks Better in Spring" (Cyprus)
7. Femminem - "Lako je sve" (Croatia 2010)
The performance looked like a shampoo commercial, and one of the good sistrens missed a key note (the only time in her life she did, bad luck). But the girls looked great, and the song was very emotional, so it's still a mystery to me how this didn't qualify. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Life Looks Better in Spring" (Cyprus)
6. Tereza Kerndlová - "Have Some Fun" (Czech Republic 2008)
You could blame it on her vocals, but that's the semi-final where "Hero" by Charlotte Perrelli was saved by the juries, so nah. You could say that no one votes for the Czech Republic, and this is not a lie. You could say that the song sucked, and you're in denial. Featuring TWiiNS as the backing singers/dancers, very tiny outfits, and a DJ in a winged heart-shaped console, this performance is rumored to have inspired Ariana Grande's "Break Free" video look. Legendary! Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Wolves of the Sea" from Latvia
5. Paolo Meneguzzi - "Era stupendo" (Switzerland 2008)
In the same semi-final, we had this amazing, nostalgic song in Italian about childhood regrets. Considering that 4 of the 10 qualifiers were not in English, I guess we could safely call this song's flop a mystery of our time. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Wolves of the Sea" from Latvia
4. Kate Ryan - "Je t'adore" (Belgium 2006)
No need to discuss this one. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Süper Star" (Turkey), "Without Your Love" (Armenia)
3. Sandra Oxenryd - "Through My Window" (Estonia 2006)
The Estonians gathered the same team as "Once in a Lifetime" (4th place in 2000) and "Runaway" (3rd place in 2002) for their ABBA-esque 2006 entry, which had a stunning running order near the end and an attractive female performer dressed up in a blue satin dress with a huge belt. With a huge smile on her face, she completed the performance flawlessly and she seemed like a sure qualifier... yet, she finished 18th out of 23. God works in mysterious ways. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Süper Star" (Turkey), "Without Your Love" (Armenia)
2. Sofi Marinova - "Love Unlimited" (Bulgaria 2012)
Bulgaria went for a very radio-friendly sound that year, channeling Alexandra Stan and Inna. Sofi, one of Bulgaria's most popular singers, spreaded love in 11 different languages, sang the first-ever lyrics in Azerbaijani, and bopped on the stage throughout the entire €0 budget performance, serving flawless vocals and energy. She finished in joint 10th place with Norway (who ended up last in the final, boop!) and the tiebreak rule didn't favor her. Trash songs that passed from that semi: "Be My Guest" (Ukraine), "Stay" (Norway)
1. Poli Genova - "Na inat" (Bulgaria 2011)
"In 2011 we didn't qualify... somehow," Poli Genova said at the qualifiers' press conference this year. I can totally understand her surprise. Somehow, one of the best songs ever at the Eurovision, with its rock feels and dramatic performance, was only 6 points away from the final. The good sis was obviously given justice last month when she won 4th place, but still, I can't believe the Europeans didn't heavily televote for her back in 2011. The song was entirely in Bulgarian (the self-empowerment lyrics are stunning by the way!), so that might've been an obstacle. At least my country, Italy, recognized talent and gave her 10 points! Trash songs that passed from that semi: "So Lucky" (Moldova)
My top 20 of Should've Qualified Over Perennial Sh!tty Qualifiers *In order to be more inclusive I decided to do it as one song per country cause otherwise it was going to be a list full of Ireland, Poland and Cyprus
20) TWiiNS - I'm Still Alive (Slovakia 2011)
It was their best effort and I couldn't find a better replacement so they are here.
19) Musiqq - Angel in Disguise (Latvia 2011)
I really loved it back in the day and I still think it deserved a better place and should've been in the final.
18) Joan Franka - You and Me (The Netherlands 2012)
Her Native American Headdress was the only reason it failed to qualify imo. Such a tragic look Otherwise it was a cute little song.
17) Kate Ryan - Je t'adore (Belgium 2006)
Thought it deserved a top 5 place back in 2006 and it was a good song for its time but it aged badly for me
16) Quartissimo feat. Martina - Love Symphony (Slovenia 2009)
I actually really love this song. The mysterious feeling all over the song and the melody gets me going. Should have qualified even for their courage only, such a different song than the usual entries and in a good way, unlike most of the joke entries etc.
15) Sofi Marinova - Love Unlimited (Bulgaria 2012)
She lost the qualification in the worst possible way imo, by a tie. If it was the qualifier instead of Norway it would not be anywhere near bottom 10. She slayed that stage all by herself
14) Valentina Monetta - Crisalide (Vola) (San Marino 2013)
This was easily her best effort. And if it was sent by a bigger country and had a better stage act would end up in top 10 easily.
13) Dana International - Ding Dong (Israel 2011)
With this failing to qualify, it was official the schlager reign had ended in Eurovision, at least for the uptempo ones. I still don't like her dress but she could've qualified over at least half of the countries qualified from that semi.
12) Feminnem - Lako je sve (Croatia 2010)
The second of the two undeserved failures of 2010 is this. One of the few times Croatia really deserved to qualify and be in top 5/7, but no one of the damn singers had to fail to hold on to a note.
11) Anna Bergendahl - This Is My Life (Sweden 2010)
Her performance in Melodifestivalen semi final was her best but she still deserved to qualify from that semi final in 2010. First of the two undeserved failures of 2010.
10) Who See - Igranka (Montenegro 2013)
Those damn juries An amazing bop.
9) Olivia Lewis - Vertigo (Malta 2007)
Considering they were top 5 with the juries this year with a sh*tty song, if they send a song as amazing as this was again they'd probably win the jury voting She was so robbed.
8) Lidia Kopania - I Don't Wanna Leave (Poland 2009)
I still get sad when I listen to this song, it has that effect on me. Polish people hadn't fled from Poland in 2009 I guess?
7) Lovebugs - The Highest Heights (Switzerland 2009)
I think this was the hardest choice for a country, Ero Stupendo was really close and it is a great song as well but overall I prefer The Highest Heights. They had everything but it still was not enough for Europe I guess.
6) Can-Linn feat. Kasey Smith - Heartbeat (Ireland 2014)
This was among my top 3 in 2014 but the show was so tragic and vocals weren't good at all. So I understand why it failed but still it is an amazing song. I woke up singing "keep your head high above the water" part just this morning
5) Marta Jandová & Václav Noid Bárta - Hope Never Dies (Czech Republic 2015)
The first time they ever really tried. They both had amazing voices, hopefully, at least one of them comes back in the future.
4) Anonymous - Salvem el món (Andorra 2007)
WHERE IS ANDORRA?
3) Tanja - Amazing (Estonia 2014)
This was also among my top 3 that year before the live shows, she was perfect on stage vocally but seemed too amateur-ish visually I guess?? Can't find any other explanation
2) Uzari & Maimuna - Time (Belarus 2015)
I think this was in my top 5 for last year, such a shame Belarus can't qualify even when they try. I am surprised they didn't give up yet.
1) Evridiki - Comme ci, comme ça (Cyprus 2007)
Clearly one of the biggest crimes of the Eurovision history. The song was pure perfection and she was great and after almost a decade it does not sound dated at all.
She was so robbed.
