Eurovision 2014 Semifinal 2 (Preview - updated with results)

BBC3HD, Thursday May 8th 8pm

1. Coming Home - Firelight  (Malta)

A refreshing, breezy, rather moving folksy semi-acoustic number that evokes Mumford and Sons and Gary Barlow's Let Me Go. I love it, but appear to be in the minority as not many other fans seem to be falling for it. It could use its very simple-but-strong chorus more often for a greater impact, as the excellent vocals truly soar. The poppy-field staging reflects a more subtle version of the WWI setting of the song's music video.

Memorable bit: "Oh I-I-I-I'm coming home"

Should qualify: Yes.

Will qualify: No.

Result: Through.

2. Same Heart - Mei Finegold  (Israel)

Israel takes the rock-chick approach this year, with this ballsy, bilingual, up-tempo number that erups mid-way into a full-on dance anthem. A great song, and girl can strut.

Memorable bit: "We don't beat from the same heart"

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Out. Wow.

3. Silent Storm - Carl Espen  (Norway)

Less really can be more. Proof that a ballad can be a stand-out, for the right reasons. Simple, yet moving and very powerful. They've over complicated the staging a little by involving the backing violinists, when a man in a spotlight would have been not only more appropriate, but extremely effective.

Memorable bit: "Someday I'll be calm".

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.

4. Three Minutes To Earth - The Shin and Mariko  (Georgia)

This year's "WTF?" entry. The rambling, yodelling introduction goes on for far too long, and things don't improve once the Shakira-esque vocals kick in in the lead-up to the sudden, anticlimactic end. The kind of sub-prog-rock crap I'd expect to hear on Later with Jools Holland, this is more Three Minutes In Hell. Nul points.

Memorable bit: The parachute. Which does nothing either.

Should qualify: No

Will qualify: No

Result: Out.

5. My Slowianie - We Are Slavic - Donatan & Cleo  (Poland)

Ouch, my ears. Screechy, irritating, shouty and painful to listen to. At times it could pass muster as a Beyoncé song (not necessarily a compliment) and has indeed been a massive hit in several competing countries already. As for staging, it's Carry On Baltics as even the most traditional garb cannot disguise the videos of pendulous breasts and suggestive milking. One for the dads, then. It does, however, improve when it shifts to English.

Memorable bit: "Shake what your Mama gave you".

Should qualify: No.

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.

6. Rise Like A Phoenix - Conchita Wurst  (Austria)

And here we have the most talked-about entry this year. The Bond theme that never was. Think Diamonds Are Forever for the 21st Century, performed by a bearded drag queen with an incredible voice. Fabulous. Expect Twitter to crash.

Memorable bit: The bearded lady

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.

7. Attention - Vilija Mataciunaite  (Lithuania)

Shouty, horrid electro-pop. I assume they're hoping the chorography and weird futuristic-bondage-tutu outfits distract you from the terrible, terrible song, even if it does actually sound far less shrill when performed live.

Memorable bit: "I'm gonna make you, make you fall down d-d-down down on your knees"

Should qualify: No

Will qualify: No

Result: Out.

8. Something Better - Softengine  (Finland)

The increasingly-rare sight of a rock act at Eurovision comes this year courtesy of these teenagers. Of course, by "rock" we're talking more Busted-wearing-shiny-suits than Iron Maiden. But it was the first of this year's songs to get stuck in my head, with a great anthemic feel and Coldplay-esque singalong "woah-oh-oh-oh"s. The staging is kept very simple- no movement, just a static band and lights. Lots of lights.

Memorable bit: The rocky boyband.

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.

9. Heartbeat - Can-Linn feat. Kasey Smith  (Ireland)

The winner of this year's "Let's Copy Last Year's Winner" award is passed from Germany to Ireland. Although, to be fair, the Celtic sounds are more synonymous with Irish Eurovision entries than Danish ones, so you can certainly forgive them for this catchy, upbeat pop track decorated with thumping drums and fiddles. Still sounds like Only Teardrops though. And just in case you didn't get that it was Ireland, they've thrown in some kilt-wearing male Riverdancers as well.

Memorable bit: The (very) Irish one.

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: No

Result: Out.

10. Cheesecake - Teo  (Belarus)

One of the most distinctive and contemporary songs this year, this has more of an RnB vibe, Robin Thicke-stylee. The silly lyrics do more harm than good, but may help the song be more memorable. By bringing the backing singers/dancers into the fray, they've turned it into more of a boyband performance, which has helped remove some of the sleaziness, but also made it a lot more generic.

Memorable bit: The Robin Thicke one.

Should qualify: No

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.

11. To The Sky - Tijana  (Macedonia)

Another over-produced track that disguises a song with a lot of potential. As it is, it's pretty good, but gets a bit muddled around the second half. The black-and-white staging could make a big impact if photographed correctly, especially with its Matrix-esque chorography.

Memorable bit: "Where do we go now?"

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: No

Result: Out.

12. Hunter Of Stars - Sebalter  (Switzerland)

One of many folk/country/bluegrass entries this year, this one's up-tempo, with a very catchy, whistled hook. It may not make a strong first impact, but is a definite grower, and the band give it plenty of infectious energy. I love it when the staging and choreography matches the musical construction of the song, and this one certainly delivers.

Memorable bit: "Want me to go, want me to go" and lots of whistling.

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.

13. Rise Up - Freaky Fortune feat. RiskyKidd  (Greece)

Don't be fooled by the old-fashioned traditional-sounding funeral march of an intro. This quickly transforms in to a modern, dancey up-tempo mix of rap, synth sounds and trumpets (think Sam and the Womp). It's repetitive enough to be memorable, and would not sound out of place on a Radio One playlist. Again, that's not necessarily a compliment, but this will either irritate the hell out of you or win you over with its youthful enthusiasm.

Memorable bit: Trampolines & trumpets.

Should qualify: No

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.

14. Spet/Round And Round - Tinkara Kovač (Slovenia)

A bilingual, Celtic-inspired song with flutes and seductive rhythms, this is a real grower. It's songs like this that make me love Eurovison, as it's not the kind of thing I'm likely to hear anywhere else. The melody is very strong, but might not make a big impact except for those who are turned off by dance music.

Memorable bit: The flutey one.

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.

15. Miracle - Paula Seling & Ovi (Romania)

Having scored Romania's best result in 2010 (third), the duo that played a blinder on their conjoined piano are back with a lesser, but still strong up-tempo dance/pop song. This time, the piano is circular, and the staging is nowhere near as strong. I'm hoping for a last-minute surprise, as they might need one. Did someone say "hologram"?

Memorable bit: "It's a miracle!"

Should qualify: Yes

Will qualify: Yes

Result: Through.