[LMBTO] Eurovision 2016 - My Rankings Post-Rehearsals...

As we have finished the rehearsal stage and are now into the live stuff (Jury SF1 was last night, with all its controversies - look at the Eurovision websites, it's alight with the Russian Jury Periscoping themselves whilst watching the Dutch and Armenian performances), I just wanted to quickly put out there who I had down as qualifying from each SF.  The reason for putting Greta and Sanja up in their Red Carpet outfits was simple - they are the artists that would be getting my twelve points in each SF (they happen to be my #1 and #2 this year).  I realise that I have already listed my thoughts on who I think will or will not qualify for the Final (SF1& SF2) but here's them all put in nice table form and with the points I would allocate...

Okay, so I am still in love with Iceland's entry, so sue me!  The overall staging from Russia has blown me away as well and I feel it's such a pity that these two entries weren't in separate SFs - I suppose this way a direct comparison can be made.  The biggest impression made on me since seeing the relevant act's rehearsals and why they have stormed into the big points of my rankings are Armenia and the Czech Republic:

Both entries given by strong powerful women, Iveta using her sexuality to give a superb visual spectacle to be the revelation of SF1, Gabriela using the power and purity of her voice to really give her nation the best ever opportunity to qualify for the Final.  Looking back at my pre-Stockholm list, Azerbaijan and Croatia are the big losers, dropping out of my points due to poor vocals for Samra and ridiculous outfits which will detract from Nina's distinctive vocal style.

Onto SF2, where the best voice in Stockholm is still my number one choice - I would not be unhappy at all for Sanja to take the crown this year but at the moment, my top score would be going to her (as I am sure will a lot of nation's marks).  The big changes between pre-Stockholm and here aren't so much with artists busting into the top of my rankings but one dropping out entirely - Ireland.  I loved this song when just listening to the official video and studio version but Nicky just can't replicate it live and I cannot see it qualifying any more.  Switzerland are another act that charmed me earlier in the Eurovision season but now my realistic head says no!  Belgium are the biggest jumper here - I had them down in 29th pre-Stockholm but the staging of "What's The Pressure" is now so slick that I now have Laura as a fairly safe qualifier:
So there you go, my colours nailed firmly to the mast as to who I think will go through each SF to Saturday's Final.  I am pretty sure that there will be some that won't make it - looking back at previous years since I started the blog, I have been as high as 90% correct (SF2 2014) and as low as 60% (SF2 2015).  As I am sure most people will be doing exactly the same thing this evening, I will be sitting down in front of the tv, hoping that Scott Mills and Mel Giedroyc don't ruin the UK commentary and seeing who will make it out of SF1...