Dang it I'm reaaally late ;-;

18. LITHUANIA

https://youtu.be/bvuRdplp8wc

It's not necessarily the song I dislike the most out of the 18 we have in this semi, but if I judge the whole package, it's definitively the one that impressed me the least. The song itself was already boring to begin with, and the staging didn't do it justice at all. I don't think that with such a weak song in such a strong semi you can get away with a bunch of lights in the backdrop, sometimes forming pictures, and hope to go through. Maybe Jurij(us)'s charisma will help him out, but considering the fact that he's right after Malta's uptempo (and better staged) song and Russia's hyped ballad, I don't think we'll be seeing any lion in the final (not that we already see any since they seem to be absent from the performance anyway, for some reason).

17. MOLDOVA

https://youtu.be/X3RauAppvCQ

You know there is a problem when the backdrop is more entertaining than the song itself. It honestly looks like one of these speed painting videos you can find on YouTube, that usually come with a background song. You come for the visuals, and sometimes even mute the song if it's not your taste. The same thing is sort of happening here, which is a bit sad for Anna. However, they managed to make this dreadful song at least a little bit interesting and lively, which could play in their favor. I don't see this qualifying nonetheless, or if they do, they have to thank Kseniya for saving their bottoms.

16. LATVIA

https://youtu.be/TjDnAtgrJCo

I may not like this song nor performance, I have to admit that they succeed in doing what they want to do, aka set up a soothing late night bar atmosphere and calm the audience down a bit. Or maybe even a bit too much? See, this staging, just like the song itself, is very repetitive, and nothing really happens. It's just there. Also, nothing, literally nothing can excuse those IWS for such an intimate performance. 

15. IRELAND

https://youtu.be/Nh8iFJTxVHI

I really wish there will be audience singing shots and not bored crew members on the night of the semi-final. Again, the wide shots are ruining everything, because they keep on emphasizing how empty the stage is. It does look improved from the first rehearsal, especially vocally, but it is still not a qualifying song nor performance. And don't forget that she performs second. Look, if Ireland failed to qualify with a hot air balloon, they'll fail to qualify with a vintage bar.

14. RUSSIA

https://youtu.be/4kk-tv3Zzk4

Wide shots are very unnecessary, they can only do harm. The focus should be on the boxes, not on the arena. This wide shot meme was funny at first, but now it only gets more and more annoying. Also, I'm not sure that a shot encompassing all of the boxes is a good idea, I think that they should have played around with illusions a bit more, like showing the video Sergeys one by one and then suddenly the real Sergey, and confusing the viewers because no one knows who's who. In any case, Russia's in the final.

13. CROATIA

https://youtu.be/sWpRSYfY7O8

This song is growing on me for all the wrong reasons. I should not be enjoying this massive kitsch-fest, but I do, and it's stronger than me. I think that despite all of that wing criticism they got the staging right, because it fits the dated and cheesy feel of the song, and I think that as a whole package it does not look like a joke or a try-to-hard entry. Obviously, there are some filthy wide shots that ruin the performance, but oh well.

12. AUSTRIA

https://youtu.be/h5ppfP5pm9U

OMG SHOTS THAT LOOK GOOD ON TV? NO WAY IT MUST BE CHRISTMAS! The staging looks better on TV than live in the arena but still fails to captivate me completely. At first, I can't take my eyes off the screen and then, little by little, my attention flies elsewhere. The song surely doesn't help to make the performance any more interesting. However, I'm sure this song will find its audience and may or may not squeeze through to the final.

11. DENMARK

https://youtu.be/FQDkwuNjO8s

The camera work is good here, we don't stare at Leonora's face all the time, and when we get to see a bit more of the scene, it only emphasizes how small they look on this big chair, which is I believe what they're going for. 

10. NORTH MACEDONIA

https://youtu.be/e5yuP9deQB8

I still don't get why everyone is so crazy about this. And this dress still looks like it needs ironing. And there are some camera angles that don't work at all. Still, I admit that there are some good ideas in this staging, but it's not exactly enough to grab my attention for three minutes straight. The only reason why this is tenth is that I like the other entries less. Give me an even stronger semi and this doesn't stand a chance with me. But again, I can see this having its own public and its own voters. I'm just not among them.

9. ARMENIA

https://youtu.be/hKHsNcgfMk8

I'm not exactly sure that fire and wide shots of the public are enough to really do this song justice, but at least there is something happening on stage. I just wish there were dancers with her, or a bit more movement, so she can be remembered. I'm afraid that since she goes first she'll be a bit forgotten as the evening progresses, but we'll see. I also start to like the song more than I did, so I'm even more disappointed by the staging than I was a few days ago.

8. SWITZERLAND

https://youtu.be/j7zJoWwbz4Y

This is in the exact same situation as Cyprus: it's a catchy song that will go through no matter what, but that is also dragged down by a questionable choice of clothing and poor live vocals. It sounds better on TV than live in the arena, but you can still tell he's more of a dancer. And again, wide shots show how small and empty the stage is, blah, blah, blah. It will obviously be in the final and get a good result overall.

7. MALTA

https://youtu.be/AyXlDQx5ovM

This is Belarus 2.0, they had a good stage idea and got rid of it for some reason. Now the stage just looks emptier, especially with the wide shots, and lacks a bit of energy. It really is a pity because this song was a grower, but now I start to like it less again. And so it falls in my rankings again.

6. SWEDEN

https://youtu.be/y5w8qSEg9Ls

I think that I will just stop commenting on wide shots. We all know they're everywhere and that they ruin everything, so why even bother? Anyways, I don't have much to say about this since there is nothing new since the last time. I just start to be a bit fed up of the song, which would explain its place in this top.

5. NORWAY

https://youtu.be/64wttdCyxO4

It already looks a bit more convincing. I think the backdrop still lacks some elements, but I like the animals they added. I'm glad that there's some focus on the singers. It is solid enough to go through.

4. ALBANIA

https://youtu.be/P0lToVjUzDM

It already looks better, I like the circle of fire that kind of reminds of the music video. I still don't understand why the LED screen behind her is so poorly used, and I fail to get what these hanging triangles represent, but overall the staging looks more appealing. I would like to know where did the eagle go, though. There was supposed to be an eagle, but so far it has only been mentioned. It would have been a nice and meaningful addition to the whole performance, and it would have added more movement. Despite Jonida's vocal slayage, I'm concerned about Albania's chances of qualifying. Putting her after Russia is not a nice move, and Norway will catch more attention. Don't let this stay in the semis. Please.

3. THE NETHERLANDS

https://youtu.be/ReOcQVgIAFs

I liked the first rehearsal more, for obvious reasons, although this perf is less infected than others. I really like the blue atmosphere, but now that I'm thinking about it, this piano looks a bit weird. Maybe a bigger one would have suited the song a tad more — or simply helped to fill the stage more. The backdrop is still gorgeous though, definitively one of my favorites this year. Needless to say that it will qualify.

2. ROMANIA

https://youtu.be/zWpqOA8rF5E

I still find the floating furniture animation cheap, but if we also forget about the camera angles, what is happening on stage is nice to see — the dancers, I mean; they are definitively needed to make the thing livelier and bigger. Now that I've thought it through, I'm actually rather disappointed with the overall performance. It looks a bit too messy, cheap, and not always fitting the mood of the song. The vocals and the clothing choices are solid, though. It's a pity because this song deserves better.

1. AZERBAIJAN

https://youtu.be/o6Ib0C0PxN8

It looks so cool! I really can't wait to see the whole thing. The performance fits the atmosphere of the song incredibly well, and even elevates it, which is something most of the stagings this year have failed to accomplish. I am dead scared of robots, but I must admit that I adore these two and the original and modern touch that they add to the perf. The music video was already perfect, so there was no reason for them to fail the live staging, right? I wouldn't mind at all to see this song Azerbaijan win, because this time, they'd deserve it. Oh, and since I need to give credit when credit is due, I'd like to correct what I said a couple of days ago. This is the best staging of the year.