All images from the official preview videos on YouTube

And now… the end is near…

That’s right, folks – following on from our reviews of the songs in the first and second semi-finals, it’s time for us to complete our Eurovision 2022 Line-Up Check with the five automatic finalists. That means we’re done just in time for tomorrow’s second rehearsals, when we should be getting plenty of video content to enjoy (over-)analyse, as well as blogs from those fans who have been fortunate enough to obtain accreditation this year. We look forward to obsessing along with you all.

But first: our team’s verdict on the automatic finalists!

FRANCE
Martin: When a preselection winner prompts you to write a blog post, there must be something to it. Alvan & Ahez’s victory in France certainly felt like a big moment for representation.

And yet I’m worried about “Fulenn”. It is a difficult song. That’s nothing to do with the language barrier, and everything to do with its style and structure. I often like difficult songs, but in order for them to connect sufficiently with a mainstream audience to do well in the contest, I tend to have to love them. And I don’t quite love this. Which is why I’m concerned about its chances.

Felix: Finally, France! Something different. Though my appreciation for “Fulenn” declined a bit over the weeks. Anyway, if there’s one song that feels like Eurovision in the 1990s, it’s this one.

Shi: I like the song and idea quite a bit, but I don’t trust the staging or performance to actually work.

GERMANY
Felix: This is a weird one to write for me, so let’s begin with the first reason: For a change, I have absolutely no issues with my country’s entry this year. It’s a decent song, a good track, more charismatic and lively than most German entries of the past years. Second: His father is a known TV host from the 1990s, and who knew he has such a talented son. Nice surprise!

“Rockstars” isn’t outstanding, but it’s already a big leap that we’re not totally bland this year. With the right staging, a good performance, we might even get some points.

Shi: Oh, Germany is doing the Germany thing of late (bar last year) where they send a perfectly pleasant tune that absolutely no one will either remember at the end of the night, or at least like enough to vote for.

Martin: Three consecutive contests with a televote zero would be harsh for Germany, but I expect this to get significantly less love from the public than the juries. Then again: I, a public member, like it quite a lot.

ITALY: Walking on the beach beneath the moonlight, just like a dream that never dies

ITALY
Martin: It feels too easy to count Italy among the favourites for victory in Turin. Mahmood has history in this contest, “Brividi” has become a huge streaming hit, it won our ChatVote, and the casual ESC viewers I know who’ve heard it have all responded positively. Almost too good to be true, right?

If I’m looking for criticisms, the falsetto harmonies didn’t always sit right in Sanremo, which could put off first-time viewers. The same applies to the “duet but not a love duet but maybe?” vibe of the performance.

But underneath it all is a fine song. Winner? Maybe not quite. A very strong home entry? Definitely.

Shi: Italy has been so consistent since its return to Eurovision that it’s no wonder they are one of the few host countries to provide a really strong home entry. A beautiful song and performance that works best the first time around.

Felix: “Brividi” is a possible winner, yes. Independently from that, I learned to love this entry. Mahmood & Blanco’s chemistry is indeed mysterious. Let it be mysterious. It’s part of the magic.

SPAIN
Shi: Do you believe in miracles? I hope you do, because Spain just provided one. Get this: not only a fun catchy song with a charismatic and an extremely likeable performer, and in a year that has very little of it, but also an effective package of staging, choreography and camerawork that was pretty much Eurovision-ready in the national final already. What is this witchcraft?

While many fans had other favorites in the Spanish national final, in terms of the goal (the admittedly low bar of not finishing at the bottom right of the table), “SloMo” is Spain’s best chance in years of doing not just that – but being nearer the opposite end of the list too.

Martin: In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. And in the absence of a “Fuego”, fans will act like “SloMo” has Foureira potential. It does not. But it’s a perfectly decent entry.

Felix: Benidorm Fest 2022 was the best national final of the season. I would have preferred at least eight of the other songs in Turin. Stuff like “SloMo” just bores me.

UNITED KINGDOM: The wind, it wins at last – always

UNITED KINGDOM
Felix: It has been said about a hundred times, but what? The UK is actually good? When I first read those reactions, I didn’t believe it – until I heard “SPACE MAN” myself.

Yes, it’s that good. Yes, it can become an international radio hit. Yes, it can work extremely well on the Eurovision stage. Yes, it can win this whole thing, not least because it speaks to all generations. Musically, it makes sense from the first note until the last. There’s actual songwriting, an actual melody, actual classic pop. There are songs that I love more this year, but highest marks are deserved here.

Shi: The only thing that stops me from screaming that this is winning this year’s Eurovision as loudly as I can is that I absolutely do not trust the BBC to not find a way to muck it up somehow.

Martin: It’s really weird hearing my co-writers be this positive about my country’s entry. Doubly so since I like the song too (Sam made a Teletext video, how could I not?). Now watch them stage it with giant trumpets painted as space rockets.

And that, dear escgo! audience, brings our 2022 Line-Up Check to an end! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our thoughts on this year’s songs – and stay tuned for our usual analysis of rehearsal footage, staging choices and betting chances as this year’s contest draws ever closer.

Don’t forget you can always drop into the #esc chat, especially in the evening, if you feel like joining other fans in picking through the latest events from Turin!