akoe07

Not far off the mark but don't see Poland getting through semi 1 and people are seriously underestimating Slovenia in semi 2 - less than half think she will qualify?? Come on... though to be honest I was 100% convinced Croatia were qualifying last year.

It's kind of weird to see Ireland this year. This ESC-Empire build on celtic ballads now suddenly is the talk of Düsseldorf because of a pair of twins behaving like 2 copies of Lady Gaga. Not very Irish - but that is half the fun of it. In fact they seem more British (Londonish) than any British entry ever did - could be to ESC 2011 what Buck Fizz were back in 1981.... spectacular and fresh...though at first I thought they would be more like "Flying the flag"...
But even though the songwriters are danish I must say it's is not the best song of 2011 - I should think even AKOE agrees on that?

Do you, like me, sense an unstoppable momentum building up around Jedward, just as it did around Dima, Ryback and Lena? Or could a combination of a poor draw and the juries in the final scupper their chances?

The odds are tumbling, so now might be the time for a flutter - before they shorten further.

I'd be so pleased for you guys if Ireland win, but it would be a win based on brilliant image management and publicity rather than musical merit. It IS a catchy contemporary song, though, and not the complete rubbish some are suggesting.

Fingers crossed for you.

I think "image management" is a bit unfair - the twins totally won everyone over during the presscon, and I don't think anyone could describe that as "managed"! In fact, their image and personalities are really quite *un*managed, they do a lot of stuff for themselves and it's that that gets attention and wins them fans.

Well said. These two lads works hard, and so, they have a strong team behind them, any half-decent artiste does these days but it is they who are winning people over and good luck to them.

Lipstick isn't a bad song, it's just that I absolutely hate their voices. They ruin the song for me, even in the studio version. But maybe the live version will be better, because they can hardly be heard in chorus. I also find it very surprising they don't seem to be able to dance synchronized. There is A LOT to do in that department. It looks amazing so final seems likely now, but I can't believe the juries will really support this.

I stand to be corrected as someone kindly pointed out (can't see the reply here for some reason):
it's not an all-Danish songwriter team, Dan Priddy is the third of the songwriters (he probably wrote the lyrics)

@lapponia77 & kelek80
Yes I agree this is one of highest climbers since rehearsals took start. It gets a lot of attention, on stage aswell as off stage, which will surely help.
It's good for Ireland and good for ESC - but I wouldn't like Lipstick to win. I am too found of music for that ;)))

Anyway best of luck Eire

Semi One...I more or less agree with. I'd say 7 of those in the Top 10 are more-or-less locks, with Norway, Hungary and Poland being the question marks. The bottom five seems accurate, but Portugal may be a surprise qualifier. Personal bias hopes to see Iceland make the final, with Georgia failing to make the Final for the first time.

Semi Two...whilst I'll freely admit to not being the world's biggest Jedward fan, I'm happy to see them (and, therefore, Ireland) doing so well. I don't think they'll place first in the Semi, but I'm quietly confident they'll qualify. Cyprus and Bulgaria seem to be painfully underrated. I think Romania will place a bit higher come the Semi, with Sweden just making it. Can't see Latvia making the top 10, but you never know. Personal bias hopes Israel fails miserably, whilst Slovenia makes the Final.