In part one we examined the relative importance of performance order with respect to Grand Final qualification. The concise finding from that analysis that performance order can improve an entry’s prospects quite a lot, but there are no genuinely hopeless slots. But what about winning a semi-final? Are there any genuinely sweet slots? How important […]
In a live, competitive competition, what you do and when you do it both are important. But how important is the “when” bit, when the immediate goal is qualifying for the Grand Final? In this article John Egan looks at the question of Grand Final qualification in the two semi-final era of the Eurovision.
“Brutal.” “A bloodbath.” “So unfair.” “Toughest semi-final in history.” These were but a few of the comments made in the Lisbon bubble about the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest first semi-final. The overwhelming consensus was that Tuesday’s line-up of entries was much stronger, there were more than 10 entries deserving of a place in this year’s […]
Does said membership disproportionately benefit a 12 member Russophone bloc’s preferred entry? Click through for a lengthy analysis!
the 2018 Grand Final result was clear and unremarkable. John Egan takes a look at some of the numbers.
The first 2018 semi-final offered an embarrassment of riches: there being a sense of disappointment with what would follow on Thursday seemed inevitable. But even with a lowered set of expectations, what was delivered on Thursday felt, with a few exceptions underwhelming. There was another element to the luck of the 2018 draw that seemed […]
There are few aspects of the Eurovision for which a consensus view emerges. But in 2018 there seemed to be one: that the first semi-final had more than 10 qualification-worthy entries. A corollary of this is that the second semi-final only had a handful of strong entries. This imbalance was accidental—due to the random allocation […]
We have updated the league table page with the 2018 results. Click here to see what’s shifted.
A sane person to an insane society must appear insane Kurt Vonnegut So. The Eurovision. Yes, that Eurovision, that thing that just happened in Lisbon. The one that appears to be heading towards Tel Aviv Jerusalem next year. It was awesome. And also a bit terrible. A bit. This was the first time I’ve spent […]
As the fortnight wraps up here in Lisbon–two more nights of shows and we will have our 2018 champion–I thought I’d update some of the press work I’ve done elsewhere. But first kudos to the Portuguese-led team who’ve done a good job organising things. I think the Grand Final has too long an opener, but […]
