Eurovision Song Celebration 2020 Part One

Host country: The Netherlands (AVROTROS, NOS, NPO)
Venue: Hilversum, The Netherlands
Host: Janouk Kelderman
Date: Tuesday 12 May 2020

N.B. Any use of "tonight" or "this evening" throughout this post means Tuesday 12 May 2020. All times in this post are in BST.

Introduction

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final was due to take place at Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands on Tuesday 12 May 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020, the EBU made the difficult decision to cancel the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. This is the first time the Eurovision Song Contest has been cancelled since its first ever edition in 1956. Eurovision Song Celebration 2020 Part One was a replacement show, streamed live on the Eurovision Song Contest's YouTube channel, at the time the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final would have been shown on Tuesday 12 May 2020. Its purpose was to honour the 17 countries which would have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final, plus the three countries (Italy, Germany, The Netherlands) which would have voted but not performed live that evening, by showing the official preview videos of those countries' entries for 2020. A few extra surprises were to be included too.

The Opening

After the Eurovision ident accompanied by Charpentier's Te Deum prelude, the opening was minimal. Janouk Kelderman gave a short speech stating that the purpose of this online show, and part two planned for two days later, was to honour the songs which would have competed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.

The Songs

Each song video was introduced with a slide containing rays in the country's flag colours, the country name, artist name, song title, a panel containing the writers and composers and a photo of the artist. A voice-over announced the song number, artist, song title and country. Some of the videos were national final performances, whereas others were pre-recorded preview videos. The first 17 songs were from the countries that were to have performed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final, in the order they were planned to be performed in that semi-final.

Song 1: Sweden - The Mamas "Move"

It's always difficult for the first country to perform in the first semi-final. I watched Melodifestivalen 2020 Final live online from the UK in March. The Mamas were three ladies, performing what sounds to me like a Motown-esque gospel song. During Melodifestivalen 2020 Final I was unimpressed by this song, and ranked it just 10th out of 12. The song isn't bad, it was certainly a bouncy one to open a semi-final, and there was good use of light beams during various parts of the song video. Apart from that, it's nothing particularly special really. This reminds me of Austria's entry in the year 2000, that being The Rounder Girls - "All to You", which finished 14th out of 24 songs. Personally, I think "Move" is somewhat tame compared to "All to You". Although I liked this a little more whilst watching the video online in the preceding couple of days, and during this celebration show, this still ended up being towards the middle of my ranking of the semi-finalists. I'm convinced this would have be a top ten contender (enough to qualify), but I think it could then have struggled in the Grand Final.

Song 2: Belarus - VAL "Da Vidna"

Quite a varied song, the verses are mid-tempo, the choruses are very lively and a bit over-powering. The video for this song appears to be a national final performance, with good use of arm movements and impressive graphics on the background screens. Pyrotechnics at the end provided the icing on the cake. Presumably the song would have been staged in a similar way in Rotterdam. This was one of my least-liked semi-finalists in this show.

Song 3: Australia - Montaigne "Don't Break Me"

Say what you like about Australia being allowed to continue entering the ESC, but they are back again for 2020. Australia has gone for a lively entry again this year. The video is clearly a national final performance. This song has powerful choruses, but I think the verses could have been stronger. The singer dances around and interacts with the backing group, and the lighting effects enhance the song. On the whole, quite a reasonable entry, but I don't think it's as good as Australia's 2019 entry.

Song 4: North Macedonia - Vasil "YOU"

This is clearly a promotional video, featuring a couple dancing in a pub, and several others sitting at tables. The dancing couple were on the floor near the end. Once can only speculate about how this would have been staged in Rotterdam. The maximum of six performers rule would have meant there couldn't have been as many sitting down as in the video. The song itself was very much a middle of the road song, which I think would have struggled to have qualified.

Song 5: Slovenia - Ana Soklič "Voda"

I watched the Slovenian national final, EMA 2020, live online from the UK on Saturday 22 February 2020. This looks like the original EMA 2020 Final performance. Presumably the light beams and background images would have been recreated in a similar manner in Rotterdam. Probably the best so far, the verses are fairly gentle, the choruses are powerful and Ana has a beautiful voice. If this performance is anything to go by, I would have liked this to have qualified for the Grand Final.

A break followed at this point, during which some of the artists performed their songs in alternative genres.

Song 6 Lithuania - The Roop "On Fire"

Back in March, this song was among the favourites to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The video is clearly a promotional video, which for some mysterious reason is in monochrome. No doubt the dancers in the video would have performed their dance routine on stage. The song itself is quite reasonable, and the singer has a good voice.

Song 7: Ireland - Lesley Roy "Story Of My Life"

Another video which is clearly a promotional video. This year Ireland have gone for a pop song, which has a catchy chorus. Nonetheless, I think this would have been very much borderline as to whether it would have qualified or not.

Song 8: Russia - Little Big "Uno"

What on Earth, in the world, is this? Some sort of pop song I presume, but this sounds to me as though it belongs more in the 1950s than in 2020. This video is clearly a promotional one. The two singers and the backing group move their knees towards and away from each other; presumably they would have all done the same in Rotterdam. One can only guess what lighting effects, etc would have been used on the Rotterdam Ahoy stage. This was my least-liked of the 17 preview videos of the countries drawn to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final in the days before Eurovision Song Celebration 2020 Part One. It's hardly surprising that, whilst watching Eurovision Song Celebration 2020 Part One, this ended up bottom of my ranking of the 17 First Semi-Final contenders. If this video is anything to go by, this is the one song I would have most wanted to have not qualified for the final. However, this would have almost certainly have qualified against my wishes.

Song 9: Belgium - Hooverphonic "Release Me"

A ballad, which would be suitable as a James Bond film opening sequence song. The lead singer has a pleasant voice, and the song is well structured. This is clearly a promotional video and one can only guess how she would have sounded performing this live at the Rotterdam Ahoy.

Song 10: Malta - Destiny "All Of My Love"

Destiny Chukunyere represented Malta in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015, and was a backing singer for Malta in last year's Eurovision Song Contest. This year she was back to represent Malta as the lead singer. Obviously, the spoken bit at the start of the video (which is clearly a promotional one) would have been omitted during a live performance in Rotterdam. This was among my most-liked of the 17 contenders that would have been in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final. The chorus is really catchy, and there's a good bridge too. Going by the video, I would have definitely wanted this in the Grand Final.

A break followed at this point, during which some of the artists stated (and sang bits of) their top three Eurovision songs of all time.

Song 11: Croatia - Damir Kedžo "Divlji Vjetre"

A well-structured song, with a powerful chorus. Damir has a good voice, and he performed this well in the video, which is clearly a national final performance. I liked the light beams, and the images on the background screen; presumably this would have been staged in a similar manner in Rotterdam. One of the better songs among the 17 semi-finalists in this show. Going by the video, I would have definitely wanted this in the Grand Final.

Song 12: Azerbaijan - Efendi "Cleopatra"

This is clearly a promotional video, so one can only guess how this would have been staged in Rotterdam. Going by the introduction and first verse, this seems quite a good song. Unfortunately, the line "And it sounds like this..." is spoken rather than sung, which I feel is an abrupt pause in the song. This is followed by the line "Nan Wu Miao Fa Lian Hua Jing", which I find somewhat irritating. The chorus which follows is, in my opinion, not bad, but that's it. After another verse (which is quite good), the bridge (if it can be called that) is a tad annoying. On the whole, a song consisting of good verses, not so good choruses and some rather irritating extras. If the video is anything to go by, this is one I'd have preferred not to have seen in the Grand Final. However, this would have almost certainly qualified.

Song 13: Cyprus - Sandro "Running"

Another video which is clearly a promotional one. I noticed flames and waves in various parts of the preview video; presumably those would have featured in the background screen images in Rotterdam. A power ballad which is not bad, and Sandro has a good voice, but this ended up in the bottom five of this ranking.

Song 14: Norway - Ulrikke "Attention"

I watched Norway - Melodi Grand Prix, live online from the UK on Saturday 15 February 2020. That evening, I thought "Attention" was one of the better ballads. The national final performance was used again for Eurovision Song Celebration 2020 Part One, and that gives a good clue as to how this song might have been staged in Rotterdam. It's a good song, and Ulrikke sang well, with a powerful voice. Just as one thinks the song is nearly over, there is one final, powerful chorus, appropriately accompanied by pyrotechnics. This is one I would definitely have wanted in the Grand Final.

Song 15: Israel - Eden Alene "Feker Libi"

Israel have gone for a lively, catchy song this year. This is very much a summer disco song. The video is evidently the national final performance, featuring amazing images on the background screen and stage floor. Presumably this would have been staged in a similar manner in Rotterdam. Interestingly Idan Raichel was involved in writing and composing this song; he performed one of the interval acts in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 Grand Final. Altogether an amazing song, well sung, and appropriately accompanied by a good dance routine from the backing group. This was among my most liked of the 17 semi-finalists; if the video is anything to go by, I'd have definitely wanted this to qualify.

A break followed at this point, during which YouTube creators from all over Europe commented on the songs from Sweden, Belgium, Malta, Lithuania, Italy, The Netherlands, Russia, Israel

Song 16: Romania - ROXEN "Alcohol You"

Romania have gone for a ballad this year. The video is clearly a promotional video, which includes good background images, and plenty of blue. Sometimes the lyrics wrap around the singer, and sometimes they appear in the background. I question the need for flashing lights during the second verse, and near the end though. One can wonder how this would have been staged in Rotterdam. The singer has a beautiful voice, and she sang well. Altogether a deeply immersive song, which was among my most liked of the 17 semi-finalists. Going by the video, I'd have definitely wanted this to qualify.

Song 17: Ukraine - Go_A "Solovey"

The last semi-finalist already; it's amazing how time flies! What on Earth, in the world, is this song meant to be? To me it sounds like a Chinese / Japanese style song. Put it this way, it's not the sort of song style I would expect from Ukraine. The video appears to be from the Ukrainian national final, Vidbir 2020 (which I didn't try to watch online from the UK). There are impressive images on the background screen, in red and white; in addition, red lights feature in this video. Presumably the same background screen images and beams of red light would have been used in Rotterdam. I question the need for flashing lights towards the end of the song. This was one of my least-liked songs among the 17 semi-finalists in this show, and I would have wanted this eliminated in the semi-final, but I guess this would have had no problem qualifying against my wishes.

Direct Qualifiers

At this point there was a seamless transition into the three countries that were directly qualified for the final, but which would have voted tonight. These songs were shown in the following order, and numbered 18, 19 and 20.

Song 18 Italy - Diodato "Fai Rumore"

Italy has gone for a ballad this year. The chorus is powerful, and there is a good instrumental break which serves as a bridge. Antonio Diodato has a very good voice, and he sings this song well in the video, which appears to be a promotional one. In my opinion, this is better than most of the 17 semi-finalists in this show, and would almost certainly have done well in the Grand Final.

Song 19: Germany - Ben Dolic "Violent Thing"

A modern disco song. I think it would be more suited to discotheques and nightclubs rather than the Eurovision Song Contest. Anyway, it's what Germany wanted this year. I guess this would have scored very few points with the juries, and a massive score from the public. The video is clearly promotional, so one can only guess how this would have been staged in Rotterdam. Obviously, there could have only been a maximum of five dancers accompanying Ben on stage.

Song 20: The Netherlands - Jeangu Macrooy "Grow"

Oh dear, the curse of being the host country; you want a respectable song, and you wouldn't mind winning again, but the country's broadcaster doesn't want to foot the bill for hosting again. Jeangu has a good voice, but the song "Grow" is, in my opinion, somewhat dull. This is clearly a promotional video, and one can speculate how this would have been staged in Rotterdam, but anyway it's just as well this would have been guaranteed a place in the Grand Final as I don't think it would have qualified.

Fan Recap

After the last song ended, there was a recap of all 20 songs, in the order they were shown. This recap was unusual on two counts. Firstly, it featured Eurovision fans enjoying themselves, whilst audio of clips of the songs was played in the background. Secondly, for obvious reasons, there were no phone numbers as would have appeared during a proper recap containing clips of live stage performances.

Finally, Janouk Kelderman gave a brief closing speech. This was followed by the closing credits and the Eurovision ident. The show ended around 21:30 BST.

Comparison with Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final would have differed in many ways from what was broadcast online this evening.
1) The show would have been presented by Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit.
2) There would, almost certainly, have been some sort of opening act, and the hosts would have given opening speeches.
3) Only the 17 semi-finalists would have performed live on the Rotterdam Ahoy stage this evening. The running order would have been the same as the first 17 songs in Eurovision Song Celebration 2020 Part One this evening. Each song would have been preceded by a postcard.
4) Once all 17 semi-final songs had been performed, the voting lines would have opened, and there would have been a recap of the 17 songs; this would have been a recorded clip of each of live stage performance. Since the UK was not drawn to vote in this semi-final, the BBC would have shown the message "UK viewers cannot vote tonight" at the bottom of the screen during the recap.
5) After the recap, there would have been some sort of interval act. There would, almost certainly, have been a second recap after that, and a countdown to when the lines closed. Since the UK was not drawn to vote in this semi-final, the BBC would have probably shown their own material during this time.
6) Before the ten qualifiers were announced, Italy, Germany and The Netherlands, which were due to vote but not perform in this semi-final, would have been honoured. For each of these countries, one of the hosts would have spoken to the applicable artist, and about one minute of a rehearsal performance would have been shown.
7) The ten qualifiers would have been announced, in a random order.
8) Once the ten qualifiers had been announced, there would have been a recap, consisting of clips of the ten countries which had qualified for the Grand Final.
9) The semi-final would have ended around 22:10 BST.

My First Semi-Final Ranking

I used My Eurovision Scoreboard to rank the songs. Since that only contained the 17 songs that were to have performed live in the semi-final that was due to take place this evening, I was only able to rank the 17 semi-finalists. In fact, that's what I wanted to do, to mimic the semi-final as closely as possible. That's why the three direct qualifiers (Italy, Germany, The Netherlands), which were only due to vote but not perform tonight, were omitted from my ranking. Of course, I was only able to judge the songs on the videos in this online show, some of which appeared to be national final performances and the rest were promotional videos. My opinions and ranking might have differed considerably had the artists been performing live at the Rotterdam Ahoy.

Here is my top ten:

Here is my ranking of the remaining seven semi-finalists:

The UK wasn't going to be voting in this semi-final anyway, but had the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final taken place, I would have wished I could have voted for: (top 6 of my scoreboard).

Outro

Altogether, a good substitute show for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final. It's the best that could be done given the circumstances; basically, a compilation of preview videos of the 17 countries that would have performed live in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 First Semi-Final, the three direct qualifiers (Italy, Germany, The Netherlands) which would have voted but not participated this evening, and a few extras. During the show, I noticed that some of the song videos appeared to be national final performances, (e.g. EMA, MGP Norway), whereas others were clearly pre-recorded promotional videos. Obviously national final performances would have given a better idea of how they would have sounded / looked live if the ESC 2020 First Semi Final had taken place as planned in Rotterdam this evening. Even so, they may have sounded better or worse live at the Rotterdam Ahoy than at the national final venues when the national finals took place.

So, the sad thing is no-one will ever know which ten songs would have qualified and which ones wouldn't, which is somewhat depressing to say the least. The upshot of this is, I cannot write my opinions on which songs which I wanted or didn't want in the final qualified or were eliminated. Furthermore, it seemed strange for this show to finish around 21:30, instead of around 22:10 as would have been the case if the semi-final had taken place as planned.