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  • Writer's pictureKyriakos Tsinivits

Eurovision 2022: Semi-final 1 insights


Photo credits: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT/CORINNE CUMMING

The Eurovision 2022 semi-final 1 has wrapped up in Turin, Italy, with 10 acts qualifying for the Eurovision Grand Final on Saturday evening (Sunday morning in Australia).



Now we take a look at some interest facts and insights into the repercussions of the semi-final 1 results from qualification to the Grand Final and languages!


**There will be spoilers below!**


Before we look at each country let's look at the semi-final as a whole.


Interestingly, it is the first time ever since the introduction of the semi-finals that six entries qualified featuring languages other than English.


Out of those six entries four of them are sung solely in non-English languages, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Dutch and Icelandic. The last time four solely non-English language songs made it through to the Grand Final from a single semi-final was in semi-final 2 in 2012.



Albania

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Unfortunately for Albania their non-qualification this year has broken a three Contest in a row qualification streak. This was last repeated in 2010.


'Sekret' is the third ever entry from Albania in both Albanian and English languages, due to this years non-qualification no multi language entry from Albania has ever qualified to a Eurovision Grand Final.



Latvia

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Latvia's non-qualification continues a five Contest in a row fail at getting to a Eurovision Grand Final. Latvia last qualified in 2016 with 'Heartbeats' by Justs, which finished in 15th place.


Their longest non-qualification streak is six in a row from 2009 to 2014.


Fingers crosses that next year Latvia can break their qualification bad luck.



Lithuania

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Lithuania have qualified for a second year in a row. It is Lithuania's 11th qualification to a Eurovision Grand Final since the semi-finals were introduced in 2004.


'Sentimentai' is the third ever entry from Lithuania with Lithuanian lyrics and the second solely in the Lithuanian language. In a huge achievement, it will be the second time ever that a full Lithuanian language song will be sung at a Eurovision Grand Final! The last this occurred was 28 years ago in 1994 with Lithuania's debut Eurovision entry 'Lopšinė mylimai' by Ovidijus Vyšniauskas. Unfortunately back then it came last with "Nul points".



Switzerland

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Marius Bear has secured Switzerland's third qualifying year in a row. This is their longest number of qualifications in a row since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004.


He is also the fourth male soloist to qualify for Switzerland in the last 10 years.


As a Swiss-Aussie, Marius is the first Australian to make it to the Grand Final this year, the next one we hope is our own Sheldon Riley who is competing in semi-final 2 on Friday morning Australian time.



Slovenia

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

It was absolutely worth a shot for Slovenia to send a song to Eurovision with full Slovene lyrics as their last two Grand Final qualifications in a row, 2018 and 2019 were in Slovene language.


Unfortunately it didn't work for the boys from LPS. It is Slovenia's 12th non-qualification in 18 Contests since the introduction of semi-finals.



Ukraine

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Ukraine have come out strong after the Eurovision 2022 semi-final 1 remaining as the favourite contender to take out the whole Contest. They also continue a record breaking untouched 100% qualification streak! Out of 16 Contest appearances since the introduction of semi-finals the Ukrainians have seen the Grand Final stage every single time.


Continuing in the footsteps of Go_A from last year where 'Shum' became the first full Ukrainian language song to qualify to the Eurovision Grand Final, Kalush Orhestra's 'Stefania' has started a streak being the second full Ukrainian language song in a row to make it to the Final.



Bulgaria

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Unfortunately for Bulgaria 2022 saw them non-qualify for the 9th time out of 14 appearances. They also broke their own non-qualifying streak record of four Grand Final appearances in a row. Hopefully they can get back in the game next year.



Netherlands

Photo credit: EBU / CORINNE CUMMING

The Netherlands have been on fire during these 10 plus years!


S10's qualification this year is the Netherlands 6th Eurovision Grand Final appearance in a row, with one of those being a Eurovision win in 2019 with Duncan Laurence's 'Arcade'. This is their best streak since the introduction of semi-finals.


In great news for the Dutch language, it will be the first time in 24 years that a song sung solely in Dutch will be performed on the Eurovision Grand Final stage. The last time was in 1998 when the Dutch sent Edsilia with the song 'Hemel en aarde', she finished in 4th place!


S10 is the first female solo artist to qualify from the Netherlands since Anouk in 2013.



Moldova

Photo credit: EBU / CORINNE CUMMING

This is Zdob și Zdub's third appearance at Eurovision representing Moldova and their stage experience clearly paid off as this is also their third qualification to a Eurovision Grand Final!


'Trenulețul' is Moldova's 12th qualification out of 17 appearances. It is also the fourth song featuring Romanian lyrics, with all four songs having now qualified!



Portugal

Photo credit: EBU / CORINNE CUMMING

This marks the first time that two entries from Portugal have qualified in a row that feature English lyrics. In fact before 2021 no song that contained English from Portugal made a Eurovision Grand Final!


Maro is the first female soloist to qualify to a Eurovision Grand Final from a semi-final from Portugal since 2010.



Croatia

Photo credit: EBU / CORINNE CUMMING

Unfortunately for Croatia this year sees them not qualify for the 4th Contest in a row, a feat last repeated in 2013.


It is also their 4th song that contains both Croatian and English lyrics since the start of the semi-finals. All four of the songs have missed out in a Eurovision Grand Final.



Denmark

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

This year marks the second non-qualification in a row for Denmark. This was last repeated in 2015 to 2016. Hopefully they can return to form next year and see a Eurovision Grand Final again.


'The Show' is Denmark's first sole English language entry to not qualify since 2016 when 'Soldier of Love' by Lighthouse X missed the Grand Final.



Austria

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

In a devastating blow, this year marks Austria's third non-qualification in a row. It is their longest streak of not making it to the Grand Final.




Iceland

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Systur have secured Iceland their third qualification in a row, which can now be taken as a return to form.


'Með hækkandi sól' is Iceland's third entry in full Icelandic language, with all Icelandic entries having qualified to the Eurovision Grand Final. Might be something we see Iceland stick to from now on.



Greece

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Greece are back in form with their 3rd qualification in a row since 2019. This is Greece's 16th qualifying entry out of 18 since the introduction of semi-finals.


'Die Together' is Greece's sixth English entry to qualify since 2014. Their entries in 2016, in Greek and English language, and 2018 in the Greek language failed to make the Grand Final.



Norway

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Norway have now achieved their longest period of qualifying since the semi-finals began in 2004, with their 5th entry in a row to see the Grand Final. Their last longest qualifying streak was four Contests in a row from 2012 to 2015.


Interesting fact - Subwoolfer are the first non-binary wolves from the moon to qualify for a Eurovision Grand Final!



Armenia

Photo credit: EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

Armenia have broken their non-qualification streak and are back in the game! This will be Armenia's first Grand Final since 2017.


It is their 11th qualification out of 14 Contest appearances.



Also check out our team's review of the Eurovision 2022 semi-final 1 here:


Follow Aussievision at @aussievisionnet on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram for updates and live-tweeting for the ongoing 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.

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