Summary

  • Relive coverage of the first 2017 Eurovision semi-final from Kyiv

  • Ten out of 18 nations qualified for the Grand Final on Saturday 13 May...

  • Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Moldova, Poland, Portugal & Sweden

  • The second semi-final will take place on Thursday night

  1. Azerbaijanpublished at 20:43 BST 9 May 2017

    This is the 10th time Azerbaijan have got involved in the competition. 

    They have got into the top 10 in 6 out of their previous 9 performances.

     They also have a 100% qualification record for the final. 

    (Oh god, so many numbers - someone get Slavko's numerologist on the phone).

  2. Azerbaijanpublished at 20:42 BST 9 May 2017

    MEME klaxon! Dihaj's compelling staging is causing the internet to go meme-crazy. Why don't you tweet us your best rendition on @BBCEurovision, external? Here's one to get you going:

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  3. Azerbaijanpublished at 20:40 BST 9 May 2017

    Time for another head-scratching bit of stagecraft; a man sitting on top of a ladder wearing a horse head. Thanks, Dihaj, why the hell not - 'Embrace Diversity' right! Dihaj (real name Diana Hajiyeva) graduated from Baju Music Academy in 2010 and moved to London to study at the Insitute of Contemporary Musi Performance. 

    Whilst she was over in the UK she wasted no time and got heartily stuck into performing with 'a progressive trance trio called 'Looper and Mancus, external.' Ahhhh yeah that horse head is starting to make a bit more sense isn't it.

  4. Finlandpublished at 20:39 BST 9 May 2017

    Another thing that was happening nearly 11 whole years ago was Madonna's enchanting, Gothic performance of 'Frozen' on the BBC's Top of the Pops way back in 1998. I have a sneaking suspicion Norma John might have been watching:

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  5. Finlandpublished at 20:37 BST 9 May 2017

    Tervetuloa Finland! 

    Norma John's distinctive name was born out of lead singer Leena's obsession with Marilyn Monroe. Apparently she (yep, here we go...) imagined what Monroe's (real name Norma Jean) would be had she married President John F Kennedy and VOILÀ her stage name was born. 

    It's been a while since Finland got their mitts on that trophy; their last triumph was with Lordi who won the competition 11 whole years ago.

  6. The Eurovision Support Grouppublished at 20:36 BST 9 May 2017

    Here's a reminder of how NIcki French's performance went down 17 whole years ago in 2000

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  7. Montenegropublished at 20:31 BST 9 May 2017

    Slavko is Montenegro's 9th ever contestant from Montenegro. 

    Their best ever result was a 13th place position for Knez in 2015. 

    Apparently Slavko's numerologist told him he will go far this year. No seriously, just have a watch of this video when he turned up to Eurovision and his outfit matched all the carpets:

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  8. Montenegropublished at 20:30 BST 9 May 2017

    Here is what happened when Slavko hung out with Radio 1's Scott Mills. (Spoiler alert, it involved some mouldy cheese).

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  9. Montenegropublished at 20:30 BST 9 May 2017

    If any fans of 90s Spanish crooners are watching then you might like to know that Enrique Iglesias took time out of his tour to endorse Slavko's performance. 

    The Iglesias' (tough surname to say with a lisp) are no strangers to Eurovision. Enrique's father Julio actually came fourth in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 with a song called (wait for it...) 'Gwendolyne.' His son, Enrique, was also the guest performer at the Eurovision Dance Contest in 2007. Enrique, if you're reading this we are BEGGING you on bended knee to enter as Spain's contestant next year. Just imagine the props you could use in 'Do You Know (The Ping Pong Song).'

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  10. Belgiumpublished at 20:28 BST 9 May 2017

    Belgium have been competing in Eurovision since 1956 so Blanche is (*counts on fingers*) the 59th particpant to represent her country at Eurovision. 

    Belgium even won the competition in 1986 when Sandra Kim sang 'J'aime La Vie.' Here's a reminder of what that winning entry looked like, complete with a FABULOUS 80s mullet and neoprene stockings. (Also Carey Mulligan is that you):

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  11. Belgiumpublished at 20:26 BST 9 May 2017

    Time for a bit of Belgium. Lorde have mercy. Is anyone else getting some real Lorde , external vibes from this song? In any case it packs an emotional punch (despite those 'West Side Story' finger clicks she was doing at the start), here is Blanche (real name Ellie Delvaux) welling up during her rehearsal last week:

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  12. Albaniapublished at 20:24 BST 9 May 2017

    Lindita has a very, VERY impressive track record. She has sung with Stevie Wonder, once opened for The Backstreet Boys, made it to the Top 25 of American Idol and made it onto the front cover of People Magazine. She is also fluent in German, Spanish and Croatian (crikey) and sings in a further ten languages. Still not impressed? Well then, check out her BANGING cover of Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You':

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  13. Albaniapublished at 20:23 BST 9 May 2017

    Lindita clearly putting in her bid here to be the first ever female Doctor Who - look at all those CLOCKS. She even does a pretty good acoustic version of this song (entitled 'World' by the way; a pretty transparent attempt to get all possible voters on side). Here she is performing the acoustic version of the song and dressed like Regina George's mean older sister. 

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  14. Australiapublished at 20:21 BST 9 May 2017

    Australia even has a 100% qualification record. In fairness, they only started competing in Eurovision two years ago but what the heck - GO AUSTRALIA, let's make it a hat trick! Speaking of hat tricks take a look at the headwear choreography which Australia's first ever entrant, Guy Sebastian did in 2015 (#erristhatBrunoMars)

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  15. Australiapublished at 20:20 BST 9 May 2017

    Also, just in case you were wondering, Isaiah is one of the youngest contestants here tonight. Oh God, yep news just in... he's ONLY SEVENTEEN. No beers for you then Isaiah if you get through tonight's semi. Someone get a cranberry juice on hand just in case. And maybe a slice of Kiev's national dish, the almighty Kyiv cake which is some sort of heart-attack-inducing monstrosity packed full of meringue and cashews. 

  16. Australiapublished at 20:19 BST 9 May 2017

    Oh and just LISTEN to that voice as well. Mmmm, yes please; Isaiah really channelling some soulful, Sam Smith vibes here (are you watching this Sam, external? Release your second album now, we beg you). Here is Isaiah chatting about the inspiration behind the surprising 'lazy susan' platform he's standing on.

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  17. Australiapublished at 20:17 BST 9 May 2017

    If your flatmate just jumped off the sofa and screamed 'why is Australia in Eurovision?!' Don't worry, we've got your back. Australia, like Israel and Norway is a member of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) rather than the EU (The European Union) and so has every right to be here. I mean what do you think? They just snuck all that lighting up on stage or something?

  18. Georgiapublished at 20:15 BST 9 May 2017

    Tamara also performs under the name 'Tako' in her home country which she describes as 'an affectionate variant of her name.' Just a little something for anyone at home tucking into a delicious Mexican supper right now.

  19. Georgiapublished at 20:15 BST 9 May 2017

    Tamara Gachechiladze very nearly represented Georgia in 2009 with the band 'Stephane & 3G' (I know, I know mobile phones have moved on; IT'S 4G NOW TAMARA) but withdrew after their entry was disallowed for containing political lyrics. 

    Don’t worry, this year she'll be keeping things strictly apolitical with her song 'Keep the Faith.' The bang on trend message of this song is apparently 'no matter how matter how tough situations can be, you've got to Keep Faith, believe in yourself and never give up.' Time for a shout out to dearly departed George Michael I think. #RIPGeorge

  20. Georgiapublished at 20:13 BST 9 May 2017

    Tamara absolutely smashed this song in the dress rehearsal last week, serving up some proper Mariah Carey realness and blinding every press photographer in the room with her fit-inducing lighting. (Seriously sufferers of epilepsy might want to go make a cup of tea at this point of the night). 

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