Great Young Girl Bulgaria (you need to say it out loud...)

A much quieter day today in Rotterdam, with only the last 8 songs of Semi Final 2 going through their second rehearsals.

For me there were three standout performances, so let's take these in order of presentation.

Another really strong performance from Portugal, combined with some of the most beautiful staging of all the songs, has propelled them firmly into the qualification window.  The smooth, laid back vocals are in stark contrast to much of what else is on offer this year, and despite not giving this a hope back in March when it was selected, I think this has the potential to not only qualify, but do really well in the final.  Bem Bom!

Of course, Victoria from Bulgaria, brought yet another set of completely flawless performances today, and I'm pretty sure now that she's guaranteed a Top 5 place next Saturday.  The staging, the gentle haunting vocal, the melancholy mood - it's just all perfect!

Our two jolly japesters from Denmark delivered another set of cracking rehearsals and I defy anyone not to enjoy these three minutes of ultra-80's Eurotastic frivolity.  Again, I can't see them failing to make the Final, although quite how they will do once they get there is anyone's guess.

Gjon's Tears from Switzerland delivered another competent performance, and the vocal is stunning - it's just all the interpretive dance stuff that makes it look complex and disjointed, and that's a shame, because as a song on it's own it's very strong indeed.

Albania and Georgia both had good rehearsals, but I'm not sure that either is strong enough to get to Saturday night.  Georgia is certainly different enough to stand out from the crowd, and had it been performed by Coldplay then it would be entering this week's Official Top 40 at number 1, such is the moody pathos of the track.

I despise the Finnish song with a passion hitherto unheard of by man - but it's ABSOLUTELY qualifying for the final - bugger!  And in a running order combo that, for me anyway, might have been created in the very depths of Hell, the Queen of Latvia [does "crown" hand movement as demonstrated by every competing queen on every season of Drag Race] is calling.  

She might be calling, but she's also stark raving bonkers, and her song is the aural equivalent of 3 minutes of root canal work - without anaesthetic.  The only "calling" she'll be hearing after Thursday night is the Gate number at Schiphol for Friday morning's flight to Riga!

So, that's your lot for today.  I'll be back in front of my screen in the virtual Press Centre tomorrow morning for the second run-throughs of our Big 5 and host nation.  You bring the coffee and I'll supply the Kleenex! (sob).

Photo credits: EBU - Thomas Hanses & Andres Putting