Different song for semi-final?

[onrequest]

I'm not a fan of the semi-finals, because I believe it gives those songs a double-exposure and thus the songs score higher (and the top 10 of the last three years would support this).

I also don't like it because it reveals the stage, presentation devices, lighting effects and so on before the actual contest. I know nobody is forcing me to watch it, but even so I think there could be changes to improve it (because the EBU wont scrap it since it makes them money).

I think countries entering the semi-final should enter a different song to their song for the final, effectively singing for a place in the final, and then coming up with a new entry for the final. I think this would make it more like having two different competitions as well, so it would probably increase the amount of viewers it gets (more money, take note EBU!)

I also think the semi-final should take place after the final (bear with me here!), so rather than have the semi-final shortly before the final, have it shortly after; then you're still using the stage and package from the host country, without 'spoling the surprise' of next year's contest.

I know I'd prefer it if it was just drawn out of a hat.

[Katrien Verbeeck]

Yeah I get what you're saying, I think the problem with drawing out of a hat is that we'd still get lots of eastern countries who would end up voting for each other. I think they should split Europe into 4 parts (north, south, east, west) and then the best 3 are chosen or picked out at random to go with the top 12 winners from the previous year. This way we would not get all the scandinavian countries, all the baltic countries, former russian countries voting for each other.

onrequest said:

I
I know I'd prefer it if it was just drawn out of a hat.

[georgedk]

onrequest said:

I think countries entering the semi-final should enter a different song to their song for the final,

how could that work?? a country might enter a great song in the semi and a bad song in the final and the semi would loose all meaning that way...

The only way you could change anything would be to have two semies and have all songs go through a semi to get through to the final....

[Adrian]

georgedk said:

onrequest said:

The only way you could change anything would be to have two semies and have all songs go through a semi to get through to the final....

That's probably the best suggestion thus far. All the other ones are slightly ludicrous. But, also, this would then involve 3 contests for one, which is also a little ludicrous.

A

[georgedk]

adrian said:

That's probably the best suggestion thus far. All the other ones are slightly ludicrous. But, also, this would then involve 3 contests for one, which is also a little ludicrous.

A

you are right but there are no other way of getting away from the "some" of the songs have been seen/heard" in the semi....

[Robbing the Dezan]

Stupid suggestion. We vote for the song/performance, not the act themselves. It's not the Eurovision Singer Contest.