Keep Calm and Think Twice

 Rehearsals start in just a few hours. It's time for my Eurovision top 10.

10. Ireland
Can-Linn feat. Kasey Smith “Heartbeat”
Reaction: This year's “last year's winner” song has fiddles that echo the flutes of “Only Teardrops.” It's a strong, passionate pop song that moves at a high tempo
Best Part: Key change
Rating: 4/5

9. France
Twin Twin - “Moustache”
Reaction: Many people seem to be treating this like a joke entry but this is way deeper than it appears. On the surface it's like French Jedward – so, smarter. They even make the neverending mustache trend funny and thought provoking. Also, their song “La K-Pop” is a brilliant primer on the genre.
Best Part: "Mon corps est une machine de guerre"
Rating: 4/5

8. Latvia
Aarzemnieki - “Cake To Bake”
Reaction: The melody sounds like it's existed forever, or at least since the Beatles. The lyrics are cute and clever. The cake recipe in the bridge is questionable - cakes are made with batter, not dough - but that's not the point. This and the French song are similar lyrically, in a way. The singer does all these impressive things but what they really want to do is something mundane. Food for thought?
Best Part: “Solved a case for the genius of Baker Street”
Rating: 4/5

7. Switzerland
Sebalter - “Hunter of Stars”
Reaction: In a contest with a surprising number of country-influenced songs. This song has bluegrass roots and is a bouncing good time. Even the whistling, which could have been annoying, works well.
Best Part: Fiddle solo after the bridge
Rating: 4/5

6. Albania
Hersi Matmuja - “One Night's Anger”
Reaction: There is nothing about this song or its video that can't prove that it was recorded in the 1990s. It's very early 90s grungy angry rock. It's unpolished, but that's where its charm lies.
Best Part: "Sun will rise, and the light will be clearing/The tides of the night
Rating: 4/5