Odds Review- Week Ending 21/03
That’s it- we have our 40 songs! Or 39. Or Maybe 38. Well, we have the important ones anyway.
Georgia have one of the biggest downgrades from a returning artist and look unlikely to qualify. Tornike is also doing his best to snuff out any lingering fan support. Caucasus neighbours Azerbaijan have also taken a step back with ‘Mata Hari’ which sounds as if it was wrote on a napkin in five minutes. They should still be making it through to the final although look more precarious than they did.
All attention was on Malta with Destiny releasing ‘Je Me Casse’. Following a very brief, very negative reaction in the market and a push as low as 3.85 Malta is now a steady mid 5s and joint fav. The song is certainly a grower but like everything this year there are a lot of question marks over this.
Israel’s revamp is significant according to the rumours as they desperately try to salvage something from the semi final fodder that is ‘Set Me Free’. We’ll have to see, but they are in a really unfavourable section of the draw regardless. Spain are also attempting to salvage something from ‘Voy A Querdame’.
North Macedonia seem to be having second thoughts about Vasil in a complete mess of a situation, at least Belarus knew what they were doing. Speaking of them, there’s still no word, which probably points towards them finding something for the band. Either way, they won’t be in the final, but could have a big say on who does get through.
France have climbed back into single figures following, well, nothing really. A photo or two confirming Barbara won’t be wearing a bin bag as feared? It’s an odd market when you have two French language ballads under 10s and in my view only one, if either, can do really well. I would be stunned were there enough room for both to finish in the top 4. Switzerland have the stronger song, but more question marks on the staging.
Iceland are just staying within touching distance of those at the top with the hope (or fear) that Dadi might go viral following the music video release. Both song and reveal have been disappointing so far and it would be a very impressive climb back up the odds.
Elsewhere, Cyprus, continues to jump all over the odds and is back in the high 20s in stark contrast to Norway who despite a mini wobble earlier in the week, are solid as a rock at that 42 mark.
Coming up in the next week, there’ll be a look at who has actually come back stronger following my predictions for each and a first overview of the year as I’ll probably wait for the running orders and semi one to settle a bit before I write anything on qualifying.
