And now we are approaching the pointy end of things with the almost but not-quite podium finishers!
10th – Czechia – 129 Points
This is a great little song that got almost every point it could wring out of the televoters and juries. It got five first-place votes and a lot of single-digit placings. Unfortunately, using the scale of points doesn’t translate to high marks. Televoters didn’t get it, so its points were limited. Except in Finland, who gave it ten?
Average Jury Rank – 12.079 Average Televote Position – 13.25
9th – Australia – 151 Points
Unpopular opinion – Europe’s televoters don’t want to see Australia winning the grand final. It’s OK for them to win the semi-final, but a hard no when it comes to the big show. Twelve first-place votes for this rock fest and, again, a slew of low singing figure scores meant that the juries loved the song craft and songwriting.
Average Jury Rank – 10.944 Average Televote Position – 16.917
8th – Estonia – 168 Points
This will be the first contender in “Shock of the Contest“. A song aimed at the final juries got seven first-place votes, and Alika’s voice and craft meant that she rocketed up in their estimation. Televoters… Meh… They just saw a boring ballad by a woman in a blue dress and a pianola and gave it hardly any love at all outside of its neighbours. That’s a shame – but televoters are thick.
Average Jury Rank – 9.736 Average Televote Position – 18.083 (One last place)
7th – Belgium – 182 Points
A slightly camp hat daddy gains eleven first-place votes with the juries who have, again, seen a song that is well crafted and produced t within an inch of its life. Televoters in Eastern Europe ignored it – as one would expect from the less culturally aware countries – and it got all of its televoters from what could be deemed as “Western” Europe – that tells you all you need to know about televoters.
Average Jury Rank – 10.579 Average Televote Position – 14.527
6th – Ukraine – 243 Points
Sympathy is still strong for Ukraine here, though not in big enough numbers for them to take votes off the winner (Spoiler). Seven first-place votes in the jury but a lot of 23-24-25 killed this Marmite song. They either loved it or disliked it. Televoters threw it a few sympathy votes, which were c, converted into points, but even this is higher than, in my opinion, this song deserves to be.
Average Jury Rank – 13.663 Average Televote Position – 7.028
