Last night saw the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 taking place. As usual, esctoday.com takes a deeper look at the results and dives into the facts and figures of the show.

 

Taking into the consideration the style or genre of the qualifying entries, six of them fit the ‘up-tempo’ category, while two can be described as ‘mid-tempo’ and other two as ballads.

The qualifyers

Mandinga – Zaleilah

Romania is one of the few countries that never failed to qualify from a semifinal. Baku will not be the exception, as Mandinga will perform at next Satuday’s final with the 14th spot in the running order.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 9/9 (100%)

 

Pasha Parfeny – Lăutar

Moldova has so far participated eight times in the Eurovision Song Contest. They have always made it to the final, with the exception of 2008, when Geta Burlacu stuck in the semifinals. Pasha Parfeny will be the 26th act to perfom on Saturday.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 8/9 (88.9%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 7/8 (87.5%)

 

 

Greta Salóme & Jónsi – Never forget

Iceland managed to qualify for the final for the fifth consecutive year. Since the introduction of the semifinals, the island missed the final three times: in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Greta Salóme & Jónsi got the spot #7 in the draw held last night.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 6/9 (66.7%)

 

 

Compact Disco – Sound of our hearts

Hungary’s history in the Eurovision Song Contest can be described as “on again off again”, with plenty of withdrawals and returns. Since the semifinals were introduced in 2004, the country has participated in the contest six times, failing to qualify in 2008 and 2009. This Saturday the band Compact Disco will be the second to perform.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 6/9 (66.7%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 4/6 (66.7%)

 

 

Soluna Samay – Should’ve known better

Denmark continues to be one of the most successful Eurovision semifinalists in recent years. The country will take part in the Eurovision final for the fifth time in a row. Soluna Samay holds the spot number 15 in the running order for next Saturday’s show.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 7/9 (77.8%)

 

 

Rona Nishliu – Suus

After missing last year’s Eurovision final, Albania is back on track this time. The country’s representative Rona Nishliu has been drawn third in the final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 6/9 (66.7%)

 

 

Ivi Adamou – La la love

Cyprus has not been very successful in the Eurovision Song Contest recently, having qualified for the final four times since the introduction of the semifinals. But the island will be present in this year’s final with Ivi Adamou performing with the 8th starting position.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 4/9 (44.4%)

 

 

Eleftheria Eleftheriou – Aphrodisiac

Greece equals success when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest in the last decade. The Mediterranean country has not missed a single Eurovision final since 2004. The trend will continue with Eleftheria Eleftheriou, who will be the 16th act to perform on the stage of the Baku Crystal Hall.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 9/9 (100%)

 

 

Buranovskiye Babushki – Party for everybody

Russia is another country never to miss the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest. The grannies from Buranovo, Buranovskiye Babushki, got the sixth spot in the draw held right after the first semifinal.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 9/9 (100%)

 

 

Jedward – Waterline

The Jedward twins have once again reached the Eurovision final. This is the third consecutive year that Ireland qualifies. The island got the 23rd starting position.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 6/9 (66.7%)

 

The non-qualifyers

 

Rambo Amadeus – Euro neuro

Montenegro has never made the finals since its debut in 2007.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 4/9 (44.4%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 0/4 (0%)

 

 

Anmary – Beautiful song

Latvia stays in the semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 4/9 (44.4%)

 

 

Sinplus – Unbreakable

After qualifying last year for the final, this time the Swiss representatives won’t be heard on the Eurovision Saturday.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 3/9 (33.3%)

 

 

Iris – Would you

Belgium has qualified for the Eurovision final only twice since 2004.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 2/9 (22.2%)

 

 

Pernilla – När jag blundar

We won’t see Finland in this year’s Eurovision final. Pernilla will not follow Paradise Oskar’s footsteps.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 5/9 (55.5%)

 

 

Izabo – Time

Just like last year, Israel stays in the semifinals of the Eurovision Song Contest.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 9/9 (100%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 5/9 (55.5%)

 

 

Valentina Monetta – The social network song (Oh oh uh oh oh)

San Marino has never qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest since the country’s debut in 2008.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 3/9 (33.3%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 0/3 (0%)

 

 

Trackshittaz – Woki mit deim Popo

Austria qualified for the final in 2011, but this year the Austrian Eurovision bid has already come to an end.

• Number of participations since the introduction of the semifinals: 5/9 (55.5%)
• Number of times to qualify for the final: 2/5 (40%)