As part of our live coverage from ESC 2015 by Felix and Martin, our website featured a rolling live blog throughout our time in Vienna, the content of which is reproduced below and in the other “Vienna Blog” posts!

Tuesday 19 May, 20:35
We’re live in the press centre to comment on tonight’s first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015!

Come and watch the show with us in the chat 🙂

Tuesday 19 May, 21:02
Enjoy the show everyone! May the best songs proceed to the final!

Tuesday 19 May, 21:10
Just before the show starts, I wanted to remind you all to check out our prediction for tonight (click here)!

If you want my personal last-minute opinion, as I’m the last escgo man standing (rather sitting) in the press centre: Watch out for Belgium winning this semi-final.

Tuesday 19 May, 21:17
1 – MOLDOVA

Good trashy fun from Moldova. That first “huuuh” wasn’t so well hit, also we’ve seen him more relaxed. All in all this is what Eurovision badly needs in this day and age.

11 seconds of applause in the press centre.*

* I know well enough that this isn’t a good indicator, but why not mentioning it anyway! 😉

Tuesday 19 May, 21:21
2 – ARMENIA

Well staged, badly performed. This doesn’t help an already weak song. Oh, here’s our first globe for tonight.

9 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 21:25
3 – BELGIUM

Now this is my personal hot tip to win this semi-final. Flags are quite annoying in this one, though. Anyway, great performance!

16 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 21:29
4 – THE NETHERLANDS

Now really: “Why?” That’s what all of European households must have asked themselves, when she first had the veil on, and then stripped it off again as if it was the Moldovan hair from last year. A good song, badly staged. I am already sorry for my dear neighbours.

10 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 21:32
5 – FINLAND

Now the entry that professional media make more of a story of, than us fan media do. However, definitely qualifying. Shorter songs get shorter comments 😉

14 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 21:39
6 – GREECE

I’m one of the few ones who has serious doubts if this will qualify. It’s perfectly performed, but lacks a catchy melody.

12 seconds of applause in the press centre. 

Tuesday 19 May, 21:43
7 – ESTONIA

The first song that gets parts of the press to clap along.

Some very effective shots in the 2nd verse. And finally some chemistry between them! Perfect timing? We will find out soon.

17 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 21:47
8 – MACEDONIA

I was a fan of the song, but I am still not a fan of this setting, apart from the leaves in the backdrop. It all doesn’t come across like it’s meant to be like that.

10 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 21:51
9 – SERBIA

This one is the biggest thing in the hall, which I could witness in yesterday’s first dress rehearsal. Does that help her, though?

Now it’s also the press centre going mental to this. 

16 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 21:55
10 – HUNGARY

Now our flashmob queen Boggie and her sentimental song that has many haters and a few fans (me included). This is absolutely beautifully staged, and should get through to the final. And again, some shaky camerawork again here and there.

10 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 22:00
11 – BELARUS

I said it again in my blog from yesterday’s dress rehearsal: I don’t understand how an uptempo song like this is staged so statically, especially coming after Hungary. Ouch, there was a quite painful tone, also. I have my doubts about its chances.

11 seconds of applause in the press centre, including the usually crazy Belarus TV team.

Tuesday 19 May, 22:04
12 – RUSSIA

The Belarus TV team in the press centre just had its moment, now it’s the one for their big neighbours. 

Polina nails it perfectly, if anything can beat Belgium in this semi, then this one.

16 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 22:11
13 – DENMARK

This works perfectly well in the hall, now I’m curious if it works on screen?

It does. Much better than in the Danish final, and that’s quite a huge surprise. What a fresh breeze in this dull year, and I never thought I’d say that.

17 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 22:15
14 – ALBANIA

Elhaida Dani – from superstar to problem child within 2 weeks. It’s a difficult song, and also difficult to sing, and – she doesn’t dominate it, and so she also fails to deliver it to the audience. Difficulty on both sides of the screen = no big hope.

7 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 22:19
15 – ROMANIA

One of my personal favourites of the whole year. We already know that Romanian isn’t too unknown for the common audience – at least not for those who know Dragostea Din Tei by heart, without understanding any word of it. So the language shouldn’t be a problem here, and I can’t find anything else that could be a problem, either. 

11 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 22:23
16 – GEORGIA

Now this was another problem child in yesterday’s first dress rehearsal, and she does have her bad moments in here today, as well. But in general, this could turn the cover, after all.

9 seconds of applause in the press centre.

Tuesday 19 May, 22:25
And we are done with the songs!

Yesterday, the hall loved Serbia and Belgium the most. In the press centre tonight, the biggest applause went to Denmark and Estonia, followed by Russia, Serbia and Belgium.

Tuesday 19 May, 22:55
Now the nervousness in the press centre is measurable in runs to and from the snacks and drinks bar. In a few moments, we will know who qualifies to the final.. and which six countries are out!

Wednesday 20 May, 00:14
Surprise: Marija Serifovic is in da house!

Wednesday 20 May, 00:22
The press conference is ended, the 10 qualifiers drew their lots as follows:

Albania – 2nd half
Armenia – 1st half
Russia – 2nd half
Romania – 2nd half
Hungary – 2nd half
Greece – 2nd half
Estonia – 1st half
Georgia – 2nd half
Serbia – 1st half
Belgium – 1st half

Wednesday 20 May, 00:23
This was our live coverage for today, stay tuned to tomorrow’s blogging and rehearsal photos!

Good Night Europe, Good Morning Australia.