Semi Final One: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Armenia, Netherlands and Finland

In previous years, the Bosnians have entered haunting (in other words, boring) ethnic ballads or the sort of uptempo tune parents, guardians and babysitters suffer during Tweenies: Live!

Not so for 2008. The people responsible for selecting Bosnia's song ditched the idea of a national final the moment *this* song was presented to them.

A slow starter, this entry gradually builds until it reaches a brilliantly anthemic instrumental break and Laka and his gang effortlessly brings the listener along with it on a very enjoyable three-minute ride through Balkanpopworld. The only rubbish bit is a rather pants 'wooh!' about two-and-a-half minutes in.

Pokusaj is all a bit arthouse in its presentation, but the song is so strong on its own (try shutting your eyes when playing the video which accompanies these ramblings - and apologies now if you're sat sitting in an internet cafe and look a bit stupid doing so) that it needs less quirks and just the right amount of lungpower on the night to deliver. In some of the dingier quarters where Eurovision fans lurk (beneath railway bridges, behind supermarkets and inside skips) this song is even being regarded in hushed tones as a potential trophy scooper.

Boom Bang a Blog would be well chuffed if such a thing happened - but applying our realistic head for a moment - it's just that bit too different to rake in the votes.

Boom or Bang?: Should qualify.

Armenia: Sirusho - Qele, Qele

Until Cher finds the time to represent her motherland, we're making do with domestic heroine Sirusho, and doesn't she have lovely shiny hair?

At time of writing, the Armenian entry is second-favourite to the Swedes in some bookies, but this may have more to do with canny insider knowledge than the musical merits of Qele, Qele.

The Armenians first entered Eurovision in 2006. Their first two entries were unremarkable (last year's was about as fun as an ingrowing toenail), but both swept easily into the Top 10 of the scoreboard on the big night. They have a lot of chums with telephones in neighbouring Eurovision nations, so you can argue this is one country which would even do well if their entrant spent three minutes on stage listing the bus routes in and out of central Yerevan.

Qele, Qele is a not-unpleasant piece of frothy pop, but it isn't getting Boom Bang a Blog firing on all cylinders, to be honest.

If Armenia had sent Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, on the other hand...

Boom or Bang?: Whatever we think, this is top five.

Netherlands: Hind - Your Heart Belongs to Me

The Netherlanders have the honour of performing the very first ever Eurovision song, when Jetty Paerl (it's a lady) sang The Birds of Holland (the feathered variety, we know what sort of Dutch birds you were thinking of, you insolent monkey) as the first entry on stage back in 1956.

Although they have four wins under their clogs, victory last came knocking Netherlands-way in 1975, with the deep and meaningful musical experience that is Ding-Dinge-Dong ('Dinge-dong every hour, when you pick a flower' - lyrics like that don't just write themselves, you know).

Thirty-three years later, Dutch telly has approached Hind, who probably came from a Pop Idol-type show, to perform Your Heart Belongs to Me. Apparently, Hind has had this song in her sock drawer for about three years and was waiting for just the right opportunity to share it with the world. Eurovision is that opportunity.

How generous.

It is by no means the worst song on show this year, but Your Heart Belongs to Me is, if we're being really honest, just a tad too bland to make any impact either way. If only she'd dug a bit deeper in to her sock drawer that morning.

We can't really condone the message in this song either. Any leading cardiologist will tell you that if Hind really was to take somebody 's heart away from them, the health implications are potentially lethal.

She really should think more carefully about what she's singing.

Boom or Bang?: Highly unlikely to qualify.

Finland: Terabetoni - Missa Miehet Ratsastaa

When Lordi took home the trophy for Finland two years ago, it was the first time in 45 years of Eurovision attempts that the northerly nation had ever finished higher than seventh place.

This now means Finland sees rock/metal as the only path to travel for Eurovision success, so Missa Miehet Ratsastaa is the third Helsinki-selected song in succession which will appeal to your inner cider-and-black drinker.

With this being a Eurovision-centric blog, no claims on meteorological expertise come with it, but it must be noted that the group Terasbetoni don't appear to wear very much, despite coming from a country renowned for windswept icy tundras and a high windchill factor. They must be a hardy lot - even the Red Hot Chilli Peppers would chicken out of wearing so little when it's that parky.

Lots of grunting, gnashing and gusto-filled guitar playing here, but no monster masks. That may well be were Terasbetoni come unstuck.

Boom or Bang?: This is staying in the semi.