Automatic finalists

Our five automatic finalists in 2009 couldn't be more different from one another if they tried. No two represent the same genre or are aimed at the same audience, and all are as diverse in the potential they have to do well. Or for that matter bomb.

In a break from tradition, at least two of the Big 4 entries look like they might actually do OK: France and the United Kingdom, both of which boast big names behind them, and both of which could go down a treat with the juries, if not the televoters. France in particular may struggle due to having another 22 songs performed after it; having said that, true quality ought to leave a lasting impression.

The Spanish, having chosen to perform last, must be thinking they have a chance this year, but I honestly can't see them doing all that much better than they did in the combined jury and televote in 2007 (i.e. not very). Germany is hovering in a zone that has produced a lot of recent winners, but if any of the five finalists is in for an obvious bottom five result, it's them.

Last but not least, hosts Russia are taking to the stage roughly halfway through the show, and a mid-table finish (minimum) is pretty much a certainty. The country's ability to earn enough points whatever it sends to make the top 5 due to its mammoth diaspora will inevitably be diluted by the jury votes, probably enough to see them edged out of the top 10, but not enough to demote them to the right-hand side of the scoreboard.

The different approaches the entries from the automatic finalists take is what makes them interesting this year - the first in many in which the Big 4 will actually be hopeful of not ending up yet again as the Bottom 4. Makes finding an angle for reviewing them easier too ;-) And on that note...