This week we begin our analysis of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in earnest. First up: the first half of the first semi-final! Which entries are locks for advancing to the Grand Final? Who might get help from the running order? Why is Staples playing Eurovision songs from 2016?

First! Summary * Eurovision Viewing Parties (3:50) * Why is Staples playing "Sunlight"? (5:20) * Analyzing the semi-final (9:36)

First Semi-Final Running Order 1. Azerbaijan - Aisel - X My Heart (9:36) 2. Iceland - Ari Olafsson - Our Choice (14:48) 3. Albania - Eugent Bushpepa - Mall (19:52) 4. Belgium - SENNEK - A Matter of Time (27:16) 5. Czech Republic - Mikolas Josef - Lie to Me (31:27) 6. Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė - When We're Old (37:44) 7. Israel - Netta - Toy (43:29) 8. Belarus - Alekseev - Forever (47:44) 9. Estonia - Elina Netšajeva - La Forza (52:22) 10. Bulgaria - Equinox - Bones (58:09)

Links * Oddschecker: Overall | First Semi-Final | Second Semi-Final * Eurovision Viewing Party form