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Forty-two countries competed in this year's Eurovision, an
annual pageant of the colorful, the camp and the cheesy, but
only 26 will take part in Saturday's grand final in front of a
television audience of millions.
In Thursday's semi-final, singer Jacques Houdek, known as 'Mr
Voice' in Croatia, won a place in the last round by melding pop
and operatic singing styles in the song "My Friend".
Houdek's costume was half-tuxedo, half-leather jacket - a
sartorial illustration of the musical crossover.
Other performers also reached the final with untypical fusions
of different musical traditions.
Joci Papai, Hungary's first Roma entrant for Eurovision,
performed "Origo" - a mixture of electronic beats and gypsy
vocal flourishes.
Romanian duo Ilinca and Alex Florea combine rock, rap and
yodeling in their song "Yodel it!".
Thursday's other qualifiers for the final were Bulgaria,
Belarus, Denmark, Israel, Norway, the Netherlands and Austria.
Eight countries missed out on a final place, including
Macedonia's Jana Burceska, but any disappointment she felt was
likely eased by a surprise marriage proposal from her partner
live on air.
(Reporting by Alessandra Prentice; Additional reporting by
Natalia Zinets; Editing by Toby Davis)
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