Eurovision. The possible winners?

There are, at last, one or two entries in this year's Eurovision Song Contest which make the show worth watching again. Russia, Sweden, Armenia, Malta and Israel have yet to release their entries and each is expected to be strong so no-one can predict much at the moment as to a winner.

Above I feature North Macedonia's entry. I think it is one of the best although it is not at all fancied by the bookies at the moment. The country used to be referred to as the Federal Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which was never going to get them many votes and they've really not done terribly well in Eurovision, usually failing to reach the final. This year they will and I have a feeling that, if the singer performs well on the stage, they'll surprise everyone.

Switzerland won't get the politically correct vote so will probably not make the top spot but their entry is possibly the most likely to be a chart topper and I can see it getting played a lot in whatever discos are called now in the holiday hotspots.



The Netherlands have a much-fancied entry. It's a well-written and very well sung track although I wonder if its delicate parts might get lost on the night and it does need the choir-like backing which I don't know how they'll reproduce in a live performance. It does just end rather oddly, though, which may not make it as memorable for the judges and voters. nevertheless, expect The Netherlands to be in the Top 10.



Norway won't leave with nul points this year. The group is a slightly odd mix but it is a strong, initially pretty traditional Euro-pop number with an interesting Nordic feel about it. Just as you start to get a little bored, however, and are wondering whether that is Gary Barlow singing, some weird noises emerge from one of the older blokes and it has a certain power which should get a good few votes. A strong number, especially with that Gary on the team.




After last year's very near miss and the pretty and pretty impressive performance we got on the stage, Cyprus have to meet high expectations. They may just do that with Replay which has another of the island's beauties giving us a modern track which could easily make most of the charts across Europe. It has that big, fat brass thing going in the background which several tracks have featured this year and it is almost as if a new button has been programmed into whatever software everyone is using in track production these days. I don't think Cyprus will win this year either but this ought to keep them in the Top 10.



Italy have yet another clever song and the singer reminds me of the guy who really should have won a couple of years ago with the amazing song form Francesco Gabbini and gorilla. You remember that one. Well this isn't quite as good but is modern, very italian and cool. Again, much depends on how well the singer comes across on the night and it isn't a winner but I expect it'll keep Italy up there with the best this year.



Belgium have a very well-produced number but I just don't know how the young singer will come across live on the big stage. It's a great song and would make the charts here and abroad so I expect it will grab plenty of attention but a winner? I have my doubts.




And that, I'm afraid, is it, so far.