tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66774953088754023092024-03-13T12:46:58.783+00:00Entertainment NewsUpdates and reviews for X Factor UK, X Factor USA, American Idol, Eurovision and other programmes that appeal to me. Published just for fun and maybe a little outrageous fortune and the entertainment and amusement of readers.Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.comBlogger540125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-66119792517666680472023-05-13T15:00:00.011+01:002023-05-13T16:06:54.210+01:00Eurovision 2023 Update<p>Here are my last few thoughts about each of the Final competitors - in the order they will appear tonight.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Austria</h4><p>Austria have possibly one of the most odd song themes of the night. Not as odd as Serbia's insistence on hygiene last year but to have Edgar Allen Poe as a ghost influencing what you write is weird enough for me. Having said that Serbia did very well last year and Austria's two women can sing well and the whole thing is well-constructed. Not enough to win, though, despite the attempt at a catchy Poe Poe Poe which just sounds wrong to me in English!</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Portugal</h4><p>One of those songs that grow on you. This started off at 1000-1 and no-one expected it to qualify but the singer keeps putting on good performances and it could be quite classy if she gets it all right on the night. She is known to miss notes and it can get messy in the middle so who knows what will happen? Not a lot, I suspect.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Switzerland</h4><p>Another that was not expected to make the final. The song builds up but the singer hasn't much personality and I'm not so sure that its pacifist text will suit the mood at the moment. Forgettable and, whilst it may appear quite high in Jury votes at the start, don't expect a huge number of extra votes later from the public.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Poland</h4><p>Now here's a good pop song - first of the night that you could imagine hearing on your radio, if anyone has a radio these days. A commercial number that is going to get plenty of public votes but probably very few from the national juries. So expect to see this leap up from the right side of the board to a fairly high finish position.</p><p>A bit of a poor copy of Cyprus from a couple of years ago and the girl is inclined to make mistakes too which may reduce her chances but I am expecting a Top 10 for her.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Serbia</h4><p>This is pretty awful and I never expect much from a bloke lying on his back either. It's another track that had no right to get past the Semi Final stage but, as part of a group of totally useless entries, it somehow was less bad than enough of the others to get through. Forget this one and go make some tea or something until it's finished.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">France</h4><p>A class act from France. If the girl gets all the notes right and puts on one of her better performances then this should go down well. Expect to see her right up there with the leaders on the left hand side of the board at the start, with good national jury votes. Everything depends on how much support she then gets from the public at large. I don't think she'll get enough but should make Top 5.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Cyprus</h4><p>Big ballad and this is a difficult song to sing so the bloke will get some decent votes from juries but I suspect very little more after that. One to forget.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Spain</h4><p>Spain try a bit of ethnic stuff to pull in a few more votes and this should get plenty of support from the East and some Balkan places. It is quite a complex construction, certainly not very sing-a-long and that may damage its final result as it isn't something we'll remember when it comes to making the call. It deserves Top 10 but that's as far as it's likely to get.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Sweden</h4><p>By far and away the favourite to win this year, it seems that everyone is expecting another <i>Euphoria</i>. It does have distinct similarities too but it remains just a shadow of that song. Despite Loreen's excellent performance and vocals - and she is head and shoulders and finger nails above almost everyone else in this competition - this is not something you'll be singing in the weeks ahead or seeing high in the charts. Having said that, a second-rate <i>Euphoria</i> is quite capable of winning tonight with such generally lousy competition.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Albania</h4><p>This song has lurked at the bottom of all the betting lists at 1000-1 ever since betting on the track began. I don't really know why as is it not that bad and nothing like as tedious as many that you'll hear tonight. It's not something I particularly like but the family do make a decent job of hitting the notes and it is well-constructed and performed. No, it's not going to win but it won't come bottom either.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Italy</h4><p>This was my original tip to win. I am still hopeful as it is an excellent, if slightly old-fashioned, ballad and the guy can sing well. Unfortunately, he doesn't always have the dramatic presence which he has had in early shows and in his YouTube version. Live on stage he often loses confidence and it hurts the song which has to be spot-on to work. If he got things right last night (when the Jury Vote took place) then I would expect to see him near the top of the table when voting starts. He is also likely to be a big hit with the public and is one of the very few rivals that Loreen has this year.</p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Estonia</h4><p>This is quite a good performance of a reasonably good song. The National Juries will like it and it should start with a position not far out of the Top 10 on the board. However, I don't see many votes coming in from the public afterwards so it will slowly drift down and land up in the rather forgettable area in the bottom half of the competition.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Finland</h4><p>According to the bookies, if Sweden don't win then Finland will as they are the only act anywhere close in betting odds terms. I don't like this at all and it doesn't even strike me as good Eurotrash, as Eurotrash it certainly is with the bizarre green outfit, very ugly supporting act with what could be some of the most awful dental replacements in history. Naturally, it will get bags of votes from those who do like this sort of stuff and there can be enough of them some years to make the difference between coming 5th and 1st. This year, I feel that the public will still prefer Loreen or even Ukraine to this appalling act but I have to recognise that the bookies do do their research and have a good reason for the odds being so low.</p><p>My guess is that Finland will be way out of the running when the results are first shown but, like Moldova last year, will fly into third or fourth place, maybe even take the lead briefly when the public votes are announced.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Czechia</h4><p>Here is a group singing in close harmony and that can either work very well or not at all. With some modern break-like stuff in the mix and even a bit of Netta's song from a few years ago thrown in for good measure, this track has a chance of doing well. Not that well, though. It has a great atmosphere when presented well and that may attract a good Jury vote. For the public, though, I see this as finishing just outside the Top 10.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Australia</h4><p>A bunch of old blokes doing old bloke music, the heavy stuff, like old blokes do. They look pretty awful but don't sound that bad. Australia have tried every genre so far as they attempt to score in Europe but so far they seem to be going from bad to worse. Not memorable, not particularly likely to score and not something that's going to win so go make tea or something.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Belgium</h4><p>For some reason this has become popular overnight. Belgium were in the 1000-1 club a few days ago and expected not to be in the Final at all. However, somehow, possibly because everyone else is so bad, this bloke gets through and starts getting a lot of support. Imagine Boy George crossed with a few other gay icons from the 80s and this is your guy tonight. Very average singing a very average song but maybe there is nothing else for the gay community to root for tonight. Eminently forgettable but expect to see him get a good public vote but very little from the juries first.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Armenia</h4><p>One of the other good pop songs from an attractive and talented girl. Armenia tend to do well with this sort of track and I would expect to see them at the bottom of the Top 10 or thereabouts when all is said and done tonight.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Moldova</h4><p>We rely on Moldova to give us something by way of a surprise or just good fun at Eurovision. Not so much by way of good fun as this is actually a ballad and not some people messing around as usual. It could be a good ballad too if the bloke is sober and on the ball this evening. He's done some good performances but also some pretty useless ones so who knows what he'll manage tonight. Jury-wise, I suspect that he won't have had much credit so much will depend on the public. In the past Moldova have had a massive amount of support but this year I don't see them giving enough to put Moldova higher than around 5th or 6th at best.</p><p>The bookies still have them at 1000-1,</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Ukraine</h4><p>Last year's winners do not have a great entry this year. It's a pity as they could have won again with something impressive. Whilst the National Jury will not reward them at all highly for the performance or vocals the public will probably give them another massive amount of support and we should see them hoisted right up in the first three. There is just a chance that this could be enough to beat Sweden and Finland. Finland, maybe, but Sweden I think unlikely. It could all come down to just how many votes separate them at the start. Whatever the case, though, Loreen has by far the better song, as do Spain, Poland, France, Italy, Israel and even UK.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Norway</h4><p>This has always been high in the bookies' lists - consistently around 6th. It is a quite anthemic type of track from a quite aggressive-looking girl and has a catchy type of chorus as it goes. It just doesn't strike me as a winning song. It will get good votes from the National Juries but not a lot after that. Top 10 maybe but I feel the bookies are optimistic there.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Germany</h4><p>Awful loud rubbish I don't want to watch or listen to.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Lithuania</h4><p>Despite this being in the 1000-1 club, I have a feeling that Lithuania could be one of those 'dark horse' entries which surprise us by getting lot more support than we expect. I think it deserves a top 10 position. Not a winner, I guess, but there is something quite strong about this which I believe could come across on the night and have some influence on people as they decide to vote. Coming, as she does, near the end is a bonus too and likely to mean she stays in voters' minds.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Israel</h4><p>The other genuine pop song tonight. And it's quite good although the lyrics are a bit weird. The girl is a talented and experienced performer and should be relied upon to put on a good show and stay pretty much in tune. She'll get good votes from the National Jury people and I expect to see Israel right up there at the start of voting. Israel may not attract that much support after that, though. so may drift down the table a bit. I would still say they ought to be Top 5 but it may be that the idiot Finland group or sympathy for Ukraine edges out Israel.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slovenia</h4><p>This is really the only 'normal' group in the competition that, coupled with their position near the end, could be helpful in getting plenty of public votes. I don't expect they'll start off with many from the National Juries and will not be able to amass enough extra from their group supporters out there to take them into the Top 10 but maybe they'll have a decent finish at around 11th.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Croatia</h4><p>This is the other Eurotrash entry this year and will be well supported for its stance on weapons and all that jazz. Pretty much rubbish but it this stuff always gets votes. I suspect they have zero from the National Jury vote at the start and then we'll see a good hefty number added which might catapult them to the left hand side of the board for a while. that's about it, though.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">United Kingdom</h4><p>Mae Muller has a reasonable enough single which made about 27 in the charts here. If that's all it can do here, though, then don't expect it to do much more abroad. We should get some credit for the help we're giving Ukraine and also as hosts - that's just the way it goes as the public tend to think about the host country and decide to give them a few points almost regardless of the quality of their entry.</p><p>This is not great and Mae is not a great singer and lacks the sort of personality needed to attract people back to voting for us. I don't hold out much hope, I'm afraid, but we won't come last, at least.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Winner</h4><p>Sweden or Ukraine</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Top 5</h4><p>Italy Finland Israel</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Top 10</h4><p>France Poland Spain Armenia Moldova</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Dark horses</h4><p>Lithuania Czechia</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Other possible top half</h4><p>Austria Norway Estonia Portugal Slovenia Albania Belgium </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">No hope</h4><p>UK Australia Cyprus Croatia Switzerland Serbia Germany</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-91732903224912505132023-03-16T18:57:00.007+00:002023-03-17T09:09:36.577+00:00Eurovision 2023<p> It's Eurovision time again and, at last, we have all the entries released for the competition.</p><p>As usual there are some terrible attempts at a song and most of these have already received the dreaded 1000-1 odds and I shall not even bother to mention them. At the other end of the talent spectrum, however, there are some decent entries which deserve a few plays.</p><p>The big news, I suppose, is that Loreen, <b>Sweden</b>'s winner in 2014 with the wonderful <i>Euphoria, </i>is back this year and is, by some margin, the favourite at the moment. She is a good performer and you just know that she will not miss a step or a note on stage either so I cannot imagine that she'll not be in the Top 5 at the end, scoring heavily with both judges for the performance and the public amongst which she has many fans who'll vote for anything she does. The winner? Maybe. I'd like to say definitely not but she has the whole package and all I can fault is that the song is not <i>Euphoria</i>. It doesn't stick in your mind like that did. It doesn't last. But that may not matter on the night.</p><p>Last year's winners, <b>Ukraine</b>, have a reasonable enough entry but it's no winner on its own merits. They'll do well, I think, again this year with many people just wanting to help the country after what will have been a year and a quarter of devastation and upset. With many millions now resident in countries other than their own there will be many votes being dialled in so they'll be up there - but Top 10 rather than a win.</p><p>The <b>United Kingdom </b>came second last year with the excellent Sam Ryder's <i>Spaceman</i> and we do seem to have found ourselves again after years of mediocrity. Mae Muller is another new person to us all but she is modern and has a great song that suits Eurovision. Many people expect this year to have a female winner and I'd like to say she stands a chance. The bookmakers don't, putting her a predicted 8th at 65-1, well out of the usual range for a possible winner. However, it is quite early days still and I shall not write her off on the grounds of her odds yet. If she can perform the song well live then, as predicted, she'll be Top 10 and I'm inclined to make her one of my possible winners. It's nice to say that again about a UK entry! I also believe the world takes a better view of the UK now and is more prepared to vote for us than might have been the case a few years ago.</p><p><b>Finland </b>have one of the dreadful songs that isn't rated 1000-1 but, in fact, nearer 6-1 as the second favourite. It's not something that I can see a lot of people liking and it will almost certainly get forgotten afterwards but I'll accept that it has some catchy Cha Cha Cha lines which will get some votes. It's quite heavy too and a change from all the pop singer girls. Bookmakers are seldom massively wrong, though, and this is being talked about a lot so I guess it'll be another Top 10.</p><p><b>Norway </b>are at 23-1 with a quite dramatic woman singing about Queen of Kings and belting it out big time. It's Eurovision and, in the absence of many other big songs it will garner votes from those who like this style. I'm not at all sure about her hitting all the right notes, though, so much will depend on the rehearsals as to whether Norway stay in the Waiting Room - what I call that area between possible winners and mere hopefuls. I don't see a win for Norway at all. Even Top 10 could be a struggle.</p><p><b>Spain </b>are also dramatic with the strangely titled EAEA which is not exactly a sing-a-long number this year. It's a strong performance, though, with plenty of Balkan-sounding noises to help pull in some more votes. Spain either do very well or very badly. This year I see them doing very well but not quite winning.</p><p><b>Israel </b>have a good pop song to rival Mae Mullers. It's something about a Unicorn and runs along nicely. I reckon if something like this is going to win then it'll be Mae Muller who gets the more votes of these two. But Israel deserve a Top 10 this year.</p><p><b>Austria </b>have a bit of fun with <i>Who The Hell Is Edgar?</i> and a song all about Edgar Allan Poe which is quite extraordinary and also very catchy. Whether the world at large will get the meaning of the clever lyrics I don't know but it's a nearly-pop song with a twist that often does well at Eurovision so another Top 10 contender in my book.</p><p><b>Moldova </b>always seem to have a mass of support out there in the public voting land but don't get much from the juries as a rule. this year I reckon they should do better with the juries and they do have a decent and catchy number which ought to help them maintain a good record of positions in this competition. They might even win the thing. With the bookies giving them odds of 250-1 at the moment that's quite a statement to make but there you go. If they do, remember I told you first. It's a bloke singing on his own this year and there aren't the usual sexy girls or references to excite us or offend others but it's all about some guy wanting to 'marry' some girl in the open air under the moon and stars and maybe even the sun too. All good stuff and no doubt some crazy costumes at least</p><p><b>Italy </b>is one of my own favourites this year and I would give the guy a chance of winning. At nearly 200-1 as I write, having increased every day, it would seem that the bookies know something that I don't. The song and his performance are excellent and it is a powerful number, almost unique this year which has to mean it has something extra going for it. If you want a ballad, this is a good one, sung well and it is very, very Italian which I think voters like a lot. So why it is failing in the betting market I do not know. I'm going to stick with it as a possible victor.</p><p>I am not going to bother writing about any of the others as they all much of a muchness and not at all memorable or likely to win, with one exception and that is <b>Ireland</b>. They are verging on the 1000-1 area at 910-1 as I write and no-one has come back from those sort of odds. Why? I think people have looked at the two groups for Semi Finals 1 and 2 and concluded that, with Ireland in a tough Group headed by Sweden, there is a distinct chance that they will not actually qualify for the Final. It would be very sad if that were to be the case as the song is very much the sort of song that should be in the competition. A real pop song with lyrics which work well for Eurovision. Yes, it's commercial and I do have a problem with it reminding me very much of One Direction at times, specially the <i>We Are Young, </i>er, I mean <i>One, </i>bit!! I wonder whether Louie Walsh was involved this year? Anyway, never mind the similarity, Ireland should be in the competition Final and they should be back in the Top 5 again. No-one seems to think they stand a chance but I'm staying with them too and hoping everyone else is proved wrong.</p><p>So that's 11 tracks that compete for the Top 10. If I had to choose one that doesn't make it I'd say Spain today.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-73106822365779991662022-06-16T19:07:00.005+01:002022-06-16T19:07:19.827+01:00A different worldIt's becoming a very strange world and quite the opposite of what I had expected in one particular way. <div><br /></div><div>One would have thought that the internet would have provided free transmission and sharing of information and, whilst there would always be a load of rubbish on websites, it would be much more difficult for governments to succeed with propaganda and downright lies about other parts of the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now we learn that students in Hong Kong will no longer be taught that the city was a British colony from 1899 to 1997. All reference to this will be deleted from textbooks and China already has in place quite impressive filters on what data can be searched and found in this respect.</div><div><br />We have also become familiar with what would be amusingly farcical if it were not so serious; the increasingly regular news items on Russian TV which show empty supermarket shelves across the whole of Britain, Jeremy Clarkson's comments about soon needing to consider eating children or neighbours and there being no bread anywhere here either. They, of course, also continue to accuse Ukraine of inventing stories of destruction and civilian casualties every day.</div><div><br />We can verify almost any news we read. Sometimes very easily, sometimes it can be a little more difficult but the conspiracy theories and most copied drama we see on Facebook or in our email inboxes seldom stand up to much investigation. It seems that people in Hong Kong, China and Russia cannot. Moreover, many prefer not to question what their governments, teachers or TV presenters tell them and the thought of making an enquiry arises less and less frequently. </div><div><br /></div><div>They really are now living in a different world. </div><div><br /></div><div>We've known North Korean people are cut off from much knowledge about what happens outside their borders but that has been the case for so long we kinda ignore it, and them, for that matter. We may eventually be able to ignore Russia but I am not at all sure about China.</div>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-65856629086578663692022-06-13T16:36:00.001+01:002022-06-13T16:39:12.481+01:00Eurovision 2022. The year when Moldova came 2nd in the public vote and the UK 1st with the juries.<p> A very well-run show in Turin saw Ukraine take the prize (then sell it in order to pay for some tanks!)</p><p>The overall Top 10 looked like this.</p><p><google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></p><google-sheets-html-origin><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="198"></col><col width="100"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":1}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">1</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/ukraine" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Ukraine"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/ukraine" target="_blank">Ukraine</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine"}{"1":25}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Stefania \nKalush Orchestra"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" target="_blank">Stefania<br />Kalush Orchestr</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">a</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":631}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">631</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/united-kingdom" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"United Kingdom"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/united-kingdom" target="_blank">United Kingdom</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom"}{"1":19}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Space Man \nSam Ryder"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" target="_blank">Space Man<br />Sam Ryde</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">r</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":466}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">466</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":3}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">3</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/spain" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Spain"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/spain" target="_blank">Spain</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain"}{"1":12}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"SloMo \nChanel"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" target="_blank">SloMo<br />Chane</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">l</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":459}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">459</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":4}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">4</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/sweden" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Sweden"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/sweden" target="_blank">Sweden</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden"}{"1":30}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Hold Me Closer \nCornelia Jakobs"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" target="_blank">Hold Me Closer<br />Cornelia Jakob</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">s</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":438}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">438</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":5}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">5</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/serbia" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Serbia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/serbia" target="_blank">Serbia</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/serbia" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/serbia"}{"1":26}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"In Corpore Sano \nKonstrakta"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/serbia" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/serbia" target="_blank">In Corpore Sano<br />Konstrakt</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">a</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":312}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">312</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">6</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/italy" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Italy"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/italy" target="_blank">Italy</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy"}{"1":24}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Brividi \nMahmood & Blanco"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" target="_blank">Brividi<br />Mahmood & Blanc</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">o</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":268}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">268</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":7}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">7</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/moldova" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Moldova"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/moldova" target="_blank">Moldova</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/moldova" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/moldova"}{"1":42}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Trenuleţul \nZdob şi Zdub & Advahov Brothers"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/moldova" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/moldova" target="_blank">Trenuleţul<br />Zdob şi Zdub & Advahov Brother</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">s</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":253}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">253</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":8}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">8</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/greece" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Greece"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/greece" target="_blank">Greece</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/greece" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/greece"}{"1":38}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Die Together \nAmanda Georgiadi Tenfjord"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/greece" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/greece" target="_blank">Die Together<br />Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjor</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">d</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":215}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">215</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":9}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">9</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/portugal" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Portugal"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/portugal" target="_blank">Portugal</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/portugal" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/portugal"}{"1":21}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Saudade, saudade \nMaro"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/portugal" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/portugal" target="_blank">Saudade, saudade<br />Mar</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">o</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":207}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">207</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":10}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">10</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/norway" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Norway"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/norway" target="_blank">Norway</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/norway" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/norway"}{"1":34}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Give That Wolf a Banana \nSubwoolfer"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/norway" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/norway" target="_blank">Give That Wolf a Banana<br />Subwoolfe</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">r</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":182}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">182</td></tr></tbody></table></google-sheets-html-origin><br /><div>This comprised two sets of scores. The national 'professional' juries' points came first. It was great to see United Kingdom at the top. Portugal were very highly placed at 5th at this stage with the Netherlands, Australia and even Azerbaijan looking as if they might have a chance.</div><div><br /></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="198"></col><col width="100"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":1}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">1</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/united-kingdom" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"United Kingdom"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/united-kingdom" target="_blank">United Kingdom</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom"}{"1":19}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Space Man \nSam Ryder"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" target="_blank">Space Man<br />Sam Ryde</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">r</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":283}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">283</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/sweden" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Sweden"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/sweden" target="_blank">Sweden</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden"}{"1":30}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Hold Me Closer \nCornelia Jakobs"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" target="_blank">Hold Me Closer<br />Cornelia Jakob</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">s</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":258}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">258</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":3}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">3</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/spain" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Spain"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/spain" target="_blank">Spain</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain"}{"1":12}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"SloMo \nChanel"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" target="_blank">SloMo<br />Chane</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">l</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":231}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">231</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":4}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">4</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/ukraine" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Ukraine"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/ukraine" target="_blank">Ukraine</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine"}{"1":25}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Stefania \nKalush Orchestra"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" target="_blank">Stefania<br />Kalush Orchestr</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">a</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":192}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">192</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":5}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">5</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/portugal" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Portugal"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/portugal" target="_blank">Portugal</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/portugal" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/portugal"}{"1":21}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Saudade, saudade \nMaro"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/portugal" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/portugal" target="_blank">Saudade, saudade<br />Mar</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">o</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":171}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">171</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">6</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/italy" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Italy"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/italy" target="_blank">Italy</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy"}{"1":24}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Brividi \nMahmood & Blanco"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" target="_blank">Brividi<br />Mahmood & Blanc</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">o</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":158}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">158</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":7}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">7</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/greece" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Greece"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/greece" target="_blank">Greece</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/greece" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/greece"}{"1":38}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Die Together \nAmanda Georgiadi Tenfjord"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/greece" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/greece" target="_blank">Die Together<br />Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjor</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">d</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":158}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">158</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":8}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">8</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/netherlands" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Netherlands"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/netherlands" target="_blank">Netherlands</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/netherlands" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/netherlands"}{"1":13}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"De Diepte \nS10"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/netherlands" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/netherlands" target="_blank">De Diepte<br />S1</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">0</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":129}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">129</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":9}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">9</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/australia" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Australia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/australia" target="_blank">Australia</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/australia" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/australia"}{"1":26}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Not the Same \nSheldon Riley"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/australia" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/australia" target="_blank">Not the Same<br />Sheldon Rile</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">y</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":123}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">123</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":10}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">10</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/azerbaijan" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Azerbaijan"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/azerbaijan" target="_blank">Azerbaijan</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/azerbaijan" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/azerbaijan"}{"1":28}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fade To Black \nNadir Rustamli"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/azerbaijan" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/azerbaijan" target="_blank">Fade To Black<br />Nadir Rustaml</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">i</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":103}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">103</td></tr></tbody></table></google-sheets-html-origin><br />Look at what the voting public said, though! Clearly way out in front with a massive number of votes was the Ukraine entry and it was now more a matter of who might come second. Moldova, who nearly always get precious few points from the national juries were the public's second choice! An extraordinary result for a catchy but very unlikely winning song. The other entry where the public violently disagreed with the boring old jury people was Serbia's where some woman talking about good health and appearing to wash her hands incessantly and not always in time to the music was their 4th choice. It was very catchy, though.</google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin>Spain were consistent - scoring enough to hold 3rd place in each but they were just beaten by Sam Ryder's Space Man who took 2nd place overall. I had been expecting the two ballads to do well and the public agreed with me, placing both Poland's and Estonia's entries in the top 10. They also liked the yellow and black phenomena that was Norway's crazy-looking entry, which the national juries had left lounging near the foot of the table a little earlier.</google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="198"></col><col width="100"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":1}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">1</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/ukraine" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Ukraine"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/ukraine" target="_blank">Ukraine</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine"}{"1":25}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Stefania \nKalush Orchestra"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/ukraine" target="_blank">Stefania<br />Kalush Orchestr</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">a</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":439}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">439</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/moldova" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Moldova"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/moldova" target="_blank">Moldova</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/moldova" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/moldova"}{"1":42}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Trenuleţul \nZdob şi Zdub & Advahov Brothers"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/moldova" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/moldova" target="_blank">Trenuleţul<br />Zdob şi Zdub & Advahov Brother</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">s</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":239}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">239</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":3}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">3</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/spain" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Spain"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/spain" target="_blank">Spain</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain"}{"1":12}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"SloMo \nChanel"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/spain" target="_blank">SloMo<br />Chane</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">l</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":228}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">228</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":4}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">4</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/serbia" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Serbia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/serbia" target="_blank">Serbia</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/serbia" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/serbia"}{"1":26}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"In Corpore Sano \nKonstrakta"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/serbia" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/serbia" target="_blank">In Corpore Sano<br />Konstrakt</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">a</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":225}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">225</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":5}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">5</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/united-kingdom" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"United Kingdom"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/united-kingdom" target="_blank">United Kingdom</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom"}{"1":19}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Space Man \nSam Ryder"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/united-kingdom" target="_blank">Space Man<br />Sam Ryde</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">r</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":183}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">183</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">6</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/sweden" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Sweden"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/sweden" target="_blank">Sweden</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden"}{"1":30}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Hold Me Closer \nCornelia Jakobs"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/sweden" target="_blank">Hold Me Closer<br />Cornelia Jakob</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">s</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":180}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">180</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":7}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">7</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/norway" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Norway"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/norway" target="_blank">Norway</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/norway" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/norway"}{"1":34}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Give That Wolf a Banana \nSubwoolfer"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/norway" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/norway" target="_blank">Give That Wolf a Banana<br />Subwoolfe</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">r</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":146}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">146</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":8}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">8</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/italy" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Italy"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/italy" target="_blank">Italy</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy"}{"1":24}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Brividi \nMahmood & Blanco"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/italy" target="_blank">Brividi<br />Mahmood & Blanc</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">o</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":110}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">110</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":9}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">9</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/poland" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poland"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/poland" target="_blank">Poland</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/poland" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/poland"}{"1":12}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"River \nOchman"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/poland" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/poland" target="_blank">River<br />Ochma</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">n</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":105}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">105</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":10}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">10</td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/estonia" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Estonia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/estonia" target="_blank">Estonia</a></td><td data-sheets-hyperlink="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/estonia" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/estonia"}{"1":11}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Hope \nStefan"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #1155cc; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: bottom;"><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/estonia" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"></span></a><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2022/estonia" target="_blank">Hope<br />Stefa</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">n</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":98}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">98</td></tr></tbody></table></google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>This format lends a lot of excitement and is fascinating to see the difference between what satisfies the national juries and what the public actually pay money and vote for. I do wonder now whether we should do away with the juries and just leave the public to decide. If it means Moldova come 2nd with a pretty poor number but it's one that people like then so be it. We are talking about Eurovision, not some professional concert.<br /><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-26015644776597394502022-05-05T10:03:00.002+01:002022-05-05T10:03:12.347+01:00Eurovision 2022: Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4emjOQcRfnEZGlibU7ZeGIlt6QeeXp5XQHWfJSrCJTlG8tEAJIUWuKYE0qlfTVXQJCxUXM3N2q0QWlzjuLA5nfPfDa52sCOCryWPkCT_bLMMqh6zYyt42LFQCBoopT4scGlWC9udTPc3Kiyh3sCdAf0rnAHV2o0Pm7NdUJeiktYfIuLmoWfka0hHn/s568/2022-05-05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4emjOQcRfnEZGlibU7ZeGIlt6QeeXp5XQHWfJSrCJTlG8tEAJIUWuKYE0qlfTVXQJCxUXM3N2q0QWlzjuLA5nfPfDa52sCOCryWPkCT_bLMMqh6zYyt42LFQCBoopT4scGlWC9udTPc3Kiyh3sCdAf0rnAHV2o0Pm7NdUJeiktYfIuLmoWfka0hHn/s320/2022-05-05.png" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are the current rankings of entries for Eurovision 2022 from the bookies. Now we know that they never get things absolutely right but it's always an interesting guide as to how things are going for various nations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first thing that is so clear this year is the number of nations that have been effectively completely written off so far! There are no less than 15 now at 1000-1 (or more). They might as well not bother turning up. Remarkably this includes Ireland, Croatia and Georgia who I thought had, at least, reasonable entries.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu89kmZyJe--iAFzHiaDIE2IZXo-Yd86OMzpsNsl-VTHXFb7NZkqUQKgmeiTRNzW5dD6CtnXlbBrokNLHiiLurvbrP-uCAmRjYnSnRTIcO0JJY9YeBYplLoTx4vaV7Q7vm07wXBXIu_vpoonPAPIucWeWHUpV4CV-Yt3DqLDvhyOyUOvyJjsKore8W/s570/2022-05-05%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu89kmZyJe--iAFzHiaDIE2IZXo-Yd86OMzpsNsl-VTHXFb7NZkqUQKgmeiTRNzW5dD6CtnXlbBrokNLHiiLurvbrP-uCAmRjYnSnRTIcO0JJY9YeBYplLoTx4vaV7Q7vm07wXBXIu_vpoonPAPIucWeWHUpV4CV-Yt3DqLDvhyOyUOvyJjsKore8W/s320/2022-05-05%20(1).png" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The front runners have not changed since all the tracks were available. Ukraine well out at the front and one does have to wonder whether they will take it just through the sheer sympathy and support they'll get. Their entry isn't too bad either so they'd have always got some votes but I can see people putting them first just to make a point. The jury votes, however, will not be so generous, I suspect, and that may just offer a small opening to someone else to steal it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The most likely candidates - indeed, the only candidates - appear to be Italy, Sweden, the UK, Spain and Greece. Each stands a good chance in my view and I would rank them pretty evenly with Sweden winning a jury vote but Italy maybe stealing the public vote. Spain is a competent entry but I just see it as a bit dated now and, attractive as the legs may be, it seems to be from another era. The Greek entry is</div>excellent and may be the one that combines both votes best. The UK really should finish amongst the leaders this year although it doesn't sound like a winner. It will be nice not to be near or at the foot of the table, though!<p></p><p>If voters are in a silly mood then we do need to watch out for Serbia and Norway, each of whom will get significant backing although surely not enough to win as that sort of vote would also enhance Ukraine's chances.</p><p>On the more serious side, I am sad to see Armenia and Estonia way down the list, albeit not totally lost causes. Poland have the big ballad top spot it seems, but have not held any decent backing so far, dropping steadily as the weeks pass.</p><p>We should be getting some feedback from rehearsals soon as well as the occasional performances live at various parties and they often show just how well someone is going to handle the big occasion. The Semis, of course, are when we really see what people think and I am expecting quite an upheaval in the odds as they progress. There seems little concern about who will make it through this year. It doesn't really matter as there is no likely winner in the danger zone for either of the Semi Finals.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-18148518661588145382022-04-15T10:38:00.003+01:002022-04-15T10:38:46.637+01:00Eurovision 2022: How things look with a month to go.<p>The bookies have already effectively written off the chances of 12 of the 40 acts with odds of 1000-1 or more being offered. </p><google-sheets-html-origin><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="121"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Czech Republic"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Czech Republic</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Israel"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Israel</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lithuania"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Lithuania</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Iceland"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Iceland</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"North Macedonia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">North Macedonia</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Latvia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Latvia</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Denmark"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Denmark</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Ireland"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Ireland</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Bulgaria"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Bulgaria</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Montenegro"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Montenegro</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Romania"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Romania</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Slovenia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-style: italic; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Slovenia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></google-sheets-html-origin><div><google-sheets-html-origin>The two semi-finals this year seem a little better balanced than last year and ought to lead to entries that deserve a chance actually getting through.</google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin>Here's how the two groups appear likely to finish as things stand at the moment:</google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin>Group 1</google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="121"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Ukraine"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Ukraine</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Greece"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Greece</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Norway"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Norway</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Netherlands"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Netherlands</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Switzerland"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Switzerland</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Portugal"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Portugal</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Armenia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Armenia</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Croatia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Croatia</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Moldova"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Moldova</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Albania"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Albania</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Group 2</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="121"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Sweden"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Sweden</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poland"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Poland</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Australia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Australia</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Serbia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Serbia</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Finland"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Finland</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cyprus"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Cyprus</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Estonia"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Estonia</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Belgium"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Belgium</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"San Marino"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">San Marino</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Malta"}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Cambria; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Malta</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>You'll see that San Marino and Malta's dire entries are expected to make it to the Final in Group 2 at the expense of poor Ireland and Georgia. Ireland must be windering what on Earth they need to do in this competition. Having been one of the most successful nations in this competition it has only been ruddy Jedward who have given them any hope since. They've had good entries but no-one seems to like them. Odd. And we got through automatically every year with stuff that stood no chance.</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>But getting back to the Groups I do expect Azerbaijan or Georgia or maybe the Czech Republic to get through and ease out one or more of the lower three as we begin to see and hear more the entries and, especially, when rehearsals start. Every year there is a sea change in the middle regions at rehearsal time and even potential winners find themselves descending fast in the tables after a poor live performance.</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>I believe that Israel are now not taking part but they were not expected to do well so that makes little difference to the predictions.</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>All can change completely once we hear and see the acts rather than in well-produced or rehearsed videos but this is how things look today:</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Winning ballad</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></h3><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Poland / Estonia</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Winning gentle number</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></h3><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Netherlands / Croatia / Armenia</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Winning pop song</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></h3><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Sweden / Greece / Italy</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Winning something typically Eurovision</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></h3><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Ukraine / UK / Norway / Spain / Serbia</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Winning Scandinavian entry</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Sweden / Estonia / Norway</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Winning Western Europe entry</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>UK / Spain / Netherlands</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Winning Balkans / South Europe entry</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Croatia / Serbia / Greece </google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin>/ Italy</div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Winning East European entry</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>Ukraine / Poland / Armenia</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>So there are 13. If I had to cut out three for a Top 10 then it would be Armenia, who may have few friends to vote for them on the night, Norway as Serbia and Ukraine may get more of the wacky votes and perhaps Spain may lose out if the voters don't want a dancing girl with long legs coupled with a general lack of love for Spain's entries now over almost as long as for the UK.</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin>So here's a Top 10:</google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><b>Ukraine</b></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><b>UK</b></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><b>Sweden</b></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><b>Serbia</b></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><b>Poland</b></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><b>Croatia</b></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><b>Italy</b></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><b>Estonia</b></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><b>Greece</b></div><div><b>Netherlands</b></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><google-sheets-html-origin><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></div>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-27107881615699941452022-03-17T10:03:00.005+00:002022-04-15T09:47:39.387+01:00Eurovision 2022: A quick look at the entries<p>With most of the countries having now issued their songs I shall make a quick summary of them and their chances in Turin in a couple of months' time.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Albania C</h3><p>All a bit old-style now with the macho bloke and hard-nosed blonde. Very dramatic and an interesting blend of traditional sounds with attacking rap which will keep Albania in the points but not the top ten.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Montenegro E</h3><p>Not at all inspiring. A bit of a mess that gets a bit better towards the end but a probable non-qualifier.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Belgium E</h3><p>A miserable, messy song that I would think will have minimal appeal. Belgium are usually well-supported and tend to sneak in to higher positions on the night but I fear they'll struggle to make it this time. Voters keen to show their diversity credentials may well help this track to qualify but that's about it.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ireland B</h3><p>Strong and genuine pop song which will be quite popular. I can see this making Top 10s in the charts but the girl's performance is a bit lazy and could be less effective on the big stage which may reduce her appeal.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Spain B</h3><p>One of the very few classic Eurovision entries - you know the sort, attractive girl with long legs and wearing little, doing a sexy dance number with a few blokes around. The girl does this well, admittedly, and may get plenty of the heterosexual voters' support and help Spain feel wanted after a few years in the doldrums.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Austria B</h3><p>An energetic young duo with some good Euro-pop which is bound to get some support and plenty of votes. It's missing something though. It just starts and goes on. No shade anywhere.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Czech Republic B</h3><p>A good entry this year. The group seem genuine and not just put together for the event. They perform well with a well-written track but it still lacks something to make it memorable and may just be a little boring. It's the sort of thing that can come 11th.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Ukraine A</i></h3><p><i>If I can ignore the pink woollen hat and dreadful clothes generally this is the sort of thing that goes down well with Eurovision fans. Traditional stuff mixed with some mad rap that kinda grabs you. I don't know whether the juries will rank this very highly but I'm pretty sure every country will want to give Ukraine some votes this year in view of the terrible things that are happening there. Quite how things will look in May is anyone's guess but I'm pretty sure there will be a huge amount of sympathy and votes of support for the country if not the song on the night.</i></p><p><i>Ukraine could win this thing - more as a statement by everyone else than through the talents of the band. My feeling at this time, however, is that the volume of jury votes may pull them back to another 2nd or 3rd place.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Moldova B</h3><p>You can almost rely on Moldova to have some fun and this year they do so again, albeit without the attractive girls and sexy lyrics. This year we get <i>Hey ho, let's go, Folk lore, Rock 'n Roll . . .</i> Oh dear.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">United Kingdom A</h3><p>Well, that's a surprise - a decent entry from my own country! This is the best entry for some considerable time. <i>Spaceman</i> may not be the sort of track I'll rush out to buy or play very often but the guy can sing and the tune's the sort of thing people will like and actually vote for. It's sufficiently different even to stand a chance of winning but let's say it's got a good chance of a top 10 finish and that's a rare thing to say these days.</p><p>The singer I had never heard of but he has a massive following on line and has tremendously good streaming results for the covers and original tracks he's done so there is a lot of genuine love for the guy and he clearly has experience and can handle the notes. Having said that, he's more familiar with his home studio and no-one nearby so the big, live international stage is new to him.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Finland C</h3><p>They didn't chose the one I liked and have gone for an attempt to follow on Italy's heels. It's a good effort with plenty of appeal for the heavy guys and well put together. These follow-ons, however, never seem to succeed, being a year out of date already. It should qualify and gather a few votes to finish in the middle somewhere and get forgotten quite quickly.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Norway A</h3><p>You can see the Iceland influence here with an attempt to ride on the back of their success in the year of no Eurovision. As for Finland, these follow-ons seldom work but this one has a lot going for it. It is clever Euro-pop and has to be a favourite with many voters. Visually and musically catchy it will get plenty of viewer's votes. Not sure about the jury, though. Watch how this does with Ukraine.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Netherlands A</i></h3><p><i>A nice, genuine number that could easily grow on us. I can see this building quite a lot of support, especially if well-performed on the night. A likely Top 10 and maybe better than 10.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Serbia A</h3><p>The second catchiest song in the competition. It's a weird 'be healthy' song with odd lyrics (in English at least). Strange woman doing the singing and washing her hands in a bowl on her lap. I can see people watching this a lot between now and the event but not actually rating it particularly highly. The jury people certainly won't as it's not exactly a challenging song to sing. And yet, it is so catchy . . .</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Italy A</h3><p>They're on for the double and can almost do no wrong, as used to be the case for Sweden, and the UK, for that matter! This track does get on my nerves, though, and I am not too sure people will be giving it as many 12s as they'll need with the irritating <i>brividi</i> still ringing in their ears. The guys sing well, despite the lyrics, and one had a great result on his own only three years back. Lots of support and a stand-out number heading for a Top 5 spot. My view is that they'll be pipped to the post on the night, though.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">San Marino E</h3><p>This is not at all pleasant and even a quite questionable performance. Maybe it'll get cleaned up for the show and anything about a male stripper will get some fans. I doubt San Marino will get through the Semis this year, though.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Slovenia D</h3><p>All very 1970s. A tight band performance but you do have to wonder why. This is unlikely to get anywhere and is a bit odd in places and just doesn't hit any winning notes other than the band having the best-looking bloke in the competition.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">North Macedonia D</h3><p>This is a depressing entry. Maybe a talented girl and a genuine song rather than Euro-pop or just trash but I don't see it getting the sort of support which depressing songs need to get through to the higher reaches votes-wise.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Switzerland D</h3><p>God this is slow and another sad song. They did well with a sad song last year but this simply doesn't have anything like the same appeal.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Denmark D</h3><p>You see someone a bit like Cyndi Lauper on the piano and she gets up and turns a ballad into a frantic romp on stage with a bunch of other girl musicians. You'd think that would be good but it is just all very frantic and the girl drummer seems to be listening to a different track altogether. All good stuff if they were to get it together but still very much OTT and not in a good way.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Germany B</h3><p>A slightly anthemic number here which we haven't had many of, giving this more of a chance than you might expect. It's rap but fairly good rap with some real passion. They'll get some points this year.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Poland B</h3><p>One of the big strong ballads from blokes this year. And one of the best. It is a very gloomy song that just pulls you down, though, with little ongoing appeal. It'll get very good jury votes and must be considered a good chance for the Top 10 but I'm not sure the normal voters will give it enough to make the upper reaches.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Lithuania B</h3><p><i>Sentimental</i> is clever and probably inspired by the French #2 last year. That may well be its undoing as people will find it just a little uninspiring, having kinda heard it all before. It's sort of pleasant but sleepy and you spend a lot of time trying to figure out how old the singer is. France had a number you were inclined to sing or hum along to. Not this one. It'll be liked but not enough, I fear.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Latvia E</h3><p><i>Eat your salad</i>. This is a dreadful number that even dedicated Greens or vegans will not want to spend long listening to. Terrible.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Australia B</h3><p>Another of the big bloke ballads. Don't really know what to make of this. The guy has some passion, for sure, but maybe too much that almost appears for show. Seems impressive and will certainly have plenty of support but not a winner.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Estonia A</i></h3><p><i> Hope. A great singer. Slightly old-style and almost Western-style. You could imagine this at the start or end of a 1960s Western TV series. That, of course, is good and bad news for the excellent singer of this third big bloke ballad. I like it a lot and tip it as a potential winner.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Malta D</h3><p>Not at all good. The girl seems a bit amateur and I can't see her doing well on a big live stage. The song is neither here nor there and even qualification could be in doubt this year.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Georgia A</i></h3><p><i>Finally a great entry from Georgia! They have for many years struggled either to qualify or get many votes with their very ethnic and maybe talented but difficult to love entries. This is modern, fun and really quite good. If it qualifies, as I do hope and think it should, then I can see this growing on people and getting them a good result for the first time. Well done, Georgia, and thanks for the support for Ukraine.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Croatia A</i></h3><p><i>This is a very nice, very gentle track by a sweet girl. These tracks often surprise us by doing remarkably well on the night if well-performed. That's going to be the key to this one. If she does well, expect to see her in the Top 10.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Israel B</h3><p>An impressive entry by Israel. Very much hitting all the right buttons but somehow I don't quite see it working. The guy sounds like George Michael and the song is impeccably written, with performance tricks copied from The Roop and others. There's a lot going for this but there's that hole I can't quite identify which is going to prevent it doing as well as many will think it should.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Cyprus C</h3><p>We still get a very pretty girl from Cyprus but this year she stays well-clothed and doesn't do all the dance moves either. This is quite ethnic and not manic pop at all. It's not memorable, though or sufficiently different to get much worthwhile support.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">France D</h3><p>This is a bit of a mess as France go for the ethnic votes too with the emphasis on the Balkans this time. I find it difficult to see how this will go down and can only conclude that it won't be particularly well.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Greece A</i></h3><p><i>This is a stand-out track again from Greece. Nicely sung with a slow build to make a good pop song that is reasonably modern and yet can appeal across the board. Much will depend on this girl's experience and how she comes across on the night. It ought to do well with both the juries and the public and one to watch for the win this year.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Armenia A</i></h3><p><i>This is a really good song, written by Rosa Linn who performs it. Driving beat that builds well and it has an instant sort of appeal that I'm sure will get plenty of votes. Much depends, as always, on the extent to which the girl can cope with the huge live performance and present this professionally.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sweden A</h3><p>You can usually rely on Sweden to come up with something pretty good and this is no exception. An intriguing song that seems to have far too many words in each line. It will get many points from juries for its technical challenges and the singer seems very competent and experienced. There's both a gentle touch and a soaring appeal from this girl which the audience will like too. Another Top 10 for Sweden but still not a winner.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Bulgaria C</h3><p>Straightforward heavy metal from the start to finish. All very old-fashioned and this seems to be riding on the back of the two similar entries that did so well last year. There is a group of voters who will give this support but it's not that great and never really makes you stand up and notice.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Iceland B</h3><p>Here's a nice tune. Three girls with guitars and a chap drumming and it's the sort of track that just rolls along pleasantly and might even help you doze. It's very sweet and nice and all that but never really goes anywhere. You're almost crying out for some passion or, at least, something to tell you what any of the girls are looking for or what the message might be. It is one of those tracks, though, that will stand out on the night and it will certainly get through the Semis. A possible Top 10 but I have no real idea why.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Portugal C</h3><p>Five girls with a very understated performance. A nice change to some of the OTT efforts we'll see and, like Iceland, it rolls along pretty pleasantly. There's a bit of clapping to emphasise the beat and you get the impression that these girls take their music seriously. It never really gets anywhere, though, and is a bit forgettable and doesn't seem that challenging either,</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Romania B</h3><p>A catchy number from Romania with something very typically Euro-pop that you'll be bound to hear at a holiday disco if there are such things as holiday discos these days. It could just as easily have been playing at a midnight taverna on a Greek island in 1980 as in the evening in Turin in 2022. People will like this cheerful number with its nod to the gay community whilst still having girls with long legs and black-mesh tights doing their thing on the stage around the bloke singing. He comes across as not the best of singers in the few videos I've seen so that will need to improve. If it does then expect Romania to grab a good few points.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Azerbaijan C</h3><p>Well, we waited long enough and it hasn't really been worth it. The song is OK and the singer's pretty good but this is not going to make much of an impression. Azerbaijan usually get a good number of votes but nothing extra for this one.</p><p>That's 40 entries. I think that's all.</p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-80501785624332689572022-02-01T10:37:00.003+00:002022-02-01T10:37:26.157+00:00Eurovision 2022: Finland could do well if they choose Younghearted.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FcXJU9iBAaI" width="320" youtube-src-id="FcXJU9iBAaI"></iframe></div><br />Nice track which may or may not make it to selection for Finland. It is very early days as many countries are just starting their selection programmes this week. Often super songs are in the lists competing to win selection for their nation and I'll try and unearth a few.<p></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-60473076460414503572021-05-26T09:22:00.003+01:002021-05-26T09:22:30.513+01:00Full results breakdown for Eurovision 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5J3tkp6cHGE/YK4FDN_NM2I/AAAAAAAG1CE/TKMiJNbgb185NtdY37y49pSy28DdrOV3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1086/eurovsion2021results.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="610" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5J3tkp6cHGE/YK4FDN_NM2I/AAAAAAAG1CE/TKMiJNbgb185NtdY37y49pSy28DdrOV3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/eurovsion2021results.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-21327827404688396202021-05-23T12:56:00.002+01:002021-05-23T13:02:55.268+01:00Eurovision: The Result<p>Here is the full list of points for the entries this year. Many congratulations to Italy, who won the public vote, Switzerland, who won the Jury vote and France who came 2nd in both!</p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Italy: Måneskin “Zitti e buoni” 524</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">France: Barbara Pravi “Voilà” 499</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Switzerland: Gjon’s Tears “Tout l’Univers” 432</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Iceland: Daði og Gagnamagnið “10 Years” 378</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Ukraine: Go_A “Shum” 364</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Finland: Blind Channel “Dark Side” 301</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Malta: Destiny “Je me casse” 255</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Lithuania: The Roop “Discoteque” 220</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Russia: Manizha “Russian Woman” 204</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Greece: Stefania “Last Dance” 170</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Bulgaria: Victoria “Growing Up Is Getting Old” 170</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Portugal: The Black Mamba “Love Is on My Side” 153</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Moldova: Natalia Gordienko “Sugar” 115</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Sweden: Tusse “Voices” 109</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Serbia: Hurricane “Loco Loco” 102</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Cyprus: Elena Tsagrinou “El diablo” 94</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Israel: Eden Alene “Set Me Free” 93</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Norway: Tix “Fallen Angel” 75</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Belgium: Hooverphonic “The Wrong Place” 74</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Azerbaijan: Efendi “Mata Hari” 65</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Albania: Anxhela Peristeri “Karma” 57</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">San Marino: Senhit feat. Flo Rida “Adrenalina” 50</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Netherlands: Jeangu Macrooy “Birth of a New Age” 11</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Spain: Blas Cantó “Voy a quedarme” 6</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">Germany: Jendrik “I Don’t Feel Hate” 3</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Roboto Mono;">United Kingdom: James Newman “Embers” 0</span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">As has often been the case, Moldova do far better than anyone expects them to. For me the only unexpected Top 10 nation this year would be Russia and I am surprised to Finland at 6th, bearing in mind that the rock lovers' votes would have been split. You have to wonder whether they would not have won without Italy's performance being so good.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For so long the favourite, Malta's performer looked pretty annoyed </span>throughout<span style="font-family: inherit;"> most of the voting as it became clear that she wasn't going to win after all, or even make the Top 3. Iceland's 4th place may well be down to a great deal of affection for the group that has developed since they were unable not only to win (as might well have happened last year) but also not perform live this year. They </span>deserved<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a Top 10 place anyway.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was pleased to see Ukraine do so well, not just because of my own connection with the country but it was different and quite a remarkable </span>performance<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that stood out with genuine talent, whether that </span>particular<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>talent<span style="font-family: inherit;"> is up your </span>street<span style="font-family: inherit;"> or not.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The UK's dismal result may be </span>dramatically<span style="font-family: inherit;"> bad enough to persuade someone somewhere that it should not be some BBC faceless committee that selects our songs and some real thought needs to go into how we </span>approach<span style="font-family: inherit;"> this whole thing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Entering someone who came 8th in an X Factor show some years back worked quite well for Lucie Jones who produced our last reasonable result, although even that wasn't particularly memorable at 15th. You have to wonder what would have happened if we'd entered someone who came 1st or 2nd. Joe McElderry, Olly Murs! Blue were our last reasonable effort, 11th in 2011. Our best recent </span>place<span style="font-family: inherit;"> was Jade Ewen at 5th in 2009 and I remember that Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber was heavily involved in writing the number and helping Jade with her performance. She already had experience on the big stage too, although was not as well known as we might have liked and might have been necessary to get a higher international </span>recognition<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and vote. A lot of effort went into that year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This morning (Sunday 23 May) I happened by chance to watch a programme in which a group of people were singing at a small church gathering in Woodford Wells, Essex. There were a number of songs that this group performed which would have blown the voting wide open had they been at Eurovision this year. I reckon they could well </span>have<span style="font-family: inherit;"> won the thing as the songs were that good and the performance by the lead girl and bloke genuinely inspiring. Now I don't know whether Christian stuff is permitted in Eurovision and perhaps it is not </span>permitted<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to support any particular religion other than the Devil or something Balkan and weird. Naturally it won't get the Muslim vote but I would say get hold of Simon Cowell, put these guys together and put them on </span>the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> stage in Rome next year. </span>Give<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the profits to the Church and everyone should be happy. We might even win. But for God's sake no more people we have never heard of or who write songs for other people but </span>have<span style="font-family: inherit;"> no record of success in the charts, no more old people who are past their Engelbert sell-by dates, no more manufactured groups for the occasion.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And if those Church folk aren't available, call up Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, or someone who has actually </span>had<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a pile of hits and is known abroad. No gimmicks, just </span>talent<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and </span>confident<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>performance<span style="font-family: inherit;"> on the night. Give the public a chance to select one or two tracks out of a bunch of </span>possibles<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Not in a rushed week like we've had in recent years when only a few people listening to Radio 2 might have heard the choices more than once but over a decent period so they get a really good airing. James Newman sounded out of breath and seldom finished words properly. Normally that wouldn't matter in a pop song but with his voice and that song it did.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The BBC are in for a lot of criticism at the moment so now is a good time to make someone there take notice. We have had enough. It does affect us. Coming last in Eurovision, with zero points from anyone, is </span>embarrassing<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Some of us predicted this. Despite commentators saying how we really have a chance this year and trying to be positive and telling us all how James is a nice guy, most of us who have followed Eurovision for years knew damn well from the moment we heard the song that it was not going to do well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-41878526421896023462021-05-22T16:26:00.003+01:002021-05-22T16:31:45.591+01:00The Final<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Cyprus: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHeydRCBPNs" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Elena Tsagrinou – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">El Diablo</em></a></span></h2><p>Every Eurovision contest needs an attractive young lady in a sheer short dress or what looks like a body stocking with a few tassels here and there. Cyprus give us a super example in Elena as well as a commercial pop number that really should make the Top 10. Great way to start the show and she'll get plenty of public support but not much from the juries unless they're into Devil worship.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Albania: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9KXznajJvY" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anxhela Peristeri – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Karma</em></a></span></h2><div><br /></div><div>This girl is quite scary and looks about 7 feet tall. She shouts at you too and you may feel obliged to vote but most people will resist the temptation. No chance.<br /><div><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Israel: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Gn0Xqk9k4" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eden Alene – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Set Me Free</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Quite why this girl wants to take off her clothes at the end I don't know but the final clothing is mostly just her hair, braided and well-positioned. She'll hit some ridiculous notes near the end for no particular reason. Yes, no particular reason to vote for this at all. Another one with no chance.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Belgium: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaBiom7_rvU" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hooverphonic – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wrong Place</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Belgium always do better than anyone expects them to and always seem to give us quite competnet and talented groups or singers. most can be a bit boring, though, and this year is very sleepy and I challenge anyone to try and sing along with it or remember much about it afterwards. So full marks for being in tune but not many marks for entertainment.</div><div><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Russia: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajfaz1CKZq0" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Manizha – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Russian Woman</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Someone make her stop. This is not a pleasant thing to watch or listen to. The first 'statement song' that Eurovision seems to encourage these days. Surely even woke kids won't like this either. We won't be going to Moscow in 2022. Dreadful number from a country that should know better.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Malta: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUElgja4B9w" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Destiny – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Je me casse</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Statement song #2. Also horrible, noisy and most unattractive. Big girl bawling at us about how she doesn't want to go out with a bloke. OK. Don't go then but don't whinge about it. This is a nasty entry but lots of people will vote for it and the jury vote will be quite high. Many people think she will win. I fear she might but I am really, really hoping that someone will beat her on the night.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Portugal: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koJAGIUlnD0" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Black Mamba – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Love Is On My Side</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Thank goodness, something classy. This may seem a bit strange at first, even dated, but it's quite clever and you have to respect the main singer for being quite relaxed and totally in tune. It's no great hit but it's got class and style and a good performance could well get Portugal a Top 10 place.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Serbia: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khnpL7HqN5I" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hurricane – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Loco Loco</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Now this is what Eurovision used to be about - three scantily clad girls belting out a sexy song about some bloke they'd like to do lots of things with. They're good, very good, and will put on a show for us blokes and any woman that way inclined. They should pick up a solid Balkan vote as one of teh few representatives of the region with any hope. Another Top 10 finish.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">United Kingdom: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isth9_oNNa8" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">James Newman – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Embers</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh dear. When will the BBC sort out the process for choosing our entries? I have no idea who decided to give James the job but, nice chap he may be, he would not have won any public vote here and stands no chance winning any popular vote in Europe either. The song is very average and hasn't even had much impact in our charts, never mind anywhere else. I fear that this will finish in a lowly position, although not bottom this year.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Greece: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUWt6VbolqE" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stefania – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last Dance</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is someone who is very talented. A good singer and she has to manage a difficult visual routine too that is most impressive. that will bring her quite a few extra votes and I think she will succeed where Cyprus might not. Another top 10 number and a good pop song that would make the charts here if released.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Switzerland: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_5mo8st8Mc" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gjon’s Tears – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tout l’univers</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>This is probably the second classiest entry in the whole competition. a superbly written track that is full of atmosphere and it is a potential winner if the guy gets everything right. His running order position and possibility of errors, though, could bring him down a bit - but still a Top 10.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Iceland: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaTRNImqnHM" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Daði og Gagnamagnið – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10 Years</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>You'll remember the Iceland entry. A charming group of young people from Iceland with a pretty whacky entry. Last year they were strongly tipped to win or, at worst come 2nd (to a very cool Russian entry). They have had a lot of publicity this year and even the Eurovision film has helped their nation. Unfortunately, they are not able to perform live this evening due to someone in the group having the virus, and it will be a rehearsal recording that we see. I have a feeling that they will get a lot of support based on their sheer delightfulness as people and with the double sympathy of last year's miss and this year's tough luck. A potential winner and certain Top 10 finish.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Spain: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo8St0_Slac" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Blas Cantó – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Voy A Quedarme</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>When I first heard this song I was really impressed with the singer's vocal abilities and it struck me as one of the best ballads. So, if a ballad is to win then this would be up there with a good chance. From what I can see, though, every rehearsal has been poor, with mistakes or changes that don't help the performance. So many now tip this for a bottom position but I'll just say it's not going to be Top 10.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Moldova: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FRnNkGLGN4" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Natalia Gordienko – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sugar</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>This is pretty dated stuff from Moldova. Natalia holds back on the sex, compared to her early presentations, but there is still no mistaking what she's after. Moldova always manage to entertain us and often get quite high on the board as a result, always surprising us! They'll get a few votes tonight too but this will not be one of their best nights.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Germany: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRxuYhrOsgM" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jendrik – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I Don’t Feel Hate</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>At one point, very early on, I thought this could be a winner. the guy had a great personality and looked to be someone who would get lots of publicity and make friends left right and centre, across all genres. That hasn't happened, though, and it is all rather sad now with silly props and a message that is so much of a message that it's tedious now. I suppose that he could still appeal to lost of new viewers if he comes up with a really good performance on the night and I don't see him getting zero points as many predict. But not that many more.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Finland: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw6KnFIIa4I" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Blind Channel – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dark Side</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Rock comes to Eurovision and, after the last track many people will be either relieved or shocked. This is all out 90s stuff with ugly blokes doing ugly things with their tongues and middle fingers. It's a good rock number for all that and it is going to have a lot of appeal. If Italy weren't in the competition then it could even come near the top. they are, though, and that will reduce the points they receive as the lesser of the two rock entries.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Bulgaria: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xORSj7dSfis" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">VICTORIA – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Growing Up Is Getting Old</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>The only gentle, quiet song this year and Victoria will get a lot of votes for that reason alone. It's also modern and stylish. If she performs well and gets all the notes right then I'd expect her to do very well and get points across the board. Not quite enough to win but a sure Top 10 finish.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Lithuania: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGsjtJn4aAo" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Roop – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Discoteque</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>One of not many fun and cheerful entries this year. Like Iceland, they were expected to do very well last year and this does seem to be a pretty similar track to the 2020 entry. It will get a good number of votes but I think they will just miss out on a Top 10 position.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Ukraine: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV4EKm5lkVk" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Go_A – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shum</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Possibly the most extraordinary entry this year comes from Ukraine and a very traditional and yet seemingly quite modern track that is infectious, despite its strangeness. You will remember this one. It will be performed flawlessly as the band are excellent and know what they're doing. Like Belgium but a lot more memorable and interesting. They could even win this year but maybe a bit too weird to do so. A Top 10 finish, for sure.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">France: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQe8B-uXUWY" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Barbara Pravi – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Voilà</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Top class, a wonderful entry. It is so good to see an attractive and very talented singer tonight doing something that seems a little dated but with passion. One of the very few believable performances that would not be out of place on a stage on Broadway or in the West End. A most definite potential winner. I have so often placed this one at the top but, forced to decide, I do wonder whether she might be perceived as just to dated and the woke and anti-ballad votes will all get picked up by Malta.</div><div><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Azerbaijan: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZVC6f9cXKk" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Efendi – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mata Hari</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>This has been in and out of my Top 10 prediction list for months. A very good singer but she has a lot of competition and I expect Serbia, Greece, San Marino and Cyprus to take away a lot of votes that she might have received without all that competition. So, despite what should be a good and in many ways typically 'Eurovision' performance, I don't see this making Top 10 without some money changing hands in the vote-counting room.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Norway: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aWow1MKHzc" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">TIX – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fallen Angel</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Dreadful number that shouldn't be here. I have no idea what came over Norway when someone decided to enter some 80s bloke in a white suit with a huge pair of wings. It's not something you'll remember the song from which is just as well as it's rubbish anyway. It'll be such a relief when it stops.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">The Netherlands: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ZJbSAudxk" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jeangu Macrooy – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Birth Of A New Age</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>The Netherlands clearly don't want to host this show for another year. Another very forgettable entry that makes me wonder about the sanity of those making the selection. Not particularly unpleasant but just not good.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Italy: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL1mzJuV11c" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Måneskin – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zitti E Buoni</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>In complete contrast, welcome to stylish modern rock from Italy. This looks good and sounds good, with a classic Italian rasp that no-one else seems to be able to do. The group interact well with one's eye particularly drawn to the girl guitarist. It's a good number, performed well and it will get big support from many quarters as the only other rock entry this year. It is streets better than Finland and has an edge that they haven't. Italy is my chic as the winner this year but i suspect it will be a close call.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Sweden: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0BfFw3sE_E" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tusse – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Voices</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Sweden doing something that sounds like something written by a committee for a Eurovision entry. It's all very average, difficult to criticise but also difficult to get excited about in any way.<br /><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">San Marino: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtVBxZXGJNg" style="border: 0px; color: #600085; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Senhit ft. Flo Rida – <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Adrenalina</em></a></span></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>Very clever production places this act at the end of the whole show. San Marino usually have no chance at all and seldom make it past the Semis. This year they have a song that many Eurovision voters will like and a rapper called Flo Rida who will be the only person on the sage that anyone has ever heard of. That is definitely going to help the tiny country get votes from all over the place. they might even make the Top 10 and take a spot from Serbia or Portugal. Not a winner, though, even with that guy's help.</div><div><br /></div><div>So there we go:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>1 Italy</b></div><div><b>2 Malta</b></div><div><b>3 France</b></div><div><b>4 Iceland</b></div><div><b>5 Ukraine</b></div><div><b>6 Switzerland</b></div><div><b>7 Bulgaria</b></div><div><b>8 Greece</b></div><div><b>9 Serbia</b></div><div><b>10 Portugal</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-67422161714068053112021-05-20T19:55:00.008+01:002021-05-22T15:01:17.271+01:00Eurovision Semi Final 2<p> This really should be quite easy to predict, compared to the first, at least. </p><p>Certain to qualify and at the top of the ten to make the Final are:</p><p><b>Switzerland | Bulgaria | Iceland</b></p><p>Switzerland have been in the top 3 almost since the start of this years reviews. recent performances haven't quite matched the power of the video track and I am not convinced that it will win the Final but a Top Ten Final placing is very much expected and that, of course, means no trouble tonight.</p><p>Bulgaria and Iceland also, to a lesser extent. Always expected to be Top Five. Bulgaria could pull off a surprise. Iceland had been expected to win at one point but the song just doesn't quite match the 2020 production and we're quite used the them now so the novelty is wearing off as will some votes. Iceland will also not be live and that, I feel, will harm their chances a little but not enough to stop their advance tonight.</p><p><b>San Marino | Greece | Serbia</b></p><p>These three all feature girls doing what girls like to do - look good in dresses and dance. San Marino have a pretty rubbish song and a pretty rubbish and not very pretty singer but this tiny country has developed an almost cult status now in Eurovision. I think 2021 is the year when they'll get the votes, however little the track deserves it. Some rap guy called Flo Rida, who sounds more like a girl than a drug dealer, joins the girl on stage and he's famous apparently so will also get her a pile of new votes from people who like that stuff.</p><p>Greece is a straightforward pop song that would make the charts here if released as a single. It's not as catchy as Cyprus and the girl wears more clothes and sings better. Greece will be there. Serbia have another pop song that would make the charts too. Three very talented and quite sexy girls perform for our pleasure, well, for that of males of a certain inclination. They know what they're doing on stage and it is quite a rare thing now to see people who are familiar with the big stage and live work and can get the notes right. The track itself won't please everyone and that will bring their vote down somewhat but I reckon they'll be there on Saturday night.</p><p><b>Finland</b></p><p>Like Italy but a lot louder and more offensive and kinda stuck in the 1980s. It's rock, for sure, probably well done as Finland would expect, but voters will either love it or hate it and the middle finger reference will surely cost them dear. Withoit that I'd give them a definite Top Ten Final place. With it, just an average place. But they'll get through as the rest are really very crap.</p><p>Next we have what is essentially rubbish.</p><p>I have to pick three still. It is simpler to say who won't get through, I think. Poland won't despite their huge voting audience. It is simply a totally load of irritating and poorly preseted stuff. Latvia won't as it just doesn't work - the notes are all over the place and no-one will remember the song. Czech Republic's song is called Omiga or something which is pronounced Oh My God and that's all we hear most of the time. It was a familiar phrase back in the early 2000s but it is passé now and the track just doesn't sound cool. No chance. You'll forget Estonia and Georgia very quickly, possibly before they finish. Neither stand much chance tonight, never mind in the Final and you do have to wonder what their nation's were thinking when they decided to enter these tracks.</p><p>So we're left with Portugal, Denmark, Austria, Albania and Moldova. Three of these will be in the Final. That's quite a bizarre thought as none of them should be.</p><p>Denmark is weird, kinda 1970s. I honestly don't understand what they think they're trying to achieve. But, oddly, they stand a chance as the final act of the evening and that often does better than it deserves. Pleasant enough blokes - and there feels like a dearth of blokes tonight so that could well be in their favour. Let's give Denmark a place then.</p><p>If Denmark is weird then Portugal are even weirder - but in a sort of jazz 2020s style. It's a ballad of sorts, song in a strange tone by a strange bloke but he does it very well and it sounds like something that should be on a rare LP rather than a song at Eurovision. It will attract some votes. Enough to get through? The jury's out.</p><p>Austria have a big ballad bloke. Again, we need some big ballad blokes, if only to compete with Spain for nearly bottom place (the bookies' view, not mine - I actually rate Spain quite highly). It's a song with about five words and one of those is Amen. Not difficult to remember. It's well sung but very tedious. But not as bad as the others so Austria may get a place.</p><p>Moldova always try to entertain us and most years they offer sex to all us men in one way or another. There'll be a short skirt, plenty of flesh on shop further up and big smiles and winks. The people they have given us in the past have actually managed to perform pretty well and genuinely made us smile or respect their nerve, at least. This time we have the blonde girl who wants to be 'sugared'. It sort of works but I fear that the voters will just not go for it tonight. She is definitely holding back on the sex thing, maybe trying not to put off to many female voters or religious types. That means she also loses a lot of the male vote too. Even a Eurovision male vote. It's neither one thing not t'other, as they might say in Yorkshire and I fear this girl will not make it as a result.</p><p>Last of the bunch is Albania. Classic Eurovision blonde in a white dress and being quite scary. attractive until you look more closely and realise that she's probably got very sharp elbows and a boyfriend with a big black Mercedes G Class doing big business on the streets of most European capitals. Not many of these have got through this year. We need one, at least so she may get that spot.</p><p>So the last few to scrape through merely because the rest aren't good enough are:</p><p><b>Portugal | Denmark | Albania</b></p><p>OK. Let's see.</p><p>Update:</p><p>Well, Moldova did get some votes after all and, thankfully, Denmark did not! Otherwise 9 preditions are through.</p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-52246752078179736682021-05-18T10:06:00.007+01:002021-05-18T22:20:52.841+01:00Eurovision: Semi Final 1<p>Later today the first Eurovision Semi Final will be broadcast. Who will make it through to the Final? This is a tough group but here are my predictions:</p><p>Very confident about these five:</p><p><b>Malta | Cyprus | Ukraine | Lithuania | Sweden</b></p><p>Undeserved, as not pleasant performances, but they'll still qualify:</p><p><b>Russia | Norway</b></p><p>Likely to sneak through:</p><p><b>Croatia | Romania</b></p><p>And that leaves one more place. Much as I'd like it to be Ireland, and they'd be the bookies' choice to make 10th place, I think either Azerbaijan or North Macedonia will make it. Azerbaijan have a commercial number and a mass of online supporters. North Macedonia have a well-sung ballad which, in this group, is almost unique whereas Azerbaijan have Cyprus and Croatia doing the pop song better. So I'll pick <b>North Macedonia</b> for place 10.</p><p>But wish Lesley Roy well!</p><p>The juries will already have voted, based on the evening performances last night. From what I can gather, Azerbaijan did well, as did North Macedonia. Ireland, Ukraine and Sweden let themselves down. I can't see this effected Ukraine or Sweden's qualification chances, though, and stick with my predictions as above.</p><p><i>Update 22:10 Tuesday</i></p><p>Well, I was wrong about the bottom three. Watching the show, I can see how Azerbaijan made it through with a very professional and confident performance. In contrast Romania was poor and jumbled, a shadow of what we've seen from the artist before. The big surprise for me is Croatia! The bookies, too, who had Croatia as one of the leaders of the evening, odds plummeting to around 100 at one point. Instead of these two we get Belgium and Israel. Both were uninspiring and I still can't see either making any impact at the Final at all. Azerbaijan could take votes from Cyprus, whose predicted place has already fallen.</p><p>I would have expected North Macedonia to make it through in preference to either of those after a stunning and near-perfect ballad from an excellent singer. Maybe just too old-style for Eurovision. Norway got through and was one of the worst of the night.</p><p>Ukraine seem to have made a significant impact with a spot-on performance.</p><p>Italy still retain the top spot but the dreadful Malta seem to have done themselves no harm with a faultless, if horrible, performance from their act.</p><p>We need France to put Malta firmly in her place on the night. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-75707237647315454022021-05-11T15:48:00.005+01:002021-05-11T16:23:24.421+01:00Four-way battle to qualify for Ireland, Azerbaijan, Romania and Belgium<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQi1IWQb-MU/YJqSShPappI/AAAAAAAG0kE/R3PAHXbTnGQbxCKMPGors1tG2c7b1VliACLcBGAsYHQ/s762/euro110521.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="273" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQi1IWQb-MU/YJqSShPappI/AAAAAAAG0kE/R3PAHXbTnGQbxCKMPGors1tG2c7b1VliACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/euro110521.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a real 4-way competition opening up for the Group 1 Semi Final as to who will qualify between Romania, Belgium, Ireland and Azerbaijan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 'Groups' may not be numbered correctly as 1 or 2 - I cannot remember which is which in the competition but the countries that make up each Group are correct so bear with me if I have them the wrong way round. The fight still exists.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the time of writing, and as can be seen above, Romania are predicted to make it but with the slimmest of margins over Belgium which could easily have changed by the time I finish the article! Ireland are not far behind either and have been leading not only the group but, one day, were seen as a better bet than Croatia and Israel! That was just for one day, unfortunately. Well, unfortunately for Ireland and for me as I like their entry a lot. Israel and Croatia have since provided a bit more confidence with the bookies from their rehearsals to date whereas Australia, once expected to make it, have not. The other contenders in this tough, tough group are North Macedonia and Slovenia. No-one is giving Slovenia even a glimpse of a chance and North Macedonia seem to be lacking in friends as their track is very well sung indeed. They seem to be suffering the same fate as Spain, now out at a ridiculous 1000-1 (and it can't get worse than that on Betfair!) with people apparently taking the view that a sad male ballad will not win this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The others in Group 1, Malta, Cyprus, Lithuania, Ukraine, Sweden, Russia and Norway, all seem sure to get through. Neither Russia nor Norway should, in my view, but they have their supporters and the bookies' declared chances of success reflect that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those four contenders for the remaining place to join Croatia and Israel in the Final have a difficult task. Each has its merits. Romania has been quite well fancied for a while but has recently dipped quite a lot - it's a decent song that could be well-presented and will have appeal, along the lines of Bulgaria, but rehearsals haven't gone well so far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So the only way in will be for one of Azerbaijan, Belgium or Ireland to take Romania's place. Azerbaijan have a typically hot and sexy number and will look good and definitely have Eurovision appeal and Baku money. You can never discount Azerbaijan in Eurovision. Belgium are the cool guys this year and, in the absence of many cool guys, I am surprised to see them struggling to qualify. They're the most likely to get in as things stand, in my opinion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ireland have a track that is a real pop song. You'll be humming it after she finishes. But I don't know how the girl will come across or how well she can perform, whether nerves will show or not. Azerbaijan can hide errors in a glittering outfit and very long legs. Belgium have each other and don't make errors anyway. They're too experienced, perhaps even tediously so. Like Cliff Richard in a fog. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I wrote this, Belgium drew equal with Romania. Interesting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The table above, incidentally predicts the Finalists. At the top are those who are automatically included so it is not a representation of who is likely to win, just who'll get to the Final.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-20522152835985430982021-05-06T18:13:00.002+01:002021-05-06T18:13:20.206+01:00United Kingdom should drop out and give Ireland a chance in Eurovision<p>With just two weeks to go before we know who makes the Final, and a result on 22 May not much further away, it is a good time to look at how the competitors are performing in the eyes of those seeking to make some money from them. In the past this has been a generally good guide - but the bookies do rather better at predicting the Top 10 than the winner.</p><p>At the moment they say it is a three-horse race. Malta has been out in front since the initial release of her track. Very briefly, in March, Switzerland took the top spot but that's been the only change. France is the third member of the group and has always been 2nd or 3rd. Recently, odds have shortened quite significantly for both Malta and France which would seem to indicate that their rehearsals or recent re-issues have gone down well with fans and observers. Malta have a ghastly 'statement song' which I fear may follow the similarly horrible Netta's winner for Israel three years ago. There is a worrying trend here: the 2018 victory for Netta was, to all intents and purposes, two 'Eurovision' years earlier, and before that in 2016, Jamala made a political statement and, two years before that in 2014, we had Conchita doing the girl with a beard statement thing. So Malta have a lot going for them this year.</p><p>I just hope the bookies are wrong.</p><p>France and Switzerland, in complete contrast, have most impressive songs with most impressive artists and would be well-deserving winners. I get the feeling that France's singer has no problem with a live performance either, whereas Switzerland's may not be quite as familiar to the big stage and this gives France the edge.</p><p>Next, in a group their own now, is Italy. They and Finland each have a rock contribution to make and, as the only two of the genre, they'll each pick up bundles of points for that reason alone. Most should go to Italy and their 4th position seems assured and odds have firmed up for them recently which seems to indicate that they can repeat on stage what we see in the videos.</p><p>Iceland and Lithuania have to be the next group and, until mid-April they were pretty equally fancied for 5th or 6th place. Each were at one time thought of as potential winners but those hopes faded when the songs were just not going down as well as their 2020 entries had done. There seems to be some residual faith, however, in the lesser 2021 tracks which has kept them in sight of the win. If quirkiness is to be this year's route to the top then either could still take the prize. Iceland would be popular winners, especially with the Eurovision film still very much in people's minds. A pity that song wasn't entered!</p><p>Lithuania's odds have drifted a lot recently which, one assumes, is an indication that they're not doing well live or in developing more fans. Iceland are hanging in there and will win the quirky vote.</p><p>Bulgaria and Sweden always get mentioned in Top Ten talk nowadays for Eurovision. Bulgaria have had several close calls in recent years and, whether it is a geographic thing or just good choice of material, they grab lots of points each year. Sweden spend so much time and effort in deciding who will represent them that they produce some rather committee-like tracks by competent but slightly boring people as a result. The exceptional doesn't survive that sort of selection process. Once again, Sweden have a good pop song, well produced and sung but it is instantly forgettable and will make little impression. They'll get votes because everyone votes for Sweden except the United Kingdom for Abba. Bulgaria have a modern track, a brave entry but it may be just too quiet or uneventful to score as heavily as it will need to to shift the big Malta girl.</p><p>After that, it's a long way down to the first real pop songs. Cyprus and Greece both know what they're doing in this respect and have two good artists and reasonably commercial songs too. I am surprised that neither seems to have gathered much of a following. They'll be Top Ten and, if the voters are in a pop mood, one could win. It's more likely to be Cyprus, who would dearly love to take revenge for <i>Fuego </i>not making it last time out. Greece have seen their odds fade quite a lot from mid-April which makes me wonder that they'll produce the goods live after all.</p><p>There's a group of oddities next, with Finland's heavy rock, Norways' ridiculous white angel, Romania's attempt to do a Bulgaria and San Marino, yes, San Marino are very likely to make the Final this year! San Marino have a terribly bad track again but it's just not as terribly bad as previous years and is almost commercial so it will get some votes. Indeed, it's basically the same song that Azerbaijan might have given us but their chances of getting in will depend on who the President's men can bribe rather than the strength of their song this year.</p><p>Neither Finland, Norway, Romania nor San Marino will win this year but I would not be surprised to see one or two make the Top Ten and oust a poor effort on the night by one of the preceding countries.</p><p>Looking now at who else will qualify, we have to expect to see Russia and Ukraine once more doing battle, although this time on the stage unless Russia takes the opportunity to enter Kharkov while everyone is watching Go-A and their remarkable track. If the traditional and quirky vote in the same way then Ukraine may surprise us all. They could even win but that would probably surprise the band as much as the bookies. Russia have a terrible entry this year. Not something anyone will want to listen to for long. Also from the same part of the world, little Moldova should be there and, as is almost traditional now, there will be some pretty girls encouraging men to do things that men like to do to pretty girls. It is quite extraordinary how much subtlety is missing in Moldova's song writing. It makes me smile, though, and they're very likely to make the cut to the Final.</p><p>Israel should make it through with a decent enough pop song that will get a reasonable number of votes if they perform it well in the Semis. Who else gets through from their group is not obvious. the contenders are Belgium, Croatia and Azerbaijan, each with a half-reasonable entry. Croatia's is very commercial and may give them the edge if Belgium's professionalism leaves votes uninspired. Azerbaijan probably have the better entry of the three but their odds have gone very bad in the last day or so. I guess they've cocked up on some performance or not given enough money to some official - or, now I think about it, the higher odds suit those placing bets on them, don't they? Ah, OK, now that might be the reason!</p><p>From Group 1 there is just one other country who deserve to be in the Final but, because of the strength of songs in that group, may struggle to get in, and that's Ireland. Their song is brilliant and one of the most commercial in the whole competition. If it gets a chance and the girl performs it well live then there's a good chance that voters could be persuaded. As it stands, not many see or hear her and she simply may not get the chance. She needs to get past both Azerbaijan, Croatia <i>and </i>one of Israel, Ukraine or Belgium to get in. That is a tall order indeed. It probably won't happen which is a great shame.</p><p>In complete contrast, the other group has countries like Portugal, Serbia and Denmark which are expected to get through. Maybe Austria instead of one of those. But with Portugal at 370-1 and Austria at 800-1 you can imagine how bad their entries are, which makes it all the more shameful that Ireland can't make it. Despite their unlikely qualification, Ireland are still at around 250-1 whereas Denmark at 600-1 should qualify! Crazy.</p><p>Other countries worth mentioning are Australia and North Macedonia. Australia, one tends to think, would get put in the Final purely because of their enthusiasm and support for the competition. It seems slightly rude to say "sorry you're not in" when they've offered to come from the other side of the whole globe. Their song isn't bad but I can only assume that they've messed up big time in recent performances. They're not going to sing live, though, so perhaps they might squeeze in after all but goodness know how far they'll get when they're out at 650-1. North Macedonia appeared to have a really good and talented singer this year, with a prospect of creating another surprise run like they had last time. Voters like quality too. But their odds put them beyond the pale at 850-1 so something really is not going well for them.</p><p>So, for the Final, here are my predictions (but <i>not</i> in expected finish order!):</p><p>Malta | <b>France </b>| Switzerland</p><p><b>Italy </b>| Iceland | Lithuania</p><p>Cyprus | Bulgaria | Sweden | Finland | Norway | Greece | Romania | San Marino</p><p>Russia | Moldova | Ukraine</p><p>Azerbaijan</p><p>Israel | Portugal | Serbia | Austria</p><p><b>Germany</b> | <b>The Netherlands</b> | <b>Spain </b>| <b>United Kingdom</b></p><p>The four at the bottom of this list will get through to the Final automatically (as do France and Italy). Germany has a track that will either do really well or be very much disliked which, as it is called <i>I Don't Like Hate,</i> seems a bit unfair. I had it as a potential winner at the start as I imagined the singer would be someone people would warm to and enjoy watching, with all the rainbow appeal that he exudes. I seem to be wrong, so far, although I still expect him to do better than his 400-1 odds imply.</p><p>The Netherlands clearly don't want to host the thing again and have submitted a weird entry that reminds me of Portugal's winner a few years ago but without the edge that had at the time. The singer and colleagues are competent but is is so left field that it's not in the same park this year.</p><p>Spain's massive odds of 900-1 are of the order that suggest the world is more likely to end or Christian Scientists are proved right about whatever it is they say. I cannot see why, though. The singer and song seem both excellent to me, if a little sad. But the singer reaches all the notes and the song is well constructed. Quite why it is rated so poorly, and always has been, is a mystery to me. Having said that, I have found Spain's entries really good on several occasions in recent years and yet they have wallowed near or at the bottom of the table each time. Maybe it is just because it's Spain. They've few friends.</p><p>Lastly, appropriately enough, my own country, United Kingdom. Dreadful song, meaningless drivel, half-baked effort at a performance. The guy may be nice enough and his brother's done well in the pop scene but this, like his 2020 entry, is just not going anywhere but down at the foot of the right hand side of the ruddy table. It is sad, depressing and bloody annoying too that we cannot send a decent entry to this competition. The whole things seems to be managed by the BBC and they have singularly failed to produce a decent entry year after year after year. We've had the ancient Engelbert Humperdinck and Bonnie Tyler, most of whose fans died years ago. We've had a slew of also-rans, X Factor contestants (not winners, note) and strange new acts we'd never heard of before. Only Jade Ewen, with help from Andrew Lloyd-Webber's writing and production talent and Jessica Garlick have made the Top 10 this Century, that's over 20 years! </p><p>We have masses of home-grown talent that is doing well in our charts and who sell all over the world. We really do need to put one of our confident and commercial groups on the stage, with a number that's written well and designed to appeal to Europe. I don't believe that none of our current crop of Top Twenty artists want to represent us in the competition. Yes, it has a certain style and cache about it which some artists do not want to be associated with but the days of <i>Bang Bang-a-bang</i> and <i>Congratulations </i>have long gone. Gimmicks are largely out, unless you're from Moldova, although, quite frankly, just having a reasonably young, appealing and well-known and successful artist representing United Kingdom would be pretty much a gimmick these days.</p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-36797599111099475782021-04-13T12:45:00.005+01:002021-04-13T12:45:59.125+01:00France: a beautiful acoustic version by Barbara Stravi<p> This version of the French entry is stunning.</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="388" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tJBq2KC-lZU" title="YouTube video player" width="690"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-8665614964341622672021-03-17T11:55:00.005+00:002021-03-17T11:55:21.760+00:00Top 10 Eurovision 2021 (as I would like it!)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ireland</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z6ZUBzqPxds" width="425" youtube-src-id="z6ZUBzqPxds"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cyprus</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mk4amZlPa4g" width="411" youtube-src-id="mk4amZlPa4g"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">France</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-9t_SwPN31s" width="408" youtube-src-id="-9t_SwPN31s"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Italy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9mL6Cmkg2_A" width="407" youtube-src-id="9mL6Cmkg2_A"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Greece</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Er06NBWo4bs" width="411" youtube-src-id="Er06NBWo4bs"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Switzerland</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bpM6o6UiBIw" width="420" youtube-src-id="bpM6o6UiBIw"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qb5FXBwSx44" width="425" youtube-src-id="qb5FXBwSx44"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Germany</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ydgxZnHFLi4" width="424" youtube-src-id="ydgxZnHFLi4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bulgaria</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qMNxCzuEdVM" width="429" youtube-src-id="qMNxCzuEdVM"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ukraine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U7-dxzp6Jvs" width="427" youtube-src-id="U7-dxzp6Jvs"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-11560555930997710852021-03-16T21:19:00.001+00:002021-03-16T21:19:15.124+00:00A very open competition and unfortunate groupings for some.<p>2021 looks like being the most polarised competition I can remember. There is a clear dividing line with 7 countries almost certain to make the Final, 13 who will scrape through and the 6 who will be there anyway because they're either hosting it (The Netherlands) or paying for it (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom).</p><p>The bookies have Switzerland and Malta as favourites, with Bulgaria, France, Italy and Sweden with a chance of success. </p><p>Switzerland's entry is good, a very beautifully produced number by a talented young fellow with serious Eurovision qualities in terms of boxes that need to be ticked to appeal to the judges and the public. If you think that this year will follow 2019 with a smart ballad by a single male then Switzerland is the first choice.</p><p>Spain also have a really first class singer and song but it is quite inexplicably out at over 600-1 which seems to be pretty clear evidence that no-one agrees with me and someone must know something about how badly he will perform on the night to warrant such pessimistic odds as these.</p><p>If you think we need a large girl who isn't white and blonde and with a statement to make about what guys can and can't do then Malta fits that bill for you. It's an unpleasant number both to listen to as well as watch but Israel won with almost the same thing in 2019 so that's probably why Malta are now going to be in the Final too and get lots of points from people who like Statements and Issue songs.</p><p>It has been quite a change this year with most of the rest of the tracks that we're likely to hear more than once not trying too hard to tell us what to do or not to do, whether that may be to women or the planet. </p><p>Germany are making a statement but it's more timeless and not part of a movement. The guy just says that he doesn't like hate. Period. Unfortunately for Germany he doesn't say a great deal else throughout the song and they're out at a similarly massive 500-1 at the time of writing. Bearing in mind that both Spain and Germany are in the Final and so will each be one of only 26 that could actually win, those odds seem pretty wild and punters are wiggling a middle finger in the direction of Germany's entry.</p><p>Belarus have made a statement that no-one likes very much, apart from, I guess, their President and his pals but we don't have to worry as that will not make it anyway and isn't likely to be prime time viewing. Just take a look at the video and see the expression on the band's faces. Well, if you do then that'll probably massively increase the numbers who do view it outside Belarus and give them some hope that we're interested. So don't bother. Just believe me. It's politically-expired rubbish.</p><p>Bulgaria have the talented and popular (in Bulgaria) Victoria performing one of her own songs and you can even listen to her new album while you're at it. The song is fairly average but Bulgaria have developed in Eurovision a sort of East-West merger of fans and they often come close nowadays with some genuinely good tracks and modern singers. They could sneak through. It is one of those years when someone with a lot of average points may well beat those who get twelves or zeros (which camp I put Malta in this year).</p><p>Italy go a bit more wild then they have before with an impressive rock group, Italian-style rap, and I mean style as the guy is superb, even though I have no idea what he's saying. I nearly always love Italy's Eurovision entries these days and they definitely deserve respect. They will do well but I don't see it winning.</p><p>France, on the other hand, might. Theirs is a marvellous song called <i>Voilà </i>and very naturally and pleasantly performed by Barbara Pravi who is very French and it's reminiscent of the Portugal winner. there is something of a theme developing that you may have noticed! France do have a habit of falling at the final hurdle and fine songs don't quite deliver the same magic when they try to do them live. I feel Mme Pravi will not let her country down though and if it is to be a day of averages then she stands a good chance.</p><p>Sweden will be in the Final because Sweden always are in the Final. I don't think they should be this year as the song and its delivery are very ordinary and unimaginative, despite all the efforts made for months on end to select their entry. </p><p>Lithuania have a group called Roop that looked very weird last year but who, for some reason only known to Eurovision aficionados and maybe people from Lithuania, became very popular with a catchy little, and otherwise pretty pathetic, number almost designed for Eurovision, the group too with their mustard suits and strange dancing. The bloke looks old enough to know better but there you go. Once again we have a catchy little, and otherwise pretty pathetic, number, mustard suits and odd dancing by a bald bloke who should know better. Yes, it'll be Top 10.</p><p>Iceland may well have won last year. There was a lot of hope and expectation for their entry this year, much hyped by charming videos where we could get to know the group, the family and kids. Unfortunately, the release has been disappointing. OK, but not something that, in itself, will get votes. The group will, though. they are a sort of phenomenon and may still win on personality alone.</p><p>These are the countries, then that the bookies and punters expect to stand a chance of winning this year. You'll have gathered that none are by any means certain to do more than make the Final 20 + 6. But after them the odds lengthen to the extent where seriously big fortunes can be made if anyone else wins. </p><p>I've mentioned 11 countries so far and they include two with odds over 500. Who else is (a) likely to make the Final and (b) has a decent entry? Which 11 of the rest will join the other four automatic finalists? This is, unfortunately, complicated by the groupings and some very bad stuff will get through and some very good stuff won't.</p><p>Group 1 is full of countries that are expected to get through and that's going to be really tough on some. Cyprus and Romania should make it. Cyprus have a great pop song. It does sound terribly similar to Lady Gaga's <i>Alexandro </i>and if I were Cyprus I'd prepare to defend a legal action in this respect if they appear to be likely to do well. In my mind, this is a classic Eurovision winner that comes second and that's probably what will happen this year too. It will get lots of votes and will be a hit too. Romania's entry is a quite moody number, slightly similar to, but not as memorable as, Bulgaria's entry. Expect votes to divide between the two, which might wreck both their chances on the night. Neither will be easy to perform well. But Romania have another good entry that might scrape into the Final.</p><p>The others in Group 1 with a likely place are Norway, Russia, Azerbaijan, Croatia and Ukraine. Croatia is highly commercial with a commercial <i>Tik Tok</i> title even. It's a bit dated, though, but just about deserves a place. Ukraine's entry is almost the exact opposite (commercially-wise) with a weird folk tune and strange vocals. It's ruddy infectious, though, and if it does make it through then it'll attract a lot of attention. They've won before with strange vocals. This is a serious entry and deserves to make the Final. Norway don't. Any bloke dressed as an angel singing a decidedly average song is taking the piss now. They should get <i>nul points</i> but won't. Russia is an unpleasant number from some woman who may or may not be making a statement. I don't know. I don't like it. She shouldn't be in the Final. But it's Russia so she will be. Azerbaijan is another version, to all intents and purposes of their 2020 attempt. It's still poor and very dated. But Russia will back them as well a lot of other countries' juries who don't want to upset the men in Baku.</p><p>As a result of the split, Australia and Israel are unlikely to make it which will be a huge disappointment to the enthusiastic new 'honorary European nation', Australia. Both countries have, to my mind, better songs and performances than many who will make it but the voting numbers and favourites don't help them. Worst affected, though, will be poor Ireland. They have a super entry, very well-performed too by someone who can sell records and would be popular given half a chance. It's catchy and drives along from the start, highly memorable but Ireland just don't get the votes these days. If by some magic they do scrape through then watch out for it.</p><p>In Group 2, Finland, San Marino, Moldova and Greece ae expected to complete the finalists being voted through. Finland have a heavy metal band who sound very competent and they'll get plenty of support as there's no-one quite like them. Only Italy can take votes from them really. I can't imagine them winning - they're a kind of real Lordi and no-one really likes a real Lordi. Or fat ugly blokes putting their faces in the camera and telling us to put our middle fingers up. Up? Up where, I wonder. Don't tell the German bloke, OK.</p><p>San Marino in the Final? Unbelievable? Nearly. It's rubbish and may well make way for someone else except, unlike Group 1, in Group 2 there is no obvious candidate to get more votes! You may see Austria or Portugal scrape in and we can say farewell once again to San Marino but they will have sympathy and a bit of fun going for them. Remember, it is Eurovision.</p><p>Moldova do what Moldova does best. Sex. Pretty girl. Nice legs. All quite 1980s and <i>inappropriate</i>, to use the current jargon, but I would almost miss Moldova's antics in Eurovision. And they nearly always do a lot better than anyone imagines they will.</p><p>Greece, like Cyprus in Group 1, should just make it through. They deserve to be there and have a good song. It's a pop song, a little dated, perhaps, in comparison to some of the others from Bulgaria and Romania but it is well sung, well-written and, if well-performed too it will bring some cheer and applause from whoever is around on the night. One of the more attractive girls on the stage this year.</p><p>So that's it. I think I have mentioned every country that either is expected to be in the Final or who should be. It is a very open field this year and predictions are extremely difficult. If the Groups pan out as expected then some really good acts simply won't make it through and that will leave a clear run for whoever's left. Out of them I feel that, if people are tired of Statement Songs and don't want another dreary ballad either, no matter how good the singer, then it could be the year for Italy or France. If we want to be cheered and dance a bit then lets vote for Cyprus or Greece. If you want weird, it as to be Ukraine or even little Lithuania.</p><p>Oh, I didn't mention the United Kingdom. No. No point. It's not good.</p><p><br /></p>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-34796413628164442922020-03-09T16:18:00.000+00:002020-03-09T16:18:02.460+00:00Waiting for Russia. In the meantime here are the contenders for 2nd place.<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HLgE0Ayl5Hc" width="600"></iframe><br />
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Ireland have a great Taylor Swift inspired pop song. It ought to be a big hit over here and I'd like think that it will go down well with our Eastern European partners too. It's all full-on, a bit manic but if Lesley Roy can put on an impressive performance she should rescue her country from a period of poor Eurovision experiences.<br />
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Montaigne puts on an impressive performance as slightly mad and breaking down. It will get a lot of approval in the Eurovision audience and should do well. I don't think it's quite the winner but it's likely to come close. A lot will depend on how she comes across in the two main performances. And, yes, Australia will certainly qualify.<br />
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Russia and Malta have yet to release their entries and each could well be potential winners. So hold this space!<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qkK2XbNMGLk" width="600"></iframe><br />
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The Romanian entry has a similar slightly mad feel to the Australian number. Again, much will depend on how well Roxen plays on the stage and I may regret having suggested this as a Top 5 track if it doesn't go well. If the voters are in a mood for this sort of slightly off beat thing this year then Romania will certainly get some decent vote scores.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aX58K579Lv4" width="600"></iframe>
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The third in the 'slightly mad or off-beat' category is this quite appealing entry from Bulgaria. I think Victoria is well-known over there and has had a lot of success already so the big stage may not be a problem for her. The song is not that easy to perform well, though, so, whilst it is a contender (and the current bookies' favourite now in early March), it could just as easily fade away.<br />
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Talking of slightly mad, the Iceland entry is very weird. Weird electronic pad instruments. Weird-looking people generally. Long hair and a pale teal ill-fitting suit just to add to the weirdness and let's not mention the dancing, please. It is, though, an infectious, quite clever jazz-type of number and the singing is actually very competent. This could well be the winner this year.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oNWhiOW4RlY" width="600"></iframe><br />
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This is a very good song and well-sung by Ulrikke Brandstorp. It is without any gimmick and one of only a few that are simply excellent ballads. I feel that this is the best of the group and, if the voters want this sort of track then this will get their votes.<br />
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Much as I wanted Francesco Gabbani to get the song this year, this guy does a brilliant job with the song that won their national competition. Superbly sung, it does, though, get a little boring around half-way through and needs a bit of a kick. Luckily, it does get a kick just in time and soars into the atmosphere very effectively. It is dated, though, and I'm not sure how Eurovision like dated stuff in 2020. Passion a-plenty, though and very Italian which everyone should admire.<br />
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France have one of the other good ballads that are presented without frills. This is slightly more commercial in places but also heads off in an odd direction from time to time. Luckily, like Italy it does get straight and starts to build pretty well. The singer will be popular. France have not done well with their single male singers, though. Some years back they started as favourites with a fantastic song, really well-sung but on the night the guy just failed to deliver anything approaching the video release. We'll give this guy the benefit of the doubt for the time being.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V1aFarZxWQM" width="600"></iframe><br />
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Finland are another country with a straight, no gimmicks entry. it's a good song but maybe just a little boring. Well sung and deserves some points but may suffer up against Italy and France with their singers and personalities on stage.<br />
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North Macedonia did really well last year and I think they have another chance of a high finish this year. This is an impressive pop song. The pair are a class act and this is far more likely to survive being played more than once than the Swedish entry.<br />
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You can never discount Sweden in this competition and their own selection process is almost as big an event nowadays as the Eurovision contest itself. They're chosen this group of three big voice and personality ladies with a commercial pop song. On second and third listening I begin to get tired of it, though, and they do sound a bit screechy to me and nowhere near as professional as they seem at the start on first listening. So I am already having doubts about how well this will do as I write. It did have five stars but it's now down to 3½.<br />
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This starts in an odd way and you may be tempted to discount it, with very little backing or obvious direction. However, stick with this and it very gradually builds and starts to make some sense. It's smart and clever and, if the guy can perform it well on stage, not an easy task, then it really is one to watch and could be a surprise. Not that The Netherlands particularly want to host the competition again - but they just might get a chance.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/83ncXE_fOtI" width="600"></iframe>
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Greece usually manage to pull something commercial out of the bag for Eurovision and this is definitely a commercial pop song. Without the smart video, though, it lacks a bit of character, so Stefania is going to have to work hard to sell this on the big stage. It is one of the more memorable tracks (for the right reasons!) It should do well and ticks a lot of boxes for Eurovision. Just not a winner, in my opinion but sometimes songs pick up lots of fairly high scores and can challenge those that get lots of 12s but little else.<br />
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Next come a load of entries which are interesting but really very unlikely to get the support needed to win.<br />
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Portugal have a very serious and smart entry. Two girls singing well but it needs more uplifting parts and just is nice but not nice enough.<br />
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The Czech Republic have one of the very few modern-sounding numbers this year. It's solid and seems well-done but i reckon it has limited appeal and it's not a winner.<br />
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Germany have a track called <i>Violent Thing</i> which seems to be going along with the slightly odd theme to many of this year's entries. It sounds like a girl but is a young lad and it's a good track, modern-ish. Kids will like it and it seems well-produced and ought to keep Germany off the bottom rung on the scoreboard.<br />
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Switzerland bring us a serious and moody track which is sung very well and has generated some support amongst the bookies, or, at least their punters. I'm not so sure and think it unlikley to get the big votes and it gets a bit tedious as you get hlf-way through.<br />
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And now for the distinctly average ones:<br />
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Austria, good quality, quite modern number but not very memorable.<br />
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Cyprus, no <i>Fuego</i> this, and all a bit predictable. Decent enough performance but lacking something to keep our interest.<br />
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Estonia, a good-looking bloke and a serious singer. Very dated <i>Westlife </i>stuff. Reasonable but forgettable and a bit boring.<br />
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Spain, apparently stealing from Italy in terms of the type of song and delivery too. It could have some appeal but I suspect it will fall between the two camps Italy getting the votes for teh style and someone else like France or Finland getting the votes for the singer. It's a bit formulaic and, as often is the case for Spain, they may struggle with what isn't a bad entry at all but which just doesn't appeal to anyone very much.<br />
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Belarus, this may have some appeal for the kids although they won't like the drab grey suit fashion much. It's all fair enough with a dance theme going on but it's really going nowhere.<br />
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Denmark, nice couple but it is all very average indeed. It may even struggle to qualify as there may be a lot of competition in their group. I ahven't checked that yet but it's not a good choice from a country you might be expected to rely on to do well.<br />
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Belgium, a classy performance for sure and a nice track but it never seems to go anywhere. It just leaves you thinking that she's pretty and that's OK.<br />
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United Kingdom, it's a decent enough song but it sounds like many that have gone before and the oh-oh-ohh bit plus the (pause) last breath are so dated now. It doesn't deserve a lst place and may pick up enough 2s and 3s to climb up the right hand side of the scoreboard but that's the best we can hope for.<br />
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Croatia, a solid, serious number. One for the Balkans, all right. Well-sung and authentic sort of full volume song but just a bit tedious after a while.<br />
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And now the bad stuff:<br />
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Armenia, sexy girl, modern track, some ctachy bits and vaguely interesting in places.<br />
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Israel, commercial, dated but could be popular and a great dance track.<br />
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Azerbaijan, not the best of starts to a track. Oh dear, then it changes completely and gets strange. Stop-start seldom works for Eurovision. They do have the oil, though and a lot of money.<br />
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Moldova, gets better towards the end but a disappointing entry from the little nation that usually entertains us well and surprises even itself with the success and votes from other countries on the night.<br />
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Poland, big ballad, singer tries too hard to be passionate. Tedious and dated.<br />
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Slovenia, Another big voice from a tall blonde. Not a track you'll want to listen to again in a hurry.<br />
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Ukraine, very cultural, one of th few this year that are. But this is not in a good way. Strange voice and even stranger attire. But there are big drums with bouncing flour, a guitar that has a firework stuffed in one end and a flute so that's OK.<br />
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Lithuania, vaguely entertaining bloke in very weird trousers and making flame impressions with his hands looking most odd. A favourite with the bookies so that's worrying.<br />
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Georgia, full blast and strange combination of rock chap with excellent female backing. Doesn't quite work, though. Credit for the different approach and it stands out but some national typecasting may not go down well.<br />
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Serbia, three frightening and tuneless girls in sexy outfits. Hasta la vista from the 90s. Frantic and unpleasant.<br />
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Abania, scary girl in leather, plenty of passion but not a lot of song.<br />
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Latvia, very scary blonde. Latvia does weird. Badly.<br />
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San Marino, not yet released. I am not expecting very much.<br />
<br />Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-4949707853438626362020-03-05T19:57:00.000+00:002020-03-05T20:00:01.668+00:00Likely contenders for the the mad, mad Eurovision 2020 These are the likely contenders as I see things at the moment. Now, I haven't heard all the songs as some haven't even been released yet so we're talking of Top 10 or perhaps higher finishes but plenty of good odds ought to be available at this stage.<br />
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You'll be glad to know that <b>Ireland </b>have a great entry this year with a real pop star and a great track that will be a hit anyway and has a good chance on the Eurovision stage too. Huge odds too as Ireland have struggled even to qualify recently.<br />
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<b>Australia </b>have a good entry too. A super actress / singer playing a slightly mad role which could well catch the emotions on the night. The country always throws everything it has into the competition and is going to win before long. This could be their year. Again, great odds at the moment.<br />
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<b>Malta </b>have one hell of a massive singer - some big-voiced and limbed kid who won their X Factor competition last year and blew everyone away with her raw talent. Not my style by any stretch of the imagination but she's got Eurovision written all over her ample frame. I'm backing her even before the song is issued. Modest odds but look around.<br />
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<b>Romania </b>often do well as they attract votes from all directions. Maybe not a winner but a great entry that will go down well again. Similar style to the Australian - a sort of mad, slightly left field theme this year. Much fancied.<br />
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<b>Russia </b>will win again before long. They've come really close and will be throwing the Putin sink behind their entry as well as tweaking our social media feeds to promote it. The band is the weirdest punk bunch but they are very well-known across Eastern Europe. Probably banned here but they've had huge hits with the most crazy stuff and their YouTube stuff has visitors in the many millions. Again, I haven't heard the actual track - no-one outside the Kremlin has - but I can almost guarantee that it will run all the others a close race. Odds are not great but if it is as commercial or crazy as I expect then they'll shorten damn quickly and you won't get a look in later. Pop a fiver on at least.<br />
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Lastly the weirdest of all is <b>Iceland </b>and yet it is also strangely tuneful and very memorable. Someone has designed the suits and stuff very well so there's this tall, long-haired gormless-looking twit and a bunch of nerds doing a dance that would make even me look cool. It's a blend of jazz and stuff I can't put a name to but I am convinced it will be Top 5 and the odds will tumble. They're also not great as people have already latched on to this one, unfortunately.<br />
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There may well be others in contention but I have a strong feeling this year that one of these will be the winner and certainly Top 10.<br />
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More another day. UK is very average. <b>Lithuania </b>are current bookies' favourite. Likely Top 10 but nothing special and it simply can't compete with the ones I've mentioned. Its odds are way too short at this very early stage to even consider a bet. They'll lengthen for sure.<br />
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I may need to add <b>Norway </b>to this list as the sensible entry.<br />
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Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-75352102190173065202020-02-16T10:55:00.000+00:002020-02-16T10:55:10.564+00:00No Francesco but some quality from Norway this year<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="340" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BPXP8iS5gzg" width="600"></iframe><br />
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An impressive performance here to win the competition for Norway's entry to Eurovision this year. One to watch.<br />
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But there's always going to be Malta.<br />
<br />Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-10861797932283113372020-02-08T12:35:00.001+00:002020-02-08T12:35:52.940+00:00Good luck, Francesco!<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="333" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tjutjldi48o" width="600"></iframe><br />
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Francesco Gabbani could return to Eurovision this year. I do hope so as this is a great track and, even though it is the only entry I've heard so far, I'm backing in to win at this stage. Just hope he makes it through the Sanremo finals!<br />
<br />Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-51996446821237273912019-11-03T16:57:00.001+00:002019-11-03T16:57:49.596+00:00Ukraïner: The Movie<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rbbPxzqunYU" width="640"></iframe>Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-48895353797177284642019-05-23T10:56:00.000+01:002019-05-23T10:56:20.017+01:00Cock-up On The Eastern FrontIt seems that there was a mistake in the way the Belarus jury votes were allocated. They had been excluded from applying their actual votes as their Semi final results had been released published early, against EBU regulations. Instead, someone invented some scores! But they got the formula wrong - or the formula may have been right but the calculations wrong! Whatever the case this is all a bit weird and has resulted in a change in the final results.<br />
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The Netherlands, fortunately for everyone other than Italy, still win and the Top 4 remain the same. Sweden are now 5th and Norway 6th and North Macedonia 7th. There are a few other changes too. Here are the revised scores in total:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Netherlands (498)</li>
<li>Italy (472)</li>
<li>Russia (370)</li>
<li>Switzerland (364)</li>
<li>Sweden (334)</li>
<li>Norway (331)</li>
<li>North Macedonia (305)</li>
<li>Azerbaijan (302)</li>
<li>Australia (284)</li>
<li>Iceland (232)</li>
<li>Czech Republic (157)</li>
<li>Denmark (120)</li>
<li>Cyprus (109)</li>
<li>Malta (107)</li>
<li>Slovenia (105)</li>
<li>France (105)</li>
<li>Albania (90)</li>
<li>Serbia (89)</li>
<li>San Marino (77)</li>
<li>Estonia (76)</li>
<li>Greece (74)</li>
<li>Spain (54)</li>
<li>Israel (35)</li>
<li>Belarus (31)</li>
<li>Germany (24)</li>
<li>United Kingdom (11)</li>
</ol>
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There's really nothing I can say.</div>
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Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677495308875402309.post-43812673990347072952019-05-19T09:54:00.002+01:002019-05-23T10:47:41.849+01:00The bookies were right after all!Well done to The Netherlands. Although they didn't win either the Jury or Tele votes, they did accumulate enough points to win overall. I was pleased with my predictions and Norway did win the Tele vote, with North Macedonia very nearly winning the Jury vote!<br />
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Italy 2nd<br />Australia 9th<br />Russia 3rd<br />Azerbaijan 7th<br />Sweden 6th (1st in Jury Vote)<br />The Netherlands 1st<br />Iceland 10th<br /><br />Long shots<br />North Macedonia 8th (2nd in Jury Vote!)<br />Norway 5th (1st in TeleVote!)<br />Switzerland 4th<br /><br />Here are the summaries:<div>
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Andrew Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976984938460821874noreply@blogger.com0