| Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

Kelan KW

Thanks for looking at my profile. If you read this all, you will find that it is a bit long. If you wanna discuss any issues or just have a chat feel free to email me at this address kelan.kw2@hotmail.com.

The first time I saw the ESC was in 1996, and to be honest - I didn't get it, but I enjoyed it, and watched it every year ever since.
But it has been since 2000 that I have followed ESC with greater interest and passion. (And since the introduction of the semi finals I have still not seen a semis and I think I will not get the chance to see the semis this year as well, 2008)

The best ESC so far has to be 2005- the song quality was the best that I can remember, and the stage was amazing! And last year's competition in Helsinki would have to be in joint first place. It was an amazing modern performance and staging. Well done to Finland!

In the last 12 years I have seen the competition, this is how I rank the winners, from best to the worst.

01. 2000- Denmark
02. 2006- Finland
03. 2005- Greece
04. 1999- Sweden
05. 1997- UK
06. 2004- Ukraine
07. 2007- Serbia
08. 2003- Turkey
09. 1996- Ireland
10. 2001- Estonia
11. 1998- Israel
12. 2002- Latvia

ESC 2008 Songs:

Below I have analysed the songs from each region of Europe, and ranked them in their respective groups. However I have not used the pot distribution used by the EBU on 27th January.

Scandinavia:

1. Sweden: Perhaps the best song in the competition. It will get the votes from the UK, just as she did in 1999, but with the Eastern Powers taking over since her last victory, I don�t think she can be confident of her past success. But the song is really good, and importantly, easy to remember.
2. Iceland: Slightly unsure about this song, but will give Iceland the best chance to get out of the Semi finals, which they truly deserve. I think it will be an easy qualifier from Iceland this year. So well done, but a strong performance will certainly guarantee the points, especially as they are the first nation to sing.
3. Norway: Norway has always been in the competition every year, as far as I remember (other than in 2002, and last year, when they did not qualify for the finals). This song is powerful enough, and with some friendly votes, to see it ride into the finals.
4. Denmark: This song is, as some people say, similar to the UK. And with myself being British, I think I should say something nice about this song, but I find it very boring. I just hope that nobody feels the same about our song.So I think I will remind everybody that is reading (thanks if you are) that DQ, in 2007, was a drag, and failed to qualify. However Verka of Ukraine, who also was a drag artist, already in the finals did VERY well. So hopefully if Denmark fails to qualify, the UK are guaranteed a top ten placing- I wish.. And I hope you can see the similarity in our names: Ukraine, and UK.
5. Finland: Don�t like the song at all. Nothing like the winner in 2006, and the strong Finnish entry in 2007. Won�t qualify!

EX-USSR Republics

1. Russia: I�m not saying that Dima�s got the best song and voice, but he is really good looking, and if he gets to the finals, I will certainly vote for him. However my theory goes, the other USSR nations will vote for Dima, and that will mean that Russia will be ahead of its neighbours.
2. Armenia: Wow, I really like the song now. Initially it was really unoriginal, but it has grown on me, and I think Armenia will win the competition in the next 5 years. At least I hope they do, they deserve to. However, not before Russia I hope. Imagine how Russia would feel!
3. Ukraine: Again at the top of the tree of USSR songs. Ukraine too shows great diversity and exports great artists for the competition. Shady lady is a powerful song, with a powerful singer, which will get noticed! It also helps that Ani Lorak is an attractive woman.
4. Belarus: Initially the song did not excite me. The clip from the national finals was atrocious. Now, after the remake, the song sound miles better, and Ruslan looks hot. (But I can still remember him when he wasn�t- not good!)
5. Georgia: I think after last years entry, it was gonna be a hard task to follow. But Diana puts her heart and soul in the singing. If they change the lyrics slightly, make it sound better; I would try to vote for it. It is also inspirational that she is continuing with her dreams in singing, even though she is blind.
6. Latvia: A bit of a stupid song, with a stupid gimmick. However it does remind me of Armenia�s 2007 JESC (J meaning Junior) performance. But this is no where near as brilliant.
7. Azerbaijan: Sometimes I like, sometime I don�t. Get rid of the screams, and maybe it will have a better chance of qualifying. It will, most definitely, still get some significant votes, that the likes of UK can only dream about. Unfortunate, because the song does not currently deserve the votes.
8. Moldova: For the first since 2005, I believe that Moldova will not get to the finals, end of. Lithuania didn�t succeed last year with a similar song, and this attempt is not anywhere as good as Lithuania�s 2007 entry.
9. Lithuania: Although it is a very original song, the voice is not nice to listen to, and I don�t get what he is singing.
10. Estonia: Nothing in the contest can beat this song! It is completely crap! And I really hope nobody votes for this.

Ex- Yugoslavian Republics:

1. Serbia: Without a doubt, Serbia have the best song again (or at least in the region). Oro was composed by Zelko, the man who saw Serbia & Montenegro reach 2nd place in 2004, will again achieve 12 points from all its neighbours. Zavet, by the Beauty Queen, was more dramatic, and, in my opioion, would have been the better choice.
2. Slovenia: Slovenia try their hardest every year, and finally last year, they got lucky, and qualified from the semi final. This year should also see the efforts rewarded.
3. Albania: I like the energy and strength of this Albanian ballad, and if, when it is translated, it sound good, I think it will qualify. However the chances of success and qualification will be dampened by the recent events in the region, which seems unfair, after a very successful 7th place in their debut year in 2004. Since then Albania have failed to excite me, and I hope it all changes this year. Good Luck.
4. FYR Macedonia: I�m not too sure about this song, however I am sure it will qualify, even with the new organisation and qualification system. I hope that it deserves its place in the final, just as Karolina did last year. Moja Svet was amazing.
5. Bosnia Herzegovina: Since the introduction of the qualification round in 2004, Bosnia has always been in my top ten of best songs, year after year. In the Disco, and Call me were good English songs, and in 2006, and 2007, the Bosnian ballads were full with emotion. This year, however, the entry seems so inadequate. From being one of my favourite Balkan countries, Bosnia Herzegovina will need a lot of luck to qualify this year.
6. Croatia: Croatia in 2004 was good, and in 2005 was probably their best entry I have ever heard. (Even though I know that they were 4th in 1999, and 5th in 1998). Since then I have expected so much more from Croatia, but have failed to live up to my expectation, especially this year and last year. 2006 entry was okay.

Central Europe

1. Switzerland: Paolo gives the landlocked nation the best chance of victory in many years. 2005 was amazing from Switzerland, but this song has a good beat, and I will vote for it in the semi, and in the finals. Hope to see Switzerland return to the top 10.
2. Poland: An American singing for Poland never saw that happening. But Isis is amazing. I like the song, and it will get noticed! Hopefully that converts into points for Poland.
3. Hungary: Always want Hungary to do well, and this year I can�t see any reason why they should not qualify. It won�t do as well as last year�s song, but the music is amazing, and should see them in the top 15 on the 24th of May.
4. Germany: Has perhaps got the best song amongst the big 4 nations. With a good performance it should do well.
5. Czech Republic: Is by far better than last years entry, but still disappointing. The republic needs to have a good performance for a chance to succeed. However I really hope they get many more points then they did last year.
6. San Marino: Usually debut countries have really good songs. But I don�t find the song exciting at all. I hope however that the country does do well, and maybe even qualify, to ensure that Italy gets excited, and interested again to join the competition once more.

Western Euorpe

1. Portugal: I love the music of this ballad. I enjoy the Portuguese voices, and the build up of the backing singings. It is, without a doubt, the best Portuguese entry I can remember, and therefore the best chance that Portugal has for a Victory
2. Andorra: Andorra try very hard every year, and after missing out last year, I think with fewer nations taking part (at least in the semi finals), they will get the votes, and just qualify. Also, I really like the video- nice camera work.
3. The Netherlands: Hind�s voice and song is good, and the best since 2003. Well done to the Dutch people, but it will be hard for them to qualify.
4. UK: I like the song, and I feel that this year we have a chance to get some points. I hope we get a least 40 points!
5. Ireland: Don�t really like the fact that a puppet is representing Ireland, especially as they had two really good ballads in the national finals, but this will qualify, and get to the top 15 at least in the finals.
6. Belgium: I don�t like the song at all. It wants to be like Saomi, but this song has no power, or anything interesting about it. Well done to Belgium for trying to revamp a winning formula, but it is not gonna win, it may not even qualify.
7. Spain: I don�t like the artist that is representing Spain. And especially because Spain tries hard every year, but this year I feel they gave up! Not really surprising after D�Nash failed to achieve a good result, with an amazing song. Not only this, they were hot as well! The blond ones were the best!
8. France: Just plain boring. And to those who think it will do well, ask yourself, who�s gonna vote for it?!

Southern Eastern Europe

1. Romania: I love the Italian language, and this ballad is of real good quality. I hope Romania do well.
2. Turkey: Rock, and the Turkish language. Never thought that the two would go together, but it does so beautifully. Well done to Turkey for being diverse, and obviously it will do well with its usual points from France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Bosnia Herzegovina.
3. Greece: Disappointed with Greece to choose secret combination this year. Will, however still do well, but not as good as the previous years. At the most, Greece will achieve just a top 10.
If they had chosen Kostas Markatis, he would have qualified easily, and got a top 5 in the finals. His song was original, and he is sexy, tall, dark and handsome- DOUZE POINT!
4. Israel: I like the song. However they are performing second in the semi, and maybe the voters will forget the song. Unfortunate, as Israel has really entered strongly this year.
5. Cyprus: I kind of like the song, but it won�t do well. It is easily overshadowed. Even when Greece gave them 12points in the semis, during the last two years, they couldn�t qualify, and without them, I can�t see many nations voting for them.
6. Bulgaria: I like the approach from Bulgaria to entry another non-Eurovision song, just as they did last year, but this year�s entry doesn�t have the same magic about it.
7. Malta: Vodka is boring, even the newly released version. I can�t see many nations voting for it, unless they are drunk on vodka as well.

Below is my Predictions for the semi finals. The way I worked this out, was by awarding points the way the country tends to do every year. (I followed the trends in the voting)

This how I believe the results for the first semi final will be (including the votes of Germany and Spain)

1.Russia 145
2.Poland 140
3.Romania 110
4.Armenia 110
5.Norway 94
6.Ireland 90
7.Greece 83
8.Israel 80
9.Andorra 77
10.Slovenia 65
11.The Netherlands 47
12.Azerbaijan 35
13.Moldova 33
14.Estonia 25
15.Bosnia Herzegovina 25
16.Montenegro 18
17.San Marino 16
18.Finland 13
19.Belgium 12

However Slovenia won�t qualify, as tenth place will be decided by jury, who will probably choose between Azerbaijan and The Netherlands.


And this is how I believe that the results of the second semi final will look: (including the votes of France, Serbia and UK)

1.Sweden 146
2.Switzerland 137
3.Ukraine 128
4.Portugal 114
5.Iceland 104
6.Hungary 88
7.Turkey 80
8.FYR Macedonia 73
9.Bulgaria 72
10.Albania 71
11.Belarus 67
12.Georgia 44
13.Denmark 41
14.Latvia 30
15.Malta 27
16.Cyprus 27
17.Croatia 17
18.Lithuania 8
19.Czech Republic 2

However Albania won�t qualify, as tenth place will be decided by jury, who will probably choose between Belarus (as it will be backed by all the USSR juries) or Georgia (again backed by USSR juries). Pro- Serbian Nations won�t back Albania, especially after the recent events in the region, who would have had the best chance since 2004, which is unfortunate. I think only FYR Macedonia will back them, and if Montenegro were in the same semi, they would have too, but out of revenge.


Anyway- GOOD LUCK to all the nations taking part in this years competition.
I would like to see everyone in MOSCOW 2009

Kelan
Kristofer Weston Brian Hansen