| Eurovision Song Contest News - 2010 Oslo, Norway 

Ben Gray

Hey there, thanks for dropping by. I'm Ben, from Hertfordshire, ("hart-fud-sheer" for the foreigners,) which is close to London in the United Kingdom. I am a student in Computer Games Technology at the University of Portsmouth, where I work with 3D graphics and animation, produce and direct my own short films and study the theory and practice of the digital arts and the creation of video games. It's a very exciting and fun career path to be following and I aspire to run my own development studio in the future.

I'm still fairly new to Eurovision - only known about it since 2005, and only followed it since 2007. Unfortunately, my country is stuck in a bubble of nostalgia, ignorance and hypocrisy when it comes to this wonderful event (and many other things too) but I see past those scornful fools. One big reason I love Eurovision is - shock horror - music! I am very passionate about music, but not in a way that makes me want to play an instrument, if you know what I mean. Eurovision makes an excellent platform for me to find new music and artists I like, and some artists I discover in the preselections or even the contest proper lead me on to buying more of their songs and becoming a fan. I have marked entries that have led me to become a fan of the artist beyond Eurovision with a ~ symbol.

Eurovision proper and all the pre-selections are a treasure chest of great songs, in an eclectic range of styles. The culture and the languages of each proud nation of Europe oozing through each beat and flowing through every note, whether or not it leads to a key change! Then of course there's the show. The incredible stages, the ocean of waving flags, the songs we've all grown to love (and hate!) in the months leading up to the night, the impressive (or sometimes just downright silly) choreography, the singing, the dancing, the fireworks, I just love it all, and yet I am part of what seems like a rare breed..
Straight male Eurovision fans!

If you'd like to contact me, please visit one of the following pages.

twitter.com/rio_ben
youtube.com/bluerush
myspace.com/bluerush7
spaces.live.com/blue-rush
or just drop me an e-mail at Blaze_Stryker@msn.com!

MY POINTS FOR 2010 SO FAR:

12: TURKEY
10: ROMANIA
08: GERMANY
07: FRANCE
06: ALBANIA
05: NORWAY
04: SWITZERLAND
03: DENMARK
02: MOLDOVA
01: SLOVAKIA
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My points for 2009:

12: SWITZERLAND - Lovebugs - The Highest Heights ~
10: ICELAND - Yohanna - Is It True? ~
08: CYPRUS - Christina Metaxa - Firefly
07: FRANCE - Patricia Kaas - Et S'il Fallait Le Faire
06: ESTONIA - Urban Symphony - Randajad
05: UNITED KINGDOM - Jade Ewen - It's My Time
04: GERMANY - Alex Swings, Oscar Sings - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang
03: NORWAY - Alexander Rybak - Fairytale
02: MALTA - Chiara - What If We?
01: AZERBAIJAN - AySel & Arash - Always

My points for 2008:

12: ICELAND - Euroband - This Is My Life
10: SWITZERLAND - Paolo Meneguzzi - Era Stupendo
08: NORWAY - Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On, Be Strong
07: POLAND - Isis Gee - For Life ~
06: PORTUGAL - Vania Fernandes - Senhora Do Mar (Negras Aguas)
05: FRANCE - Sebastien Tellier - Divine
04: UKRAINE - Ani Lorak - Shady Lady
03: UNITED KINGDOM - Andy Abraham - Even If
02: ISRAEL - Boaz Mauda - The Fire In Your Eyes
01: MALTA - Morena - Vodka / TURKEY - Mor Ve Otesi - Deli (can't decide!!)

My points for 2007:

12: GEORGIA - Sopho Khavalshi - Visionary Dream
10: BULGARIA - Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankoulov - Water
08: FINLAND - Hanna Pakarinen - Leave Me Alone
07: CYPRUS - Evridiki - Comme Ci, Comme Ca
06: ICELAND - Eirikur Hauksson - Valentine Lost
05: SWITZERLAND - DJ Bobo - Vampires Are Alive
04: ESTONIA - Gerli Padar - Partners In Crime
03: SLOVENIA - Alenka Gotar - Cvet Z Juga
02: RUSSIA - Serebro - Song #1
01: AUSTRIA - Eric Papilaya - Get A Life (Get Alive)

My top 5 songs of 2006: (But I wasn't paying attention this year.)

12: NORWAY - Christine Guldbrandsen - Alvedansen ~ (I LOVE THIS LADY.)
10: SWEDEN - Carola - Invincible
08: GREECE - Anna Vissi - Everything
07: MALTA - Fabrizio Faniello - I Do
06: BELGIUM - Kate Ryan - Je T'Adore