Rosa's Dancing a Celebration

Rosa, who represented Spain in the 2002 Song Contest, is making a Eurovision comeback - this time as one of Spain's dancers for the upcoming Eurovision Dance Contest, due to be held in Glasgow on 6 September.

To our knowledge the UK has yet to announce its participants, one of whom must be an amateur dancer. Maybe Javine, DJ Daz or Gina G might fancy giving us their fandango?

Anyway here's Rosa doing a cover version of that Euroclassic, "La, La, La"

Moscow 2009!

So , following a meeting in the Russian capital between Russian TV and the EBU, it has been announced that Moscow will be the host city for ESC 2009!

The Olympiysky Arena pictured above has been suggested as the most likely venue.

Today's meeting in Moscow was attended by representatives of the Russian government, Director of Channel One Konstantin Ernst and Eurovision Song Contest Supervisor Svante Stockselius.

Svante said: "Moscow is an interesting host city for the Eurovision Song Contest, it is a great and big city and there is a great interest in the Eurovision Song Contest in Russia."

Thinking of going? Better start saving now..... Read what Lonely Planet has to say about the Russian capital here

Win tickets to the ABBA Museum!

The Abba Museum opens it's doors in April 2009 in Stockholm (where else?). You can win tickets to be one of the first visitors to the attraction.

Log onto the museum website here.

Lycka till!!

Ireland makes a turkey out of Europe!

As Ireland rejects the Lisbon treaty, we wonder how much the Irish public were influenced by their own European reject - Dustin the Turkey. The countries of Europe didn't vote Dustin into the ESC final in Belgrade, and Irish voters have not voted for the EU treaty today!

Apparently Dustin appeared on posters for the NO campaign with slogans:
"They didn't vote for us. Get them back. Vote No to Lisbon." and "The new EU won't see you, won't hear you, won't speak for you."

Well it appears the Irish have taken Dustin's words seriously and thrown the EU into crisis!

Melodifestival 2009....in Malmo?

After many years at the Globen in Stockholm, the Swedish National Final (it's so much more than just that!) Melodifestivalen may be on the move to Malmo.

A new state-of-the-art auditorium is currently being built in Malmo, Sweden's 3rd city, and rumours are rife that this will showcase the MF final in March 2009.

A new project manager has been appointed by SVT to oversee the MF2009 - his name is Ronnie Lans who has been involved in their Pop-Idol programmes. Could Melodifestival be heading in a new direction?

Feel the beat in Brum....

Eurovision Express is back from seeing Eurobeat - the Eurovision musical, which this week plays in the Eurovision city of Birmingham. And what a laugh we had!

Although of course nothing can ever touch the real Eurovision for entertainment value, this tongue-in-cheek musical is great night out for any who does, or indeed doesn't, love the Eurovision Song Contest!

The writers obviously know the Contest pretty well, with most of the 10 songs on offer really sounding like they could be Eurovision entries from that country.
Our favourite song was Estonia's Together Again by Toomas Jerker and The Stone Hard Boys (pictured above). And, after some nailbiting voting (now sadly absent from the real Contest) it won! How often does your favourite song win now?

If the show comes to a venue near to you (check out the website here), then buy yourself a ticket!

Beat It!

Eurovision Express will be making its way to the Birmingham Hippodrome tonight to see a performance of Eurobeat, the Eurovision musical comedy!

Les Dennis and Sally Lindsay will guide us through 10 wonderful Eurovision pastiches, and then we'll get our mobiles out and vote for a winner. Eurovision Express is delighted that one of the ten countries taking part is Italy, making a welcome return to the Eurofold after more than a decade.

Sounds like it should be a wonderful evening of the tackier side of Eurovision. Viva La Musica!

It's Kyiv for the Kids in 2009!

Ukraine has been chosen to host the 2009 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. This year - on November 22nd - it will be in Cyprus.

Despite large countries (and large potential viewing figures) not taking part in JESC anymore, the contest has at least been guaranteed two more outings. However, 2007 saw the first year that the official DVD wasn't released for JESC, which may spell its eventual demise.

One of the most interesting decisions to be made regarding JESC is that there will be a 50/50 televoting/jury split vote in 2008. Perhaps this might find its way to the adult ESC in 2009, following the criticisms of the "neighbourly" voting in the Belgrade contest?

The Return of Chiara?

After several dreadful results for Malta at Eurovision in recent years, the national broadcaster PBS has decided to go back to the drawing board.

They have disbanded the Malta Song Board which has been responsible for selecting and promoting the Maltese Eurovision entries of late, and have decided to take full control of the selection procedure themselves.

Does this open the door for a return by their best Eurovision hope ever..the wonderful Chiara? We hope so!

After some catchy but ultimatley forgettable recent entries from the tiny island, the time may be right for a power ballad from the inimitable Maltese superstar and Eurovision legend that is Ms Chiara Siracuse!

Come on Malta, get Chiara back!

Hail Dima!

The good people of Nizhni Novgorod - Russia's 3rd largest city - want to erect a statue of their Eurovision hero Dima Bilan - as Julius Caesar!

The main stumbling block is raising money for the statue. Locals hope that new Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who was the first to congratulate Dima after his Eurovision victory in Belgrade, will help out.

If your Russian is up to scratch, you can read the full story here.

In Russian, Dima Bilan is Дима Билан.