and now...to 2008! Happy New Year!

Well, having spent Christmas with Dana in Dublin, we're back at Eurovision Express HQ for one night until we head off again.

Whilst we were waiting for our flight back, we flicked through a plethora of Eurovision related books in Dublin airport - autobiographies by Dana (IRE 70), Dickie Rock (IRE 66) and even Daniel O'Donnell all mention the contest. Cosy Daniel, reminiscing about 1997, thought that 'Marc Roberts had it in the bag right up to the end, until Catriona(sic!) and the Waves snatched victory'. We don't quite remember it this way! Wasn't it the biggest winning margin ever at that point in the history of the Contest?

So, we're off to celebrate New Year in the U.K's party capital (we'll let you guess where) so who better to sing us out of 2007 and wish us all a Happy New Year than ABBA.




HAPPY NEW YEAR! We'll be back soon.

Merry Christmas from Eurovision Express!

We're celebrating our first Christmas here at Eurovision Express HQ...and look who's dropped in to sing us a Christmas Song.....?
Why, it's the one and only DANA

Altogether now...."It's gonna be a cold cold Christmas without you...."



Merry Eurovision Christmas to all!

Now where did I put that Egg-Nog?

Shayne Ward for the UK in 2008?

The news team at Eurovision Express were out last night, attending a Maltese spectacular in....Birmingham! The event clashed with a Celine Dion TV special - so we taped it. Would Celine refer to the Contest? The answer was an emphatic YES!



First up came Louis Walsh, former manager of 1992 winner, Linda Martin. Now better known as an X Factor judge, Louis said he remembered Celine's win in Dublin fondly, and went on to ask her something else....heh ho! At least the Contest got a mention!

But we then fell off our seats when Louis' protegee and X Factor winner, Shayne Ward, asked Celine specfically about winning the Contest? Would Celine deny everything like Julio Iglesias once did? Not at all!!!

In an audience that included 1970 winner Dana, and 1998 presenter Ulrika Jonnson, good old Celine said that her song (Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi) was amazing, she sang her heart out, and that the win 'started my career so well'. Good for you, girl!

Eurovision Express is now wondering whether Louis is grooming Shayne as the UK's representative for 2008, or maybe - just as Celine did - he's thinking of putting Shayne forward for another country. Maybe Shayne will be singing Mr Gary Barlow's song in next year's MYMU.....if that happened we really would fall off our seats!!!

Bye Bye Helsinki...Hello Belgrade

As we leave 2007 behind, let's look back on what was an eventful 52nd contest . Highlights included:

UK finishing 2nd last!
Ireland finishing last!
No Western countries progressing to the final!
Olivia Lewis from Malta crying herself to sleep in her dress!
A non-English language ballad winning the whole thing!
A great host country!
The return of Edsilia from the Netherlands!
Some madness from France! Tres bonne, merci!
A bizarre 12 points to the UK from Malta! How did that happen? ;-)



Could 2008 be as interesting....?
Roll on May! 2 semi finals and 43 countries! And numerous national finals and semi-finals!

Hurrah! Bring it on!

Barlow Back For Britain?

Apparently the BBC has asked Take That frontman, Gary Barlow, to write a song for the 2008 Making Your Mind Up. But the boyband themselves won't be performing it - and who can blame them? In an Eastern dominated Contest, it's unlikely that even they would win.

But heh, let's hope Barlow gives us a ballad belter like Patience or Back for Good. Don't get too excited though. If we remember correctly Gary had a go at writing a Eurovision winner back in 2004 - we can't be sure, cos the songwriters' names weren't revealed. The song that he probably wrote (we think it was something for Haifa) was average to say the least. So Barlow, no B sides please - just a soaring ballad!

Eurovision Express is pleased to hear that, so far, X Factor finalists, Same Difference, have not been asked to take part in MYMU. Let's hope it stays that way!

A Ballad to Belgrade for the UK please!

The visitors to this blog have voted that the UK should send a ballad to Belgrade if they want to stand a chance of doing well at next year's Eurovision Song Contest.

The poll results were:

42% Ballad
33% Pop
21% Rock
4% Rap

Could a ballad help the UK's recent depressingly low placings? Maybe! When was the last UK ballad (apart from Cyndi in 2007 who so should have gone to Helsinki instead of those Ryanair rejects)?...Oh Yes! That would be Jessica Garlick! Ah...those were the days, a top 10 placing for the UK.

So please, UK, no trashy tackiness next year, put a "real" song in! It couldn't do any worse than recent efforts!

Aussie Euro hit show comes to the UK!

Following it's successful run at the Edinburgh festival, a Eurovision-style stage show is making it's way around the U.K.

Join the cheering, flag-waving, clapper-clacking crowds as ten countries compete live on stage for the golden trophy in a glittering glamour-fest of satin and shiny white teeth. Text in your vote on your mobile phone* and decide the winner every night!

This award-winning musical has taken Australia by storm and is only a handful of sequins away from whipping up a frenzy in the West End.

The "EuroBeat" show is currently on tour throughout the U.K., so it may be coming to a venue near YOU!

Visit the website here for details of the tour

Norway says No-way to outsiders

The songs and songwriters for Norway's upcoming MGP have been announced. And this year Norway has decided to keep it in the family. After much criticism in the past the national broadcaster, NRK, has only allowed Norwegian composers through.

So there'll be no Thomas G:Son, who wrote last year's Norwegian entry, Ven A Bailar Conmigo, and no other Swedes either!

Eurovision Express is quite excited to see Anne Takle listed as one of the songwriters. Anne is featured on the new Secret Garden CD, Inside I'm Singing, where she provides vocals for an expanded version of the 1995 Eurovision winner, Nocturne.

Good luck Anne, and Good luck Norge!

Boom-Bang-A-Bang in the North and Schlagerparty in the South

Looking for some Eurovision action early in 2008?

Well, why not get the new year off to a great start with a Eurovision event or two? On 31st January, Boom-Bang-A-Bang takes place in Manchester's famous Canal Street. The event is one of many regular Eurovision-related events that take place in Manchester during the year.


If that isn't enough Eurovision, you could always hop on the Virgin train the next day from Manchester to London for the Schlagerparty in the Loom Bar on the 1st February. Another regular event on the Eurovision calendar, it promises to be a very popular evening!


For details on the Boom-Bang-A-Bang Manchester event click here.
For details on the Schlager Party in London, click here

And first up...it's Andorra!

Here at Eurovision Express we've been debating whether Andorra or San Marino is the smallest country to take part in Eurovision. But whichever it is, Andorra has not only announced its singer -Gisela- and song title -Casanova-, but a snatch of it is already on the web! Long gone are the days when we didn't hear the songs until a couple of weeks before the Contest itself!

Anyway, Casanova is a fabulous piece of Europop, which would probably sit very happily in any Scandanavian national final.

EurovisionExpress expects Casanova to be a BIG fan favourite, and massive in Belgrade nightclubs come next May. In other words it has all the ingredients to do a Kate Ryan, and end up nowhere, despite a guaranteed 12 points from Spain. Let's just hope sense prevails and Gisela makes it to the Final, and does Andorra proud.

Link to song here....
Andorra 2008

She's holding out for a HERO!

She's back! Charlotte Nilsson-Perelli is back in the Swedish MelodiFestival and with a song written by Fredrik Kempe and Bobby Ljunggren, it's bound to be one of the hot faves. It's called "Hero".

There is a fly in the ointment though...in the guise of E-Type/Poodles which will probably get the popular Swedish vote!


Interesting MelodiFestival season beckons!

"Nocturne" now has more than 24 words!

Eurovision Express has just received the marvellous new CD from 1995 Eurovision winners Secret Garden.

Secret Garden, of course, produced one of the Contest's most controversial winners - Nocturne. With only 24 words some questioned whether it could legitimagely qualify as a song.

Well the critics can now be silenced, as the first track on the new CD - Inside I'm Singing - treats us to a fully-worded version of the 1995 winner, performed by singer/songwriter Anne Takle.

Petter Skavlan and Rolf Lovland have completed the story of this song from the original 2 dozen words, adding another verse and two choruses along the original theme of night into day.

This theme of adding lyrics to previously-released Secret Garden material continues throughout the CD, with one of the performers being none other than Ms Barbra Streisand! Other notable contributors are Elaine Paige ,and former Eurovision contenders Tommy Korberg, Bryan Kennedy and Niamh Kavanagh.

Congratulations Belarus!

Hooray! We're celebrating here at Eurovision Express HQ. It looked like we weren't going to win any money tonight on Junior Eurovision...until the last set of votes. We had put money on Bulgaria and Belarus to win, and it looked like the favourites Armenia were going to take the prize.......

....and then, Belarus stepped up to the voting and snatched victory for themselves...by 1 vote! Fab! We got it at 25/1 so drinks on Belarus tonight.... Philip Kirkorov - take note - this is how to win Eurovision!

Time for champagne!!

Junior 2007 - Poll Results - Double Dutch?

Thank you to the many visitors to this blog who have taken the time to vote in our Junior ESC predictor. You have decided that the top 5 should be:

1. Netherlands
2. Belgium
3. FYR Macedonia
4. Greece
5. Romania

So a home win is predicted. We've still got a soft spot for the Bon Bon group from Bulgaria, and for Romania, FYRoM and Belarus.

The contest is about to start, so let's see who will win!!!

Bon chance!

Junior 2007 - Keep on Voting!

We have had over 90 votes so far on our Junior Eurovision Song Contest predictor. Thank you to all of our visitors for taking the time to participate in our vote.

Voting will close 1 hour before the contest begins.

So far, it looks like our own particular favourite, Bulgaria, is lagging behind somewhat. Visitors to this blog have decided that the host country, Netherlands, stands the best chance of taking the 1st prize....but it's not over yet!

So, if you haven't yet voted, please do so.

Junior Eurovision - The Betting!

An internet betting site has the latest odds on tomorrow's Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Whilst we have thrown our weight behind Bulgaria's "Bon Bonlandia", Armenia appear to be the favourite at 7/2 followed by Russia at 5/1.

Full list of odds:

Armenia 7/2
Russia 5/1
Ukraine 11/2
Netherlands 13/2
Georgia 7/1
Bulgaria 15/2
Serbia 15/2
Romania 10/1
Belgium 14/1
Cyprus 16/1
Malta 16/1
Belarus 16/1
Sweden 18/1
Greece 20/1
Lithuania 22/1
F.Y.R. Macedonia 25/1
Portugal 28/1

Junior Eurovision 2007 - Our Prediction - It's BON BON for Bulgaria!

Junior Eurovision is almost here. Eurovision Express predicts BULGARIA to win with ROMANIA in a close second.

The Group BON BON with the song Bon Bonlandia has all the catchiness and simplicity that should see Bulgaria romp home. This is despite the fact that they are in last place in other polls. Hey Ho! What would Eurovision be without the difference of opinion?

Unfortunately, TVEi won't be broadcasting the contest this year so for some of us in Europe, we will have to rely on the internet to watch the contest.

It all kicks off at 1915GMT tomorrow night.

Bonne chance a tous!

GO BULGARIA!

Best of Junior - No.1 - THE WINNER - Little Sakis does it for Greece!

We have arrived at what we think is the best Junior Eurovision song of all time....and ironically it was the very first Junior song performed back in 2003! It is, of course, the adorable little Nicolas and the girls from Greece with the fantastic Fili Yia Panta which translates as Friends forever. Aah!

When Nicolas took to the stage , all 2ft 4 of him, holding what looked like the world's biggest microphone, we knew that Junior Eurovision was going to be very different! And so it proved. The lack of nerves, the professionalism, and the sheer talent of these youngsters was amazing. This song, with its built-in rap, won the hearts of Eurovision Express (who were in the audience to witness this phenomenon).

Congratulations Nicolas and Greece. Helena Papawotsit...no, Nicolas is the true Greek Eurovision star!

Keep voting on who will win this year's contest on this blog. We will reveal our "top tip" for Saturday's contest and will be throwing a few shillings on it!

Bonne chance a tous!

Meanwhile, let's hear Nicolas and the girls one more time!!

Best of Junior - No.2 - The Runner-Up....Mother Russia!

Well, what can we say about the Tomalchevy Sisters? When they did their Jazz-meets-Annie little ditty in Bucharest in 2006, we knew it was a sure-fire winner. Vesna romped home to take the crown for the little darlings and for Mother Russia. Catchy song, fabulous outfits, marvellous routine. A few "senior" eurovision entrants could learn from this!

Altogether now, ba-da-do-daaaa-ba-da-do-daa-daah...bah-bah-doo-daah!

This almost made it to our top spot, but was pipped at the post! Find out our no.1 Junior Eurovision Song tomorrow!

The Best of Junior - No.3 - Spain Again...!

Eurovision Express just can't get enough of all things Spanish in our rundown of the best songs to have graced the Junior stage.

Picking up our bronze medal is another Spanish song, again from our favourite year, 2003. Obviously we really wanted the UK's Tom Morley to win the first Contest, but our fingers were also secretly crossed for Sergio and his fabulous ballad Desde El Cielo, which was dedicated to his late mum. Bless him!

Of course Dino from Croatia took the big prize in 03, but there's no denying Spain had made a strong impression, and, as we've already seen, wouldn't have to wait long before they took the ultimate prize.

Why can't Spain send songs like this to the adult contest?

The Best of Junior - No. 4 - UK in Top 10 shocker!!

Remember when the UK used to do quite well in the Eurovision Song Contest? No, nor do we! But we've had far more success with the Junior competition.

In 2004 Cory Spedding was the runner-up with The Best Is Yet To Come. But Cory just misses out in our Six of the Best countdown. Edging ahead, and coming in 4th, is the UK's first entry from 2003 - Tom Morley and My Song For The World, an ode to global peace and harmony.

It seemed that all was fine and dandy for the UK in Junior Eurovision land, but in 2005 Joni Fuller's How Does It Feel left Europe decidedly unimpressed, and that was that. The UK withdrew from the Contest.

A return to the competition seems highly unlikely, but we'll always have Tom's tune to remind us of how well the UK can do when it tries.

The Best of Junior - No.5 - Y Viva Espana!

In at Number 5 in Eurovision Express' countdown of the Best of Junior comes Spain's winning song from 2004 - Antes Muerta Que Sencilla, which jollily translates as Better Dead Than Normal.

Quite whether the uber-confident performer of the song, Maria Isabel, should be suggesting it's better to kick the bucket than be a regular kind of kid, is pretty questionable. But Spain went crazy when they came out on top, and why shouldn't they? Their last Eurovision win was way back in 1969.

Spain's record in the Junior Contest is highly impressive (one win, two seconds and a fourth), so it all came as a bit of shock when they decided to pull out of this year's Contest. Apparently some big cheese at TVE thinks the whole thing's a bit inappropriate....

Oh well, get your fans out and relive a bit of high drama, but remember being 'normal' is nothing to be ashamed of!

The Best of Junior - No.6 - Danish Delights

Here we go! Eurovision Express' run down of the 6 best songs to have graced the Junior Eurovision stage.

In at number 6 is Denmark's first entry from 2003 - Arabiens Drom, sung by Anne. Eurovision Express was convinced the Danes would walk away with the inaugural Junior crown with this oriental flavoured ditty. But it wasn't to be. Anne came in 5th.

The first Junior Eurovision was the idea of the Danes, but, just like the UK, they pulled out after the 2005 competition. Shame.

Oh well, let's rewind to 2003. Altogether now - Shaba-di-ba-da! Shaba-di-ba-da! Ai-ai-ai-ai!

Coming Soon.....Six of the Best

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest is now just over a week away. In the lead up to the mini singathon, Eurovision Express will be taking a look back at the contest's first four years.

As we speak some of Europe's greatest minds are locked in a room debating which songs are the six best, and we'll be revealing the results from this Saturday.

Stay tuned!

Poll Result: The 80's have it!

Thank you for voting in our poll to find out the best decade for Eurovision. The results were quite close but the 1980's have won! The decade of dubious taste in clothes (see above) was also the decade of Bucks Fizz, Celine Dion, Johnny Logan, to name but a few and has been voted as the golden era of Eurovision by visitors to Eurovision Express.

Here are the results:

1980's - 28%
2000's - 24%
1990's - 21%
1970's - 19%
1960's - 8%

And now to bring us right up to date, please vote for who you think will win the Junior Eurovision Song Contest on 8th December!

Forget Ronald...meet "Johnny" McDonald

Eurovision Legend and two-time winner Johnny Logan's success in his recent award-winning McDonald's adverts in Ireland has grown from strentgh to strength. You can now logon to the McDonald's Eurosaver Menu website and take part in a "Hold Me Now" moment, take part in a Johnny Logan quiz, and even ask Johnny a question about anything...(apart from "Do you want fries with that?").

If you have missed the genius of this advertising campaign, click on this website : http://www.itctest.net/content/index.html or if you can't wait, here are the adverts:

Carola Out, Charlotte In?

So, Carola won't be taking part in Melodifestival 2008, according to Swedish newspaper Expressen. Does this mean that we may see the welcome return of former winner and all-round diva Charlotte Nilsson-Perrelli? With a name like Perrelli, maybe she can follow the Swiss participant's example, and sing in Italian? Maybe not!

But of course, she would have to beat the lovely Linda Bentzing who could snatch the Swedish crown next year?

I think you're pretty safe so far Charlotte!

EuroPotty

Eurovision Express has been playing around with it's pots tonight and has devised what it thinks should be the 6 pots from which the semi-finalists should be drawn. They are:

1. Former USSR countries
2. West Europe and Baltic
3. Nordic
4. Mediterranean
5. Eastern Europe
6. Former Yugoslav countries.

There are a couple of anomalies: Andorra amd San Marino. We have put Andorra in the Nordic block and San marino in the Mediterranean block.
Let's see if this bares any resemblance to reality!

Hail Mary!

16 years on, and she's BACK! Maltese Eurovision diva, Mary Spiteri is through to the next stage in the small island's quest to find a winner. After coming an impressive third in Malmo with Little Child, Mary's got two songs in Malta's 36 strong shortlist - If You Believe and My Last Encore.

Sounds like Malta is making a welcome return to the ballad, which after Fabrizio and Olivia's disastrous results, has got to be a good thing. Eurovision Express would dearly love Chiara to win for Malta, but the next best thing would certainly be seeing Ms Spiteri bringing Eurovision to Valetta. You go girl!

Pussy Punk Down The Pan!

It should have all been so purr-fect for the Hara Sisters tonight but Iceland has spoken and decided that Pussy Punk is OUT and Euroband is IN. The Hara Sisters took to a stage which resembled a beauty parlour, but their voices were anything but beautiful. Perhaps they should have turned up the hairdryers to drown out the meeoowwing.

So, Euroband, with their electric pop song will go to the final. We will have to wait until next week to see if the girls get a second chance.

Oh, by the way there was a 3rd song, but it really is not worth talking about!

Double Delight!

The winners tour to end all winners tours may be coming to a venue near you!

Bucks Fizz and Brotherhood of Man are touring together under the banner "Together In Concert". Apart from their Eurovision wins, they have had some fantastic hits such as "Figaro", "Angelo", "Piece of the Action" and "My Camera Never Lies". Ah, the nostalgia.

Get your velcro skirt out and checkout if they are coming to your area. Visit this website: http://www.abrq49.hemscott.net/Dates.htm

Not sure which Bucks Fizz it is , but it certainly doesn't look like the lovely Cheryl. At least Brotherhood of Man are the original of the species.

Sing-a-long-a-secret-garden

Looking for a great Christmas present? Well pop over to Oslo (or online) and order yourself a copy of Secret Garden's new album, Inside I'm Singing. Rolf and Fionnuala have called up some of their showbiz mates to create new 'singable' versions of their back catalogue. Previous Eurovision contenders Tommy Korberg, Niamh Kavanagh and Brian Kennedy are included, as is Barbra Streisand. Maybe she'll be in MGP in 2008?

Goodnight Vienna!

It's a sad day indeed now Austria have chosen to say goodnight to Eurovision (for the time being anyway). They have given us some wunderbar entries over the years - who can forget Boom Boom Boomerang in 1977, Weil Der Mensch Zählt in 2003 with the marvellous Alf Poier, and of course, Für den Frieden der Welt in 1994.

ORF programme director Wolfgang Lorenz also hinted that Austria may withdraw from the contest indefinitely, stating "ORF has no desire to send more talent out of Austria to a competition where they have no chances...Should the situation change, we'll be happy to take part again."

Let's hope they don't stay away too long!
Merci Autriche!

Ou Est San Marino?

Wo ist San Marino? Donde esta San Marino? где - Сан-Марино? San Marinoはどこにありますか?

The good people of microstate San Marino have decided to join the Eurovision family. Hooray! If they win, they can always use their country as a Press Centre for 2009. So, who will be next, Vatican City, Isle of Man, Madeira, Rockall!!? Can't wait!

The 2-week Eurovision has arrived

According to eurovision.tv the two-week rehearsal period for the Eurovision Song Contest may be happening in 2008. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin on Sunday 11th May eventhough the final doesn't happen until the 24th!!.

All those poor stressed-out journalists surviving on coffee and snacks for two whole weeks, attending the press conferences, getting the interview scoops, listening to the cd's, partying the night away in the euroclub. All in the name of Eurovision. Phew! Poor things will be exhausted by the end of May!

Ah, remember the days when it started on Monday and ended on Saturday? Halcyon days!

Pussy Power resurfaces in Iceland

Hold onto your handbags - things are about to start hotting up in Reykjavik. This Saturday's semi-final sees the Hara Sisters take to the stage with a song written by Gerard Borg of Maltese Song for Europe fame. With a ditty called I Wanna Manicure and a musical style described as Pussy Punk, this should make Silvia Night look tame. What would Mrs Slocombe say?

Will Daz Unite Nations in 2008?

Good old Daz Sampson is hoping to bring some more rat-a-tat-tat-to-the-chat back to Euroland by calling on the services of Uniting Nations, the groovy popgroup he forms part of. Apparently the song's already written, and UN are hoping to get someone European to sing it.

By 'European' they presumably mean not British. Guys, remember what happened when Ralph Siegel had a bright idea of creating the European supergroup - Six4One? Where did they end up? Nowhere!

Anyway EurovisionExpress wishes Daz and his pals well. We're hoping for a soaraway ballad, although on UN's past experience this is as likely as a British win.

I'm Vicky Leandros...Get me out of here!

Vicky Leandros made a special appearance recently to officially open the German Christmas Market in Birmingham City Centre. She took to the stage (well, the tiny bandstand actually) to treat the tens (!!) of onlookers to some German Christmas songs. It must have been a bit different to the sold out Athens arena two days previously.

What greeted Vicky was a load of Brummies tucking into Red Sausage and knocking back Gluhwein and wondering who this bird on the bandstand was! Poor Vicky, they were more interested in the local radio DJ's who introduced her! She couldn't get off the stage quick enough. After a less than receptive applause and several German songs, she trolled off stage and no doubt was whisked off to Birmingham International Airport toute suite!

Wait until her agent gets a phone call when she returns to Germany. Oh well. at least we got a glimpse of a true Eurovision Legend!

Arriving on Platform 1.....Eurovision Express

Fans from all across Europe arrive at Eurovison Express HQ for the launch party of the latest EuroBlog, treating us to a sing-a-long to "Kroller Eller Ej". It was a star-studded evening with a plethora of Eurovision artists mingling with the fans!

The hosts worked the room with trays of cheese and pineapple on sticks and gallons of Creme de Menthe. A good time was had by all!

Watch this space for all the news from Euroblogger. Please feel free to leave comments. Welcome onboard!