http://www.eurovision.tv/english/start_video.htm

The yearly expo in cheese is comming up in Athens, and actually there's some decent stuff. Of course, 90% is the usual dance crap but I must give props to:

* Bulgaria for sending a nifty r&b ballad
* Estonia for doing a feel-good-ballad right
* Finland for sending a metal band dressed in costume and having the best song out of all
* Germany for sending a country band!
* Iceland for Silvia Night might just be the funniest thing ever!
* Macedonia for trying to make "My Number 1" win again
* Moldova for apparently sending some Carribean song featuring that kid from O-Zone
* Russia for sending a singing mullet
* the Ukraine for sending a better than expected dance song

Boos to all the damn crappy ballads (I'm picking you Ireland, Sweden, Poland)

And while everyone expects Belgium to win, I can easily see next year in Helsinki or Reijkavic.

Check out the vids and comment, whydontcha! Or I will sick Lordi on your non Hard Rock Angel ass. And then Silvia will kill you with confetti.

Isn't the Carribean song featuring the kid from O-Zone something like....no way, this isn't cover edition....nvm.

Poland is gonna be @ one of the lowest position as usual!
OMG< Poland's representants suck!

do you know if Italy is bringing something?

My yearly low point in music is coming up, oh joy.

I dont understand why UK always brings unknown artists to Eurovision!

Winners : Spain - Las Ketchup lol

Spain must win

I hate Eurovision

Because none of the known artists would want to embaress themselves by appearing at the Eurovision.

I like Estonia! cute Iceland song...
P.S.
My country sent a ballad too, damn....
I wished that they would've sent them:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=K_rbgkeBuQY

woohoo Estonia!

Italy, if I remember right, pulled out of Eurovision a few years ago after sucking a lot in the 90s (of course, Ireland was winning constantly, so that could affect it)

Ireland was fantastic at the time.

Eurovision used to be so good

Out of sheer boredom, I decided to review the tracks ^_^

Semifinal Performers
1. Armenia
The Good: Armenia's debut track is the normal blend of ethnodance beats, but with a weird Latin vibe. Very promising start.
The Bad: The dude has one eyebrow, the song sounds like seven others and he starts.
Prediction: Just miss the finals

2. Bulgaria
The Good: Decent vocals
The Bad: Horrible arrangement, stupid lyrics
Prediction: Bottom half easily. Could finish last in the vote.

3. Slovenia
The Good: In Slovenian the lyrical quality is interesting and works with the music.
The Bad: The song is not so good in English, the music is a tad distracting and the man perfoming looks like a damn vampire with a nervous tick
Prediction: I'm saying he's the last one in for now. Won't be shocked to see Slovenia miss out.

4. Andorra
The Good: Apparently their best song ever
The Bad: There's not a lot of competition for their best song. Sounds like a bad Christina ballad taken up a notch.
Prediction: Fighting with Bulgaria for last place

5. Belarus
The Good: The hook will drive you insane, the girl singing is cute
The Bad: They borrowed Britney's vocals and songwriting skills.
Prediction: Could be the most hilareous perf ever. Will still get 12 points from Russia, so it will not finish dead last.

6. Albania
The Good: They stuck with Albanian, since it's probable the song makes less sense in English. Nice backing track
The Bad: It's followed by the favorite.
Prediction: Midtable

7. Belgium
The Good: Nice catchy hook, will enter as co-faves with Greece and Sweden
The Bad: If you want a damn ethnodance song, try going East. Kate Ryan's always iffy live
Prediction: 3rd in the Prelims, a top-5 finish at the finals

8. Ireland
The Good: If you like your ballads as sappy as a maple tree, try Ireland! The vocal is good, though.
The Bad: Ballads are tricky with Eurovision.
Prediction: They could sneak into the Finals, but more than likely mid-table

9. Cyprus
The Good: It's going to get 12 from Greece, perfoming in Greece will get a nice reaction, the singer has a lovely rack, the song is miles better than Greece or Switzerland's balladly stuff.
The Bad: Does it matter? The ballad is worse than Ireland's
Prediction: 9th place, but will crash in the Finals.

10. Monaco
The Good: Nice beat
The Bad: Vocals are ass, song is illogical (like that matters)
Prediction: Also-ran, trying to avoid the bottom 4

11. FYR Macedonia
The Good: The song is rather strong in translation to English, they get a nice bounce from Greece (maybe...)
The Bad: It sounds musically too much like "My Number One" (last years winner) and is not as strong vocally as other ethnodance songs.
Prediction: 6th, mid-table in the finals

12. Poland
The Good: Not a damn thing
The Bad: It makes me want to kick a puppy
Prediction: 13th (cuz sucking is just as good there as it is on American Idol)

13. Russia
The Good: It's not a dance song! It's a sappy rock ballad!
The Bad: It's gonna compete with the other fomer Soviet nations who have much strongers songs (Ukraine, Armenia, Moldova).
Prediction: 5th, mid-table

14. Turkey
The Good: Personally, I think it's the best mix of the ethnodance songs. Interesting vocals, and the singer is rather hot.
The Bad: Not everyone's cup of tea, plenty of ethnodance songs to choose from. May be too dependent on the immigrant votes in Germany/Benelux to make it
Prediction: 8th for now, lower table in the finals

15. Ukraine
The Good: My third favorite song for all the Eurovision contestants. Has a key change they love, held notes Americans love, very good English translation and sounds different.
The Bad: It's not different enough to stand out from Turkey and Macedonia. Probably screwed.
Prediction: 12th, damn it.

16. Finland
The Good: Probably the dark horse to win. C'mon, it's a rock anthem with a crazy act in Lovecraft faces!
The Bad: Is it legit or a gimick to European fans?
Prediction: 2nd in the semis, top-5 in the finals. Biggest threat to Belgium and Sweden

17. Netherlands
The Good: At least makes the ethnodance beat original
The Bad: The actual song is ass
Prediction: Mid-table. Way too much like others to qualify

18. Lithuania
The Good: Well, everyone's got to have a gimmick
The Bad: "We Are The Champions" is done much better by the final performer. And better sung. They need a lot of help.
Prediction: Around 20th?

19. Portugal
The Good: Well...they like ABBA!
The Bad: Everything else. It should be dead last cuz the song is ----ing stupid and the group singing it sucks balls.
Prediction: Just above Lithuania

20. Sweden
The Good: Carola or whatever her name is won this before, and when she's on she's on.
The Bad: Why is this the favorite to win? The Ballad-turn-Dance track is grating on the ears. She should be glad it's in Swedish so it at least sounds logical.
Prediction: 1st, and in a race with Belgium, Romania and Finland for the win

21. Estonia
The Good: Sweden gets a second entry, since Estonia chose a Swedish singer. Probably the second best song in the sense of lyrics, good cutsey Scandipop sound.
The Bad: She's after Sweden, so if she's dull she's screwed.
Prediction: Should easily make the finals and probably mid-table there.

22. Bosnia & Herzegovina
The Good: It's a tolerable ballad
The Bad: Compared to Ireland, Cyprus or Switzerland. Otherwise it's aggravating.
Prediction: Probably top 5 in quals and could make a run at the top 10.

23. Iceland
The Good: The English translation. The fact she's a cute as a button and can sing. The novelty.
The Bad: The fact the song is a satire on the whole damn Eurovision thing (check Silvia Nott's wikipedia page for an explanation on the character). And if she goes back to Icelandic or is not as intriguing as she should be, could get passed by some crap.
Predicition: She's going last, so Iceland is in the finals. Could be a total sleeper or a choker.

Probable Qualifiers:

Sweden
Finland
Iceland
Belgium
Russia
FYR Macedonia
Turkey
Estonia
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Slovenia (or Ireland)

The FINALISTS officialy known
1. Switzerland
The Good: They got pretty people
The Bad: HAVE YOU HEARD THIS SONG?
Prediction: They best pray to avoid the Nul Points

2. Moldova
The Good: The ethnodance got mixed in the carribean, they added a rapper, it's actually good to hear.
The Bad: It's too cutsey and probably too club-sounding to do well.
Prediction: If Turkey and the Ukraine and Macedonia make it, they are screwed. Probably mid-table

3. Israel
The Good: Good structure
The Bad: Too many ballads are better than it
Prediction: Probably around 20th

4. Latvia
The Good: It's mostly acapella so you get to see if they can sing. The song has good pacing and could do rather well
The Bad: The opener.
Prediction: This could go either way...either they grab a slot in the Finals next year or bottom out.

5. Norway
The Good: Probably the best "song" in the competition
The Bad: It sounds like some Lord of the Rings number and while pleasing and enticing it could be easily lost in the crowd
Prediction: Probably top 10.

6. Spain
The Good: It's ethnodance but it makes sense
The Bad: Try to find a hook. Or how this isn't a novelty song.
Prediction: Second out of the Big 4, but mid-table overall

7. Malta
The Good: It sounds good and is a nice mix of ballad and dance
The Bad: Sweden's number is better. And the I do I do I doooooooooo gets old fast
Prediction: Should be lower, but would not be surprised if Malta shocked all and won the thing this year.

8. Germany
The Good: They went country and chose their best song in years, and it is indeed a keeper of a pop-sounding country song
The Bad: Is it too novelty? Can they get votes from the Eastern areas?
Prediction: Tops on the Big 4, probably a top ten placement

9. Denmark
The Good: Decent actual song and music
The Bad: got stuck in the middle and could be out of it completely if it is followed by the big Semi contenders (Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Iceland)
Prediction: 10th

12. Romania
The Good: If you wanna win in Europe, ya gotta have a key change. And this one has it in spade. Probably the best singer in the comp.
The Bad: He's Romanian, singing in English with an Italian chorus with very little dancers. Could get screwed of a deserved victory.
Predition: Bucharest Calling? Possibly, depending a lot on Greece and Sweden

15. United Kingdom
The Good: They chose to went Novelty Song and did pick a decent one.
The Bad: They are followed by the homeside.
Prediction: mid-table.

16. Greece
The Good: It's a rock-ish ballad
The Bad: It's a crappy rockish overwroght angsty sounding ballad.
Prediction: They're at home, so enough crowd noise could trick Europe back into a repeat visit to Athens. Top 10 for certain.

20. Croatia
The Good: A Croatian song about stilettos with shout outs to Africa and cheese.
The Bad: See the Good
Prediction: Mid-table. Of course, it could also win. 20th in the singing order does wonders!

Something..ith: France
The Good: It's a good time for a snack
The Bad: Seriously, if you want a ballad vote for Cyprus or Ireland into the finals.
Prediction: Its them or Switzerland for the nil points

Probable top 10:

1. Sweden (Stockholm comes calling)
2. Romania
3. Belgium
4. Finland
5. Germany
6. Denmark
7. Iceland
8. Greece
9. Bosnia & Herzegovina
10. Norway
LAST: Switzerland (with the Nil)

lol our song is way too funny (turkey) but back in the past we kicked their ass with Sertab Erener's amazing song ''Everyway That I Can'' lol who cares about eurovision anyway >.<'

Bumping cuz the semis are over and the votes are being tabbed. I wanna hear from the foreign ATRLers abou it, darn it!

omg! Poland really sucked! i'm not surprised we didnt make it to the final

I had a WoW raid so I didn't pay much attention to it, but I could tell Finland had by far the best song

Russia was pretty decent as well

But there was a lot of crap

I saw an advert for it earlier saying it airs on Saturday night... I'm going to try and watch it. I'm going to have to prepare for a lot of cringing