On the road to Helsinki: Israel and Greece

Israel: IBA decided to choose the group Teapacks internally and let the public decide the song they would sing. Push the button was that choosen song. It's a modern tune in a style that gave good results to Turkey in 2004, Moldova in 2005 and Lithuania in last year's contest.

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Greece: Radical chance of style here. Last year they had a dramatic ballad but this year they return to the Shake it/ My number one times with Sarbel and Yassou Maria. So will it be another top 5 result for Greece this year?

On the road to Helsinki: Armenia and Montenegro

Armenia: After last year debut with Andre Armenia will send another male soloist to the ESC. Haiko will sing a classical ballad called Anytime you need. I like it, there aren't many like it this year...

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Montenegro: Stevan Faddy will go to the ESC with Hajde Kroci. A direct entry to the last place of my semi-final chart!

On the road to Helsinki: songs from Bulgaria, Latvia, FYROM and Spain

Bulgaria: This was my biggest surprise of the night! Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankulov will sing the Voda (Water) in Helsinki and they might just take Bulgaria to its first ESC final.

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Latvia: The 2002 winner went for another male group: Bonaparti.lv with Questa notte (This night)which is performed completely in Italian. The group Il Divo comes to mind when we hear this... Not bad, altough not has good looking has Il Divo.

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FYROM: Another great song from Macedonia, with Karolina Gocheva making a comeback to the ESC stage with the song Mojot svet (My World). They always get into the final the question is can Karolina reach higher then Elena Risteka 12th place?

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Spain: It's been some time since we've had boysbands in the ESC so Spain decided to send theirs. NASH won Mision Eurovision with I love you mi vida. Another G:Son song, this one needing a lot of work both in the vocals and also in the performance to achive a good result next May.

Another big Saturday: 4 finals plus 3 semis...

Bulgaria: Pesen Na Evrovizija 2007
1. Mastilo - Getting crazy
2. Toni Dimitrova & Goresh Pysak - Say you would
3. Aksinia - Az znam
4. Sofi Marinova & Ustata - Ya tvoya (this is the only song I know, I heard a few weeks ago and dont really remember anything of it but because Sofi sings it she must be the fav tonight)
5. Kotseto Kalki - The love and the freedom
6. Margarita Hranova - Moya lyubov
7. Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankulov - Voda (Water)
8. S-lavina - Higher (Balkan heart)
9. KariZma - Fool for you
10. Teddy Karetsova - Super fire
11. Grupata - Back in your heart
12. Dimitar Atanasov - Our way back home

Latvia: Eirodziesma 2007
1. Lenii - Take off your mask (fan fav but i honestly dont think much of this)
2. Gunars Kalnins & Jolanda Suvorova - What a love can do to me (is Jolanda a real women??)
3. Re:Public - Home
4. Red Bee - Can't buy good lovin' (great title!)
5. Igeta & Project Bradans - Dundari dandari
6. Geir Rönning, Johnny Salamander & Meldra - The legends of rock 'n' roll (Geir again?)
7. Intars Butulis - Gonki
8. Bonaparti.lv - Questa notte (if you can't have Il divo go with Bonaparti)
9. Klaidonis un Linita - My vow to you
10. Kesija - You are losing me

F. Y. R. Macedonia

1. Maja Sazdanovska & Jovan Jovanov - 1, 2, 3
2. Elena Petreska - Peam
3. Maja Grozdanovska Panceva - Kavijar i svila
4. Marijan Stojanovski - Ako te rasplacat
5. Dejana Nikolovska - Nebo
6. Andrijana Janevska - Epizoda
7. Vasil Gavranliev - Pomogni mi
8. Gjorgi Krstevski - Letni dozdovi
9. Lambe Alabanovski - Belo e se (lyris by Elena Risteka yeppiiiiiii)
10. Biba Dodeva - Cuvaj me
11. Ivana Andonovska - Odi si
12. Karolina Goceva - Mojot svet
13. Super Nova - Potseti me
14. Tamara Todevska - Kazi koj si ti
15. Sanja Levkova - Otrov i lek

Spain: Mision Eurovision
The singers: NASH, Nazaret, Yanira Figueroa, Mirela and Merche Llobera.
The songs: Busco un hombre/ Busco una chica, I love you mi vida, La reina de la noche, Tu voz se apagará and Una lágrima.

Armenia: The final is tomorrow...

In Sweden it's the 4th semi and it's probably the strongest one. Give Sanna a wind machine please. After dark will have 3 dresses!!!!

Lithuania.... Bad sallad ballad to Helsinki.

On the road to Helsinki: Cyprus

Evridiki the drama diva that represented Cyprus in 1992 and 1994 will for the 3rd time sing on behalf of the Island of Afrodite. In a bold move she will sing her song Comme si, comme ça in french!!!

This time however the biggest drama for Evridiki might be reaching the final in Helsinki with this electro-pop-dance song!

On the road to Helsinki: Belgium decides

The Krazy Mess Groovers were choosen by RTBF to represent Belgium in this year's ESC. The KMG's will sing a funky-disco song called Love Power.

Will the power of love be strong enough to get them into the final? Maybe... Or maybe they will just do a Xandee/Ryan flick again.

On the road to Helsinki: Switzerland announced

It seems Count Dracula will be revenged after all... Dj Bobo who was choosen to represent Switzerland this year will sing the song Vamprires are alive in Helsinki.

It's no Dracula my love but its still a nice song.

Introducing The Attic feat. Therese

What a cool performance!!!

I wonder where they got that giant spining cd... I want one! Will IKEA be selling them here in Portugal too???

On the road to Helsinki: Finland and Iceland have decided to go rock

Finland: Host nation Finland choose Hanna Pakarinen with the song Leave me alone to represent them in homeground. It was not my favourite song from Hanna and it was not my favourite song from Euroviisut either... Over the years I've always been a strong supporter of Finnish entries but this year I think that they can indeed be left alone on the scoreboard...

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Iceland: The ice country decided to send one of the members of ICY to Helsinki, Eiríkur Hauksson will sing the song Ég les í lófa þínum (I read from the palm of your hand). Its a rock ballad with a catchy chorus. For the time being its one of my favourite entries, but it wont be easy for them to qualify.

Finland and Iceland decide today. In Sweden, Lithuania and Spain the saga continues...

Finland - Euroviisut 2007

1. Hanna Pakarinen - Leave me alone (hot favourite with a borring song)

2. Beats and Styles - See the signs

3. Jani & Jetsetters - Musta sulhanen (I liked their other song more)

4. Lovex - Anyone anymore (hot hot hot favs, they continue the Lordi heritage)

5. Jukka Kuoppamäki - Levitä siivet

6. Jann Wilde & Rose Avenue - Rock' n Roll dreams

7. Katra - Tietäjä (this song is no Sahara, what a shame)

8. Laura - Take a chance (I didn't like her before and i dont like her now)

9. Humane - Plane away (nice song)

10. Thunderstone - Face in the mirror

11. Johanna Kurkela- Olet uneni kaunein (this is my personal favourite and our best chance to see a bed on the ESC stage)

12. Kentala - Left my heart behind

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Iceland - Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2007

1. Friðrik Ómar - Eldur (my favourite in Iceland, I hope that Jónsi muscular arms dont take the victory away from Friðrik)
2. Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir - Ég og heilin minn
3. Andri Bergmann - Bjarta brosið
4. Matthías Matthíasson - Húsin hafa augu
5. Bríet Sunna Valdemarsdóttir - Blómabörn
6. Eiríkur Hauksson - Ég les í lófa þínum
7. Jónsi - Segðu mér
8. Hafsteinn Þórólfsson - þú tryllir mig
9. Sigurjón Brink - Áfram

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Sweden is getting away from their traditional schlager songs. The big favourite Nanne is going nowhere with her song. My favs are Mans and Sebastian...

Lithuania is Lithuania...

In Spain Massiel will sing Busco un hombre!!!

On the road to Helsinki: Ireland has choosen.

The group Dervish will sing the song They can't stop the spring in Helsinki. This song was composed by John Waters and Tommy Moran and has in my opinion great potential.The first presentation of the songs was not so good because the lead singer was a bit too nervous. During the reprise of the winning song however the singer was far more relaxed and so the song sounded a lot better. I think Ireland can have secured another top 10 placing this year.

On the road to Helsinki: Romenia, Denmark, Norway and The Netherlands songs choosen

ESC 2007 continues to build up with 3 more semi-finalist songs and the first song already qualified for the final.

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Romania: After all the caos the group Locomondo were choosen to represent this year Junior ESC host country. The song is Liubi, liubi, I love you. Some fans seem to like this a lot, I dont. Still its the kind of crazy song that the ESC has welcomed with open arms recently to maybe Romania stays in the final in 2008.

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Denmark: The Dansk Melodi Grand Prix this year was like an episode of the "Surprise Show": the drag act DQ won after being saved from the 2nd chance with the song Drama Queen. The song is ok but the stage performance was very very amateurish. Still its the first drag act after Sestre from Slovenia in 2002. They didn't do that well did they?

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Norway: If we had the "Surprise Show" in Denmark in Norway it was all about "Dancing with the Stars": Guri Schanke won with Venn a bailar conmigo. I doubt that this can qualified for the final.

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The Netherlands: Crap song by Edsilia Rombley.

National Final's Season Continues: 3 final's and 4 other semis today.

Tonight we will know the first song of this year ESC final when Romania chooses who will represent them in Finland. Denmark and Norway will also give us their songs tonight and in Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and Spain the quest for a song continues.

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Romenia: Selectia Nationala 2007

1. Nico - Dulce-amăruie

2. Trupa Veche - Deci 20

3. Morandi & Wassabi - Crazy

4. Marcel Pavel - No podre vivir (great semi-final performance and so I hope he gets the ticket to Helsinki)

5. Desperado and Tony Poptămaş - Where were you

6. Tibi Scobiola - Nu pot să uit

7. Locomondo - Liubi, liubi, I love you

8. Ionuţ Ungureanu (Provincialii) - Time

9. Desperado and Tony Poptămaş - European - a beautiful sin

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Denmark: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2007

1: Annette Heick – Copenhagen Airport

2: Me & My – Two are stronger than one

3: Annika Askman – Fly (I love this song, Go Annika)

4: Katrine Falkenberg – It’s a beautiful day

5: Jacob Andersen – Listen to love

6: Jørgen Olsen – Vi elsker bare danske piger (where is the other Olsen?)

7: Danni Elmo – Meaning of life (this will probably win tonight)

8: Stig Rossen – Så nær som nu

9: James Sampson – Say you love me

10: DQ – Drama Queen

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Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2007

1. Intinity - Hooked on you (will probably win tonight)

2. Jenny Jensen - Hvill du ha svar? (very old time schlager)

3. T. Rein feat. A. Ljones - Maybe

4. Dusty Cowshit - Chicken rodeo (hot favourites, could do well in the real ESC)

5. T. Sivertsen & Funky Family - Love on the dancefloor (where is the key change folks?)

6. Jannicke Abrahamsen - Rocket ride (remember Jane Fonda in Barbarella)

7. CRASH! - Wannabe (my favourites)

8. Guri Schanke - Ven a bailar commigo (another favourite? really?)

On the road to Helsinki: Slovenia, Malta, Poland and Estonia have decided

The semi-final lineup is building up with the 4 new songs choosen yesterday!

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Slovenia: It's been a long time since I've been asking for a full opera song in ESC and one my favourite countries in the competition made my wish come true. Alenka Gotar won Ema 2007 with Cvet z juga (Flower of the South). I like this song, it's very Balcanic ESC and i'm hopping for a super mega re- shake so I can love it even more. On the negative side the performance was very week and the backing singers/ dancers were awfull...

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Malta: Well Olivia finally did it and she will be singing Vertigo in Helsinki. I also like this song but i'm not shure how the European audience will react to it.

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Poland: Keeping with their tradition they sended the group that should have won the year before and so The Jet Set won with Time to Party. Not my kind of song, very diferent from ESC style but like Lordi proved last year diferent is good in this contest...

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Estonia: Gerli Padar with Partners in crime won in Estonia, its a nice song its not great but not bad either. Modern song and so like her brother before her she can be a real surprise next May.

Super Saturday: 4 national final's plus 9 semi's!

This weeked could be every ESC fan dream but I think that it is becoming a nightmare instead, specially because there aren't that many good songs. With so many shows happening at the same time its imposible to keep up with all the songs we need to hear to feed our Eurovision madness!

Ok, no time for small talk, let's start with our round on today's shows starting with the final's:

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Slovenia Ema 2007:
1. Alya - Vizija
2. Zlati Muzikanti - Pepelka
3. Sebastian - Naj svet zakriči (one of the favs but i'm not shure if he is a fav because of his looks or his Tina Karol copy song)
4. Nude - Element L
5. Zablujena Generacija - Kdo hoče plesati z menoj?
6. Denis - Nor sem nate
7. Alenka Gotar - Flower of the south (another fan favourite from Andrej Babić, if she doenst win tonight she can still take the Second Chance trophy)
8. Tadeja Fatur - Drugaèna (Pesem)
9. Martin Perović - Zadeni me
10. Žana - Druga violi
11. Dean Vivod & Tonus Kitaris - Hitmejker
12. Steffy & Donald Trumper - Zadel si me v zivo
13. Don Corleone - Bella mia
14. Eva Černe - Èudezi smehljaja (winner of Slovenian Pop Idol who also gave us Omar Naber and Anžej Dežan so maybe we will be seing her in Helsinki)

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Poland Piosenka dla Europy 2007:
1. Ania Szarmach - Open your mind
2. Charizma - Emily
3. Button Hackers - On my mind
4. Vino - Come in my heart
5. Kuba & Maciek Moleda - No second chance
6. The Jet Set - Time to party (don't like any of the songs in Poland this year but I think Jet Set will get the ticket to Helsinki. Will they come 11th in the semi again?)
7. Natasza Urbanska - I like it loud
8. Hania Stach - Regroup
9. Mikael Erlandsson - Love in the air
10. Bikini - Don't judge me

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Malta Song for Europe:
1. Kevin Borg - Whenever
2. Klinsmann Coleiro - She gives me wings
3. SCAR - As long as you know
4. Olivia Lewis - Vertigo (i'm sorry Olivia but this still isnt your year)
5. Pamela - All about a life
6. Trilogy - Starlight (will win tonight)

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Estonia Eurolaul 2007:
1. Kristjan Kasearu & Paradise Crew - So much to say
2. Arne Lauri - Supreme nature
3. Koit Toome - Veidi veel (nice song and the only one in Estonian)
4. Laura Põldvere - Sunflowers (not bad but could use an extra push)
5. Gerli Padar - Partners in crime
6. Vanilla Ninja - Birds of peace (ESC audience liked their style in 2005 so maybe they are Estonia's safest bet)
7. Linda - One year from now
8. Soul Militia - My place
9. Ines - In good and bad (hot fav once again)
10. Hele Kõre & Kristjan Kasearu - Romeo and Juliet (could be a surprise winner)

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Finland:

Finally some good songs here. I would like to see Johanna Kurkela back in May...

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Romenia:

Dracula, my love is my favourite song of the season so far, hope it doesn't get disqualified. Marcel Pavel also has a nice latin pop song

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Bulgaria:

What are Charlene & Natasha doing here??? Will Sofi Marinova sing this time?

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Sweden:

I had high hopes here, maybe to high since I didn't went crazy yesterday when I first heard this week's songs. Samba sambero is so Dancing with the Stars. How borring!!! Hope they have nice stage with a big staircase.

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Lithuania:

Is it the yellow, the red or the green group? Who cares its Lithuania, just send the crazyest act again and get it over with.

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Norway:

Some nice songs tonight: Jenny Jenssen, CRASH!, Jannicke...

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Latvia:

I bet they will send Elli U. to the final with that borring ballad of hers. Can she do and Argubash and bring back Trans-european express?

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Iceland:

Heard the songs on monday but dont remember any of them now. Please send Fridrik Omar to Helsinki, maybe he can hire Joelle Ursull has a backing singer and drum player.

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Spain:

In search for better tv rattings they moved the show to saturday, I say ditch the whole show and send Nash with a decent song...