Lisbon calling Ankara and Kiev

Country: Turkey

Performer: Kenan Doğulu

Song: Shake it up şekerim

Music by: Kenan Doğulu

Lyrics by: Kenan Doğulu

Review: With the exception of 2005, Turkey has been one of the countries that has contributed the most to the modernization of the Eurovision Song Contest, sending major stars to the competition with high quality pop songs.

This year they will be represented by Kenan Doğulu one of the most popular and influential musicians in the Turkish pop music industry. His song Shake it up şekerim brings to this year's contest an urban feel with nice ethnic sounds, very different from all the other competing songs.

Shake it up şekerim is prehaps the most contemporary song of the year, it might not be the most Eurovisionesque song but it certainly deserves a place in the final line-up.

I confess I didn't like it at first but now its one of my favourites... It might not be a winner but its still a nice effort from Turky.

***

Country: Ukraine

Performer: Verka Serduchka

Song: Dancing lasha tumbai

Music by: Andrei Danilko

Lyrics by: Andrei Danilko

Review: How can I say this... I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee this song!
I know this song is a bit crazy but that is exactly what makes Dancing lasha tumbai such a great Eurovision song. That and the fabulous Verka Serduchka off course.

There have been many comedy acts in recent years but this one seems to be the most original and funny of all, and if such songs are ever to win this would be a very nice choice.

Many fans say this kind of "trashy" songs are not worthy of a music event like the Eurovision Song Contest, but I think that this kind of acts are just what the contest needs.
This songs just makes us feel happy and wanna dance to it and that is what pop music is all about. Even if the songs are not that innocent in the end...
Verka is without a doubt the most interessanting contestant going to Helsinki.

Lisbon calling Stockholm and Bern

Country: Sweden

Performers: The Ark

Song: The worrying kind

Music by: Ola Salo

Lyrics by: Ola Salo

Review: Eternal favourites Sweden had this year one of the worse national finals in years, still they managed to choose a song that I think has very good chances to make us travel to Stockholm next year.

It was no surprise to see The Ark winning Melodifestivalen with their pop/ glam rock song The worrying kind. This song has a touch of vintage rock mixed with some pop influences, but its at the same time a very "now" song. It also gives us a very cool change from more traditional schlager songs and proves why the Swedish music industry is so powerfull. Plus glam rock always scores high in the ESC.

This entry is being very underated by fans. It is a very comercial song that I bet will have great impact in the European audience.

***

Country: Switzerland

Performer: DJ Bobo

Song: Vampires are alive

Music by: DJ Bobo, Axel Breitung

Lyrics by: DJ Bobo, Axel Breitung

Review: Switzerland definatly learned from the null points back in 2004 and have since taken a radical new approach towards Eurovision.

This year they are back to the top of internet polls with Vampires are alive, a modern song by Dj Bobo, the man who gaves us Chihuahua.

I'm not the biggest fan of this song but I recognize it's comercial appeal. The introduction and the end reminds me of Darth Vader and the in between its pure eurodance, but it lacks a stronger sound, to really stay in our minds.

I also fear the stage act can be a bit too much and end up in a big mess... Still this is an almost certain finalist.

Lisbon calling Ljubljana and Madrid

Country: Slovenia

Performer: Alenka Gotar

Song: Cvet z juga

Music by: Andrej Babić, Aleksandar Valenčića

Lyrics by: Andrej Babić, Aleksandar Valenčića

Review: This song was Andrej's third attempt in three years to win EMA, all his other songs were favourites to win the event but always lost because of the 50/50 voting (jury plus televote). He started with Metulj in 2005, a very special song, he them went a little camper last year with Mandoline and this year he went completly crazy and made this ode to campness, opera meets balcan disco, called Cvet z juga.

I love Eurovision so camp songs are not really an issue with me but there is something in this song that hasn't yet reached my Eurovision heart...

I think my biggest set back here was the performance in the national final, it was just awfull! So bad I've not been able to love this properly. That and the fact Eva Cerne had such a cool song, a fantastic dress and only came second (she would have won if they had a jury)...

Slovenia won the OGAE Portugal preview's meeting early this month (I didn't give it any point) and has scored well in other meethings across Europe so fans clearly like it, will the audience agree?
***

Country: Spain

Performers: D'Nash

Song: I Love you mi vida

Music by: Thomas G:son, Andreas Rickstrand

Lyrics by: Tony Sanchez-Ohlsson, Rebeca Pous del Toro

Review: There is no country I would love to see win Eurovision more them Spain. They kinda tried too in the early 00's and almost had really good chances this year too. They had nice songs and nice singers but then went totally crazy and choose the worse method to do a national final ever...

The result was combination of boysband D'Nash singing another G:son theme I Love you mi vida, a song clearly intended for a female soloist, or at least a soloist! There is no chance for them now, I like D'Nash and I like the song but never in a million years will they match... Plus they will sing in the place of death, 2nd in the Final.

Still this is a long way from those Ketchup girls thing from last years contest. There is still hope for our vizinhos, maybe Madrid 2009?

Lisbon calling Moscow and Belgrade

Country: Russia

Performers: Serebro

Song: Song n.º 1

Music by: Maxim Fadeev

Lyrics by: Daniil Babitchev

Review: This is another "American" pop modern kinda song. Many predict that it will give Russia their first win but I really doubt it.

It lacks charisma, I dont like it, it's a borring song.

I woudn't be surprised if this group of "wanna be divas" totally floped on stage.

***

Country: Serbia

Performer: Marija Šerifović
Song: Molitva

Music by: Vladimir Graić

Lyrics by: S. M. Mare

Review: Serbians really really want to win Eurovision don't they?

Molitva is a beautifull song and will without a doubt be among the top 5 in Helsinki.

Marija's voice is sublime and fits the song perfectly. She may not be the most attractive singer in the world but she really gives it all on stage making her song shine even more.

It's all very quiet and emotional in this gentle song, so it should stand out well among all the other more extravagant songs.

I dont see it has a winner yeat but it is one of the best songs this year without any doubt.

Lisbon calling Warsaw and Bucharest

Country: Poland

Performers: The Jet Set

Song: Time to party

Music by: Mateusz Krezan

Lyrics by: Kamil Varen, David Junior Serame

Review: Poland is becoming the eternal 11th in the semi-final. They missed the 2005 final by just 4 points and the 2006 final stayed at only 6 points away...

Time to party is a happy, modern, American/MTV kinda of song, that should go down well with most viewers.
The Jet Set give a nice performance of their song on stage, very appealing and modern in the right way. Its looks like a "live" music video with 3 minutes.

So all seems to be fine here, but will the european audience fall in love with this style of song? I must be honest and say I dont like it particularly.

***

Country: Romenia

Performers: Todomondo

Song: Liubi, liubi, I Love you

Music by: Mister M

Lyrics by: Mister M, Vlad Creţu, Ghedi Kamara
Review: I still dont get this song...

Is it a comedy song? A Eurovisionesque multilingual song? Pop? Folk? I just dont know!

Fans seem to like it, I dont see anything special about it, its just a big mess in my opinion.

Bring back Dracula, my love.

Lisbon calling Amsterdam and Oslo

Country: The Netherlands

Performer: Edsilia Rombley

Song: On top of the world

Music by: Tjeerd Oosterhuis

Lyrics by: Tjeerd Oosterhuis, Martin Gijzemijter, Maarten ten Hove

Review: Desperate attempt from The Netherlands to show some interess on Eurovision. Rumour say that Edsilia was the cheaper solution to represent the country after the Idols winner made too many demands...
The song is ok, not to say bad, I can't see anything special about it.

Next!

***

Country: Norway

Performer: Guri Schanke

Song: Ven a bailar conmigo

Music by: Thomas G:son
Lyrics by: Thomas G:son

Review: Another song from the new king of Eurovision Schlager, Ven a bailar conmigo is a mix of "Dancing with the Stars" and Ricky Martin.

Guri is a very strong performance and gives the song all she has on stage, viewers will have a nice "latino" party with this song/ performance.

It sounds a bit fake because it comes from a Nordic country that isn't exactly latino... But I wanna wasn't from a Latino country either and it won so this might not be such a disadvantage after all...

Lisbon calling Kishinev and Podgorica

Country: Moldova

Performer: Natalia Barbu

Song: Fight

Music by: Alexandru Braşoveanu

Lyrics by: Elena Buga

Review: This was one of the first songs choosen this year and remains one of my favourites ever since.

It's a modern pop-rock theme with a nice mix of electronic guitars and violins. The song starts slowly but builds up well and turns into a very powerfull song that really captures our attention.
Natalia's voice fits the song perfectly and if she is able to give a good performance in Helsinki this might give Moldova a well deserved third Eurovision final.

***

Country: Montenegro

Performer: Stevan Faddy

Song: Ajde kroči

Music by: Slaven Knezović

Lyrics by: Milan Perić

Review: I had high hopes about Montengro and Stevan Faddy. I loved No Name in 2005 and Stevan had a really cool song in their national final last year.

Unfortunatly this expectations didn't came thru with Ajde kroči. This is another pop rock song, with a nice brigde that gives it a touch of balcanic soul but that its unable to rescue this song from sounding incredibly old fashioned.

It's not all bad, but I also don't see in it many aspects for Eurovision sucess... Maybe next year.

Lisbon calling Skopje and Valleta

Country: F.Y. R. Macedonia

Performer: Karolina

Song: Mojo svet

Music by: Grigor Koprov

Lyrics by: Ognen Nedelkovski

Review: Is always a pleasure for the fans watching a former Eurovision participant return to the contest, specially one that was well appreciated like Karolina in her first attempt with the song Od nas zavisi in 2002.

Of course that it also helps when the returning artists is back in the contest with an amazing song like Mojo svet.
This song is a happy mixture of pop-rock with some more traditional balcan rythems. It has a very strong and catchy chorus and of course it can also count with Karolina's strong vocal habilities and stage presence.

Macedonia has always reached the final since the current sistem was introduced and I think this year will be no exception, Karolina's challenge will be to improve the result Elena Risteka got last year and manage a place above 12th in the final.

***

Country: Malta

Performer: Olivia Lewis
Song: Vertigo

Music by: Philip Vella
Lyrics by: Gerard James Borg

Review: Olivia Lewis is already an Eurovision veteran, even if this is only the first time she will be in the ESC stage. She has tried to reach the contest more times them any other artist and will finally have her chance in Helsinki.

Malta is one of the countries that really really loves the Eurovision Song Contest and always gives it their best. This year they once again be represented with a very strong entry.

Vertigo is not an easy song, it mixes flamenco with arabic sounds in a style that we could call "Mediteranic". It's very different from what Malta has sended so far and can sound bit strange at first but it's certainly a very special song.

Olivia has a very nice voice and stage presence and after their bad result last year, in part due to a weak stage performance, I think this year it will all be near perfection.

It wont be easy for them to reach the final but I think that they will pull it of in the end. Olivia really deserves that chance for all her previous efforts.

Lisbon calling Riga and Vilnius

Country: Latvia

Perfomers: Bonaparti.lv

Song: Questa notte

Music by: Kjell Jennstig

Lyrics by: Kjell Jennstig, Torbjörn Wassenius, Francesca Russo

Review: This is a first time since 2000 that a song will be sang completely in Italian, an surprisingly it will not be representing Italy or Switzerland but it will be flying the Latvian colours.

Beside being sang in Italian Questa notte also has more them a touch of opera in it, making it sound even more "vintage". Will this appeal to viewers? I think so, at least the more traditional audiences like the Portuguese one, that will surely give it a high score.

This is a pleasent song, similar to the ones that the group Il Divo sings, which can only help Bonaparti to achieve a good result. Plus they will sing last in the semi-final.

On the negative side are those crazy hats they wore in the national final, but maybe they will leave those at home.

***

Country: Lithuania

Performers: 4Fun

Song: Love or leave

Music by: Julija Ritčik

Lyrics by: Julija Ritčik

Review: After a very crazy song last year Lithuania is back with a very soft song.

How this song won in Lithuania is a mistery to me, their national final used to be much weirder.

Love or leave is a gentle song, with a guitar in a backround giving it a kind Spanish feeling and the the lead singer voice giving it extra warmth.
Maybe a little too subtle for Eurovision, but on the other hand its a beautifull song that can contrast well with other more "extravagant" songs and achieve its goal to reach the viewers hearts.

Their stage performance is also very quiet but very original.

Lisbon calling Dublin and Jerusalem

Country: Ireland

Performer: Dervish

Song: They can't stop the spring

Music by: John Waters, Tommy Moran

Lyrics by: John Waters, Tommy Moran

Review: The Irish have their own recipe regarding Eurovision, they either send a ballad or a celtic song, considering they won 7 times we could say that this is indeed a very good recipe.

However if we look at their most recent scores they haven't havent been doing all that well.

This year they went for the celtic theme, choosing Dervish to sing for them and later deciding that the song would be the poetically entitled They can't stop the spring. So far so good, why shouldn't it work again this year?

I'm not so shure that it will work, altough this is a very gentle song but Dervish lead singer Cathy Jordan has a very particular voice that doesnt sound all that atractive to me. Beside that during her national final she seemed to be singing a bit out of tune (maybe there were just high notes) and displayed the appeal of a dead cat on stage.

Also, the song itself might be a problem. One of the irish commentators said he didn't like any of the songs they had to choose from! Even if They can't stop the spring is a nice song it really doesn't have that special something that could catch the viewers eyes, hears and hearts.

***

Country: Israel

Perfomers: Teapacks

Song: Push the button
Music by: Kobi Oz

Lyrics by: Kobi Oz

Review: After two ballads Israel is going to Helsinki this year with a more modern song. Push the button by the all male group Teapacks is a song about the need for peace and the dangers of war! How apropiate for a country that just last summer went to war with one of their neighbours.

But enough politics this is a song contest and considering just that this is not a bad song at all, I think it has some good chances in Eurovision. It has that touch of Wadde wadde dudde da? and We are the winners two succesfull songs in the history of the contest.

Personnaly it's not one of my favourite songs this year. They also drawed the number 2 slot in the semi-final, bad luck!

This is a different song, but it will be different in the right way?

Taking a closer look at this years stars: Dragonfly feat. Dado Topić

One of the oldest and most experienced singers in this years contest comes from Croatia. Dado Topić born in 1949 started is carrear while he was still a teenager as a member of rock bands Devils Elixire, Dynamite and Korni Grupa where he sang for about a year. He left Korni to form his own band - Time - which he left after 10 year in order to develope his solo career.

Troughout the years of his very successful career Dado stayed faithfull to rock, soul and blues, with a sweet mixture of funk.

He has received many awards, including "best rock vocal and composer" in the year 2006 and reached a new highlight this year when he won the popular Croatia pre-selection for Eurovision the Dora 2007.

In Helsinki he will sing Vjerujem u ljubav (I believe in love) with the group Dragonfly. This formation was formed in the mid 90's under the name The Draggerrs.

Besides the lead singer Iva Gluhak the band is composed of three more member: Drago Vidaković and Branko Kužnar-Žan in the guitars and Branko Badanjak who plays the drums.

Dragonfly has developed their own sound, having played with some important member os the Croatian music scene while playing all year round in Croatian clubs and touring the Adriatic coast. During their career they have had excellent feedback from audiences and music analysts.

Lisbon calling Budapest and Reykjavik

Country: Hungary

Performer: Magdi Rúzsa

Song: Unsubstantial blues

Music by: Magdi Rúzsa

Lyrics by: Imre Mozsik

Review: Eurovision 2007 is full of diferent styles of music, Hungary brings us a slight touch of blues with their soft-rock ballad Unsubstantial blues.

Young singer Magdi is a talent show winner so she should have plenty of television experience which will certanly help her in Helsinki. Her voice is very original and serves her song well, giving it a special sentiment.

The draw was also kinde to the Hungarian, they will sing in the 22th place, close to the well of the show.

On the negative side this song doesn't seem to have any special kind of appeal. Its all very quiet and soft and Magdi can get lost among stronger songs from Malta, Andorra or Slovenia that will alk sing before or after Hungary.

***

Country: Iceland

Performer: Eiríkur Hauksson

Song: Valentine lost

Music by: Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson

Lyrics by: Peter Fenner

Review: Eiríkur was one of the members of the group Icy the first Icelandic representatives in Eurovision, he returns this year with a strong rock ballad that reminds me of Queen.

Valentine lost if one of my favourite songs in this year's contest and I love it even more in the original Icelandic version called Ég les í lófa þínum (I read from the palm of your hand).

Rock music has found new strenght in Eurovision and this song is a very good example of that type of music, I think that it can also please viewers who liked the old strong love ballad with a symphonic sound that used to dominated the contest in the past. This however can be its negative point: sounding a little too old.

The draw wasn't very kind to Iceland, they will sing in the beginning of the show, next to Belarus another rock inspired song.

Lisbon calling Berlin and Athens

Country: Germany

Performer: Roger Cicero

Song: Frauen regier'n die Welt

Music by: Matthias Hass

Lyrics by: Frank Ramond

Review: Germany is another of my favourite countries in Eurovision history so I'm very happy to see them return to good shape this year with Roger's Frauen regier'n die Welt.

This is not a common song in ESC and because of that I think it has great potential and can achieve a good result in Helsinki. i I personally like it very much.

Frauen regier'n die Welt sound like jazz, with a touch of swing and reminds me of Robin Williams in that album where he sang classic songs.

Roger Cicero seems to be a very professional performer, with a nice stage presence. The national final performance had a vintage feeling in it and to me it looked just perfect.

But is jazz also a good style of music for Eurovision?
***

Country: Greece
Performer: Sarbel

Song: Yassou Maria

Music by: Alex Papakonstantinou, Marcus Englöf

Lyrics by: Μack

Review: Greece is one of the new powerfull countries in Eurovision, they have been in the top 10 places in the last 3 years, having won the contest in 2005.

This year's song has everything you would expect from the Greek entry. It mixes traditional greek sounds with a modern pop beat and its sang by a famous male singer who will do a nice choreography on stage.

Their biggest set back might be that this song sound like the ones they sended in 2004 and 2005, so where is the "wow" novelty factor? Will the audience fall for this recipie again or go for something new like last year?

Still, its not a bad song. We cant expect every song to be different and in a style that is not pop after all this is Eurovision so we must have "Eurovision" songs in it.

Lisbon calling Paris and Tbilisi

Country: France

Performers: Les Fatal Picards

Song:L'amour à la française

Music by: Ivan Callot, Laurent Honel, Jean-Marc Sauvagnargues, Yves Giraud, Paul Léger

Lyrics by: Ivan Callot, Laurent Honel, Jean-Marc Sauvagnargues, Yves Giraud, Paul Léger

Review: Now here is a very amusing song. France is back to the top of my favourite countries with L'amour à la française. This is not the typical "Celine Dion wannabe ballad " but I think that it will give them their best result since 2002. Maybe even a top 5 is possible for Les Fatal Picards with this contagious song with hybird lyrics talking about love the French way.

This is one of those songs nobody can be indiferent too, you either love it or you hate it. In my case I love it and I think viewers will also be captivated by the relaxed performance of Les Fatals Picards and the healthy humour of their hallucinant song.

***

Country: Georgia

Performer: Sopho

Song: Visionary dream

Music by: Beqa Jafaridze

Lyrics by: Bibi Kvachadze

Review: Georgia is making it's Eurovision debut in Helsinki and what a debut it will be. Visionary dream is one of the best songs ever to spet into the ESC stage and I wouldn't be surprised if the next ESC was held in Tbilisi. It's such a good song that its weaknes might be being to good for Eurovision.

It's pop, reminds me of Madona, but also ethnic, it's modern and traditional at the same time. It's a very special song, not easy to fall in love with when you first hear it, but you can clearly understand that it is of high quality right from the begining.

Because it's so many things at once some some say Visionary dream it's a cahotic song, I think it's just a fabulous composition.

Congratulations to Georgia, no matter what the result will be next May, this is already one of my all time favourites.

Lisbon calling Tallinn and Helsinki

Country: Estonia

Performer: Gerli Padar

Song: Partners in crime

Music by: Hendrik Sal-Saller

Lyrics by: Berit Veiber

Review: Hot favourites in the late 90's and early 00's Estonia saw their reputation fade with the introduction of the current system hasn't reached the final since 2003. This doesn't mean that their songs have been bad, they just haven't been very lucky and I imagine that the same will happen this year.

Partners in crime is a cute pop song, with a nice chorus and a touch of rock, sang by a talented young singer. All seems to be fine with this entry, their biggest challenge will be reaching the european audience on the semi-final night with this very "normal" song.

Nothing stands out much here, it's all nice but a bit too soft for Eurovision.

***

Country: Finland

Performer: Hanna Pakarinen

Song: Leave me alone

Music by: Martti Vuorinen, Miikka Huttunen

Lyrics by: Martti Vuorinen, Hanna Pakarinen

Review: In all their many Eurovision participations Finland is my favourite country no less then 5 times (including last year winners Lordi) with many others top 10 placings in my charts, this year however they are among my last places with Leave me alone by Hanna Pakarinen.

This is a meadle of the road pop-rock song, with nothing specially atractive in it. I doubt they will repeat they result from last year, even a top 10 seems very far away for them with this uninspired song...

Lisbon calling Prague and Copenhagen

Country: Czech Republic

Performers: Kabát

Song: Malá damá

Music by: Milan Špalek, Tomáš Krulich, Radek Hurčík, Josef Vojtek, Ota Váňa

Lyrics by: Milan Špalek, Tomáš Krulich, Radek Hurčík, Josef Vojtek, Ota Váňa

Review: The Czech's are making their Eurovision debut this year with a song that remind us of last year's winners Lordi (without the masks).

Malá damá is a true rock song, sang with a deep voice by men with long hair. It's not a bad song and if rock viewers are really wacthing ESC this days this might be their favourite song, thus giving the Czech Republic a very nice first participation...

I think that Eurovision improves itselft with the inclusion of different styles of music, but ultimately it is, always was and always will be, a mainstream pop contest, so without the mask's and the scandals the group Kabát might get a bit lost in the semi-final...

Still, best of luck to the Czech Republic in Helsinki, who knows maybe they can prove that true rock is indeed what ESC viewers like...

***

Country: Denmark

Performer: DQ

Song: Drama Queen

Music by: Peter Andersen, Simon Munk

Lyrics by: Peter Andersen, Claus Christensen

Review: This was the "national final's" season biggest surprise. After failing to qualify to the final directly DQ received a wildcard from radio listeners and sailled her way to the top in the Danish final with this "glam schlager" song.

I love all things related to schlager so I can't say I don't like this song, it's biggest problem is the singer. A song like this needs some glamourous drag queen to sing it, After Dark could turn this into a huge song, but DQ is trying so hard to be serious that it totally removes the glam away. Not to talk about those awfull costumes, with those uge punk feathered hats...

Around the internet this is appearing has a favourite for qualification but I'm not so shure about that. Drag acts always have a lot of support among Eurovision fans but have usually fail to win their national finals - After Dark, Queentastic - and when they do win - Sestre - they haven't scored that well in the real ESC.

Long live Schlager

Lisbon calling Zagreb and Nicosia

Country: Croatia

Performers: Dragonfly feat. Dado Topić

Song: Vjerujem u ljubav

Music by: Dado Topić

Lyrics by: Dado Topić

Review: After a very original song last year Croatia returns to a more traditional style this year with the soft rock ballad Vjerujem u ljubav.

This will be the 3rd time in 4 years that Croatia sends a ballad to Eurovision, both the more traditional You are the only one and the ethnic Vukovi umiru sami managed to pass the semi final and barrely missed out on the top 10 so there are good chances that the same will happen to Vjerujem u ljubav.

Dado Topić is one of the most famous rock musicians of the former Yugoslavia states so he will have no trouble getting votes from all those countries, their problem will be reaching other countries with this very soft and "cool" song.

The draw putted them between Denmark and Poland which is not bad, but after them there is still 11 other songs to go.

Has I said before this is not my favourite song from Croatia, but its far from being a bad song, let see what the European audience thinks of it...

***

Country: Cyprus

Performer: Evridiki

Song: Comme ci, comme ça

Music by: Dimitris Korgialas

Lyrics by: Poseidonas Giannopoulos

Review: There is nothing a Eurovision fan loves more them returning artists, it makes us believe that this is indeed a bit music event, in which its worth taking part.

Last year we had Carola and Anna Vissi, in Helsinki we will have Evridiki. What would the ESC be without fab divas like them? Nothing!

Evridiki was an early favourite to win the 1992 contest with Teriazume but ended 11th. She would return in 1994 with Ime anthropos ki ego ending 11th again. So I guess this year she will try to make it into the top 10 with Comme ci, comme ça, a very modern song sang in french.

She didn't dissapoint her fans at all this year, Comme ci, comme ça is a very good song, however it wont be easy for her to get passed a semi-final with 27 other songs, most of them in english... She will get 12 points from Greece and I would hope some high score from France too, but she will sing in 3rd place in the semi final, so she better have a big performance prepared for Helsinki...

This is without a doubt one of my favourites this year.

Lisbon calling Sarajevo and Sofia

Country: Bosnia & Herzegovina
Performer: Marija Šestić
Song: Rijeka bez imena
Music by: Goran Kovačić
Lyrics by: Aleksandra Milutinović
Review: After the success of Lejla last year the expectations where high about the next Bosnian entry. When I first heard Rijeka bez imena I was a little disappointed, not that it's a bad song but it doesnt stay in you memory when you first hear it, it lacks "wow" factor. It's not easy to be the next song after Lejla.
Marija is a beatifull young singer with a very nice voice, she performs her song with great intensity, which can only help her chances of a good place, but she will also be the first one to performe in the final and we have to go back to 1984 to see the opening song winning the Eurovision Song Contest: Diggi-loo diggi-ley.
Overall this is a good song that i'm shure will have a nice stage act to impress viewers, however i'm not so shure on what the outcome will be for the Bosnian delegation this year. They can always count on their neighbours to vote for them, but will the European audience go for yet another ethnic ballad from the balcans?
***
Country: Bulgaria
Performer: Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankoulov
Song:Water
Music by: Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankoulov
Lyrics by: Elitsa Todorova
Review: If someone can prevent a trip to Minsk next year is Bulgaria, this will be their 3rd entry in the contest and they shure learned their lesson right. Water is the kind of ethnic song that Eurovision fans and viewers have showned big love latelly, remember Wild dances?
Water has lots of drums, some weird traditional singing and modern rhythms.
The stage presentation of the songs has become increasingly important in this contest, after all this is a television show. From what I saw of their performance in Bulgarian national final and from their preview video Elitsa and Stoyan still have a lot of work to do, this is their weakest point.
I read on some Eurovision news sites they are aware of their status of favourites to win the contest, they have strated their promotion tour and I hope are preparing a big show to go with their song. They will open the semi-final, but in their case opening it's not bad because they have a "big" song, if they give us a "big" performance I'm shure they will qualify and score well in the final, maybe even go all the way to the top.

Lisbon calling Minsk and Brussels

Country: Belarus

Performer: Koldun

Song: Work your magic

Music by: Philip Kirkorov

Lyrics by: Karen Kavaleryan

Review: Would you like to visit Minsk? If you do maybe you will have another good reason go to there for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest....

Work your magic is indeed one of the strongest entries in this year's contest and an early favourite to win the whole thing. It has everything in its favour: cute male singer, nice pop song made by experienced composers and a huge marketing campain to support it all, which clearly shows their will to win. The preview video is among the best ever made for this contest!

The not so good thing in the Belarussian team in the semi-final draw: 4th place, between the cypriot diva and the icelandic rocker and before 24 other songs.

Will Koldun be this year's Kate Ryan or will he follow the footspets of Dima Bilan?

***

Country: Belgium

Performers: The KMG's

Song: Love power

Music by: Paul Curtiz

Lyrics by: Paul Curtiz, Sexyfire

Review: This is this year "feel good" song. After all the exciting around Kate Ryan last year this year's Belgium entry is much lower profile, however I think that it is being very underrated by fans.

We have to go back to 2001 to find another funky song in the Eurovision stage: You got style by Skamp representing Lithuania. This song endend in 13th place which is not good news for The KMG's but, in my opinion, Love power is better them You got style, and has that touch of 70's disco giving it extra appeal and an international sonority.

The KMG's also seem to bring a lot of groovie felling to the stage when performing so they can really make the viewers want to dance and vote for them.

Maybe they can be a surprise and qualify for the final, after all being a "feel good" song didn't hurt Denmark in 2005.

Lisbon calling Yerevan and Vienna

Country: Armenia

Performer: Hayko

Song: Anytime you need

Music by: Hayko, Karen Kavaleryan

Lyrics by: Hayko, Karen Kavaleryan

Review: After an auspicious debut last year with the song Without your love Armenia is directly qualified for this year's final where they will try to improve their result with the beautifull ballad Anytime you need.

This classical ballad reminds me a bit of Lane moja and Lejla, but it's not so ethnic, and also Kad zaspu andeli and You are the only one, without being croatian. With the exception of the last one, all other 3 songs scored top 10 results (You are the only one ended in 12th place) so this is good news for Armenia. Also, they have a strong diaspora vote which is always a nice thing...

There isn't much wrong with this song, although Hayko must give a much more powerfull performance in Helsinki them he did on the armenian national final if he wants to capture the viewers hearts and minds. He sang the song well but the stage act was a bit amateurish for ESC. Still, I think we will hear a lot of votes for Armenia on May 12th, even some douze points!

***

Country: Austria

Performer: Eric Papilaya

Song: Get a life, get alive

Music by: Greg Usek

Lyrics by: Austin Howard

Review: I don't like this song and since this is my blog I won't bother writing much about it. Positive thing about it: fighting AIDS and the promise of a 700 meters boa on stage with Eric. There is also talk about Swarovski gemstones in a Vivienne Westwood hoody.

We love Queen Angelica

This video is dedicated to my good Friends from H2omens.

Lisbon calling Tirana and Andorra la Vella

Country: Albania

Performer: Frederik Ndoci
Song: Hear my plea
Music by: Adrian Hila
Lyrics by: Pandi Laço

Review: From the same composers of Tomorrow I go Albania will try to reach this year's final with an ethnic ballad that used to be sang in albanian and last 4 minutes and 30 seconds... Despite this changes the song still maintains some of its previous strength, much thanks to Frederik and Aida's emotional performances which are, in my opinion, the strongest aspect of this song.

On the negative side this new version gets a bit too repetive towards the end without ever reaching a true climax. The bad english pronunciation can also be a problem, I think that if a country decides to sing in english in order to make the song more understandable to viewers they should make shure the singer is able to sing it properly.

All thinks considered this is a nice effort from Albania and with some neighbourhood voting they can even reach the final or get very close to it.

***

Country: Andorra
Performers: Anonymous

Song: Salvem el món
Music by: Niki Francesca, Alejandro Martínez, Guillem Gallego
Lyrics by: Niki Francesca, Alejandro Martínez, Guillem Gallego

Review: Radical chance of style from Andorra this year. Teen group Anonymous will sing a very modern pop-rock theme that I think can appeal to the younger audience of the contest all over Europe, giving Andorra their first ESC final.

There aren't many negative aspects in this song, it's young, modern and fresh, we could prehaps say that due to the fact that it is very "international" viewers won't pay much attention to it and go for more "powerfull" and "different" songs, but on the other hand they have a late starting position that can make them memorable in the end of the 28 songs.

Look out for Andorra this year... I think Portugal will give them many points!