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The International Eurovision finals will be held the 14'th of May this year.

The contestants videos can be previewed here: http://www.eurovision.tv/page/dusseldorf-2011

I really enjoy the Danish winners this year. Great band, have had hits in Canada already!

The Norwegian one is quite catchy too, I think.

Wow... the 5 finalists are pretty awful... only the Italian and the German are listenable. I guess if I had to pick it would be the Italian. But would I want any of these songs on my MP3 player? No friggin' way! Yuck!

I am not sure who or how the 5 finalists were chosen, but 3 of them didn't even make my Top 20 or 5 Honorable Mentions. And when I have time to narrow the Top 20 down to Top 5, I doubt any of the 5 finalists will make that cut. I realize that European Tastes are much different than North American, but Yikes...

There was some really really awful stuff too. I'll say that Denmark was on the fence of making the top 20 as we San Marino. The lyrics to the Denmark song were really really weak. The band however is pretty good and could do much better with some decent material.

What do you think of these Magne? I only got to listen 1 time and in many cases could only take the first minute or so of many of them they sucked so badly. I know there's better music in all those countries because we have members in all of them and I've heard better from them. Lyrically the songs were far less than even our average lyricists on this board could do. Most of the talent was very good though. Some of these 20 could make it into the JPF nominations (I'd say 4-6 probably). Most of the artists themselves are very talented. They just desperately need good songs. Perhaps that's the market US writers should be looking to. I saw that the writer of Poker Face is working with the Russian contestant... but it wasn't enough to push him into my top 20.

20 Best in Alpha Order:

Azerbaijan
Belgium
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Denmark
Estonia
Georgia
Germany
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Poland
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Switzerland
The Netherlands
Turkey
Ukraine

Honorable Mention

Albania
Belarus
Cyprus
Norway
Slovenia

Man I love the Eurovision ! I watch it every year it's a great laugh and even better if drunk In fact I think you HAVE to be drunk to listen to some of the songs.
I usually vote on costumes and choreography rather than music as 90% of the tracks are usually dross.

I dunno about judging the songs, Brian, I'm on the writing/production side of things, so I'm really not in a position to do that, but I think there's a nice variety this year. Not all are I-IV-V pop flicks, and even the entires from East are more homogenic than usual this year, I think.

Especially the production side of things sounds great, I think. We didn't make the cut, even with a smooth Swedish production, so I have certainly not been able to beat these entries, on their own terms at least.

This is the contest everybody likes to dizz, and some years it is hard keeping up appearences, but this year it seems to me it's the younger generations trying well known formats out, and I kind of like it, at least it's interesting to me (when I can't even get my own song in, it wouldn't be right to say the other's are bad would it?). American Dianne Warren cowrote the UK entry last year, so it seems American writers has taken some interest in Eurovision. I'm sure some JPF'ers could improve a lyric or two, even this year :-)

I said kind of, cause when I listen to music in my own time, it's Bill Frisell, Steve Wariner, Derek Trucks, Harry Connick Jr., Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, John Hiatt and stuff like that, so Eurovision is not exactly on my player either. I hope when I get one in the competition that it will add something that wouldn't be there, if I didn't. but, don't we all.. Genre wise, Eurovision is pretty open, so why not? Mostly, I feel my own Eurovision projects are good opportunities to learn.

I haven’t listened to any of the songs yet, but will do soon. Then decide where to place my well earned money I won’t be in Düsseldorf this year but my colleague is going, so I will get all the dirt and gossip when she comes back

You wouldn't happen to know where to get tickets, Nige? I'd like to go with my wife.. Düsseldorf is just a 5hr drive from my house.

Hej Magne

I think the main show sold out in minutes, but you may still be able to get something the full rehearsal (Saturday afternoon). Or either of the semi-finals (Tuesday and Thursday). Failing that, eBay

I have just listened to half on the songs (CD 1), so far I'm thinking Belarus, Denmark and Hungary

Nige

This week is the HUGE Eurovision week in Europe. Hundreds of millions of people all across the world including Asia, Africa, Southern Americas and Canada will be listening!

Now songs, rehearsals ect. can be heard on Utube http://www.youtube.com/user/eurovision#p/u/9/IYzomDkiORw

The music may not be for everyone, but you might recognize the efforts differently, after you've fishished reading this post..

An important historical note.

What many may not realize is that in the post-war years, the Eurovision song competition was part of a combined effort against communism. From 1956, Eurovision aimed to show how pleasing and fun the free western Europe was in contrast to the boring, communist Eastern Europe (divided by the Berlin wall). The idea was to plant a desire for freedom from within (the Trojan Horse principle).

The communists put up a "counter show" named Intervision, held in Poland every year, in an attempt to prove that the communists also could have fun and strut their stuff, but the fake propaganda music never caught on, and the show died in the early 1980'ies.

Eurovision gained fans year by year in the communist countries, and people even risked their lives by listening to it! And the fight for freedom is absolutely not over yet..

In 2009 where the finals were in Russia, human rights were violated outside the stadium, while they danced and celebrated inside the dome! Still in conjunction with the 2010 Eurovision contest, people in dictator driven eastern european countries were questioned after the show, and followed by the secret services!

That's part of why Eurovision is such a HUGE thing in Europe, and why having light pop music aimed to please only, remain to be important.

Here's to all the songwriters and artists!

Btw. my personal favourites are Denmaaaark and Spaaaain!

Good luck!

Eurovison, good and bad, is a part of life really. Watched it every year growing up, back when it was only a final, with less countries, no tele voting, and songs were sung in the official language of the country.

Now its two semi-finals, and a final on saturday night, and the enthusiasm is there. Its all good fun really. How the songs are picked: each country has their own selection process, but broadly asking for song submissions (think they have to be a certain time limit ie 3min 30 or something), then a shortlist is picked, here in Ireland we then have a show where all songs are performed and the voting is part tele voting, part juries. And then the winner goes to represent in the semi-finals.

A number of years ago we won with a song written by an Irish American living in the US, and he entered the song into the national contest, won that and the song went on to win the whole competition: In Your Eyes was the song. There is more crossover these days, with writers, arrangers and producers from different countries working with people in different countries. Ronan Keating co-wrote another europeans countries entry last year.

Celine Dion sung and won Eurovision in the 80s (in Dublin!); ABBA won; Colm Wilkinson represented Ireland one year; Cliff Richard; Sandy Shaw; Michael Ball. And a couple of people who put a song into Eurovision and didn't win: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim rice, they did in the 70s, but ALW co-wrote with Diane Warren and didn't win either. I think Elton John entered one year and didn't win.

The co-writers of You Raise Me Up won with the contest separately over the years: Brendan Graham won with Rock n Roll Kids, which I think is a super song, and won a second time after that. While Rolf Lovland, won Eurovision twice with two different compositions, one a celtic band and composition, which may have brought him into contact with Graham, but I am only guessing.

Its all good fun, with people organising Eurovision Parties on the nights, and cheering on their own song and basically having a good time. What more could be asked for. Of course, Ireland has won it 7 times, the most so far

Forgot to mention: perhaps the biggest Eurovision winner wasn't even a song, in my opinion. It was an interval act, during the songs and the voting, called Riverdance.

Absolutely, Spidey!

Also in the Nordic countries, it's still a songwriters contest where everyone can submit their songs! Olsen Brothers who won for Denmark in 2000, are now set for life due to the touring, sales, merc, gigs ect. resulting from their win. So, it at least equals writing a batch of instrumental tracks for the Weather Channel :-)

Through to the finals from Tuesday's semi are:

Serbia (Running order position in the Final: 24)
Lithuania (Running order position in the Final: 4)
Greece (Running order position in the Final: 9)
Azerbaijan (Running order position in the Final: 19)
Georgia (Running order position in the Final: 25)
Switzerland (Running order position in the Final: 13)
Hungary (Running order position in the Final: 5)
Finland (Running order position in the Final: 1)
Russia (Running order position in the Final: 10)
Iceland (Running order position in the Final: 21)

(from http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?...fiers_and_their_final_starting_positions )

Second semifinal, Thursday. Final, Saturday.

Don’t forget the Aussies, they are partial to a bit of Eurovision

I listened to the other half of the songs (CD 2) tonight and I think my head has turned to mush I quite like Serbia for an outside bet.

Good luck tonight Magne - If Denmark get through the Semi I may have a little bet on it - It has quite an anthemic feel

Going to be a good night! COME ON BLUE !!

I'll be going to my sisters for drinks, food and Euro POP. Can't wait.

Party on - We are having a sweepstake at work - the draw is tomorrow.

The 2 semi-finals are done so we now have the following 25 countries in Saturday's final:

Austria
Azerbaijan
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Lithuania
Moldova
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
United Kingdom

I've had a little bet on Hungary, Denmark and Serbia. I've drawn Italy in the sweepstake at work

Also I would like to give Moldova a special mention - Pet Shop Boy hats and a unicyclist!! How good can it get? - Sounds a bit like Franz Ferdinand too - check them out here

Nigel I know it's alphabetical but I don't want to see the UK at the bottom on Saturday lol But saying that why change a habit of a life time.

UK nil points lol

I think we will be quite respectable this year, a lot of people fancy it. Here are the countries in the order they will perform tomorrow:

1 Finland
2 Bosnia & Herzegovina
3 Denmark
4 Lithuania
5 Hungary
6 Ireland
7 Sweden
8 Estonia
9 Greece
10 Russia
11 France
12 Italy
13 Switzerland
14 United Kingdom
15 Moldova
16 Germany
17 Romania
18 Austria
19 Azerbaijan
20 Slovenia
21 Iceland
22 Spain
23 Ukraine
24 Serbia
25 Georgia

Well here's hopping as I hate it when they start block voting.

Good luck, guys. The UK song will fight in top 10, I'm sure. Norway is out (I don't get that at all, considering the competition in semi 1??).

Anyway, my faves are:

Bulgaria
Denmark
Estonia
Ireland
Moldova
Italy
Spain

I sense Ireland will win with that calculated pop vehicle, but I'm rooting for Denmark, Spain and Bulgaria. The Estonian was quite catchy, and Moldova clearly win for orginality!

The European votes are cast, and Azerbaijan WON the ESC 2011!!

Watch the winning song here: http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=36003&_t=azerbaijan_wins_2011_eurovision_song_contest

Italy climbed and climbed throughout the voting, and ended as runner up.

But, next year the Eurovision will be held in BAKU http://www.bakupages.com/ , which is the capital in Azerbaijan.

You can watch the full 3,5 hour ESC final show here: http://www.eurovision.tv/esctv/past?program=24953