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Eurovision 2013 - United Kingdom

I don’t care what ANYONE says, THIS IS BONNIE TYLER! The woman is a legend and brought us the hits Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Holding Out For A Hero and should be praised and loved for that fact. I like this song too. It’s called Believe In Me and it’s a bit of a country sound off it.

The UK get a bit of stick for sendin’ big acts to Eurovision that don’t really do well. Of course they have 5 wins with Sandie Shaw, Lulu, Brotherhood of Man, Bucks Fizz and Katrina & The Waves. Since the turn of the century they had a 3rd with Jessica Garlick, a 5th with Jade Ewan and very little else in the top ten! They’ve also finished last 3 times since then. One day very soon they’re gonna send the right act and win again!

Eurovision 2013 - Ukraine

If Disney were to write a song for the Eurovision, this would be it! The song is Gravity by Zlata Ognevich. It’s all very happy and nice with everyone smilin’ and lovin’ each other. I wonder how it’ll translate onto the stage. There’s a bit of an African sound behind it too and a good beat. This has been growin’ on me every time I hear it. Dyin’ to see it live.

Ukraine have been enterin’ since 2003 and won just the year after with Ruslana and Wild Dances which must have been lovely for them. They’ve never failed to get out of the semi final in all the years they’ve been enterin’ and this year will be no exception. They had some great second places as well with Dancing Lasha Tumbai and Shady Lady in 2007 and 2008.

I like Gravity!

Eurovision 2013 - Switzerland

Switzerland gave us probably one of the most famous winners in Eurovision history when a young Canadian girl called Celine Dion won for them in 1988. The first competition was held there in 1956 and they won it themselves with Refrain by Lys Assia. They’ve used high profile acts like Vanilla Ninja and DJ Bobo. DJ Bobo’s song Vampires Are Alive was actually favourite to win and failed to make it out of the semi final which was a big surprised and pissed off the Swiss. It was a start of a run of 4 years not making it out of the semis and there was talk of Switzerland pullin’ out which they didn’t do in the end.

This year the song is You And Me by Takasa. It’s another middle of the road song which there seems to be lots of this year. The guitars are really out in force and there’s loads of ballads too which makes ya wonder will songs like Germany, Denmark and Ireland be stand outs? HMMM

Eurovision 2013 - Sweden

Sweden take the Eurovision VERY seriously. Their selection process lasts for months and has heats and a huge final. They’ve won 5 times now with ABBA their first and then Herreys, Carola, Charlotte Nilsson and of course Loreen last year. They’re holdin’ the competition in Malmo this year. Of course Waterloo by ABBA was voted the best Eurovision song ever at the 50th anniversary. Sweden have qualified out of the semi final all but once.

This year the song is You by Robin Stjernberg and it has a nice little ring to it but it’s definitely not a winner. It might do well enough and most years the host country does well regardless so it could easily be a top 10 even though it probably doesn’t deserve to be. Average at best!

Eurovision 2013 - Spain

Ah Spain. They do have some AWFUL Eurovision songs. There’s always some Spanish girl willin’ to sing some form of strange ballad that people tend to just forget about or some weird Spanish fella singin’ crap. I don’t really know what they do be on half the time. This sounds like the bloody Corrs! If the Corrs were from Madrid they would sound like this. It’s a bit bland. Can’t see it doin’ well. The song is called Contigo Hasta El Final by EDSM.

Spain’s last top 5 finish came WAY back in 1995. They’ve had 2 wins and they were in a row in 1967 and 1968. They’ve had 3 nul points finishes. Strangely enough, there’s only been 3 times that a song has had to be performed a second time in the final due to an interruption and two of those times was with Spain. When Azúcar Moreno opened the contest in Zagreb in 1990 with the song Bandido the orchestra and playback started out of sync and the singers missed their cue and they just walked off the stage. In Oslo in 2010 Daniel Diges's performance of Algo Pequeñito was interrupted by some chap called Jimmy Jump and they went again at the very end!

Eurovision 2013 - Slovenia

I already can’t remember ever hearin’ this song so I think sayin’ that is as good a place to start as any. The song is called Straight Into Love by Hannah who it seems only needs the one name. She must be famous enough in Slovenia but then again I don’t know. Actually havin’ listened again it actually sounds like she’s Slovenia’s answer to Tulisa!

Slovenia haven’t ever done very well at the Eurovision Song Contest. Their best result is 2 7th places and they’ve only managed to get out of the semi finals twice since 2004. They just kinda turn up and make up the numbers although one day something strange is gonna happen and they’re actually gonna do well. I hope so. God loves a trier!

Eurovision 2013 - Serbia

Serbia are one of only 2 countries to win on their Eurovision debuts. Of course the first was Switzerland in 1956 at the first competition and Serbia was also part of Serbia & Montenegro before that and Yugoslavia even before that. They’ve only once failed to get out of the semi final and last year they came 3rd.

This year their song is called Ljubav Je Svuda by Moje 3 who are like Serbia’s answer to the Sugababes. I actually like it and it’ll defo make the final although I think they struggle by not singin’ in English. Not sure if it’s a top 10 finisher though.

Eurovision 2013 - San Marino

This is one of me favourites from this years competition and I really hope they do well! The song is called Crisalide and it’s by Valentina Moneta who is real live person from San Marino. It’s the smallest country in the competition by far so fair play to them. I love it and I really hope it does well. It could be a very strange dark horse for the win. I would love nothin’ better for San Marino to win the Eurovision Song Contest. It’d be EPIC. In case you didn’t know, she was the girl who had the song about Facebook last year.

San Marino have only been enterin’ since 2008, missed 2009 and have never qualified out of the semi final. Valentina Moneta has now represented them half the times they’ve been in the competition. If there’s any justice in the world this song should be a top 5 finisher. Think it could do really well with the jurys.

Eurovision 2013 - Russia

Russia are strange when it comes to Eurovision. They won with Believe & Dima Bilan and paid enough to do it with Timbaland’s team behind the song. They sent the grannies last year too and did well enough with them. Of course Russia have lots of neighbours who they’re very pally with which helps them over achieve in the competition. Since their entry into the competition in 1994 they’ve had a win, 3 second places and 2 thirds, one of which was with T.A.T.U who were big at the time. They’ve never failed to qualify from the semi final.

This year they’ll be represented by Dina Garipova with What If which sounds like the winners song from Russian X-Factor. I don’t think it’s in contention for a win and the bookies even have it very high but it’ll definitely make the final. Don’t think it’s as strong as Denmark or Germany and that lot.