Guest review by Rafael de Alba

The second Guest Review comes from Rafael de Alba from Spain. You all must remember him from the Spanish selection this year with One more chance,. He is a big fan himself and will be in Moscow. Read more about him here..Here is what he has to say about ESC 2009:

Greetings to all eurofans in Finland and abroad! Here is my modest opinion of what promises to be a great show this year!
MONTENEGRO - A great song with a brilliant bridge just before the final chorus. Incidentally, the lyricist is Spanish, and co-ordinates OGAE Spain. Good luck, Jose! > 7
CZECH REPUBLIC - Very entertaining. It could well be part of a musical. Perhaps too exotic/specific for the general public > 5
BELGIUM - A charming story, and different to the rest. Might look attractive on stage, especially if they bring the cartoon character in! Shame that Belgium never receives points lately > 7
BELARUS - Great verse, not sure about the chorus. Vocally sound, I predict a mid ranking, but I love the presence of rock in the ESC. > 6.5
SWEDEN - I must admit I much prefer Alenka Gotar if I could choose, and the staging of La Voix was unimpressive > 5
ARMENIA - Too ethnic to appeal to the west, but will get into the final because Armenia always does > 5
ANDORRA -A pleasant number, if a bit dated, but still a very fresh song if it's staged properly. Will Andorra rise to the challenge? They only got it right once...> 6
SWITZERLAND - Simply a masterpiece, and very contemporary. It would be a shame not to see this one in the final > 10
TURKEY - The new version is much improved, but I find something missing in this song. > 7.5
ISRAEL - Mmm.. I keep thinking Noa could have done better, but all preselection songs were too similar. Still, it's an elegant alternative to the rest. I have the feeling it won't get through > 7
BULGARIA - I saw him live in London and unfortunately this singer does not communicate much on stage. But the backing vocals are very promising > 6
ICELAND - What a beautiful song (and singer!). This song is this year's Maria Haukaas > 9
MACEDONIA - FYROM keeps sending rhythms to which the western countries are not so accustomed > 4
ROMANIA - A stunning girl singing a mediocre song. However, her live performance will be spotless > 5
FINLAND - I love it, and it sticks in your head after the first listening > 9
PORTUGAL - Genuine and beautiful instrumentation and a very Portuguese number, which I love. I wish they tried harder with the stage performance and costumes > 8
MALTA - I wish Chiara had tried something different this time round. Deja Vu, with a hint of Disney. How about a bit of Vodka? > 6
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA -I love this one! Great video too, not sure they will be able to replicate its effect live. Luckily for them, they sing last > 9
CROATIA - Similar to 2004 entry, which I prefer >3
IRELAND - I know many like this one, but I find it very dated and I don't think Ireland will qualify > 4
LATVIA - Oh my God! I forgot who is going for Latvia! Which cannot be a good sign>? >4
SERBIA - Growing on me, although personally I prefer to listen to this one rather than watch it on stage > 5
POLAND - A very well constructed ballad and beautifully sung. Pretty commercial too > 7
NORWAY - A winner from the start. It has all the ingredients: easy tune, excellent performance. I have no doubt this will win > 9
CYPRUS - The song is pleasant but repetitive. I don't think the singer will deliver the required vocal qualities > 5
SLOVAKIA - Another exotic contribution. I know she sings well (she knows that too) but I much prefer his voice > 6
DENMARK - A good quality mid tempo. Personally I think he sounds too much like Ronan Keating, even his accent is Irish! And his vocals might turn out a bit forced, but i still love this one > 8
SLOVENIA - Slovenia's worst entry ever, sorry. This song is doomed > 1
HUNGARY - A very impressive singer, dancer and performer. I predict that this will be the surprise of the night, and could actually complicate things for Ryback >9
AZERBAIJAN - A sweet number, personally i don't think this will make a top 10 > 6
GREECE - I cannot help thinking this song would have gone further three years ago > 7
LITHUANIA - The English version comes across like a tongue twister, but the original version sounds great > 7
MOLDOVA - I am impressed by this one, and I think people underestimate its potential on stage. I predict a top 10 because of the televoting > 8
ALBANIA - Well done Albania, another great entry with folk elements and faithful to the country's roots! The verse a bit flat > 7
UKRAINE -By far the best video, and the song is great, but I find the performance rather vulgar. I am not impressed by this one but I fear it could even win, which would be a shame > 4
ESTONIA - Definitely in the final but I find this song too similar to that one of the sixties... > 5
NETHERLANDS - It's so dated and camp it's great! I hope they qualify. I love dancing to this one on a saturday morning in my shorts while I do the cleaning > 8
FRANCE - What can I say about Kaas? She won't win but it doesn't matter. She will take the ESC to a new level > 10
RUSSIA - Russia clearly doesn't want a consecutive victory. Still, I quite like the song, but I am not too sure about the singer's ability to perform live > 6
GERMANY - I am very impressed with this one. Much better than Cicero in my opinion. But it deserves a proper choreography > 8
UK - Wow, what an amazing singer! By far the best balad of the contest. I predict a top 3 > 9
SPAIN - After last year's fiasco all eurofans in Spain are thrilled with Soraya's attitude. She is a true fan of the ESC and really wants to win. I predict sixth place for her, given that we don't have as many neighbours, although naturally I would love Spain to win! I cannot wait to hear her new version on the night! Go, Soraya! > 9.5 (I can't help it ;-)

Agree? Disgaree? Feel free to comment. Marcello's Guest Review is here..

Sabina Babayeva for Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani selection show for the represant was as long as the selection process for the five finalists. Kurt Calleja from Malta and Can Bonomo from Turkey were present with Ell/Nikki to see Sabina Babayeva to emerge as the winner after each and every finalist had done about zillion songs amongst other guests. Now the Azeri TV will shop around a suitable song for her.

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

ESC 2015 NORWAY: LISTEN TO THE FINALISTS

The Norwegian entries are now and there to listen, or here . This time Norway has only one off final with 11 songs and a live orchestra, so it will be interesting to hear how these songs will turn out as most are rather modern sounding and not so Eurovisionesque midtempo numbers. There could have been also only ten if they had dropped that joke entry from the line up. The old veterans Elisabeth and Tor have nothing to be ashamed among this lot. To be honest I didn't get excited by any of these really... Something is wrong in my books if a classic schlager like Heaven sounds almost the best... What's wrong Norway?

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

FINLAND: LORDI RELEASES SEXORCISM - THEIR 9TH STUDIO ALBUM

Brand new studio album SEXORCISM is released tomorrow, 12 years and 5 days after their monstreous victory in Athens 2006 Eurovision song contest. It is quite possibly the most controversial Lordi album yet and already their 9th stuido album (plus three compilations and one Ep)

THE ABBA REUNION 2016 - WATCH THEM SING TOGETHER AGAIN

The 2016 Eurovision song contest organizers didn't manage it - or any of the previous ones either nor those offering them millions of dollars - but they seem to get together for birthdays, the way the old friends do. Back in 1999 they performed together in a private party for Görel Hansel's 50th birthday, and now to celebrate the first meeting of Björn and Benny 50 years ago. Venue was Stockholm's Bern's Salonger and once again in a private setting but today even they can't stop the cell phone videos and social medias. Enjoy the magic of Frida's and Agnetha's voices again.

GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o...

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

Boobs for summer: Samantha vs Sabrina!

The old rivals have put their bras (or the lack of them) in peace and entered the studios together to record Blondie's boombastic Call me . Life could be worse.....

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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