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NATIONAL FINALS 2013 ROUND UP - WHAT'S GOING ON, WHERE AND WHEN?

Belarus will be most likely the first country to have their entry out, as their national final will take place on December 7, 2012 already. There will be semifinals during the month of November.

Lithuania is going for the long road. Their selection process starts already this Saturday. Qualifiers will head to the semifinals later on and eventually to the final. The first shows are sort of casting shows where the artists sing non-original songs of their choice. The first one presents 17 artists..... These shows seem to be five all through November, followed by two semifinals in December leading to the final early next year.

In Switzerland the German online selection is going on with several familiar names, from Lys Assia to Melissa and everything in between. The Italian part has also announced their finalists but we haven't heard the songs yet. The French part will choose internally for the mid-December Swiss national final.

Israel is apparently going for a big semifinal holabaloo as well. Three semifinals each with ten artists, three of them qualifying for the final plus one wildcard added to the final line up.

In Finland the songs chosen to compete in the UMK 2013 will be revealed by YLE on December 3, 2012. There will be various programs in January and the final in February 9, 2013. The same day also Norway and Iceland will choose their entries

Albania will use once again FIK for the selection. One would think the interest would be high after Rona Nishliu's excellent placing in Baku, but RTSH has had to extend the submission date as only 40 songs were received in due time. However, the event will take place already in December 20-22, 2012.

In Sweden we already know the first song, Island performed by Elin Petersson. She won the public contest for the non professionals through SVT's website. She will join Therese Fredwall in the line up. Later this year we will know the other 30. Let's see then if Dr Alban and La Camilla with her Happy Hoes have made it!

The Netherlands announced Anouk will represent TROS in Malmä 2012 so she became the very first artist know this time. The song will be presented in February.

Azerbaijan has also kicked off their selection. One can apply during October 15-25, and then propably there will be similar process as there has been the past two years..... Heats after heats after heats and then in the end someone wins and go shop for a song from Sweden.... yawn.

Iceland's TV was faced by a record interest this year receiving a record breaking 240 songs. There will be semifinals in January and the final on February 9, 2013.

Latvia is having two semifinals on February 8 and 9, and then the final on February 16, 2013. Songs by foreign writers are accepted this time but the singers must be Latvian. 

Ukraine, known for its rather weird selection results and scandals, tries to make a clean and smooth selection this time. Songs can be sent in by December 22, 2012 by anyone and a jury will pick up 20 of them for the final supposed to be on February 16, 2013 where there is supposed to be a 50-50 jury-televote. 

In Denmark the Eurovision fever is high due to the fact the contest will be held practically in the neighborhood. 692 songs were sent in and DR will host one off final without all those endless semifinals and eliminations - thank you for that also this year! - and promise a huge show on January 26, 2013.

Austria will have its final on January 15, 2013. There's supposed to be only five songs selected for the final.

In Estonia the songs are accepted until December 10, 2012. There will be two semifinals on Februaty 16 and 23 and the grand final on March 2, 2013. All singers and writers must be Estonians (Hooray for that!) and the rules also state they must be "in the good mood".... :-)

To be updated and continued.....




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