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WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE EUROVISION WORLD IN NOVEMBER 2013?

I'm back! During my absense I checked the internet only once or twice and nothing much seemed to had happened in the wonderful Euovision world but now I see actually there's been some major news. Like Agnetha performing live! For the first time since 1982, mind you! Take That's Gary Barlow managed in what the others have failed so far when they sung together the song he penned for her in her latest album, I should have followed you home in London's Children in Need Rocks 2013. Now that she's back on stage, let's start the ABBA reunion rumours, will we?
European Music Awards 2013 went to the usual non-European acts and Marco Mengoni nor Lena took home the trophy for the Best Worldwide act won by... err, who??!!
Montenegro has confirmed Sergej Ćetković as their representative. It seems we will get a real Balcan ballad in Joksimovic style. Now that Serbia and Croatia are missing, will Montengero sweep that vote and finally make impact in the final? Clever move! But more about him later...
Also the Netherlands confirmed The Common Linnets for ESC 2014. Who? None other than the heavly tipped Ilse DeLange and Waylon in the rumor mills that lead to the announcements. Both very well known artists following Anouk. Sounds very good indeed... and more about them later as well.
Almost Serbian Tijana Dapčević will represent Macedonia though. No Balcan ballads from her as her song is supposed to be fast and dynamic, in Macedonian title Pobeda, Victory! It'd be great to see these usually unfortunate Balcan M's do well this time around!
Natasha St-Pier will host the French national selection combined with her show Les chansons d'abord. The guest list for the show is very interesting and impressive so who knows, maybe France will get one of the big guns for Copenhagen? It seems the songs will be presented on January 26 and then people have a month to vote! It means the three songs will be on heavy rotation for a month? Tres bien!
Malta has revealed it's chosen ones and again there are a lot of familiar names, but more about that later. Switzerland has done the same, and it seems all my favorites are out already! How did that happen? But there are still songs I haven't even listened yet so I will get back to that later as well....
The trio Denmark-Norway-Sweden is once again getting special treatment for logical and practical reasons. Just like for Malmö Denmark and Norway were drawn into different semifinals and the same has happened for Copenhagen: Sweden has been drawn to the first semifinal and Norway to the second. I would like they draw the semifis for the others as well as soon as possible for practical reasons, too!
Yet, for that we have to wait for some time still. The Junior Eurovision revolving door has entered the real thing as well. Bulgaria and Serbia join Croatia and Turkey and stay home while Greece will be in with special arrangements, and Bosnia & Herzegovina has applied to take part after last year's break just like Portugal. Meanwhile EBU has extended the date to January 10, 2014. It seems Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina have left the door open, or if they find a sponsor they will participate. Hopefully some other countries that have said they withdraw will use the same and enter after all...
In Rome Valentina Monetta and Roberto Bellarosa had a splendid time with the Italian fans... how I wish I could have been there!  
Oh, and looks (top photo) who's going to perform in Cafe l'Opera in CC Plaza de Maspalomas around Christmas time!
Oh, one last thing, Lesotho has visited this blog becoming #214. Welcome, whoever you are!

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