EUROVISION 2021: TONIGHT'S THE FINAL! SOME THOUGHTS

It's been two long years and four days since Duncan Laurence was crowned the Eurovision champion in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile his winning song Arcade has gone viral and on Tuesday night he received a platinum record for a one billion streams globally. Tonight he was meant to perform the song again and hand over the Chrystal microphone to a new winner. But no. On Wednesday he was tested positive for Covid-19 and instead will be watching the show in quarantine in his hotel room.... Sometimes destiny just plays tricks on us. (Not to mention some other tricks played by another Destiny's delegation to anger the fandom...)

This said I can only say it's going to be a great show and the strongest line up I can remember, and also the most open contest I can recall, and I have been watching since 1976. Usually at this point I have firm favorites to win, 2-3 of them, and I can't remember when last time one of them didn't win. Maybe Marie N? Quite often I have had a winning candidate from very early on that I have kept, like Molitva. When I first heard the two dozen Serbian national final entries I thought "if this wins, it will win the whole thing". And it did. But now I'm clueless.

The odds say (when writing this around 3 hrs before the final) the Top-10 will be Italy, France, Malta, Ukraine, Switzerland, Iceland, Finland, Portugal, San Marino and Lithuania with Cyprus and Bulgaria right there behind switching places with these in the past days. I'd love to see France or Malta win in general but not with these songs, nor Iceland. I just can't make myself to like them that much. Italy would be a dream come true, but once again with a song like this? On the other hand they won in 1990 with a song that I consider one of their weakest so what do I know? Switzerland falls to the same category than France and Malta, I can't make myself to like this song that much (saying this they are all great songs but I'm here discussing the possible winner and it needs a bit more than 7-8/10 grade). Portugal in this list is probably more of a curiosity but who knows? Not a winner but maybe Top-10. Lithuania could still emerge as a front runner while San Marino may have to settle just to their best placing ever. It did give me strong winner vibes when released as did Sweden but somehow they aren't there anymore. And Finland! What can I say? A top-10 finish would already be our best since Lordi's victory in 2006 (when compared to the number of songs in competition). And what do we think about Ukraine? Now that's a song I adore but a winner? Ukraine? Again? Not likely I guess. Bulgaria and Cyprus? Nah....

So I'm not going to even guess further. I wait and see how the voting goes. I'm already way too excited about having Italy, San Marino and Finland in the top-10. Also, as I have been planning to put this blog in rest after I reach 5 million hits it may all change should Italy or Finland win, of course.

So, tonight I will sit back, have a drink and snacks, watch the show, enjoy it without too much thinking but thumbs up to Italy scoring their third win, and San Marino getting their best placing yet (18th is enough) and Finland scoring a top-10, that would be our first since 1989!

Finally in the words of a dear friend: As long as we beat Sweden I am happy! Now that's a task indeed. It has happened only seven times before since 1961 and only twice since 1979: 2006 when we won and the year after at home! Even that's already so long ago.

Have a great evening everybody!

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Rumors, rumors, rumors....

While the national selections for Junior Eurovision are going on around Europe and Ani Lorak's been confirmed as host all sort of rumors about the real thing are beginning to be the order of the day. Austria returns - or then not. Andorra stays home - or then not. San Marino returns - well, most likely but not surely. Luxembourg should make a come back - or then maybe not. Liechtenstein is still in the running - or has it ever been for real? Has the local TV ever confirmed anything? Is it just wishful thinking by the fans? Poland on the other hand has confirmed they will be in Oslo. And Italy will be still out. And apparently there will be no ban or such for Azerbaijan nor Spain for the irregularities in and after the 2009 edition. EBU had to change the text in the rules to make it sure nothing like that what happened in Azerbaijan could happen again. Or if it will they have means and rules to back up a ban or sanction.... Katerina Avgoustakis has been rumored to be in Oslo...

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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...

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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