The 20th Junior Eurovision song contest will take place tomorrow in Yerevan, Armenia. I am first to admit I have never been a fan of this contest nor a keen follower but listening through the songs and seeing the videos this year they didn't seem so awkward as in many previous years but rather enjoyable effort. Still, it's a bit weird with songs that are indeed childlike and then some entries that wouldn't be out of place in the real thing. As apparently they most try to be adult like I judge them as likes.
The contest has struggled through the years with ever changing line ups, withdrawals and returns and this year is no exception: the United Kingdom returns after 16 years while Bulgaria and Germany stay home from last year's participants, along with Russia and Azerbaijan for obvious reasons.
We also miss Belarus, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Lithuania, Moldova, Israel, San Marino, Montenegro, Slovenia, Australia and Wales of those countries who have participated at least once and then stopped for various reasons. And then Finland for example has never approached this matter. And I do understand very well why.
Anyways, here are this year's entries:
Netherlands - Luna - La festa **
Poland - Laura - To the moon ****
Kazakhstan - David Charlin - Jer-Ana (Mother Earth) ***
Malta - Gaia Gambuzza - Diamonds in the skies *
Italy - Chanel Dilecta - Bla bla bla *****
France - Lissandro - Oh maman! *
Albania - Keijtin Gjata - Pakëz diell *
Georgia - Mariam Bigvava - I believe **
Ireland - Sophie Lennon - Solas *****
North Macedonia - Lara feat Jovan and Irina - Životot e pred mene *
Spain - Carlos Higes - Señorita ***
United Kingdom - Freya Skye - Lose my head ***
Portugal - Nicolas Alves - Anos 70 *
Serbia - Katarina Savić - Svet bez granica **
Armenia - Nare - Dance! ****
Ukraine - Zlata Dziunka - Neziamna (Unbreakable) *****
Here's a reminder of previous winners:
My favourite by far remains 2008, followed by 2009 and 2005.
Update: So France won, a song I gave *. Just when I thought I'd get interested in Junior ESC it only proves I don't get it. I don't. And I don't care.
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