EUROVISION 2026: SEVENTH REHEARSAL DAY IN VIDEOS

First impressions and comments based on these short clips:

Bulgaria ... what can I say? I can't stand the song and the staging, the bit we got to see, isn't anything special either. If I can choose this is a NQ.

Azerbaijan has more Azeri in it? Not sure as I haven't listened it so much even if I think it's an ok song. I get more irritated by many others than this one, I kinda enjoy it. And more Azeri the better. Most likely NQ but I'd love to see it Q over Bulgaria or Cyprus or something just to see the chaos. :-)

Romania has an idea, energy and potential to do well unless the angry aggressive woman syndrome hits again. Then this could even NQ. Or do nothing in the final. Or do Top-10. Hard to say.

Luxemburg is just what it is. Not one of my favorites. NQ for me but most likely this will Q anyways.

Czechia uses long, loooong notes and mirrors. But is it still a bit dull? I certainly lose my attention somewhere half way of those long lines.... He's good though. Delivering those long notes. For me NQ but probably Q.

Armenia may just be chaotic enough to make people vote for it. Or then not. NQ for em but I wouldn't be surprised if we find this in the final after all....

Switzerland seems a bit chaotic and that hand holding her mic ... no, it doesn't look nor natural but just wrong.... I was already considering Switzerland a sure finalist but judging this little clip I'm not sure.

Cyprus .... well, she's not Eleni. Or Chanel. Nor any of these fierce ladies we have had before but a sweet girl next door with big smile and a lot of enthusiasm that helps a bit to cover up what she lacks in voice. Should qualify anyways being this genre and pretty girl shaking her hips.

Latvia should qualify if there's any justice in this world. Beautiful song, good vocals, simple but effective staging. We need ballads in the final, too.

Denmark . I am still confused why this is one of the favorites. I don't get it. The staging is cool, yes, but I don't feel the song, nor him. Maybe I'm just tired of these guys with make up and nail polish? Nothing wrong with that but just not my thing. That shouldn't be any criteria but as a whole it does have an effect and as I said I don't feel the song, for me it goes nowhere and has even that annoying tattoo effect in it that doesn't certainly make it easier to like ;-p

Comments

Nina Badrić for Croatia

Croatian TV went for internal selection in the end and chose Nina Badrić. She has been around for almost 20 years and has released ten albums between 1995 and 2011. She has also treid to get to Eurovision four times already without a win (1993, 1994, 1995 and 2003). She is popular also in the other ex-Yogoslavian countries so let those 12s run in.... Listen her here: Moje oci pune ljubavi , Dat ce nam Bog , Nebo and Mama . And lovely Carobno jutro .

CZECH REPUBLIC: MARTINA BÁRTA PRESENTS MY TURN

Czech Republic's internally chosen Martina Bárta has released her entry My turn for the Eurovision as well today. Not sure if I managed to keep my attention level very high for very long when listening to it.... Shame.

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?

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!

UMK 2014: MIKKO POHJOLA - SÄNGYN REUNALLA LYRICS

Not quite often song lyrics cause strong reactions, especially in Eurovision. Mikko Pohjola's Sängyn reunalla , a story about unfaithful people and feelings it causes in the people involved is however one. Many of you non Finnish speakers have wondered what it really says after the UMK judge Toni Wirtanen said he was feeling uncomfortable and would like walk to the stage and kick Mikko's ass adding he surely wouldn't like to be the man who's footprints depressions are in the bedroom carpet... Here are the lyrics liberally translated by yours truly. What do you think? Makuuhuoneessa kuvat kehyksissä käännettyinä pöydällä Ikkunalaudalla vanhat oppikirjat pitää kukkaa pystyssä Älä huolehdi sä sanot ja työnnät itses kiinni kylkeeni Lähelle päästänkin mutta tää on tilapäistä, sä et jää mun viereeni Kuinka tämän saamme loppumaan? Se ois helpompaa jos kiinni jäätäisiin Luokses palaan aina uudestaan enkä sänkys ...

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.....

NETHERLANDS: HOW LUCKY WE ARE WITH DOUWE BOB

Douwe Bob has released a follow up for his fortunate Eurovision entry off the Fool Bar album, How lucky we are . And indeed, we are lucky there's Douwe doing these laid back pop country tracks that give such good vibes.... Sadly I can't say the same about the video (or maybe I just miss the humour in it?) but I can slow down, keep listening the song and not watch the video.....

TWO POINTS, THREE SOCKS AND TWIN TWIN NUDE

The French Twin Twin may have scored France's first ever last place in the Eurovision with their only two points in the final, but the guys didn't seem to worry that much. They appeared in the French talk show on Sunday night wearing only their socks hiding their privates with the slogan taken from a Celine Dion song: Les derniers seront les premieres . Now that's a good spirit! (Watch it here from 2:33) Having had a bus ride from the Arena back to hotel with these guys I'm not surprised. Oh Yeah!

Et voilà! Anggun presents Echo (You and I)

So today we finally heard the French entry in Eurovision 2012 in Baku by Anggun. Echo (You and I ) is rather bizarre mix of many things and just when you think you get it the songs takes a turn to another direction. Whistling all along. Very catchy it is. Call it an earworm if you want. Still I wouldn't scream a winning entry but... we will see. In Patricia Kaas like ending me thinks.

MALTA: CHIARA AND LUDWIG SHINE AT QORMI WINE FESTIVAL, WITH EYE IN KIEV

I had a pleasure to visit Qormi wine festival and spend a fabulous night. The food was great, the music was great, the wine was great.... and the people were amazing. In between enjoying the music by a duo Gianni & Papps first, and then by Spiteri Lucas Band with singers Kaya, Neville Refalo, Ivan and Eurovision veterans Ludwig Galea and Chiara taking leads (on again.... off again so to speak) and supporting each other through rock and pop classics to today's hits. Highly entertaining evening in every sense of the word. I was lucky enough to have a chat with Chiara and greet also Ludwig, who I saw last in Istanbul 2004. Chiara turned out to be the most lovable and wonderful person - check out the video of Grande amore below to see her blowing kisses just for you! She also sung her very own Angel , but also Euphoria and Waterloo , Dancing queen .... Sadly by dear old Lumia decided not to cooperate at that point anymore :-( But after the jump yo...

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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