Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Hungary's A Dal starts tonight. In a rather lenghty process there are first three semifinal with ten songs each and six qill qualify for the semifinals; three by televote, three by jury vote. The jury is made this year of Csaba Walkó (Compact Disco, ESC 2012), Philip Rákay, Jenő Csiszár, Viktor Rakonczai (ex-member of VIP, ESC 1997) and wonderful Magdi Rúzsa (ESC 2007). Apparently Hungarians don't see anything strange in the fact another ex-VIP member Rácz Gergö is competing this year.... You can listen to all songs here . This blogger kinda enjoyed with the first hearing the songs by Tibor, Tamás and beforementioned Gergö. Agárdi Szilvi-Pál Dénes - Szíveddel láss   Background - Neonzöld   Baricz Gergő - Húz   Bogi - Tükörkép   Fehér Zoltán - Nincs baj   Gyurcsik Tibor - Örök harc   Keresztes Ildikó - Nem akarok többé játszani   Mrs Columbo - Play / Játszd újra   Palcsó Tamás - Ezt látnod kell   Rácz Gergő - Csak áll...

Hungary has had a roller coaster ride in Eurovision. They took part already in 1993 but didn't make it past the qualification round and therefor only 1994 they were there for real and gained a very grand debut: Friderika Bayer scored 12 from the three first countries to vote but then slipped to respectable 4th place. The year after a cold shower: second to last and relegation. They were back in 1997 and good 12th place and the year after again to the bottom and it took until Kiev 2005 that they dared to return. NOX was considered a favourite but in the end got only 12th place and Hungary stayed home again for a year. They returned to Helsinki 2007 and Magdi Ruzsa won every possible critics award, charmed the fans and scored a very respectable 9th place. And once again the good ride was over when they scored a last place in the semifinal in 2008. In 2009 they had a bit of a drama selecting their entry as the first choice broke the October 1 rule, the second one declined and the thir...

Another country drops out of Eurovision 2010 in Oslo claiming financial problems, Hungary. Such a shame. Hungary debuted with a bang in 1994 when Friderika Bayer scored an excellent 4th place. It's been a roller coaster ride since then: 1995 22nd and relegation, 12th in 1997 but then 23rd again in 1998 and Hungary dropped out until 2005 when Nox returned and despite being one of the favourites dropped 12th in the final. 2006 they were out again but Magdi Rúzsa returned for Helsinki 2007 scoring 9th and winning most critical awards alongside the contest. Then it's been two missed finals in 2008 and this year with Adók Zoli's Dance with me and now.... no more 2010. :-( So, Hungary and Czech Republic out and Georgia in we are at 41. Andorra, Estonia and Lithuania are in doubt, so... In worst case scenario we could be at 38, that means 16-17 countries for semifinal... I don't think this is what EBU wants.

Serbia's Marija Serifovic and Molitva reign also in the esctoday.com awards picking up six nominations (best song, best performance, best composition, best lyrics, best female performance and best female vocal performance). Hungary's Magdi Rúzsa and the Netherland's Edsilia Rombley both picked up five nominations. See the full nominations here: http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9645

Hungary's Magdi won the award for the best composition, voted by fellow composers and authors and there was no sign of blues on her face! Christer Björkman rejoys with her.

It was a great party. Good food, enough drinks. Most of the artists present. Biggest mess was created by the alien from space alias Verka. (S)he practically walked in a crowd of few meters packed around her with flashing lights. And Mama taking care all went smoothly, of course.