Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The lights have hardly been turned off in Crystal Hall when the first announcements of those who will be in Sweden 2013 are coming in.  Armenia  in the front line. But also Belarus and Albania didn't waste time to say yes and also Hungary, Austria, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Switzerland, Ireland, Bulgaria, France, Romania and Spain are going to be back. Let's see if Sweden and EBU's new plans of a shorter and smaller scale Eurovision will attract the missing children of Andorra, Czech Republic, Monaco and Poland back and keep the others participating, most of all San Marino, Slovakia and Italy. And will Kazakhstan and/or Liechtenstein make their debut?

Germany is the first Big4 country to win and this brings us a problem: Will there be only 24 countries in the final next year? Apparently the rule book isn't prepaired for this - if I am wrong someone correct me, please. As it has been 10 + 10 + Big4 + host country = 25. Easy solution would be adding the highest scoring drop out from the semifinals but then all delegations from the first semifinal should stick in town for extra days "just in case". Or will Turkey get a wildcard to the final as it was the runner up? (Not that it would change a thing, Turkey will be in the final anyways so in a way it would be rather fair...) Germany will host the contest in 2011 for the third time, as they also did in Frankfurt 1957 and Munich 1983, but for the first time as an united country. At least three towns have come forward to host the 2011 edition: Berlin, Hamburg and Hannover. Nine countries have so far definately confirmed their participation (Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, ...

As Eurovision song contest is for the EBU members all of them could actually take part from Libya to Algeria, from Egypt to Jordan. All European members with the exception of the Vatican City have participated in the Eurovision. Tunisia was rumoured to be ready (like Lebanon in 2005) to take part in the late 1970's but it never happened and has not been heard since. Liechtenstein, Kosovo and Kazakstan are all interested, if you believe the internet but none of them is a full member yet. Maybe one day they will join the Eurovision family?  Australia, an associate member, has always been very interested in Eurovision and broadcasts it every year. The wildest rumours some ten years ago said Australia was ready to host the show in Sydney Operahouse and pay all the costs in change of being able to participate! True or not? My guess is as good as yours. The latest wild rumour is the interest of Qatar. But then, they have bought the African sportsmen to bring them medals in the Olympics s...

YLE's website reports EBU expects Italy back in Eurovision 2011. Austria and Luxembourg should return next year, and Liechtenstein that has applied for EBU membership should also make its debut in Oslo 2010. That would make it 44 countries there.... if Czech Tepublic's withdrawel really happens.

One of the three European lilliputs has finally confirmed a NO for "financial reasons" or rather a lack of a sponsor. TMC would participate if the government gave them funds as it did in 2004-2006 when Monaco returned from its long absense. Apparently Prince Albert himself was behind the comeback in 2004. And that's a good enough excuse to enjoy some fabulous music from Princess Stéphanie: Ouragan written by Romano Musumarra and rejected by Jeanne Mas , Winds of change , Flash , I'm waiting for you - shame she didn't do the horors back then! Liechtenstein and Luxembourg are still in the running for a debut and a comeback.

It looks like Liechtenstein has joined EBU and is rumored to be ready and willing to participate in Eurovision 2010 in Oslo. Local TV has announced they will do a show based on German Deutschland sucht den Superstar formula and the winner will go to Oslo under the tiny flag. Now let's see what happens when the summer rumors settle down and the time for doing it for real comes... Another possibility is Alexander Walser-Rothschild Aka Al Walser , a Grammy voting and nominating member, singer and songwriter from Liechtenstein. He is rumored to be interested in Eurovision 2010 as well. As the second family name suggests he's not sort of cash either. He's also a radio personality, proudly smiling next to people like Michael Jackson, Barak Obama, Paula Abdul and Mariah Carey, just to name a few, in photos. Ex-member of group Fun Factory and Liechtenstein's first biracial citizen ! http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALfocbPRBxM

Summer is slow season in Eurovision world and all sort of rumors are running wild. Most will turn out to be absolutely untrue, some might have a hint of truth in them. Some are just made up by who-knows-who. Here are some of the latest floating around, with some other useless information: James Fox will be back for UK in 2010, maybe with Lucia Silvas . Ok, we will see about that. Johnny Logan will write the French entry next year. Yeah right. Stefan Raab will have his fingers in the German selection. True. Georgia will participate again. True, too. Apparently. Liechtenstein will debut. Yes, if EBU changes the rules! Cindy Sander will sing for France. Ok, and Johnny Logan will write the song? The Pirates of the sea will return. God no! And today main websites are talking about the Italian version of the Irish entry Et cetera this year. Not a rumour but true. And besides, it IS the original version of the song, submitted already last year to San Marino... Only that my readers heard...

Russia was aiming to organize the biggest (and best) Eurovision ever next year in Moscow but today Georgia has announced it will not go to a country that " cannot guarantee the safety of the participants and violets human rights and international laws "and has withdrawn from the Eurovision 2009. Estonia has been speculated to another one to drop out for the same reasons and who knows if there will be more? Apparently there won't be new countries next year and there seems to be no hope Luxembourg , Austria or Italy would return. Liechtenstein has started a national TV channel and might follow San Marino some time in the future but won't make it for 2009 for sure. So...