Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Tonight the troubled Junior Eurovision song contest takes place for the 8th time. If someone wonders why I haven't written about it before it's by precise decision. Frankly, I don't care about kids singing, even if I have to admit the past couple of years after they changed the age limits and older kids have been a majority it has been a bit better and last year's winner from the Netherlands was very good, and in 2008 Belgium's Oliver, too, just to name some names. This year I haven't yet heard one single song so tonight I will watch it online and get the average European viewer's approach to Eurovision: hear the songs once only! More information here .

The 7th annual Junior Eurovision song contest rehearsals have started in Kyiv. 13 countries are taking part this year when Bulgaria, Greece and Lithuania decided to stay home but Sweden and Cyprus return. The contest has been struggling with withdrawals and failing to increase the number of countries taking part, unlike the good old Eurovision song contest itself. My favourites this year are Sweden, Romania, Netherlands and Belgium but none of them beats last year's entry from Belgium, Oliver's Shut up . Las year's winner was though Belarus with Bzikebi's Bzzz .... This year's final on next Saturday, November 21, 2009.

Here's a vid with all the entries of Junior Eurovision 2008 in 5 minutes. Belgium stands out in my opinion but propably won't have any chance as the epicentric of this contest is already very far from that part of Europe... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EBxZgn4h7E You can hear Oliver's English version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaIuVYuJj9s and the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tidKPAlWVvE