BIRTHDAY: Markko Aro from Finland is 70 today We like to celebrate songs from all years, even those from the time before many of us were alive. Did you know, for example, that there were contests before 2001? Well, nearly 50 years ago, Eurovision started anew. Previews for […]
BIRTHDAY: Nina Zilli from Italy is 40 today Can Italy get a third win this decade? Since they came back to the party in 2011, they’ve had – arguably – the most consistent record of the Big Five. Some say Italy could win whenever they want, but they […]
#LITHUANIA: Live blog of Pabandom iš naujo! Semi-final 1 from 20.00CET Our friends in Lithuania are choosing their song for Rotterdam apace. Tonight is the first semi-final of Pabandom iš naujo! (We go again!). Twelve acts from the previous three weeks worth of heats compete for six spots […]
BIRTHDAY: Nico from Romania is 50 today We’ve made it through January. Are you pleased? It means we’re a month closer to our favourite TV show. Are you getting excited? Has your favourite country picked its song yet? Or do you have a favourite already? With forty-one countries […]
BIRTHDAY: Dave Benton is 69 today A win. It’s a remarkable thing. Only one of them comes along each year, so it’s precious. Especially if it’s your first one. And if it comes less than ten years after your first participation, even better. Back in 2001, we witnessed […]
IRELAND: Late Late Show news If you’re a history buff, you’ll know that the only person to sing two winning songs at the Eurovision Song Contest is Johnny Logan. And he’s on the Late Late Show on Friday 31 January. It’s 40 years since Johnny’s first victory, which […]
BELARUS: Twelve finalists for Eurofest selected Belarusian broadcaster BTRC has completed its audition process, and twelve lucky songs have made it to the national final, to be held sometime soon. The national final will pick a winner using a 50/50 mix of jury and televoting. But what are […]
BIRTHDAY: John Lundvik from Sweden is 37 today The contest in Tel Aviv seems a long time ago now. Indeed, we’re now all thinking of 2020 in Rotterdam. We may have stopped thinking of what might have been, especially with the thrilling climax to what happened in Israel. […]
BIRTHDAY: Cindy from Germany is 72 today Duets can be an odd thing. Get it right, and you can feel the chemistry oozing from the two singers. Get it wrong, and all you get is two singers facing each other shouting as loudly as they can. A mere […]
BIRTHDAY: Pænda from Austria is 32 today We like to celebrate the characters of Eurovision here. There have been plenty, and they’re not all Nordic. Come to think of it, which Nordic singer would be the biggest heap of fun at a dinner party? Aside from the north […]