Tobson and all the entries

I will get down to my prediction but first I'd like to put a tiny plug here for my other Eurovision blog, Tobson och alla bidragen, where I blog my way through every single Eurovision entry ever. More history schoolbook than my own personal opinions but I hope you'll enjoy storytelling too.

It's all in Swedish but don't let that put you off. There's always Google translate...

I promise you penguins, nuclear bombs, tragic deaths and the odd success story as well. And this is just the beginning.

Eurovision for Chinese

There are, as far as I can think up, not many Eurovision entries through the years that bear any links to China. Lukas Plöchl, half of Austria's Trackshittaz, is half Chinese. And that is about it. If you can think of other acts with a Chinese link, please enlighten me with a comment.

But there is a community of Eurovision fans in China, which ESC Nation pointed out on Twitter.

I had to check their blog out, and they are busy voting for their favourite entries this year. And their standings at the moment differ quite a bit from the European fan votes.

I'm also happy to see Finland being one of three Nordic countries to score as yet, as well as a lovely Chinese translation of "När jag blundar".

I, who always wondered how non-europeans percieve this old contest of ours, find this blog very pleasant. If you want a slightly different perspective, I suggest you check it out as well.

Eurovision for Americans

One of the great big problems in the world today is the lack of visions, of engagement, of commitment... So how wonderful isn't it to see that it least someone has it in them?

I always wonder how non-european eurofans percieve the magic of the Eurovision Song Contest. It must be exotic with all the flags and all the countries and all the languages, then calling all the capitals up to collect the points...

So, it feels good to see that there is a blog devoted to explaining Eurovision for Americans, trying to make the whole package a little bit more understandable. Go in there, read it and applaud the initiative.

And all you other non-European fans - if you feel like it, I would love to hear what makes the contest special to you. Leave a comment and tell me.

And, to celebrate the American blog, one of the Americans that have taken part at the ESC through the years.



Jeane Manson - J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux (Luxembourg 1979)

A little short on updates...

Quite a lot has been going on in the world of Eurovision this week, but there has been no time to blog about it as I have been part of "De Eurovisa" - the Eurovision 2012 preview show on Yle.

A panel consisting of Johan Lindroos, Eva Frantz and me (plus one star guest per week) will review all the songs selected for Baku and the show starts on April 17 on the Yle Fem channel.

Quite a responsibility, given this is the only "real" preview show produced by Yle this year.

Next week will also be filled with preview-related work, so updates might be scarce for a few days to come as well. But have faith - in April I will start reviewing the competing songs also on this blog, very much like I did last year.

In short - there will be more to come for those with patience. I hope it will be worth the wait.

ESC 2011: did you enjoy Düsseldorf?

Hello all...

I hope you all had an excellent time with the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, whatever way you watched it. On location, in front of your telly, with your laptop on your knee.

I know I had an excellent time.

The only really bitter little taste is that I had to sacrifice the blog in order to do my job properly. When I had made the news articles, the web tv, the columns and the radio reports I was all out of words.

It is a bit silly to have a eurovision blog on and then drop it when the season moves into top gear. I would have loved to be here and discuss more with you, dear readers, the development, the acts, the performances and the predictions.

Well, I also know that a fraction of you out there has the same need as I do. We need a eurovision blog the most when the season is at its slowest. Some place to turn to when nobody else wants to hear about Eurovision but you still want more.

So I will take the blog up again, slowly, and keep it going for the summer, waiting for the next season to start.

Hope you are still here, some of you, and please tell me... What did you think about the 2011 ESC? Who was your favourite? And why? Please leave a comment and brighten up my day.

Poor blog, how I mistreated you

Since I set foot in Düsseldorf, I have not had time at all to look after this blog. It doesn't look awfully promising for the future either, but I promise to predict the outcome of the semis as well as the big final.

Being very nervous about Finland. Thinking it will go through, fearing it will be the highly tipped one that misses out. Silence, please, voices in my head.

But I have not been lazy - have a look at the YouTube clips I have produced for Svenska Yle on our channel here with clips of Paradise Oskar singing Germany's 2007 eurosong, as well as interviews with Musiqq of Latvia and Kati Wolf of Hungary.

Enjoy!

Wow... Thank you, readers!

I just have to thank you all who pass by once in a while to read what I scribble down. I made this blog public Wednesday this week (even if some posts are older than that) and today, Saturday, I have had already more than 500 pageviews!

Fantastic! This calls for a bit of a celebration! How about champagne for everybody?



John Terra en groep - Champagne voor iedereen (Belgium national final 1987)