ESC 2024: Hello there, Lëtzebuerg

Today we were greeted by the news I never thought would drop but now it is official. Luxembourg is making a big comeback to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024.

This is clearly the ESC equivalent of Abba revealing they would release a new album after 40 years.

Five-time winners Luxembourg made their last appearance to date in Millstreet 1993 and have not been seen or heard since. For many years, they were a consistently interesting participant that heavily employed talent from other countries but before their departure they had a string of lackluster placings, usually with local performers instead.

1993 was a very different world so what kind of Luxembourg can we look forward to next year? I see three possible scenarios.

1. Local Luxembourg

This would mean acting like a showcase for singers and songwriters from the Grand Duchy itself. Not a huge talent pool to choose from but in today's media climate, Luxembourgish acts would be better prepared for the international heat then they were back in the early 90's. With a good home studio, your songs can sound as good and impressive regardless where in the world you are from.

2. Luxembourg and Surroundings

Being a small country, Luxembourg automatically gets a lot of influence from their neighbour countries. They could establish themselves as a platform also for artists from Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France that would like to be seen on the ESC stage but for some reason do not want to enter (or do not fit into) their own country's selection process. This wouldn't rule out the occasional home-grown entry whenever something strong enough would be on offer.

3. RTL Group Luxembourg

RTL Group - with its head quarters in Luxembourg - is one of Europe's largest and most successful broadcasters and in their own words "a leading entertainment company". Why not let all the international branches of RTL look for potential talent in their territories to find a joint candidate to be promoted across their enormous platform? Also this modus would in no way rule out the odd Luxembourgois act going to the ESC now and then.

Regardless of the path they will chose, I hope Luxembourg will be in it to win it with a determination to launch great hit songs like they used to do back in the day.

I also hope Monaco's new public service broadcaster TV Monaco will be up and running according to schedule as they have a budget allocated for re-joining the ESC as well. The thought of possibly having Luxembourg and Monaco back the same year is making my tired old heart sing.

Is it Malta's turn to win?

When I started watching Eurovision back in the 1980's, the world was still relatively square and predictable and to find a new country in the line-up was a big and exciting event.

I was really enthusiastic when, in 1991, Malta decided to attempt an ESC comeback after a long absence. I knew they had tried their luck in the past and I had a bit of an obsession with the tiny states of Europe. I even had a maltese pen-friend. It's so long ago people still had pen-friends.

(My maltese pen-friend was called André and lived in Lija. If anyone out there knows him, tell him I said hi.)

Anyway, Malta's comeback was a big event for me. I kept my fingers crossed for them to do reasonably well and was really pleased when they did. In 1992 they did even better, ending in 3rd place, and suddenly I just knew they were bound for great things.

I was sure that Malta was sure to win anytime soon, they just needed to a bit of luck.

Here we are, more than twenty years later, and I must admit Malta has not been the winning machine I predicted they would be. But considering what a tiny, tiny nation they are, they have some really impressive placings to show.

This weekend, Malta will be the second country to select their entry for Vienna and who knows - maybe this is their time lucky. Maybe the maltese will take Europe by storm and finally get to host the big thing. Last week's Junior Eurovision organised in Malta suggests they would handle it very well.

I'd welcome a strong entry. I haven't predicted maltese victory since 1994 and it would be nice to do it again. And maybe this time the live performance would also match the preview, unlike back then?



Chris & Moira / More Than Love (Malta 1994 preview)

Welcome back, Czech republic

We haven't really seen a lot of the Czech republic at Eurovision through the years. They took part for three consecutive years - assembling a grand total of nine points, ending last in the semi final twice - before pulling out of the competition.

Who could blame them after scores like that?

On the other hand - after hearing the Czech offerings, who could blame Europe for not showering them with points?

Very much like their sister nation Slovakia, the Czech republic really got off on the wrong foot with the Eurovision Song Contest without ever really seeming to figure out what kind of song could go down well or take them to the final.

First and foremost, the Czech fiascos came down to poor choices, nothing else. Kabát were a credible rock act armed with the kind of song that would always find itself struggling in a contest of this kind, while Tereza Kerndlová gave a weak and shouty performance of an almost violently average song. The national finals that resulted in these entries contained a number of far more interesting music and performers.

The internal selection of Gipsy.cz still stands out as one of the most dubious choices ever made by any broadcaster ever. Almost like they were looking for failure and a reason to pull out.

Does it sound like I'm not happy about Czech republic coming back for the 2015 contest? Then you are wrong - I am very happy indeed. Thrilled.

I just hope they will have a new team in charge and shake up a daring, modern and surprising entry that will finally let them taste success.