World Cup draw.

The World Cup preliminary draws take place tomorrow (for the qualifying part) and, because we're one of the big teams, we've been placed in Pot 1 along with the likes of Italy, England, Portugal, Germany and the winners of the last World Cup, Spain. Norway, Greece and Croatia are in there too, but I can't understand why - it's not like they're 'big teams' or anything.

Please be kind to us, FIFA! Don't let us draw against the Frenchies!

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!

So, the big moment is FINALLY upon us, and there are less than four hours to go until the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011! Hopefully the people of Europe will be nice to us this year - we have four talented and cute boys singing for us, so we're hoping it does us some justice, haha!

COME ON BLUE! BRING IT HOME TO THE UNITED KINGDOM!

Wilkommen in Deutschland!

I'M IN DÜSSELDORF, PEOPLE! I got here last night after spending a few hours in the lovely and glorious city of Amsterdam and, so far, I have to say I'm impressed!

I haven't seen the arena as yet, however, but I'll try to carry on posting videos/photos of the event as and when I (or my wonderful Scandinavian sidekicks in the shape of The Mortensen Boys) find them, so I'll keep you posted!

ROLL ON SATURDAY NIGHT - AND COME ON BLUE!

PS: VOTE FOR 3JS ON THURSDAY NIGHT, PEOPLE OF EUROPE! I want to see the Dutchies in the final for the first time in seven years, you hear?!

Say no more!

Oh, Dana! You might be a Eurovision legend but you definitely aren't a winner again this year - not with this song anyway!

WHAT THE...?!

I've just seen the official cover for the I Can single and I have to say, on first glance, I'm not happy with it!

For starters, they've nicked McFly's font, and the cover looks a wee bit camp but it probably still won't stop me buying it and supporting the boys at Eurovision!

COME ON, BOYS, YOU CAN DO IT!

Popular?! Not with this video!

The official video for the Swedish Eurovision entry's been released and, if I'm honest, I'm not convinced...

Eric, as much as I adore you, this video is a little bit SKRÄP! You have an absolutely brilliant song but I don't have a clue WHAT the video's all about! Dancing by some wires, being trapped by a fence, dancing in a club and getting thrown out only for you to go back in?! WHAT?!

Sort it out, Master Saade, or we WON'T be seeing your cute little face in the final!

PS: One thing I have noticed is that he appears to have nicked the idea from Alex Sparrow's Get You video! Is this Sweden's idea of plagiarism to get back at the Danes for nicking two of their songs? I really hope not...

Norway for the win again?

Well, according to a simulator thing I did earlier, it could happen!

Nice to see The Netherlands in the final here too but it's a shame they don't come anywhere near the Top 10 (see also the United Kingdom)!

Do yours here and prepare to be amazed (or not) at the results...

When Eurovision met football!

My good friend Lesley and I have been getting all creative and making football shirts for our favourite Eurovision entrants and this is the result:

Malta is actually on a Swiss shirt and Sweden is on a Scotland one (there wasn't one for the proper countries but they're of similar colours to what they'd wear anyway) and, as for Blue, that's on an Everton shirt (that was my idea since I'm an Evertonian - no WAY were we using an England shirt)!

Denmark and The Netherlands are on the proper shirts in case you were wondering, though you could probably already guess, haha!

Aren't we good?

Ooh, I say!

Those cheeky boys from Blue have got their kit off in this month's Attitude Magazine and, to celebrate, the wonderfully-talented Ben Morris from Eurovision Icons has done a little Minipop to celebrate (see below).

You can find all the Eurovision entrants in Minipop form on the Facebook site linked above. I'm still liking the song too and I'd like Blue to do well in Düsseldorf in the final on May 14th. They can and they WILL!

Definitely Polish then? AWESOME!

I'm LOVING Magdalena Tul's Jestem and I was shocked when I heard that the Poles might have her sing in English (the version I hate) but, knowing she's DEFINITELY singing in Polish after all, it's back on course to be a potential winner for me!

IDŹ POLSKA!

Russian Mafia, anyone?

Violence? Really Russia? This video just makes me hate your entry, Get You, a whole lot more. Bring back Dima!

Haba haba!

I am officially in LOVE with the new version of Norway's Eurovision entry (see above) and I think it still has a potential top ten finish.

That is all.

Worst Eurovision song ever?

Close your eyes and picture Portugal. Picture everything you know about Portugal. Now picture all those crap X Factor auditionees (the ones that were tone deaf and couldn't sing for shit) singing for them and you get this:

Sorry Portugal but, not only is your song full of pointless political crapness, your video's a bit shit as well! NIL POINTS!

Oh Malta!

I'm still not entirely sure about this video. As much as I like the song, I have no idea what the video's all about but it's certainly about as camp as it comes. The singer's not Chiara or Fabrizio, however, I'm not expecting to see him in the final.

Sorry Malta. See you in the semis.

Welcome back Blue!

After last year's 'can't sing live for shit' fest that was Josh Dubovie singing a song written by Pete Waterman (which, of course, came rock bottom after the British public sent him to Oslo), the UK decided to go for an internal selection and chose Blue with a catchy tune that they've written themselves in the hope that we don't end up finishing stone-dead last like we've done over recent years - and they haven't let me down! It's a brilliant song and I can't WAIT to hear it being sung live in Düsseldorf on 14th May!

Cardiff/Manchester/Birmingham (it won't be London) 2012?! That sounds good to me!

EURO REVIEW: PART 2.

Here's my review of the Eurovision songs from Israel to the UK. Hope you like it.

Israel (Dana International - Ding Dong): If Israel thought sending Dana International back was a good idea, they were wrong. Clearly. She won't win with that song.

Italy (Raphael Gualazzi - Madness Of Love): Italy's comeback won't start with a win either. I sense a huge disappointment with this song. Boring! They should have sent Nathalie.

Latvia (Musiqq - Angel In Disguise): I'm still not sure about this one but it's still better than the shit they served up last year.

Lithuania (Evelina Sašenko - C'est Ma Vie): I like this one but I'm not sure how it'll sound live. If she pulls it off, she might qualify, but we'll see.

Malta (Glen Vella - One Life): I like the Maltese entry too but, like with many entries from Malta before it, I don't think it'll qualify. It's not Fabrizio Faniello or Chiara.

Moldova (Zdob şi Zdub - So Lucky): This is the Eurovision comedy song of this year. I can't see it qualifying though. Bring back the sax!

Norway (Stella Mwangi - Haba Haba): Another one of my favourites and part of my top ten. It'll probably qualify.

Poland (Magdalena Tul - One Way Ticket To Heaven): I'm sorry, but I don't like the English version. I liked the Polish version and she should have left it as it was. It's dropped a few places on my list now. It was one of my favourites from the start (as Jestem) but it'll still probably qualify.

Portugal (Homens da Luta - A Luta É Alegria): This is a load of shite but it'll probably still qualify anyway (it is Portugal after all and they always do even if the song's a bit CRAP)! That's providing it doesn't get disqualified for being full of pointless political pap of course...

Romania (Hotel FM - Change): It's good but it's not as good as last year's Playing With Fire. I can't see them finishing any higher than tenth.

Russia (Alexey Vorobyov/Alex Sparrow - Get You): I'm still not liking the Russian entry much but at least it's better than last year's funeral dirge so it'll probably qualify.

San Marino (Senit - Stand By): I actually kinda like this one and I hope they qualify so they join their Italian neighbours in the final. That is all.

Serbia (Nina - Čaroban): Weirdly, I like this. Not entirely sure why.

Slovakia (Maja Keuc - Vanilija): I'm not entirely sure this'll qualify to be honest. They weren't even supposed to be at this year's event.

Slovenia (TWiiNS - I'm Still Alive): The best set of twins in this year's Eurovision. Good song too. Jedward who?

Spain (Lucía Pérez - Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao): I'm slowly starting to like this one but, yet again, I don't see it getting higher than tenth place come the scoring. Sorry Spain!

Sweden (Eric Saade - Popular): I LOVE THIS SONG! Not sure how the judges will take the gimmicks, however, and most people are saying he won't qualify, so I hope he proves his critics wrong!

Switzerland (Anna Rossinelli - In Love For A While): I preferred Il Pleut De L'Or from last year to be honest and I can't see the Swiss making it into the final again this year.

Turkey (Yüksek Sadakat - Live It Up): Yet another rock song from the Turks but they won't do as well as Manga last year. Sorry guys.

Ukraine (Mika Newton - Angel): URGH. The less said about this crap, the better (they should have sent Jelena). I can see them qualifying though - if their arse-licking neighbours and/or the Euro-jury have anything to do with it, they will...

United Kingdom (Blue - I Can): And, finally, the United Kingdom. I can't vote for my own country (the United Kingdom is my homeland) but I hope we don't come last yet again! GOOD LUCK, BOYS, YOU CAN DO IT!

AND THAT'S THE WRAP! Hopefully, the right acts will get through the semis, so I can enjoy the final with my Scandinavian sidekicks (we're all going to be in Düsseldorf and I can't WAIT)! DON'T LET ME DOWN, EUROPE, I'M COUNTING ON YOU!

The countdown to the final starts now...

EURO REVIEW: PART 1.

I'm going to do this in two parts, since I figured all 43 songs in one entry would be a bit much, so here's part one from Albania to Ireland. Enjoy.

Albania (Aurela Gaçe - Feel The Passion): Didn't like the original (sung in Albanian) and the English version isn't much better. It'll probably qualify though.

Armenia (Emmy - Boom Boom): Potential qualifier. Not a winner though.

Austria (Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love): Love the song and it'll probably qualify but, again, it's not a winner.

Azerbaijan (Ell & Nikki - Running Scared): I love the song and it's a potential winner. If they sing well and get to the final, they might finish in the top five again like last year.

Belarus (Anastasia Vinnikova - I Love Belarus): I hate this one but it's still much better than some of the other shit we've got. It'll probably qualify but it's not a winner.

Belgium (Witloof Bay - With Love Baby): Hate the vocal arrangement, it won't qualify and it's definitely not a winner. If it does make it through the semis, however, I'll be VERY surprised!

Bosnia-Herzegovina (Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind): I'm still not sure if I like this one or not. It's not the worst song I've heard though.

Bulgaria (Poli Genova - Na Inat): I like this one but it's not a winner for me.

Croatia (Daria Kinzer - Celebrate): Nice, little upbeat disco-type song. I like it but, like with many others before it, it's not a winner.

Cyprus (Christos Mylordou - San Aggelos S'agapisa): Not sure if I like this one or not. That is all.

Denmark (A Friend In London - New Tomorrow): One of my top five songs, even though it wasn't my favourite to start with. Not entirely sure if it'll win or not, however. There's far too much competition at the top.

Estonia (Getter Jaani - Rockefeller Street): Another one of my favourites but, again, I'm not sure it'll win overall. It's a nice little number though.

Finland (Paradise Oskar - Da Da Dam): This one's a grower but I'm not entirely sure it'll even make it out of the semis to be honest. They probably should have sent Tommi Soidinmäki to stand any chance of qualifying.

France (Amaury Vasilli - Sognu): I love this one and it's one of the best entries the French have sent in AGES! I'm still not sure how it'll fare, however, since it's a classical number and many have tried this before and flopped big time. Hope it does well though.

FYR Macedonia (Vlatko Ilievski - Rusinka): Sorry, but this is SHIT! NEXT!

Georgia (Eldrine - One More Day): I actually rather like Georgia's entry but I can't see them making it out of semis this year.

Germany (Lena - Taken By A Stranger): Another one of my top ten songs this year. Can't see her winning again though.

Greece (Loukas Giorkas feat. Stereo Mike - Watch My Dance): Anyone know the Greek for 'get off the stage - you're crap!'? We want more OPA from the Greeks next year please!

Holland/The Netherlands (3JS - Never Alone): MY FAVOURITE SONG OF THE YEAR! Amsterdam 2012 next year perhaps? They need to get out of the semis for the first time in seven years however, so I hope they do! *fingers crossed*

Hungary (Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams?): This is another one of my favourites. I still prefer Zoli Ádok but Kati Wolf is the new schlager icon of this year! LOVE IT! Will they be 'Hungary' for success (excuse the blatant pun)? Only time will tell...

Iceland (Sjónni's Friends - Coming Home): I wasn't keen on the Icelandic version and I'm not sure about the English version either! They're good but they're not THAT good! Can we have our Yohanna back please?

Ireland (Jedward - Lipstick): I just have one thing to say about the Irish entry - SHOITE! I thought Dustin the Turkey was bad but these two muppets are even WORSE! Yes, Jedward, you ARE heading for a car crash, now kindly feck off!

That concludes Part 1. Part 2 coming soon.

NEARLY THERE!

We now know around 38 of the 43 songs for this year's Eurovision Song Contest so, as soon as I've heard them all, I'll do a review of them and let you know my favourites.

I don't have that many favourites though. Most of the songs are crap this year.

Plagiarism alert!

Denmark, words fail me. You send good entries every year but you've let me down big time with this year's, not to mention it sounds like about four other songs from different countries. First, there was Paso Doble with 'Herz an Herz' back in 1985, then there was Andreas Johnson with 'Sing For Me' in 2006 and now it appears that there's a Japanese song with a similar backing track!

I had high hopes for Denmark to go through to the final this year, since I liked it last night, but they sent the wrong song and then I find out they've appeared to have nicked the song from Sweden yet again (remember last year's entry? That was supposed to be a Swedish song years ago but they turned it down so the Danes nicked it instead), so I don't think it'll do so well this year.

Sorry Denmark!

New blog - temporary name.

Hiya guys! This is my brand-spanking-new blog but it has a temporary name for now, since it's only supposed to be a Eurovision-based blog and not much else, haha!

I might change it to a more personal one later but, for now, it's Eurovision-based only.

That is all.