Australia Will Compete in Eurovision 2015

The EBU (Eurovision Broadcasting Union) announced today that for the first time ever, Australia will be allowed to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest, taking place this May in Vienna. Australians have been watching the Contest for years, but because they are not members of the EBU, they have never been able to participate.

This is huge news for Australian fans, but it should be understood that this is intended as a one-time opportunity, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Eurovision. If Australia does indeed win the Contest, they will be allowed to send an additional entry next year. And a European city will host, with the help of Australian broadcaster, SBS.

Australia will advance directly to the grand final, held on May 23. This was decided so as not to take votes away from other countries who are participating in the semi-finals. Australian viewers will also be able to vote for the first time, in both the semi-finals and the final.

At last year's Eurovision in Copenhagen, Australia had the honor of performing the interval act during the second semi-final. SBS sent Jessica Mauboy and her song, "Sea of Flags."

This brings the total number of participants to 40, which is the largest Eurovision in its history. Australia joins the Big 5 countries: Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the UK; host country, Austria; and Armenia, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Macedonia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Albania, Belarus, Denmark, Georgia, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland.  

And The Winner Is...

The upmost congratulations to CONCHITA WURST from Austria! A dark horse from the beginning, Conchita became an audience favorite thanks to her originality and talent.

In a year where parts of Eastern Europe are war-torn, the victory of Conchita is truly moving. In the arena, during her performance, the audience could be heard singing along with "Rise Like A Phoenix." As she was crowned the winner, Conchita said, "This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. You know who you are. We are unity, and we are unstoppable."

Austria's final vote tally was 290. In second place, The Netherlands, with 238 points. Sweden came third with 218. What a wonderful, and talented top three!

It was an amazing night. Congratulations to Conchita! Can't wait to see you in Austria next year!

Results From The Second Semi-Final

Part two of the 2014 semi-finals took place today in Copenhagen, and here are our ten qualifiers!

Firelight from Malta: This gets the family-friendly vote for sure. Their folksy song is incredibly likable, and it will do well in the finals.

Carl Espen from Norway: Simple and moving. Loving this moody ballad.

Conchita Wurst from Austria: WOW. Well, this is an amazing performance. There is a huge movement behind Conchita, and it's now believed this underdog has a real chance to win on Saturday.

Sebalter from Switzerland: Another cute folk song, but this won't do as well as Malta.

Teo from Belarus: The Belorussian Robin Thicke advances.

Tinkara Kovac from Slovenia: This is the most surprising finalist of the night. I like Tinkara, but her song isn't as dynamic as some of the others.

Freaky Fortune feat. RiskyKidd from Greece: Greece really brought it this year. Their song is probably the most fun, most party-ready song in the whole contest right now.

Softengine from Finland: An alternative band with a catchy song. They get the straight guy vote.

Donatan & Cleo from Poland: Welcome back, Poland! Though Cleo's voice faltered, the performance was incredibly entertaining (let's be real here: this made it through because of gratuitous Polish boobs).

Paula Seling and Ovi from Romania: This performance gave me LIFE. It was completely over-the-top and wonderful, everything we (I) wanted from Romania. From holograms to a circular piano, Danish presenter, Lise Rønne, could not have been more correct when she commented, "Less is not more."

Shortly after the finalists were announced, a running order for Saturday's final was created. Remember, in an incredibly competitive year like this, the order in which you perform can mean everything. Traditionally, entries have a much better chance of winning if they are placed within the second half of the show.

The Best of the Rest

Tonight is the second semi-final in Copenhagen. 15 entries will compete for the remaining 10 spots in the final.

Norway's Carl Espen is expected to do well. "Silent Storm" was chosen through Norway's Melodi Grand Prix (which is similar to Sweden's Melodifestivalen in its scope and popularity). It's not my typical Eurovision pick (I usually prefer something a bit more flashy or ridiculous), but I'm captivated by Norway's haunting ballad.

From Israel, we have Mei Finegold with "Same Heart." GET IT GIRL. Mei got her start through Israel's version of American Idol, a program called Kokhav Nolad. Israel last won Eurovision in 1998 with the lovely Dana International, who is a transgender male-to-female performer. "Same Heart" is a great pop song with a strong club following, and it will do well among certain audience members (gays).

And now, we got to Malta with the band, Firelight. Malta has participated in the Contest 27 times, and they've never won. Personally, if you want folk, I think The Netherlands is putting forth a stronger entry. But there's a lot of buzz behind "Coming Home." With the popularity of bands like Mumford and Sons, Firelight has a very good chance of making it to Saturday's final, and maybe winning the whole thing.

American viewers, the second semi-final starts at 2pm Central Time. Watch here.

The Wild Cards

There's a lot of talk about Austria's Conchita Wurst. She was chosen as the representative very early in the Eurovision process (back in September of last year), which is usually a good sign. Of course, the first thing people notice about Conchita is her out-of-the-ordinary look: a beautiful drag queen with a full beard. But what's really exciting is the realization that she can actually sing. Reports from rehearsals say that Conchita is killing it in the vocal department. 

Could Conchita Wurst actually be victorious at Eurovision this year? It's unlikely, but never forget that a bunch of Finnish men in monster costumes won in 2006 with record-breaking votes. So weirder things have happened.

After taking a two-year hiatus from Eurovision, Poland is BACK. Poland has never won Eurovision, and for the past decade, they have rarely made it out of the semi-finals. But producer Donaton and singer Cleo seem to make a good team. Their song, "My Slowanie" (translation: "We Are Slavic") has been getting a lot of buzz. Partly, because it is a fun song and such a great return for Poland, and partly, because the gratuitous music video is full of hot, sweaty boobs. The Metro called this "the rudest Eurovision entry ever," but it doesn't bother me. I'm loving Cleo's look, and of course, the clapping. More clapping in songs!

Two other unique entries are France and Belarus. It's unlikely that Twin Twin will win the competition for France on Saturday, but "Moustache" could become the song of the summer. Teo from Belarus will likely share a similar fate: his song, "Cheesecake," is fun and kind of ridiculous. He won't win, but his future as a Belorussian Robin Thicke looks promising.

Austria, Poland, and Belarus will perform in the second semi-final, taking place tomorrow night (2pm Central Time for my American friends). Let's hope they all get passed on to the final! Watch here. 

Results From The First Semi-Final

Eurovision 2014 has officially begun! The first semi-final took place in the B&W Hallerne music arena in Copenhagen. It was a fabulous start to what looks to be a landmark year for Eurovision. And we have ten finalists! They are, in no particular order:

Aram MP3 from Armenia. No surprise here, he's a frontrunner in the competition.

András Kállay-Saunders from Hungary. Another obvious choice, although I still don't know how I feel about a pop song about child abuse.

Sanna Nielsen from Sweden. Looking and sounding beautiful, Sanna!

Dilara Kazimova from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan always puts on a good show, and this year is no exception.

Pollapönk from Iceland. A fun, silly song about loving others.

Tolmachevy Sisters from Russia. These poor girls were actually booed when it was announced they made it through the semi-final. The audience was not feeling Russia.

The Common Linnets from The Netherlands. I was blown away by this performance. Very beautiful and subtle. And I am an American, so I have a soft spot for country music.

Mariya Yaremchuk from Ukraine. A fierce performance from Ukraine. Loving the hamster wheel.

And, for the first time, Montenegro and San Marino both qualified for the final! Congratulations to Sergej Cetkovic and our girl, Valentina Monetta! And congrats to all the finalists.

Balkan Power

Never underestimate a good Balkan entry. The people in this region are fierce Eurovision fans. They vote a lot, and usually, for each other.  There's a strong, uniting drive that brings these countries together and makes them a powerful force in Eurovision.

The last Balkan nation to win Eurovision was Serbia in 2008. I think it's time for another Balkan victory.

These two fabulous weirdos are back with "Miracle." Paula Seling and Ovi were last seen at Eurovision in 2010, when they came third, giving Romania its best ever placement. It's no secret that I love them and would like to see them win on Saturday. They are great performers, and Romania would make a wonderful Eurovision host next year. This song might be a little too old-school-club-hit for some of Western Europe, but the Balkan countries will no doubt throw Paula and Ovi their support. Let's all hope Paula can hit that note.

Sergej Cetkovic is representing Montenegro with "Moj svijet" (translation: "My World"). Montenegro has been participating in Eurovision since 2007, and they have never made it through the semi-final. But with "Moj svijet," they have their first legitimate chance. Sergej is a big celeb in Eastern Europe, and I think this beautiful Balkan ballad will enchant international voters. Montenegro appears in the first semi-final tonight, and hopefully, they will sail through.

Russia, though not part of the Balkans, obviously has enormous influence in this region. From the gay rights scandals during the Winter Olympics, to the horrible ongoing clashes in Ukraine, Europeans are not happy with Russia's behavior lately. The Tolmachevy Sisters, two twin girls who won Junior Eurovision in 2006, will also perform in the semi-final tonight. Since their Eurovision debut in 2000, Russia has never missed a final. Will they be able to get the votes to make it out of the semi-final tonight? Or will Western European countries send their support elsewhere?

Americans watching at home, the first semi-final takes place at 2pm, Central Time. Watch it here.

Everybody's Talking About...

According to online polls and Eurovision bloggers, Hungary is the one to beat this year. New York-born András Kállay-Saunders is representing Hungary with his song, "Running." It's a good song, although perhaps a bit puzzling to some. The lyrics deal with the somber issue of child abuse, but the music is upbeat and club-influenced. This may turn off some who feel the topic of domestic violence is too heavy for a music contest, or it might convince voters that songs from Eurovision can be more meaningful and have a positive social message. Either way, it is a strong entry, and András is one of the most talented vocalists in the competition this year.

People are also talking about Spain's Ruth Lorenzo. Now, Spain last won Eurovision in 1969, and since then, they have done poorly in the Contest. Ruth might change all of that this year. She started getting international attention in 2008, when she appeared on the fifth season of The X Factor (in the UK, which could get her some big votes from Britain). Ruth has a beautiful and strong voice, and "Dancing In The Rain" is extremely accessible. Personally, I find this song BORING, but it might be sweet and simple enough (read: BORING) to captivate audiences of all ages.

And then we have the lovely Molly from the United Kingdom. Yes, this is a great song. Very current, very fun. But I think the reason why "Children of the Universe" is getting so much buzz is because it is so vastly different from the last few British entries. Finally, the UK is trying again! They're not sending someone over the age of 60, there's no rapping, no gimmicks, no Andrew Lloyd Weber. It's just a good song written by an up-and-coming young artist, and it will be well received by international viewers. Good for you, Britain. Welcome back.

And from the far east, we have Aram MP3 from Armenia. Eurovision betting odds have picked "Not Alone" as the winner. Armenia has only been in the Contest since 2006, but this is the entry of a much more seasoned pro. The song ties together a ballad with dubstep, and it works, somehow. It's a very strong contender, and I think the staging and performance will be crucial in determining if this is our winner.

The Time Is Nigh!

Eurovision 2014 is upon us! Performers arrived in Copenhagen last week to rehearse for the big event. The running order for the two semi-finals have been established, and there's no doubt it's going to be a spectacular week.

The competition is fierce this year. For the first time since I started watching Eurovision, I have no idea who will win. Usually, there are clear front-runners, and you just know they will do well, as with Alexander Rybak in 2009, Loreen in 2012, and even Emmelie de Forest in 2013. But the competition this year is neck-and-neck. There are at least ten very strong entries, and quite a few dark horses that have people talking.

What this means is that we have a very exciting week ahead of us. Since most of the songs are so good, the actual performance on the Eurovision stage will count for a lot. That, and running order in the final, which is determined by officials from the host country (Denmark, of course) after the second semi-final. The strongest position to have is in the last quarter of the show. Whoever wins will have to really fight for it.

Semi-finals are Tuesday and Thursday, and the finale will be on Saturday. You can watch live through the eurovision.tv website. Tomorrow, I will start analyzing the contenders. I'll be posting all week, bringing news from Copenhagen.

Great News From Sweden!

Swedes chose their winner today, and congratulations to Sanna Nielsen! As predicted, it was a heart-stoppingly close finish. Sanna beat runner-up, Ace Wilder, by 2 points.

Great News From The UK and Romania!

After months of rumors and speculation, the BBC has finally revealed who will represent the United Kingdom in Copenhagen. No, it's not Geri Halliwell, Susan Boyle, Rylan Clark, or Belinda Carlisle. It's newcomer, Molly Smitten-Downes, who will be going by just "Molly."

This is great for the UK. Someone young and relevant (unlike their past two contestants, 77 year-old Engelbert Humperdinck and 62 year-old Bonnie Tyler). Molly is giving off some ethereal Florence Welch vibes, which will be well received at Eurovision. She sounds "new," the way Loreen did in 2012, and Emmelie de Forest in 2013.

After lots of success and five victories in the early years of Eurovision, the UK has dropped off since the 2000s. They last won in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves' "Love Shines a Light," and their most recent success was in 2009, when the Andrew Lloyd Weber-penned "It's My Time" placed fifth. But they have also come last three times, in 2003, 2008, and 2010. I think Molly will do very well at Eurovision. It's exciting to see the UK coming back with an entry that could actually be a contender.

Now onto Eastern Europe, where Romania has chosen their representative through a televised national selection show. Former Eurovision competitors, Paula Seling and Ovi, will return to the Contest in May.

There's a special place in my heart for Romania. They are one of the few countries who, since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, have never missed a final. Romanians have so much passion for the ESC, and I would love to see them win for once. Paula and Ovi are a good choice for representatives; when they came third in 2010, it was Romania's best ever placement. "Miracle" is a great, upbeat pop song, and it will be accessible and enjoyable for voters. Paula's voice is no joke, and I know they'll bring their over-the-top enthusiasm to Copenhagen. Great job, Romania!

Eurovision Royalty: Helena Paparizou

An interesting thing might happen later this year. A former Eurovision winner is trying to return to the competition. But this time, she's aiming to represent a different country.

Belarus to Send "Cheesecake" To Copenhagen

Belarus held their own national selection this weekend, and TEO, with his song, "Cheesecake," was crowned the winner.

According to eurovision.tv, "Cheesecake" refers to the nickname given to TEO by his ex-girlfriend. TEO, born Juri Yashchuk, wrote the lyrics to the song himself. Will 2014 be the year for Belarussian victory? We'll just have to wait and see. But I have a feeling that "Cheesecake" will be a memorable entry this year.

Eurovision 2014: #JoinUs

Eurovision season is underway, and host country, Denmark, revealed the theme artwork and catch phrase for 2014's big event.

In past years, the theme art has been butterflies, flames, bubbles, and colorful paint brushstroke-type things. This year it's a DIAMOND! Yes, a beautiful, blue diamond. From Executive Producer, Pernille Gaardbo:

"Eurovision diamond symbolizes what the competition means to us: a hub that is at once sparkling and strong. Diamond has lots of different sides and shows the diversity and the richness that will be on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest." 

And the catch phrase, "#JoinUs." Which, I suppose, displays how technologically-advanced the show in Copenhagen will be? Or they're just trying to appeal to the younger generations.

Read the full article at eurovision.tv.

Maria Yaremchuk Will Represent Ukraine

Eurovision season has officially started with the selection of Maria Yaremchuk! Ukraine is the first country this year to have a televised national final, and "Tick-Tock" by Yaremchuk was selected to compete in Copenhagen. 

Ukraine has an outstanding reputation at Eurovision. After debuting at the Contest the year before, they won in 2004 with Ruslana's "Wild Dances," and have passed through the semi-finals every year since. Ukraine came in second place in 2007 and 2008, and finished in third place last year. 

I expect Maria Yaremchuk will do well, as Ukraine almost always does well. Especially when they stick to the formula of sending a beautiful girl with a hot pop song. So good job, Ukraine!

Eurovision 2014 is less than six months away. In the following months, many more countries will be hosting their own national selections and announcing their representatives. 

And Bosnia Herzegovina is Out!

Yes, I am sad to say that since my last post, things changed for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Though they submitted an application for Copenhagen, an outside sponsor was never established. Bosnia announced their withdrawal from the competition earlier this week.

There are currently 37 countries preparing for Eurovision 2014.

Bosnia Herzegovina is Back!

After sitting out the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 for financial reasons, Bosnia and Herzegovina has announced it will return for the 2014 competition!

This is great news for me because B&H is always one of my favorite entries. Bosnian performers are very well received at Eurovision, and they have reached the final every year since 2004.

Great News From Austria!

Austria has announced they will send Conchita Wurst to Eurovision in 2014! Conchita, whose real name is Tom Neuwirth, competed for a chance to represent Austria in 2012, but she was defeated by this MESS. Her entry, "That's What I Am" came in second place.

Austria, typically, does not do very well at Eurovision. They have only won the Contest once, in 1966. And they have placed last seven times, with many of their entries receiving zero votes.

Will next year be different for Austria? There's no way to know for sure, but Conchita Wurst does have a hot name, a perfectly manicured eyebrow/beard situation, and I'm sure she'll put on a great show. Great work, Austria! I look forward to seeing Conchita in Copenhagen!

Denmark Announces Host City

And it's Copenhagen! Not a surprise, considering that Copenhagen has been the city of choice for all three Eurovision Song Contests that Denmark has had the honor of hosting (in 1964, 2000, and 2014).

Some fans are disappointed in the uninspired choice. Early rumors predicted that the city of Herning would be the favorite, and another city, Horsens, proposed hosting Eurovision in an old prison. But the Danish producers of Eurovision have big plans for Copenhagen. The Contest will take place on a former shipyard called the B&W Hallerne. The whole area will be revamped into a "Eurovision Island," complete with shops and a state-of-the-art music arena.

The official slogan of Eurovision 2014 is "Join Us," and the Contest is scheduled to take place May 6, 8, and 10.