Some thoughts on the ESC

2:10PM.
I was going to write this post tonight, but since I just heard that the venue for next year's contest will be announced in less than an hour, I just have to write a few lines about that ... just to see if I'm right. I'll update this post later.

Obviously there isn't much to choose from. When cities like Trondheim and even Tromsø :-D have declared themselves ready to host the final I've just had to laugh. Dream on. The demands on the venue and on the host city are quite specific and pretty high ... there are very few places in this country that fulfill them. And as for this fancy idea about using the Opera roof ... well ... taking a look at the list of requirements would be a good idea before throwing out something like that. The show must be held indoors. Sorry.

OK, so, since we aren't going to build anything new - there isn't time and it'd be too expensive - there are only four places in this entire country that are even worth considering:
Telenor Arena
Oslo Spektrum
Vallhall
Vikingskipet

That's it. And seriously, looking at that list, what's to choose from? The Viking Ship - no, Hamar doesn't have the facilities for housing and feeding as many people as the EBU demands, and no way can we shuttle the reporters and fans between Oslo and Hamar. We're trying to give Europe a good impression of Norway, so let's not bring Norwegian Rail into it. ;-) Vallhall - pretty new and fancy, but it's built for football games. We can do better. Oslo Spektrum - despite what people think, not a good venue for concerts. Why use something old and so-so when we have something new and better? Telenor Arena is almost brand new, it's state-of-the-art, it's the best we've got. What's to choose from? Welcome to Bærum in 2010 ... !!! :-D

3:40PM.
It's official: Oslo will be the host city for the second time. No contest. NRK boss Bjerkaas says it'll be either Spektrum or Telenor Arena. Oh, please, not Spektrum ... !! Either though will be v. convenient for yours truly. ;-) But I'm very disappointed because of something else - they've changed the dates. :-o They've moved it from May 22nd to the 29th. Oh noes!! That means that Constitution Day next year won't be part of the party as I'm sure we've all hoped that it would be. I mean, if we're going to show ourselves off to all of Europe anyway. :-( I hate football.

Oh, the excitement ... !!

How shall we endure it ... !! :-D

I can't believe they started the voting from the space station. These people really don't know when to draw the line. :-D

We don't understand the interval entertainment. But then we aren't really paying attention.

OK, we've voted umpteen times ... mostly for Eastern countries, in fact. ;-) Every single person here has voted for Estonia. Yay. :-)

And it's starting ... now. :-o

I have a really good feeling about Fairytale right now. And I don't think there'll be anyone tonight that gets the dreaded nil points. The field is so even this year! I hardly dare to pick a winner. But maybe that's because I'm afraid of my own bias ... ?

The first twelve is ours! Yay!

zomg we got germany's twelve!!!!1! :-o They always give their twelve to Turkey. OMG.

Sweden - give us your twelve ... !!!
Yes!!! Alexander, you've changed the course of history!!

I can't believe how well the British entry is doing. I'm sure this is all down to the jury groups. Oh, I'm so relieved suddenly - the Brits are doing well because of the juries, and because of them, Ukraine will do incredibly badly. YES!!! I am happy now. Whew.

Twelves, more twelves ... !!! Of course we got the Belarusian one. And the Russian. And, and, and ...

Alexander is doing the same thing he did in the national final. Crushing everyone. OMFG this is so fantastically cool. Now I regret not tooting our own horn more and posting constantly about how sure I was that we would win. ;-) I tried to compensate for my nationalistic bias - oh, why didn't I have more confidence?? LOL!!

Turkey doing very well, as expected. I'm so happy that Iceland is doing so well!! They totally deserve it, and like I said they need something to be happy about right now. If they end up in second place, that would be perfect. They'd be incredibly happy, but they wouldn't have to do the actual final. Or, spend the money, is what I mean.

We are totally crushing everyone. We have won. OMFG.

Please forgive me this little song, but I just can't help myself.

Seier'n er vår, seier'n er vår!!
Vi har vinni, seier'n er vår!!
Seier'n er vår, seier'n er vår!!
Vi har vinni, seier'n er vår!!

Tomorrow will be the best May 17th EVAR.

May 22nd, 2010. Telenor Arena. I AM THERE. o_O

Romania, United Kingdom, Finland, Spain

Romania:
This song is so annoying ... but even if it wasn't, it'd still be ruined for me by the fact that the sylvan nymph theme of the presentation has nothing whatsoever to do with the song.
Boo, Romania!! And it's especially disappointing since Romania has sent some really great songs in the past.

United Kingdom:
Now, this is apparently the song we make use of to bring out the cake ... :-D
Another song that is just mystifying ... I can't believe that this is a favorite. That's got to be just something the betting agencies are making up. Aren't they mostly British owned? >:-)
Argh, our commentator is so stupid ... she says she thinks this song is a serious contender, and why? Because the 'musical craftsmanship and quality' of Lloyd Webber's work will stand out. Umm, yeah ... cause we all know that craftsmanship and quality is what the ESC is all about!! Duh.
I think people may be very surprised by how badly this song ends up doing.

Finland:
Meh. I've heard this song umpteen times before and I'm sure pretty much everyone in the audience has too.
Too unvaried a melody, too repetitive.
I don't get why this song is in the final.
No chance.

Spain:
And kind of the same with this. Another favorite. I don't think it has any serious chances, though, because it's not very original. It's a typical example of its genre. But it has great energy. And the singer's great, I like her a lot.
A great slot. But I don't think it'll be anywhere near enough.
A good melody, a good beat, but ... no, I don't think so.
Good way to end the show, though. :-)

Albania, Norway, Ukraine

Albania:
OK, there's nothing wrong with this song in and of itself. Although of course it would have been better if she could sing.
But the song doesn't matter, because they're ruining the entire thing with that guy in green sequins and the mimes.
I'll say one thing for it, though: this is the kind of thing that you will only see in the ESC.

Norway:
LOL! We're singing along even before the song has started ... !! :-D
I do still like this song, kind of, even though I've heard it so many times that it's starting to get really annoying.
The presentation's good.
His performance was better in the Norwegian contest. He's done this too many times now, it's starting to get too polished. But here's hoping it'll be good enough. :-)
Good luck, little hobbit!!

Ukraine:
Awful hideous piece of trash.
She looks like such a slut, her dancing is so awful, the costumes, the presentation, everything is just such total crap and shit.
I hate this so much.
If this song wins, it'll prove everything negative that any ESC hater has ever said about this contest.

LOL! KAS is so modest - she says that she doesn't understand who can possibly win this thing but us. :-D

Denmark, Germany, Turkey

Denmark:
Boooring.
I have no idea how this got through from the semi. Damn those jury groups.
Dull as dishwater, no chance.
And to be honest: It's kind of cheesy that they've sent a song with the word 'Believe' in the title. I mean, really.

Germany:
Now this song kicks ass. I dig it. We dig it. Except ...
WHAT is with those pants?? :-o
C. says that she doesn't understand how he got them on ... :-D
Dita von Teese totally pointless ...
Fantastic song if you close your eyes.
Good luck, but terrible presentation.

Turkey:
Quite possibly the winner.
The chorus just goes right into your hindbrain and lodges there like some kind of alien parasite.
Weird costumes - I mean, I get that they're trying to show their ethnicity, but ... red costumes and red background ... and then there's this one guy who's fully dressed while all the others are just wrapped in ribbons.
Ooh, the Prince of Persia ... !!
I don't like it much, but it's going to do very very well.

Moldova, Malta, Estonia

Moldova:
Yay ... !! :-)
Now here's an ESC performer who can really sing. I don't care what Aftenposten says. ;-)
Again, everything's good about this song. Nothing I would change. She even sings in Moldovan. Me like ... !! I'm so glad she got through from the semi ... otherwise she would have had to pay for the trip herself. :-D Go Moldova!! I'm sure they'll do very very well. :-)

Malta:
Good song, good performer with a wonderful voice. But we're talking about BookCrossing and vacation experiences (on Malta, but still) while she's singing, so it obviously can't be all that.
The Maltese have high hopes - as usual - but I'm afraid they're rather groundless. They'll probably do pretty well, because, hello, it's Chiara. :-) But I'd be amazed if this won.

Estonia:
Ooh, my favorite ... !! I love this song. Every time I hear it, I just like it more and more. Beautiful.
The lyrics aren't even about that same old un/requited love shit. They're very deep and profound. ;-)
Lovely music, beautifully performed, a wonderful singer.
I can't see this winning, because I think its appeal isn't quite broad enough. I would be deliriously happy if they did, though. :-)
Go Estonia!!!

Russia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Hercegovina

Russia:
KAS hadn't seen this before, I said she'd probably think it's boring. And she thought it was boring. I know her so well ... ! ;-)
The effect they're going for with the pictures there is kind of ... vaguely interesting. But she so overdoes it. Total overacting. And the song itself is nothing special.
No way Russia's in for a repeat performance.

Azerbaijan:
Now these people we also have to beat, because that guy is actually Swedish. Swedish-Iranian. Can't have that.
Awful outfits ... !!
The song isn't bad, not bad at all. But the presentation sucks ass and hopefully will ruin their chances.
They are supposed to be kind of a favorite, but I don't see that. Sorry, Swedish man. >:-)

Bosnia & Hercegovina:
We have a word in Norwegian that describes the presentation of this song really well: overtydelig. Not sure how to say that in English. It's not a compliment. ;-)
But the song is good, very good, I like it a lot. Deservedly a favorite. I think they'll do well.
A cool song and a cool presentation, even though it's soo obvious. :-) Good luck to Bosnia, although I don't think they'll need it. :-)

Iceland, Greece, Armenia

Iceland:
A wonderful song that I hope will do well. The Icelanders need something nice to happen to them. :-)
She's a lovely singer, and the presentation is very good ... except for that dolphin. What is the deal with that dolphin ... ??

Greece:
Aerobics class ... !! Now everyone pull your shirts up ... !!
How this song is such a huge favorite I'll never know. It's gotta be just because it's Rouvas. Only explanation. o_O
But at least we've getting a great show out of it - Calyx and N. and trilltrall are totally dancing. LOL!!
Ridiculous performance for a man of Rouvas's age to be engaging in.
This may win, but I don't like it much. Still, a million times better than Ukraine.

Armenia:
OK, now we're talking!! Fantastic!!
A great song, it rocks. A great presentation. Love it.
This song had us all dancing in our seats. :-D And it got our first cheer of the night when it was over.
This'll do really well. I'd be happy to see the contest in Yerevan in 2010. Smokin'. :-D

Sweden, Croatia, Portugal

Sweden:
Was Malena Ernman really born female? The more I see of her, the more I question that.
Why does her gown have those feathers on it, it looks awful?? Hideous. It looks like she's stepped in a huge puddle of coffee.
Again: The chorus is fantastic, but the verse is totally standard and ruins it.
Come on, Alexander, you can beat this chick!! All this winning lark aside, you know that beating the Swede is all we really ask of you. ;-)

Croatia:
I like this song, I think it's lovely. Not a winner though, too slow and too little personality.
I've figured out what it is they're trying to communicate with the choreography: That Igor is soo sexy that when they hear him sing, they just have to touch themselves ...
Nice, I will listen to this a lot when I get around to picking up the CD. (I haven't yet, shame on me.) But far from a winner.

Portugal:
Aww, the sweetest entry. Adorable. Great performance, and I totally love what they're doing with the stage.
I so hope this will do well, it's just so sweet. Precious. :-) Good luck. :-)

Lithuania, Israel, France

Yup, here's Dima. And he got stuck ... !!! LOL!!! :-D

O.M.G. o_O

This opening perfectly showcases the one major problem Russia has, and always has had: They never know when enough is enough.

Lithuania:
Boring song and boring presentation.
This kid has watched way too much MTV.
Does he have a black eye??
Anne Ida's wondering does he know enough English to understand what he's singing ... ? :-D
Boring, no chance.

Israel:
Boring.
And it's so obvious ... !! Do they think we're idiots? >:-(
Oh, and the drums ... That is soo four years ago ...
Boring, no chance.

France:
Ooh, Patricia Kaas ... !!
KAS is being so negative, she says this song is boring too. No, it isn't, it's cool!! And the presentation is wonderful too.
Oh, how she suffers ... !! See her soul just pour out onto the stage ... ! :-D
I really like this, but I don't think a lot of people will remember this in 90 minutes.
Alas.

We're so excited!!!

We just can't hide it ... !! :-D

Almost time ... !! I'm at KAS and trilltrall's house with a bunch of people - C., Anne Ida, Calyx and her husband N., AudiX and a friend of hers. Right now we're watching our performer and our commentator hanging out with a Russian pop star and laughing our heads off. 80s fashion from Russia ... !! :-D

Ouch, Carola's being interviewed. Shudder. She is so awful. Various names big and small. Ooh, Patricia Kaas ... but what's with that mask ... ?

OK, so, my predictions for tonight. I think the winner will be one of the following:
Turkey
Ukraine (blech)
Greece
Norway

If I could choose a winner, I would pick France. Because if Patricia Kaas were to win this, it would mean we - ie, ESC fans - would have a ready answer for at least some of the most common anti-ESC slurs. ;-) But I don't think they really have a chance. Unfortunately. The song is too slow, they weren't in a semi, and their slot is so bad. But good luck, France. :-)

I think these will do well:
Armenia
Iceland
Bosnia & Hercegovina
Moldova
Malta
Spain

I also hope for the best for Portugal, but I'm not entirely convinced.

The rest I don't know, could go both ways ... except for my favorite, Estonia!! They will do well, although there's no chance they'll win.

Germany's song is fantastic, just so it's said ... but I think they'll bomb. Alas. :-) It's just not the right place for that song. But it's totally fantastic. :-)

Ooh, it's starting ... !! A circus opening the show, that is so cool. A circus and, no doubt, Dima Bilan ... ;-)

Enjoy the show!!

Whew, again

OK, so, the performances are over and the voting's done. Now some Russian folk dance for our entertainment, and a brief presentation of my theory that I mentioned.

I said that sometimes very good songs don't get through, songs that are huge favorites before the fact. And that since our entry this year is very firmly in that second category, this may happen to us now. But here's my theory. It may not be the favoritism and the hype that leads to these songs' downfall ... because they have another thing in common. They are generally very professional - extremely professional - and very thoroughly produced entries. And my theory is that it's this that's off-putting to the voting audience. The more professional an entry gets, the less charm it has too. That's my theory. :-) This will be a good year to test this theory - because Fairytale is a favorite, but not so extremely professional and overproduced. Whereas This Is Our Night is both. We'll see. :-)

I've voted five times for Estonia and twice for Moldova. Good luck!!

The finalists are, in no particular order ...

Azerbaijan. The song deserves it, maybe, but not the performance.
Croatia. Oh, yay!!
Ukraine. I knew it, but crap.
Lithuania. Meh.
Albania. WTF?? Shit, now we have to watch that turquoise alien guy one more time. Blech.
Moldova. Yes!!
Denmark. What? No! >:-(
Estonia. Yes yes yes!!! Me so happy!! :-D
Norway. Yay, hurrah, etc. :-D
Greece. Not surprising, but meh.

Gotta say this: When the scores are published, it'll be very interesting to see what came from the televote and what from the juries.

See you on Saturday ... ! ;-)

Albania, Ukraine, Estonia, the Netherlands

Albania:
WTF is this?? :-o
As I predicted, they've changed the song a lot since the national final. Well, they've had to, it was way too long. The song is much much better now. But.
WTF is with the guy in green? And the two mimes?? o_O
Bizarre choreography.
Weirdest presentation this year. And especially after the wonderful Moldovan entry, this totally falls on its face.
Bye bye, Albania.

Ukraine:
OK, now, I totally hate this song. The presentation is awful, she's awful, the song sucks and just ... everything is so wrong. Yuck.
What are the backing dancers wearing, and why??
Riddle me this ... if a woman dresses like a whore, dances like a whore and acts like a whore, then ... what ... ? o_O
There is nothing I like about this song.
Anne Ida says she hopes everyone under the age of ten is in bed by now. ;-)
Piece of shit. I cannot comprehend how this can be a favorite. Fingers crossed that it doesn't make it through. Someone have mercy and don't make us sit through this one more time.

Estonia:
Ooh, Rändajad ... !!
I like it, I love it!! A beautiful song, wonderfully performed. She has such a lovely voice.
A beautiful presentation.
A fantastic entry. Estonia, you've got my vote.

The Netherlands:
Anne Ida can't stand the guy in the middle ... :-D
She's right though, there's something seriously weird about his voice.
Kind of overkill to call the song Shine, and then wear those sparkly suits ... ? OK, we get it.
I like the backing singers' dresses, though. V. nice.
I stand by what I said before - this is a song that could have been in the contest ten years ago. And probably would have done better then.
It's a catchy song with a good beat, but I don't think it has what it takes to go all the way. Not anymore.

Greece, Lithuania, Moldova

Greece:
One of the major favorites. Personally I don't see what's so special about it. It's a pretty standard dancey pop tune. If it wasn't Sakis Rouvas performing it, it'd get nowhere near the attention it's been getting.
I don't like the presentation much. It's just so ... average. So standard. What is so special about this?
I don't get it. It'll probably get through. Or will it?? I have a theory, actually. We'll see. >:-)

Lithuania:
On principle, I don't like this song much ... because it was in Lithuanian in the national final, and they're using an English version now. Why not keep the original?? Bwaah ...
It's a nice ballad, but again, nothing very special.
Presentation fine.
Ooh ... fire!! o_O

Moldova:
Yay!! :-D
Great song, a singer who can really sing, charming performance, great costumes, an entertaining show, a hint of Moldovan culture.
Nothing wrong with this.
Come down and get your plane ticket to Vegas, Nelly!! :-D

Slovenia, Hungary, Azerbaijan

Slovenia:
Sheesh, the Norwegian commentator is so stupid. She just said that this entry is instrumental. No, it obviously isn't, because that's against the rules. Gah.
Same presentation as in the national final. I thought as much. It's striking and memorable. I like what they're doing with the stage ... I like the color scheme. Good presentation.
A song that's easy to remember, great melody.
It may be too odd to get very far, but I quite like it myself.

Hungary:
Oh, the outfits ... !! o_O
It's not a bad song, but I don't have high hopes for it. There have been other entries before that have been very much like this one, and they have done badly.
Tacky presentation.
Also, probably not very smart to play it quite so gay in Russia. I'm not a racist, but. Just sayin'.

Azerbaijan:
Eek!! What the hell is this??
I know I said I thought this entry would get through, but I think I take it back ... ! :-o
Awful outfits. And they sing so badly ... ! He was much better in the video. Huh.
Bad presentation of a good song.
They may get a bunch of votes from Sweden since Arash is Swedish-Iranian.
Swedish-Iranian, and competing for Azerbaijan. See how the ÈSC is working its magic ... !! :-D

Cyprus, Slovakia, Denmark

Cyprus:
A good song that I for some reason don't quite like.
Anne Ida says that this song reminds her of Silje Vige ... yeah, I can see that. Or hear it, whatever. :-)
Great presentation. I really like the presentation.
The song may do well, her voice is certainly one that sticks in the memory. But for some reason this just doesn't ... speak to me. :-)

Slovakia:
Yay, Slovakia!! :-D
A duet ... and one that I really like.
They're getting a good reception. And well-deservedly so.
The singers are putting a lot of emotion into their performance ... ;-) but why not. It's that kind of song.
Overall pretty darn good, IMO. Maybe I'll send a few votes their way too.
Kudos for singing in Slovakian.

Denmark:
Yawn.
A totally straight pop song performed in a totally straight way. Go 'way, Denmark! Seriously, this song is just dull as dishwater. Can there be one person in the audience who hasn't heard this a hundred times before?
There's nothing in particular wrong with this song, but there's nothing much else about it, either.
Just ... yawn.

Serbia, Poland, Norway

Serbia:
I really like this entry. Kudos for singing in Serbian. And I love what they're doing with the stage. A fun entry, a fun presentation. Great presentation. I dig this!
Only thing is it may be too weird. I'm not at all convinced that it will get through, but I hope so.
In comparison with the previous entry, which is also a somewhat weird song, this one has a great melody, you can hum along to it.
Go Serbia!! :-)

Poland:
Another lovely ballad. (Although the Croatian one is still my favorite of these two, I think. :-)
The presentation here is excellent. Beats the Croatians hands down.
Great presentation, really. :-)
Anne Ida is here with me and she says that it's a nice song, nice to listen to, but there's nothing very special about it. I agree. No real hook. Sorry, Poland, but I think we've seen the last of you this year.
Rather silly lyrics ... and the bridge of the song isn't very good, either. Weird.

Norway:
Oooh ... !! :-)
A great reception from the audience in the Arena, that's a good start. :-)
Oh, I love the backing singers' dresses!!! Ooh!! Want ... !!
I like what they're doing to the stage - although, apparently, it's not at all what the Norwegian delegation wanted. But I like it a lot. Especially all the colors on the floor ... nice.
Aw, he's such a cutie. Too babyfaced for my taste. But he definitely knows how to flirt with the camera.
The crowd seems to really love this entry. Well, that's understandable. :-) I think it went very well.
Good luck, little hobbit man!!
And in case anyone's wondering whether Rybak is really playing that fiddle? Yes and no. :-) Obviously he isn't playing it live - that's against ESC rules. But the recording is of him playing. So ... yes and no. :-)

Croatia, Ireland, Latvia

Croatia:
I really like this song, it's a lovely ballad. But there are so many good ballads this year, it may be a bit too forgettable.
I like the presentation, except the backing singers touching themselves inappropriately.
Ooh, and look - the girl singer wears white while all the others wear black. Not a transparent trick at all, no ... :-D
Good entry, but maybe a bit too anonymous.

Ireland:
Moscow welcomes Katy Perry!! :-D
This is a really catchy song and it will probably appeal to a lot of the younger audience members. Of whom there are many, in the east especially. But will they like this kind of pop music, that's the question ...
I like the presentation, although it's a bit 'teeny' for my taste. But eye-catching.
This song will probably either get through or miss it by just an inch.

Latvia:
I don't like the fact that they're singing in Russian. Sucking up, much? Fortunately it's a very unpopular language generally in Eastern Europe, so the one will cancel the other out. ;-)
This song gets annoying quickly. It isn't what you'd call melodious ... or actually the chorus is, but the verse is just ... well, annoying. And the backing singers don't match the song at all. Bah.
No, this guy needs to go. Bye bye Latvia.

It's almost time ... !!

Whee ... !! again. :-)

Tonight's the big night for us Norwegians. Our little hobbit will defend our honor in ... one and a half hour till the show starts, and then ... another half hour, I guess, till it's our turn. Good luck, Alexander ... !!

My guesses for tonight, let's see. Who will make it through? Well, I'm pretty sure about us. But then again, maybe not? There's usually, or at least very often, one really good song that everybody's so sure will make it that ends up not making it. Like for instance Je t'adore and If I Had Your Love. Maybe Fairytale will be one of them? I don't really think so :-) but on the other hand I won't be entirely surprised if that happens. The hype has been so extreme that there's almost bound to be a backlash sooner or later. Then again, one might argue that that has already happened - I think most people in this country are starting to get heartily sick of our song. ;-) It does get really annoying after a while. Gaah ... if it wins, we'll never hear the end of it ... !! :-D

Anyway. I think these will make it through to Saturday.
Moldova. Absolutely no question. I will be shocked if they don't make it.
Greece.
Estonia. Please please please!! I will be voting for them.
Norway. :-)
Azerbaijan, probably.

These I don't think we'll see again.
Denmark.
Hungary.
Albania.
The Netherlands.
Serbia, quite possibly.
And the same for Latvia.

This is a very even field, though - not really any one song that's head and shoulders above the others. And not really any totally shitty ones, either. Well, except ... shudder ... Ukraine. I really don't want them to make it, because their song so totally sucks ass. But I think they probably will.

Fingers crossed ... !! :-)

Whew ... !!

All the entries have been performed and the voting is on. So, whew. :-) Now the traditional well-rehearsed embarrassing chitchat from the hosts. Aw. Wouldn't be the same without it! :-)

Ooh, the voting is almost over ... !! :-o

And now, the interval entertainment ... ! Always interesting. First some Russian folk songs, and then - a surprise. Ooh ...

Oh, I love the choir!! :-D And such cool dancing. Me like. And that thing with the stage floor is fantastic. Wow.

Overall a pretty good interval show ... but for me the inclusion of t.A.T.u. lowered the tone a bit. I like the military theme. Very Russian. :-)

And the finalists are, in no particular order ...

Oh, this is so high-tech ...

Turkey!! Of course! :-)
Sweden! Oh, they're so happy ... !! And to think they've been bitching all night about the shitty sound Malena got ... !! :-D
Israel. o_O
Portugal. Yay! :-)
Malta. Yep.
Finland.
Bosnia & Herzegovina. Of course.
Romania. Yeah ... argh ...
Armenia. I knew it.
Iceland. Yes!! Oh, I was getting so worried! Yay!!

Icelanders so happy ... !! :-D

So my guesses were pretty good. I got Israel wrong, but as KAS just said in a text message, Israel always gets to the final. Yeah, I guess. >:-( Damnit. I wish I'd been wrong about the Czechs. I thought I had at first, because the Norwegian commentator - stupid Synnøve Svabø, I don't know why they're using her - called it wrong.

I hope these results will put a stop, for a while, to all that whining about the East countries always squeezing the rest of us out ... >:-(

Aven Romale and good night. :-)