Eurovision Song Contest 2013

[duffy]

Well we had this thread before now last year so why not? The final will probably be 18th May 2013, with the semi final dates two and four days beforehand.

Possible host cities:
Gothenberg
Malmö
Stockholm

Definitely participating (I'm glad we're leaving behind all the political stuff!):
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Denmark
France
Hungary
Netherlands
Norway
Romania
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

[StratusJM]

Yay for a thread! I'd imagine it will be hosted in Stockholm as from what I can see neither Gothenberg or Malmö have an arena large enough! I imagine Sweden are going to be amazing hosts. Sarah Dawn Finer as one of the hosts please!

I wonder will Montenegro enter. Euro Neuro seemed like such a "WELL FUCK YOU LOT ANYWAY" entry after all the DNQs they've had! I hope San Marino are back and send Valentina again! She delivered their best ever result after all.

France to win. Just because. They've actually been TRYING recently!! And they still keep flopping.

[duffy]

YES. I totally love "The Social Network Song" in a non-ironic way. Valentina is amazing!

[Jackie Tyler]

Eric Saade and Loreen to host please.

[jruk2007]

I don't understand why Montenegro bothered coming back if they were going to go with 'Euro Neuro'. Can certainly see them withdrawing along with Slovakia (this year, their singer had to fund the entry himself, and they finished last).

Hopefully Loreen's chart success will mean that there will be more genuine contemporary potential smash pop songs next year. Suddenly it seems a waste to have that kind of platform and use it to sing "Euro Neuro" or "Love Will Set You Free".

[c.x]

Jedward have said they're not re-entering anyway.

What do people think of the proposition for a new rule to ban undemocratic countries from the competition? I seen that a few countries are pushing for it to happen.

[StratusJM]

What countries does that get rid of exactly? I don't really see the point. Eurovision isn't about politics maaaaaaan etc.

[duckface]

Well, getting rid of Azerbaijan would be good enough. I really don't know why their entry this year did so well. All of them barring Always have been utterly shite.

[c.x]

It would get rid of Azerbajan, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and a few others from what I've read anyway. I'm not sure how I feel about it, Eurovision shouldn't be about politics but the stuff that happened in Azerbajan was not ok.

[duckface]

You can't really get rid of Russia, but I wouldn't be against getting rid of countries that aren't in fucking Europe, especially ones that don't even aspire to have anything to do with European values. I hate seeing totalitarianism rewarded. Their government is no better than the repressive autocracies in the Gulf, throwing the "Europe" tag on to their tourism advertisements and being rewarded for it.

[KamikazeHeart]

There is speculation in the newspapers today that Gothenburg and Malmö could host the semifinals, and Stockholm the final. Melodifestivalen-style!

[citoig]

I wouldn't be against getting rid of countries that aren't in fucking Europe

Seeing as Morocco have had numerous discussions in the last few years about rejoining, I really wouldn't see this happening any time soon. I think it'll get less and less stringent, even. I would agree though that there needs to be stricter rules about hosting.

I still don't understand why the Big 5 aren't pushing to perform in the semi-finals, to be honest. Not competing, we know they'd rather keep their automatic qualification. But seeing as they have to broadcast one of the semi-finals anyway, they might as well have split the Big 5/last year's winner into first, middle and last slots in the semi's to give them the same exposure, and a full live run through. Seems a bit silly not to.

[Charley]

There is speculation in the newspapers today that Gothenburg and Malmö could host the semifinals, and Stockholm the final. Melodifestivalen-style!

That would be amazing! Although would that work with having to move the press and delegations around the country all through the week?

[stevo_1988]

I still don't understand why the Big 5 aren't pushing to perform in the semi-finals, to be honest. Not competing, we know they'd rather keep their automatic qualification. But seeing as they have to broadcast one of the semi-finals anyway, they might as well have split the Big 5/last year's winner into first, middle and last slots in the semi's to give them the same exposure, and a full live run through. Seems a bit silly not to.

Yes citoig!! I share your vision, this is exactly what the big 5/host need. If not only for the fact that all the semi finalist that come through have already had the chance to perfrom their song in the arena with an audience, so by the time Saturday rolls around they know what to expect! It would also give them a dry run before their dress rehersal on the Friday that the jurires judge on (which is where Blue came unstuck in '11), not to mention the exposure to the voting publics. In my dreams we would all come up with some propsed changes and find a way to present them Jan Ola, we can't be the only people thinking these things?

[MadeInHeaven]

Not sure whether the Big 5 performing in the semi-final is necessary in light of Lena just turning up and stealing it. The right song can do it without the semi-final - Helena did it in one night too (I know it was different in terms of 1 semi-final and a top 10 placing the previous year per-qualifying you back then).

Agree with Charley that I can't imagine the "Swedish tour" working, not just because of the delegations and media, and the logistics of sound and staging issues for different arenas... but mainly because Melodifestivalen is ABOUT Sweden, so it makes sense to involve the whole nation, whereas Eurovision is about ALL the participating countries. To give delegations and 20,000 tourists a logistical travel nightmare just wouldn't be fair or in anyone's interest, so I can't imagine the EBU going for it. They like to create a Eurovision community, and it'd be impossible to do that if it wasn't static in one location.

[Shirahime]

I still think Azerbaijan isn't a real country. I reckon somebody found out that their back garden was in no-mans-land and they stuck a flag in it and called it Azerbaijan. But hey, that's how my mind works. It is kind of backwards.

Whatever, Eurovision lost all it's fun when most of the countries in Eastern Europe got scared of Russia cutting off their gas if they didn't vote for them. Eurovision also went a bit dead for me when The Wogan give it up. Graham's fine and all but there was just something magical and hilarious about listening to the Wogan getting more and more drunk and angry as the night went on.

I'm planning on going to Eurovision 2013 SOMEHOW with my friend Darren. We don't see or barely speak to each other most of the year but we do when Eurovision's on.

[batarang]

That would be amazing! Although would that work with having to move the press and delegations around the country all through the week?

Christer Björkman with others have now said that it will not happen, it takes to much time and cost to move around like that.
Gothenburg will not host Eurovision 2013. The arena Gothenburg was about to use (Scandinavium) will not be able to give the arena to ESC in the time ESC wants. The arena have booked things then.

So now it is up to Stockholm and Malmö, I hope for Stockholm.

[WowWowWowWow]

And it's Malmö!

[Txetxu]

Nice - it could have been done in my backgarden too, though. Malmö has a pretty small stadium, guess we're going to get a modest contest next year.

[WowWowWowWow]

I love the headline on Expressen's website...

[Charley]

There's a whole thing going on around the 2013 Dutch selection. The network had announced that they were going to do a full-on Melodifestivalen style selection, but then the biggest credible female singer of the country was like "Oh hey, I've got a song and I've got the time, so if you want I'll just do it but I don't want to have to compete for it". Because having a singer with that kind of credibility and success even wanting to come near Eurovision is unheard of, everyone was like "DITCH THE SHOW, JUST SEND HER BEFORE SHE CHANGES HER MIND", but unfortunately the network's response was "she's free to enter the competition just as everyone else".

Uhm. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

So that is all "developing".

The singer's name is Anouk, by the way. "Woman" is an example of her current style, but I think some of you Scandinavians may know her from "Lost" peaking at number 2 after being performed in Norway's Got Talent.

[duffy]

Well it's resulted in John de Mol pulling out of production, so is it even happening any more?

According to him, "that is the same as if Frank de Boer called Messi to ask him whether he wants to play for Ajax and then tells him he must first participate in a trial."

[duckface]

Are Cyprus and Greece out this year? Shame.

[Kev]

Are Cyprus and Greece out this year? Shame.

What?! Greece are what make it for me, I think I've voted for every Greek song since Helena - yes, even Giorgos and Friends, his Friends obviously being the best part. Ivi Amadou did great for Cyprus also, I hope it isn't going to be a bore.

[stuartdgray]

I had a really strange dream last night where Kris Kross were representing the UK next year.