91Èȱ¬

Well it's not going to be Greece is it?! Germany seem impressive this year!

Belgium will win, the UK will be nowhere as usual but this time deservedly so.

Britain will not win and it's a shame that we didn't take the lead of some countries and save money on attending this year.

I'd love to see the German song win this year, but there is some very strong competition.

Sadly our UK entry is a really weak 80's throwback song with an equally weak singer.

Who will win Eurovision? Russia of course, or all of Eastern Europe and the ex-soviet states will have to find some other place to get their oil supplies.

Who cares?

Its a complete waste of time and the 91Èȱ¬ should drop it. Its a waste of the licence fee.

Not us, that's for sure.

Ditto the "who cares?" comment.

Let's ditch the funding for this pointless circus. Russia can pay: they're the only ones with money now!

MaxWax

You ask "who cares"?. Those of us who enjoy Eurovision care.

I could ask who cares about the World Cup?, which I and many others find a total bore and a waste of a whole month of broadcasting, not to mention the messing about with schedules it causes.

At least Eurovision is just one night, so can we just be allowed to enjoy it please?

I think the winner will be one of the contestants.


What a ridiculuous question for a HYS debate?
Do the 91Èȱ¬ get paid for every comment posted?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Some folk say, "Who cares?" Well I don't, but wouldn't be arrogant enough to suggest that it be scrapped. "Different strokes for different folks", I always say.

Not the UK, our song and performer are both rubbish. I would like to see Turkey, Germany, Armenia or Azerbijan to win because I like their songs (I say like but I mean better than the rest) but who I want to win never does!

Who cares.

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Who cares? Did the thousands of people realise they've just used up there carbon footprint alocation for the year going to this rubbish. They could have gon on a proper holiday.

Well it won't be Britain as usual, it's so predictable now since the Eastern block joined, Russia votes for Ukraine, Ukraine votes for Russia, Lithuania votes for Latvia etc etc, it's not a singing/dance contest anymore, just a geographical one.

9. At 11:14pm on 28 May 2010, bsidethecside wrote:
MaxWax

You ask "who cares"?. Those of us who enjoy Eurovision care.

I could ask who cares about the World Cup?, which I and many others find a total bore and a waste of a whole month of broadcasting, not to mention the messing about with schedules it causes.

At least Eurovision is just one night, so can we just be allowed to enjoy it please?


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Well, I don't care who wins Eurovision and I have no interest in football either.

In fact I'm pretty disappointed with the quality of television in general. I find myself channel hopping to try to find something that entertains me and often find myself on the heritage channels because they are far better than anything that is a current programme (apart from the news of course). Either that or I simply turn it off and listen to music. It's getting to the point where I think I could easily live without TV at all.

If Pete Waterman thinks we won't win, why the hell did he write such a crap song in the first place?

I don't care.

I'm not bothered about who wins Eurovision but our recent problems with low scoring (last year's entry aside) is not just because of geopolitical voting and neighbours and blocs voting for each other, but also because we as a nation rarely take Eurovision seriously. Many of the foreign participants view it as a competition of paramount importance, a springboard to global (or at least European) fame - look what it did to ABBA for example, already well-known personalities in Sweden before 1974; winning that year's Eurovision got them noticed here and started a run of nine #1 singles in this country alone. We just view the competition as a complete joke, and as a result, most of our recent entries have been sub-par at best. If we want to do well in Eurovision in future, we should either take the contest seriously or simply not bother participating at all.

Russia had better win if the other countries want to use their gas cookers to make Sunday lunch.

It's about time Scotland had it's own entry to the song contest. Although I know it will upset the "British", Scotland has a much bigger chance of winning if it goes it alone.

Go Turkey!!!!!

Here's one tune they'll always croon - those tired complaints about 'geographical voting'. Thinking about writing in chorus? Here's a piece of information: nations like Poland and Russia, or the Balkan states, don't actually like each other very much. That's one of the reasons why, over the last hundred years, they've had this habit of trying to blow each other to smithereens.

'Neighbour votes' are nothing to do with political convenience, and everything to do with people from the same areas having similar cultures, and so similar aesthetic preferences. It's really quite simple.

Ireland will notch it's eight win...well at least I can dream it overnight or seeing that it's now morning over the rest of the morning. & don't anyone wake me up.

Who cares? It is a stitch up anyway. At least T Wogan had his aerial tuned correctly to the unrestrained nepotism going on. points from cyprus - greece 12, points from greece - cyprus 12. It is a joke and we should give it best and chuck the idea in the bin.

PS I don't think the UK has had a decent record worthy of much for many years so it isn't sour grapes.

Who cares. The eastern block have high-jacked the show. It means nothing now.

That time of year again when are beloved neighbours show how much they love us by give us a big fat ZERO.

It will be interesting to see what score the Greeks give the Germans.

Who cares!

To save the censor's time beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.

6. At 11:02pm on 28 May 2010, MaxWax wrote:

Who cares?

Its a complete waste of time and the 91Èȱ¬ should drop it. Its a waste of the licence fee.

''''''''''''''''

Compared to what? We're about to have the football World Cup rammed down our collective throats, whether we want it or not. Would you classify that as a similar waste of time/money?

Song contest? Just what have we got to sing about?
Read my other comment on the oil spill

Why does Europe need a song?
Why hasn't this hype-fest not been abolished?
The media will go in to saturation mode once again despite these dreadful spectacles.
Eurovision and football are two excellent reasons to own a DVD player.

How can Azerbaijan be in europe? or the eurovision competition when it has borders on iran and syria?

For that matter how can Turkey be in as well as Turkey is also on a different continental plate.

If thats the case then why not Isreal or lebanon?

Who will win Eurovision? Oh for the perception of forecasting the future, I would make millions if I knew the answer to this enigma. But if you where to ask me would I be watching Eurovision, then the answer's got to be, no. My wife and I will be making our own sweet music, this evening.

I always remember back in the 60s/70s a certain superiority of Britain over the rest of Europe because our popular music appeared so much more sophisticated (!) than their mass-media rubbish. Much of it was, judging by how successful our artists were around the world back then. This inherent quality did enable us to actually win Eurovision sometimes, though often our entries were still mildly embarrassing, as is necessary for Eurovision.

Now the tables have been turned . Eurovision exposes British popular music for the childish dross that it's become, and many European entries sound far better crafted and performed than ours.

So on this basis - yet again Britain doesn't stand a hope. Throw in the usual biased voting and because no-one else likes the UK very much - no we don't stand a chance!

(#35 - Israel does compete in Eurovision and has won in the past.)

The British entry is not very good at all. Typical Eurovision bland pap. Unfortunately, Josh Dubovie is a nice lad but lacks something.
The Turkish entry is excellent, potential winner.

Does anybody care who wins?
Well past its sell by date.

The winner will be either of the following Azarbijan,Greece,romania
with possible outsiders Germany,norway ,our song alas is not very good
and will be lucky to make top 20 but then the 91Èȱ¬ is to blame for the farce which picked it,obviously the beeb much rather spend the licence payers money on paying themselves over inflated salaries, then the uk having a decent song and singer!.Also be the usual biased voting as Ex soviet states voting for each other,also ex yugoslavia doing likewise and scandanavians too,why do i watch it?..well loved it since i was a kid but now it really has become a joke as has the Uk songs....also love to see England entry not a UK...united kingdom HA! thats a joke

I have watched the euro song contest every year, since a young lad in the 60's, it's tradition for me.

I am not supportive of any country to win, although I hope the UK entry at least get some points, and on some occasions a world class performer or group appears.

What does the song competition stand for, Music and culture, it is probably the only opportunity for a huge audience to sample music from a whole variety of countries.

If you don't like it then you don't enjoy music, you have been brain washed by the last 20 years of utter trash the UK top 40 has excreted, and any of that rubbish gets null points.

23. At 01:31am on 29 May 2010, Gerasimov wrote:

It's about time Scotland had it's own entry to the song contest. Although I know it will upset the "British", Scotland has a much bigger chance of winning if it goes it alone.

Great Idea! Let's also have a Welsh and Ulster entry, how about a Cornish entry too. Let the British nations vote for each other and we will have real competition for the other blocs!

5XX wrote Why does Europe need a song?
Why hasn't this hype-fest not been abolished?

There same reason why all the other hype-fests haven't been abolished, MONEY.
At least it is only once a year, football on the other hand is a permanent fixture and thanks to Sky sports got most of it removed from the other channels.
The other channels should follow Sky and have a dedicated channel for football, not everyone is into the game and now we are going to have to suffer 4 weeks of it due to some hype-fest in South Africa.

I wonder how much of the 91Èȱ¬ license fee is paying for them to send film crews and commentators to it in this time of economic downturn, the money would be spent far better on providing better quality programmes.

Who cares? This is a ludicrous "contest",

This and that other embarrassing spectacle miss world should have been scrapped many years ago.

Who will win Eurovision?

Whoever gets the most votes.

Some pointless nonsense that will be quickly forgotten.

Was very surprised and concerned to learn that UK are one of the 'big four' who provide 40% of the funding for Eurovision - according to the 91Èȱ¬'s Mark Savage report from Oslo?

If I have not misread, Mark's report, surely this has to change and the funding to be more equitable?

I watched the end of the 2nd semi-final and of the 12 qualifying countries, only 2 (Ireland and Denmark) were in Western Europe. This is clearly a stitch-up now with the Eastern and Balkan countries all voting for each other, no matter how good the songs are.

I think the 91Èȱ¬ should leave this competition and establish a new "Western European" song contest. A smaller contest would also allow England, Scotland and Wales to field their own entries.

What happened to last year's winner?
20 - 30 years ago, the winner's song (no, NOT Geraldine aka Peter Kay) would always be a hit in the UK, regardless of the country it came from.
The winners don't make it into the UK charts, any more.
Why? Last year's winner had the song and the looks that would have made it a hit in yars gone by. Just proves its a total waste of time, except for the Country who's song its from.

Dont care, gave up watching years ago but if i had to put a bet on it I'd say an east european country because of the way they vote.

An Eastern European Country as a result of block voting it might even be the best song but this is unlikely ,no chance of the UK drivel wining (fair chance of last place).

Euro-vision is financed primarily by Germany,UK ,France and Italy personally I feel that this would be money best used elsewhere.

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It's about time Scotland had it's own entry to the song contest. Although I know it will upset the "British", Scotland has a much bigger chance of winning if it goes it alone.

Great Idea! Let's also have a Welsh and Ulster entry, how about a Cornish entry too. Let the British nations vote for each other and we will have real competition for the other blocs!
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Absolutely why not have a song for London or Birmingham and do you honestly think Glaswegians want to be lumped in with the numpties from Edinburgh.

Why not a Melody for Milton Keynes and a dirge from Doncaster a Lament for Leicester a Shanty for Scarborough and a Ballard for Bradford while we are at it.

Alternatively we could stop participating in this dire performance at all.

Let's bankrupt Britain everybody by all voting for their excellent entry this year, Dubovie.

Having to stage Eurovision next year will do it for Britain -- but they can surely go to the IMF for 'elp.

You just know when the singer has to use loads of 'Woa-woaw's' to pad out the song that its rubbish.
Pete Waterman - you could have done better than this, surely...

Doesn't sound much like Euro...vision, if 34 countries were initially involved. There are only 27 nation states in the EU.

I love the Eurovision and I'm really annoyed with people who keep talking it down and politicising it. It gives people from other countries a very negative view of us british.

If the sad people have nothing nice to say, they should keep it to themselves. If they think it's a waste of money, lobby a politician rather than spoil the event for others.

I like our british entry for 2010; it is a song with so much positiveness which is just right for the time we are living through.

Because of that, it may do quite well.

Personally I would've thought that the Fisherman's Friends from Port Isaac's entry of No Hopers, Jokers & Rogues would've been a much better entry and a clear winner for the Eurovision but there again, what do I know?

I hope that Azerbaijan will win - and I will be voting for them. "Drip Drop" is the best song in the competition - followed by Denmark.

It's such a shame that a talented composer like Pete Waterman could not come up with something better for the UK's entry this year. I am expecting bottom five for us. Perhaps if we had to go through the semi-finals it might actually be good for us, because then we would make more effort! There is some fantastic songwriting talent around the UK: but shamefully we don't exploit it when it comes to the ESC.

Funny how those people who "Dont Care" obviously care enough to put a comment on HYS. Maybe they are closet Eurovisionphiles. We kbnow your out there.

Its just a piece of fun. If you dont like it go, go and moan about the weather or something

#57 doctor bob wrote:

"Doesn't sound much like Euro...vision, if 34 countries were initially involved. There are only 27 nation states in the EU."

Please be aware that participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has NOTHING to do with the European Union. It is not linked or affiliated in any way whatsoever.

Participation in the ESC comes from membership of the European Broadcasting Union, which is based in Switzerland - and whose members include active broadcasters (such as the 91Èȱ¬) whose nations fall within the European Broadcasting Area. This includes Israel and North Africa, among other regions! So it's nothing to do with Europe per se.

Who Cares

A comment to anyone complaining about the "Eastern" countries and "political" voting:

Firstly, one reason why you notice the "Eastern" countries doing so well is because there are more of them. It's simple maths. Since 1993-1994, when all the countries East of Germany started entering, there has been a massive increase in the numbers of participants. So STATISTICALLY it is more likely that an Eastern country will win, all other things being equal.

Secondly, the voting has nothing to do with "politics". The fact is, the Eastern countries tend to enter their biggest pop stars. And these stars have millions of fans in their neighbouring countries. For example, if Croatia enter a pop star who tops the charts in Bosnia and Serbia, then the reason Croatia will receive points from their neighbours is because of the fans voting for them! It has NOTHING to do with "politics" - and anyone who thinks so is just an ignoramus who's been brainwashed by Wogan's excuses over the years.

If the UK enters a talent-show reject - which we have been doing recently - who is barely known in our own country, let alone abroad, is it any wonder why we don't get votes? It's such a simple explanation - but one which arrogant British people tend to ignore, because it's so much easier to just trash the whole thing and accuse it of bias.

I note more of the same "They all vote for each other in Eastern Europe" vitriol, ignoring that we and Ireland always vote for each other as well.

Let's face it, our entry was penned by a Brit-pop writer and the singer was chosen, in typical X-Factor style, by a population who can't even agree on who our government should be. It's a pale imitation of our glory days and will be a mid-board also-ran.

I didn't get to see the second semi-final, but from first I was very impressed with Iceland and Albania. I believe that Armenia also has a good chance. Regardless, the whole family will be watching and having a little party, and hoping that Graham doesn't fall into his predecessor's habit of pandering to the Europhobes. It's a great opportunity to be a bit closer to Europe for a while (I know that's hard for us) and to enjoy the continental take on music instead of our usual diet of American rap/hip-hop/pop.

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32. At 06:53am on 29 May 2010, theoldgoat wrote:
Compared to what? We're about to have the football World Cup rammed down our collective throats, whether we want it or not. Would you classify that as a similar waste of time/money?
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Is there any financial gain from the investment by the UK and others in the Eurovision song contest or is it just a subsidised event. I think, whether one likes football or not the event actually generates money for the sponsors, hosts etc
If I am not interested in the ESC or football I don't have to watch it. There is an off button or other channels.

However I think I am entitled to object to a drain on the public purse for either.

Israel should win EURO vision, or failing that Guatemala or Neptune.

I vote that we stop participating in this camp pantomime of mediocrity. Nobody cares any more.

The Eurovision Song Contest, like the European Union, is a complete waste of time... and a monumental waste of money.

May I take this opportunity to express how delighted I was with Graham Norton's commentary last year, and how much I'm hoping that he will be on similar form tonight?

Graham got his commentary just right: he shows that it's perfectly possible to give a light-hearted and GENUINELY funny commentary, while at the same time staying positive and showing that he's thoroughly happy to be there. He also respects all the hard work which has gone into the songs - whether he likes them or not.

This is in stark contrast to Wogan, whose so-called "funny" commentary was usually little more than the same jokes recycled year-in, year-out (you'd know if you recorded old Contests), and most of the "humour" was simply nasty and snide remarks - not to mention his outright *lies* about "political" voting, and blaming the UK's poor showings on everyone else but ourselves.

So, whatever else happens, I am very grateful to the 91Èȱ¬ for giving us Graham Norton: long may he continue.

To all you sour-grapers out there, go to #64 'Eurosong' where everything is explained perfectly.

Its a fixed Joke???

Thank heavens for my sky HD recorder, I can record anything interesting, from my phone, watch it when I want, skip the ads, and theres still stuff I dont have time to watch, while still ignoring the dross on the main channels!

Gosh, some of you are miserable, bitter and vitriolic miseries. I think this Josh guy does a good job of this song, which is typical Pete Waterman fodder. However, having listened to some of the "music" on offer, the UKs entry is very acceptable. I think is is very unfair to rubbish Josh. I have heard him sing live on TV and he CAN sing. Unlike countless others who are rammed down our throats 24/7 - Cheryl Cole for example. She can't sing at all and is labelled the "Nations Sweetheart" whos every waking moment is broadcast on all areas of the media. Now THAT is rubbish.
Good luck Josh

Wouldn't it be a master-stroke of diplomacy if PM Cameron as 1 of his first negotiations with the EU over 'repatriation' of powers was able to convince the EUrovision Broadcasting Commission NEVER to beam this pile of shockingly nationalistsic, prejudiced, unadulterated talentless c##p into UK televisions ever again!

Now, that would get my support for the Tories!

Someone said that it was time for Scotland to have their own entry in the Eurovision song contest. Why is the UK the only country that has this obsession with giving different teams to its component nations?

Other countries in the world that have more than one nation inside of it don't do this. Each of the two nations in Belguim don't get their own sports teams. The Basques or Catalan in Spain don't get their own sports teams. The Kurds of Iraq don't represent their nation on the world stage. Bavaria in Germany doesn't represent itself. These are all examples of nations that don't insist on dividing their larger component self(ie Germany/Spain/Belguim/Iraq) by having their own sports team.

The UK is much stronger by having a unified country, and I think each nation having its own football/rugby team is far more than enough as the UK is the only country in the world to do this. To do the same for the Eurovision contest would be to really divide the UK(which is a nation too) that much more than it already is.

Good to see that the 91Èȱ¬ can waste our money so effectively! I shall not be watching. My video player will be in use.

At 07:44am on 29 May 2010, irondoctorglennjones wrote:
How can Azerbaijan be in europe? or the eurovision competition when it has borders on iran and syria?

The countries of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan are considered to be in Europe. Israel is not of course, and only a small proportion of Turkey is, but I suspect the latter two are in it for political reason. Plus, as the only modern liberal democracy in the region, Israel is probably also in it for cultural reasons.

Who cares who wins? Just enjoy the programme and do what most of us do - have a good laugh at the pretentiousness and pseudo-nationalism of it all. Not to mention the terrible songs, terrible stage sets, terrible singers, and even more terrible dancers and instrumentalists.

It's NOT a waste of the license fee - I LOVE IT!!! It's the most unintentionally hilarious show. A great deal less funny now that Terry has retired :(

Get a sense of humour and watch it with a good bottle of red :)


6. At 11:02pm on 28 May 2010, MaxWax wrote:
Who cares?

Its a complete waste of time and the 91Èȱ¬ should drop it. Its a waste of the licence fee

This annual debate comes around on the 91Èȱ¬ "Have your say" website again with the same old responses and I live in hope that it will never feature again. Who cares. The event is an exercise in absolute mediocrity and should be ditched. It is a complete waste of money.

I don't really care anymore. I haven't watched the show since Terry Wogan hung up his mic and Graham Norton took over. It's not the same without Terry Wogan's commentary and I cannot stand Graham Norton.

Do you think the UK stands a chance of winning?
Probably not. If we couldn't win with a song by Lord L-W, then we'll probably never win it again; but who ever said winning it was anything to do with the quality of the song?

Which is your favourite entry?
Don't know. probably the bloke with the guitar, but I only heard a couple. I'd have thought it most likely that it'll be won by one of those countries that most people don't think of as being in Europe anyway

Is the competition still worth the expense of entering?
It depends who's paying. If there's an indirect contribution from me somewhere, then it's not worth entering

How important is the contest?
Of no importance whatever, except perhaps that it's a bigger and better laugh than most of what passes for comedy these days. I only ever watch the voting, which is so pathetically predictable within national groupings that the only choice really is to laugh or cry.

All the "who cares" posters make me laugh. You obviously cared enough to spend your time and effort to post a negative post about it.

Why can't you let people enjoy what they want to? If it upsets you so much, then don't watch. Nobody's forcing you to.

Why can't we enter something with a more exotic mediteranean eastern european flavour. No wonder we don't win.

You've got to play to the largest market.

#50 Andrew Lye
"What happened to last year's winner?"
"The winners don't make it into the UK charts, any more"

Alexander Rybak and Fairytale reached #10 in the UK Chart, the first time a winning song has done this for 25 years. It was also a hit in more than 20 European countries including 5 at #1. It even was a minor hit in Australia.

Don't care and not interested. This "show" is well past it's sell by date, and should have been dumped years ago, or at least the UK pulling out of it. But no, the 91Èȱ¬ still keeps flogging a dead horse - with our money !

With odds of 150-1,I think that says it all as far as the UKs entry goes

Pete Waterman wrote the UK song for ESC and is, apparently, publicly saying UK basically have no chance? Can we have a refund Pete?

Furthermore, the whole process, funded by the 91Èȱ¬ to choose an artist and a song is very expensive in such difficult times? In addition, the UK along with three other countries fund 40% of the whole event?

Yes, next part of comment may put this post into 'off topic' bin?
While commenting on inequality - why does the 91Èȱ¬, PAY the National Lottery for the privilege of broadcasting the national lottery draws?

As the UK's National Lottery has been purchased by a Canadian Teachers' Pension Fund (info' in 91Èȱ¬ public domain) - should the 91Èȱ¬ still be charged?

All of the above details and costs should be freely available on the 91Èȱ¬ website - a publicly, and personally (via license-fee) owned and financed organisation? The 91Èȱ¬ is highly respected and envied by all commercial media - for that reason alone - the 91Èȱ¬ has a duty to continue to set and maintain best standards - not give it's envious rivals any 'ammunition?

Don't care was made to care - that's what I was taught.

Stop being such miseries - if you don't enjoy Eurovision don't watch it. In the words of a world famous meerkat Simples.

Personally I think the time has come for the contest to be ditched - more because of the politics behind it than because the songs are second rate.

Now we are hearing mutterings of carbon footprints etc. Makes you think doesn't it? We will happily play host to the Olympic games in 2012 with all the added emissions that it will invoke but then sit and moan about what others do.

Best of luck to Josh - he needs it.

Does anybody remember the wonderful early days of the contest in the last century? When we used to hear regularly things like (pardon the French).....
"Bonsoir Europe; ici les resultats du Jury Monegasque.......
Royaume Uni: Nul points
La France: Douze points" (Massive cheering and applause)
In those days the thing was totally unmissable - and we even won now and again - provided of course the song was sufficiently dire.
Now? - forget it

Jeremy Castle

Re #78

Nothng to do with 'culture' or 'politics'.

EUrovision is the supra-International Broadcasting arrangement that has been around for 50+ years: There'd be no programmes from anywhere else in the World without the EUrovision deal - - the Song Contest is just a small part of it - - my earlier dig (#75) at the contest is very half-hearted as EUrovision is actually unconnected to the 'EU'.

I like the Irish song,so it's Doomed !

It seems to me the perfect night to switch of the telly and do something more interesting instead. Why do the 91Èȱ¬ insist on showing this rot?

54. At 09:40am on 29 May 2010, steve wrote:
'It's about time Scotland had it's own entry to the song contest.'
I agree with you, steve, but are you sure the arenas they use are big enough to take the sound of even one set of bagpipes?

I think we have to cut it this year it is too expensive. Just put a sign up saying we are withdrawing to please the markets. Now is the time to use this as an excuse to cut dozens of boring events - like the Olympic Games perhaps.

Not us that's for sure, another god-awful song and the singer isn't exactly charismatic performing it. I don't get why we don't just take a leaf out of Finland's book and do what they did with Lordi! Break this chain of poor pop music and actually enter some rock or metal (which we are good at) that sounds good, can only be performed by people with talent and has some real passion in it!

A puppet.

On another note, why are Israel in eurovision? They are not european.

After going on the Eurovision website and checking the songs, if either MOldova or France don't win I will know that Eurovision is some fixed rubbish as I thought it was. The other songs were just poor in my opinion.

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