Eurovision Song Contest 2016

This will be held in the Globe Arena, Stockholm on Saturday 14 May. For the first time since 1975 there will be new voting rules to make the contest more exciting, namely the jury vote being announced separately from the televote, which will be revealed by hosts Måns Zelmerlöw and Petra Mede at the end of the show. In another welcome change we will have the chance to vote for the UK entry from a choice of six on 26 February on BBC4. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35341949

Vancouver-born Rykka will represent Switzerland with the modern, electropop song "The Last Of Our Kind", but she's trying too hard to mimic Emmelie de Forest and Polina Gagarina, her diction is poor and she fails to make some of the notes.

ZOË will represent Austria with Loin d'ici, but I fear the fate of Marie Antoinette rather than Emmelie de Forest, sadly.

Georgia has chosen indie garage rock band Midnight Gold, and thumbs up for choosing something different even though it's not Eurovision material.

Spain has chosen to sing in English for the first time ever, and though Barei has a strong voice the choreography like the backing singers remains in the dark.

Cyprus will be represented by the alternative rock band Minus One,whose song should qualify but unlikely to rock Eurovision.

Even the charisma of Nordic-looking Belarusian Ivan, which should secure him some teenage girl votes, can't stop this song from dragging somewhat..

Ireland will participate in the second semi-final in Stockholm on Thursday May 12, but it's touch and go whether Westlife's Nicky Byrne will qualify.

Was Ira Losco cheated out of victory 14 years ago..either way Malta will find it hard going, even with her new Kate Middleton look.

PS. It appears Malta may change the song for the contest, so we will have to reserve judgement for the moment.

Will blonde beauty Eneda Tarifa, working us up into a frenzy, finally put Albania on the map?

The lead vocalist is exposed in this Boyzone-type song from Denmark's Lighthouse X, making it borderline qualification.

Belgium's song reminds me a bit of Kiki Dee's Music in Me, but what Laura lacks with the song she makes up for in excellent choreography and energy, which should see it safely into the final.

Thanks slick. I've no idea who our representative is. There's a bit more about the selection process here: https://eurovisiontimes.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/uk-6-finalists-to-be-revealed-january-22nd/

The years haven't been kind to Bosnian Deen since he was last seen At the Disco at Eurovision twelve years ago. However these Balkan songs do have an annoying habit of slipping into the final somehow.

Iceland has chosen Greta Salome to mark the 30th year of their participation in the contest, but Loreen did this better in 2012.

Ukraine has chosen an emotional censure of Stalin's deportation of the Tatars, but to my mind the song is too slow to get going, though will attract some sympathy vote.

Talking of sympathy vote here are the six acts vying to represent the UK, which you can vote on this Friday 26th February @7:30pm on BBC4. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...ts-joe-and-jake-youre-not-alone-a6888821.html

I see the favourite for Friday night's British contest is Darline, written by Tiffany's husband of Eastenders fame, Jack McManus. I do feel whichever act of the six is chosen there's a danger it will be lost in the crowd, but my own personal favourite is Karl William Lund from upmarket Wallasey, who might just have the charisma to attract the teenage girl vote. http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/eurovision/united-kindom-eurosong/winner