Eurovision 2017

Three finals take place tonight and you can take your pick here: http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

Denmark's show is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfsJj_Y3HO-PQJTVlJwPnQQ/live



Ukraine's answer to Chester Bennington has won their final tonight.

Moldova has chosen something different, though the choreography to my mind is rather sinister, redolent of Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre.

It's Latvia's turn tonight at 7:25pm UK time, and you should be able to watch the broadcast here: http://ltv.lsm.lv/lv/tieshraide/supernova-pop-up/live.1458/

Triana Park has won with the modern techno song "Line".

Austria's answer to Ed Sheeran will sing in semi-final 2 in Kiev on 11 May.

Cyprus has chosen a song written by Swede Thomas G:son, who also wrote Euphoria, but this must be one of his weaker compositions and thus borderline qualification.

I thought his face looked familiar, it being none other than Jacques Houdek, judge of X Factor Croatia fame. I have to say I don't like the principle of announcing the artiste months in advance and making the public wait for a mediocre song, and so it has proved in this case.

It's so beneath this guy, who is a real star in his field, but this Disney track does nothing for him and one only wonders what might have been had he been given the right song.

With the Netherlands' chequered qualification history this song needs a complete rework including bringing out the girls' a cappella voices and removing the synthesizer to stand the slightest chance.

There's a choice of viewing tonight for Eurovision fans, including the Estonian national final and the Second Chance Round of Sweden's Melodifestivalen (the Final proper is a week today). I must say the Swedish competition is good entertainment if you like that kind of thing, and there are many clips of it available on youtube. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

Laura and Koit have won the Estonian national final with their love song Verona and this should qualify, though his voice could be stronger.

Romania and Portugal decide tonight at 6:30pm and 9pm respectively and you can view them here: https://eurovoix.com/2017/03/05/tonight-romania-portugal-select-eurovision-2017/

Illinca and Alex present a unique song which will be more popular with the public than the juries.

I was transported fleetingly back to the 1920s with the Portuguese entry and no doubt this will qualify, but there's only room for one clown this year.

P.S. I have since learned that the guy is in recovery from an umbilical hernia operation and as long as he can control his movements, smarten up a little and put a pianist on stage he remains a dark horse to challenge Francesco.

Tonight is the Greek national final. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

They got a jolt last year after they failed to qualify for the first time ever and I must admit I was expecting a resurgence instead of this rather anodyne, stock Eurovision song.

So many of these entries will stand or fall on choreography and the Czech Republic's entry is a case in point.

Australia's song might come easy but also a little cheap.

The heir to Loreen or an uncouth soundtrack for a documentary about autism..take your pick with Belgium's entry.

Countries without a natural voting block such as the UK, Ireland and Switzerland's Apollo 13 have to be better than the rest just to stand still, and Israel's is a case in point. http://esctoday.com/142509/israel-watch-official-preview-video-feel-alive/

The Irish Eurovision fans must be desperately disappointed tonight.

Macedonians have nothing to shout about either.

Anyway it's Melodifestivalen tomorrow night at 7pm UK time, which is often better than Eurovision itself. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

What drivel tonight.

Azerbaijani singer Dihaj will perform Skeletons, written by the same people who wrote Eldar and Nikki's winning song in 2011, but unlike that entry there's no real hook or emotional connection.

Highlight of the evening is Sweden's Melodifestivalen, which you can watch at 7pm UK time here: http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

There are twelve performers, whom you can see here: http://esctoday.com/142531/poll-your-favourite-to-win-melodifestivalen-2017/

Odds are here: http://www.nicerodds.co.uk/melodifestivalen

I think Wiktoria has got it.

Lithuania, Norway and Iceland also hold their national finals tonight.

As I suspected there's a possibility that Russia may boycott this year's contest. https://oikotimes.com/2017/03/10/russia-2017-mystery-whether-hod-will-attend-the-meeting-on-monday/

Robin Bengtsson has won.

Here's the line-up for semi-final 1 on 9 May.

First half
Albania Lindita "World" English
Australia Isaiah "Don't Come Easy" English
Azerbaijan Dihaj "Skeletons" English
Belgium Blanche "City Lights" English
Finland Norma John "Blackbird" English
Georgia Tamara Gachechiladze "Keep the Faith" English
Montenegro Slavko Kalezić "Space" English
Portugal Salvador Sobral "Amar pelos dois" Portuguese
Sweden Robin Bengtsson "I Can't Go On" English
Second half
Armenia Artsvik "Fly with Me" English
Cyprus Hovig "Gravity" English
Czech Republic Martina Bárta "My Turn" English
Greece Demy "This Is Love" English
IcelandSvala Paper English
Latvia Triana Park "Line" English
Moldova SunStroke Project "Hey, Mamma!" English
Poland Kasia Moś "Flashlight" English
Slovenia Omar Naber "On My Way" English

Lucie can hold attention and this rework must have moved our chances up a few places, but let's get the piano on stage.

Los Angeles- based Svala has won Iceland's Songvakeppnin with her own composition, Paper, and if she sticks with this version she should qualify for the Final.

Norway has blown it with teacher and sound engineer Jowst, and one shudders to think what the nine other entries sounded like.

Lithuania will be represented by experimental music band Fusedmarc, and this song has grown on me a bit, though still borderline qualification in an already weak field.

Serbia unveiled its entry today and one wonders how it will be staged on the night.