Eurovision Song Contest 2016

I have changed a couple of the videos which had been removed for copyright reasons. Just to note also for diehard Eurovision fans Germany decides tonight at 19:15pm GMT. You can watch by clicking on this link. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

Germany has chosen schoolgirl Jamie-Lee Kriewitz to represent them at Stockholm, with shades of Rihanna's Diamonds and more than a touch of Eurovision 2012 winner Lena.

Tonight's the night to vote for our Eurovision entry, the first time in six years we have been granted the privilege when, it may be recalled, we voted for Josh Dubovie, who finished in last place. I note during the week the Establishment has valiently tried to build up Ken Bruce as an ersatz Terry Wogan, and listeners will I'm sure by now have formed an opinion, as Bruce has attempted to emulate him for the last thirty years at least. You can click the link below or watch on BBC4 Freeview at 8:30pm. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/webtv?program=193433

Joe and Jake have won with this live performance.

There's a choice of seven finals tonight and you can decide which one to watch (if any) by clicking here. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

I'll be tuning into Norway's final, wondering what the successor will be to last year's song, which reminded me of a tribute to Jeremy Bamber and his sister Sheila.

Agnete has won the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix with Icebreaker, but it's going to be difficult to stand out from the female vocalist crowd with it.

It reminds me a bit of Iceland's Unbroken, which didn't qualify last year, sadly.

Hungary has chosen Freddie with Pioneer, but I'm not really getting this song about temples and maybe Jesus as the pioneer, despite his avowedly special voice.

Moldova will be represented by Lidia Isac, but I wonder if it's too run of the mill to make any impact in the Final.

Sandhja's sheer force of personality should get Finland's song into the Final, but I don't see it progressing much once there.

Slovenia has chosen blonde Manu Ella to follow in Maraaya's footsteps from last year (remember those headphones?) and she's in the Kelly Clarkson-Carrie Underwood mould, and far too strong to resort to the change of clothing gimmick midway through the song.

Twenty-one songs down and twenty-two to go. A couple of countries have declared but I can't get the videos yet. Remember the Big Five of UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain plus the host country Sweden are through to the Final automatically. Turkey has withdrawn in protest against this custom, and Portugal was in a mess with its selection process and also withdrew. Countries with no natural voting block (UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Israel, Australia) need songs above average just to qualify, apart from UK, but then we have caused so much animosity this year with the EU renegotiation that whatever song we send this year is a dead duck, I'm afraid.

Latvian Justs Sirmais has won his national competition tonight, and he's surely the best of the male vocalists so far.

France has chosen heartthrob Jewish dentist Amir Haddad, and whilst people are raving about the song on wiwibloggs the most that can be said about it is this is an improvement on recent years.

Armenia has chosen Iveta Mukuchyan and Love Wave, which may stand or fall on the choreography. At least it's yet another female vocalist which makes the odds better for Joe and Jake.

Since we're on the subject of Joe and Jake and watching the video again I didn't quite make out the first line, so there's some work to do there, remembering that for most of Europe English is a second language. Apart from that I thought their live performance was pretty impressive and if they can keep it fresh I think this is the best UK entry since Blue in 2011, who unfortunately were sung out on the night.

On a different tack it's Israel's turn to pick an act tonight, and you can watch the live stream here at 7:00pm. http://www.eurovisionlive.com/

I like the way Israel's entry builds and with an illuminated nocturnal backdrop and a pianist on stage this song might just qualify.

Three countries have national selections tonight and you can watch them here: http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline