OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE, THAT'S THE FOURTH TIME IN A ROW.

Like Júlio's also said, I am q.f. AGOG that Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia have all ended up in the same semi-final. What a pointless exercise the pots have proved to be. Part of me thinks it should just be engineered by the draw committee to separate all the countries as fairly as possible.

At least Moldova and Romania have been separated this time...oh.

Oh, the UK can't vote in the semi-final Sweden is competing in...

ESC 2011 is dead2me q.f.

SLOVAKIA IS IN!

Better to send someone somehow than pay a fine. 2008 and 2011 have the most participants ever (43).

I think y'all are missing the big point.

Look at semi final two.

It's wide open, Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina each have one or two countries that may vote for them, as each semi finalist does, but it's not going to be enough to actually diaspora them out. We're going to see some traditional underdogs qualify from semi 2, because there is no other option.

And for semi final 1, that shit is pretty shit, but Armenia and Turkey lost all it's Benelux support. One of the always qualifiers is probably going to miss out...

One of the always qualifiers will probably miss out...and have to move to another country. Shunned.

Moldova's songs

There are 98
I don't know how many will move on to the next round. Some former Eurovision participants have come back like Zdub si Zdob and Natalia Barbu.

I decided to listen some of the songs. Ofc, I listened Zdob Si Zdub and Natalia Barbu.

I must say I wasn't really impressed with So Lucky, the song by Zdob Si Zdub. I think Krissu and Anette will like it though, it's pure rock.

However, Let's Jazz, Natalia's song was very strong in my opinion. Completely different from Fight, but one great entry if they pick her. I love it, it might even by my new number one.

The big ROFL was a singer called Katrina. She will sing Solo Por Tu Amor. A Spanish song.... I have one hint for Moldovan people: DO NOT SING IN SPANISH, it didn't sound that good and the song was horror too.

And ofc, you should check if your titles are correct.... either my English sucks or Anastasia Denisiuc' song title 'What Are You Want From Me' isn't really... correct? xD
Just like Volosenco Adriana's song 'I Can Will The Game'....
Although I think both titles were just wrong on the site... Volosenco seems to sing 'I Can WIN The Game', and I love that song.
And Anastasia seems to sing 'What DO You Want From Me'. Not that impressed with that song.
We have a new version of English: Monglish, cause those Moldovans can mess it up in a horrible way.

And the always returning title in the last years is in the Moldovan selection too: This Is My Life
The artist is Valery Tarasova (Валерия Тарасова on the site) and I really like that song...

Natalia Barbu, Valery Tarasova and Volosenco Adriana are my big faves

One song in Moldova's selection, Alexandru Cibotaru's Nu Mai Sunt La Fel has been taken out of the running for alleged plagiarism of a Milan Stankovic song.

Ukraine's semifinals have been on hold for a while and according to oinko it's because of online vote rigging. No one knows what will happen and if there will be any disqualifications yet, stay tuned.

Iceland has lost one of its hopefuls, Sigurjon Brink to a heartattack at age 36. RIP. He was due to perform on January 29th, no word on who will be the replacement or if there will even be one at all.

Not exactly Eurovision news, but it's Eurovision-related: as if the contest wasn't looked at as an eastern affair already, Armenia will host Junior Eurovision in 2011.

Thanks for the correction, Nick.

Moldova's site has taken down even more songs. It's now 93 instead of 98.

geez

No problem ofc
I hope none of my faves were taken down... I will have a look right now!

YAY all my faves are still in for Moldova. I listened most of the songs (parts ofc)

Natalia Barbu - Let's Jazz: http://www.trm.md/eurovision2011/participanti.php?starID=309

Ianna Novac - The Cave Of Life: http://www.trm.md/eurovision2011/participanti.php?starID=206

Valery Tarasova - This Is My Life: http://www.trm.md/eurovision2011/participanti.php?starID=46

ETNOmaniA - We're Having Fun: http://www.trm.md/eurovision2011/participanti.php?starID=87

Voloşenco Adriana - I Can Win The Game: http://www.trm.md/eurovision2011/participanti.php?starID=312
(the site says I Can Will The Game, but she clearly sings I Can Win The Game)

Btw, I don't think my faves will win, but I think this song will win:
Dana Marchitan - Lucky You, Lucky Me: http://www.trm.md/eurovision2011/participanti.php?starID=181
Dana Marchitan is a TV-personality in Moldova and from the descriptions on the other pages, no other artist has ever done anything on Moldovan TV. Ofc we have Zdob Si Zdub and Natalia Barbu who are already famous, but will Moldova send them again?

;D Not bad.

Lena's new album

Since Lena will get 12 songs for her own 'preselection' she will release an album containing all of them. It's called Good News and I bet Nick will be salivating.;D

Haha this is an album I will buy FOR SURE Go LENA

Now, to be clear about the German selection:

31st January and 7th February, ProSieben will broadcast the Semi-Finals. Both contain six songs, performed by Lena, of which 3 of each semi progress to the final. Both semis are scheduled for 8.15pm CET.

That gives us a final with 6 songs, which will be broadcast 18th February, by ARD (Das Erste). The final is also scheduled for 8.15pm CET.

GO LENA

Slovakia will choose internally

The story has been cleared up it seems, this is what happened:

The Central European country had originally withdrawn from the contest, but had put their name on the provisional participation list. Due to communication problems they forgot to withdraw from the list before the end of the deadline. To avoid having to pay a fine, they will participate in Düsseldorf after all. The organization will cost around 125.000 euros and thus a national final would simply cost too much in their current financial situation.

Details about their selection will be revealed this week.