Switzerland have choosen for Eurovision 2012- Sinplus

The winners of the National Final in Switzerland is Sinplus- two swiss-Italian brothers. Their band has been around for a couple of years and spent alot of time in LA California

with a song that is not unlike something the Killers would release as a single-this can be a good

thing- to put the Swiss back in the Final contest in Baku. Lyn Assia did not make the top 3 - while another Italian singer

Chiara Dubey was one of the runners up.

Certainly Switzerland with this rock-pop act will be looking for the kind of impact we saw from

'A Friend In London' from Denmark in 2011.

Best of luck to the guys in Baku- and we have now the first entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

see a Live clip here of Sinplus and

the song 'Unbreakable'

Ell & Nikki comeback together in London- and chat about Baku + that Loose Dennzy Report from 2011!!

Ell & Nikki -

the duo who have made Eurovision history as well as Azerbaijan history in 2011- Infact the last time a girl/boy

duo won Eurovision - we have to go back to Denmark's first win in 1963 when Grethe & Jorgrn Ingmann sang 'Dansevise' in London.

So will this mean a lot more Love-duo's will be seen in the Eurovision contest in the future? it certainly was alot more common place back in the 60-70's

Meanwhile Ell & Nikki have still to record even a debut album together or a follow-up single to 'Running Scared'

the couple did come together a few days ago for 'a celebration of 20 Years of Azerbaijan' independence held in Central Hall

in Westminster- For Nikki it was a short bus ride from her home in Palmers Green- where she lives, but for Ell it was his very first time in

London amazingly!

Thankfully ESCtoday/Russel Davis -was there to record this event for everyone in an interview with these Eurovision 2011 winners this casual chat about the next

Eurovision 2012, Baku- a New album, wine !- we think Nikki is so much fun

telling us how she still scans U-tube watching more Eurovis' clips- It's time to make her an honest -

Recording artist Ell?

view Here

Ell & Nikki sung there one & only tune (to-date) 'Running Scared'

Nikki had alot more to chat about on ITVs Loose Woman -with the faab Denise Welch- very funny

& recap of 'Dennzy Does Dusseldorf' (Loose Woman's Eurovis' report with Blue) - this must rank as the best Eurovision Report of the 2011 ( send Dennzy to Baku -pleeeze for 2012)

The One's that got away- part 3-Valeria Tarasova, Moldova

Just when we thought we'd heard all the great tunes in the run up to Eurovision Dusseldorf 2011 The National Pre-selection of Moldova. featured a wonderful new talent of Valeria Tarasova who only finished in 7th place! The song 'This is my life' wrote by none other than German Schlager legend Herr Ralph Siegel

( who gave us so many Eurovision songs in the past- 19 in all ) It is the second time in Moldova's National Final for this great talent. And the perfect Eurovis' tune.

Check out a great Video for 'This is my Life' here- this song's Live performance the tune so should have been in the Eurovision 2011 Final-

no gimmicks- oh well- there is always 2012 Valeria hope to see you then.

Danes A Friend from London- release a video for New Tomorrow-

Rock bands in Eurovision can be very much make or break- however danish band A Freind from London- certainly did Denmark proud. Apart from winners Azerbaijan, Denmark managed to retain a Top 5 placing at Eurovision 2-years running. With 'New Tomorrow'- this may not be all the band will be remembered for either at Dusseldorf 2011 when the cute lead singer Tim Schou shouted out

"You know baby, I want to...I want to f**k you" to the camera during voting -amied at the 12 points from Netherlands. It was simply an excited reaction to Mandy Hudts the announcer for Netherlands votes. (see NL voting clip)

However this may go down in history as the only time bad language has taken place during the LiveESC voting!

Hey but wait there is more- strangely 2 months following all promo & buzz of Eurovision

A Freind from London have only just done the video for 'New Tomorrow' single!

had they used this clip at the time- who know how much further they could have gone to a top placing in Dusseldorf? check it out the vid here-

'New Tomorrow' 2011 Video

Eurovision Song Contest 2011 - What a Final Show in Dusseldorf- & the voting!

Now the glitter and dusk has settled after Dusseldorf 2011. The final was one massive amazing show once again packed full of artists & songs each finalist was in its own way a winner!

When we look at the contest historically has in some small ways made a public statement of it's own,

and we are not refering to block voting here!

The favourites of France, UK & Hunary seemed to be something of a myth when the final votes came up on the scoreboard! the media-buzz of 2011 -was very much claiming Eurovision to be just the Jedward & UK's Blue show. How wrong was that- although both UK & Ireland gave a performance worthy of any prize.

So what happened? suddenly the sleepers like -Italy, Sweden, Greece, Germany & Ukraine became the 'new' winners based on more out-standing performances on the Final night. It showed us the europeans voted on what they 'liked on the night'- and not who- was just in the news in the day before.

It was a close-race and never before have so many songs each received top 12 points at some stage in the voting. Azerbaijan came out with the most appeal and just 3 times 12 points, while Italy got 4 times 12 points! 'Running Scared' took the victory with 221 points. Another interesting fact was Azerbaijan came 2nd in the semi final result to Greece, I think in the end 'Running scared' appealed to more age-groups - as well as a rather haunting melody.

check out this clip of eurovision top3 interview (thanks to eurovis.tv)

- see Lena almost in tears, you can see she just does not want it to be over- & close her Eurovision chapter, ahhh-hh!

Lena you can always comeback again?

Introducing the two swedes who also won Eurovision 2011- in Dusseldorf!

Azerbaijan - won Eurovision Song Contest 2011- thanks to this swedish songwriter - Stefan Örn He´s with a band called Apollo Drive - who have a East coast Rock sound very different from ESC.

Check out 'Papercut' Live clip (stefan plays guitar) Together with lyric by Sandra Bjurman. These two swedes found success writing 'Drip Drop' in Eurovision 2010 as Safura sang for Azerbaijan, the song-writers repeated this success as being choosen from 15 submissions for Eurovision 2011 coming from mainly Azerbaijan as well as Spain, Greece, Romania, Sweden & Australia.

As two artists Nigar Jamal & Eldar Gasimov had been winners of a 7-heat semi-final started back in Nov 2010 just to choose the best performance-artist for the Song Contest. Later the names were changed Ell & Nikki.

The rest has become Eurovision history in Dusseldorf. (below 'Apollo Drive')

Azerbaijan- they came and made Eurovision their own in 2011

Congratulations-

Azerbaijan have only been in Eurovision the past 4 years- never once been outside the Top 10
with their entries final placing It began in 2008 with Elnur Guseynov & Samir Javadzade- and 'Day after day'
They love the duo's ( only Safura was a solo act last year with 'Drip-drop' ) in 2011-

They won Running Scared -- Ell & Nikki - by the same songwriters as ' Drip Drop' in 2010
the swedes Stefan Orn-Sandra Bjurman.



Ell & Nikki partied on til 430am on saturday night- when they sung the song 'Running Scared' again-
at the after party together with Shirley's Angels check out

the x-clusive clip here - they did lip synch 'Running Scared 'as they had been up most of the night!

Grand Final dress- rehearsal with Jury scoring begins

-Action-Man Russian Alexej is out to 'Get you'

All the fun & glamour has starrted early in dusseldorf, with a slight change to the voting procedure in Eurovision 2011. During the final full dress rehearsal, each countries jury will make their minds up and give scores based on this rehearsal, so the pressure is on for each artist to give 100% even for the run-though before Final night. This will be filmed also, just incase the ESC Final on saturday's broadcast was interupted for some reason and the back-up rehearsal can be shown.

When it comes to vote counting on final night -the countries will present the results of -50% jury, 50% televote- in an order set and based on the jury results already found from the rehearsal (and kept secret of course). So how does this change things? it means this collecting of Eurovision-votes will be the most nail-biting of all.

After the past victory from Alexander Rybak & Lena -last year who actually took run-away leads in the voting this change will add to more schlager-excitement!

Can our euro-nerves stand it?

and what about in the green room will the performers crack-up?

will Jedward twins just explode into a red-jacket glittery mess on the floor !!

-jedward rehearsals before breakfast!

Semi-Final Results- and The artists met the Press ready for Eurovision Final 2011

Blue- are ready on the Eurovision Final Bus- who will join them?

The final 10 songs have been choosen in dusseldorf-

You can view all the excitement as the artists chat and draw the song positions

they will sing in the grand final night.

Press conference- Semi-Final 2

Watch here- Aussie fans do not watch if you have not watched the show as this will reveal

the winners already from semi-final 2

Hello it's Melbourne calling with our results of Semi Final 1

Julia & Sam get into the spirit with German national dress for Eurovision week


Here down under in Australia we have a delayed broadcast of Eurovision and both semi-finals. this means a weekend of back-to-back Eurovision shows without a break.
Plus- our very own commentators -Julia Zemiro & Sam Pang (above) who do an awesome job for SBS, also because we cannot vote of course.
Each time the phone numbers are due to be shown on screen for the semi finals SBS just show their web address to vote on line (free) This year it seems to have worked very well, the votes are closed off -just after the Tv broadcast. However while Ebu in europe never reveal any semi-final results til after the final -it's very interesting to see how Australia judged the songs from Semi Final 1

So here are the results of Australia's

Webvoting in Semi final 1

1- Greece- 10361 votes
2- Serbia- 7515 votes
3- Iceland- 6135 votes
4- Turkey- 6054 votes
5- Portugal- 5515 votes
6- Finland- 4870 votes
7- Croatia - 4630 votes
8- San Marino - 4178 votes
9- Hungary- 3930 votes
10- Poland- 2747 votes


11-Russia - 2499 votes
12- Switzerland - 2445 votes
13-Malta - 2178 votes
14-Norway - 2040 votes
15-Armenia - 1503 votes
16- Georgia - 1470 votes
17-Azerbaijan - 1470 votes
18- Albania - 1178 votes
19- Lituania - 955 votes

-Its interesting to see finalist Lituania, Georgia and then Azerbaijan- so very low in the results.

Azerbaijan are a top favourite to win this year, but this may shows they have not such a convincing high scoring tune as expected?

And these three songs qualified in europe! and Portugal shot to a Top 5 position according to the australian viewers. I aggree with Poland & Croatia as qualifing songs in this result.

Just shows how anything can happen.

Real Double-trouble in Semi Final 2 in Eurovision 2011- Jedward Vs The Twiins

That's right Jedward are not the only set of twins in Eurovision! - a pop duo called The Twiins are singing for Slovakia a slow ballad called 'I am still alive' these girls are visually

a euro-treat even if they don't have a showstopper like 'Lipstick'

Yet as we have learned from Eurovison Semi final's just anything can happen! already we have lost Norway & Poland in 2011. Both we think are worthy finalist.

Here is the top 10 favourites of Semi 2 from schlagertunes- in a random order.

-Slovenia -No one- Maja Keuc

-Sweden- Popular-Eric Saade

- Moldova- So Lucky- Zdob si Zdub

-Ireland- Lipstick- Jedward

-Estonia-Rockefeller Street- Getter Jaani

-Latvia-Angel in disgise-Musiqq

-Denmark- New Tomorrow- A Friend from London

-Austria- Secret of Love- Nadine Beiler

-Ukraine- Angel-Mika Newton

-Romania- Change-Hotel FM

2 close running-up we feel have worthy songs but may miss out The Netherlands & Bosnia & Herzegovina- it certainly will be a close call ..

Austria's Nadine Beiler is one of the best female vocalist of 2011

Iceland's magic strikes again in Dusseldorf with 'Coming Home'

-Iceland in 2011 has a song and tribute to the songwriter Sigurjón Brink who died suddenly in the past January.

The only Nordic country without a massive history in Eurovision, they first entered in 1986 with ICY and finished 16th place with 'Gledibankinn' this 80's pop band featured Eirikur Hauksson- who represented Iceland in 2007. This showed the quailty this small country Iceland could offer to Eurovision- Since 1986 they have never -missed a heartbeat!

Johanna- proved they can win coming 2nd to Alexander Rybak in 2009- for sure 'Fairytale' became unbeatable. So to be runner up in 2009 this really was a victory in it's self. Joanna came back to the National Final however did not win witha new ballad 'Slow down' just as good as 'It's True'

For the past 3 years Iceland have qualified in the Eurovision final, not easy as it used to be for some of the nordic countries.

This year's 'Coming Home' is no different, what a terrific melody - a wonderful harmony and performance from Sjonni Friends I hope this tune gets a top 10 it deserves we will see?

Another face you may remember in Sjonni Friends is Gunnar Olason he was part of Two Tricky and sang 'Angel' for Iceland back in 2001- and finished 23th.

The scary truth about Turkey's Yüksek Sadakat !

I knew I had seen Turkey's latest rock band before- in a different decade

maybe - then I learnt how they

"They sleep all day party all night. (kewl)

Never grow old! (hmmmm...)

Never die, its fun

when your a V#***re"

-Now the lyrics of 'Live it up' make sence -

please beware Duncan, Lee, Antony & Simon don't get to near to Yüksek Sadakat just in case..... (we need u guys to bring it home)

My Top 10 Songs--from Semi-Final 0ne

Who would think Eurovision week in Dusseldorf would come around so soon.

Yet each year Eurovision grows not with just more countries, or old ones like Austria & Italia,

also with progress it developes and grows. Certainly the time when this European Song contest

was an introduction to several brand new songs never heard before are over-

With the internet websites u-tube and downloads stores the battle of the favourite song, begins weeks before- if we choose we can hear a countries tune over and over.

This I personally find this all refreshing, as for example Iceland's 'Coming Home' has grown to be a favourite of ESC 2011, and while it may well get missed among the up-beat showstoping effects of the other entries.

Its a tune that grows on you- and in past growers have never stood a chance much.

So after many listens, + having seen some of the rehearsals-

this is schlagertunes top10-- of semi final 1 ( in a random order)

Malta's Glen Vella living the dream of his 'one life'

-Poland -Jestem -Magdalena

-Turkey- Live it up - Yuksek Sadakat

-Norway- Haba haba- Stella

-Russia- Get you- Alexej Vorobjov

-Serbia- Caroban- Nina

-Malta- One Life- Glen Vella

-Azerbaijan- Running scared- Ell & Nikki

-Iceland- Coming home- Sjonni's Friends

-Hungary- What about me? Kati Wolf

-Armenia- Boom boom- Emmy

The Eurovision teens of 2011- Opening party in dusseldorf-

feel the excitment.

BLUE rehearsal in dusseldorf!

Lot of artists have completed rehearsals in Espirt Arena- now it is the turn of the big 5-

Blue finally reveal not only a new mix and take on I can but some wonderful backdrop

screen visuals --

Blue on BBC Breakfast Tv - reveal All !

check it out buff -Blue boys - tatts'n' all

click here to see it.

BLUE interview + graham norton

also one great Tv appearence in Holland- on

Life4you hear gary barlow & robbie williams

views on Blue- 'I can'

jedward have landed in dusseldorf & hung out with Lena already!

during 1st rehearsal - Jedward

Jedward boys are full of irish-joy- check out their first interview with a translator-

we heard the lads were so excited about using a foreign translator.

Everyone else just was left thinkin' just how can anyone possibly translate at the pace the twins both talk? well- it turned out they can, in russian anyhow - Also in true Jed-style Lena the german winner of Eurovision could not wait to met them, she organised to pick them up in a limo from the hotel

to take them on the first journey to Eurovision Espirt Arena. As you can imagine Jedward were in their element to met Princess Lena Meyer Landrut.

Hear all bout that and more - in 3 secs chat here-------

PLuS---

jedward met Lena on U-tube-

check this out for all the fun when the 2 met

Jedward Strike a pose- as they get ready for Eurovision 2011

Jedward follow in UK's Blue centerfold for 'Attutide' They have appeared on GT Magazine (GayTimes) for this month-

check out Jedward- as guests Plus Jedward have this past week interviewed on the 'Late Late Show' - chatting about Royal wedding-goin to Eurovision & how Germany's Lena said raved about Ireland's bid for Euro fame. The guys seem to be very excited ... as the countdown begins...

Lena performs 'Taken by a Stranger' and interviewed on Tv before Dusseldorf

this is a sneak preview of how Lena's performance will look in the final- very different from last year with robotic dancers adding to the mood of the song- currebtly Lena is in the middle of her tour though-out germany. This should help sharpen up her act, bring a ray of new confidence for the singer who can do no wrong.

In this interview she names Jedward, Blue (she was a big fan of UK's Blue boys-back then) & Kati Wolf as her favourites in Dusseldorf

check out the song & chat here--

Lena on 'Verstehen Sie Spass'

Dana International is back in Eurovision 2011- this time as a songwriter as well!

Isreal again will send Dana International to Dusseldorf. She won back in 1998 with 'Diva' a winning song played quiet often still. Dana has actually sent her song writing talent to the ESC even more recently in 2008 as she wrote 'Fire in your Eyes' sung by Boaz. This tune finished in 9th place in Belgrade.

Dana international has wrote 'Ding Dong' that seems to relate more to her Diva- roots that to the Boaz entry. How she will do will depend alot on the performance in her Semi-Final.

I hope it will qualify cus you want some schlager Diva-glam in any ESC final-

The official video of Ding Dong- is now out

'Ding Dong' the official Video