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Hello & welcome to a celebration of the finest pan--European annual musical jamboree known to man, the Eurovision Song Contest. And so to one of the most far flung of EBU locations, Baku in Azerbaijan. At a mere 2700 miles from Orkney, Azerbaijan should surely be your first choice for a Euro short break this year. Indeed even if you're a journalist, as the Azeri authorities have promised press freedoms for the duration of the contest...but not after it. Although it is tempting to go when many Baku hotel rooms come with a tv, trouser press, and a hidden camera, I've decided for reasons of cost, corruption, and the small matter of expecting my first child during the ESC week, that I won't be holidaying on the Caspian this year. So to the music. After one of the more turgid contests of recent years, hopes are high for a classic example of the ouevre to hit pay dirt this year. 42 participants will be oiling themselves up in the "crystal hall" in Baku, a newly constructed 20+k seater arena built especially for the contest. The theme for the contest is "light your fire", so it's no wonder that the ball of energy that is Engelbert Humperdinck (76) will be back-flipping through the UK's entry. First up on Final night, I fear though that the old crooner will be washed away by Swedish Euphoria who will undoubtedly start the bookies favourite. If there is any challenge to outspoken long haired Berber-born Loreen from Sweden it is likely to come from the big guns of Russia, Italy, and Spain, with the Scandi's coolly building their bloc behnd. You can learn more over the 4 pages of this year's contest that can be found here |
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The 3 shows will again utilise a 50% televoting / 50% jury system which is now a proven success. The semi finals will be aired on BBC3 on Tuesday the 22nd and Thursday the 24th May, with the Final on BBC1 on Saturday the 26th of May. Don't miss out. |
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| If you can't get enough a preview of the 2012 acts can be found on the Youtube 2012 Eurovision Player.or alternatively at the official Eurovision Song Contest - Baku 2012 Preview Player. |
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| The big wedge concentrates on the real stars of the show, our plucky entrants. Whether they went through a grueling four month pre-selection or were phoned up and begged to sing, they will all be here. But if you're after a British educational perspective, then there's always info on each country involved too. Just click on a country below. What with handy ideas to throw your very own special Eurovision Party, general bookie Odds for the contest, and the never-popular Predictions section, then there really is no reason to shop around for your ESC related nonsense. Please feel free to give your Feedback, but remember I have been known to burst into tears if comments are too harsh. There are multitudes of excellent Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) websites out there (please see Links), which are all extremely good in their own way. And not being afraid to flog Rambo Amadeus' donkey, you can still see a thankfully brief account of my 2007 visit on the Blog & pics. So amaze your relatives, astound your colleagues, and lose your friends with www.douzepoints.com |
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