The Final Entries of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest

Sweden - "You" by Robin Stjernberg


It's a nice pop tune, but I guess Sweden doesn't really want to win two years in a row.

Spain - "Contigo Hasta El Final (With You All The Way)" by ESDM


At first it seems like Spain has gone traditional. I just wonder if the audience will still be with them by the time the song really kicks in.

Italy - "L'Essenziale" by Marco Mengoni


Wow, that's some hair.

Germany - "Glorious" by Cascada


Germany is usually a strong competitor, despite most of Europe still hating them for that World War II business, and this year is no exception. It's a great dance tune that would have won if it were from the Ukraine, but not Germany.

France - "L'enfer Et Moi (Hell and Me)" by Amandine Bourgeois


This is a great song, and per usual, it's in French, but it's much better than most years' entries. It seems the French are in it to win it this year. I can't wait to see what this looks like on stage. That will make or break it.

Along with the UK entry, "Believe in Me" by 1980s songstress Bonnie Tyler, the above finalists join Semi-Final winners Lithuania, Moldova, Finland, Belgium, Estonia, Belarus, Malta, Russia, Armenia, The Netherlands, Romania, Hungary, Denmark, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Greece, Ukraine, Norway, Georgia, and Ireland in the Grand Final tomorrow afternoon. Those of you in the States can watch it live here.

More Eurovision 2013

The First Semi-Final was held tonight in Malmo, Sweden, and yielded the following Finalists: Moldova, Lithuania, Ireland, Estonia, Ukraine, Belarus, The Netherlands, Russia, Denmark, and Belgium.

Now, here are the last of the Second Semi-Finalists:

Israel - "Rak Bishvilo" by Moran Mazor


Another ballad? Really?

Latvia - "Here We Go" by PeR


Kind of a happy 1990s vibe here. I like when it finally kicks in.

Malta - "Tomorrow" by Gianluca


This could be a dark horse. It's happy, catchy, and memorable, and most importantly in a contest that includes so many different cultures - inoffensive. I think we'll see this one in the Finals.

Romania - "It's My Life" by Cezar


This guy's voice, wow. A novelty, and a possible Finalist.

San Marino - "Crisalide (Vola)" by Valentina Monetta


One wonders two things, how will it translate to the stage, and will the audience still be awake when it finally kicks in?

Switzerland - "You and Me" by Takasa


This is another favorite, I hope it's a Finalist as well.

The second Semi-Final will take place on Thursday, the 16th of May.

Eurovision 2013: Norway

Norway - "I Feed You My Love" by Margaret Berger



That's some dress, huh? This is my absolute favorite this year. I love this song, and there's no justice if it doesn't win.

The second Semi-Final will take place on the 16th of May.

Eurovision 2013: Five More from the Second Semi-Final

FYR Macedonia - "Pred Da Se Razdeni" by Esma & Lozano



Translated, it's a song of hope ("If I Could Change the World") and those kinds of things always do well in Eurovision. Plus it's got a beat you can dance to, and seriously this one grows on me each time I hear it.

Georgia - "Waterfall" by Nodi Tatishvili & Sophie Gelovani


I usually like Georgia's entries, but this slow motion love ballad barely kept my attention for three minutes. Zzzzzzzz…

Greece - "Alcohol Is Free" by Koza Mostra, featuring Agathon Iakovidis



Greece usually hits the contest with an upbeat dance club number, but this year they went with something a bit different. What at first seems like a very traditional old country song turns fun and madcap very quickly. The title is "Alcohol Is Free," you get the picture. I like this one a lot. It won't win, but I hope it gets to the finals.

Hungary - "Kedvesem (Zoohacker Remix)" by ByeAlex


More catchy pop fun that grows on me with each listen, slowly becoming a favorite, but again, I don't think it will win.

Iceland - "Eg A Lif" by Eythor Ingi


Yet another European lesson in just because you look metal, it doesn't mean you are metal.

The second Semi-Final will take place on the 16th of May.

Eurovision 2013: The First Five of the Second Semi-Final

Albania - "Identitet" by Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko


I love the drums, and the music video, which I don't know if they will be able to reproduce its energy and creativity on stage. Luckily it's a catchy well done song. No idea what they're saying, but I think this one will definitely get through to the finals.

Armenia - "Lonely Planet" by Dorians


Pretty song, and being pretty always gets you far in this contest. We'll see.

Azerbaijan - "Hold Me" by Farid Mammadov


Azerbaijan is always a strong competitor, and this pretty boy power ballad is no exception. Not my favorite, but it has good odds.

Bulgaria - "Samo Shampioni (Only Champions)" by Elitsa Todorova, Stoyan Yankulov


These Eurovision veterans are back. Their previous "Water" remains one of my all time favorite songs from the ESC. Always great percussion, but I don't think this is their best sadly.

Finland - "Marry Me" by Krista Siegfrids


Finland is another nation who always has a strong submission. This year they enter a more pop and dancey tune. The music video shows off Krista's range and humor, but I wonder if that will come off on the stage. I'm kinda rooting for this one, but then again, I'm partial to Finland.

The second Semi-Final will take place on the 16th of May.

Eurovision 2013 - The Netherlands Two Ways

The Netherlands - "Birds" by Anouk


or the music video:



It's sorta got a bit of a Laurie Anderson feel, doesn't it?

Eurovision 2013 - More from the First Semi-Final

Denmark - "Only Teardrops" by Emmelie de Forest


Hmmm… someone needs a new conditioner. Seriously, this one is a contender. Catchy tune, part ballad, lotsa drums, traditional flute, and a beautiful woman, and not too outrageous - if there was a formula for Eurovision, this would be it.

Estonia - "Et Uus Saaks Alguse" by Birgit


Estonia is usually a fierce competitor, but this year we just get a ballad.

Ireland - "Only Love Survives" by Ryan Dolan


No Jedward or Dustin the Turkey this year, Ireland gets a bit more serious about the competition with this Ryan Dolan entry that continues to grow on me every time I hear it.

Lithuania - "Something" by Andrius Pojavis


I'm not sure which is more bizarre, the background dancers, or the Abraham Lincoln drag… craziness in the Eurovision tradition, love it.

Moldova - "O Mie" by Aliona Moon


Wow, that is some outfit, and a lot of hairspray… pretty song though.

Eurovision 2013 - Five from the First Semi-Final

Austria - "Shine!" by Natália Kelly


"Shine!" has a slow build, but it's got more energy than the usual Eurovision entry. I like this one, and in a year with so many beautiful and sexy women competing, Natália Kelly is no slouch.

Belarus - "Solayoh" by Alyona Lanskaya


Go, Belarus, pretty girls, drums, and dancing is what Eurovision is all about. Another strong entry - what did I say about this being a good year?

Belgium - "Love Kills" by Roberto


Not a happy song, but the music is upbeat, and he's cute.

Croatia - "Mižerja" by Klapa s Mora



Sort of a man band as opposed to a boy band. Zzzzz…

Cyprus - "An Me Thimase" by Despina Olympiou


I was surprised to see Cyprus competing this year, considering that nation's financial problems. Most likely, if they win, they would not be able to host the following year. Although, it's just another Eurovision ballad with little to differentiate it from the rest - I don't think they have to worry about winning…

You can see all the Eurovision entries for 2013 here.

Eurovision 2013 UK

It's that time of year again - Eurovision is coming. The United Kingdom just announced that Bonnie Tyler, of "Total Eclipse of the Heart," will represent them at Eurovision this year.



The song is "Believe in Me," and it's not bad. Hopefully it will be good for more than two points this year.