We’ve been teasing you about Eurovision for quite some time but this is the moment. Today we are kicking off with our review of all the candidates in this years Eurovision Song Contest.
42 nations are taking part in this years contest, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The contest moved to the Azerbaijani capital city after the duo Ell/Niki won the contest last year in Dusseldorf, with ‘Running Scared’. It promises to be a huge spectactle as the host country decided early after last years victory to build a fully new hall, in which the contest would be held. 
The Crystal Hall, is now in its final construction stages and Eurovision will be the first ever event held in the hall. How excting!
But the most exciting of it all, are the 42 nations who have been selecting one song and artist over the last six months. One of them, on May 26 will be chosen as the new Eurovision winner. In order to warm you up a bit, we’ll be treating you with reviews based on the official preview videos of all entries before you can well enjoy the spectacle live in three live shows on May 22, 24 and 26th.
Kicking off are our first three semi final participants: Montenegro, Iceland and Greece
Montenegro: Rambo Amadeus – Euro Neuro
After an absence of two years, due to financial reasons, the Montenegrin broadcaster is returning to the contest with icon Rambo Amadeus, a rather famous artist in the Balkan area. Early december the man was internally selected and announced to treat Europe to ‘Euro-Neuro’, a rather unusual entry. mix some genius, English lyrics a la ”Euro Neuro don’t be skeptik, hermetic, pathetic, analfabetic
forget old cosmetic ….” with an ethno sauce of Balkan instruments, throw in some beautiful Montenegrin babes and a donkey in the video and the result is ‘Euro-Neuro’. Whilst the song might give an impression to being a joke-entry is rather original and well thought through and miles better of what Montenegro has given us in the past. So far Montenegro have never qualified for the final, their best result dates from 2009, where they came 11th. Despite being one of the more creative acts, this is rather unlikely to qualify. But keep trying!
Iceland: Greta Salóme & Jónsi – Never Forget
Performing second in the first semi final, is one of the most succesful countries in Eurovision without ever having won. Iceland has come twice, most recently in 2009 and are hoping to go all the way this year with the duo Gréta Salóme & Jónsi, who won their national selection with the song ‘Mundu Eftir Mir’. For the Eurovision Song Contest, the song has been translated to ‘Never Forget’. It’s a rather dramatic ballad with a symphonic build up and is one of the big favourites to make it to the final. To us, it sounds very medieval and perhaps a bit too heavy for the average Eurovision viewer who migt decide not to pick up the phone with such an early draw as well. We expect it to go either way with this lovely duo, and will depend on their performance of the night. Since the introduction of the semi finals in 2004, Iceland has missed the final on four occasions, but reached the finals since 2008 consistently. They were also the runner ups in 2009 behind Norway.
Greece: Eleftheria Eleftheriou – Aphrodisiac
Time for another Eurovision favourite of the nillies. Greece’s Eurovision history started off quite bumpy but since 2004 the country has been a huge favourite with not only qualifying for each final, but also consistently achieving a place in the top ten ever since. The country also won the contest back in 2005 with Helena Paparizou ‘My Number One’. Over the past two years, the Greeks dared to be a bit more adventurous and had turned their back onto the ethnopop songs. But that’s to change this year, because former X Factor participant Eleftheria Eleftheriou won the national final only a few weeks ago with the etnopop song ‘Aphrodisiac’. And while we are not that excited by this song, it is the type of songs the likes of Kalomira, Sarbel and winner Elena Paparizou have given the Greeks their best results and victory. Eleftheria does sell it well and give it some good props on stage; the Greeks might continue with their qualification record. Will be interesting to compare it with the Cypriot entry.
Our verdict:
1. Iceland
2. Montenegro
3. Greece
Tomorrow: Latvia and Albania
