A Quick Look At The Odds

Just to break from the mundane day-to-day reaction and reviews today we're going to look at the odds around Eurovision.

Currently the odds cannot be properly trusted because not enough countries have chosen. Notwithstanding this fact looking at the odds currently Greece and Russia are the favorites at 7/1. (Which is still very high). Other high counties: Italy is only 9/1 which, given their selection process seems a little strange, nevertheless, I would not expect an Italian win this year. Cyprus are 11/1 which reflects the strength of their national final songs this year. Denmark who I think has a good chance at winning this year is still back on 16/1, which could be a good bet.

Moving further down the list Spain and Ireland are 33/1 which doesn't reflect their possibilities. Of the two songs picked so far Albania is 41/1 and Switzerland is 25/1.

Looking at Melodifestivalen 2012 according to the odds (without hearing the songs): The Moniker is the favorite to win the first semi-final. Timoteij are favorites to win the second semi-final, Youngblood in the third and Danny Saucedo is the favorite for the fourth semi-final and favorite to win the whole competition. Strangely Ulrik Munther is second favorite to win outright (11/2)  and Charlotte Perrelli is 11/1.

Looking at DMGP 2012, Christian Bons and Patrick Isakson are favorites to win outright, with Aya (singing a song by the writers of Satellite) is second favorite.

Melodifestivalen kicks off

The big news today is that Melodifestivalen has kicked off with the web joker competition. I was never a big fan of the web jokker so I'm not expecting anything massive. However sooner or later a web joker is going to win a place in the final so it may be worth a look at.

In Finland 540 entries have been entered with the national final in Feb.

I'm also delighted to say ESC 2011 has won an award for Best Entertainment from the Deutscher Fernsephpreis. Well done Eurovision

Also the video of the day is Edsilla Romebly's new song. Note to the schlagerboys: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS:

Ok, here we go again. I don't have a lot of time because my train leaves shortly and I am writing this with my laptop on my lap. Bruno Beberes (French HOD and sits on the reference group) gave an interesting interview recently where he suggested that Morocco my try to return to the competition next year. Bruno expects that they will return. Kosovo has tried to enter twice before and Beberes also compared them with Bosnia and Herzegovia when they decided to enter in 1993.

Other interesting points that arose was that Amaury Vassili was orginally to sing Maria at the Eurovision song contest however as he had performed it at a show in July 2010. Personally I think it is a far better and more interesting song then Sognu. But that may just be me. Beberes did not mention the plan  that France is to have a National Final.

María - Amaury Vassili

In other news Mans Zelmerlow is planning to return to Melodifestivalen 2012. He is currently searching for a song. After being a fan favorite for 2007 and 2009 I'm looking forward to his return.

Back again on Tuesday all going to plan.

Small Bits Of Everything

I am always keen to see a Eurovision Song doing well in the charts. However this story is a little different. It seems Kelly Schembri has become an overnight sensation in Malta. Her rise to fame has been noted by some Big wigs in Britain who hope to make her a star and she has made a new video of her song "Love Me Like Your Money"

The Reference Group should have concluded  their meeting during the week and any information that should come from that will be commented on.

Sweden have been first out of the trap and have called for songs for Melodifestivalen 2012 (Wow, first time I've had to write about NF season 2011). As always they have many ways of getting to Melodifestivalen but this year the Web Joker has been reduced down to one entrant. This is probably a good thing as the Web Joker for me has always been a rather dull song. It simply takes away a place that could go to Sanna Nielsen or Timoteij.