and in the end it's all about just one guy

The hearts of Europe melted and they voted/swooned/cried out for/screamed their undying devotion at young Mr Ryback from Norwayia (it needs and -ia on the end of it 'cos we got so used to Eastern wins that old habits die hard)

It was truly one of the best final nights we have had at Eurovision....from the very first opening strains of Believe, right through that first glorious 10 points from Spain to the UK, and on with the landslide victory......the Fishy Norwegean next to me had no bladder control at all during the voting and we LOVED THAT!!!!

Congratulations to Norwayia and we will see you all in Oslo (or wherever they decide to host it) next year....thanks for reading and check back occasionally 'cos we do other stuff apart from Eurovision....not too sure what but Daniel insists that we do so just go with it....

M+D

And so final night is here

So with our trusted bat at the ready we arrive at final night.....let's hope we don't have to use it on those pesky juries.....

Final thought's before entering the arena for the last time......could Jade actually do it for the UK. We have serious doubts but you just never know

And just for all those of you who don't believe that we actually exist and that we are the figment of some imaginary troll from the ESCNATION.COM message board here's us in all our finery just before it all kicks of.....and know we are not Spasiba and Spellina in disguise!!!!

Miss Kiss boobies out

Today is the day when the sickness sets in. Too much alcohol for too many days and not eating proper food finally takes it's toll and we just pray that we can get through the show tonight without having to leave and go to the press centre........

Anyway watched 2 rehearsals yesterday and WE HAVE NO CLUE who will win now. It could be that the very talented backing singer for Sakis will win it for Greece again, young Mr Ryback could drag the contest back to Scandinavia, Mme Kaas could be the saviour of the whole shebang or Jade ('cos of the draw) might shock everyone yet.......we will know in a few hours.

Oh and at the second rehearsal last night the German delegation has obviously been told to cover up and Ms Von Tess is more covered up than this snap from yesterday afternoon

So whoever you are, wherever you are enojy the show tonight, vote for what you like and don't throw anything at the TV when the song you hated wins!!!!!!

M+D

Final day is almost here

So it's now nearly all over for another year and we are just waiting for the first full run-through today.

This should give us more of an idea of what will happen tomorrow night. A quick look at the draw before seeing it in reality makes we smile for Jade, 'cos that's a great draw for her being the only slow song in the last 10.

Other things that jump out are the crappy draw for Bosnia, Croatia and thankfully Israel.

More thoughts later after we watch the first run-through and show our faces at the final UK press conference after the rehearsal this afternoon.

M+D

This was his night......Sadly

So we sadly have to admit that the night belonged to Greece. We now are very afraid that we have to return to Greece next year and for all the wrong reasons this performance from Sakis will almost certainly clean up tomorrow night.

Now don't get us wrong we don't hate Sakis, far from it we actually quite like him BUT this song is so boring and dull.........but he does transform it on stage.

The only thing that can really stop this now is the jurys all going for the same song, but the chances of that happening are slim....



So how did our predictions go. Well Daniel did well getting 9/10 and Mike only managed a poor 7/10. For us as well it was great to see Ukraine going through as during the show we both agreed that we thought she would miss out on a place in the final. The "fans" here really hate Svetlana and that puts a smile on my face.

The other great thing was to see Denmark go through as even though it's not the greatest song in the world it means that there is a least some Irish connection in the final.

And what about Ireland???? To be fair they performed their best last night but in reality it was probably never going to happen for them. A shame really but next year this might make RTE sit up a take notice of what get's results at ESC these days. For a good example they need look no further than this guy below.........

And for us he was the REAL star last night. The guy has had a really tough time in Moscow with horrible fans being nasty to him in Euroclub, horrible Ruskie camera crews being nasty to him and even after all that he shone last night. Let's hope this is not the last we have seen of Dimitri

And so we left and went to Euroclub, hoping that it might be getting better BUT no it's still rubbish and we were home in bed by 3 a.m. Our Eurovision partying reputation is in tatters this year.....oh well I guess we must be getting old.....

M+D

Oh we forgot to mention....

The Semi-Final After Party at Euroclub.

Okay it's now been mentioned nothing more needs to be said.

Oh alright then.....it was pants with it's only saving grace being the free bar....apart from that NADA!!!!!!

The worst post event party we have ever been to and that includes the very non-alcoholic ones in Athens!!!!!

Nuff said

M+D

More ESCNATION.COM mad people

Eurocafe is now getting into the swing of things.....it's only taken nearly 2 weeks but at least they are playing Eurovision music......not like the now infamous, cavernous Euroclub.

Why go to Eurocafe last night......well the free bar at Euroclub suddenly stopped working last night 'cos of all the Ruskies at the Ruskie partyski...there were millions of them and when the police started to arrive we thought it best to go somewhere else....

Getting to Eurocafe was funski!!!! Someone, you know who you are, decided it would be great funski to do a LADACAB-SKI. These Azerbaijan/Armenian drivers are all completely mad, have NO clue where they are going and charge about 50 roubles to get anywhere....we're in!!!

Norway's turn to DJ at eurocafe and a great night was had by all....at least it seemed that way.....judge for yourself at the lovely pics of some random people we met there.....

This is one of the dancers from the Albanian delegation....tall isn't he?

The great fishy one

The Fishy one took my drink and never gave it back!!!!

I don't know who these people are but they seemed like great fun-ski

Daniel woke up and predicts......

Okay so he finally got out of bed last night and then we promptly went out......someone's Birthday and alcohol always takes priority over silly predictions, but anyway....

So when we got in at 5 a.m. I managed to get him to write down his predictions for semi 2 qualifiers and being slightly worse for the demon drink here's his list

Croatia (WTF!!!)
Norway
Denmark
Azerbaijan
Greece
Lithuania
Moldova
Ukraine
Estonia
and either Poland or Ireland

We shall see, we shall see

Semi 2 predictions

Okay so spurred on by our success (7/10) for semi 1 here are our predictions for semi 2 qualifiers

Mike goes for

Latvia (I warned you about Israel and I think this will sadly just about get through)
Poland (rubbish song with a nice performance)
Norway
Denmark
Azerbaijan
Greece (though a lot of people today were saying that they thought he might struggle)
Lithuania
Ukraine
Estonia
and horror of horrors The Netherlands

Daniel is sleeping 'cos we are all going out tonight for a certain OGAE president's very special birthday so if he wakes up in time I'll get him to put up what he thinks

Let's see how many we get right tomorrow but at some point our prediction skills will run out and we will most probably get them all wrong.

M+D

Semi 2.....the horror of the hosts from hell continues

So did we mention yet that these two should be replaced with immediate effect? No? Okay well then these two should be replaced with immediate effect. Seriously I could do a better job myself. At least I might make an effort to try to remember where I am and what I am supposed to be doing. Disaster, in a country of 160 million people this is the best they could do....utter rubbish



So today was all about one act for me. To be fair she was not great with the singing....but you have to hand it to her the stage show is, in my opinion, the best this year. And to cap it all she is starting to be hated by certain sections of the fans....would love to see her win now just to annoy a few people.




I'll be your anti-crisis boy/girl/whatever


One really annoying thing from the last few years has been the booing habit of certain sections of the audience. This happened today for young Mr Ryvita.....seems he does not like gay people. Have to say he was very friendly and sweet with us 2 whenever we spoke to him. Some fans could do with getting over themselves!!!!


This is for loyalty really. We hope and pray that the girls will succeed but we think that realistically they are gonna struggle big time......

More ESCNATION.COM message board heroski's

Funnily enough we have not been out too much this year. We did bump into this lovely chap and his squeese the other night. As promised here's the mention on the blog

M+D

The arena AIN'T all that

Just before moving onto the after party it needs to be said that there are some serious issues with the venue

1. Crowd control is really rather silly. Our entrance for the fan club seats was right around the back of the building, and once inside you have to move all the way around to the front of the building. Okay you might say.....but when you realize that they do not allow people to take their seats until approx 40 minutes before the show starts and understand that in these narrow corridors are lots and lots of people it becomes a bit of a nightmare

2. The toilets are the worst I have ever seen at a Eurovision event.....VILE

3. There is no alcohol on sale at all.....makes for a very flat atmosphere......you're not in there long enough to get steaming drunk so why not sell a few drinks....

4. The treatment of members of the presski is bizarre sometimes. We know they like to say niet BUT why do they say no to some and not to others. One journalist was REFUSED entry to the rehearsal this afternoon because they had a camera. Funny the whole of the front row had cameras today....weirdski!!!!

5. Some useful signs inside would help.....

M+D

So what did we get wrong????

Well the first semi is now over and well and truly in the past. We warned you about Israel but you didn't believe us. Don't start crying now!!!!
We also warned you about Turkey and we both feel that this rubbish, trashy cheap song is now quite dangerous with it's late draw......we can but hope and pray!!!

So what did we get wrong....
Well for a start Sweden passed through which we both thought would struggle.....we have a sneaky suspicion that this will turn out to be the Jury vote, same as last year.

Daniel got Romania which at the time I told him he was mad. But I got Portugal, and he told me I was mad......

Most of the others we seemed to get about right, I think we both managed 7 out of 10. That's a pretty good hit rate for us 2!!!!!!

Thoughts on the show overall???? Not bad, dreadful hosts, some fairly obvious camera mistakes but all in all we enjoyed ourselves and give Russia a little pat on the back for effort....

M+D

Semi One First run through

Okay SACK the presenters now 'cos they are shit. We really can't believe that in all of Mother Russia that these 2 were the cream of the crop. We would have preferred Fillipe Kikirov, and that's saying something.

However it's prediction time so putting money where mouths are this is what we say

Mike goes for
Belarus
Armenia
Switzerland
Turkey
Israel (WTF!!!!!)
Iceland
Possibly Macedonia
Finland
Portugal
Possibly Malta
and the winner of the semi is
BOSNIA

and Daniel goes for
Belarus
Armenia
Andorra
Switzerland
Turkey
Iceland
Romania
Finland
Malta
and the winner of the Semi is
Bosnia

So hang us tomorrow when we got them all wrong......ha ha ha ha

The Welcome Reception (and with Red Carpet no less!!)

All we can really sat about last night's party is good food, plenty of free drink, nice show and plenty of room to move around.......put simply this was how to do a Welcome reception.
This was on a par with Helsinki, and sorry Belgrade but the Russians had the edge(but they do have more roubleski's).....oh and Athens look and learn, look and learn.

And we wonder who these 2 handsome fellas are???? Not often that we get a picture together but some lovely Ruskie person was very obliging....ta very much


Yep we needed frequent ciggy break as well

She looks so much better dressed like this and Svetlana does not look too bad either.....

So who looks better.....Goddess Jade or Classy Kaas

And some media whores who we found wonderiing around looking fab in Union Jack get-ups...

Marko where is your hand? The Dolly bird from your stage act does not too impressed!!!!

Look and Learn Mr Sakis....this is how to look good for the crowds

De Toppers heard that there was an opening of an envelope going on so they thought they'd drop by.....

Errruuuummmm....yes well.....Jury vote anyone?

The Boys from Bosnia always looking mighty fine and dandy.....

And the Boys from Switzerland always looking for vodka shots......they made me drink 4 or 5 shots while talking to them.....didn't even touch the sides

Now this is what you call a frock......
Who is she again?


So a good time was had by all....we fell outta of there about 2.30 am and headed for home....anyone who was worried that Moscow would not put on a show should really have that fear dispelled now....

M+D

ESCnation.com message board heros

These 2 guys rock our world

and the Irish girls are great fun as well with the free vodka



The others we met were too scared when we came running at them with a camera.....


Except of course for Mr Fishy
And Spellena's new man.....

And the best of the rest from yesterday

With some people it's all about the teeth and the hair.....
Well it worked for Isis Gee last year and now we have the male version....Big Teeth, Big Hair and a suspicious orange glow to the skin.....

Actually this looked really quite cool on stage and can't wait until Ms Dita Von Teese arrives on later in week. We do like a good classy stripper and this looks like it will work very well visually....

As I said it's all teeth and hair........
Ms Kaas.....very simply pure class in every sense of the word......nothing else need to be said

But we hated the fact that Dima had to hyjack her presski conferenski......get over yourself you are so last year Dima honey!!!!!!

We missed nearly everything else yesterday....but one thing of note is that Azerbaijan seem to now have the support of Mr Putin.....wonder where all the CIS votes will be going this year????

See ya tomorrow with the Welcome reception pictures.....guess will have to go and get ready soon......now where's the voddy

Jade....the New Goddess

I know, I know, I know......I am eating my words but I don't care 'cos for the first time in a very long time at ESC there is a feeling of pride about the UK entry.

I guess I should have done what these did yesterday....funny I didn't even bring a UK flag this year 'cos of the year after year let downs. We thought it would be the same story again this year.....not now!!!!!

She looks stunning and we have not even seen the full stage show yet.

Quite simply I got goosebumps for only the second time this year. Even Chiara couldn't do that for me this year.......


And we got confirmation at the presski conferenceski that ALW will be on the stage next week and there will be a special UK only press conference next Friday afternoon....

M+D

Now I'm confused

It's all getting very strange....like being back in Athens....Fillllleeeeppppp and Carrrrrooooolllllllllaaaaa

Together at last..looks like loves young dream to me.

So as promised yeasterday some snaps from the parties. I bet you haven't seen any of these before....also its been a while since I put up a picture of Sluttie Svetti.....she is still rocking my world and out of all the eastern countries, Ukraine would really be the only one we would be totally happy about returning to.

Had to put this picture up. We have a friend back home who came to Belgrade last year and we managed to get him to the Icelandic party. Needless to say, what with him being Irish, he fell on to the free bar and tried to drink it dry. You know who you are!!!!!! and as you still like Mr Eurobandi this one is just for you....

I seem to have lost my bitchy side this year and keep finding real sweeties among the various members of the delegations, and here's another. She was sat there all innocent in the smoking area looking all lost and just had to have a chat. Perfect English from a perfect little angel....What's wrong with me this year........gotta find at least one person who's a bit of a tosser....oh yeah I was forgetting Dimitri, Mr Presski Conferenceski Hosti. Pah!

"Hey Sevtti look at me.....arn't I beautiful?" said young Mr Ryvita

"maybe you are but I want to win and I'm afraid I'll just have to get my boys to come around and sort you out....." said Sluttie Svetti

We did manage to catch the Irish girls before they all ran to the bar to grab a few shots of voddy....great girls and now that they get that I am "token Irish" they seem to like me a whole lot better. Daniel met someone who he knew from going out from years ago last night.....always the same with Irish people..........

We have absolutely no idea who this woman is but she was on stage with Mr Bulgaria, going for it. The whole of the UK presski corpski thought she was fan-bloody-tastic. Still haven't a clue who she was though.

The very beautiful Missy from Iceland.......what a stunna

And finally just had to put another pic in of my Svetti.......and her boys.
Just for the fun of it 'cos I know it's really annoying.....I guess it's my revenge for all the shit I had to read about Dima Bilan-ski from last year.

Hugs

M+D