The Chart of July 2007 is here …

Thanks to 48 voters the Queerovision Chart of July is here:

http://queerovision.wordpress.com/queerovision-chart/

 Do not forget to vote for your personal favorites!

Download all versions of “Song #1″

Now you can download 13 versions and the video of the Russian entry for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, Song #1 performed by Serebro.

The song is currently at number 9 in the Queerovision chart.

Enjoy!

Serbian superstar Ana Ivanovic congratulates Marija

Photo: Manuela Davies, www.anaivanovic.com

Ana Ivanovic, 19 years old and currently ranked 8th on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings:

“I would like to congratulate Marija. It was a very nice song and she has a great voice. I don´t usually watch the Eurovision Song Contest but I was playing in a final the next day so I was excited and could not sleep so well. I was still awake at midnight when there was a repeat performance of the song. I was obviously very happy to see that Serbia won. Maybe it was a lucky sign for me for my match!”

Indeed it could have been because the day after Marija´s Eurovision victory Ana won the final of the Tier I tournament in Berlin over world No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova and broke into the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time in her career.

Verka Serduchka wins Barbara Dex Award

 

Every year the website The House of Eurovision invites its readers to vote for the artist who they think was the worst dressed. The winner is then presented with a Barbara Dex Award.

The award is named after the Belgian representative in 1993. She finished last with the beautiful Iemand als jij wearing a – to say the very least - less beautiful dress.

This year Ukrainian drag artist Verka Serduchka grabbed the award just a few votes ahead of Marija Serifovic which means that the runner-up in the actual contest got a somewhat dubious revenge. Third place went to Moldova´s Natalia Barbu and her soon-to-be-if-not-already legendary Cher-outfit. You can download the full results of the voting here.

And you can view photos of former Barbara Dex Award winners here.

Måns Zelmerlöw wins the National Final Song Contest 2007

Photo: www.manszelmerlow.se  

Måns Zelmerlöw has won the annual National Final Song Contest arranged by David & Miguel at Eurovision Madrid.

The song Cara Mia, which placed 3rd in Swedish preselection Melodifestivalen, won the hearts of the European voters and finished well ahead of Iceland´s participant in 2004, Jónsi, and the song Segdu mer. Third came Finnish Johanna Kurkela with the song Olet uneni kaunein.

The winner of the National Final Song Contest is found among the songs that competed in a national preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest but did not win in their respective countries. Voters from all over Europe listen to each and every one of the entries and vote for their favourites in a qualifying heat, then in four semi finals and last but by no means least the Grand Final.

This year was the 8th time that the National Final Song Contest was held. These are the songs and artists that have won the contest throughout the years:

2000: Hrvatska rapsodija, Cronika (Magazin). Croatia.

2001: So Much Love, Ebonique. Netherlands 

2002: Se in se, Karmen Stavec. Slovenia 

2003: Not A Sinner, Nor A Saint, Alcazar. Sweden 

2004: Min kärlek, Shirley Clamp. Sweden

2005: Håll om mig, Nanne Grönvall. Sweden

2006: Mandoline, Sasa Lendero. Slovenia

2007: Cara Mia, Måns Zelmerlöw. Sweden

Save The World: Download Madonna´s new song for free

 

Madonna´s new song Hey You can be downloaded for free here for a limited period time.

The song is written for the upcoming Live Earth concerts on July 7th when bands like Police, Genesis, Smashing Pumpkins and Red Hot Chili Peppers will play at charity concerts staged all around the world. Madonna will be performing her song at the Live Earth concert in the Wembley Stadium.

For each and every of the first million downloads Microsoft will donate 25 cents to environmental organistion Alliance for Climate Protection. So go and download it now and do the world some good, as Anonymous encouraged us to do in this year´s Andorran entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Marija in Stockholm

 

Swedish shopping mall Gallerian was filled to the brim with enthusiatic fans and people with Serbian roots earlier today when Marija Serifovic performed her winning song Molitva as a part of her Winner´s Tour.

After her performance Christer Björkman presented her with the Marcel Becanson Artistic Award that former Eurovision winners voted her the winner of. The award was not officially recieved by her on Saturday night due to the fact that Marija never made it to the official after party because of the Winner´s press conference.

Marija then told all the fans who had gathered to celebrate her victory that she was proud to be a Serb and that she was happy to be there. After that she went on to sign some autographs before she left for the next stop on her hectic tour throughout Europe.

Finland got the most, Malta the least

  

The results of the Swedish televotes have been made public. Nearly half a million people televoted during the final and the votes were distributed like this:

1. Finland: Hanna Pakarinen – Leave Me Alone (86 660)
2. Serbia: Marija Serifovic – Molitva (58 886)
3. Hungary: Magdi Rúzsa – Unsubstantial Blues (33 974)
4. Turkey: Kenan Dogulu – Shake It Up Shekerim (28 650)
5. Bosnia-Herzegovina: Marija Sestic – Rijeka bez imena (27 602)
6. Russia: Serebro – Song #1 (24 945)
7. Greece: Sarbel – Yassou Maria (22 747)
8. Ukraine: Verka Serduchka – Dancing lasha tumbai (22 209)
9. Moldova: Natalia Barbu – Fight (19 787)
10. Germany: Roger Cicero – Frauen regieren die Welt (18 397)
11. Belarus: Dima Koldun – Work Your Magic (14 664)
12. Georgia: Sopho – Visionary Dream (14 535)
13. Bulgaria: Elitsa & Stoyan – Voda (11 019)
14. FYR Macedonia: Karolina Gocheva – Mojot svet (10 046)
15. Latvia: bonaparti.lv – Questa notte (9 784)
16. Armenia: Hayko – Anytime You Need (9 486)
17. France: Les Fatals Picards – L’amour a la francaise (8 054)
18. Romania: Todomondo – Liubi, liubi, I Love You (6 821)
19. Spain: D´Nash – I Love You Mi Vida (6 447)
20. Slovenia: Alenka Gotar – Cvet z juga (6 183)
21. UK: Scooch – Flying The Flag (For You) (4 467)
22. Ireland: Dervish – They Can’t Stop The Spring (4 160)
23. Lithuania: 4Fun – Love Or Leave (3 895)

Total: 453 418 votes                                                                                                                                                                              

During the qualifying heat less people chose to cast their vote, but the total number of calls was still over 100 000:

1. Iceland: Eiríkur Hauksson – Valentine Lost (20 981)
2. Serbia: Marija Serifovic – Molitva (18 929)
3. Hungary: Magdi Rúzsa – Unsubstantial Blues (11 414)
4. Turkey: Kenan Dogulu – Shake It Up Shekerim (11 063)
5. Norway: Guri Schanke – Ven a bailar conmigo (6 382)
6 FYR Macedonia: Karolina Gocheva – Mojot svet (4 566)
7. Denmark: DQ – Drama Queen (4 356)
8. Belarus: Dima Koldun – Work Your Magic (4 348)
9. Andorra: Anonymous – Salvem el món (4 219)
10. Latvia: bonaparti.lv – Questa Notte (3 911)
11. Cyprus: Evridiki – Comme ci, Comme ca (3 196)
12. Albania: Frederik Ndoci – Hear My Plea (3 178)
13. Moldova: Natalia Barbu – Fight (2 815)
14. Estonia: Gerli Padar – Partners In Crime (2 789)
15. Poland: The Jet Set – Time To Party (2 709)
16. Georgia: Sopho – Visionary Dream (2 593)
17. Switzerland: DJ BoBo – Vampires Are Alive (2 448)
18. Netherlands: Edsilia Rombley – On Top Of The World (2 051)
19. Slovenia: Alenka Gotar – Cvet z juga (2 043)
20. Israel: Teapacks – Push the Button (1 983)
21. Austria: Eric Papilaya – Get A Life – Get Alive (1 886)
22. Bulgaria: Elitsa & Stoyan – Voda (1 866)
23. Portugal: Sabrina – Danca Comigo (1 485)
24. Croatia: Dragonfly feat. Dado Topic – Vjerujem u ljubav (1 377)
25. Belgium: The KMGs – Love Power (1 261)
26. Montenegro: Stevan Faddy – Adje kroci (1 241)
27. Czech Republic: Kabát – Malá dáma (1 224)
28. Malta: Oliva Lewis – Vertigo (965)

Total: 127 279 votes

Meet Marija

This year the European Broadcasting Union organizes a Winner´s Tour for the very first time. The aim of the tour is to increase the winning artist´s chances of having an international career after the Eurovision victory. In previous years several Eurovision winners have failed to get their winning entry released in many participating countries, let alone to make it to the top of the charts.

The tour starts tomorrow and ends May 21st. In each country Marija Serifovic will promote her winning entry Molitva at free public performances and in television and radio shows. She will also chat with fans and meet the press.

The tour plan:

May 16th: Denmark – Copenhagen and Århus

May 17th: Spain – Madrid and Barcelona

May 18th: Sweden – Stockholm and Malmö

May 19th: Netherlands – Amsterdam and Almere

May 20th: Greece – Athens

May 21st: Germany – Hamburg

Vote & win

Cast your vote in the Queerovision Chart and be in with a chance of winning a copy of the compilation CD containing all 42 entries from this year´s Eurovision Song Contest.

 See the songs you can vote for here.

The dates for next year´s ESC

  

Next year the qualifying heat will be held on the 22nd of May and the grand final on the 24th of May. The contest will most probably be hosted by Serbian capital Belgrade thanks to Marija Serifovic and her winning song Molitva.

Listen to Molitva all day

I would like to remind you that you – thanks to OGAE Serbia - can download all nine versions of the winning song in this year´s Eurovision Song Contest here.

The versions available are:

The original version

An English version

A Russian version

A dance remix

An English dance remix

A Russian dance remix

Jovan Radomir remix

A Finnish version (which is, however, not sung by Marija herself)

An instrumental version

Enjoy!

The Marcel Becanson Awards 2007

 

According to the composers Hungarian Magdi Rúzsa had the best song of the year.

Photo: Alain Douit, Eurovision.tv

Since 2002 Marcel Becanson Awards are presented in three categories. This year´s winners are:

The Composers´ Award: Unsubstantial Blues, Magdi Rúzsa

The Press Award: Danzing lasha tumbai, Verka Serduchka

The Artists´ Award: Molitva, Marija Serifovic

The award is named after the man who created the contest way back in 1956 and was established by Eurovision winner Richard Herrey and Christer Björkman.

Congratulations Serbia

Serbia´s Marija Serifovic won a well deserved victory in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with her Molitva. Ukraine´s Verka Serduchka came 2nd and Russia´s Serebro placed 3rd. 4th place went to Turkey´s Kenan Dogulu whilst Bulgaria´s Elitsa and Stoyan came 5th. The full results of the final can be found here.

Serbia even won the semifinal ahead of Hungary and Turkey. The last country to qualify was Moldova, just a few points ahead of Portugal. You can read the full results of the semifinal here. 

Tonight´s the night

 

 Will her piercing gaze get Finnish Hanna Pakarinen the upper hand in this year´s wide open field? Photo: Alain Douit, Eurovision.tv 

The final in the Eurovision Song Contest is only hours away. Who will be victorious tonight and where will the Eurovision circus make its next stop in 2008?

Below you can read a short comment and my prediction for each of the finalists.

1. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Rijeka bez imena, Marija Sestic

One of this year´s most beautiful songs, but it will not be the winner in the Balkan region and therefore not the overall winner either.

Prediction: 11-15

2. Spain: I Love You Mi Vida, D´Nash

This song is pretty nice and so are the performers, but it is not going to be enough in the tough competition.

Prediction: 16-20

3. Belarus: Work Your Magic, Dima Koldun

The qualifying heat performance did not offer answers to all the questions surrounding this great song. But if Dima performs decently tonight he will be up there fighting for victory.

Prediction: 3

4. Ireland: They Can´t Stop The Spring, Dervish

Although spring can´t be stopped I think that Irish band Dervish probably will be in tonight´s voting.

Prediction: 21-24

5. Finland: Leave Me Alone, Hanna Pakarinen

A strong melody combined with a great performance ought to secure Finland another top 5 finish.

Prediction: 5

6. FYR Macedonia: Mojot svet, Karolina Gocheva

If Karolina starts looking into the right cameras she could be in the top 10, if not she will finish somewhere in the middle.

Prediction: 11-15

7. Slovenia: Cvet z juga, Alenka Gotar

I hope that Alenka will be able to give Slovenia the best finishing position ever with her haunting and breathtaking operapop.

Prediction: 6-10

8. Hungary: Unsubstantial Blues, Magdi Rúzsa

The fact that Magdi Rúzsa made it into the final with her blues song was a pleasant surprise, but I am afraid that the Hungarians may be out of surprise potential by now.

Prediction: 16-20

9. Lithuania: Love or Leave, 4Fun

Boredom incarnated. Next song, please!

Prediction: 21-24

10. Greece: Yassou Maria, Sarbel

This outdated entry could place basically anywhere on the scoreboard tonight, but I think it will be considered too light and forgettable by the televoters tonight.

Prediction: 16-20

11. Georgia: Visionary Dream, Sopho

One of the most positive surprises this year. Sopho is a radiant artist on stage and although I am still not a big fan of the song, I think the Georgians could place very well thanks to their vastly gifted performer.

Prediction: 11-15

12. Sweden: The Worrying Kind, The Ark

The entry that people either seem to love or hate. It seems almost impossible to predict the Swedish finishing position tonight, but I think The Ark will get their fair share of votes. Partly for standing put and partly for being one of the best of the so called “Western European entries”.

Prediction: 6-10

13. France: L´amour à la francaise, Les Fatals Picards

Funny and fresh but rather chanceless in this competition.

Prediction: 21-24

14. Latvia: Questa notte, bonaparti.lv

The Latvians made it to the final and now they are suddenly mentioned as one of the favourites for victory. I, however,  do not think that the Latvian threat is to be taken too seriously. They performed last on Thursday night, tonight they will be in the middle of the running order and probably in the rankings as well. 

Prediction: 11-15

15. Russia: Song #1, Serebro

The three Russian girls have done well at the rehearsals and have the choreography that seems to be on everybody´s lips.  Definately a top 10 finish but I do not think that the song is good enough to actually win.

Prediction: 6-10

16. Germany: Frauen Regier´n Die Welt, Roger Cicero

One of my personal favourites, but I am terrified that talented Roger will not be able to gather enough votes to break into the upper half of the scoreboard.

Prediction: 16-20

17. Serbia: Molitva, Marija Serifovic

I think it is safe to say that the Serbians hit bullseye with their less than (or lesbian) minimalistic stage act. Everybody talked about it – and voted for it - Thursday night and they will probably be doing it again tonight. 

Prediciton: 2

18. Ukraine: Danzing lasha tumbai, Verka Serduchka

This crazy entry has caused an unprecedented hype among the press and fans in Helsinki. Everybody says it is going to be the runaway winner.  I hope I am wrong, but based on the evidence presented to me I have to predict this song as tonight´s winner.

Prediction: 1

19. United Kingdom: Flying The Flag (For You), Scooch

This is the worst entry of the year. It makes my ears bleed and my nose too, because this really stinks.

Prediction: 21-24

20. Romania: Liubi, Liubi, I Love You, Todomondo

Almost every year the songs from the qualifying heat place high so I think that the Romanian entry will probably be one of the prequalified finalists that could have finished higher if the circumstances had been different.

Prediction: 16-20

21. Bulgaria: Voda, Elitsa & Stoyan

Despite Elitsa not performing very well vocally – to say the least – in the qualifying heat the Bulgarians made it to the final for the very first time. Performing as number 21 tonight will make the Bulgarian entry a very serious contender for a top 5 finish.

Prediction: 4

22. Turkey: Shake It Up Sherkerim, Kenan Dogulu

I cannot listen to this, let alone watch it. Kenan´s lyrics and stage act are nothing less than sexist and I really hope that this will not be in the top 10 tonight.

Prediction: 11-15

23. Armenia: Anytime You Need, Hayko

Another strong and well-performed ballad which in contrast to the other beautiful ballads this year is not about a broken heart but a promise to always be there.  

Prediciton: 6-10

24. Moldova: Fight, Natalia Barbu

Despite not winning any fashion awards in the qualifying heat Natalia Barbu did win a place in tonight´s final. Performing last is generally considered an advantage and if Natalia performs as perfectly vocally as she did on Thursday night she could place very high. If she changes her clothes she could even be a contender for victory.

Prediction: 6-10

The finalists from the qualifying heat are…

The qualifiers for the final.  Photo: Alain Douit, Eurovision.tv 

Belarus will be performing as number 3 i the final

FYR Macedonia will be performing as number 6 in the final

Slovenia will be performing as number 7 in the final

Hungary will be performing as number 8 in the final

Georgia will be performing as number 11 in the final

Latvia will be performing as number 14 in the final

Serbia will be performing as number 17 in the final

Bulgaria will be performing as number 21 in the final

Turkey will be performing as number 22 in the final

Moldova will be performing as number 24 in the final

Favourites Switzerland, Andorra and Cyprus failed to qualify. So did Denmark, Malta and 13 other participating countries. But they all did their best, so they deserve our admiration and a big round of applause!

Denmark On Top of the World?

 

According to reports from last night´s dress rehearsal Danish DQ got the biggest round of applause of all the 28 acts in the Hartwall Arena. Perhaps thanks to the glamourous stage show and the happy straightforward melody.

We will, however, have to wait some hours to see if the public´s reactions will be reflected in the results of the televoting.

I for one am starting to get really nervous – in the true Drama Queen-style.

Moldova does a Cher

Photo: Alain Douit, Eurovision.tv 

Sorry DQ, but Moldova´s Natalia Barbu has the most outrageous clothes in this year´s qualifying heat – and not in the good way. Im am actually afraid that this Cher-cirka-1986-outfit could cost Natalia a place in the final and that she will wake up tomorrow with an out of this world fashion hangover thinking : If I could turn back time…

It´s crunch time

 

Slovenia´s Alenka Gotar at the dress rehearsal.

Photo: Alain Douit, Eurovision.tv

Tomorrow night The Show of the Year Part I hits your TV screens. Crunch time equals prediction time and this is what I think will be the outcome of tomorrow´s qualifying heat:

1. Serbia

2. Switzerland

3. Belarus

4. Denmark

5. FYR Macedonia

6-10: Slovenia, Poland, Bulgaria, Moldova and Latvia

11-15: Andorra, Turkey, Malta, Georgia and Cyprus

16-20: Hungary, Austria, Norway, Czech Republic and Netherlands

21-28: Croatia, Israel, Iceland, Portugal, Estonia, Montenegro, Belgium and Albania

Official Eurovision site Eurovision.tv offers a slideshow from the public rehearsal earlier today here

Ukraine on a rocket ride

 

More and more people seem to think that Verka Serduchka will be riding her country´s flag all over Europe this Saturday night. According to the bookies Ukraine´s entry Danzing lasha tumbai is now the no. 2 favourtie to win the contest! Serbia is still the hottest favourite, but they will have to watch their backs as the Ukrainian odds has been halfened is just one day. Sweden drops one spot and is now in third place, Belarus stays in fourth and Switzerland slips down two places and is now only 5th favourite.

See all the latest odds here: http://www.oddschecker.com/specials/eurovision/eurovision-song-contest/win-market

And don´t forget that you can listen to and watch all 42 entries for this year Eurovision Song Contest at Eurovision.tv