Welcome to the Eurovision Song Contest 2014! This year's contest will be held on the 6th, 8th and 10th of May in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
What is this all about?
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual song competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union, an union of European public service broadcasters. Each member country is eligible to enter one song which will be performed on television and radio. Afterwards, votes are cast to choose the most popular song. The contest exists since 1956 and has been through various highs and lows. Some performers achieved great success in Europe or even internationally after appearing on the contest, like ABBA. However, the quality of entries is considered to have entered a decline starting in the 1990s - in response to this, the last decade saw a surge of entries parodying the contest or aimed at subverting the audience's expectations. Last year's contest seemed to signal a return to more standard, serious fare though, perhaps under the influence of new rules which split voting between the telephone vote and national juries made up of music professionals.
So, which countries will be participating this year?
People on Wikipedia were kind enough to create the following map:
red = countries in the first semi-final (6 May)
pink = finalists voting during the first semi-final
dark blue = countries in the second semi-final (8 May)
light blue = finalists voting during the second semi-final
This year's final will take place on Saturday, 10 May.
Where can I watch the contest?
A stream will be provided on http://www.eurovision.tv/. National TV stations will also broadcast the contest, usually with commentary. Airings will start at 19:00 GMT/20:00 BST/21:00 CEST.
Some past forum favourites!
Babushki!
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This year's contestants and songs!
First semi-final, 6 May
Albania - Hersi - One Night's Anger
Armenia - Aram MP3 - Not alone
Azerbaijan - Dilara Kazimova - Start A Fire
Belgium - Axel Hirsoux - Mother
Estonia -Tanja - Amazing
Hungary - Kállay-Saunders - Running
Iceland - Pollapönk - No Prejudice
Latvia - Aarzemnieki - Cake To Bake
Moldova - Cristina Scarlat - Wild Soul
Montenegro - Sergej Ćetković - Moj Svijet
The Netherlands - The Common Linnets - Calm After The Storm
Portugal - Suzy - Quero Ser Tua
Russia - Tolmachevy Sisters - Shine
San Marino - Valentina Monetta - Maybe (Forse)
Sweden - Sanna Nielsen - Undo (Sweden)
Ukraine - Maria Yaremchuk - Tick-Tock
Second semi-final, 8 May (the one with the more interesting songs, if you want my opinion)
Austria - Conchita Wurst - Rise Like A Phoenix
Belarus - Teo - Cheesecake
Finland - Softengine - Something Better
Georgia - The Shin & Mariko - Three Minutes To Earth
Greece - Freaky Fortune feat. Risky Kidd - Rise up
Ireland - Can-Linn (feat. Kasey Smith) - Heartbeat
Israel - Mei Finegold - Same Heart
Lithuania - Vilija Matačiūnaitė - Attention
Macedonia - Tijana Dapčević - To The Sky
Malta - Firelight - Coming Home
Norway - Carl Espen - Silent Storm
Poland - Donatan & Cleo - My Słowianie - We Are Slavic
Romania - Paula Seling & Ovi - Miracle
Slovenia - Tinkara Kovač - Round And Round
Switzerland - Sebalter - Hunter of Stars
Grand final, 10 May
Denmark - Basim - Cliché Love Song
France - Twin Twin - Moustache
Germany - Elaiza - Is It Right
Italy - Emma Marrone - La Mia Città
Spain - Ruth Lorenzo - Dancing In The Rain
United Kingdom - Molly - Children Of The Universe
See you in Copenhagen!
