Still on their conquest of Germany, the Grimes twins appeared on Stefan Raab’s show last night. Check out the performance here. The full interview is on here.

The 2011 Kate Ryan award 2011 is now open to voting.

For 2011 there is a lot of competition for the title, many countries that were expected to qualify didn’t and other powerhouses like Russia were struggling to get through, proving that no one is safe, apart from Greece who if they sent in “Baa Baa Black Sheep” in Greek will still get into the top ten, don’t worry people from Greece ye have good songs and we do love them So should Norway have nudged their way in there, should Turkey have trounced all competition or did Poland not flash her knickers enough. Vote below for the song that you think should have made it to the Eurovision Final 2011. The results will be revealed on June 24th 2011. Good luck to all competitors.

In case you are unfamiliar with any of the songs, we will include a link to all of them underneath the poll.

Albania – Aurela Gaçe “Feel the Passion” (Popup)

Armenia – Emmy “Boom Boom” (Popup)

Belarus – Anastasia Vinnikova “I Love Belarus” (Popup)

Belgium – Witloof Bay “With Love Baby”(Popup)

Bulgaria – Poli Genova “Na inat” (Popup)

Croatia – Daria “Celebrate” (Popup)

Cyprus – Christos Mylordos “San aggelos s’agapisa” (Popup)

Israel – Dana International “Ding Dong” (Popup)

Latvia – Musiqq “Angel in Disguise” (Popup)

Macedonia – Vlatko Ilievski “Rusinka” (Popup)

Malta – Glen Vella “One Life” (Popup)

Netherlands – 3JS “Never Alone” (Popup)

Norway – Stella Mwangi “Habba Habba” (Popup)

Poland – Magdalena Tul “Jestem” (Popup)

Portugal – Homens da Luta “A luta é alegria” (Popup)

San Marino – Senit “Stand by” (Popup)

Slovakia – TWiiNS “I’m Still Alive” (Popup)

Turkey – Yüksek Sadakat “Live it up” (Popup)

Interesting how Lithuania won the Jury vote on the Semi for the UK, it is like a disney song after all. Hopefully other countries will follow suit, but it’s proving my theory that Italy did very well with the Juries.

GRAND FINAL

Combined scores of both Jury and Televote

12 – Ireland

10 – Switzerland

8 – Moldova

7 – Italy

6 – Lithuania

5 – Denmark

4 – Iceland

3 – Sweden

2 – Austria

1 – Spain

Telephone Vote

12 – Ireland

10 – Moldova

8 – Iceland

7 – Lithuania

6 – Spain

5 – Sweden

4 – Greece

3 – Denmark

2 – Hungary

1 – Germany

Jury Vote

12 – Switzerland

10 – Italy

8 – Ireland

7 – Austria

6 – Denmark

5 – Serbia

4 – Georgia

3 – Sweden

2 – Lithuania

1 – Azerbaijan

SEMI-FINAL #1

Combined scores of both Jury and Televote

12 – Lithuania

10 – Hungary

8 – Greece

7 – Iceland

6 – Finland

5 – Poland

4 – Azerbaijan

3 – Portugal

2 – Switzerland

1 – Norway

Telephone Vote

12 – Greece

10 – Lithuania

8 – Poland

7 – Hungary

6 – Iceland

5 – Portugal

4 – Turkey

3 – Finland

2 – Albania

1 – Norway

Jury Vote

12 – Lithuania

10 – Hungary

8 – Finland

7 – Azerbaijan

6 – Iceland

5 – Switzerland

4 – Serbia

3 – Norway

2 – Georgia

1 – Malta

Source BBC.co.uk/eurovision

We love these girls a little too much, they have to be in MF next year Sweden!

Watch the new video now! (Popup)

In a recent interview with the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration’s socio-political department, Ali Hasanov, he has tried to belay several fears of fans, including those about journalists entering the country and the visas for entering Azerbaijan.

Mr Hasanov, the results of the last Eurovision Song Contest, conducted by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are known. Azerbaijani contestants Nigar Jamal and Eldar Gasimov won the contest this year. According to the rules, the next competition is held in the winning country, Azerbaijan. Of course, a great influx of tourists is expected in Azerbaijan. Does Azerbaijan guarantee the security of its visitors?

First of all, I want to say that the Eurovision Song Contest is a prestigious international music contest, organized by the EBU.

For many years, this contest has been organized and conducted as a top class “brand” for the music community and visitors. We thank Germany’s public television channels NDR and ZDF, which hosted the contest, for holding an objective and transparent event. The winners of the contest, as you said, are two young Azerbaijanis. We are all proud that Nigar and Eldar represented Azerbaijan at the contest so well and won the award for Azerbaijan. We thank them.

Regarding your question, I unequivocally declare that Azerbaijan is the stablest and safest country of the former Soviet Union today. We hold numerous international sports, cultural, social, political and other events every year and thousands of participants, journalists and tourists from different countries visit Azerbaijan.

No unpleasant incidents have happened to people attending these events. Azerbaijan has sufficient experience in conducting international events. These issues are often found in the local and foreign press: is Azerbaijan ready to meet, accommodate, ensure security and resolve the visa issues of a large number of people?

This issue was recently discussed with President Aliyev. I unequivocally state that the Azerbaijani government is ready and able to organize the necessary conditions for the Eurovision Song Contest in accordance with the EBU requirements and to create safe, comfortable working conditions for everyone who attends the contest.

Some circles think that the current visa regime in Azerbaijan may create problems for the free arrival of a large number of people in Azerbaijan. What can you say about this?

I have already spoken about it. The president has given instructions to the relevant state bodies on all organizational issues. I do not think that there will be any problems with visas. An option for granting entry permission will be chosen before the contest in order to facilitate the issuing of visas for tens of thousands of people arriving in Azerbaijan.

Düsseldorf’s experience showed that 3,000 to 5,000 journalists cover the contest. What can you say about their activity, freedom of expression, the possibility of free broadcasting, etc?

Azerbaijan is a country with an open society and rule of pluralism. Special attention is paid to European values, freedom of thought, freedom of speech and press. Using all the existing opportunities, the Azerbaijani government will create the necessary conditions for journalists to operate at this contest at the highest level. There must not be any problem. We are mobilizing all the technical resources of our country to organize free broadcasting. The broad coverage of this process by international media directly meets Azerbaijan’s interests.

Mr Hasanov, another question that is often raised: will Azerbaijan be able to hold the next Eurovision Song Contest in accordance with international standards and requirements? Is there any coordination of all these forthcoming operations?

Every host country is keen for everything to be organized at the highest level and for greater results to be achieved at an international event held in its territory compared to previous ones. Of course, Azerbaijan is a small country compared to such countries as Germany, the UK or Russia and its opportunities are much less. But despite this, we will harness all our potential to hold a contest which does not lag behind previous contests, and even, perhaps surpasses them.

Of course, this is the EBU’s event. So, the EBU and its representative in Azerbaijan – the Independent Broadcasting Organization Ictimai TV – determine the organization, rules of conduct, conditions and rules of the Eurovision contest. Not interfering in the contest, the state organizes work within the country to hold the contest, to create the right conditions. I reiterate that it operates to ensure security, issue visas, accommodate guests, allocate venues for the event and ensure the free work of journalists and people of different categories.

The State Commission established by Mr President, the European Broadcasting Union and Ictimai TV will coordinate their work. On behalf of the Azerbaijani state, I once again declare that the Azerbaijani government is able to arrange all the necessary conditions for the Eurovision Song Contest within the EBU.

Mr Hasanov, I had not even thought to ask this question, but there is a need for an official position on this matter, as it is widely discussed in the press. Different people, including members of sexual minorities, are involved in the Eurovision Song Contest. Will they have any problems with free movement in our country?

At the beginning of the interview I said that Azerbaijan is an absolutely stable and secure country. It is an example of tolerance in the South Caucasus in all parameters.

We freely build places of worship, representing different currents and civilizations of the whole world. These are not museums, as can be seen in some countries. They actually operate as places of pilgrimage for existing religious communities and representatives of various religious beliefs.

Azerbaijan is also an international country. There are dozens of different peoples and nations. Ethnic groups live in peace and safety.

Until today, Azerbaijan has never had discriminatory actions on national or religious grounds, on the basis of different civilizations, orientations, etc. Everyone knows about our hospitality throughout the world.

We are not used to differentiate between guests on religious, ethnic, gender or other grounds. These people can entirely rely on Azerbaijan’s hospitality, tolerance and modernity. There will be no problem for a free, quiet stay in our country.

 

From News.az

They have barely come down from their trip to Düsseldorf and their is already speculation that Jedward are going to try and do better next year and represent us in Baku and maybe return Eurovision glory to Ireland.

According to thejournal.ie

The duo’s manager Louis Walsh said that he would strongly consider re-entering the twins into the 2012 Eurovision in Azerbaijan, the Irish Independent reports. “Ireland could definitely win Eurovision again and we might do it next year with Jedward. I think after what happened this year, Jedward would do incredibly well in Eurovision 2012,” Walsh told the newspaper.

The brothers, from Lucan in Dublin, came in 8th in the contest last Saturday. Despite not taking the crown, however, the reception to the pair has been good.

With Jedward hitting number one on itunes in Austria, Germany Sweden and Ireland and climbing in a number of other countries, maybe it wouldnt be a bad idea!

Related articles

• Eurovision 2012 – Baku (escireland.com)

Great news and shows how much fans Jedward have back home

The show was watched in its entirety by an average of 1,174,300 viewers, the highest viewing figure since the 1997 Contest.

The audience peaked from 10.30-10.45pm, when an average of 1,456,360 people watched the voting results.

Overall, the programme reached a total of 2,244,600 viewers.

Julian Vignoles, Head of the Irish Delegation, said: “These figures are phenomenal. Jedward undoubtedly brought a new energy to the Eurovision Song Contest. Seventy-one per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds watched the programme in total – the highest audience share for this age group of any programme on any channel in Ireland since 2002.”

RTÉ.ie has recorded over one million page impressions for Eurovision and Jedward stories across RTÉ’s online and mobile platforms since the beginning of May.

For those who missed the Eurovision Song Contest Final or Semi-Finals, they are still available for catch-up on the RTÉ Player

 

Timoteij’s new song, Het, and we love it.

So the 2011 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is barely over and moves are already underway for the 57th Eurovision Song Contest. So far we have a logo and location city.

We also have some prelimary dates for your calender.

• Semi Final 1: 22nd May 2012
• Semi Final 2: 24th May 2012
• Final: 26th May 2012

So far 8 countries have confirmed their participation in Eurovision next year. They are:

• Austria
• Azarbaijan (host)
• Belgium
• Estonia
• Finland
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

In 2009/2010 Azerbaijan was suppoesed to host the 3rd Eurovision Dance Contest. This was cancelled due to not enough interest. It is doubtful that this will happen to next years contest, but it means that ?ctimai Television have an idea of what they have to organise in 12 months time.

So who is going to Baku?

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Its all over, and I for one has recovered form the Eurovision! But I think there is a number of points that need to be made!

Jedward gave an excellent performance on Saturday and I for one cannot remember the last time that Ireland got 12 points from more then one country! The fact that we came 8th in both our Semi and the final shows consistency and great performances by the lads and the entire Irish Delegation.

The last time we did better was in 2000 when Eamonn Toal came 6th with “Millenium of Love”, Brian Kennedy got us to 10th in 2006 with “Every Song is a Cry for Love”. So fair play to the boys for returning Ireland to the the top of the Eurovision award.

Also before the Final, Jedward were awarded the Marcel Bezençon Artistic Award. This was voted upon by the 43 commentators. So at least they are not going home empty handed!

Also Austrailian viewers of Eurovision who watched the final on Sunday evening on SBS voted Jedward the winners. So we have a moral victory there!

So to Jedward, you did us proud! Hopefully we will build on your success next year in Azerbaijan.