Ins and outs in 2008

The other day it was confirmed that AZTV (or Azerbaijani telly) won't be able to enter the 2008 Eurovision as they are too close to the Azerbaijan government. Thank fuck is all I can say to that. I mean their votes would be so predictable I can already give their top 5 without hearing any songs for 2008. Turkey (cultural), Georgia (neighbours), Armenia (Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian diaspora), Russia (history), Ukraine (history)!!!!!

So far the only other country that looks seriously likely to not take part in 2008 is Israel. The head dude of Israeli telly says that the Contest doesn't fit in with what he sees as his channel. It pretty much looks like he's gonna get his way and that Israel's about to do an 'Italy' or a 'Luxembourg'. Maybe one of the other Israeli TV channels will step into the void, but first they'd have to join the EBU so 2007 could see Israel's last participation for quite some time.

Other countries have said they're thinking of pulling out due to bloc voting:- Andorra, Denmark, Ireland, Malta. Of these Malta has now confirmed they'll definitely be in Belgrade.

I think Ireland will now look on balance and say ok we got top ten in 2006 so it's not impossible to do well... if Malta's taking part then so will we.

If Danish TV can get around their money issues then I don't really think they'll be wanting to spoil the party and will take part as well.

That leaves Andorra and I think if Monaco decide to come back in 2008 (which is pretty possible), then Andorra will enter again.

About Monaco, well they had a bit of a hissy fit last year and withdrew, but they screened the final live in 2007, which is the prerequisite to competing the next year so it seems they're keeping their options open. I really hope Monaco do come back as they've got such a great history in this contest.

It also seems that Slovakia might make a return in 2008 under pressure from Czech TV to rejoin. Slovakia last took part in 1998 and I guess the Czechs want them to rejoin the madness and swap 12 points!!

Countries that have confirmed they'll definitely be in Belgrade are:-

Serbia (obviously)

United Kingdom

Bulgaria

Greece

Armenia

Hungary

Latvia

Sweden

Lithuania

Poland

Cyprus

Netherlands

Estonia

Montenegro

Malta

Belgium

Austria

Czech Republic

Pushing Israel's buttons

On Tuesday of this week in the sleepy Israeli town of S'derot something quite shocking happened during the selection of their Eurovision song.

The audience actually went with something that has a political message.

And I don't mean something about how we're all so much better off being in the EU or about peace or other such nicities... they picked a song about people blowing themselves up on Isaeli streets.

The group's called Teapacks and it's oh so good... ok I'm not too sure about the rap part in Hebrew half-way through, but this is one rocking song and I think Israel have got it absolutely effin right.

Apparantly there's some talk of a possible disqualification as songs in the contest are not supposed to be political... I say bollox to that... if this gets disqualified then they could retrospectively disqualify nearly every third song that ever took part. And not even to mention the song contest of 1990, which'd be left looking very barren indeed.

It seems to be ok to sing about being European and political unity and peace, but it's not ok to sing about war... I'm sorry but that's insane.

Whilst I personally don't agree with many Israeli policies, I can understand the general feeling of fear in the country and if this is what they want to represent that communal feeling at a European Song Contest then so be fukkin it and screw the lot of em at the EBU in Geneva!!!!

Go Israel!

טיפקס - Push The Button




The mp3 is here:- http://www.box.net/public/2rs59p699m