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Eurovision 2013: The Big 5 (plus 1)

Video: Two weeks and counting. Here are the 6 songs which automatically qualify for the Eurovision Final.

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2013-05-04_2118Today marks the two-week countdown to Eurovision 2013, taking place in Malmo, Sweden.

This year marks the 30th anniversary broadcast on SBS, with Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang once more, and for the fifth year I will be blogging EV news on the SBS site (that’s where my detailed analysis can be found).

Over the next two weeks TV Tonight will feature videos of some 39 acts and I will file more general news.

We begin today with the Big 5. These are the countries which are the key backers of the European Broadcast Union and automatically qualify for the Final. The host nation, Sweden, also qualifies.

All other acts will compete in one of the two Semi-Finals which will screen on Friday May 17 and Saturday May 18.

GERMANY
Cascada – Glorious

UNITED KINGDOM
Bonnie Tyler – Believe In Me

FRANCE
Amandine Bourgeois – L’Enfer Et Moi

ITALY
Marco Mengoni – L’Essenziale (Italy)

SPAIN
ESDM – Contigo Hasta El Final (With You Until The End)

and

SWEDEN
Robin Stjernberg – You

9 Responses

  2. Looks like those rumours of an ABBA reunion on Eurovision this year in Malmo aren’t true according to Agnetha on Sunday Night. Next year might be different. It will be the 40th anniversary of ABBA’s win and if they hold it in Stockholm …

  3. I’m getting pretty excited. It’s going to be brilliant. Or as they say in The Europe, “Le awesome melodifestivalen avec le awesome sauce.”

  4. Looking forward to Eurovision.

    Despite what many critics say – some of the songs – and performers – are very very very very good.

    Surprised that Spain is sending an entrant given their financial woes. I believe Greece and Cyprus have opted out.

    Oh well – that means Cyprus won’t give their 12 points to Greece and vice versa this year.

    At least we can sit back and enjoy Britain getting almost zero points again this year.

    Tony Blair really didn’t help Britain’s chances of ever winning Eurovision again when he supported the war in Iraq. Well done Tony!

  5. French one’s not bad, reminds me a bit of Gin Wigmore.

    The Swedish one’s not bad either, but I feel like if you’re going to do an English song you need to get someone who can speak English without a strong accent, outside the chorus I really struggle to understand him…

  6. None of these songs were particularly great or bad (I really miss the days when some were trully abysmal) my main reaction is that some could do with new stylists, particularly the Swedish guy!

  7. Big fan of Robin’s. He was the only decent male contestant in 2011 Swedish Idol, and was robbed by Amanda Fondell for the win, so I feel justice has been served by Robin beating her at Melodifestavalen to represent Sweden at the ESC. ‘You’ is definitely my pick for the win.

  8. I never listen to the songs before the show, except for the Scandinavian countries as I watch their selection shows. Robin Stjernberg is an incredible talent and it is a banging song.

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