Eurovision ...

Each year, I do a bit of a Eurovision theme and, this year, as Britain heads to guaranteed defeat tonight in Baku, I thought I'd highlight one of my favourite Eurovision losers of all time!


Gigliola Cinquetti's 1974 entry for Italy - "Si" - was one of the best Eurovision entries of the 1970s but faced something of an uphill struggle in that she was up against Abba and "Waterloo".  Gigliola Cinquetti came a creditable second to Abba that year, with Olivia Newton John's UK entry "Long Live Love" coming fourth.

Here's the Gigliola Cinquetti original version:

... and here's a rather good cover in English by Tears n' Joy from 1993:

Eurovision Ballads of the 70's, 80's and 90's

Last of the Eurovision updates (promise!) prior to tonight's 2011 Eurovision song contest, here's a great resume of classic ballads by female winners from the 70s, 80s and 90s ...

Belfast ... and Eurovision

I've been in Belfast the last couple of days with the 'day job' - the photo (right) was taken at the George Best City Airport this afternoon.   

A really enjoyable visit and coming after the Institute I work for having its International Conference earlier this week in Dublin.    So, with a dodgy link, it seems appropriate to highlight the fact that it is Eurovision 2011 tomorrow with a revisit to one of the best-ever Eurovision winners - Niamh Kavanagh of Ireland, back in 1993!

Eurovision 2010 winner - Germany

Pleased to see that (for once!) one of my hot tips for Eurovision success proved to be the winner!

My Eurovision 2010 hot tips ...

My hot tips for 2010 :

Azerbaijan :



Germany :



But best of all - Israel :

Eurovision 2010!

Eurovision final on Saturday!

Tomorrow, I'll give you my top tips for the winning song ... but meantime, here's my two favourite winners of all time - both from the 1970s.