The Running Order

Image via Wikipedia

The Draw for the running order for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest took place today in Moscow and the results are as follows.

The first Semi-Final (May 12th)

1. Montenegro
2. Czech Republic
3. Belgium
4. Belarus
5. Sweden
6. Armenia
7. Andorra
8. Switzerland
9. Turkey
10. Israel
11. Bulgaria (chosen with a wildcard)
12. Iceland
13. FYR Macedonia
14. Romania
15. Finland
16. Portugal (chosen with a wildcard)
17. Malta (chosen with a wildcard)
18. Bosnia & Herzegovina

The second Semi-Final (May 14th)

1. Croatia
2. Ireland
3. Latvia
4. Serbia
5. Poland
6. Norway
7. Cyprus
8. Slovakia
9. Denmark
10. Slovenia
11. Hungary
12. Azerbaijan
13. Greece
14. Lithuania
15. Moldova
16. Albania
17. Ukraine (chosen with a wilcard)
18. Estonia (chosen with a wildcard)
19. The Netherlands (chosen with a wildcard)

The Final (May 16th)

1. Semi-Final qualifier
2. Semi-Final qualifier
3. France
4. Semi-Final qualifier
5. Semi-Final qualifier
6. Semi-Final qualifier
7. Semi-Final qualifier
8. Semi-Final qualifier
9. Semi-Final qualifier
10. Russia
11. Semi-Final qualifier
12. Semi-Final qualifier
13. Semi-Final qualifier
14. Semi-Final qualifier
15. Semi-Final qualifier
16. Semi-Final qualifier
17. Germany
18. Semi-Final qualifier
19. Semi-Final qualifier
20. Semi-Final qualifier
21. Semi-Final qualifier
22. Semi-Final qualifier
23. United Kingdom
24. Semi-Final qualifier
25. Spain (chosen with a wildcard)

The draw for the running order of the voting in the final also took place. Spain, Belgium, Belarus, Malta, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Iceland, France, Israel, Russia, Latvia, Montenegro, Andorra, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Bulgaria, Lithuania, United Kingdom, FYR Macedonia, Slovakia, Greece, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ukraine, Turkey, Albania,Serbia, Cyprus, Poland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Portugal, Romania, Ireland, Denmark, Moldova, Slovenia, Armenia, Hungary and finally Azerbaijan.

Ireland has been drawn in the "unlucky" number 2 slot in the second semi. The last time we started at that position was in 1995 with Eddie Friel and we ended up 14th. Though both countries in the number 2 slot qualified from last year, one was from televoting alone (Israel) and the other was by Jury (Sweden). I wonder will it be unlucky for us.

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Offical Video - Sinéad Mulvey & Black Daisy - "Et Cetera"

The official video for the Irish Eurovision entry is online and the song is really growing on me! Check it out!



To quote a friend who just heard the song "Holy crap, that song is awesome!" (He does mean in comparison with previous years!)

In other news Georgia has withdrawn from the Eurovision Song Contest this year. It was claimed that the lyrics infringe the rules of the contest.

I think most of the songs have now been been chosen and that means the running order will decided shortly and that means preview time for me! I am looking forward to that.

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Irish Euovision Entry 2009

So I finally get around to listening to the Irish entry for Eurovision Song Contest, yes I know it was selected LAST Friday, and I like it! in fact I like it alot actually. It is called "Et cetera" and is performed by Sinead Mulvey and Black Daisy. The song was composed by Niall Mooney, Jonas Gladnikoff, Daniele Moretti and Christina Schilling. Brilliant song that will do us proud in Moscow! You go Girls!!!

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Tune for the Weekend - Jan 23rd

The tune for the weekend is a collanoration between two Belgian artists, Tom Helsen and Geike Arnaert. It is a song for Music For Life which is a charity intiative to support the Red Cross organised by the Flemish Station Studio Brussels. The Song is called "Home". Enjoy

Mid Week Tune - Jan 21st

Image via WikipediaThis weeks Mid Week Tune is by Nik & Jay, It is their song "Kommer Igen". Its a class song! Enjoy!



Other songs by Nik & Jay
Når Et Lys Slukkes
En Dag Tilbage
Et Sidste Kys

Song of the Week - Jan 19th

Well this is the start of another week and here is a song to get ya going. It is a song by one of my favourite Belgian Artists (she also took part in Eurovision representing Belgium). It is Kate Ryan. This is her new song "I Surrender"



Other Songs by Kate Ryan

Voyage, Voyage
Je t'Adore (Eurovision)
Libertine

Tune for the Weekend - Jan 16th

Image via WikipediaHere is a song to get you going. It is by the Danish singer Sanne Salomonsen. She seams to be a Danish version of Cher or Madonna as she has being going since 1975! She was part of two bands Sneakers and The song is called "Taxa". It is a class song!



Other songs by Sanne Salomonsen are:
You've never been loved before (Live)
New Beginning (Live)
Sæt Fri (Live)

Mid Week Tune - Jan 14th

Image via WikipediaI think this is the first time I featured an artist that is at number one in chart, for one these posts, so today is a first. Giusy Ferreri is the artist. She is Italian and came second in the Italian version of X-Factor. She has been likened to Sarah Vaughan, Bessie Smith and Amy Winehouse. This her song "Novembre" which is currently number one in the Italian Charts. I hope you like it.



Another song by Giusy Ferreri is "Non ti scordar mai di me"

43 countries to take part in Eurovision

Image via WikipediaThe 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will feature acts from 43 countries. 38 of these will be contesting for places in the final in the semi-finals. The semi-finals will take place on the 12th and 14th of May 2009, with the final taking place on the 16th of May.

The only change in the participating countries is that San Marino, debuted last year, will not be returning, while Slovkia, who last took part eleven years ago (in 1998), will be rejoining the contest.

The particpating countries this year are:

Albania (RTVSH); Andorra (RTVA); Armenia (ARMTV); Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV); Belarus (BTRC); Belgium (RTBF); Bosnia & Herzegovina (BHRT); Bulgaria (BNT); Croatia (HRT); Cyprus (CyBC); Czech Republic (CT); Denmark (DR); Estonia (ERR); Finland (YLE); France (FT3); FYR Macedonia (MKRTV); Georgia (GPB); Germany (NDR/ARD); Greece (ERT); Hungary (MTV); Iceland (RÚV); Ireland (RTÉ); Israel (IBA); Latvia (LTV); Lithuania (LRT); Malta (PBS); Moldova (TRM); Montenegro (RTCG); the Netherlands (NOS); Norway (NRK); Poland (TVP); Portugal (RTP); Romania (TVR); Russia (Channel One); Serbia (RTS); Slovakia (STV); Slovenia (RTVSLO); Spain (TVE); Sweden (SVT); Switzerland (SRG SSR idée suisse); Turkey (TRT) ; Ukraine (NTU) and the United Kingdom (BBC).

The selection process is under way in a few countries with some countries already having picked there entries. I of course am really looking forward to Eurovision, as always! This year I plan on actually live-blogging the semi's but not the final, as I will be out!

Ireland will be selecting its entry on February 20th in a special edition of the Late Late Show, to be called Eurosong. I hope to live blog that too!

The draw to determine which of the two semi finals the 38 Semi-Finalists will participate in, will take place on the 30th of January in Moscow.

The draws for the running order of the Semi-Finals, the Final and voting order take place in or around mid-March.

Expect more Eurovision related posts around the time of the draw!

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Song of the Week - Jan 12th

This week to start off the week, heres a bit of a rock song to get you going. The band is a Swedish band call tAKiDA. They are from Ånge, in Sweden and were formed in 1999. The song is called "Handlake Village" and is currently 16th in the Swedish Charts. Enjoy it!



Other songs from tAKiDA include:
Curley Sue
Reason To Cry
Falling Down

Tune for the Weekend - Jan 9th

Image via WikipediaThe tune for the weekend is by an American band called The Last Goodnight. The song is called "Pictures of You". This was an American hit in 2007 and I found it as it is 37th, and a new entry, in the Austrian Charts. It is an excellent song, enjoy

Mid Week Tune - Jan 7th

Image by EMI Music Norway via FlickrWell continuing in my quest to find something new for the mid week tune, I journeyed to Norway, where I found Marit Larsen. She is an amazing singer and her song "If a Song Could Get Me You" is brilliant! It is currently number 13 in the Norweigan Chart. Enjoy it!

Song of the Week - Jan 5th

So usually I normally pick songs that are well known in Ireland for my song of the week, mid week tune and tune for the weekend, but not any longer. From now on I am going to try and find different songs to introduce you to something different. I did, do it for the Tune of the weekend with Polarkreis 18 but it will now be offical blog policy!

So this weeks song is a lovely song by the German band Stanfour. The song is called "In Your Arms" and I have listened to it about a dozen times! Excellent song. It is currently 25th in the German Charts. Enjoy it.

Tune for the Weekend - Jan 2nd

Image by Songkran via FlickrWell if your off out tonight enjoy yourself! Im wrecked and am staying in tonight as the parents are having a party tomorrow night so I can't stay in then! So anyway the song for the weekend, the first edition of 2009! Well the song I have picked is "Allein, Allein" by Polarkreis 18. The song title translates (from German) as Alone, Alone and the song is English with the chorus in German. Enjoy!

Mid Week Tune - Dec 31st

Image via WikipediaIm on time with this one! So the mid week tune this week is by a band I love! Kings of Leon. Its their song "Use Somebody" Love it!



enjoy it!

Song of the Week - Dec 29th

So I'm a bit late today with the tune of the week. Lets blame the fact that it is the Christmas season! Anyways this weeks song of the week is by Chairlift and is called "Bruises". It rocks. Enjoy.

Tune for the Weekend! - Dec 26th

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeOk so has any one elese had enough of Christmas songs? cause I have and so there for the tune for the weekend will not be a Christmas Song! Or the Christmas no. 1. The tune for the weekend is one I hope to hear tonight when I go out cause its actually a cool song to hear in a club. (Maybe thats cause I'm a bit of a rock gay! but I love dance music too). Its a Coldplay song and it's called "Viva La Vida". Love it!

Song of the Week - Dec 22nd (its stuck in my head!)

I heard this song on RED FM's Top 40 Oifiguil Na hEireann this mornning after dropping himself to the bus and I couldnt stop laughing or get it out of my head! So this song of the week is doubling as a song stuck in my head. It is currently number 29 in the Irish Charts. It is by the Corrigen Brothers and is called, "There's No One As Irish As Barack Obama". It is a brilliant song and I hope it sets you off on a good week!

Tune for the Weekend! - Dec 19th

Image by stephen.spillane via FlickrWell its the last weekend before Christmas and I think the song I have picked for this week's "Tune of the weekend" is one that will be played in clubs and bars up and down the country this weekend. In fact on the last two Friday nights I went out I heard it! It is another one of my favourite christmas songs and one I use to drag himself out to dance for. It's by Mariah Carey and I think yoy can guess the name of the song!

Song stuck in my head

Image via WikipediaOkay so lots of songs get stuck in my head, yet again I heard this song in Gloria Jeans and I love it! The song is called "Show me Heaven" by Maria McKee from the soundtrack for the film "Days of Thunder". The song spent four weeks at number-one in September 1990 in the UK, but failed to enter the US Charts reaching number 28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.