From Eastern Europe with rubbish Eurovision entries

So we already know that Dima Bilan is representing Russia at Eurovsion this May, but what about the Ukrainian and Belarusian entries? Well, they are disappointingly mediocre for the country that won the competition two years ago, and current reigning champion of the Junior contest. Ukraine holds an Idol/ X Factor style contest, in which each week one act is eliminated until there is a winner. This year the victor was Tina Karol [right], with the nice but forgettable ‘I’ll Be Your Queen’. It has just been reworked, with new lyrics, and the new title 'Show Me Your Love', but it hasn't improved much. After Ruslana’s epic ‘Wild Dances’ and Greenjolly’s anthemic ‘Razom Nas Bahato’, the song is just too bland, and distinctly lacking in anything Ukrainian.

The Belarusian selection is a bit strange, but then again, so is Belarus. Viewers vote by telephone for their favourite song during the national final, held in the Belarusian capital Minsk. The results are revealed, but then an ‘expert’ judging panel takes about 2 weeks in private to choose a winner from the top 3 songs. It is widely believed that the winning act is basically the one that pays the most money for the privilege. This year, the winner, as chosen by the judges, had also won the televote by a significant margin. Polina Smolova’s ‘Mama’ is quite rocky. It should be really good, but it just isn’t. It’s a bad 1999 Britney B-side sung by a girl [right] who looks like she should be in “From Minsk with Minge” rather than the Eurovision Song Contest. Also it’s one of those songs that’s in English but you can’t tell. Perhaps last year’s Belarusian entrant, the fabulous Angelica Argubash, has left me with high expectations. Incidentally, the Belarusian song that won Junior Eurovision 2005 was utter shite, even for Junior Eurovision. I think it won because it had a keyboard on a spring.

Since Belarus failed to qualify for last year’s final, and Ukraine, the host country, placed near the bottom of the scoreboard, both will have to compete in this year’s semi-final. I doubt either will make it through to the final, and the bookies seem to agree. Now that all the national selections are over, the first betting odds have been published for Eurovision 2006. Both Ukraine and Belarus are at 50/1 to qualify, however I am quite confident, and hopeful that Russia, at 25/1 will fare better. Left click to download:

Download Tina Karol - Show Me Your Love (Ukraine)

Download Polina Smolova - Mama (Belarus)

The best site for Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian Eurovision is http://www.esckaz.com/