Latest odds from Sky Bet:

 

Sweden 9/4

Italy 8/1

Russia 10/1

Serbia 11/1

Denmark 14/1

United Kingdom 14/1

Ireland 16/1

Spain 18/1

Germany 20/1

Norway 20/1

Iceland 22/1

Greece 25/1

Romania 28/1

Turkey 28/1

Cyprus 33/1

Azerbaijan 40/1

Estonia 50/1

Slovenia 66/1

Ukraine 66/1

Belarus 80/1

Bosnia & Herzegovina 80/1

Hungary 80/1

Slovakia 80/1

Switzerland 80/1

Bulgaria 100/1

Finland 100/1

France 100/1

Moldova 100/1

Netherlands 100/1

Croatia 125/1

Albania 150/1

Austria 150/1

Belgium 150/1

Georgia 150/1

Israel 150/1

Latvia 150/1

Lithuania 150/1

FYR Macedonia 200/1

Montenegro 200/1

Portugal 200/1

San Marino 200/1

Malta 250/1

 

TOP 20 (bet365)

 

Sweden

Italy

Russia

UK

Serbia

Denmark

Spain

Iceland

Romania

Germany

Norway

Ireland

Greece

Cyprus

Azerbaijan

Turkey

Belarus

Netherlands

Estonia

Ukraine

William Hill have shortened Euphoria to 13/8, Russia and Italy dropped back to 8/1. As I always have done, I still see Loreen landsliding it, it's not even funny how much better it is than every other song released in the last five years in the field

Oh I just don't know. All the signs are pointing towards Loreen doing a Rybak and completely landsliding it, but I'm still not convinced. I'm going to watch all the rehearsals and give my final opinions...

Me neither. I CAN see her winning, but if she does it will be by a small margin. It just doesn't have universal appeal for older voters or juries. I really think that Serbia or Italy will give her a serious run for her money.

Let us recall that you didn't think Rybak was even going to win though Tom! :lol:

We'll see, I bet she wins by at least a 50 point margin, even Lena did that didn't she? If not she was close enough. And are the older voters (of which I can't imagine there are many looking at the very modern results pre-2009 and the juries returning) all likely to flock for the same song - I reckon those votes will be split between Engelbert and a few of the other ballads, none of which will be a threat to Euphoria. I see no reason why it won't appeal to the juries, when Satellite won the jury vote in 2010, all depends on the makeup of the jury and whether they're feeling modern and fresh (2010, sort of in 2009) or ready for a pipe and slippers (2011).

Let us recall that you didn't think Rybak was even going to win though Tom! :lol:

 

Oh dear god, did I? I think I was too blinded by my love for SLUTLANA *.*

 

We'll see, I bet she wins by at least a 50 point margin, even Lena did that didn't she? If not she was close enough. And are the older voters (of which I can't imagine there are many looking at the very modern results pre-2009 and the juries returning) all likely to flock for the same song - I reckon those votes will be split between Engelbert and a few of the other ballads, none of which will be a threat to Euphoria. I see no reason why it won't appeal to the juries, when Satellite won the jury vote in 2010, all depends on the makeup of the jury and whether they're feeling modern and fresh (2010, sort of in 2009) or ready for a pipe and slippers (2011).

 

You have a point I guess, apparently the juries are told to vote for an international hit, and what is Euphoria if not that? You do have a point that all the ballads will split that vote, but it remains to be seen how many of them qualify anyway, of the AQs only Spain and at a push Azerbaijan are ballads. Maybe I'm overthinking it but if the juries want to vote for something that stands out and has a modern edge but a classic sound I think they will flock to Italy. I will totally have nothing against Sweden winning this year (it is my second favourite and all) I just really can't take the leap of faith at this point. Maybe after the rehearsals. Of course the Preview Party went mental for it, but we're talking about a bunch of 20yo-50yo Eurogays. If anything, The Girl got a bigger reaction.

I think the rehearsals will just confirm what I already think. The studio version of Euphoria alone is already better than the rest of the pack combined imo, add her wonderful performance, voice and aura to the mix and I should think it will be game over for everybody else, despite what Keith Mills will be saying two weeks from now ("overhyped/Euphoria will be lucky to qualify/Jedward to win/Engelbert best UK entry since Cliff" etc...)

 

As an aside, I wouldn't be surprised to see Italy slightly underperform against expectations, most people I've played it too, many of whom generally like that music style, don't care for it at all. I've found myself defending it and saying 'listen to the original Italian version, it's better honest!'. I think it could well finish around 4th-8th, and that a lot of its high expectation is down to them getting a shock 2nd place finish last year. But as we all know, Eurovision is never the same year after year, the juries will most likely change tack and the public certainly will.

To be fair it kind of is the best UK entry since Cliff :kink:

To be fair it kind of is the best UK entry since Cliff :kink:

 

Katrina AGOG! :lol:

Stuff Katrina, Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit was one of THE defining songs of the 90s, let alone Eurovision entries!

 

But yeah, Engelbert's the biggest selling artist we've sent since Cliff, he'd have been quite a coup as an entrant 45 years ago!

We'll see, I bet she wins by at least a 50 point margin, even Lena did that didn't she? If not she was close enough.

 

Lena managed a little over a 70 point margin. At the moment I'm really struggling to see a situation where Loreen doesn't win and I think she'll have quite a margin too. Italy could manage another 2nd place but I really don't see the fuss myself. There seem to be quite a lot of ballads too and none are majorly standing out. Romania & Norway could do well as up-tempos (Greece too, but with the vote splitting with Cyprus). Feeling quite certain that Russia will be top 5 too sadly, as much as I hate it, it stands out and the juries aren't going to completely ignore it either.

Rehearsals have started, and the odds are changing slightly...

 

Sweden 7/4

Italy 7/1

Russia 8/1

Serbia 11/1

United Kingdom 12/1

Iceland 18/1

Denmark 20/1

Ireland 20/1

Romania 20/1

Spain 20/1

 

They're the top few from Sky Bet. Romania and Cyprus' odds are both shortening though, and I expect Sweden's will once Loreen has performed. Will be interesting to see how strong Nina is as well. I've seen one of her live performances of the song, and I wasn't overly impressed. :cry:

Oh dear god, did I? I think I was too blinded by my love for SLUTLANA *.*

Well in fairness WHO could blame you! *.*

I put an each way bet on Romania a few weeks back and got 40/1,i do like the song and i think it stands a chance of going top 4 where i need it to be.

I'm really not surprised at all to see Sweden with the shortest odds, their song's fabulous.

 

Can't believe UK have got shorter odds than Ireland though, that seems just crazy :|

Italy and Azerbaijan's odds have been the main two countries to have their odds shortened after today's rehearsals... The UK's seem to have lengthened, which is a shame, as I thought Engelbert put in a good rehearsal performance!

Sweden shortened to 5/4! Russia at 5/1, everyone else at 10/1 or lower. COME ON LOREEN!

What were Amaury's odds this time last year? And Safura's the year before? I've learnt not to trust these bookmakers! I do still find it interesting seeing how the odds change though...