Welcome to the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest!
9th, 11th and 13th May 2017

Click the flags to visit the national threads!

42 participants
42 artists selected
42 songs revealed

Final

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/France_zpsifpoaeg1.png France:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Germany_zps1nqxwi7u.png Germany:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Italy_zpsnjxj2ot2.png Italy:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Spain_zpsit1m3ddt.png Spain:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Ukraine_zps6omaoenc.png Ukraine:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/United%20Kingdom_zpspagh5abp.png United Kingdom:

Semi-Final One

01 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Sweden_zpsnezpmv8t.png Sweden:

02 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Georgia_zpsz2krdsa5.png Georgia:

03 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Australia_zps5o2nr036.png Australia:

04 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Albania_zpsdptvyrbq.png Albania:

05 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Belgium_zpsgqlbvvca.png Belgium:

06 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Montenegro_zps0neryit0.png Montenegro:

07 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Finland_zpsarga4ohv.png Finland:

08 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Azerbaijan_zpssqath9zp.png Azerbaijan:

09 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Portugal_zps7vkbxaog.png Portugal:

10 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Greece_zpsantwlpxn.png Greece:

11 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Poland_zpsjexo9jyj.png Poland:

12 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Moldova_zpskrmsiqs0.png Moldova:

13 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Iceland_zpsg8alb0bx.png Iceland:

14 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Czech%20Republic_zpstrlogfyw.png Czech Republic:

15 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Cyprus_zpswtpv5guj.png Cyprus:

16 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Armenia_zpsjiyrkjce.png Armenia:

17 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Slovenia_zpsdiaeju0y.png Slovenia:

18 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Latvia_zpslxnj1hdo.png Latvia:

Semi-Final Two

01 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Serbia_zpsatium691.png Serbia:

02 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Austria_zpscoqaobgf.png Austria:

03 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/F.Y.R.%20Macedonia_zpsyp4hiqjd.png Macedonia:

04 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Malta_zpsgggu5dck.png Malta:

05 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Romania_zpsltozjcj6.png Romania:

06 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/The%20Netherlands_zpswvdcz8wq.png The Netherlands:

07 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Hungary_zpsecmt8vsa.png Hungary:

08 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Denmark_zps6s4bn5ae.png Denmark:

09 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Ireland_zpswircvipr.png Ireland:

10 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/San%20Marino_zpsx3s6g8dc.png San Marino:

11 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Croatia_zpsdc9ptlqf.png Croatia:

12 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Norway_zpsgrplia4j.png Norway:

13 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Switzerland_zpspu8xjwlq.png Switzerland:

14 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Belarus_zps0zigzyi1.png Belarus:

15 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Bulgaria_zpsk1esazjf.png Bulgaria:

16 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Lithuania_zpsiib7l7s3.png Lithuania:

17 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Estonia_zps3ufzgkx8.png Estonia:

18 http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Flag%20Icons/Israel_zpsyievgvoi.png Israel:

Feel free to use this thread for general discussion around the entries, but you can find links to each country's national thread within the flags above!

Bulgaria is almost sure for participate for next year because of great ranking through 2016. BNT hinted that after 4th place this year.

I think so too, I'm very excited to see what route they take after Poli was so well-loved by seemingly everyone!

I think so too, I'm very excited to see what route they take after Poli was so well-loved by seemingly everyone!

 

Yes, we have too many options for singers. I think will be difficult choice. I bet on Christiana Louizu or Zhana, both are stars of X-Factor Bulgaria.

So we are up to 30 confirmations, we should be able to paint a full picture very soon as the provisional deadline is today I think!

 

We have 16 potential participants we are yet to hear from, I'd say very likely are: Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Georgia, Italy, Montenegro and Serbia. That would put us up to 39 participants...

 

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Broadcaster has said it is very unlikely, I think so too as they are fully dependent on getting someone to pay for themselves.

Croatia: Always very 50/50, I've read rumblings that the broadcaster is committed despite government changes and whatnot - I think they will just stay in.

Moldova: I think they are on the brink of leaving, but my instinct is that Romania will return and therefore Moldova will stay with them - Ukraine isn't far for them to go either.

Romania: I think they will return, they have made very positive sounds ever since the drama back in April.

San Marino: Also dependent on someone paying for themselves, I presume they will stay again.

Slovakia: The most interesting case for me, their broadcaster always says the contest is an attractive proposition and Czech Republic's increasing success is only going to do more to convince them. Potentially a year too early, but if Czech Republic qualify again next year I think they will be back.

Turkey: Recent rumours suggest they were to internally select a female singer as the Turkish government want to support/strengthen ties with Ukraine, I imagine it will turn into nothing.

 

So in addition to those 39 I think we will get Croatia, Moldova, Romania and San Marino to give us 43. I want 44 to break the record!!!

Not quite worthy of their own national thread just yet, but Romania have submitted their application to take part in Eurovision 2017! This brings us to 35 provisional participants.

 

Of the 11 remaining, I expect the following to certainly participate: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Montenegro and Serbia to put us up to 41 participants. I imagine Bosnia & Herzegovina are definitely going to leave us, Turkey's interest will amount to nothing as usual, Moldova will have another go seeing as Romania are, Slovakia will say that the contest remains an attractive proposition but aren't going to commit this year and I now feel that San Marino will leave us seeing as they are in the process of suing the EBU over Serhat not getting projections in Stockholm (only San Marino...) and are still angry about the voting changes.

 

Looking good for another year at 42 participants I think!

Australia have reportedly submitted the official paperwork so will seemingly be back for 2017! How dare they not even wait for an official invite this time!!!!111 (Resisting a national thread until we have something a little more concrete)

For the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest EBU Associates, such as Khabar Agency in Kazakhstan, were not eligible to take part in the Contest save for an exception made for SBS Australia. The EBU is reviewing these rules ahead of next year’s competition, and will publish the latest edition on the Eurovision.tv site in due course.

 

Can't remember where this quote came from, but I wonder if the rules are going to be tweaked for Kazakhstan. Personally I doubt it as the EBU probably don't care about having another ex-Soviet country, but I would like Kazakhstan to be allowed seeing as they have some territory in Europe. I wouldn't want to see China or whoever else unless they ever manage to build up a reputation Australia-style, but I think Kazakhstan should be allowed. They will eventually be properly allowed in a few years anyway once they apply for the Council of Europe which they are eligible to do so once they sort out some very important hurdles like human rights etc.

 

EDIT: That's an official quote from the EBU, so it must be a possibility considering it hasn't been ruled out (and they probably need to tweak the rules so they don't have to "invite" Australia every year).

Bosnia & Herzegovina have confirmed their withdrawal. Hopefully they are the only ones leaving us, although I feel like San Marino may do too as I say above. Bulgaria's situation is that they are waiting for the BNT board to approve their participation - surely they will?

Serbia have made it 40! That's all the countries I was pretty certain about all confirmed now (besides Australia who I'm sure we'll get a special announcement about soon).

 

We just need to wait and see about Moldova and San Marino from this year's participants and whether Slovakia and Turkey's interest is going to amount to anything (it won't). I think we'll just get Moldova (and Australia) as I say above which will take us to 42 as long as none of the preliminary applications get withdrawn before next week's deadline! I'm hoping San Marino stay and we get a surprise comeback (or rule change to allow Kazakhstan to debut) as this might be the most realistic chance of a record-breaking 44 we get for a while!

Apparently Kazakh media are today reporting that they have already selected a singer for Eurovision 2017, and that singer is Zhanar Dugalova who won the Turkvizyon contest in 2014 (and is a member of girl band Kesh You of BJSC fame).

 

In addition, head of Eurovision at DR (or some equivalent) have said that there are a few significant rule changes coming for Eurovision 2017. I think it's all starting to point towards a Kazakhstan debut, especially the fact that all this is happening in the same year Kazakhstan received their EBU associate membership...

 

(And if this happened it would be AMAZING and fair as part of Kazakhstan is in Europe anyway)

There's a cheeky little summary about Kazakhstan's situation here which you should obviously ALL check out: http://escxtra.com/2016/10/07/why-kazakhst...-debut-in-2017/

This little rule has been sneakily added to Eurovision.tv between the end of May and mid-August (I used the website archive snapshot website to see):

 

"Associates of the EBU, outside of the European Broadcasting Area, may also be eligible to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. Such decisions are taken by the Reference Group, the governing body of the Eurovision Song Contest, on a case by case basis."

 

Loads of fansites have suddenly picked up on it now, but I guess this is going to be the official rule that allows Australia in every year. Furthermore ESC United have this recent quote from the head of Kazakh TV:

 

"We've been holding negotiations & trying to participate for 3 years... As of now we haven't been contacted about our participation. There's no official confirmation yet."

 

It wouldn't be fair for the EBU to not allow Kazakhstan under this new rule in my opinion, hopefully they will be accepted this year.

Slovakia and Turkey are not returning, Moldova are 99% in. We just await San Marino and the ruling on EBU associates for Australia and Kazakhstan!

This is looking wonderfully female-dominated so far isn't it! *.*

If it carries on like this with the female ballads, Belarus are gonna run away with it *.*

Switzerland up next with their all-female final that is mostly ballads! *.*

When did the second half of semi 2 get so uptempo? Worried for Navi and Queen Valentina!

On the plus side, surely Timebelle now have the best draw possible! *.*

First post updated with the running order!