jESC 2006 will take place on December 2nd in Bucarest, Romania. After taking part in the first three editions, the UK is out this year and so are countries like Norway and Denmark. However Portugal will participate for the first time and Cyprus will return after withdrawing last year.

 

Who will suceed to Belarus's Kseniya Sytnik?

 

1 PORTUGAL Pedro Madeira - Deixa-me sentir ("Let me feel")

Portugal's first notch at the jESC is being tipped as a favourite. A slice of pop-rock that could fit the grown-ups contest. Pedro just turned 14 last week.

 

2 CYPRUS Louis & Christina - Agoria Koritsia

A dead ringer from last year's Greek jESC song.

 

3 NETHERLANDS Kimberly - Goed

The more mature voice in contest.

 

4 ROMANIA New Star Music - Povestea Mea

Four kids singing about book heroes, dressed as Harry Potter, Peter Pan, Spiderman and Superman.

 

5 UKRAINE Nazar Slyusarchuk - Klopchyk rock'n'roll

Pretty much what the title suggests...

 

6 SPAIN Dani Fernandez - Te doy mi voz ("I give you my voice")

Spain has been in the top 2 ever since jESC began. Many say this won't happen this year.

 

7 SERBIA Neustrasivi - Ueimó strane jeizike

 

8 MALTA Sophie - Extra-cute

The only song in English this year. Doll-faced Sophie starts her performance riding a kid motorbike.

 

9 MACEDONIA Zana Aliu - Vljubena

 

10 SWEDEN Molly Sanden - Det finaste nagon kan fa

Sweden wasn't to take part as the public TV withd rew but another Swedish station decided to go for it anyway. Molly Sanden had already recorded some material and her disqualification was considered but since she didn't release her earlier material, she was allowed. Her song is a ballad and is also tipped as favourite.

 

11 GREECE Chloe Boletti - Den Peirazei

The least kid-looking singer. Grown-up song as well.

 

12 BELARUS Andrey Kunets - New day

 

13 BELGIUM Thor - Een tocht door het kondet

The youngest of the participants with a catchy songs that reminds that song by Iggy Pop that goes "la la la la..." Deemed as favourite

 

14 CROATIA Mateo Dido - Lea

A dead ringer of Dino who won for Croatia in 2003.

 

15 RUSSIA Nastya & Masha Tomalcheva - Vesna

A retro sound to finish. Nastya and Masha are twins.

 

 

 

Eugh. Vile show, I despise it. -_- It will be dead by 2010, if not sooner, especially with only one Big Four country left.