David

Political voting exists in a small way imo - Greece and Cyprus' exchange of 12 points, Cyprus not voting for Turkey etc, but I don't think there is much more myself. Azerbaijan not voting for Armenia last year was arguably politically motivated, but we've no proof of that. Most of the Russian votes from the smaller USSR countries has nothing to do with politics though - purely because the people there are probably partly Russian! My mum wanted to vote for Ireland last night because she's half Irish - this is exactly the same principle as what the Baltic/Balkan countries do and no one considers that as "political" at all.

Yeah I can see Cyprus coming bottom five for sure! Can see Georgia repeating their 2007/8 results tbh and coming mid-table. Not a bad song, but not memorable enough to get into triple figures tbh. I don't think it's as good as Sopho or their disqualified entry last year myself. I'll do a full final prediction list later eeeeek!

Hardly anyone in the UK watches the semi finals or hears the songs before the final, and I'm pretty sure that for most of the voters this is the same case. I'd be fairly sure to predict that only about 5% of the viewing public will have heard all of the songs before the final - aside from those that have watched the semi final. If they released figures on when people voted, the amount of votes will increase dramatically during the final recap.

I haven't done this for ages, but will attempt to do so now... And this is based on the performances I have seen so far as well, rather than just the studio versions, as my personal chart is... Excellent: 9 or 10 out of ten Iceland : Hera Bjork - Je Ne Sais Quoi Moldova : SunStroke Project & Olia Tira - Run Away Great: 7 or 8 out of ten Ireland : Niamh Kavanagh - It's For You Denmark : Chanee & N'evergreen - In A Moment Like This Romania : Paula Seling & Ovi - Playing With Fire Germany : Lena Meyer-Landrut - Satellite Albania : Juliana Pasha - It's All About You Belgium : Tom Dice - Me And My Guitar Armenia : Eva Rivas - Apricot Stone Norway : Didrik Solli-Tangen - My Heart Is Yours Good: 5 or 6 out of ten Azerbaijan : Safura - Drip Drop Ukraine : Alyosha - Sweet People Greece : Giorgos Alkaios & Friends - OPA Spain : Daniel Diges - Algo Pequenito Turkey : maNga - We Could Be The Same Serbia : Milan Stankovic - Ovo Je Balkan Average: 3 or 4 out of ten Israel : Harel Skaat - Milim United Kingdom : Josh Dubovie - That Sounds Good To Me Belarus : 3+2 - Butterflies Georgia : Sofia Nizharadze - Shine Portugal : Filipa Azevedo - Há Dias Assim Cyprus : Jon Lilygreen & The Islanders - Life Looks Better In Spring Bosnia-Herzegovina : Vukasin Brajic - Thunder And Lightning France : Jessy Matador - Allez Olla Olé Eeeeek: 1 or 2 out of ten Russia : Peter Nalitch & Friends - Lost And Forgotten Of course were I going on studio versions alone, Azerbaijan and Denmark would more than likely be higher.

Croatia twice and Ireland once. Still in shock over Croatia not qualifying...

Oh I meant Turkey in the top seven. :hithead:

I'm seriously considering putting one on Greece tbh...

Currently I'm thinking the top four will include: Armenia Denmark Germany Greece Next three: Azerbaijan Romania Turkey But I'll do my final predictions tomorrow...

Just looking now...this is a good draw for Greece. :snif: A very good draw for them in fact!

1. Azerbaijan 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. Cyprus 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. Ireland 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. Turkey 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. Ukraine 18. France 19. Romania 20. Russia 21. Armenia 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. Israel 25. Denmark

1. Azerbaijan 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. Cyprus 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. Ireland 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. Turkey 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. Ukraine 18. France 19. Romania 20. Russia 21. 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. Israel 25.

Azerbaijan are the openers!!! This is officially wide open! :cheer:

1. Azerbaijan 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. Cyprus 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. Ireland 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. Turkey 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. Ukraine 18. France 19. 20. Russia 21. 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. Israel 25.

Cyprus drawing #5 hmm...I really hope the Azeris get lumbered with #1. :heehee: Denmark to close would be good too.

1. 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. Cyprus 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. Ireland 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. Turkey 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. Ukraine 18. France 19. 20. Russia 21. 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. Israel 25.

Good that they're just before Greece...but I bet Azerbaijan get the last one or #19 now! :arrr:

1. 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. Ireland 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. Turkey 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. Ukraine 18. France 19. 20. Russia 21. 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. Israel 25.

Ooh I hope Ireland get a slot near the end. :(

1. 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. Turkey 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. Ukraine 18. France 19. 20. Russia 21. 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. Israel 25.

Denmark for #25 would be good! All near the beginning or the end left though now...I hope Azerbaijan get a slot near the start myself.

1. 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. Turkey 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. Ukraine 18. France 19. 20. Russia 21. 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. 25.

Would've been good if a ballad had got #17! Ahhh well!

Ukraine are next up... 1. 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. Ukraine 18. France 19. 20. Russia 21. 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. 25.

Time for the draw soon, with Georgia first. 1. 2. Spain 3. Norway 4. Moldova 5. 6. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7. Belgium 8. Serbia 9. Belarus 10. 11. Greece 12. United Kingdom 13. Georgia 14. 15. Albania 16. Iceland 17. 18. France 19. 20. Russia 21. 22. Germany 23. Portugal 24. 25.

Paddy Power's updated odds: Azerbaijan 6/4 Germany 6/1 Armenia 8/1 Israel 12/1 Turkey 14/1 Ireland 14/1 Belgium 14/1