Tomoe

Just to correct you, the "douze point" went to Lucy, the Bulgarian member of the group and jury of Bulgarian "Pop Idol". Since it's the TV show with highest rating in the country now, the kids who watch it were systematically manipulated by the hosts to vote for Lucy in Eurovision. Most Bulgarians are not familiar with NO ANGELS' songs, and don't even know the names of the other members.

No, not for that reason. Simply there are more powerful Eastern countries in ESC now (I don't mean powerful in terms of politics) who influence their neighbours easily. As far as I know, Estonia has never qualified since the semi-finals were introduced. Lithuania is doing poor too. Eastern Europe would still prefer Dima over those two guys that won it back in 2001, if they competed now.

AGAIN, there were not so many Eastern countries in 2001. Nobody in East would vote for Estonia and those two now (although the song was pretty nice).

That they send "schlagger", which is obviously a term for "old pop music". Norway made it into top 5 simply because Maria had a R&B ballad, and R&B is kind of modern now. However, if Europe (or at least its Eastern part which decides the winner) likes American-type of modern songs like Dima's one, then Nordic schlaggers are doomed. No matter how good some of them are (like Iceland this year).

Yes, but Western in terms of "modern American". It's not Western like British, Swedish or anything of the sort. Especially the Nordic countries nowadays send something that may be good, but is neither "American", nor "modern".

Still, there will be at least 2-3 more Eastern countries to send similar "star entries", and the votes will go for them, not for UK. Give up, guys, I like your songs, I liked Andy, the entire Bulgarian jury liked it, but you're not gonna make it anymore with this voting system. :(

I think you're missing something very important here. The same year you're talking about there was no Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Belarus, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, Albania, Azerbaijan and Czech Republic in the contest. Now, did you count already? That makes 11 (eleven) Eastern countries NOT taking part and NOT voting! ESC was hardly as Eastern-oriented as it is now. It's 2008 and you have all those 11 Eastern countries in now, so a good place for UK again is only possible with a jury intervention.

France will NEVER do that. :wacko:

As I said already, I think this is the first step towards finding the new "Big 4" among Russia and Ukraine, and making them sponsors of the contest, which is eventually going to be an Eastern one.

Don't cry, UK. :) Bulgaria just revealed the points of its back-up jury, and they look like that: 12 - Sweden 10 - Ukraine 8 - United Kingdom That's what I mean when saying that juries should vote. ;)

Your country's great song finishing last is a proof of the joke voting system.

Croatia, Moldova and Portugal. :)

Here's the last Terry Wogan interview before he left Belgrade: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7419477.stm

Yeah, the show is Bulgarian version of "Pop Idol"/"American Idol". Besides, she's popular here. And she's Bulgarian, although she said right in front of camera that she WON'T vote for Bulgarian song. >_<

Exactly, now that Germany sent its top-selling stars and got one of the last places, all your arguments about Big 4 not sending quality stuff disappear *puff~~*. Please, UK, send Spice Girls or Robbie next year, and I can assure you that you'll get the same result. :D