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bbc.co.uk/eurovision
UK: BBC update Eurovision website
The website bbc.co.uk/eurovision now includes a message board, galleries, videos of the 43 participating countries and you can also send in your Eurovision party photos.
It also includes a video with Andy Abraham on avoiding nil points and includes Terry Wogan and Paddy O'Connell.
However there is a catch as some of the website, for example the videos, can only be accessed by residents only in the UK.
Visit the website here.
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"Also, Hero could not be more run-of-the-mill! Honestly, the bland melody, average singer and of course the key change for the final chorus, where all put together in some schlager factory. Hero ain't anything special, it's a lucky product of mass production, not that there is anything wrong with that, cos it ain't an awful song."
That's exactly my sentiment. I think "Hero" is not at all bad, but deserves nul points for originality! (same with serbia and greece and norway)
Being from the Northern Ireland I know I am backing Dustin this year as my entry, rather than Andy Abrahams. I've grown up with Dustin and his song is brilliant.
Also, Hero could not be more run-of-the-mill! Honestly, the bland melody, average singer and of course the key change for the final chorus, where all put together in some schlager factory. Hero ain't anything special, it's a lucky product of mass production, not that there is anything wrong with that, cos it ain't an awful song.
@ Joey Mouse
That had nothing to do with the state of the UK. Just sloppy attention to detail.
@ Night Editor
He meant the interview with Sir Terry Wogan.
@Joey Mouse: I must have been watching a different interview because the flag I saw behind Andy Abraham was the present day Union Flag (it's only called the Union Jack when it's flown at sea) which includes the cross of St Patrick.
Does anyone know why the BBC had the old pre 1801 Union Jack (flown before Ireland joined the UK) behind everyone in the interviews. It excludes Northern Ireland. Does the BBC not cover NI anymore? Is Dustin the official song for the North too now?
I disagree that nobody cares about the Big 4 songs. As I said, after doing my homework of course, 10 countries awarded points to the UK in 2006. They weren't high (apart from Ireland) but you have to look at it this way. Instead of thinking "Oh, only 2 points?" think of it as the fact you made it into that countries top 10!
Last year proved to suffer from a particularly bad case of eastern domination and as such many deserving songs didn't qualify, but I won't let that influence my expectations of this year. Let us not forget plenty of western countries qualified in previous years and with this new system in place I am confident we will see more deserving songs getting through.
Germany has achieved an 8th place since the semi finals were introduced, but for the rest of the time, the big 4 have mostly only made mid-board or just above at best. If the song and performance is good enough, you WILL get some points, so don't believe all the consipracy theories.
ESCtodays own draw analysis of this year and some past years have also proved that your slot in the running order doesn't always affect your chances of doing well as much as fans say, so there's no need for the Big 4 to all sing last. Infact, I'm disappointed that on the final night, there will only be 5 performances I haven't already seen! I think they should let the previous year's top 3 or 5 have a place in the final, so as not to make the semi finals too short.
My opinion on the draw is that it doesn't matter so much whether you're early, middle or late, but what kind of songs come before and after yours! The UK in 2007 may have had slightly better luck if it didn't come right after 1st and 2nd place consecutively (2nd being a comedy entry) and then be followed by the Romanian entry!! That was ROTTEN luck.
" hero" is not "run of the mill" at all. its a great euro song , and performed very well. its easy to label schlager , but u could also label r and b , rock , pop , ballads in the same way , its just a certain genre, and for me much better than some of the drab ethno ballads we ve had every yr recently
Jonny K
You are very funny 
happily hero will not be performed they are only performing classic eurovision songs, not run of the mill schlager
They don't allow you to watch the videos unless you are in the UK ???????
- Benjamin Johnson
Fair point!!!! 
I think the big 4 should start with a 300 point advantage, that way we might just win!!!!! lol
Jonny K
I disagree, if the 'Big 4' sings last they still get low marks anyway, because no one cares about the 'big 4' songs anymore! 
- Benjamin Johnson
Well the Big 4 are at a clear disadvantage, because they are already in the final nobody votes for them! So singing last would make them a bit more remembered and hopefully give them better chances of a good result!
Very good site!
Anyway, what diffrance would the 'big 4' sings last?
Andy is the best UK entry since 2002! But I dout he will score well........
Yes Gary Good luck!!!!
The ESC 2008 Hero will win!
@ Gary
Good luck!!!
Vote Sweden!
dont forget west end eurovision this thursday www.theatremad.org.uk
MOR VE ÖTESÄ° -CRAZY (TURKEY) NUMBER ONE
I'm really sorry Jonny K and others,
I really wanted to like the UK entry but i just can't do it. Andy Abrahams probably has the best voice of any contestant this year but I can't stand the song.
Good luck though for Belgrade!
- Night Editor
I agree!! The big 4 should sing last, then the dis-advantage of being in the big 4, would be kind of evened out!!
@ Jonny and Ben: I'm cheering for Andy! I'm also about 40 but I can still remember Eurovisions after 1981. I hope his song, which is a cracker and our best since 2002, will do well. Even placing somewhere between 10th and 15th would be an improvement. I think the EBU should insist the Big 4 should sing last in the contest (and thus we'd avoid that dreaded singing-2nd) LOL
- Night Editor
Yeah! Oh well, I don't mind if his eurovision knowledge is bad, as long as he gets us a good few points in Belgrade!!!
- Ben Gray
I agree, although I know we haven't got a winning song this year, the song is great and andy really sells the song. Its just a shame we've been awarded with the worst possible running position possible!!!
I don't care what anyone says. Every time I listen to the British entry this year, I think "Yes. We've got a good song this year." If TEN countries gave us any points at all for our 2006 entry (half of them being eastern countries!) then I think we can definitely manage 11th-15th place this year or maybe even better.
@ Night Editor
But don't forget Andy is in his 40's. Katrina and the Waves aren't going to be his first memories at all, are they?
"Lost the will to live" was a bit of a strong choice of words. I enjoyed watching it, and I respect how he is genuinely happy to be part of Eurovision knowing that Celine Dion and Cliff Richard have to thank it for boosting or even launching their careers. I also think Andy's expectations are optimistic but not unrealistic. "To narrowly creep into the top 10 would be an achievement for me," he said. I say good on him.
@ jonny K: Did you notice how Andy was struggling when he said how proud he was to follow in a long line of participants? He started off with "Cliff Richard, Lulu..... (long pause)... Celine Dion". He obviously couldn't name any other UK entrants and given he's our 50th consecutive participants that's quite a sad indictment. Time to brush up on your history, Andy. I bet if you were to ask him who the UK entrant was in ABBA's 74' contest he couldn't name her.
- nigel mc macerson
Yeah, I think so too!!! 
But I think this person is decent, I think he is doing it to take the piss out of "hero.", and if he isn't, its funny anyway!
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