Eurovision 2017

I think the implication is, he's Russian so will have some added support from the rest of the Eastern bloc. He actually hasn't done a lot of travelling across the region though, and isn't well known in each country as some previous Russian/Eastern Bloc entrants.

The song/performer is very good anyway, so there wouldn't be much of a scandal if he won.

Yes - if you are a known Russian speaker, then you may pick up votes from other ex-Soviet countries (even the Baltic states as they have very large Russian-speaking communities who identify more with 'Mother Russia' than their more Western-facing countrymen and countrywomen.) However this is often based on appearances on MTV Russia etc - so if the Bulgarian entry isn't well known and obviously 'Russian' it may not count as much.



No. He'd be the first winner born this century if he did.

Though this story on the BBC website is interesting:
[url]Eurovision: Bulgaria's Kostov can take part
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39895039[/url]

It would appear he's visited Crimea too... though he was a minor at the time and it was before the current travel ban. Still enough for people to complain though.

Is it possible that Europe will give us one good year before we depart the union?

Maybe, we'll just have to wait and see......

He was a minor AND permission wasn't sought from his parents for him to enter Crimea. And before the ban. I'd be surprised if there weren't a lot of people in Ukraine (and indeed working on the contest) that haven't been to Crimea at some point.

I'm really tired of seeing stories saying that Europe will punish us because of Brexit. Eurovision is not the EU, there are counties in The Eurovision that are not in the EU.

Also people aren't weird enough to refuse to vote for a good song because they don't like the country it represents (not that Europeans particularly dislike the UK after the vote). Just look at evil, hate-fuelled nation Russia and their never ending parade of strong results.

We'll still be participating in Eurovision after we leave the EU; for better or worse.

We'll probably come last but that's nothing out of the ordinary in recent times. Once you stop viewing it as a straightforward song contest and more of a comedic caricature of the European continent, it becomes rather enjoyable viewing.

We're not going to come last because we've got a great song this year. We've come last previously with dreadful efforts.

It's a good song, sung well (at least in rehearsals it seems to have been) and the staging is impressive and fits the song without gimmicks. The spot is also favourable.

Judging by this shot from the dress rehearsal it seems she has some pyros for the big note. Not sure they're needed but I guess they'll be subtle against the 'sparks' on the video wall anyway.