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Thursday, May 21, 2015

EUROVISION 2015


This year's Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Vienna, Austria.
The final takes place on Saturday 23 May.
Electro Velvet are flying the flag for the UK with their electro-swing track I'm Still in Love with You. 
The BBC's Emma Saunders is in Vienna to report from behind the scenes.
Wednesday 20 May 15:16 local time (14:16 BST)
Eurovision press centre
So I've made it into the frankly massive Eurovision press centre - 800 square metres with 800 separate work spaces.
A dress rehearsal for tomorrow night's second semi-final is just about to begin. Nerves are jangling, as the elimination of PKN at last night's show proved no-one is safe. 
The rehearsal is being beamed across the press centre on giant screens but, sadly, I'm not allowed to give you any updates - none of the rehearsals can be reported on.
Meanwhile, Vienna itself has gone Eurovision crazy. The city's Madame Tussaud's now has a wax figure of last year's winner, Conchita Wurst, and there's even a display in the Leopold Museum titled Nul-Pointers. 
The exhibition contains - you guessed it - a portrait of each of the 34 Eurovision participants whose performances did not earn them a single point. According to the museum, "they represent icons of failure". 
Talk about a back-handed compliment.
Vienna's gay-themed traffic lights
Earlier, I spotted my first gay-themed pedestrian traffic light (see above). They were due to be removed in June but Maria Vassilakou, in charge of traffic issues in the local council, has said they will now remain. 
Right, it's time for me to hop off to the Euro Village to see the "Big Five" performing. I'll report back later. 
Wednesday 20 May 15:00 local time (14:00 BST)
Amber rehearses her song, Warrior
Malta's enigmatic singer Amber has been spreading the Eurovision message of peace and equality ahead of her performance at the second semi-final on Thursday.
Yesterday, she was seen sporting a "Yes" badge when she met Ireland's Molly Sterling in Vienna, to show her support for the marriage equality referendum - which takes place on Friday in Ireland. It's the world's first referendum on same sex marriage and is, of course, being closely followed by the many gay fans of Eurovision. 
Molly Sterling meets Amber
Molly Sterling meets Amber
Earlier today, Amber was spotted at Vienna's Learning Cafe, a free service for kids and teenagers from refugee families. 
Amber plans to become a primary school teacher after Eurovision, so at least she has something to fall back on should her song, Warrior, not make it through to the grand final.
Wednesday 20 May 14:45 local time (13:45 BST )
Eurovision "goody bag"
Press accreditation sorted, with much excitement surrounding the goody bags handed out to journalists - salami, sausages, you name it. Shame I'm vegetarian. Still, the chocolate and random shoe polish makes up for it.

Wednesday 20 May 11:30 BST

PKN
PKN - Punk's knackered nominees
I've not even left the airport lounge yet and the first big shock of Eurovision 2015 has happened without me. PKN, Finland's hotly tipped and much-hyped punk outfit, failed to make it through the first semi-final last night. 
Shame - their song made a change from the plethora of power ballads on offer this year (even if it wasn't that easy on the ear).
The Netherlands may be four-times Eurovision winners, having last won in 1975, but any hopes of adding to that tally were also dashed on Tuesday night when they fell at the first hurdle. 
Four other contenders will also be going home disappointed - Moldova, FYR Macedonia, Belarus and Denmark. 
But it's not all bad news - Moldova's early exit means Eduard Romanyuta can go back to his PhD thesis on Ukranian tax policy. I kid you not.
Here are the 10 countries that did make the grade:
  • Albania: Elhaida Dani - I'm Alive
  • Armenia: Genealogy - Face the Shadow
  • Russia: Polina Gagarina - A Million Voices
  • Romania: Voltaj - All Over Again
  • Hungary: Boggie Stamenoz - Beauty Never Lies
  • Greece: Maria-Elena - One Last Breath
  • Estonia: Elina Born & Stig Rasta - Goodbye to Yesterday
  • Georgia: Nina Sublatti - Warrior
  • Serbia: Bojana Stamenov - Beauty Never Lies
  • Belgium: Loic Nottet - Rhythm Inside

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