I think this year is turning out to be a strange year in ESC with so many songs that do not fit the normal moulds or genres, as can be seen in the songs from your near neighbours, Bulgaria & Macedonia. What do you think?

The Dutch song has a feel of those pop folk/ballads from the late 60s & early 70s that I liked back then & having listened without looking at the stupid dress I am enjoying more & more. Slovenia (without the hats)?? from the team of Mlotiva, it could be a challenger, Austria - I'd prefer to say nothing. I see Helga Vlahovic has died, she cant have been very old. I think she was one of the top ever ESC female presenters.

You are correct about ABBA. The Swedes have tried to replicate that so often, its a bit tiresome. In Ireland we have done similar - The Voice 1996 or They Cant Stop The Spring '07 are prime examples of attempts to marry pop & traditional; or there is the Irish 'ballad', Millennium of Love ('00) & Every Song is a Cry for Love (06) typify that.

Ove Je Balkan is more listenable than this Turkish effort, but its still not my kind of music. But I have to ask the question whether that sound is genuinely popular in Eastern & Balkan countries, because my suspicion is that it is an invention specially for Eurovision. On the other hand Nelly Ciobanu did it for me, I thought hers one of the better songs in Moscow.

Precisely, the introduction makes it sound like it has potential, but then it goes nowhere. Im generally suspicious of these pop/ethnic mixes.

Turkey?

I dont know what those condsitions are that you described, Anmary looks to have really mad eyes, at least during part of her performance. The lyrics of the song are amusing and more.

Dat Ce Nam Bog is an interesting song, it is like a cross between a disco version of Niamh Kavanagh's It's For You & Charlotte Perelli's Take Me To Your Heaven. I am impressed by her, both her music and her voice. Nebo is the Croatian song, & I like it more than some of the others so far. I am intrigued by your political perspectives, how do you know the EU encouraged Montenegro to enter ESC again?

Yes, but have you heard what will hopefully remain as the Italian entry - Per Sempre. I certainly hope that it does remain, I love, Its got a very Amy Whitehouse feel to it (do you know who she is?) Nobody commenting anywhere on the internet seems to like the Croatian song, but I do, I like the moody feel to it. If Euro Neuro is the Montenegran song then it is scary OMG!! I am not so pessimistic about this years contest.

You're already promoting Zelijko (as above) for ESC. I ve listened to a few of his songs. I like the sounds & he's got a great voice. Most ESC fans are eagerly awaiting his song. I dont think we will be disappointed. For a second year running I can see Serbia in my top 10. France has been the most consistent of the songs chosed so far that I like. And though I didnt overly like them at first, Albania & Hungary are emerging among my favs, after that maybe Iceland. Cyprus is alright but its a bit ordinary europop, nothing special. Denmark is nothing special and Norway reminds me too much of Eric Saade from las year, and his song so annoyed me. So you are at least one quarter Montenegran. Do Montenegrans consider themselves very different to Serbs?