JUNIOR EUROVISION 2013: WILL THE SAMMARINESE SUN SHINE OVER RUSSIAN DREAM?

It's coming again after all, the troubled Junior Eurovision song contest. The 2013 edition is the 11th and EBU has managed to lure in 12 countries, same as last year's 12 but yet far cry for the record of 18 in its second editon back in 2004. San Marino joins in while Albania, Belgium and Israel stay home this time. Macedonia and Malta on the other hand return so one could say there's a real revolving door....

Kiyv is the host city this year and the final's on November 30, 2013. The host will be again Timur Miroshnychenko who did the job already in 2009 when he was joined by Ani Lorak. Now he gets Zlata Ognevich to his side. For the first time it's not happening at 9pm CET but more sensible time slot for the kiddos. Also, for the first time there will be awards for the top-3 and not the winner only. As an added bonus apparently the winner will also be involved in the real Eurovision song contest in May 2014 in Copenhagen somehow... Will that breath life to this contest or not remains to be seen. But once again we will see acts that imitate the grown up version, kids dressed up and made up rather impropriate for the age (it seems Ukraine takes the prize for this this year) doing all sort of things on stage besides singing but some people like that, too. This blogger less, but every now and then there are acts that totally fit to their performers and look and sound their age, like this year's Sammarinese entry. And the Russian entry is actually very good and Dayana comes across likable and sweet. That wouldn't be out of place even in the real thing!

Armenia - Monica Avanesyan - Choco-Fabrik

Azerbaijan - Rustam Karimov - Me and my guitar

Belarus - Ilya Volkov - Poy so mnoy (Пой со мной)

Georgia - The Smile Shop - Give me your smile

Macedonia - Barbara Popović - Ohrid i muzika (Охрид и музика)

Malta - Gaia Cauchi - The start

Moldova - Rafael Bobeica - Cum să fim

The Netherlands - Mylène and Rosanne - Double me

Russia - Dayana Kirilova - Mechtay (Мечтай)

San Marino - Michele Perniola - O-o-O Sole intorno a me

Sweden - Elias Elffors Elfström - Det är dit vi ska

Ukraine - Sofia Tarasova - We are one

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The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o

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Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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