Just days away from the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 also know as Grand Prix Eurovision de la chanson in French and German speaking countries. It is in fact the biggest non-sporting event in the world. The second semi-final is tonight to fill the 10 spots left in the competition.

Starting order

1. United Kingdom
   Engelbert - Love will set you free
   
2. Hungary
   Compact Disco - Sound of our hearts
   
3. Albania
   Rona Nishliu - Suus
   
4. Lithuania
   Donny Montell - Love is blind
   
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina
   MayaSar - Korake ti znam
   
6. Russia
   Buranowskije Babuschki - Party for everybody
   
7. Iceland
   Gréta Salóme & Jónsi - Never forget
   
8. Cypres
   Ivi Adamou - La la love
   
9. France
   Anggun - Echo (You and I)
   
10. Italy
    Nina Zilli - L'amore è femmina (Out of love)
    
11. Estonia
    Ott Lepland - Kuula
    
12. Norway
    Tooji - Stay
    
13. Azerbaijan
    Sabina Babayeva - When the music dies
    
14. Romania
    Mandinga - Zaleilah
    
15. Denmark
    Soluna Samay- Should've known better
    
16. Greece
    Eleftheria Elefttheriou - Aphrodisiac
    
17. Sweden
    Loreen - Euphoria
    
18. Turkey
    Can Bonomo - Love me back
    
19. Spain
    Pastora Soler - Quédate conmigo
    
20. Germany
    Roman Lob - Standing still
    
21. Malta
    Kurt Calleja - This is the night
    
22. Mazedonia
    Kaliopi - Crno i belo
    
23. Ireland
    Jedward - Waterline
    
24. Serbia
    Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar
    
25. Ukraine
    Gaitana - Be my guest
    
26. Moldova
    Pasha Pafeny - Lăutar

Several contries did not participate this year. Andorra withdrew from the EBU due to financial problems, Poland focuses on the UEFA EURO 2012 and the London Olympics 2012 and Czech Republic didn't state why they are not particiapating.
Morocco, Luxembourg and Monaco are likely to return to the competition in future. Lichtenstein is rumoured to have it's debut soon.

Most remarkably is the withdraw from Armenia. Armenia fears possible risks for the competitior and Armenian media representants.

This leads to the dark side of this event. There has been much criticism around this ESC due to circumstances of the building of the ESC Arena as well as due to the administration. The BBC aired a 28minute investigative film called Eurovision's dirty secret.

Quote from TFalke55 :

Poland focuses on the UEFA EURO 2012 and the London Olympics 2012

Or are they actually all plumbers and so the entire country is currently fitting toilets to all the stadia?

Babushkis will win.

Didn't even know about that until I accidentally saw Russia's entry on TV. That is awesome.

I like the Greek girl who so openly shows her underwear

Quote from KiRmelius :

saw Russia's entry on TV. That is awesome.

+1
I also hope that estonia will get into the finals, semi-finals in 15 minutes

Lithuania is forever perspective as always, probably won't get through semi-finals; therefore endless tears in local media

OMG

More c#@p bands who will never get anywhere other than 15 min of fame on Eurovision.

There are lots of bands who do awesome music, then there's Eurovision.

Was there ever a time when it wasn't c#@p ?

Like, where's the dancing dog, that seems to be the latest 'must win' in these things ?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ente ... 119&objectid=10805791

ABBA sure had 15 minutes of fame...racer is full of shit as always. btw its eurovision...imo there are few decent songs this year.

Gotta love Slovakia.

indeed, not my type of music usually, but i really liked Slovakia.

Quote from -NightFly- :

eurovision...

Well that doesn't mean a thing. Again Morocco is considered of joining the Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision is just the name of coproduction programs of several full EBU members. The majority of the Mediterranean Sea states are members and could run a ESC campaign.

Quote from TexasLTU :

Lithuania is forever perspective as always, probably won't get through semi-finals; therefore endless tears in local media

Gratz

so what's happened? Forgot about it. Where's the half naked Greek girl? Who won?

Quote from TFalke55 :

Well that doesn't mean a thing. Again Morocco is considered of joining the Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision is just the name of coproduction programs of several full EBU members. The majority of the Mediterranean Sea states are members and could run a ESC campaign.

still doesnt mean that he gets to have an oppinion on the most fun terrible music competiton there is
at least not until in about 5 years time when australia and nz will become eurovision members

Quote from -NightFly- :

Gratz

Facebook is bleeding from hoorays and gratses

Quote from TexasLTU :

Facebook is bleeding from hoorays and gratses

did our fag won anything?

Lucky enough didn't broke his spine during backflip, and yes he will participate in finals.

Quote from Shotglass :

still doesnt mean that he gets to have an oppinion on the most fun terrible music competiton there is
at least not until in about 5 years time when australia and nz will become eurovision members

Australia and New Zealand have asscociated member stations to the EBU and could watch their coverage^^ That's why the EBU was such an interesting partner for the IOC and the FIA WRC now.

How many points will dear old Engelbert get?

Estonia is 11th with "Ott Lepland - Kuula"

updated the starting line-up in the opening post

Quote from J@tko :

Or are they actually all plumbers and so the entire country is currently fitting toilets to all the stadia?

That's just ignorance and racism, not all Polish people are plumbers, a lot of them are dock workers and plasterers too.

Quote from J@tko :

Or are they actually all plumbers and so the entire country is currently fitting toilets to all the stadia?

Quote from ATC Quicksilver :

That's just ignorance and racism, not all Polish people are plumbers, a lot of them are dock workers and plasterers too.

I must have played to many video games... I thought all plumbers were Italian

I watched the video for Greece's entry and was quite disappointed to notice that the girl doesn't reveal nearly as much skin as inferred from some comments in this thread.