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44-country record looms
Monaco back in Moscow?
It seems that talks with the EBU have led to TMC, the Monégasque broadcaster, to apply to take part in the 2009 competition, although they still have until the deadline to make their final decision. TMC initially applied to take part in the 2007 contest in Helsinki as well but withdrew before the final deadline for participation. Whether or not they will do so this year in time for next year's contest remains to be seen. Changes to the voting system in which the jury now affects the results is thought to have appeased some of Monaco's demands.
Despite being Eurovision's smallest country with only 31,000 residents Manaco had one of the brightest Eurovision records in the 60s & 70s, with many top 5 placings and even a win in 1971 with Séverine's "Un banc, un arbre, une rue". They took a long break after 1979, not returning until the semi final in Istanbul in 2004 with Maryon's "Notre planète", which failed to qualify from the semi final after only gathering 10 points. Bottom 5 placings in the semi for Lise Darly and Séverine Ferrer in 2005 and 2006 respectively led to the disillusionment of the Monégasque broadcaster, leading to their withdrawal from the 2007 edition.
After Slovakia announced their comeback a few weeks ago, it seems that should Monaco indeed send a representative to Moscow, Eurovision will break its record of participating countries yet again, with 44 beating 2008's 43, despite Georgia's withdrawal and Austria's continued boycott.
The final list of countries participating in Moscow is expected by the end of the year.
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>filipe ramos> HERE HERE!
You been drinking?
That's nice that Slovakia and Monaco are coming back to ESC...
Why doesn't EBU refuse the participation of NON-European countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia as we have already enough countries to make 2 semi finals?
Why does UK, Germany, France and Spain are ALLWAYS getting direct access to the final when they send horrible songs? This way, the viewers won't vote to them ... so, they will stay very under-rated.
IMHO it would be nice to watch the winner or the host country direct at the final and two semi finals ... one with all countries that participated before 1992 and another with all new countries since 1993. Non European countries wouldn't be able to enter ... For them, there is ASIA VISION that will start soon, or AFRICA VISION, that may be will appear one day ... otherwise, one day we will have Kazakhstan or Shit-kistan or even Japan.
Wouldn't be nice to hear ...
The song n.º 350 is from Japan ... it is called "Watashi o nata ao ish masu" that means "I love you" sang by Ping-Pong?
LOL
Isn't there supposed to be some press conference today about the provisional list for Moscow (21/11/08)? Does anyone have any info on it?
I'd be surprised if Lebanon enters anytime soon, unless their "position" on Israel changes.
Does anyone think that Lebanon could possibly return too? Or does it not seem likely?
Poor Monaco. They will never qualify as they don't seem to know the successful formule for the final. Despite that, they don't seem to have the most friends. And we now that juries pass only country in the semifinal.
I just wish Italy would return :-( I find it a great shame that RAI should refrain from sending Italy to the contest for the 12th consecutive year. I wish RAI would at least give Italy one more chance at Eurovision.
I´m so lucky, lucky...:-)
I know, the English Meaning is an other, than the German, but it´s soooooo great, that we maybe see Monaco again. Monaco is such a great Country. Séverine was a great Singer...but I liked her German Songs more than the French:-)
I´m happy about every new/returning Country, but Monaco returning would make me rejoice.
@ Kiva .
I don´t know, where are you from, but I watch very much Austrian TV & I also watch the ESC-Final on Austrian TV every Year (the German Commentator is horrible). Last Year, the Austrian Commentator started an Autograph-Petition for Austria returning to ESC. & the Audience Measurement wasn´t as low, as many People thought. I think Austrian People, especially Fans would maybe like to come back. But it´s the ORF who decides...
Monaco back to the ESC? That'd be a good thing. The higher the number of countries participating, the better. That would lessen the importance of politically-biased voting. And more songs in French would be great, too. French once was THE ESC's most important language (Winners 1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977...). And may Italy, Luxemburg, Austria or even Morocco come back. And welcome to Kosovo, Liechtenstein or Lebanon...
or? We could put Russia in the semi final?
If the Semi's were uneven, then Spain (as the lowest contributor to the Eurovision of the Big 4) should be kicked out of final and into the smaller semi.
I would love Monaco to return. But... why do you want to break more records with more countries. I think this 2-semifinal format is bad. If you see both semifinals... in final there is no emotion at all (not countries with unseen stage show).
Monaco is nice... but why do u want Austria or Italy? They said very clear they don't want to take part... Let them be.
I wouldn't say AUSTRIA BOICOTT because they said they don't want to participate, they didn't say boicott anywhere.
We have to respect all the countries that don't want to participate as well.
Brilliant, the Eurovision Song Contest just got about 6 minutes longer... I'm all for everyone being given an equal opportunity to participate, but I really think too many countries could do more harm than good. Seeing as that's not going to change...good luck to Monaco. No matter what you send, France will probably vote for you, if they are able to vote in your semi final. 31,000 people isn't many to pick a winning artist from...so there's surely a good chance they will import an artist? Maybe some Scandinavian artist? Well, they are everywhere... (That was a joke - some people around here might take that seriously). And lets not get too caught up on what they have sent before, every country has sent poorer quality entries before (yes, even YOUR country has!).
I'm noty so sure that at the end we will have 44 or 45 countries in Moscow.
Why Montenegro and San Marino are so silent?
And I think Italy won't be back as always!
It will be nice to have another song from a French speaking country!
I have nothing against Monaco but I just hope they send something a little more interesting than their last three attempts!
Also if they had withdrawn on the grounds of bloc voting after sending something amazing and still not qualifying then fair enough (because it does happen... Netherlands for the last few years for example), but the last song they sent was possibly one of the most annoying songs I've EVER heard! Which just made them look like scowling babies
Johny K, you got me wrong.
What i meant to say is that the draw should decide in which semi there are 19 songs, and which there are 20, and whoever is stuck with more competition in the larger semi final... then.... tough luck. Afterall, even though a draw is really fair, it's not 100% because it can't divide the quality of the songs evenly, and then you can get one semi final which is tougher competition (better songs) than the other. Too bad, but nothing is perfect !
Yeah! Monaco should be back!
I like the songs in french!!!!
Excellent news!
Now only Luxembourg, Italy and Austria to follow. Georgia will get back in 2010 (I'm sure of that), but I'd like to see them in Moscow as well.
Good news!
I hope for Monaco!
Monaco come back, s´il vous plait!
GOOD NEW! I support TMC regarding the decision to participate once again in ESC, even if they takes part just for the 2009 edition.
Could be good news...if La Belgique choses to sing again in French... Maybe 3 french songs in next year's contest. Of the last 3 Monegask entries I like two, the last two and I absolutely adored "Tout de moi", which reminded me a bit of the entry of Israel. Beautiful girl, same kind of dress, very strong voice, beautiful lyrics and looked very well on tv. I was so dissapointed Monaco did not qualify..... then we still thought it was because of the language, now we know better,....
I think Monaco should join us this year - one sane country in the entire mess is well over blessed.
if they will continue next year as well with Georgia coming back (unless Russia can cheat her way out to another victory)
next year will be also a new record - and if and when Austria will want to get back in - it will be a real highlight in the number of countries.
I think Monaco should wait until 2010 before they come back. They have nothing to prove here; the EBU does. So let the EBU demonstrate that the new rules make the voting less biased and predictable first, and then after careful assessment Monaco should decide whether or not they desire to participate in this contest next season or at a later stage.
Delightful! I adore Monaco
Good news (if confirmed) ....maybe the jury really convinced Italy to return too (I still doubt it though, especially after Paolo's failure ).
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