This year's Eurovision Song Contest has seen an exceptionally high number of 'gimmick' entries, entries
that aim to attract attention with little emphasis on music or singing ability. Songs from Ireland, Estonia, and Spain have had fans of the Eurovision Song Contest outraged. Entries from Croatia and Latvia have been accused of the same, and last night, Belgium choose a song in a made up language – for the second time in five years. In this editorial, we are asking readers and members of esctoday.com whether these songs are to the detriment of the competition, and whether they should be accepted as entries, or whether they in fact help the Eurovision Song Contest to maintain viewer levels and interest in the competition.

Gimmick entries place emphasis on attention rather than on musical ability, composer skill or singing ability. With so many more countries competiting, the chances to win have been greatly reduced for all and some countries have seen huge reductions in viewing levels and interest in recent years. Countries such as Ireland, who hold the record for most victories, have seen many entries lost in the marathon that has become the Eurovision Song Contest, either failing to get to the final, and last year, finishing last for the first time. Offered the option of Dustin the Turkey, a comedic character of national fame, the population jumped at the chance to break with traditional Irish or balladic entries and send a glove puppet that appears to attack the Eurovision Song Contest for 'bad acts and sad acts' in the lyrics.

In Estonia, where the country initially found success at the Eurovision Song Contest, but has failed to reach the final in the last four years, a similar story can be found. Their entry Leto Svet has little in the way of musical genius or lyrical masterpiece. Spain has sent a comedian Rodolfo Chikilicuatre with the song Baila el Chiki Chiki. The media in Spain backed the entry because it showed that the competition has become a joke and this was the perfect song to represent Spain.

Bosnia Herzegovina's entry has musical acclaim and credibility as a music piece, however the act is by a known comedian wearing make-up and looking like a joker who sang to a live chicken on stage. This is hardly the stuff that we are used to from a country that has a tradition for strong Balkan themed songs and credible pop music. Is it co-incidence that this happens within a couple of months of a rule being added to ban live animals from the Eurovision Song Contest stage? To those who do not understand the lyrics, it looks like a mockery rather than a passionate performance.

In some countries, these acts have been seen as a hugely damaging occurance that hits the credibility of the competition as a muscial showcase or to promote musical ability. Ireland's entry has received negative or humourous coverage in several countries that has detracted from the promotion of their own representatives. Should they succeed, it may make it much harder for the Eurovision Song Contest to attract credible singers and song writers in the future. Former Irish winner and politician, Dana called for Ireland to withdraw their entry and stop competing because of the damaging effect the entry could have on aspiring singers that want to use the competition as a springboard to success.

The counter argument is that these entries are helping to promote the Eurovision Song Contest and provide additional media coverage in their own countries and beyond. Certainly, in the United Kingdom, where the Eurovision Song Contest often struggles to gain publicity, the selection of the Irish entry created a media buzz. The news was even carried on American news channel, CNN. In Ireland and Spain, the national finals saw huge increases in viewing figures, making it far less likely that either country's national broadcaster would withdraw from the competition in the immediate future.

These gimmick entries are often successful in music sales terms too. Last year, Ukraine's Verka Seduchka became the first not British, Non Eurovision Song Contest winning entry to break into the British music sales charts, one of the toughest in the world. She also found success in France, another country that has seen a massive decline in interest over recent years. These occurances also benefit the Eurovision Song Contest as a channel for promoting business success for record companies.

The question is whether there is still a balance in the Eurovision Song Contest, or whether the increasing number of gimmick entries has tipped the scales to a point where they now damage the Eurovision Song Contest. These types of entries are not new to the event. Dschinghis Khan, a gimmick entry from Germany in 1979 has become one of the classic Eurovision anthems. Israel's Hoopa Hoola from 1987 is also popular at Eurovision parties, and that was sung by two popular comedians. Alf Poiers scored one of Austria's best results in 2003 with what has been described as a joke entry.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Do you think that gimmick entries are acceptable for the Eurovision Song Contest or do they make a mockery of the event? Should organisers accept them and take no action, or introduce rule changes to prevent the increasing number of gimmick entries? Should the EBU take immediate action and refuse to accept these entries at the Head of Delegation meeting in Belgrade on 17th March? Should it remain the task of national broadcasters to decide the rules of entry to national selections and should they take responsibility for allowing or stopping gimmick entries? Have your say in the reactions below?

In addition to adding your views in the reactions, please also vote in the two polls below.

POLL ONE: WHAT EFFECT DO GIMMICK ENTRIES HAVE ON EUROVISION?

POLL TWO: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT GIMMICK ENTRIES?