Thanks for hosting tonight, Corki. See you on Saturday.

I haven't finished yet! Results are still to come!

Time for a trip down memory lane (of the last 5 years, anyway) with local Azerbaijani instruments.

 

- Dima Bilan (Russia) - I do like this ballad after all these years!

- Marija Šerifović (Serbia) - That is how you do a ballad!

- Alexander Rybak (Norway) - I still hate this song! It robbed Iceland of victory! And someone break his fiddle!

- Lena (Germany) - Not a great fan, but showing that the Big 5 can win!

- Ell & Nikki (Azerbaijan) - Obviously saving their winning song for Saturday night and singing probably the best known winning song, ABBA's Waterloo

Wow, Harry Potter got fat...Oh wait, it is Molitva-Marija, my bad :)

Waterloo was voted the greatest ever Eurovision Song Contest song back in 2005, so that explains why it was picked.

I say Molitva is the greatest ever. Waterloo is more appreciated than it deserves bevause it launced ABBA as a supergroup, their really good songs came later.

The 10 qualifiers are:

 

1. Lithuania

2. Bosnia & Herzegovina *

3. Serbia *

4. Ukraine *

5. Sweden *

6. F.Y.R. Macedonia *

7. Norway

8. Estonia *

9. Malta

10. Turkey

 

So that is 6 correct guesses for the Grand Final on Saturday.

I am quite surprised that Lithuania, Norway and Turkey made it through. I felt that Lithuania was a weak ballad; and Norway and Turkey were uninspiring.

 

But quite a few ballads have made it through to the Grand Final.

Shocker that Bulgaria did not go through, the best of the more modern, uptempo songs.

Yes, it was a shame that Bulgaria didn't make it through...but Turkey did!?!?!?!?

 

Anyway, see you all on Saturday. I know I am playing cricket, but I will do my utmost to be on time!