Eurovision 2008: the pre-game warm-up

The semi-finals for the Eurovision Song Contest are over, with the final happening in Belgrade tomorrow evening. What I didn't realise about the newly rejigged semi-finals is that the selection of competing countries isn't completely random: the Baltic and Balkan states have been deliberately split between the two heats so that they can't all vote for each other. Even Greece and Cyprus have been kept apart to stop their annual round of mutual gratification.

The most shocking result from the semis was the elimination of Dustin the Turkey, the singing Irish puppet superstar with the self-referential song "Irland, Douze Points". I guess that's the penalty for not taking Eurovision seriously. And not being from eastern Europe.

After going to the trouble of pointing out the most likely losers to watch, the odds have now changed. The United Kingdom is running third least likely to win, with Germany now with the longest odds, behind Albania. The German song is "Disappear" by No Angels. Move over Elvis, move over The Beatles:

Their success story to date remains unique in the world of music and impressively illustrates that no one should underestimate girl power...

Previously, in Eurovision news:

• The Drinking Game Rules!
• The Eurovision director thinks the contest's kitschy reputation is all Terry Wogan's fault!
• Franco rigged the 1968 Eurovision to deprive Cliff Richard of his birthright!
• The French let slip that they can understand English after all!
• "The first time that a turkey in the form of a glove puppet has [allegedly] represented a nation"!
• The 2007 Contest in all its glory!