Eurovision 2014

Belgian French Axel Hirsoux pays tribute to his mother in an emotionally-charged song,which like the Norwegian entry is beyond his interpretive skills.

Dana International wannabe or Russell Brand in drag this song has the novelty factor which might just make it qualify.

An energetic Emma Marrone sings the standard Italian entry,which will not challenge the top places.

Here's Ireland's song again..an improvement on many in previous years but it's a crowded female solo vocalist field.

36 songs..waiting for a video from Russia,whilst Turkey sulks over the right to have automatic qualification like the Big Five(Germany,UK,France,Italy,Spain),no Czech Republic,Slovakia,Serbia,Croatia,Bulgaria or Cyprus due to financial constraints,and no sniff of Andorra or for us oldies Luxembourg or Monaco either.

Songs which stand out so far must include Romania,Sweden,Hungary,Denmark,Spain possibly with the UK just about making the first ranking list.

Will Putin's politics get in the way of an otherwise strong Russian entry..

Here are the latest odds,but from past experience they can and will change. I would wait for the rehearsals before rushing in where angels fear to tread.http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/eurovision

Here is the favourite.

Here are some more missing videos,starting with Switzerland.

Last year it was the boys who maybe surprisingly qualified at the expense of the girls(Ireland,Lithuania and Michael Howard's Belgian grandson Roberto Bellarosa). My heart goes out to some of these borderline entries,for whom qualification must mean the world.

This is a better arrangement from Malta,but those countries without a natural bloc need to be above mediocrity if they are to qualify.

Belarus should qualify for the Final but will be up against Hungary,Denmark,Norway and Armenia in the same genre,whose entries are all superior.

The more the drink is flowing with concomitant party atmosphere on the night the better the chance for Denmark,whose song is underrated with the bookies. Haven't the hosts also wangled this song to go last,as occurred similarly in 2001..

I have a sense of foreboding whenever I see those purposeless harpies gracing last year's San Marino entry akin to those that ruined Josh Dubovie's chances in 2010. Here's Valentina with a song which should qualify if only they manage to get the choreography right.

Thanks Punter. Keep your eye on the First Rehearsal of the Armenian guy. If he can hold an audience it may all be over..

Albania's song is here,which has got me thinking about the first semi-final:

Definite qualifiers should be: Armenia,Sweden,Russia,Azerbaijan,Ukraine,Belgium and Hungary.

This leaves three places for: Latvia,Estonia,Iceland,Albania,Moldova,San Marino,Portugal,Netherlands and Montenegro.

Difficult,but I will plump for Moldova,Albania and Latvia.

The second semi-final(8/5/14) should see the following countries safely through:Israel,Norway,Finland,Ireland,Belarus,Greece and Romania.

This leaves three places for:Malta,Poland,Georgia,Austria,Lithuania,F.Y.R.Macedonia,Switzerland and Slovenia.

Again difficult,but I will go for Slovenia,Switzerland and Poland.

Romania may win this semi-final outright.

Sorry I have the wrong song for Azerbaijan-the correct one is here. It's definitely in the running,and attempting to win with a mass of 8 point scores like the country's 2011 winner.