Having thought about it

There seemed to be a deep anti-schlager bias
There seemed to also be a bias against busy and cliched choreography
The world is a fast moving place - Eurovision has heeded the call and what was fashionable five years in ago in Eurovision terms now passes as old hat.

To win you have to take into account all these factors.

Yes, I think I agree

All the novelty vote lined up behind Ukraine and it still got beaten by what must be the most conservative ballad, musically, since 1993.

The schlagers all disappeared in the semi. The semi was won by a ballad, and the song which came in second was a ballad, too.

Sweden flopped in the final, despite being highly fancied.

And generally bad performances did lead to bad votes - witness Switzerland and Andorra in the semi and Ireland in the Final

I liked the winner, but I think most of all it has given the green light for less emphasis on the 'big stage show' next year

Of you think about it the winner was a very straightforward performance the one that came second the epitome of camp and i think the fact it came second suggests that that sort of performance has reached its peak and is ready to implode. The song that came third had no busy choreography was up to the second rather than the minute rockpop.

And look at the semi - Serbia followed by Hungary.

Just thought I'd post something as noone has for years.

I still can't believe Austria did so badly. A top song, well performed.

Have you noticed that in all publicity shots Eric the Austrian avoids showing his hairline, wherever that might be.

This is very true, Tim.

Facially, Eric the Austrian reminds me of a really posey bloke who drinks in a gaybar in Liverpool and wears a vest whatever the weather.

I had Austria as a qualifier when I watched the semi.

I dare say I know what he feels like. There's nothing better than after a hard day at the pit than bumming around in your vest and pants.

And I still think Austria was robbed, along with Andorra who were more mugged than robbed.

Heh-heh. It's de rigeur in the vallies, I daresay.

Now then, gossipers, the new Encyclopaedia was the first wave, but there's a Whoops revamp imminent in the next seven days. I'm creating an archive of sections which I think have run their course, as well as sections on the different Contests Whoops has covered since it began, and well, that sort of thing.

So, if you want to let me know what you think about it via Dot's virtual talky corner of a tea shop, please do!

Jame

I like "Gossip at Dot's" as I can do it in my vest and pants.

And you can't say that about everything.

Nuff said

Funnily enough, I tend to be in my vest and pants when updating Whoops Dragovic.

It occured to me last night whilst stuck in a traffic jam (and not in my vest and pants) that the Bulgarian songstress seemed to be demanding an Easter Egg. Obviously during the song someone had given her one (fnarr) as later you can quite clearly hear her requesting "More Egg, more egg!". I think Guy Lingual should investigate further.

I shall give Guy Lingual a call. Although, judging by his photo, that **** sexy creature will be too busy dodging admirers to receive calls.

What's the traffic like in Oman?

As in most places on Planet Earth they are digging everywhere up so we can get there quicker. I spend many a happy hour stuck by the Al Khuwair roundabout which has recently become a fancy traffic light system and is no longer round. I won't even begin to talk about the chaos ensuing every night near Lulu. Lulu is of course a major hypermarket and not the Scottish Songstress of the Sixties. Curiously enough Dana has a battery chicken farm here and Teach-In is an Arabic Language School. I'm trying to get them to name the new airport Dana International, but I fear in vain.

Tim, slow down. You've got the winners of '69, '70 and '75 there, so you need to fill the gaps in between first.

Nip down to the Severine massage parlour and order a Vicky Leandros with an Anne-Marie David thrown in, then pop over to Abba-Kebab-Ra for something to eat on the way home.

And did I mention that Corinne Hermes sells handbags outside the soukh and Johnny Logan has a tailors shop specialising in white suits?

Muscat - where winners of Eurovision come to set up small and medium sized businesses.

Apart from Lulu who has 2 large hypermarkets in the city and parking is a nightmare on a Friday.

I always knew Lulu was evil. If she's a Muscat conglomerate, it can only be the beginning of her plans for tiny Scottish lady domination.

It won;t be long before Boom Bang a Bang is wiped from the world's history records forever, to be replaced by the Elton John song which came last.

This one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VKEJGQ2zPQ

That lad's dad must be so proud.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VKEJGQ2zPQ

Is that the Dan from the messageboard?

God no! :)