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THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2013
Malmo, Sweden is the host city after Loreen emerged victorious last year with "Euphoria". 
This year's 39 participating countries are: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Netherlands, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, FYR Macedonia, Malta, San Marino, Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, (and those already in the Grand Final:) France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK. 

Ireland has gone against tradition and is offering up an upbeat dance/pop song: "Only Love Survives", performed by Ryan Dolan.:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNQNdHV279w

Iceland has selected a ballad in its national language and it is very impressive. The title translates into "I Have a Life". Here is Eythor Ingi with "Eg a Lif":
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtunhyMW1hM

Like Iceland, Malta has yet to ever win the ESC. This year, Gianluca Bezzina is singing the Maltese entry (which many are saying is very reminiscent of Train's "Hey Soul Sister"), "Tomorrow":
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WmJXIR9xtw

OLDER POSTS: 
Austria, France, Romania, Ukraine, San Marino, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, UK, Germany and Norway.
The first country to perform this year will be Austria, with the song "Shine: by Natalia Kelly:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEsfs-nHiTs

The French almost always offer an interesting if not a strong contender and this year Amandine Bourgeois will represent France with "L' Enfer et Moi" (Hell and Me):
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQJaab8j4fU


Arguably, the WTF? moment of this year's semi -finals will be Cezar's "It's my Life" for Romania. I strongly doubt it will make it onto the Grand Final: it is woeful! Judge for yourself:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pNEEb6dzi8

Zlata Ognevich is performing "Gravity", the Ukrainian entry (in English)"
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBBzyg_m4Qs

San Marino has a lovely Italian number, performed by Valentina Monetta (who represented the autonomous region last year with that cheeky Facebook song), "Crisalide (Vola)", which translates to "Chrysalis (Fly)":
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi8mZ2ejLcE

Denmark is being represented by Emmelie De Forest with the thumping "Only Teardrops":
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k59E7T0H-Us

The Dutch entry is interesting this year: "Birds" by Anouk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cAW6tjPFcc

Here's the Italian song: "L' essenziale" (The Essential) by Marco Mengoni:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6-epdgwrRQ

Host country Sweden normally has a knockout song, and this year's has actually grown on me:
Robin Stjernberg: "You":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWCzWd0G4YY

The Brits are hopeful that Bonnie Tyler's brand of country - pop  (very Shania Twain/ LeAnn Rimes) will result in a strong finish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HALTU11QE6g

Germany will be represented by dance act Cascada and an upbeat song entitled "Glorious".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y77A9-hQAp0

My personal favourite (so far) is Norway's entry. Margaret Berger sings "I Feed You My Love": very catchy and current. I hope it finishes well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgGiBRj0yns

This report will be updated regularly in the weeks leading up to the big final on May 18.