I'm delighted that the BBC is giving proper coverage to this year's contest but I wonder why (NOT).
Remember - I was in charge of choosing the UK entry - with massive help from the UK Music industry and public.
We entered the best ever entry (in my opinion) in 1996 (Ooh Aah Just a Little Bit - MADE for the contest), won it in 1997 (Katrina), hosted it in 1998 and came second (Imaani).
What did I have that every Producer since hasn't had?
Good ears.
Fingers crossed for this year (Mae Muller's song is pretty good though VERY derivative).

Well I didn't hear the vaguest hint of a hit in the first Semi. These days it's concentration of the visual for Eurovision. There is a point in this - my favourite entry as UK Boss was Gina G's but it lost as she was only an average performer. Whereas Katrina won with a less good song because she sold it brilliantly. But I believe the essential must still be a great song. It is a Song Contest after all.

Could it be there is nobody in the music industry anymore who knows how to hear, less alone make or break, a Mass Appeal Hit?

I do remember NOBODY, in music biz, media or public, agreed with me about Who Let The Dogs Out or I Get Knocked Down But I Get Up Again.
Both sold 16 million records.

Bizarre that BBC Russian Editor Steve Rosenberg turns out to be a huge Eurovision fan yet is not allowed to discuss the shocking censorship not allowing Russia into a United By Music global contest.

I bet there's not a hit in today's SEMI either - where are the SONGS instead of the costumes?

I rather liked Denmark. Originally, catchy and fun.

Hey Romania isn't bad either - at least original.

How odd I quite like Estonia too; none of these are hits but at least they are musically inventive.

Compared to past years, the standards have dropped dramatically.

Bland, talentless, repetitive and tone-free music, and singers.

Looks, costumes and presentation - have totally taken over.

This is/was an event for the best producers and performances/singers. No longer.


🤫

Oh yes it's Austria for me - Poe Poe Poe - still not a hit but what fun.