Who will go through?

I noticed that all the top vote winners in the final last year seemed to come from the semi and I suspect the double exposure actually helps a lot.

I have foregone my ticket to this afternoons rehearsals to see how the songs look and sound on screen.

I am now ready to stick my neck on the block with my predictions for the ten qualifiers:-

Belarus, Switzerland, Denmark, Serbia, Macedonia, Andorra, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkey and Latvia.

I'll be back to gloat tomorrow if I do well. Will stay away if I have egg on my face.

It would make sense that the double exposure helps but as there have only been three semi finals, it's too soon to be sure. Two wins from the qualifiers so far, and one from a finalist.

Also, the final has much bigger viewing figures as most TV companies show the semis on minority channels, so maybe the advantage is not that great

Not bad Anthony - seven out of ten.... but surprised by no Swiss, Danes, Anonymandorrans...

Like Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary...

So, with 7 out of 10, give us your final Top Five!

The Hungarian girl has a great voice.

DJ Bobo sold around 15 mil records but his songs are crap, and this one was one of his worst songs.

Israel sounded funny. And the girl in the white dress had the best legs.. where is she from?

Malta should have went thru one of the best songs on the night, instead of that awful Turkey.

Slovenia will probably walk it all the way on Saturday, its different from all the songs, and it stands out like a sore thumb from the rest, I quite like it its my favourite. Watch this song it will go all the way.

Russia, Moldova (by the why nice chick, loved her leather trousers, any more lower she could have got done for indecent exposure), Macedonia and Georgia could be in there with a chance as well.

Scooch has got no chance at all for us, it probably be second from bottom along with Ukraine

Did we suffer from Eastern Europeanitis?

Will the Final be equally dominated by East voting?

Are they more impressed and intrigued by the contest and therefore more likely to vote than the TeleVotedOut inhabitants of Western countries?

Or is it, as I suspect, that with NO real hits in this year's contest (last year there were several) neighbourly voting will rule?

Win or lose or indifferent in placing,Scootch have left us with one of the most ironic Eurovision jests ever.

We don`t actually need Wogan, just stick The Scootchers on for 30 seconds in between each act.

Quite adequate.
Seriuosly though as a pop addict I`m really looking forward to it.

I've listened to all of the Eurovision songs several times now. Some of them I liked very much on first hearing, but after a while they became just normal and average sounding. Others I was not impressed with at all from the start. By the final listen, only one stayed in my head with annoying freshness, even though I wouldn't have picked it as one of the best. It's the song from Ukraine.

Despite this, my favourite is the German entry.

However, I've decided to wipe out all of my thoughts on the songs so far, as much as is possible, and watch the show on Saturday and decide on who gives the best performance on the night. Back to basics.

I suspect that, as usual, I'll be quite disappointed with the overall winner - although I'm prepared to be surprised.

Scooch could finish in the top ten.

I have just watched the rehearsals on a big screen in the press centre. I'm not ready to come out with a top five yet. I'll wait until I have watched them in the arena tonight. I have never found it so difficult. Many countries have finally sussed what it takes to grab votes in this format, but they can't all succeed.

The biggest audience reactions today were for Ukraine and Germany. I do fear that Ukraine is going to walk the contest. The "nutter" song as I call it usually comes about fifth or sixth, but without a genuine hit and with so many different musical styles to choose from, I don't see what can stop it. Only the pure class of Serbia has a chance.

The western journalists were fuming after the semi results, but now I have had time to reflect, I'm not sure. I wouldn't deny the regional voting element exists, but they use their big stars, and appear to have invested much more thought into what it takes to win. With the exception of Andorra, there was nothing but a dated tired old format from the western nations.

As for Scooch today, the only word which springs to mind is amateur. Had I been watching them in Butlins, I may have said they were quite good, but for an international song festival, this is an embarrassment.

Incidentally they have a Nothing to Declare sign on stage. Not sure whether this refers to their talent or the number of points they will receive

So having watched both of todays ESC rehearsals, I shall have a go at my top 5 prediction:-

Ukraine, Serbia, Latvia, Belarus, Turkey.

I'm quite confident that I have the top two. It is rumoured in the press centre that Latvia won the semi by a mile. I have heard these rumours in previous years though, and they have proven false.

I think Germany and Hungary could be dark horses, as they are different in style to the other songs, and both have great performers, and Moldova, coming at the end after a run of mediocre songs could be in with a shout. And I haven't entirely ruled out Slovenia.

As for last place, I can't see beyond UK

The girl with the great legs is called Natalia..

Y