ATHENS 2006: REACTIONS ON THE RESULTS

esctoday.com, Netherlands
May 23 2006

Apart from one winner, this year’s Eurovision Song Contest also ends
up with 36 countries that didn’t make it. While in some countries,
people are generally positive about the result of ‘their’ Eurovision
Song Contest entrant, others are searching for an explaination of
their falure.

Malta faces its worst Eurovision Song Contest result ever. The one
point from Albania couldn’t keep Fabrizio from its disappointing
last place. Current Maltasong head Robert Abela expressed his
disappointment, while former head Grace Abela fired her critics
towards the committee in favour of her own “ignored suggestions”.

Fabrizio himself blamed his last place to a failing in-ear of one
of his backing vocals. “He couldn’t use it in the last minute, so
sometimes his voice was higher than mine”, Fabrizio said. The young
singer described his result as “one of the most difficult moments”
of his carreer.

Daz, representing the United Kingdom, said that “one of the best acts
won the competition”. Though, to the Manchester Evening News he said
that he has not been able to prove that “politics isn’t in danger
of killing the greatest music competition on earth”, party blaming
political voting for his loss.

Greek representative Anna Vissi, who was tipped to bring Greece its
second victory, didn’t came further than a 9th place. The day after
the contest she could be seen crying in front of cameras while telling
about her loss. Greek top singer Anna Vissi received 128 points from
22 countries, which guarantuees Greece a place in next year’s final.

Norway’s entrant Christine Guldbrandsen came 14th with her ballad
Alvedansen, although the betting odds and fan polls generally predicted
better. “I am not disappointed”, Christine said, though she hoped
for a top-10 position to qualify the next Norwegian entrant for the
2007 final. “I feel good and along the way, the respons has been very
good (…). We gave the best possible performance, we couldn’t have
done better”.

The Armenian delegation was relieved after the final, as Andre brought
the debuting nation an 8th position in the final, therefor qualifying
for the 2007 final as well. “I was so happy when we qualified for
the final, so imagine how we felt when it became clear we made it to
the top-10 in the final”, Armenian delegation head Diana Mnatsakanyan
said to esctoday.com.

In Belgium and the Netherlands, two countries that didn’t make it
to the final, media and viewers are generally negative towards a
continuing involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest. “Sick of
Eurovision Song Contest”, the leading Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf
wrote as frontpage headline this weekend. In Belgium, some even suggest
that Kate Ryan should pay back the EUR 60,000,- she received from
the Flemish government to fund her participation and promotion tour.