Eurovision Song Contest: Athens 2006: What is already known?

esctoday.com, Netherlands
Aug 19 2005

Athens 2006: What is already known?
Fri 19 Aug 2005 20:18:11
Source: esctoday.com
Written by: Marcus Klier

Only three months after the contest, many countries have already
launched information about their appearance in the 2006 Eurovision
Song Contest which will take place on 18th and 20th of May 2006 in
Athens, Greece.

National finals in 2006

It’s the turn of the Dutch speaking part of Belgium to organize the
national final. Before the final, there will be a series of
semifinals. The show will be hosted by Bart Peeters in February. As
for their neighbours, the Netherlands, then only a final will be
organised, hosted by Paul de Leeuw.

National finals are still rather popular in Scandinavia. Sweden has
already announced the dates of their selection. The final will be
held on 18 March. It’s also known that some former Eurovision Song
Contest participants want to take part in it again, namely Jessica
and Magnus, who formed the Duo Fame in 2003. But this time as solo
artists.

Denmark has also announced their dates for the final, being 11
February. The songs are allowed to be performed in every language.
Finland will have semifinals and a final, which will take place
exactly a month after the Danish final – on 11 March.

Monaco was said to withdraw again in 2006, but the country shows
interest in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest next year which makes
it likely that they will also participate in the adult version again.

As for Ireland then the casting show You’re a star will no longer
choose the singer to participate in the contest like it used to the
previous years.

The most active country has been Bulgaria because they are already
looking for songs to participate in their national final. And also,
it’s known that the winner of the latest edition of the Albanian Pop
Idol show, Erti Hizmo has won a ticket for the Albanian national
final in 2006, like Anjeza Shahini did in 2004.

Internal selections getting more popular

Probably due to the good results last years by artists chosen
internally there has been an increase in that area. So far 3
countries have announced that they will choose their representatives
this way. Starting with Turkey having three candidates for Athens:
Nil, Izel and Sefarad. The Greek broadcaster ERT wanted to ask
Despina Vandi according to MAD. The result of the proposal is not
known. The selection will be similar to last year when the singer was
chosen by ERT and the audience had the choice between several songs.
Switzerland will use the a similar format too because of their last
year’s success with the Estonian band Vanilla Ninja.

Things are not clear with Germany as after a preselection with only a
few well-known artists in 2005, Germany hopes for support by the
music industry like in 2004. Many famous artists have already told
that they won’t take part. It is not even known if there will be a
national final. Jürgen Meier-Beer, head of delegation has quit his
job, his succeeder is Jan Schulte Kellinghaus.

But not all countries which have taken part in the song contest to be
held in Athens next year. Austria withdrew from the 2006 Eurovision
Song Contest after a bad result in 2004 and 2005. Still, presumably
40 countries, together with the possible newcomers Armenia and
Georgia, will be allowed to take part in the 51st Eurovision Song
Contest.

–Boundary_(ID_DyQksvW5pzfTNsSUwDivlw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress