Re: ESC United - LIVE from Tel Aviv - Final dress rehearsal and jury show discussion
Today is Saturday 18 May 2019. The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 Grand Final takes place at the Expo Tel Aviv (International Convention Center), Tel Aviv, Israel tonight, starting at 20:00 BST. The 26 countries taking part tonight, in order of appearance, will be:
Malta, Albania, Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, Denmark, San Marino, North Macedonia, Sweden, Slovenia, Cyprus, Netherlands, Greece, Israel, Norway, United Kingdom, Iceland, Estonia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, France, Italy, Serbia, Switzerland, Australia, Spain.
Of course, as a UK citizen, I would like Michael Rice to win tonight with the UK's entry "Bigger Than Us", especially as it's now 22 years since the UK last won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997. However if bookies' odds are anything to go by, the Netherlands are most likely to win tonight, with Duncan Laurence's performance of "Arcade". If that wins, the Netherlands will have had 44 years gap between wins (1975 - 2019). Failing that, the most likely alternative winner looks set to be Australia, or perhaps Switzerland. Still, bookies' odds aren't the be all and end all; anything could happen tonight.
There are a few songs I wish hadn't qualified for the Grand Final. I still think Poland, Hungary and Belgium ought to have qualified place of Czech Republic, Iceland and San Marino on Tuesday evening, but it's no good moaning about that now. I can't expect to have all the songs I like in both semi-finals reach the Grand Final, and have all the songs I dislike weeded out in the semi-finals. On Tuesday evening I was convinced both Czech Republic and Iceland would be in the Grand Final.
Anyway good luck to all 26 finalists in Tel Aviv tonight. May the best song win.
