One of my little longshot bets too Joe - the song/performance is potentially way better than it's odds, and Israel have done Ok in Eurovision before (won it of course with Dana).

"Israel have done Ok in Eurovision before (won it of course with Dana)."

"all kinds of everything...already" my dear

The Grans will clearly catch public attention, could be a very big story. Don't know how the juries will take it but laying isn't a good idea, imo.

joe/stu

imo cyprus is dreadful.  I like Israel (not sure if for Eurovision tho) - it's very 80s, a sort of Blow Monkeys / Maisonettes cross for me.

and is it the Israel singer who looks and performs a bit like Ben Volpierrethingummy, lead singer of Curiosity Kills the Cat?

There was a vid of someone performing in a beret and long coat, can't find it or remember who it was now.

german guy had a beard and a lumberjack shirt from memory

oh yeh, that one - I've backed that one at 25 before I even heard the song, seemed a bad move then the market moved and seemed a better move now...

test

Sweden?...well i suppose if there's a market, something has to be favorite.

Once the russian novelty value has worn off its toast in the final if it gets there? Would be the death of ESC if this won so it won't. Juries won't have it anyway I suspect.

The Juries were actually pretty divided over Euphoria.  Admittedly it topped the vote with them, but some countries had it as low as 4th or 5th and this was out of 10 songs - not 25 like it will be.

Completely disagree popking. The international juries averaged 10.36 out of the maximum 12. Wide range of countries as well. I've not heard anything yet that comes near to it.

And this years melodivfestivalen was a strong one for me. Amazing would probably have been first or second favourite if it had won last night. Couple of others would have been top 10 final material. Yes there may be 25 in the final but 90% of them are selling platers.

Sweden's a worthy favourite and well done to those that traded it down to this price. However for me its far too low now. Its a western pop song, almost a 'club' song - I'm not sure how this will go down with juries or Eastern Europe. Not saying it won't do well I'm just not sure it will. Beating Danny and the other entrants doesn't really convince me of its jury worthiness but at least the Swedes do have this element to reassure punters.
For this kind of price I'd want a watertight case for a nation without the mass of voting allies other countries have. Even within its own region Denmark, Norway and Iceland have all provided songs with some degree of merit.
I'd also want to know it doesn't get drawn early or around songs like Cyprus or potentially Greece if it selects Aphrodisiac.

Fairytale for me was a magical song and had a charismatic Rybak and his violin. I can understand why that appealed to all of Europe. My initial reaction to Euphoria was that its not the type of song to have this pan Europen support and in fact I found the chorus annoying.

Won't be laying but will be backing others each way at the Sweden inflated odds.

I agree with most of what you have said Bex - I just don't see that it has the crossover appeal required.  Anna Bergendahl did well with the juries, as did Charlotte Perrelli.  I know they were different types of songs, but neither pulled many televotes when it came to ESC.  Winning a jury vote in a national final does not immediately suggest this will translate to votes in ESC.

I think the east europeans will have no problems with this. the old east/west pop music divide is old hat now. Can't google any charts but I understand that the not dissimilar euforia with the very scantily clad young lady was a big hit in the balkans. Loreen's is much more pop oriented than that one was.  Like I say I'm not saying it will win but if it ends up my biggest green I hope it does.  Gone are the days when I nail my colours to any particular mast.

The last few years have been littered with as many favourites that have failed badly like France last year and Corrine May in spectacular form for Germany a few years ago as Rybak and Bilan who have gone on to win well.

I wish I had a big enough bank, or enough time/investment required to trade well to all Green.  I don't, and I have laid Sweden already and hope to lay more.  I won't be overly concerned having it red for the final (was a lot more concerned about France last year for example).

George we will have to disagree on the east/west divide argument. The national finals of the eatern nations over the last few years have included pop songs and with a more modern western feel. None I can remember making it through the public vote.

not saying this just to play down Sweden but I honestly do prefer Norway, denmark and Iceland to it. Danny failing in Sweden means Norway have this years Eric Saade and it does have an eastern ethnic feel to it. its one I feel is overpriced although it has the same problem with competing for the scandinavian vote.

My personal fav is Iceland but I know others dont see it.