12points.tv

++ When in Baku ++ When in Sydney ++ Hurts asked for UK ++ Grannies baked pies for us ++..

We had a great chat with Loreen, Ivi Adamou and quite some more Eurovision artists. Our first interviews are now online. Loreen has revealed she is a shoe extremist, she wears high heals or nothing at all. With Ivi Adamou we also talked about shoes. Find all of our interviews here. More will follow!

With Rick stuck in Sweden at home on the couch while his colleagues are having a ball at the hall, here's his analysis of how the first rehearsals went.

++ The Euroclub is great ++ A Euroclub opening up in London ++ More rehearsals today ++ Loreen is on her way to Baku ++..

The third day of rehearsing has come. Željko from Serbia did well, as if we ever doubted he wouldn't. Maltese Kurt has completely taken the stage, and makes the very best out of his song. Kaliopi could very well be our best friend, such a charming personality. Joan's smile was warming, her persictance to be wearing the indian feathers is admirable. You can see clips of all rehearsals here.

++ Great first day ++ No more Indiana Joan? ++ About Eleftheria's shoes ++ Jónsi nervous? ++..

The preparations for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest have now really started for real, for the artists taking part in it. Today the first set of countries rehearsed on the beautiful stage in Baku. The stage really impressed. It is clear the Azerbaijani are using this contest to show their best side to Europe. Clips of all today's rehearsals you can see in our 12points video section, or on the frontpage (right) of our site. Apparently the press hall is still under construction, but getting there. Today the plasma tv's were installed so that all rehearsals can be watched there too. Read about our impressions of the first day here : Smiling faces everywhere.

++ Parodi Grand Prix tonight ++ No gay pride in Baku, Iran furious anyway  ++ Kuunkuiskajat #1 in Europe ++ Eurovision in the charts ++..

We are quite exited that next week already we are going to be in Baku to report about everything that is happening in the city that is the capital of Eurovision this month. Keep an eye on our site during the coming weeks, to get the best interviews (we're starting to get a record on that), all the news and some of the gossip too. For all of you heading to Azerbaijan as well, see you at the Euroclub and elsewhere.

++ Jedward's new single ++ Anggun get's bored a lot  ++ Armenia fined ++ Fins and fashion ++ Zeljko in Spanish ++..

It's all about Euro 2012. Not only we have Eurovision coming up, there seems to be something going on with soccer as well. This did get noted by the Jedwards too. You might recognise the music to their single Put the green cape on, that was released today. "Here we come, here we come, we've got Europe on the run."

++ Cyprus withdrawing? ++ Azerbaijan strikes back  ++ London warming up ++ More of today's Eurovision news ++ ..

This Saturday we are inviting you to come have a pub night filled with Eurovision at Push, a new bar in the town of 's-Hertogenbosch in the south of the Netherlands. 12points.tv is organising the night, so loads of danceable tracks from recent years as well as good classics are to be expected. And of course the best tunes of this years and a dash of Melodifestivalen to finish it of!

++ 1967 winner supports Amnesty International ++ April's fool  ++ London taxi's in Baku ++ Niels Brinck joins Anggun ++ ..

1967 Eurovision winner Sandie Shaw supports Amnesty International's call on Azerbaijan to stop the repression of free media in the country.  The recent case of Khadija Ismayilova encouraged Sandie to speak out. Sandie Shaw said: "That anyone would stoop so low in an attempt to silence an independent journalist is sickening. The people behind this appalling blackmail and smear campaign must be brought to justice. And the persecution of independent journalists in Azerbaijan must stop."

For the first time since 1998 we will hear a song in Swedish on the Eurovision stage again. From Finland this time.

Pernilla Karlsson won the final of UMK, or should we call it NMT from now which would be the Swedish abbreviation. She will sing När jag blunder in the first semi final on 22 May. Only once before Finland got represented by a song in Swedish, which is the second language of the country.

++ Line up Spain complete ++  Amnesty International critical about Azerbaijan ++ Talking to Charlotte tonight! ++ ..

There is the general prejudice that non-white artists don't get too many votes from eastern European countries. Recent examples are Norway's entry last year and the Netherlands in 2007. This year Ukraine almost seems to have made a statement against this prejudice, selecting Gaitana to represent the country in Baku. Gaitana is partly Congolese but she was born and raised in Ukraine. Apparently this now hasn't turned out to be accepted generally in the country anyway. In Ukrainian press Yuriy Syrotyuk, of the Svoboda party, said that "Gaitana is not an organic representative of the Ukrainian culture." "Eurovision is our chance to promote Ukraine," "We need to show our originality," he told Kyiv Post on Feb. 21. Such a pity!