12points.tv

++ Indians offended ++ We've talked with Loreen! ++  Dima Bilan back to Eurovision? ++ Humpy in! ++ ..

Two major news items caught our attention, and probably yours too, yesterday. First of all, the Diva is back, Dima Bilan that is, he will be giving Eurovision a third try. Quite brave of him to be returning after his victory in 2008, any better position won't be available.... But first he'll have to battle 24 other artists in the Russain final next week. Quite sure he'll manage that though. And oh yeah, he is not doing it alone this time, he will be joined by t.A.T.u.'s Julia. We o like her!

Second big news: the UK is sending Engelbert Humperdinck (75) to Eurovision. My grandmother adored him!

One and a half week earlier than expected the Israeli entry for this year's Eurovision already is out.... The song Time was selected internally and wasn't due to be released before the beginning of March. But now you cal already hear it on youtube (see below). The song is mostly in English with some phrases in Hebrew.

++ Do we have Jedward's real song title now? ++  Claudia, Loreen and Soluna in iTunes charts ++ Sietse Bakker answering your questions tonight ++ ..

A rockband called Izabo is going to be representing Israel in Azerbaijan. The group was selected internally, they will sing the song Time. The song has not been released yet. The group was started 20 years ago, but they didn't release their debute album before 2003. The band consists of Ran Shem-Tov,Shiri Hadar, Jonathan Levy and Nir Mantzur.

++ Jedward's song: Waterline or On Top Of the World or....? ++  Conductor Noel Kelehan passed away ++ Zeljko's song presented on 10 March ++ ..

One of these days Israel is going to announce its artist for Eurovision this year. Maya Buskila is the name that pops up in rumourland... but doesn't it every year? Another rumour mill tells us John Barrowman might be the UK's man in Baku this year. He has been flirting with the contest for years. Will this year be his? Several names have been rumoured for Armenia already. The latest one is Austrian Sankil Jones, whose song Fire wasn't considered in his hime country. Apparently he is now trying to get on the Armenian shortlist.

News Round-up of the day. Five final acts selected in Eirodziesma's first semi final tonight.

All details known can be found here. As far as known right now there will not be a stream to watch the program in the rest of Europe.

The selection for the Nationaal Songfestival in the Netherlands keeps buzzing. Dries Roelvink, a popular singer that did not get selected, is disapointed that the selection exsists completely of artists that have not proven themselves yet, he stated in Weekend magazine this weekend. Some of the other not selected acts try to get something positive out of this anyway, by organising a concert together on 19 February in Almere.