Despite being pipped by Serbia's prayer to their diaspora, the inimitable Verka Serduchka is set to have a UK top 40 hit.   Eurovision songs (winners and UK entries excepted)  have generally struggled to even get a single release for the last twenty years or so.  2007 has seen downloads included in the singles chart for the first time, and so Eurovision songs have free rein to chart!  The unofficial midweek chart for the week after the contest suggests that half a dozen entries (including the winner) are on the fringes of the top 75,  but the Ukrainian runner -up "Dancing Lasha Tumbai"  was #20 suggesting a sure top 40 place in the chart released on Sunday.  The last time a non-winning and non-UK song hit the UK chart was 1974 when Gigliola Cinquetti and Mouth and MacNeal made the UK top 10.  As a footnote, the midweek chart also suggested that Scooch's UK entry had "slipped" from #5 to #7 but was, in physical CD sales terms the chart topper!!  

PS: Verka made #28    

The dedicated page for the 2007 contest is here.

If you've stumbled upon this page I'm sure I don't need to enlighten you about the fiasco of "Making Your Mind Up 2007" and its ongoing aftermath.  The event is covered in more depth here. Notwithstanding the farcical announcement of the result, the backlash began when pre-event favourite Justin Hawkins accused the British viewing public of being stupid or racist for rejecting both Big Brovaz and his duet with Beverlei Brown.  This of course being the same public who voted for Imaani, Precious and Javine to sing for us in the last decade.  The event had by now caught the attention of the tabloids and blew up into an even bigger story a day later when it was "revealed" that Scooch has employed two backing singers who performed off-stage, a fact that had been widely publicized on internet forums beforehand and a practice  quite common in the contest.

The host broadcaster of the 2007 Eurovision revealed the presenters of the 52nd contest as Jaana Pelkonen and Mikko Leppilampi (pictured above).  Jaana is a regular presenter of the Finnish Eurovision selections whilst Mikko is a popular actor and singer.

The European Broadcasting Union have announced that no less that 43 countries wish to enter the 2007 contest in either final or semi-final.  It was previously thought that a cap of 40 countries would apply for participation in Eurovision week festivities, but all 43 interested parties are now welcome.  This will mean a semi-final of 29 songs and a voting process on finals night of no less than 43 spokespersons!.  Bring a good book. In addition to last years 37 participants, we welcome back Austria and Hungary, separate entries from Montenegro and Serbia (after the break up of their joint republic) and two completely new entrants, The Czech Republic and Georgia.

NB. Monaco subsequently withdrew leaving a mere 42 entrants for Helsinki.

Plans are well in process for the 2007 contest. The event will once more be held over two nights on 10th and 12th May. The venue will be the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.