Eurovision 2016: 10 countries to look out for this Saturday

Our Eurovision expert Peter Devine has cast his eye over the competition and picked out 10 'ones to watch'...

THE winner of the 61st Eurovision Song Contest final in Stockholm is likely to walk the well trodden path of recent years.

That is if the bookies are to be believed and Russia take the laurels at this year’s competition.

To some extent the reintroduction of juries seem to have made the outcome in recent years more predictable in that the winner always seems to come from among the favoured nations in that particular year.

However, fans across Eurovisionland which this year extends all the way to Australia for the second year running, hope that their favourites come through in last few days leading up to the final.

This year has spawned its own controversies which range from Romania being booted out of the contest because it owes million of pounds to the European Broadcasting Union.

There is then the controversy surrounding the Ukraine entry which is considered by some to point a finger towards Russia through its song which talks about genocide.

And while that failed to bother the EBU to date, the entry by Germany of Xavier Naidoo was given short shrift by them after criticism arose that it was both homophobic and anti-semitic, and the said singer was duly ditched.

Here are my top 10 of the countries and acts to look out for at this year’s competition:

RUSSIA – You Are the Only One – Sergey Lazarev

Credit: Anna Velikova / EBU

Although one of the bookies favourites it is a sound that many Eurovision fans are trying to escape. In that it sounds like any other piece of music coming out of Scandinavia or more recently from Eastern Europe. Whether it will win is hard to say but don’t rule the Russians out they have plenty of supporters. Betting odds 2/1

UKRAINE – 1944 – Jamala

Credit Anna Velikova

She made her first professional record at the age of nine, it was the album of songs for children. She has graduated from the National Music Academy named after Tchaikovsky in Kyiv, majoring in opera singing.

Jamala was going to make a career in classical music but in summer 2009 Jamala went to The New Wave, the International Contest of Young Singers in Jūrmala (Latvia) where she won the grand prize. Betting odds 18/1

She said: “ I have a very important song for me that I’d like to present to the world. 1944 concerns all people that had their own horrible tragedies in the past. We should always remember and never forget them to avoid the same things in the future.”

FRANCE –J’ai Cherché (I’ve been looking} – Amir

It’s unusual to say the least to see France so high up in the ratings and if Amir lifts this trophy it will represent 39 years since it was won previously in 1977. Amir has a multicultural background with a Tunisian father, a Moroccan-Spanish mother, born in France and lived in Israel. Not everybody’s cup of tea. Betting odds 5/2

UNITED KINGDOM You’re Not Alone – Joe and Jake

Credit Thomas Hanses (EBU)

There will be fans in North Wales rooting for our entry this year Ruthin born Joe Woolford and his singing compatriot Jake Shakeshaft from Stoke-on-Trent.

The pair first met as competitors on The Voice UK. The duo was selected in the first public vote for six years to carry the hopes of the nation to the Swedish capital with the catchy song You’re Not Alone.

Nice tune but will honestly struggle in this company. Currently the UK qualifies direct to the final but a bad finish again this time  and it could add to a growing number of voices which are calling for the UK to sharpen up its entries by being forced to go through one of two semi-finals in the week leading up to Eurovision. Betting odds 50/1 

AUSTRIA – Loin d’ici (Far Away) – Zoe Straub

Credit Thomas Hanses (EBU)

If there is a chance of a simple song winning at Eurovision this is one of two I would choose. It’s sung and delivered beautifully but probably won’t make the impact necessary to win the contest outright. Betting odds 100/1

ITALY – No Degree of Separation – Francesca Michielin

Credit Andres Putting (EBU)

Any Italian singer who reaches this stage of their career only does it by having pedigree and this girl has it all.

In 2011, and aged 16, she won Italian X Factor, with a single and EP going double platinum.

In 2016, Francesca came second at the San Remo Festival.

Asked why the Eurovision is important she says: “Music is a universal language and Eurovision will give me the opportunity to share my music with artistes from different countries and to talk together through music and this means to be truly part of the world.” Great tune sung in both Italian and English and will probably be up there at the end. Betting odds 33/1

SWEDEN – If I Were Sorry – Frans

Credit Andres Putting

One can never rule out the Swedes to pull a rabbit out of the bag and this song is no exception with its catchy lyrics and tune to match.

Frans Wall was born in 1998 in in Southern Sweden. He first gained recognition during the World Cup of 2006 when he released his now famed tribute track paying homage to footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, all at the tender age of seven years old.

The song entitled ‘Who's Da Man’ swiftly became a phenomenon and Frans was soon crowned "Zlatan- Frans" with and by the Swedish people. Could be there or thereabouts. Betting odds 8/1

CYPRUS – Alter Ego – Minus One

Credit Andres Putting (EBU)

This upbeat song is the type of entry one would have expected from the bigger hitters including Greece, And given that Athens may struggle to get out of this year’s semi-finals, there could be strong support for Cyprus from some of those countries nearby. Betting odds 33/1

AUSTRALIA – Sound of Silence  -  Dami Im 

Credit Anna Velikova (EBU)

Many fans are puzzled as to why the EBU has allowed Australia to return this year but notwithstanding that the song by this South Korean born artiste has captured the Eurovision audience once again.

Personally, I don’t think it is as good as last year’s upbeat entry and I think it may find it difficult to garner additional votes from other European countries. 

Dami explains: “All my life I felt like I didn't belong anywhere. I remember the first time I watched Eurovision with my friends, I thought that is where I belong. The amazing vocals, the elaborate costumes, everything was crazy but it was perfect. Being a part of it is like a dream come true. Eurovision brings people together through music.” Betting odds 10/1

POLAND – Colour of Your Life – Michal Szpak

Credit Andres Putting

If you find yourself on the night singing along to this song you will be one of the millions of TV viewers doing so. It is one of those songs that has an immediate hook and often that has been enough at Eurovision. However, Poland still has to contend with a semi-final which could see it eliminated ahead on May 14. Betting odds 40/1

As for the rest... look out for Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Bulgaria and Latvia but I don’t really fancy Ireland’s Nicky Byrne’s chances given the pasting previous sounding songs have had if they make it to the final.