Just days away from the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 also know as Grand Prix Eurovision de la chanson in French and German speaking countries. It is in fact the biggest non-sporting event in the world. The second semi-final is tonight to fill the 10 spots left in the competition.
Starting order
- United Kingdom
Engelbert - Love will set you free - Hungary
Compact Disco - Sound of our hearts - Albania
Rona Nishliu - Suus - Russia
Buranowskije Babuschki - Party for everybody - Iceland
Gréta Salóme & Jónsi - Never forget - Cypres
Ivi Adamou - La la love - ?
- ?
- France
Anggun - Echo (You and I) - Italy
Nina Zilli - L'amore è femmina (Out of love) - ?
- ?
- Azerbaijan
Sabina Babayeva - When the music dies - Romania
Mandinga - Zaleilah - Denmark
Soluna Samay- Should've known better - Greece
Eleftheria Elefttheriou - Aphrodisiac - ?
- ?
- Spain
Pastora Soler - Quédate conmigo - Germany
Roman Lob - Standing still - ?
- ?
- Ireland
Jedward - Waterline - ?
- ?
- Moldova
Pasha Pafeny - Lăutar
Several contries did not participate this year. Andorra withdrew from the EBU due to financial problems, Poland focuses on the UEFA EURO 2012 and the London Olympics 2012 and Czech Republic didn't state why they are not particiapating.
Morocco, Luxembourg and Monaco are likely to return to the competition in future. Lichtenstein is rumoured to have it's debut soon.
Most remarkably is the withdraw from Armenia. Armenia fears possible risks for the competitior and Armenian media representants.
This leads to the dark side of this event. There has been much criticism around this ESC due to circumstances of the building of the ESC Arena as well as due to the administration. The BBC aired a 28minute investigative film called Eurovision's dirty secret.
