Getting Behind The Red, White And Blue
Britain is having a party and the World is invited. The summer-long celebrations kicked off in spectacular style with grand events to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (after a false start at last week’s Eurovision) and will continue through to the closing of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in September. Towns and villages up and down the country have been swept up in Jubilee fever, with virtually every high street bedecked in enough Union bunting and banners to raise even the coolest spirit.
If there was a time to see Britain in full glory, this is it. London is ablaze with red, white and blue, festooned in flags to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and to welcome athletes and visitors to the London 2012 Olympic Games. Events like these whip up a great atmosphere and much of the country will rejoice at street parties or barbecues, lunch with family or down the pub with friends.
Macedonia Could Deny Serbia Another Eurovision Victory, Says Expert
A battle of the Balkan titans is set to play out on stage in Baku, as the presence of pan-Balkan singing star Kaliopi representing FYRO Macedonia in Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest Final could split the valuable Balkan vote and deny Serbia’s major artist Željko Joksimović his long-awaited chance of victory, according to Eurovision historian John Kennedy O’Connor.
It could come down to the size of each star’s fan base rather than the strength of their performance on the night, said the author and go-to man on all things Eurovision. “I’m told the Balkan votes will all be behind Kaliopi and not Željko, so he will be denied the win,’ said John. “Kaliopi is the biggest star from the Balkans in the contest and I’m sure her fans pushed her effortlessly through. But for my taste, this is one of the worst songs in the final. I would never have put it through. It grates on me and her voice is too harsh for my ears.”
We Can Bring Eurovision Back To Belgrade, Says Željko Joksimović
Serbian singing star Željko Joksimović is confident of success at this week’s Eurovision Song Contest. Speaking to W!LDRooSTeR on the eve of Tuesday’s first semi final, Željko said the support that he has received from international media and Eurovision fans has been tremendously encouraging: “Every second of our time in Baku I am more confident of how many followers Serbia and the song ‘Nije ljubav stvar’ have in Europe.”
“It is so good to know how popular we are here. I believe that people would enjoy coming to Belgrade once again for the Eurovision Song Contest, next year.”
Of course, if Serbia is to host next year’s contest, Željko first needs to bring home the trophy. Željko has been here before and he knows better than most that he cannot afford to feel complacent.
Baku Welcomes Serbia’s Željko Joksimović
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The race to the Eurovision finish line has got underway. Serbia’s foremost singing star Željko Joksimović has joined other contestants in Baku and is preparing for his first Song Contest rehearsal, on Tuesday. Željko was all smiles as he flew out from Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport, happily accepting the best wishes of fans and fellow travellers before he boarded the plane to Baku with his band of musicians. Of course, this game is not anything new for Željko, who has taken part both as a performer and songwriter. So far, though, he has not brought home the trophy – something he intends to change this time round, as he told me recently.
“I feel deeply that I did not finish what I truly want,’ he said. “The Eurovision Song Contestgave me a lot and I believe that I will give something back. I hope to win, but we shall see what happens in Baku. Did I find the right magic this time? You never know.”
