Odds Review #10: Week Ending 10/03
Odds review number 10, for the odds as displayed on the 10th - a nice round number that has seen us through to the end of national final season.
Australia became the first new entrant of the week with 'Electric Fields due to make the long trip to Sweden. I’m in general agreement that qualification may be as far as the dream goes this year and would be a good outcome with them sitting well into the triple digits. Greece offers more promise with Marina Sati’s eclectic ‘Zari’ which really packs a lot into it’s 3 minutes. They have shortened in a little since last week. Israel’s entry was leaked earlier this morning by the old Crystal Ball X account before their full release in the last few hours. Given there is some level of involvement with that account from within the EBU that could be a telling sign of their reluctance around Israel’s participation. ‘Hurricane’ is nothing special and I’d say weaker than expected but fans' insistence on creating a new sympathy narrative for Eden and uncertainty over how the landscape will be in May keeps them of note in the market. Albania’s revamp does not launch them into contention despite the hopes of one enthusiastic backer earlier in the week. They will drift back to 1000 steadily over the next month so enjoy this position whilst it lasts.
Melodifestivalen and Festival Da Cancao threw up no surprises (in terms of the winner at least) with Marcus and Martinus representing Sweden and Iolanda Portugal. Sweden have drifted back into the mid 20s after some belated excitement last night but remain one to be cautious of (the traditional default winner theory). Portugal on the other hand are not given a chance by the market but are perennially underrated and might hope for qualification and a respectable result once more.
Elsewhere Azerbaijan blinked first in their Eurovision standoff with Armenia in announcing Fahree as their representative. He appears to be an unkown act pretty much and they appear to have given up making any effort, a far cry from their last trip to Malmo. Armenia have turned to the far more established Ladaniva who were rumoured earlier in the season. I’m not sure if there’s any behind the scenes gossip here but we got there eventually. Their brand of jazzy, Balkan and Armenian world music doesn’t strike as a threat to the contest either but we’ll see. Both songs are due ‘in the coming days’. Georgia are bringing us their ‘Fire Fighter’ tomorrow and are the shortest priced as yet unrealesed country.
Finally Iceland are involved in a Eurovision saga of a different kind as they are yet to confirm what on earth they are planning with Hera Bjork’s participation yet to be officially concerned and an investigation into their voting results. They may be asking for more time from the EBU with the official deadline tomorrow with the threat of Bashar looming over the market still.
Croatia hold onto favouritism heading into the delegations meeting but have seen their odds fall this past week with the contest opening up even further.
