I Love Baku! Baku Azerbaijan Guide

In a meeting of the Eurovision Reference Group on 29 June 2011, it was decided that the televoting system would revert back to the format used before the 2010 Contest in which the phone and SMS lines will open after all songs have been performed instead of opening before the show starts. The results format of each show will remain the same with each country’s votes being decided on a 50:50 split between televoting and a national jury.

Azerbaijan has been known as the Land Of Fire for a while now and the symbol of fire and flames is used extensively across the country. The people of Azerbaijan also take great pride in this association with fire.

Baku, Azerbaijan – On the 25th of January, several key events leading up to the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Baku. Namely, the traditional Host City Insignia Exchange ceremony and the Semi-Final allocation draw will be held together with the introduction of the slogan and theme art for this year’s contest.

YEREVAN. – Armenia will participate in Eurovision-2012 song contest scheduled for May 22-26 in Baku along with other 42 states, Eurovision-2012 official website reads.

Ta’Qali, Malta – Maltese broadcaster PBS has been screening a red carpet countdown show for the domestic audience, in anticipation of the national final this evening. Eurovision.tv were there to soak up the atmosphere.
Written by Glen Webb. Topics: 2012, PBS, News, National Selection, webcast, Baku, Malta.

Växjö, Sweden – Swedish Melodifestivalen has been for years the most anticipated national selection in Europe. During six weeks Swedish Television SVT produces a first class television show in a tour all over the country. This year’s tour started in the town of Växjö where eight acts tried to reach the final. Loreen and Dead by April managed to do it!
Written by Victor M. Escudero. Topics: national selection, news, 2012, Sweden, Baku, Melodifestivalen.
Links: Melodifestivalen official site

The final takes place next Saturday (11th February) in the Oslo Spektrum Arena where Eurovision.tv will be attending to bring you the best live coverage of the event. So keep an eye on the website, Facebook and Twitter for all the latest from Melodi Grand Prix.

A panel jury voted on each song right after its performance. The jury included Jenő Csiszár, radio and tv presenter, Philip Rákay, programme director of m1, Viktor Rakonczai, composer and former Eurovision Song Contest participant, and Kati Wolf, the Hungarian representative in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.

Glen Vella was last year’s Maltese representative, and is still hugely popular in Malta. He performed his latest single Lie, and afterwards he was joined by the popular Maltese gospel choir Animae where they performed a version of Michael Jackson’s Heal The World.

The second round of castings, for the promotional videos to introduce Azerbaijan for the Eurovision Song Contest has now finished. According to information from eurovision.az, a total of 363 candidates of various ages participated in the second casting.