[LMBTO] Eurovision National Final season (and Xmas) is almost here...

Why a picture of the entrants for The Netherlands in 1974, Mouth & MacNeal, you might ask?  Well it's Christmas and as Eurovision only kicks off after this great day and the Final is at almost the total opposite time of year, finding a song about the Festive Season sung at a National Final or the Finals fortnight itself is nigh on impossible!  "I See A Star" is possibly one of the only songs with any connection (however tenuous) and it is my favourite song from that ground breaking time at Brighton (I know, "Waterloo" wasn't my special one, so sue me!).
Christmas Day also marks the true start of Eurovision 2016, with the first SF of Festivali i Këngës 54 being staged in Albania - makes a change from the Queen's Speech, I suppose!  Now I suspect that the vast majority of Eurovision fans will be having their minds on other things that day but maybe most might tune in for the second SF on 26th December.  Me?  I may save myself for the Grand Final the day after, Sunday 27th, where I will pick up my 'Reviewers Hat' and cast my critical eye over the acts and the winner themselves - the first complete entry (artist AND song) in this year's Eurovision.  Of course I say that, but Elhaida Dani had to change her song in the end last year - pity, as I liked 'Diell' more than 'I'm Alive'...



Not much has been happening Eurovision-wise over the last few days - Lithuania announced their list of artists to participate in their marathon selection process that is "Eurovizijos Atranka 2016", with eight shows to find the winner and a 'support Concert' as a final show.  The most recognisable name to those not experts in Lithuanian singers is Donatas Montvydas - you may remember him under a different guise in 2012:



I suspect the blindfold will not appear this time...9th January is when that 'mountain to climb' starts, finishing 27th February.

The only other matter of a Eurovision nature closer to my heart is that I will soon be starting my defence of the Fantasy Eurovision League, expertly run and staged by vlogger par excellence Jamie McLoughlin.  Regular readers will be aware of this (Fantasy Eurovision League Winner) and that I received the winner's trophy at this year's Eurobash from Electro Velvet's Alex Larke (2015 Eurobash) - hopefully the next episode of "Sight & Song" will be out so I can see the comedy gold that was the trophy's presentation...
Interested in having a go?  There are already EIGHTEEN Eurovision fans (including me and Jamie) ready and raring to go - visit here (Fantasy Eurovision League) to sign up!

Well, this was only meant to be a very quick post before it all goes mad, National Final after National Final, internal selections galore, pre-parties and then Eurovision itself.  It's going to be a busy, busy five months but before we start with Albania...


What is certain is that four words said by three wise men and two Dutch singers will also ring true at the end of the Eurovision Final on 14th May: