Our Man in Belgrade - Day 2

Ani was pretty decent to be fair. She was a bit shouty for my liking during her euro number, but was note perfect in the other songs she sang. I have to say though that the routine for Shady Lady is slick and tight. This has the potential to be a winner in my opinion.

I also got chatting to Friðrik from the Icelandic group, Euroband. He's a genuinely nice bloke with a real passion for this contest. I asked him if they were here to beat Charlotte from Sweden after she beat Iceland back in 1999. Friðrik's reply was "No... we are here to win it. Anything less will not do." No pressure there then!

Of his thoughts about the British ditty, he thinks it's nice, pleasing and it has a good tune. I'd be willing to wager several million dinar that Friðrik hasn't actually heard the UK's song. However, he was far too nice to tell me that. Although I'd have appreciated it more if he had.

Speaking about the UK song, I was fortunate enough to catch Andy in his rehearsal this afternoon. It was nice and pleasing enough, but I'm still of the opinion that this is not going to register very highly on the scoreboard on the night. I think everyone will universally like it, but I just don't know who's going to vote for it. He didn't help himself today by wearing a hideous purple jacket and also the woman on backing vocals was seriously out of tune. Andy turns his back on the audience during part of the song as well, which I personally think is a bad move. There is still time to refine the performance though and the two pyro explosions help to add a bit of a lift to the overall show. I just feel that it's lacking any punch and that's a shame really as Andy is probably the best singer we've had in this contest since Jessica Garlick.

I also caught the tail end of the Portuguese (which is a pretty big tail end to catch it must be said) who were rehearsing before the UK today. This is one to watch. The performance was electrifying. She may be a big, scary woman, but then so was Marija Serifovic who won last year. Put money on Portugal qualifying.

I'm currently watching the Spanish rehearsal on the TV next to my monitor. A Spaniard across the room has just held up a board reading "THIS IS NOT EUROVISION". Oh how wrong can you be!? Spain's going to do quite well I think.

I spent this morning wandering round the historic citadel in the city centre. It seems that all of Belgrade had the same idea as me. The place was packed as the locals were soaking up the unusually hot weather they're having here this week. The immediate area around the citadel is beautiful, it's such a shame that the vast majority of the city was designed by Communist planners. However, Belgraders are a friendly bunch and even though many don't speak English they're always willing to help.

Tonight I'm off to the official Eurovision Welcome Party being held across town in front of the Serbian Parliament. It promises to be a grand affair. They're providing more free beer and food. I could get used to this!

I'm hoping to meet some more random, crazy people tonight. Yet I don't think I'll meet any as random as a certain lady from the Dutch delegation called Gian, who I had the pleasure of chatting to know last night. She was wearing an interesting combination of a white crepe paper dress and the night before's make-up. Her hair was in the challenging style of "haystack" and she was holding two glasses of wine. One of which was looming menacingly towards said white dress.

Over n out!

CHRIS