The Asian Expansion

As from today, the Azeri broadcaster AzTV is an active member of the EBU, and intends to apply for entering the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. Unless the EBU limits the number of new participants, Azerbaijan is set to be the 5th fully Asian country in the contest (after Israel, Cyprus, Armenia and Georgia). Shall this expansion continue, we would like to give you an overview of what to expect from the potential future participants.

Afghanistan is likely to remain the first country in the Eurovision alphabet forever, unless Aceh receives independence. Their singers will probably humbly dressed (as they did in the 2004 Olympics). Culturally related to Iran and Tajikistan, some point exchange is expected between the three. The Russians, however, can forget about any single points from the Afghans in the near future.

Azerbaijan will develop a Greece-Cyprus relationship with Turkey, and a Turkey-Cyprus (pre-2003) relationship with Armenia. There are millions of Azeris in Iran, and many thousands in Russia, Georgia and Germany, all likely to awards them points.

Bahrain, the smallest Arab nation, can be nicknamed 'Monaco of the Gulf'. Will they take advantage of the fact Michael Jackson now lives there? Then again, masks and plastic surgeries are sooo 2006.

Bangladesh, Pakistan and India will most likely exchange high points, despite cold diplomatic relations. Bad news for Ireland, as all three will take the bulk of the UK votes. India will also receive points from Singapore, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates, all have a large Indian population, and Sri Lanka, thanks to the Tamil population.

Bhutan is a mysterious mountain country that nobody understands with an animal on their flag - in other words, the Asian equivalent of Andorra. It will receive points from the Asian equivalent of Catalonia - Tibet (via China), and little else.

Brunei's sultan is rich enough to convince the greatest artists alive to sing in Eurovision - yes, even ABBA. More likely, though, he'll recruit six Eurovision hopefuls from six different nations under the leadership of Ralph Siegel.

Cambodia - The king of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni, is apparently fluent in the Czech language (due to his long stay in Czechoslovakia), and so the Czech score will double next year if Cambodia enter. Otherwise, this francophone country will be a blessing to Belgium, if RTBF ever decides to sing in French again.

Read full article HERE

source:escnation.com