Firstly I'd like to commend Serbia on the presentation of the contest. It appears the large curved screen is now a staple of the Eurovision stage design, but Serbia still managed to innovate with the two "rivers", one of either side, running down and off the stage.
I'd also like to say how much I enjoyed the opening number. I was somewhat annoyed (to say the least) when they won last year. I really didn't think much to their song or performance at all, but I would have had no complaints had they entered the performance they used to open the event this year.
As for this year's contest, I saw it as being better than last years, but still far behind 2006's. I made a few notes as I was watching and here are my quick thoughts on some of the entries.
Overall, I think I would have preferred Sweden to have won. I was actually expecting the Ukraine to win with "Shady Lady". I'd say something for the Ukrainians, the know how to put on a show.
I too liked Bosnia and Herzegovina's entry. Ignoring the wackiness of the presentation (which I really liked!) the music was excellent. Really, if instrumentals could be entered, everyone would have loved it. It was the singing is what really let it down; rather a large minus point when you're entering a song contest. But overall, it wasn't anywhere near as bad as people were making out – especially Wogan who seemed to really hate it. Spain's wasn't bad, but wasn't half as clever or radical as it thought it was.
Of course, Wogan (our commentator) was delusional throughout the competition, saying at least twice that our entry was the best we'd had for years [?] and that Andy Abrahams had given an excellent performance. I know Wogan "saved" Andy in our UK vote-offs, but I think the power of doing so had gone to poor old Wogan's head. This year, the UK entered a bland song – it really is a song that is just "there". Hear it once (which most of the voters will do) and you'll be lucky to remember anything about it. Blandness does not gather votes! (Of course, the voting patterns showed once again that we would be unlikely to gain any votes no matter what we entered, but that's another issue to be address later).
Okay, others I have marked as being notable are Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Greece.
Greece's was a little disappointing though as I thought the singers voice wasn't strong enough to carry the song. I'm sure a singer with a stronger voice would have done the song more justice.
I think the worst was actually Denmark's – sorry, but that just a style of music I don't like at all (sort of smug and jazzy). Also, France's entry was spectacularly ill-advised and I'm astonished anyone voted for it at all to be honest. Finland tried to do another Hard Rock Hallelujah, but the band was no Lordi, and Croatia's started off interestingly, but had too much of the "old man".
As for the contest, I really don't know what can be done. I can't rant and rave to much about the UK's placement this year, as I wouldn't have voted for it. But then again, I thought Russia's song was just as bland as ours. And its clear neighbours are primarily voting for their neighbours. Even the UK benefited from this with the votes from the Republic of Ireland. It's clear you can't have a contest supposedly about "music" continue like this, it really is a farce when you can predict the top 3 countries – if not their exact order – 90% of the times the votes come in.
Wogan seemed particularly put out this year, and on air said that he would have to think very hard about coming back to commentate next year, then more shockingly, he said next year all of the Western countries would have to think long and hard about if it was worth entering.
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM ... 7LSdAtwgkA
And the year before that ... wasn't there that song about school life? It was unorthodox, even in its visual presentation - but kind of catchy! Then I remember Jemini in 2003. If they hadn't screwed up their performance, their song would have rocked aswell. And let's not forget Katrina and the Waves, with Love Shine a Light in 1997! I guess I was 8 at the time. I remember loving the song and predicting it would win. I was right. 
