The stage is set for May 15. And what a set:
 Under the Same Sky is the title given to the stage design (since when did a stage design need an official name?) but it will be under the Istanbul sky that the 24 hopefuls for the 2004 contest will strut their Euro stuff. Turkey earned the right to host this year's event by winning in 2003. Their entry, 'For Real' by Athena, is that most Turkish of things - a ska reggae number. At around 12-1 it's in as one of the favourites, but only Luxembourg, Israel and Ireland (three times in a row) have managed repeat victories. The bookies prefer Belgium's Xandee with '1 Life' (sample lyric: I can hear what people say/it doesn't matter anyway), Max from Germany with 'Just can't wait until tonight' and 'Stronger every minute' by Lisa Andreas from Cyprus. One slight problem for Lisa is that Cyprus haven't even made it to the final yet. Because the contest has become a bloated singathon courted by the likes of Andorra and the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, there will be a semi-final sing off to the death on the Wednesday before the main event. No fewer than 22 countries will be in action and only 10 will make it through to Saturday's final. There they will be joined by the four countries who always make the final because their TV budgets are vast enough to keep the European Broadcasting Union in disco balls and backstage canapes - France, Germany, Spain and the UK. The nine highest scorers from 2003 also get a bye to the final - Austria, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia and Sweden. Throw in Turkey, as hosts and winners, and you've got your Euro elite. Despite having to sing twice in just three days, with the resultant risk of throat strain and costume fatigue, some of the second class nations are being hotly tipped for glory on the night.
 Top of that particular tree are Serbia & Montenegro (pictured with instruments and goose) with the mistily evocative 'Lane Moje' (Oh my fawn) by Zeljko Joksimovic and the Ad Hoc Orchestra. Apart from the obvious problem that they might not even qualify, Oh my fawn is also lumbered with a seriously long intro, not ideal when your song's only three and a half minutes long. One country already in the final, and with a Euro record to die for, is Sweden. They're the favourites, and in Lena Philipsson have a camera-friendly singer who does interesting things with her mike stand. She's the favourite and it would be no surprise if the contest travelled north for 2005. And what of the UK? James Fox's effort 'Hold on to our love' is given a more detailed analysis in the 'Our Man James Fox' section of this very website. But if you can't be bothered to go there, it's safe to say that he'll get more points than we did last year. Anything else will be a bonus. Victory? Well that would be a minor miracle. Women have won this contest three times more than the chaps. James is a chap. He has real charisma, but he's still a chap. His song is okay, if rather drab. And anyway, everyone still hates the British at the moment. Patriotism is all well and good but the smart money shouldn't be going on the UK. Try Sweden, Serbia or Belgium if you fancy a flutter. Personally, Finland's Ricky Martinesque 'Takes 2 To Tango' by Jari Sillanpää has captured my Euro heart. Which probably means it won't even make the final. SEMI FINAL (May 12) 1. Finland
2. Belarus
3. Switzerland
4. Latvia
5. Israel
6. Andorra
7. Portugal
8. Malta
9. Monaco
10. Greece
11. Ukraine
12. Lithuania
13. Albania
14. Cyprus
15. F.Y.R. Macedonia
16. Slovenia
17. Estonia
18. Croatia
19. Denmark
20. Serbia & Montenegro
21. Bosnia & Herzegovina
22. Netherlands There will be a draw after the semi-final results to determine the running order for the qualifiers in the final. FINAL (May 15) 1. Spain
2. Austria
3. Norway
4. France
5. ---- (from semi final)
6. ---- (from semi final)
7. ---- (from semi final)
8. Germany
9. ---- (from semi final)
10. ---- (from semi final)
11. ---- (from semi final)
12. ---- (from semi final)
13. Belgium
14. Russia
15. ---- (from semi final)
16. ---- (from semi final)
17. Iceland
18. Ireland
19. Poland
20. United Kingdom
21. ---- (from semi final)
22. Turkey
23. Romania
24. Sweden | 
