Serious side of Euro party

The contest, which is being held in the city's arena alongside the River Sava, will also be the European Broadcasting Union's biggest ever show with 43 entries at the start of this week, now whittled down to just 25.

A storm of inch-long hailstones earlier in the week, smashed car windscreens and knocked chunks of stone off the Turkish Embassy in the old city, but its ferocity is unlikely to compete with the Eastern European countries, which are set once more to knock spots off Western European countries competing here tomorrow.

Disgruntled Dubliner, James Squires, was fed up but philosophical after Dustin the Turkey got a pre-Yuletide stuffing in the first semi-final - a shock exit as this is the first time Ireland hasn't made it to the final. I expected it. It was fairly obvious from the outset that the song wasn't ever going to be a serious challenger. Dustin is extremely popular in Ireland, but his style of humour is not appreciated abroad.

We have a great music tradition, but our entry last year finished bottom, and with the turkey we are effectively saying to other countries, we shouldn't be taken seriously."

During Tuesday's semi, while average songs including Greece, Russia, Armenia and Poland went through, others including an extremely likeable ditty from Belgium flopped, as did Holland. Last night's second semi-final sent similar shockwaves among Eurovision diehards. This trend, if it continues on Saturday, would leave the likes of the UK's Andy Abraham vulnerable.

The X Factor runner-up who has penned his ditty, Even If, is taking a calculated risk with his career both at home and abroad. However, the early signs are good and while he isn't putting himself out and about often enough in comparison to some of his rivals, the song has impressed Europeans.

Western countries Paul Jordan, who is studying for a doctorate in Eurovision at Glasgow University, blames poor showing on the type of songs and singers being sent by western countries rather than on 'Johnny Foreigner ganging up' "I think Andy Abraham is a good singer but at the same time I don't think this song is going anywhere at Eurovision.

I hate to be so cynical, but I can't see it setting the scoreboard alight. There have been so many excuses trotted out as to why we lost in previous years, including the Iraq War. In Britain there seems to be an arrogance that we should do well no matter how good or how bad the entry is." Jordan, who is studying the economic benefits of winning Eurovision for Estonia (2001) and Ukraine(2004) says there is a element of "xenophobia" which breeds a certain amount of ignorance about why we lose out.

He explains: "Cities such as Paris or London are so well known,but capitals such as Riga and Baku much less so. And the leaders of these countries see Eurovision as an opportunity to showcase their countries.

Ambassador "I was told by Sarah Squire, former British ambassador to Estonia, the vote in favour of the country joining the EU in 2004, had been won following its Eurovision victory, which she said instilled a sense of self confidence to look to the West."

Yuriy Melnyk, the Ukrainian mastermind behind Azerbaijan's qualification at Tuesday's semi, and Ruslana's victory for the Ukraine in 2004 added: "In my opinion winning Eurovision for the Ukraine in 2004, was one of the triggers that resulted in the popular uprising later that year - The Orange Revolution (of civil disobedience) - which came about because people started to feel engaged and more empowered by the win. It may sound odd for the Western mind that you can see Eurovision like a tool to something.

And when we started we didn't think so; it just happened. We feel it put the Ukraine on the map." Away from the deeper significance of Eurovision, Wythenshawe fan Chris Knight, 28, said he first got hooked as a child watching Ireland's Johnny Logan winning in 1987. Chris explained: "I have been to Athens and Helsinki and I love these contests because of the atmosphere.

However, what makes it for me is that you get chatting to random people from all over the world and that can only help bring about a greater understanding between countries." Speaking exclusively to the MEN, Andy Abraham said: "It's been incredible here in Belgrade. This is the biggest show in the world and appearing here is beyond my wildest dreams.

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