Singing career breaks

Further to Wednesday's post on the Eurovision Song Contest, BBC News reports today how gravely the competition is taken in the Balkans: not only has Serbia-Montenegro had to withdraw after the controversial reselection of last year's Montenegrin-flag wavers No Name, but Kosovan bands continue to attempt to enter on behalf of neighbouring Albania.

Contrary to the prediction quoted in this week's New Scientist - that Bosnia-Herzegovina's entry from a singer with prewar, pan-Yugoslavian appeal was most likely to win - an April 4 press release from William Hill said Greece was ahead of the rest at 2 to 1... but they did also put the UK down as second favourite.

The Register, in an article last month on the Serbia-Montenegro debacle, reported that Lithuania has already declared themselves the victors with their entry We Are The Winners. Classy.

Something else for the whole continent to consider when voting this year (isn't there enough already?) is that winning artistes may end up representing their people in rather more profound ways.

According to a Yahoo News-cached Kyiv Post article from last week, Ukraine's 2004-winning performer Ruslana has entered Rada - no, not the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art but her country's national parliament - along with other successful celebrity candidates.

She's quoted saying: “I may even consider a break in my singing career.”