ETSC – Every year, the summer is the calm after the storm so it’s the perfect time to resume the highly anticipated the Eurovision Times Song Contest! Each one of you can represent an European country and get to send a song and then vote in a fake Eurovision! 41 of you entered for the July 2018 edition and the voting went on for ten days! The results are coming tonight!
Each summer, a good number of regular readers stay around for different reasons (they don’t get breaks from work or don’t go on holidays…) but there aren’t much news to keep us going. So the last few years we introduced all sorts of games. The Eurovision Times Awards (Fridas) and the Douze Points Trivia Quiz kept us going in 2013 and Fridas have made come-backs the past five years. Four years ago, a lot of you asked for a fake Eurovision where each one of us would send songs and get to vote. And that was it: the Eurovision Times Song Contest, from then on known as ETSC.
We’ve therefore had 8 editions of ETSC, two in 2014: July 2014 and August 2014, both won by France; the third edition was held in July 2015 and won by the United-Kingdom; the fourth edition was held in Augusut 2015 and was won by Austria; the fifth edition was held in July 2016 and was won by Israel; the sixth edition was held in August 2016 and won by Denmark; the 7th edition was held in July 2017 and was won again by France. The last edition to date was ETSC 8, held in August 2017, and it was the first one that went “blind”, meaning people did not know who sent what. It crowned Greece’s Dimitra Selemidou feat. Phoevos Delivoriás with “O monos ke i moni“. For more information, you can discover our new page dedicated to the contest, with its history, all songs participating and the rankings here. You can also find it by clicking on the “Specials” section of the site, in the top menu in the red box, just under the site’s name.
After a first round open for people to sign up with a country and send a song, we got 42 people in. In the meantime, to keep us busy, I made a random draw. I also made personal postcards for each entry which will be revealed along with the songs. Everyone can request to see their own postcards for now.
You can click on the picture below to listen to the songs again:
It was two weeks ago that we discovered each song individually in a dramatic night reveal-show. And after that, each of the 41 players cast a vote. All votes are now in and we have a winner (also a full ranking, obviously). So gather around, for “ETSC 9 – July 2018″ is about to come to an end!
This ninth event is officially hosted in Thessaloniki, Greece. The hosts will be Katia Zygouli (model-actress), Nikos Kouris (actor), and Avgoustos Kortó (writer)! The venue is the Music Hall, nicknamed by locals as “Megaron”:
And so this is what bookies have for tonight:
PREDICTED TOP TEN | CORRECT TOP TEN | |||||
1 | ![]() |
Ireland (?) | 1 | |||
2 | ![]() |
Denmark (?) | 2 | |||
3 | ![]() |
France (?) | 3 | |||
4 | ![]() |
Belgium (?) | 4 | |||
5 | ![]() |
Greece (?) | 5 | |||
6 | ![]() |
Switzerland (?) | 6 | |||
7 | ![]() |
Lebanon (?) | 7 | |||
8 | ![]() |
Russia (?) | 8 | |||
9 | ![]() |
Norway (?) | 9 | |||
10 | ![]() |
Iceland (?) | 10 |
Now, all you need to do is get ready and prepared. The votes will be revealed one by one, following the random draw in which the songs were presented (so from Russia to Romania). One vote at a time, with a few minutes in between to give enough time for people to react, predict, comment, discuss. Also, if the person is around, he can, if he wishes to, explain a bit further his votes, what he thought of the songs. The votes are all on a scoreboard, to not reveal too much for people who can’t make it tonight, and you’ll see links for them in this page (so you’ll need to refresh often).
Vote 1 | ![]() |
Russia |
Vote 2 | ![]() |
Norway |
Vote 3 | ![]() |
Czech Republic |
Vote 4 | ![]() |
Slovenia |
Vote 5 | ![]() |
Ireland |
Vote 6 | ![]() |
Ukraine |
Vote 7 | ![]() |
Estonia |
Vote 8 | ![]() |
Austria |
Vote 9 | ![]() |
France |
Vote 10 | ![]() |
Poland |
Vote 11 | ![]() |
Spain |
Vote 12 | ![]() |
Moldova |
Vote 13 | Libya | |
Vote 14 | ![]() |
Lebanon |
Vote 15 | ![]() |
Lithuania |
Vote 16 | ![]() |
Denmark |
Vote 17 | ![]() |
Portugal |
Vote 18 | ![]() |
Israel |
Vote 19 | ![]() |
Cyprus |
Vote 20 | ![]() |
Iceland |
Vote 21 | ![]() |
Belarus |
Vote 22 | ![]() |
Turkey |
Vote 23 | ![]() |
Belgium |
Vote 24 | ![]() |
Italy |
Vote 25 | ![]() |
Azerbaijan |
Vote 26 | ![]() |
Finland |
Vote 27 | ![]() |
F.Y.R. Macedonia |
Vote 28 | ![]() |
Malta |
Vote 29 | ![]() |
Latvia |
Vote 30 | ![]() |
Sweden |
Vote 31 | ![]() |
Armenia |
Vote 32 | ![]() |
Australia |
Vote 33 | ![]() |
Bulgaria |
Vote 34 | ![]() |
Switzerland |
Vote 35 | ![]() |
Slovakia |
Vote 36 | ![]() |
Greece |
Vote 37 | ![]() |
Albania |
Vote 38 | ![]() |
Netherlands |
Vote 39 | ![]() |
United-Kingdom |
Vote 40 | Tunisia | |
Vote 41 | ![]() |
Germany |
Vote 42 | ![]() |
Romania |
TFW you store a song for extremely long to wait to play in a contest and it ends up bottom 5 :|
It does hurt a bit, I thought this song was one of my strongest ever and just a flop. I did gets something from the winner and Donnie finally coughed up a chunk of points for me :)
But to be honest, all is compensated for the fact that for the first time my twelve points have won, and that my pals did well on their first ETSC :)
Now, I got a multitude of options for the next one and I haven’t decided, and I got to decide the next one soon. #RIP
I liked your song, and I had it around 14-15th place. I also expected it to do much better.
Lol ! I have coughed up points for you on several other occasions. :p
I can’t believe it came bottom 5 !!!
Whats Malta got to do to win? lol!
Maybe Morgan to host it 😃
I have a song for Malta that might make it into the top 10 but then
a. I probably won’t join the August edition and
b. it is a blind edition but everyone would know that it is me LOL
Would like to know it! If you can send it too me
If I don’t enter in August, I will ask Morgan for your email. :)
TFW you store a song for extremely long to wait to play in a contest and it ends up bottom 5 :|
It does hurt a bit, I thought this song was one of my strongest ever and just a flop. I did gets something from the winner and Donnie finally coughed up a chunk of points for me :)
But to be honest, all is compensated for the fact that for the first time my twelve points have won, and that my pals did well on their first ETSC :)
Now, I got a multitude of options for the next one and I haven’t decided, and I got to decide the next one soon. #RIP
I am gutted too about your result…
C’est la vie, I’m glad I finally managed to convince you for a point :P
Second time and also in a big field! Quite an accomplishment. And once again I am in your top10 in ETSC!
and both times in years of big competition! :)
With similar result. Portugal ended up 24th as well.
Know the feeling bro, spent ages finding the best possible song, and only narrowly avoided bottom 5 at the last minute myself.
Have no idea what if anything I will enter next time, if i enter. As my results don’t tally with the level of effort put in, that’s the sting.
Do enter, you always add a good time to any contest :)
Max you should enter. points mean nothing
You made Germany proud anyway. Look what happenes to many beautiful songs in ESC …
Thanks a ton, hope you manage to feature on the next one, even without ways of knowing beforehand :)
Chin up, Pablo! I’m very familiar with that feeling in ETSC. It’s actually my basic feeling over here 😃
I am happy, there is a ton of great music and good people, what’s not to like? 😃
Exactly 😃
After high flying in VFOS in 8 editions out of nine this surely was a crash landing. Still, all you beautiful people are forgiven. There’s nothing wrong with the song, ask PJ. He knows 😃
Florence approves this message! :)
She should! I was way too familiar with the song so the new flames got in front of it. When Rufus’ Shake album was released it was in heavy rotation here. This was such a strong edition. I had 16 songs short listed for points. Norway and Bulgaria were among them. This time I really needed more points. It was quite stressful in the end 😃
Yup I know the feeling. I had 18 I definitely wanted to give points to….
Downloaded anything off youtube lately??? :P
No I haven’t! When temperature goes below 30, I might try it. I’m just sweaty and lazy all the time 😃
Didn’t know the temperature could even reach 30 in FInland. How are the reindeers coping? ;)
Reindeers are doing fine, it’s the polar bears in Helsinki that are suffering, just when they learnt their way with tragic lights 😃
It’s been like this for weeks now, my house is hot as hell, sea is + 26. This is just horrible!
Now you know how I feel every summer lol :-P
Yes, I do 😃
We have had 30+ for 6 weeks. It is constant energy supply to me, and just like the Duracell bunny, I get on everyone’s nerves …
Good for you! I spent three summers in Tuscany. I really didn’t mind it there. House was on the Mugello hills, air was dry. This is humid, just like Rio de Janeiro in February. Just horrible. I so prefer Rio in July, just like best of Finnish summers 😃
It is not humid here, which is quite exceptional. :)
In order to celebrate the Swiss victory I post the Swiss winner of FdlC 19. It is perfect for celebrations imo.
You should! My 12p back then :) And I think someone has to post Ovi’s previous belgian winner in VFoS. A song that could easily win here as well!
I might check the VFoS entries of the past X editions once my life is less hectic than these days.
Thanks to you I bought his album and could savour this wonderful cover of the ultra-famous Barbara song:
It is fantastic and he is fantastic. Probably my favourite singer atm. I have around 20 Fraissinet songs in my playlist. :)
A great winner and my 12 points too :)
Rather disappointed with the result of “Another Time”. I know it was a bit different from what I use to send, but I really like the song nevertheless.
Predictions got all of DNK, FRA, CHE, GRC, LBN, BEL and NOR (and almost RUS) right. 7/10 !!!
Pity to see IRL being the bookies’ flop.
Also nice to see that there can still be surprises (ISL, POL and FIN !!!)
Poland named only once, Finland never!
I find it fascinating!
I considered them, but in the end I thought they might be a bit overlooked in this field.
IRL did not deserve to finish outside the top10. A song that suited VFoS much better perhaps (whereas Norway would have probably flopped there unfortunately…)
There were so many great songs, i don”t know which one deserved what. Ireland was in my top 20 too. Started higher though same as Belarus!
:’(
You brought a great song and artist, that is what matters :) Perhaps you should try VFoS (ETSC spin-off contest); this kind of stuff does better there!
https://virtualfestivalofsongs.wordpress.com/history/
Probably one of my preferred entries also. I’ll take a look sure. I’m starting college in September so I could be a bit preoccupied
Next edition will probably be in September as well. But there is one every month, so you can join anytime you like :)
That’s sounds good. Might see me soon then
You really should try it!
I’ve been here long enough to know to never underestimate Israel :P
Another artist I was considering and a song in my top 20 as well. You have been mentioning them all :)
Israel just scraped my 12 points over Switzerland. Both were brilliant!!
Are the ties correctly fixed in Bay’s votes?
I think so
Voting Grid available?
it’s on the winner’s article yes
Am I the only one who voted for the whole top 6 ? and all except one from top 9! :o
you are! you beat me (for once) as most mainstream!
Yay! lol
August will be very busy for me so pray to god I can join next edition. I loved the blind one. I’ve my school graduation and my results of my exams which determine which college/uni I go to coming up.
My prediction saying that top 3 is very close each other based on Morgan’s hint, is true! Can I get additional prediction point Morgan? :P
As for Romania, I can’t believe it is 13th!. I thought it could be 9th or 10th :p
And congratulations Switzerland for winning, I actually considered to give points to SWI.
I Romania did a little bit better than I thought but overall I never thought it will be in top10. I wouldn’t say such compositions can storm ETSC’s top10.
9th place? I expected something around 20th/25th. I couldn’t be happier :)
Congrats to our winner Ovi, also to Razvan and Morgan (both of you were so damn close!).
Thanks to Max, Jerry, Pablo, Mermaid, William, Bay, Anders, Razvan, Patrick P., Luke, PJ and Michos for voting for Poland!
Thank you! :)
Congrats for a great debut, I liked a lot your electro-pop song! I hope to see you in the next edition as well. :)
I gotta thank you for representing Heidrik :)
I’m so happy I found him, what a great artist! I watched and liked one of his short films as well! :)