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Millions will be watching as 26 countries go head to head to be crowned champions of the Eurovision Song Contest this weekend – but not everyone calls themselves a fan. The notoriously weird and wonderful event still divides opinion right down the middle – when it comes to Eurovision, you’re either all in or not. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter We pitched two writers against each other, one who loves Eurovision and one who can’t stand it. So, whose side are you on? Kate Plummer: Why I hate Eurovision What would happen if you brought together all the kinds of musicians who X Factor judges consider passing at the audition stage of the competition - but ultimately decide not to? What would happen if you asked cruise ship singers to come together and belt out hours of 'tunes' that resemble copyright-free hold music at best, or something your 10-year-old niece cooked up on GarageBand at worst? The answer, of course, is the gaudy Eurovision Song Contest, that homage to naffness, that yearly nightmare that we are forced to endure. "But it's fun!" the doltish masses cry. "Look at their outfits," the square-eyed cretins say. Save it. Like most organised fun and forced merriment (see hen dos, school reunions and anything to do with sport), Eurovision is absolutely awful. But unlike hen dos, school reunions and anything to do with sport, there is no escaping the tyrannical grip of its regime. It man spreads over the course of Saturday night telly, it bleeds into every pub, bar and group chat of excitable friends organising their cursed viewing parties. This year, it will even be screened in cinemas. Where is my respite? I didn't even vote for Brexit but surely the yearly congregation of the worst representatives of Europe is a dividend we could have gained from leaving the bloc? The 2023 contest is being held in the UK city of Liverpool this week, building up to the grand final on Saturday. Acts from 37 countries are taking part. So will I be tuning in to see which act has become this year's meme and what 'funny moments' have gone viral on social media? Absolutely not. After all, 66 contests and over 1,600 songs, there's a reason the only Eurovision act anyone can name is Abba... Eurovision is completely naff. Count me out. Harry Fletcher: Why I love Eurovision There aren’t many things that every single member of the family can sit down to watch together and genuinely look forward to. Eurovision is one of them. It’s a big event in our household, with family members spread around the country heading back up north to watch together. Why do we love it? The sheer strangeness is certainly a factor. The likes of Käärijä, representing Finland in 2023 with the bizarre 'Cha Cha Cha', are doing a good job keeping it weird and wonderful. But the sheer quality of the entries is more impressive year on year. The overall standard has increased inexorably and the quality of the songwriting in the strongest entries is always staggering. Crafting a good Eurovision song is an art form, and there are still entries from more than 10 years ago that pop into my head occasionally. Eurovision also has to be the most welcoming, accessible major event in the UK calendar. It’s for absolutely everyone; it’s a comfortable space, completely free of cynicism. With Eurovision, you take away all the nastiness that comes hand in hand with X Factor and other formats that invite people to sing before live audiences. Here, there’s none of the sneering at contestants or gawking at eccentric members of the public. Instead, with Eurovision it’s a celebration, and an invitation to be as weird as you like when representing your country. Eurovision can always be relied on to bring out the best in Twitter, too. When so much of social media is increasingly devoted to negativity and hate, it feels like a throwback to nicer times when it functioned more as a public forum for fans during events like Eurovision. The contest has changed a lot since I started watching around 15 years ago. There was an endearingly cheap feel about the contest back then, but the production values are outstanding these days. It’s far less of a niche interest than it used to be too; with the event coming to the UK this year, it’s attracted more and more attention. More eyes on this wonderfully odd event, which celebrates diversity, gives us genuinely brilliant songs every year and gives us something wholesome to get stuck into on social media can only be a good thing. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Eurovision has finally arrived in the UK and you know what that means - it's time to grab the glitter, pour yourself a big drink and settle into one of the best nights of the year. It’s the first time the UK has hosted since way back in 1998 and this time it's holding the event on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine. There are 26 songs ready to battle it out in the final on Saturday (May 13) and as ever there’s a selection of weird and wonderful efforts to enjoy. The competition has already said goodbye to plenty of entries in the two semi-finals. Thankfully, all of the truly bonkers stuff has made it through to the weekend. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter We’ve gone ahead and ranked the songs taking part in the final this year, from the insipid to the truly inspired. These are our picks, going from worst to best. Portugal – Mimicat, Ai Coracao Mimicat - Ai Coração | Portugal ?? | National Final Performance | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com As a rule, you don’t tend to get as many genuinely dreadful songs as you used to at Eurovision. This woeful effort is clearly the exception to that rule. The worst entry this year and possibly of the last few years, this. Albania - Albina & Familja Kelmendi, Duje Albina & Familja Kelmendi - Duje | Albania ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com We regret to inform you this traditional folk-inspired track is a real dud, and we’re not sure how it got through the second semi-final. Meh. Estonia - Alika, Bridges Alika - Bridges | Estonia ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com An exceptionally boring ballad, with the self-playing piano on stage as the only talking point. Alika has an impressive set of lungs on her, but you could hear this song 1,000 times and still not remember it. Cyprus - Andrew Lambrou, Break a Broken Heart Andrew Lambrou - Break A Broken Heart | Cyprus ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com A dreary old bag of nothing from Cyprus. Really nothing to write home about aside from Andrew Lambrou’s strange vest top and the pyrotechnics. We promise you things get better soon. Serbia – Luke Black, Samo Mi Se Spava Luke Black - Samo Mi Se Spava (LIVE) | Serbia ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Serbia has gone gothic this year for this cinematic but ultimately unsatisfying effort. If you like your synth-pop with a slightly creepy edge, this could be for you, but there’s no tune in sight here. Germany – Lord of the Lost, Blood & Glitter Lord of the Lost - Blood & Glitter (LIVE) | Germany ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Comfortably the worst heavy rock effort at this year’s contest. Not much to like about any of it, but you never know with the public vote. Spain – Blanca Paloma, EAEA Blanca Paloma - EAEA | Spain ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com A brooding, forgettable effort from Spain this year. Sounds like the songwriter couldn’t be bothered to finish off the chorus. Ukraine – TVORCHI, Heart of Steele TVORCHI - Heart Of Steel | Ukraine ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Couldn’t be more different to this last year’s winning song 'Stefanie' from Ukraine. This attempt at sultry RnB isn’t the strongest in this year’s competition, but it’s not the worst by any stretch. Croatia - Let 3, Mama ŠČ! Let 3 - Mama ŠČ! (LIVE) | Croatia ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Croatia has the most eye-catching look at this year’s event by far – if you like drag performers with Charlie Chaplin moustaches, you’re in for a treat. The song itself sounds like someone flicking through a load of different radio stations at once, but you know what, we don't hate it. France – La Zarra, Évidemment La Zarra - Évidemment (LIVE) | France ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Sounds a bit like Edith Piaf’s ill-advised disco-pop phase. Wants to be playful, but ends up being a bit meh. Switzerland – Remo Forrer, Watergun Remo Forrer - Watergun | Switzerland ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com “I don’t want to be a soldier”, Forrer sings in this pretty uninspired anti-war anthem. Given he’s representing famously neutral Switzerland, we don’t think he has to worry. Well performed, but not one to take seriously this year. Slovenia - Joker Out, Carpe Diem Joker Out - Carpe Diem | Slovenia ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com The verse in this guitar band effort might land a little flat, but the chorus is reasonably strong. It doesn’t feel particularly Eurovision, but these happy chappies might just do alright. Lithuania - Monica Linkyte, Stay Monika Linkytė - Stay | Lithuania ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com There are the bones of a good song in here, with parts bearing an odd similarity to something from the Lion King soundtrack, but it ends up going nowhere. Australia – Voyager, Promise Voyager - Promise | Australia ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Techno hair metal, anyone? This is a nicely put-together track, from a group that sounds like a heavier take on A-ha. This one could hoover up a good chunk of the rock vote. Armenia - Brunette, Future Lover Brunette - Future Lover | Armenia ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com This one goes from a fairly intimate ballad to something much bigger in scale, belted out by the diminutive Brunette – aka Ariana Grande-lookalike Elen Yeremyan. Pretty impressive. Israel – Noa Kirel, Unicorn Noa Kirel - Unicorn (LIVE) | Israel ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Bombastic pop, belted out by Kirel who looks like she was born to be on the Eurovision stage, with some of the most impressive staging we’ve seen in some time. Could perhaps be one to watch outside of the immediate favourites. Czechia – Vesna, My Sister’s Crown Vesna - My Sister's Crown | Czechia ?? | Official Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com An interesting entry, this one. It won’t win but it mixes traditional folk elements with pop and dance elements well, with a strong feminist angle in there too. Not bad at all. UK – Mae Muller, I Wrote A Song Mae Muller - I Wrote A Song www.youtube.com Fancy a sassy breakup bop? Mae Muller’s got you covered. It’s a comedown from Sam Ryder’s brilliant effort last year and an ever-so-slightly underwhelming track for a host nation it must be said, but will do well for the UK. Italy - Marco Mengoni, Due vite Marco Mengoni - Due Vite | Italy ?? | National Final Performance | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com A more than competent power pop effort from the Italians. The songwriting shows a touch of class, but it might just be missing a great central hook to keep people coming back to it. Moldova – Pasha Parfeni, Soarele şi Luna Pasha Parfeni - Soarele şi Luna (LIVE) | Moldova ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Get your flute out and get yourself on the dancefloor, it’s time for a right old knees up courtesy of this bop from Moldova’s Pasha Parfeni. We like. Poland – Blanka, Solo Blanka - Solo | Poland ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Sounding and looking a bit like Dua Lipa’s long-lost Polish cousin, Blanka delivers a fun little ditty which could do really well this year. Very good vibes, this one. Finland – Käärijä, Cha Cha Cha Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha (LIVE) | Finland ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Could this be Finland’s first win since Lordi in 2006 with 'Hard Rock Hallelujah?' It’s one of the clear favourites. We’re not as fully on board as others seem to be with this truly bonkers euro trance effort, but it’s a novelty that might just pay off. Norway – Alessandra, Queen Of Kings Alessandra - Queen of Kings (LIVE) | Norway ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com This is a great big slice of thunderous scandi pop, which deserves to do well this year. Look out for Alessandra hitting some of the highest notes in the competition, too. Austria – Tea & Salena, Who the Hell is Edgar? Teya & Salena - Who The Hell Is Edgar? | Austria ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com If you’re going with a novelty effort at Eurovision these days, you better make it catchy as hell and well put together – that’s exactly what Austria have managed here, with a brilliant, bonkers track that might just do really well. Belgium – Belgium Gustaph, Because Of You Gustaph - Because Of You | Belgium ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com This is what Eurovision is all about. It’s a belting call to the dancefloor with serious oomph. Sounds like Will Young mixed with Jamiroquai and Culture Club, and we’re very much here for it. Sweden – Loreen, Tattoo Loreen - Tattoo | Sweden ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Eurovision icon Loreen is back more than a decade after winning with 'Euphoria' in 2012, and the new track is right out of the same EDM playbook. This one nails the modern Eurovision formula – brooding verses that evolve into massive choruses, with hooks at every turn. It’s not quite the classic that Euphoria was, but this is another deeply impressive entry from a legend of the Eurovision game. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

These companies that were accused (and sometimes convicted of) engaging in alleged pyramid schemes and other scams.

As Liverpool gears up for a week of music celebrations at Eurovision, behind-the-scenes, it's not the acts stealing the show. Introducing the 'police dogs' working to keep the event safe, the song contest shared a TikTok introducing the furry friends getting ready for this weekend's Grand Final. The pooches, which are mixture of Labradors and spaniels, had their official portraits taken on their own version of a 'red carpet', and fans are already begging to find out how to meet them. Simply adorable. Click here to sign up for our newsletters

With news that Robert De Niro has become a father for the seventh time aged 79, there's been a huge debate on GMB this morning (10 May) over whether he's too old. "It's irresponsible and selfish to the child", Tru Powell argued, saying he could be dead by the time the child reaches 'major milestones'. However, mum blogger, Lucy Baker, wasn't having the remark, and quipped back: "I don't know if the marker of being a good dad is whether you can run a sports day race." Click here to sign up for our newsletters

Hannah Waddingham stole the show at last night's Eurovision semi-final (9 May), after she did her hosting duties in fluent French. The Ted Lasso star appeared alongside Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian singer, Julia Sanina, as the pair navigated the fifteen hopeful countries. “You see Europe, some of us Brits do bother to learn another language!”, she joked in French, prompting fans to encourage 'votes for the UK so we can have her back next year'. Waddingham will return for the second semi-final on Thursday (11 May). Click here to sign up for our newsletters

Eurovision 2023 takes place in Liverpool tonight and we've got you covered for all the memes that you are going to need. This year's contest is taking place in the UK as last year's winners, Ukraine are unable to host due to the illegal invasion of their country by Russia and the ongoing war between the two nations. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has been prevented from speaking at the grand final but reigning champions Kalush Orchestra believes he would have wanted to. Tymofii Muzychuk, a piper who forms part of the seven-piece, told the PA news agency: “Actually we think that President Zelensky would have wanted to thank all the British people for doing this and, as we can see, Britain took this very responsibly, the UK. And so actually I think it would have been nice for him to talk.” Elsewhere, UK entry Mae Muller has received messages of support from the world of politics, as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said “we’re all cheering you on”. “Good luck to (Mae Muller) a Kentish Town local, at @Eurovision tonight!” Sir Keir tweeted. “We’re all cheering you on.” Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: “Tonight we’re rooting for our fellow Londoner Mae Muller in the #Eurovision final.” As the tension mounts, here's how the UK is preparing for the night's activities. Additional reporting from PA. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Fans of the Fast & Furious series will be excited to learn of an opportunity where you can get paid to watch the entire franchise. That's right, the company FinanceBuzz wants to pay $1,000 to take on the temporary role "Fast & Furious claims adjuster.” This means the person chosen for the job will be required to watch all of the films from the main franchise, as well as the newest Fast X that's set to be released on May 19. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter But you're not just watching the street racing action films purely for your entertainment, as the job of the claims adjuster requires them to take note of all instances of car damage. The types of cars involved and the total number of such incidents in each individual film should also be highlighted too. This is so FinanceBuzz can use the data, to "estimate the insurance impact of the franchise’s reckless driving." “We need help taking inventory of the accidents in the movies,” the company said in their advert. "We’re also curious if the number of wrecks in these moves has increased or decreased over the franchise’s history. That’s where you come in." With over 20 hours to watch, the Fast & Furious Claims Adjuster will be paid $1,000, as well as $100 to cover the cost of any streaming fees, movie tickets, and snacks too. In order to be eligible for the role, applicants need to be able to rent or stream movies from their home and be able to watch Fast X in a theatre. You must be 18+ years old and based in the U.S. to apply. If this role revs your engine, then to apply simply fill out the form on the FinanceBuzz website by May 19, 2023, at 11:59 Eastern. Fast X is set be released in cinemas on May 19. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON U.S. President Joe Biden is due to meet on Tuesday with the top Republicans

Buddy Holly the petit basset griffon Vendéen has earned the top spot at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

The clash between President Joe Biden and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy over the US debt will decide who is the most dominant figure in Washington for most of the next two years. And a failure by the two men to come to terms by this time next month would result in a national default that could have a profound impact on the economy and the 2024 election.