Lopez Blogs

Putting the relative merits of Eurovision songs aside, one of the best things about the contest (and the national finals which precede it) is that it introduces us to some genuinely good musical talent.

I've never been a fan of the Balkan entries and had never heard of long-established Bosnian rock band Regina before this year but that issue was resolved when they were chosen to sing their national entry, the stirring and anthemic "Bistra Voda" which my mum fondly referred to as "the battle hymn of the republic". The song may have had a military-style presentation, but it also possessed a great emotional pull: and its top 10 position was well-deserved.