The federal election is also on the slate, but there’s actually some fun novelty markets to get involved with this weekend.
The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel this week and we are set for five or so days of music, mateship and extremely flamboyant performances.
One thing that is necessary to remember is that the Eurovision winner betting market is typically volatile – It tends to change quite noticeably day in, day out. The prices quoted below have probably changed since publish but regardless, you’ll be having a ripper day on the punt if you land on the right one.
I’ve divided this preview into four sections – Australia, Market Favourites, Talking Points and Bangers of Yesteryear. The last bit really is just to rip off the band aid and prepare you for what’s probably in store again at Eurovision 2019.
BET NOW: 2019 EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Australia
‘Zero Gravity’ – Kate Miller-Heidke ($15)
Kate Miller-Heidke holds the hope of a nation in 2019 and her weapon is a bizarre opera/I guess dance track, Zero Gravity. There is absolutely no denying how good of a singer Kate is – boy can she bang out some falsetto.
In my humble opinion, it’s the worst thing that Australia has served up at Eurovision, but that will probably only add to its winnability. It looks like it’s going to fly home or absolutely bomb.
Market Favourites
Netherlands
‘Arcade’ – Duncan Laurence ($3)
Big things are expected of the Dutch in 2019 and Arcade by Duncan Laurence has opened the market favourite. It’s a nice tune with plenty of feeling, that unsurprisingly centres around broken hearts and gear of that nature.
I don’t hate this song but given the quality of tripe that typically rises to the surface at Eurovision, it could prove to be a false favourite.
Sweden
‘Too Late For Love’ – John Lundvik ($5.50)
Sweden’s record at Eurovision is huge (Abba the obvious reference) and betting suggests that they are a live chance of winning again in 2019 with John Lundvik’s Too Late For Love.
Pretty similar intro to the market favourite to be honest, but it steadily builds into and annoyingly catchy tune and there’s group singing towards the end. Everyone loves getting involved in that. $5.50 looks to be about the right price, but I just wonder if it’ll get lost in the wash?
France
‘Roi’ – Bilal Hassani ($8)
This song is Eurovision to a tee, and I think that it’ll prove to be the value at $8. It’s extremely rare for France to enter a song that is even partly sung in English and perhaps that will be the difference in them finding their way into the winner’s stall in 2019.
Russia
‘Scream’ – Sergey Lazarev ($9)
Russia are the only other country that has opened at a single-figure quote in 2019 Eurovision betting and not for the first time, Sergey Lazarev has been charged with finding the winning formula.
The song feels like it’s building to something that never really eventuates and I can’t imagine this will be one that the crowd with enjoyably wave their flags to.
Sergey was absolutely robbed as the favourite with the song ‘You’re The Only One’ in 2016. It was the year that all that stuff went down between Russia and the Ukraine and I’m not sure anyone is of the assumption that the Eurovision result was anything more than political. Regardless, there is no way the Ukraine song was better than Dami Im, either.
Azerbaijan
‘Truth’ – Chingiz ($11)
Azerbaijan pump a good amount of coin into their Eurovision tilt each year since first entering only a decade ago, and that has already paid dividends with a win in 2011.
They’ve forwarded another live chance in 2019, in the form of Truth by Chingiz. Boy there is a lot going on in the official film clip and if that is anything to go by, this will be one to watch in the semis and the final.
Taking Points
Germany
‘Sister’ – S!ster ($101)
I just want to go on record as saying that I think it’s an absolutely travesty that five ‘big’ countries get a cake walk into the final each year. It allows complacency and the result is absolute dribble, like Germany’s 2019 entry ‘Sister’ by S!ster. That should have been the first clue, I guess.
They are dead set the most minor tone away from not actually harmonizing at all and boy would that make for a memorable performance.
United Kingdom
‘Bigger Than Us’ – Michael Rice ($151)
Same rant as Germany.
Ireland
‘22’ – Sarah McTernan ($151)
Not a particularly big fan of the song, but Ireland have won Eurovision more than any other nation, so they’ve clearly found the right formula.
Gone are the days of back-to-back Jedward performances (shame for us all) and here are the days of confused late 90s-esc pop songs.
San Marino
‘Say Na Na Na’ – San Marino ($251)
San Marino holds the unenviable tag as the bottom pick of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest betting market.
I do not understand it at all – this is easily my favourite song and clip of the bunch, and there would certainly be worse sights than Serhat hoisting the disco ball trophy on Sunday morning.