Having found out that the Israeli party was just around the corner from our hotel, we decided that we ought to go. It started at 9,30pm and we were there prompt but the queue to get in was already huge! Even standing in the queue was interesting as we watched various delegation and artists arrive for the Party.
The Israel Party was timed quite well for it was Israel Independence Day and also 13 years since Dana last won Eurovision in Birmingham.
Eventually in, the place was packed. It seemed to be in a night club which was hired out by the Israel delegation but it was filled to capacity. We found ourselves a little spot where we could take photos and video, got some drinks as we daren't move and settled in for the evening!
They played eurovision songs, old and new, mostly of Israeli songs of course and lots of past Greek entries. Those israeli dancer boys from euroclub were there dancing on stage which provided much fun entertainment! As a crowd warmer, two girls from Abba-lite sang abba songs, always a crowd pleaser!!
Mika for the Ukraine came on and sang her song, as did Maja for slovenia, Anastasiya for Belarus (who was fab btw), Vlatko for Fyrom (without guitar) and we think the Dutch entrants sang after we had left!
However special mention must go to Dana International.... obviously she got a huuuugggeeee cheer from the crowd and was met with lots of wooops and claps... she came on and sang Ding Dong first of all which went down well and everyone danced. Then she introduced the writer of Diva and then sang Diva... much to the shrieks of delight to the crowd. Then Dana treated the audience to another song from her repertoire and she was joined by the little israeli lads on the stage who danced around her. Dana International was fantastic and definitely knows how to woo the audience.
Nadine for Austria came on after Dana and she and her backers sang Hallelujah in accapella style and she brought the house down. her voice is magnificent and she is just stunning. As we said in an earlier blog, watch out for Austria.... this girl CAN sing!! Then Nadine sang her eurovision entry The Secret Is Love and the crowd adored her....
Fate's funny you know... Tam and I were only saying in the looonnngg queue that Blue weren't doing any parties, we thought, and how strange that was! Shortly before Dana came on, the compare lady came on stage and just said .. "they're in the building.." and the crowd screamed and cheered and wooped and we wondered for a moment who she was talking about.... then it dawned on us that she was talking about Blue!!! So, on Blue came to much cheers and then sang a bit of I Can in accapella and merged it into another of their songs to give the crowd a teaser ... the crowd loved them, as did the female compare who seemed to like Duncan James.
It was a great night and we came home in the early hours quite tired, slightly worse the wear for German beer, but we had had an excellent night!
Photos to follow ....