About Bulgaria...

2006 Result
History (1956 to 2005)
This year's entry
What I predicted...
What you thought...
What actually happened...
What the bookies thought...

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2006 Result

Points in Semi Final: 36
Position in Semi Final: 17th

Points in Final: Failed to qualify
Position in Final: Failed to qualify
More about the 2006 result for Bulgaria

2007 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final

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History (1956 to 2005)

Bulgaria's previous appearances: 1 year(s) out of 50 [note]
Years participated: 2005- [note]
Best result: 19th in Semi (2005)

Bulgaria made its first appearance at Eurovision in 2005, with Kaffe's song 'Lorrain' failing to make much of an impression. Nevertheless, having languished at the wrong end of most fan polls, the song came over surprisingly strongly live, and its 49 points and 19th place in the Semi Final was better than many had expected. There was some speculation that the poor result might dissuade Bulgaria from taking part again, but happily the country is back for another go, participating in Thursday's Semi Final.
Get 'The Eurovision Song Contest: The Offical History' at Amazon.co.uk

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This year's entry

Position in Semi Final draw: 2
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify

What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"The Bulgarian final on 11 March managed to avoid the controversy that dogged its début selection in 2005, though the process leading up to it was not without some drama. Among those who were (briefly) back for another go were those at the centre of last year's events - TV show anchor Slavi Trifonov and Roma singer Sofi Marinova, who were runners-up in the 2005 Bulgarian final with the beautiful 'Edinstveni', despite refusing to perform the song on the night amid allegations that the result had already been fixed in Kaffe's favour. This year, Slavi and Sofi somehow managed to come up with a song that was just as stunning and awesome as 'Edinstveni', called 'Lubovta e otrova' ('Love is poison'). Nevertheless, 'Lubovta e otrova' initially failed to make the list of 24 songs shortlisted for the Bulgarian semi final by the fifteen-member jury, a decision that Slavi himself suggested might have more to do with him as a person than with the quality of his song. Nevertheless, the inclusion of the song on the reserve list at least gave some hope that it might still make it to the final cut. Things looked hopeful when 'Merak' by Vanya Kostova and Boyan Mikhailov was disqualified, after it was found to have taken part in a local music festival in September 2005. However, reconvening to select a replacement song from the reserve list, Slavi and Sofi narrowly missed out once again to Mariana Pashalieva featuring Marin Ionchev and their song 'Nevyzmozhna tishina' ('Impossible silence'). However, just two days later, this song was itself withdrawn at the request of Ionchev's producer, who did not want his client's song to take part (if that's the case, though, you do wonder why it was entered in the first place), giving Slavi and Sofi the chance to move up into the 24th slot, and finally get their chance to take part in the Bulgarian semi final. Sadly, Slavi and Sofi decided that the 'expert jury' - with responsibility for deciding which 12 of the 24 songs should go through to the Final - would be unlikely to pick them anyway, so declined the opportunity to take part. In my view, a real shame and a disappointing decision - after all, the jury may have surprised us all and put 'Lubovta e otrova' through, but now we will never know.

However, where Slavi and Sofi lost out in 2005 to a song that most people considered disappointing, the 2006 Bulgarian entry - 'Let me cry' by Mariana Popova - is wonderful. Looking a little like a younger version of the UK's Rowetta, Mariana is a beautifully striking woman with an amazing voice, while her song is the classiest thing we are likely to hear in Athens - sounding contemporary and credible, it is a powerful but soulful ballad with a just sprinkling of the Balkans, featuring a spinetinglingly dramatic chorus in which Mariana lets rip her emotions. It's just great - fantastic vocals, fantastic music, fantastic lyrics. I love it - even if not many other people seem to..."

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What I predicted...

My prediction for Semi Final: 14th to 16th
My prediction for Final: Unlikely to qualify
See all my predictions for the 2006 Semi Final
See all my predictions for the 2006 Final

What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"For me, this is one of the best Eurovision songs I've ever heard - I think it's just wonderful, and I'm sure it will be considered a Eurovision evergreen in years to come. However, the song's draw (2nd in the Semi Final) is terrible, sandwiched among a string of songs that are all unlikely to qualify for the Final, and its understated classiness means that it risks being forgotten by the time people come to vote an hour and a half later. I would be absolutely delighted if Bulgaria qualified for the Final with this; however, I think a position in the mid teens (14th to 16th) might be the best that we can hope for. However, reports from the rehearsals seem very complimentary about Mariana's performance, so there remains a glimmer of hope. Remember, this is my prediction based on what I think will happen, not my own opinion of the song. After all, if I had my way it would be Sofia 2007, thank you very much. "
Want an alternative prediction? See Simon Hylands' 'Je t'adore, Eurovision!' site

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What you thought...

View the final leader board

In the run up to the Contest, 1,721 visitors to this site awarded points to their favourite songs in the Soult.com Eurovision Jury Vote 2006, voting as a representative of their own country's 'jury'. The votes awarded by representatives of each country were totalled, with each of the 38 participating countries (plus the 'Rest of the World') then awarding points - 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - based on the overall voting preference of its representatives. The points awarded to the entry from Bulgaria are shown in the tables below:

Points awarded to Bulgaria overall:
AL	0	HR	0	GR	0	MK	1	PL	0	ES	0
AD	0	CY	0	IS	0	MT	0	PT	0	SE	0
AM	0	DK	0	IE	0	MD	0	RO	1	CH	0
BY	0	EE	0	IL	0	MC	0	RU	0	TR	0
BE	0	FI	0	LV	0	NL	0	CS	0	UA	2
BA	0	FR	0	LT	0	NO	0	SI	0	UK	0
BG	X	DE	1	WO	0	Last updated: 18 May 2006 Next scheduled update: None
Total points: 5, from 4/39 juries
Position: 32 out of 37

Points awarded to Bulgaria in the Semi Final:
AL	0	HR	0	GR	4	MK	4	PL	0	ES	0
AD	0	CY	0	IS	0	MT	2	PT	0	SE	0
AM	0	DK	0	IE	0	MD	0	RO	6	CH	7
BY	0	EE	0	IL	0	MC	0	RU	0	TR	5
BE	0	FI	0	LV	0	NL	0	CS	0	UA	5
BA	0	FR	1	LT	0	NO	0	SI	2	UK	0
BG	X	DE	4	WO	0	Last updated: 18 May 2006 Next scheduled update: None
Total points: 40, from 10/39 juries
Position: 16 out of 23

Points awarded to Bulgaria in the Final:
AL	0	HR	0	GR	0	MK	0	PL	0	ES	0
AD	0	CY	0	IS	0	MT	0	PT	0	SE	0
AM	0	DK	0	IE	0	MD	0	RO	0	CH	0
BY	0	EE	0	IL	0	MC	0	RU	0	TR	0
BE	0	FI	0	LV	0	NL	0	CS	0	UA	0
BA	0	FR	0	LT	0	NO	0<