And the Winner Is...

BELGRADE, Serbia, May 23, 2008 — -- "Brace yourself Belgrade! You don't know what you're in for." So warned Terry Wogan, the host of this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

The Serbian capital is playing host this weekend to the European institution that so many people love to hate. Artists, in the loosest possible sense of the word, are flocking to Belgrade to represent their countries in one of the world's biggest sing-offs.

But this is no pop idol contest. Many of the entries are, to put it bluntly, ridiculous. The contest was set up in 1956 to unite war-ravaged Europe … not necessarily to find the greatest singers.

Included in this year's lineup is a singing turkey, flying the flag for Ireland, while Belgium offered a song composed entirely of gibberish. During the semi-final, the Finnish entry nearly burned down the stadium with its over-the-top fireworks display; attending firemen were on the verge of intervening.

But Serbia believes it is ready for Europe — at least this week.

Notwithstanding an ongoing power struggle between pro- and anti-Europe party coalitions in the country, Belgrade is casting politics aside to host the fanfare event.

The event's organizers have even tried to ban all political debate from the show.

"Participants represent their countries, not their governments," said Sandra Susa, who's organizing the contest. "We're calling on Serbian and foreign media to set politics aside. We're here to have fun."

The Eurovision Song Contest, which has drawn 43 participating countries this year, is coming to Belgrade for the first time. That's because Serbia's Marija Serifovic won the competition last year in Helsinki, Finland, with her song "Molitva" (Prayer).

There's a mad rush to make everything perfect at Belgrade's arena, one of Europe's largest concert and sports venues. The May 24 final is being rehearsed down to the last detail. Tickets for the shows have sold out, thanks to low prices: the best seats in the house cost 60 euros (about $93).