Monaco-ver and Out

Poor pun, but BIG STORY!!! It appears to have been confirmed that Monaco have withdrawn from the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. After initially having their name upon the entrants list, they've now down a u-turn and, because it's before 15 December, no penalty will be incurred.

Monaco returned to the Eurovision in 2004 after a 25 year break, and have been in the semi-final ever since, their poor results no doubt playing a factor in their withdrawl.

In 2004, a girl in strange trousers called Maryon jumped around singing the rather weak Notre Planete. One year later they sent Lise Darly and her orchestrally-backed ballad Tout De Moi. Great song! What a performance! Came second bottom in the semi. And last year, there was much hope for the slightly tropical La Coco Dance until rehearsals began and it became apparant that the singer, Severine Ferrer, hot as she was (see the provocative pic), could not sing live. At all.

And so, Monaco will subtly slip out of Eurovision 2007, leaving just 42 countries now. Will any more countries follow suit? They have until Friday if they don't want to pay a penalty.

But for now we say Goodbye Monaco, maybe see you next year.