GLASGOW ODDS ON FAVOURITE FOR EUROVISION

Glasgow is the odds-on favourite to stage the Eurovision Song Contest next year after the final shortlist of potential host cities was whittled down to two this week.

The 67^th edition will be held in the United Kingdom after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed 2022 winners Ukraine would not be able to host the event on safety grounds.

The search for a host city had already been trimmed to seven after this year’s runners-up were given the nod to step in and Glasgow has now been backed down to 4/9 from 2/1 with BoyleSports to stage the event, with Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield all out of contention.

Liverpool was a 10/1 shot when betting opened and remains the underdog despite shortening into 13/8 and receiving the backing of Labour leader Keir Starmer when he hosted the party’s conference in the city this week.

Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “Glasgow has been the favourite to host Eurovision from the minute we knew it was heading to the UK, so it’s no surprise to see it backed into odds-on now it’s in the final two. Liverpool has been gambled at prices as big as 10/1, so we’re hoping the betting is on the money because that would be a bad result for us now.”

CALEDONIA WRITER DOUGIE MACLEAN WANTS ROD STEART TO SING ANTHEM

CALEDONIA writer Dougie Maclean says he would love Rod Stewart to sing his famous anthem as he gets ready to pick up a Special Recognition award at this years Specsavers Scottish Music Awards. 
Caledonia, which Dougie wrote in 1977 as a ‘wee homesick song’ in his twenties, has been covered around the world and is seen as an unofficial anthem for Scotland, played regularly at football and rugby matches, weddings and funerals.
But despite being covered by everyone from Dolores Keane to Amy Macdonald, Dougie says he’d love Rod to do his own take on it. 
He said: “It’s a fantastic thing as a songwriter to have a song that has become a part of common culture. I always thought Rod Stewart would sing a great version of it. I don’t think he has ever done it.”
Caledonia is just one of hundreds of songs written by Dougie over a careers spanning forty six years. 
He said: “As I grow older my music becomes more personal. Music is quite magical.  My daughter was at school what her daddy did and she said ‘my daddy is a magician’. Music brings a lot of pleasure whatever story is behind it.”
Dougie’s songs including The Gael have soundtracked films like Last Of The Mohicans as well as having actors like Sean Connery quote them.
He said: “I did an advert for Visit Scotland and I got to meet Sean Connery who had to read a line from Caledonia in it. It was done in a film studio. You’re standing there and thinking ‘There’s James Bond and he’s saying the words of my song and it’s nice’.”
Yet despite his success he says he is not rolling in riches. 
He said: “I’m not minted and have not treated myself to anything other than guitars by Jimmy Moon, my pride and joy. I have three of them and they are the tools of my trade.”
For Nordoff Robbins fundraiser Scottish Music Awards on Saturday, Dougie plans to play a special song which he wrote after meeting a very sick girl in Rachel House years ago.
He said: “I was very lucky to sit in the music therapy for terminally ill kids and wrote a song called The Gift which came from watching a wee girl who got music therapy. I often thought I’d love to give the song to the mother.”

Five Caledonia Covers 
Frankie Miller (advert for Tennents Lager)

Paolo Nutini (T In The Park)

Amy Macdonald (on album This Is The Life) 

Ronan Keating (on album Winter Songs)

Sir Sean Connery, Lulu, Amy Macdonald, Sandi Thom, Eddi Reader, Brian Cox, golfer Sam Torrance, multi Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy and Scottish international rugby players Thom Evans and Kelly Brown(Homecoming Scotland ad 2009)

SHARLEEN SPITERI AND MCCARTNEY TALK DRESSES AND MERINGUES...

TEXAS singer Sharleen Spiteri reckons says she could sort her wedding in two minutes after Paul McCartney's daughters Stella and Mary offered to help her out.
And the Scots born star who is performing for BBC Music Day with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Glasgow's Barrowlands tonight made it clear she would not be wearing a flouncy 'meringue' style dress to her for forthcoming nuptials with celebrity chef Bryn Williams.
Sharleen who reckons now is 'exactly the right time and the right man for me' said: "We're going to get married and people keep saying have you put a date in? The best laugh is that my mates have put a date in. My girlfriends have decided. They say 'we've put a date in for your wedding, and I say, 'Go and tell Bryn that. He'll be happy.'
She added: "The great thing about being married at this age is that literally you're so connected. Everybody is saying they'll do different parts of the wedding. Literally, one of my mates is the best florist in the world and I've got Stella ( McCartney) saying 'I'm doing you a dress.' She's in on that. Mary (McCartney) is taking photographs and I should be ok for sorting out entertainment and Bryan can do the catering.
"We've got the total midlife set of getting married at this age so I'd advise people this is a good time to get married when everybody has got all big jobs where they can pull every favour in book. I could literally sort this in two minutes. As long as I'm there with all my friends and family and have a good old day with good food, good wine and some great company, that's all you need."
Asked if she would be wearing converses under her dress or opt for a meringue like number she laughed: "I do have heels. When you see me in a dress have I ever done a meringue? It's not my bag and Stella doesn't make meringues. Meringues to eat maybe."
Sharleen also talked of her love of the Barrowlands venue where she has orated over the years.
She said: "It still has that magic. I always remember seeing this area backstage because of the history of the bands that have stood and sat here, sitting having a drink chatting away. Buildings hold history and I feel really special here. I put Barrowlands up there with Abbey Road for great gigs and records there.
She said: "Whenever I see musicians speaking politics I think what a w***er. I feel it's not my position to push it onto everyone else."
Sharleen also said she's miffed she'll miss the Scotland England game because it clashes with her performance at aisle of Whyte,.
She said: "I'll be on stage exactly at that f***ing point. I thought is this a p*** take? We're doing Isle of White on Saturday and the kick off is at five pm and we are on stage at five thirty so it's a sick joke. Seriously, either play before it or we're F***d if we play after it because if Scotland win we'll be happy and they won't be and if Scotland loses we won't be. It's one of those ones.

Excerpts from this article have since appeared in The Daily Mail, The Daily Record and the Daily Express.

From Scotland with Love from Theshowbizlion.com