Vienna 2015, 60th ESC 40 For 40: The Makemakes "I Am Yours"

This is it. The 40th of 40 reviews for Vienna 2015, and it ends with the host country. Their selection is a three member group the Makemakes (pictured) with "I Am Yours" (Austria).

"I Am Yours" is a great, free flowing ballad that rocks. Unlike last year's champion, this has won me over. This is sorta old school alternative pop rock at its finest. This is a contender, unlike that bearded woman last year (yes you Tom Neuwirth). This is a grand final-only performance next Saturday, and I'm looking forward to hearing this. They'll miss the top ten due to even more interesting music this year. Good luck.

That's all the reviews. Next up is my first semifinal predictions for Tuesday night.

Copenhagen 2014 Reviews: Tom Neuwirth as Conchita Wurst "Rise Like a Phoenix"

Yes folks, Austria will have a 'drag queen' representing their country at Copenhagen 2014. Meet Tom Neuwirth, an Austrian singer, who also performs under the name 'Conchita Wurst.'

It will not be the real Neuwirth, but instead his drag queen creation that will be on stage Thursday, the 8th of May in semifinal 2 with "Rise Like a Phoenix." "Rise Like a Phoenix" is a soft ballad, that starts off softly, and then it kicks it up a notch. However I find this very mediocre, and since semifinal 2 will be just as tough as semifinal 1 on Tuesday, the 6th of May, I really don't think this song will see grand final action on the 10th of May. That's my viewpoint.

I don't recall a lot of drag acts in the ESC, other than Sestre in 2002 with "Samo Ljubezen" (the group dressed as flight attendants in that performance), so this is nothing new. Even though there have been protests for this act from Russia and Belarus, there were also protests for Sestre prior to Tallinn 2002. I'm not joking, even though "Samo Ljubezen" is better than "Rise Like a Phoenix."

As far as the status of the song goes, I really don't think it sizes up to some of Austria's other superior entries of the past, such as Westend "Hurricane" (1983), the Rounder Girls "All to You" (2000) and Mess "Sonntag" (1982). Even Natalia Kelly "Shine" from Malmo 2013 was better. This was an internal selection by the Austrian ESC broadcaster, and it could hurt this country in the long run as far as future ESC participation. I thought Austria still did national finals?

Up next: Dilara Kazimova "Start a Fire."

Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Austria

113 days to go until the opening ceremonies at Sochi. Up next on the countdown: Austria.

Austria has been one of the most successful nations in the winter Olympics. They have been there at every winter Olympic games since the first one in 1924. A total of 201 medals have been won, 55 of those being gold.

Three Austrian athletes have won three gold medals in the Winter games, including the late Toni Sailer (pictured), who won all three in various skiing events--in the downhill, giant slalom and slalom--at Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956. He died in 2009.

The other two who have won three in the winter games were Felix Gottwald, who won twice in the team Nordic combined sprint at Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010 and in the Nordic combined sprint at Turin 2006, and Thomas Morgenstern, who won in the team large hill jumping at Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010, and in the individual large hill at Turin 2006.

Ten have won two gold medals in the winter games, including Hermann 'the Herminator' Maier (pictured), whose career was derailed due to automobile accident. The 'Herminator' won twice on the slopes in the Super G and giant slalom at Nagano 1998. The other two time gold medalists in the winter games from Austria are as follows:

• Karl Schafer, men's singles figure skating, Lake Placid 1932 & Garnisch Partenkinchen 1936
• Trude Jochum Beiser, combined at St. Moritz 1948 & downhill at Oslo 1952.
• Petra Kronberger, women's combined and slalom at Albertville 1992
• Michaela Dorfmeister, women's Alpine and Super G, Turin 2006
• Benjamin Raich, men's giant and slalom, Turin 2006
• Andreas Kotler, men's large hill ski jump, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010
• Andreas Linger, mixed doubles luge, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010
• Wolfgang Linger, mixed doubles luge, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010
• Mario Stecher, men's team Nordic combined, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010

As of now 34 have qualified for Sochi, including one of twelve teams in men's ice hockey, as well as biathlon.

Austria has also hosted the winter Olympics twice, both at Innsbruck in 1964 and again in 1976.

Up next: Azerbaijan

London 2012: The Countdown Series: Austria

195 days to go until London. Next up on the parade of nations: Austria (AUT).

Since 1896 (the year of the first modern summer Olympics), the nation has garnered 106 medals, including 25 gold medals in summer Olympic competition. The most golds were won by an Austrian athlete at the summer Olympics is 2, when Peter Seisenbacher scored gold at both Los Angeles and Seoul, where he won in the 86kg class of judo.

Despite not sending anyone in judo to London, Austria will send 35 athletes to London, in 9 sports, including athletics and swimming. This will possibly change in the months to come.

Up next: Azerbaijan