Eurovision 2024: The EBU opposes any form of abuse, hate speech or harassment towards artists!

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The European Broadcasting Union acknowledges the depth of feeling and the strong opinions that this year’s Eurovision Song Contest – set against the backdrop of a terrible war in the Middle East – has provoked. We understand that people will want to engage in debate and express their deeply held views on this matter. We have all been affected by the images, stories and the unquestionable pain suffered by those in Israel and in Gaza.

However, we wish to address the concerns and discussions surrounding this situation, especially the targeted social media campaigns against some of our participating artists.

The decision to include any broadcaster, including the Israeli’ broadcaster Kan, in the Eurovision Song Contest is the sole responsibility of the EBU’s governing bodies and not that of the individual artists. These artists come to Eurovision to share their music, culture, and the universal message of unity through the language of music.

The EBU has previously explained the reasoning for the inclusion of KAN and the differences between them as an independent broadcaster and previous participants who were excluded. Constructive debate is a positive consequence of such decisions.

However, while we strongly support freedom of speech and the right to express opinions in a democratic society, we firmly oppose any form of online abuse, hate speech, or harassment directed at our artists or any individuals associated with the contest. This is unacceptable and totally unfair, given the artists have no role in this decision.

The EBU is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for all participants, staff, and fans of the Eurovision Song Contest. We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to promote the values of respect, inclusivity, and understanding, both online and offline.

We urge everyone to engage in respectful and constructive dialogue and support the artists who are working tirelessly – on what is a music and entertainment show – to share their music with the world.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Source: eurovision.tv

Message of support from Andrew Lambrou for Eden Golan at OGAE Israel event!

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OGAE Israel organized an event in downtown Tel Aviv for Eden Golan to wish her good luck shortly before she leaves for Malmö. At this event, various messages of support for Eden and Hurricane were shown mainly from former representatives of Israel in the contest. But among the messages of support was a video from Andrew Lambrou.

Andrew Lambrou was in Israel on October 7 when the Hamas terrorist attack took place in the south of the country. Then they even met with Eden, with whom, as he reveals in the video, they have written a song together.

 

This is the second time that Andrew Lambrou has expressed his support for Eden Golan and the Hurricane. When the song was released, he uploaded a related Instagram story, where he mentioned that Hurricane is stuck in his mind.

Hurricane was the most viewed video clip on the competition channel in the month of March, behind only Holland’s Europapa and above Marina Satti’s ZARI.

Israel is competing in position no.14 in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2024, on May 9.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Anastacia Open to Eurovision Song Contest Entry

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Renowned pop sensation Anastacia is pondering the possibility of gracing the Eurovision Song Contest stage, joining a prestigious lineup of pop icons who have ventured into the competition arena.

Anastacia, celebrated for chart-topping hits like ‘Left Outside Alone‘, is no stranger to the limelight. With a career spanning decades, she stands among the likes of ABBA, Cliff Richard, and Celine Dion, all of whom have cemented their status as pop stars beyond the confines of Eurovision.

This revelation comes in the wake of a significant overhaul in the Eurovision voting system, promising a fresh dynamic to the renowned musical showdown.

Anastacia‘s latest endeavor, the album ‘Our Songs‘, marks a departure from her usual repertoire. Featuring a collection of popular German tracks reimagined in English, the album has been met with resounding success in Germany, attaining gold status.

Reflecting on the album’s genesis, Anastacia shared,

“The project was not my first choice when presented to me. I was like, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’. At the very beginning, I was so scared, I thought I’d really made a mistake. But sometimes it’s these projects that really challenge you, and now I really love this album.”

Addressing her resurgence in the music scene, Anastacia expressed gratitude for her enduring catalog, which has garnered gold and platinum accolades over the years. She emphasized her contentment with her musical journey, asserting,

“I don’t need singles, I’m lucky. I have a catalogue that has been gold and platinum throughout its life so I’ve been able to do new songs and enjoy them through different tours but I don’t need it to work and live.”

As the discussion veered towards Eurovision, Anastacia remained open-minded, stating,

“I would consider it. I never discount putting out a great song – and I know I can sing.”

With her unwavering vocal prowess and a penchant for captivating audiences, Anastacia‘s potential Eurovision venture promises to add another chapter to her illustrious career, further solidifying her status as a global music icon.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments in the Eurovision bubble!

Source: Virgin Radio

 

Andrew Lambrou is voicing his support for Eden Golan’s Hurricane!

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Andrew Lambrou, representative of Cyprus in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, expresses his support and admiration for Eden Golan’s Hurricane, Israel’s Eurovision 2024 entry. In a message he sent to Eden, he mentions that he has had an obsession with Hurricane, while Eden Golan tells him that she has missed him a lot.

In the two days or so of Hurricane’s release, the videoclip has exceeded 2 million views (on the Eurovision, Eden and KAN channels), won the first place on the Israeli spotify charts, while on the Eurovision Instagram account it has the most views behind only the Netherlands’ Europapa.

Watch Hurricane’s first live performance and then our reaction video:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Serbia: Željko Joksimović is open to the possibility of returning to the Eurovision!

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The final of the Pesma za Evroviziju 2024 , where Serbia chose its representative for Eurovision in Malmo, took place on Saturday, with Teya Dora winning and eventually representing the Balkan country in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.

Rehearsals before the final were underway in the studio in Košutnjak, attended by Željko Joksimović, who represented Serbia in Istanbul 20 years ago with the song “Lane moje” and almost won. Whether and how much has changed about Eurovision in these twenty years, Duska Vucinic, head of Corporate Image and Public Relations at RTS, talked with Joksimović.

In an interview with Belgrade Chronicles, Duska Vucinic highlights that as far as they are concerned, Željko Joksimović won in 2004. When he saw the footage from Istanbul in the news a few days ago, Željko Joksimović says he was overcome by strange emotions, as if 20 years had not passed.

“Half a century, which is not at all small. And many things have happened in the meantime. So it’s nice to remember, and that’s perhaps a reminder with a duty,” says Joksimović.

The song “Lane moje” still lives today, and Joksimović has tried his luck at Eurovision several times as a performer and songwriter. But would this song be equally successful in these Eurovision circumstances?

“I think so. Like the song ‘Yesterday’ is always Yesterday, so is ‘Lane moje.’ If something was really good and generally accepted at that moment, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be the same in 20 years. Emotion is something that doesn’t change, it is very recognizable and I think people always react to it. I, since I’m often in Greece, people still shiver at that song today. I think it has no expiration date and I’m really happy about that. In the end, Eurovision helped make that song what it is,” emphasizes Joksimovic.

“In the meantime, I wrote several times and was very successful. Although in 2012 I counted on at least second place, those Russian grandmothers moved me down one place to third. And then I enjoyed it, and of course I enjoyed it on the stage in Belgrade when I hosted Eurovision here. So, those 20 years go by quickly, but when we summarize, it’s not quite that little and there was something in between,” adds Duska Vucinic’s interlocutor.

Zeljko Joksimovic performed in the interval of the Pesma za Evroviziju 2024 final evening program, and he promised that he will certainly perform a few more times at Eurovision under the flag of Serbia, if not as a performer, then certainly as a songwriter.

When asked if the compositions have changed over these two decades, Joksimovic emphasizes that the melodies have not changed, but the arrangements have, the packaging has changed.

“However, again, looking at an Adele who appears at the piano and works wonders, or Miley Cyrus who works wonders with a classic arrangement, there isn’t much difference there. Trends have never been decisive for Eurovision. I think that even songs that didn’t follow trends always did better. Those that were a little different. That’s what ‘Lane moje‘ was like,” says Zeljko Joksimovic at the end of his appearance on Belgrade Chronicles.

Željko Joksimović holds the unique distinction of being the sole individual to have participated as a performer, songwriter of a competing entry, and as a host in the Eurovision Song Contest. His entries in the contest include:

  • 2004 – Representing Serbia & Montenegro – Song: Lane moje – Placement: 2nd – Points: 263
  • 2006 – Representing Bosnia & Herzegovina – Song: Lejla performed by Hari Mata Hari – Placement: 3rd – Points: 229
  • 2008 – Representing Serbia – Song: Oro performed by Jelena Tomasevic feat. Bora Bugic – Placement: 6th – Points: 160
  • 2012 – Representing Serbia – Song: Nije ljubav stvar – Placement: 3rd – Points: 214
  • 2015 – Representing Montenegro – Song: Adio performed by Knez – Placement: 13th – Points: 44

Serbia will be represented in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest by Teya Dora with the song “Ramonda“, where she will perform in the first half of the first semi-final!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Serbia’s participation in Eurovision 2024 in Malmö!

Source: RTS

Eurovision On Tour: What to expect!

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EURODRAMA ENTERTAINMENT, a Spanish base production-company, invites us all to a game-changing Eurovision experience, Eurovision On Tour. Eurovision On Tour will bring a huge Eurovision party across all Europe and Australia.

Eurovision On Tour intends to revolutionize Eurovision themed concerts and will include performances of many well-know Eurovision stars, with the line-up already consisting of:

  • Linda Martin (Ireland 1984 and 1992)
  • Jalisse (Italy 1997)
  • Nicki French (United Kingdom 2000)
  • Emmelie de Forest (Denmark 2013)
  • Suzy (Portugal 2014)
  • Sunstroke Project (Moldova 2010 and 2017)
  • Senhit (San Marino 2011 and 2021)
  • Destiny (Malta 2021)
  • The Roop (Lithuania 2021)

More names will be announced soon.

Although, Dami Im was associated with the event as a part of the line-up, she later denied her inclusion in Eurovision On Tour.

How was the idea born?

According to Senhit, who will serve as a hostess for the events:

The idea was first presented in 2019. After a worldwide pandemic plus two years of negotiation, Eurodrama Entertainment, SL could secure the exclusivity and name using right from the EBU to organise the first world tour of the Eurovision Song Contest.

In fact, EURODRAMA ENTERTAINMENT has a big experience when it comes to Eurovision parties, having produced such as Barcelona Eurovision Party, Nordic Eurovision Party and EUROfansCLUB.

Apart from the concerts themselves, there will be a space dedicated to Eurovision, where guests can enjoy the display of props and outfits that have left their mark on the history of the contest.

Dates and locations announced – so far

The tour is expected to start later this year and so far includes concerts in:

  • 25/10/2024: Madrid, Spain
  • 27/10/2024: Stockholm, Sweden
  • 03/11/2024: Paris, France
  • 07/11/2024: London, United Kingdom
  • 10/11/2024: Warsaw, Poland
  • 13/11/2024: Brisbane, Australia
  • 15/11/2024: Melbourne, Australia
  • 17/11/2024: Sydney, Australia
  • 12/01/2025: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tickets

The ticket sale will commence on March 6 via eurovisionontour.tv and the prices range from 25 to 105 euros. The ticket sale for OGAE members started yesterday, on February 28. Indicatively, the ticket prices:

  • Reduced visibility: 25 euros
  • General Entrance: 45 euros
  • Early Entry: 65 euros
  • Meet & Greet: 105 euros

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: eurovisionontour.tv

San Marino: This is the title of Jalisse’s song for “Una Voce Per San Marino 2024”!

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A lot of national finals all around Europe have already taken place and a lot of different artists have been announced as the official representatives of their own countries. One of these countries that is going to decide which will be the official entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2024, is of course San Marino, where through the show of “Una Voce Per San Marino 2024″ the artist for this year’s participation will be announced. Note here, that the Second Semi Final of the show is set to be aired tonight.

More specifically, the Grand Final of the show is going to take place on this week’s Saturday. February the 24th, in which apart from the artists that will manage to qualify from all the previous Semi Finals, some already widely known artists have already qualified for the Final.

Thus, among those artists that have already automatically qualified for the Final on Saturday, is of course the famous Italian duo Jalisse, who reprsented Italy in Eurovision Song Contest back in 1997, singing the beloved “Fiumi Di Parole“, ending up at the fourth place.

Only a few hours ago, Alessandra Drusian and Fabio Ricci announced through their official Instagram account the title of the song, which are going to participate at the Grand Final of “Una Voce Per San Marino 2024” with. So, the official title is “Il Paradiso È Qui”, meaning literaly “The paradise is here”. Moreover, they announced also that their song will be officially released on all the social media platforms on Monday the 26th of February:

 

Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.

 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Jalisse (@jalisse_official)

Let’s remember here, that 129 artists in total will compete in the Semi Finals of San Marino in order to represent the country in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö. However, only nine of them will manage to qualify for the Grand Final on Saturday night, when they will “co”-compete along with the already qualified artists who are the following:

  1. Aimie Atkinson
  2. Aaron Sibley
  3. Jalisse – “Il Paradiso È Qui”
  4. La Rua
  5. Loredana Bertè – “Pazza”
  6. Marcella Bella – “Chi siamo davvero”
  7. Pago
  8. Wlady, DJ Jad, Corona & Ice MC
  9. Dana Gillespie – The Last Polar Bear (νικήτρια του Casperaki)

While the artist who has already qualified for the Grand Final from yesterday’s First Semi Final is:

More specifically, also the artists who are going to compete for San Marino’s 2024 entry from the First Semi Final who have already qualified for the Second Round on Friday are:

  • Simon Evans – “Anywhere to Go”
  • Mace – “Vivimi”
  • ITAMA – “Chorizo”
  • Masala e Foresta – “Paranoia”

 

Tonight’s Second Semi Final

During tonight’s Second Semi Final of “Una Voce Per San Marino 2024”, thirty one (31) artists are going to compete for the desired ticket to the Grand Final and they are the following:

  1. AaLE
  2. Acousticouple
  3. Alessio De Cicco
  4. Alessio’s Mind
  5. Anthony
  6. Babols
  7. Basti
  8. BOOOM!
  9. Camellini
  10. Dan e i suoi Fratelli
  11. Deschema
  12. DIA
  13. Edoardo Brogi
  14. Falling Giant
  15. FEEL
  16. Francesco Balasso
  17. GUGLIELMO
  18. Haru
  19. Jucaso
  20. La bebae
  21. Lanona
  22. Lasties
  23. Manuel Meroni
  24. MEGARA
  25. Nemo
  26. Senzavolto
  27. Sika & Lurose
  28. Sofia Villa
  29. tomash
  30. Valerio Sgardi
  31. Will of Earth

Ilenia De Sena and Camillia Spinelli are the hosts of the Semi Finals, while the complete programme of “Una Voce Per San Marino 2024” is the following:

  • 19th of February – First Semi Final
  • 20th of February – Second Semi Final
  • 21st of February – Third Semi Final
  • 22nd of February – Fourth Semi Final
  • 23rd of February – San Marino’s Semi Final and the Second Round
  • 24th of February – the Grand Final

Until we find out which is going to be San Marino’s next entry, take a look at last year’s participation by Piqued Jacks singing “Animal”, who did not manage to qualify from the Second Semi Final:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIdHjcqyLfo

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding San Marino’s participation in Eurovision Song Contest 2024!

 

Lithuania: This is the running order for the Final of “Eurovizija.lt 2024”!

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On this Saturday, the 17th of February, the Grand Final of Eurovizija.lt 2024 will take place in Lithuania and the winner will earn the opportunity to represent the country in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, in Malmö. Thus, a few hours ago, the national broadcaster of Lithuania, LRT, revealed the official running order of all the ten (10) candidate entries, which is the following:

(You can listen to all the ten songs by clicking on the songs’ titles)

  1. Aistè – “We Will Rule the World”
  2. Žalvarinis – “Gaudė vėjai”
  3. Pluie de Comètes – “Be careful”
  4. Silvester Belt – “Luktelk“
  5. VB gang – “KABOOM!!!”
  6. Il Senso – “Time”
  7. Shower – “Impossible”
  8. Monika Marija – “Starting Tommorow”
  9. Queens of Roses – “Walk through fire“
  10. The Roop – “Simple Joy”

In this year’s “Eurovizija.lt” multiple artists are expected to make a guest appearence in the show, including last year’s representative, Monika Linkytė, who will perform for once more her song “Stay“, the Lithuanian entry for Eurovision 2023. Moreover, the guest list includes also the famous Lithuanian girl trio Mango, who are going to perform a medley including all of their greatest hit songs.

This year’s format

It is of great importance though to remember that this year’s “Eurovizija.lt” has a different format from all the previous years. More specifically, in total five (5) different semi finals were conducted this year, while from each one only two songs qualified for the Grand Final through a split voting system between the public’s vote and a jury’s vote. However, only the top three entries of the Final will qualify to one more final stage, the so called “Super Final” on Saturday night, from which the winner will be determined only by the public’s vote.

Until we find out who is going to be Monika’s successor on the stage of Malmö, take a look at her performance on Liverpool’s stage in May of 2023:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsgouAEd34U

Source: LRT

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for even more news regarding Lithuania’s participation in Eurovision Song Contest 2024!

Germany: These are the international juries of “Eurovision Song Contest – Das Deutsche Finale 2024”!

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Just a few hours ago, the national broadcaster of Germany, NDR, revealed on Eurovoix where the eight (8) different international juries that are going to vote during the National Final of Germany will come from. Thus, the international juries are going to consist of members from:

  • Austria
  • Croatia
  • Iceland
  • Lithuania
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom

NDR also confirmed that an experienced group of guest artists that had already preveously participated in Eurovision Song Contest, will also be present so as to share their own experience, information and advice regarding their participation. This guest list includes of course Conchita Wurst and Mary Roos but also Rea Garvey, Riccardo Simonetti, Florian Silbereisen and Alli Neumann as well.

Remember that “Eurovision Song Contest – Das Deutsche Finale 2024” is set to be aired live on Friday the 16th of February, while the nine (9) entarnts that are going to compete for a possible representation of their country in Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö, are:

  1. NinetyNine – “Love on a budget”
  2. Leona – “Undream you”
  3. Isaak Guderian – “Always on the run”
  4. GALANT – “Katze”
  5. Floryan – “Scars”
  6. Bodine Monet – “Tears like rain”
  7. RYK – “Oh boy”
  8. Marie Reim – “Naiv”
  9. Max Mutzke – “Forever strong”

Until we find out who is going to be Germany’s next representative, take a look at last year’s participation, with Lord of The Lost singing “Blood and Glitter”:

Source: Eurovoix

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for even more news regarding Germany’s participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest!

Croatia: Slimane and Raiven are the special guests of “Dora 2024”!

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Just a few hours ago, the national broadcaster of Croatia, HRT, made publicly known that Slimane and Raiven will be the special guests of “Dora 2024“, being the representative of France and of Slovenia respectively.

Thus, during the first semi final of “Dora 2024”, Slimane will be the guest artist who is going to performe his song “Mon Amour“, which will represent France in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest and Raiven will be the second’s semi final guest artist, who will perform her song “Veronika” which is the official Slovenian entry for Eurovision 2024, in Malmö, in May.

Furthermore, no matter their qualification or not for the Final of “Dora 2024”, the famous Croatian band Let 3, that represented Croatia in Eurovision 2023, will eitherway be the guests of the Final, while even more surprises are yet to be revealed.

Let’s remember here that both of “Dora 2024” semi finals are set to be held in two nights in a row, since the First Semi Final is going to take place on the 22nd of February, while the Second on the 23rd. The Grand Final of “Dora 2024” is going to take place on Sunday the 25th of February.

The main hosts of the Nights will be Duško Ćurlić, Maja Ciglenečki and Anja Cerar.

Croatia: Dora 2024 voting rules are changing!

The running orders for the two Semi Finals are the following:

First Semi-Final on February the 22nd:

  1. Noelle – Baby, Baby
  2. Mario Battifiaca feat. Robert Ferlin – Vodu piti trizan biti
  3. Stefany Žužić – Sretnih dana dat’ će Bog
  4. MISHA – One Day
  5. Erna – How Do You Love Me
  6. eugen – Tišine
  7. Vinko – Lying Eyes
  8. Barbara Munjas – Nepobjediva
  9. Let 3 – Baba Roga
  10. Lana Mandarić – More
  11. Pavel – TO THE MOON
  12. Saša Lozar – Ne plačem zbog nje

Second Semi Final on February the 23rd

  1. Lu Dedić – Plavi leptir
  2. James Night – NEBO PLAČE
  3. Lara Demarin – Ne vjerujem ti
  4. Alen Đuras – A Tamburitza Lullaby
  5. The Splitters – Od kad te sanjam
  6. Boris Štok – Can We Talk
  7. Baby Lasagna – RIM TIM TAGI DIM
  8. ET – Pametnom dosta
  9. Vatra – Slatke suze, gorka ljubav
  10. Damir Kedžo – Voljena ženo
  11. Natalie Balmix – Dijamanti
  12. MARCELA – Gasoline

Until then, take a look at last year’s Croatian participation in Eurovision with Let 3, singing “Mama ŠČ, who are also canditates for this year’s participation of Croatia as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGuGfdEJ5Pw

Source: HRT

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for even more news regarding Croatia’s participation in Eurovision 2024!