Greece: Stefania to Participate in Het Grote Songfestivalfeest in Amsterdam!

For the second year running, Stefania will grace the Het Grote Songfestivalfeest with her presence. The talented singer, who represented Greece in the Eurovision in both 2020 and 2021, is ready to captivate the audience again at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on the 16th of November, in one of the most anticipated events of the year.

The 20-year-old artist, who lives and thrives in her music career in the Netherlands, has become one of the most talked-about names in the local music industry. Our “Supergirl” is set to deliver her special “Last Dance ” to Dutch fans for the third consecutive year, after her performances at Eurovision in Rotterdam in May 2021 and at the Het Grote Songfestivalfeest in Amsterdam in November 2022.

Stefania’s performance at the Het Grote Songfestivalfeest won’t be the only one featuring a Greek, as Eleni Foureira will also be part of the event. Foureira, who represented Cyprus and finished in the second place at Eurovision 2018, is among the biggest names to perform at this grand celebration in November in the Dutch capital.

Het Grote Songfestivalfeest is a large-scale concert that pays tribute to the Eurovision Song Contest, with performances from numerous artists who have made their mark on the contest by performing their songs. For its third edition, after 2019 and 2022, the following artists will take the stage:

  • Charlotte Perrelli (Sweden 1999, 2008)
  • Johnny Logan (Ireland 1980, 1987)
  • Emmelie de Forest (Denmark 2013)
  • Verka Serduchka (Ukraine 2007)
  • Ruslana (Ukraine 2004)
  • Bobbysocks (Norway 1985)
  • Ell & Nikki (Azerbaijan 2011)
  • Måns Zelmerlöw (Sweden 2015)
  • KEiiNO (Norway 2019)
  • Eleni Foureira (Cyprus 2018)
  • Serhat (San Marino 2016, 2019)
  • Alessandra (Norway 2023)
  • Gjon’s Tears (Switzerland 2020, 2021)
  • Gustaph (Belgium 2023)
  • Gali Atari (Israel 1979)
  • Alika (Estonia 2023)
  • Käärijä (Finland 2023)
  • WRS (Romania 2022)
  • Luca Hänni (Switzerland 2019)
  • Stefania (Greece 2020, 2021)

Let’s not forget that the previous edition of Het Grote Songfestivalfeest in 2022 also featured Greek talent with the presence of Elena Paparizou, both as a solo artist and as part of Antique, and of course, Stefania.

Keep your eyes on EurovisionFun for all the latest updates about your beloved contest!

Eurovision 2023: Slovenia’s Second Rehearsal!

The fifth act rehearsing today are the indie-rock group Joker Out, representing Slovenia, with their song “Carpe Diem”.

Who are Joker Out?

The Slovenian band Joker Out was formed in 2016 and they have released two albums since then. The five members of the group are Bojan Cvjetićanin (the frontman), Jure Maček, Kris Guštin, Jan Peteh and Nace Jordan. They are well known in the Slovenian society making a tons of hits and winning many awards.

On 8th December of 2022, the National Broadcaster RTV Slovenia announced that the band will represent their country to Eurovision in Liverpool. The band stated that they wanted to keep the entire song in the Slovene language saying: “we want to translate Slovenian into a universal language of dance and entertainment that all countries understand”.

The Rehearsal

Unfortunately this year, accredited journalists don’t get the chance to watch the first and second rehearsals, so we only get the information and content that the organizers officially release to the public.

Joker Out are making a connection with the audience in the arena, probably the same connection will happen with the hundreds of millions of people watching on TV. The group has the same charisma like Måneskin. It’s shown that they have a big stage experience and they look like they’re having the time of their lives right now. Their outfits are also unique and interesting.

Chloe Hashemi

Sarah Louise Bennett

Below you can watch a small clip from the Cypriot second rehearsal, once it’s published on YouTube:

The Dress Rehearsal for Cyprus and the rest of Semi Final 2 will be held on the 10th of May.

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss a moment of what will happen in Liverpool:

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest developments regarding Cyprus’ entry in Eurovision 2023!

Source: eurovision.tv

Germany: Ben Dolic declines a new entry in Eurovision!

Ben Dolic, the representative of Germany in Eurovision 2020, posted a statement about Eurovision Song Contest, on his personal Twitter account.

After the cancellation of the 2020 contest, Ben Dolic was one of the few “unlucky” contestants to not be selected, to represent their countries once again in 2021. Since then, many fans want him to return with a new song and finally perform on the Eurovision stage.

His post isn’t that positive on a new participation in the contest, saying that he has now taken a different turn in his career:

This is what Ben Dolic posted:

“Competing in the Eurovision Song Contest was something I had always dreamed of and I am so incredibly grateful for my experience representing Germany in 2020 with ‘Violent Thing’. The ESC community has always been so supportive and although the competition didn’t fully go ahead, I feel that my experience fulfilled my wishes and I look back on my time with fond memories.

Since 2020, I have been establishing my sound and don’t feel that the direction I am moving in is a suitable fit for Eurovision. I want to prioritise myself and my career and I am working on releasing more music as an independent artist. I do not want to completely rule out competing or submitting an entry in the future, as I never know how my sound will change in the long term, but I do want to be respected as an artist in my own right and release music that aligns with my direction.

I am grateful for the Eurofans who have stuck by me since my debut single release and hope I can continue to have their support with future releases, void of rumours or pressure about returning to the competition.”

Ben Dolic was internally selected to represent Germanby in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song “Violent Thing”:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Armenia: “Great news soon”, said the head of the delegation!

Armenian head of delegation, David Tserunyan, noted a possible return of the country to the next Eurovision Song Contest and most probably Junior Eurovision too, in 2022, after their withdrawal this year.

David Tserunyan, who is also an elected member of the Reference Group, took part in the group’s first meeting with RAI lately. The Italian broadcaster, has already started setting up the forecoming contest of 2022.

Publishing the photo from the conference of the Reference Group, Tserunyan expressed his gratitude for his reelection and concluded that soon we will have some wonderful news, sparking hopes for the return of Armenia to the contest.

Armenian prime minister got a vote of confidence, not more than two days ago, which is a first step towards the recovery of the country, after their conflicts with Azerbaijan with regards to Artsakh.

We really hope that Armenia makes a return in 2022, along with other numerous withdrawn countries!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments related to our favorite contest!

Lithuania: The Roop band signed with Warner Music Group!

Today, the music group from Lithuania moved on to a very interesting announcement. In particular, the country’s representatives in the canceled Eurovision 2020 contest, The Roop, announced through their social media account the beginning of their collaboration with one of the largest record companies in the world, the Warner Music Group.

Specifically, the lead vocalist Vaidotas Valiukeviučius commented that:

This is the result of long and purposeful work. We are happy. Once more we say all countries who feel they are too small – the music world has no borders. We want to inspire others not to let their hands down, not to forsake their creativity, keep on working, and we believe that many more talents will be discovered on a worldwide level

Source: Facebook/The Roop Band

Iceland:”Think About Things” becomes theme song in the Italian Big Brother!

The success of Think About Things, with Daði og Gagnamagnið far exceeded the small Icelandic border and is by far the most commercial song from this year’s contest. Now Think About Things is also known in Italy, since it is used as a theme song in Big Brother!

There are many who argue that Iceland for many reasons would be this year’s winner of Eurovision. Before the contest was canceled, Think About Things was the biggest favorite to win, and its success became even bigger after that!

To his surprise, Daði himself found that his song is used as one of the main soundtracks of the Italian Big Brother:

So far, Icelandic public broadcaster has not announced whether Daði will represent the country again at Eurovision 2021 or whether the national final Söngvakeppnin will take place. Although the head of delegation had stated that we would be aware of their final decisions in early September, however there was no official announcement yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HU7ocv3S2o

Go_A: “Ukraine has its own language and culture and we have a chance to show it” | Exclusive interview! (video)

EurovisionFun had the pleasure and the honor of hosting Go_A in an exclusive interview. Go_A is a Ukrainian electro-folk band and consists of Kateryna Pavlenko, Ihor Didenchuk, Taras Shevchenko και Ivan Hryhoriak. This year, after their victory in the national final Vidbir 2020, they were set to represent Ukraine in Eurovision with the song “Solovey“, while from very early, after the cancellation of the competition, it was announced that they will internally represent the country in 2021 in Rotterdam.

Info: The idea to form a band that will combine modern electronic music with ethnic motifs first came to Taras Shevchenko in 2011, but the first attempts to work with actual musicians were in 2012. At the end of that year, in December, the first song “Koliada” was released. The band’s name means “return to the roots” and was made by combining the English word “Go” with the Greek letter “Alpha“, which symbolizes the beginning of everything.


Interview with Go_A

First of all, thank you for this interview. You won Vidbir 2020 and you would represent Ukraine in Eurovision 2020 with the song “Solovey”. How you felt after winnng your country’s national final this year?

Actually it was quite a surprise for us. We couldn’t believe that a band that had been staying in musical underground for 7 years without a manager or label support could win such contest. So our first impression was “Ok, what’s the catch?”. But then we felt a great responsibility, because we understood we were the first band in Eurovision history that would perform a song fully in Ukrainian. We find it very important. As one of our European fans said, not many people in Europe or the rest of the world know that Ukraine has its own language and culture – and we have a chance to show it.

How you felt after the heartbreaking announcement that this year’s Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled?

Taras: When Eurovision was cancelled everything happened so fast, there hadn’t any time for feelings.  We were working in the studio when we received two messages on my phone. The first one – Eurovision was cancelled, the second one – UA:PBC (which is responsible for Eurovision in Ukraine) had decided that we would be the Ukraine’s entry for Eurovision 2021.

Could you tell us more about your team behind “Solovey”? Will be the same team for your next year’s entry?

The song was written by Taras & Kate so next year it will be the same way. As for the performance team – we are looking for professionals that will help us implement our ideas.

“Solovey” has a unique and traditional sound and it’s in Ukrainian language. What that, singing in your own language, means to you? Will you still use traditional sounds and Ukrainian in 2021?

Our aim is to show our cultural heritage to the whole world because we believe it should take its place in pop music the same way it has already happened with Indian, Arabian and Latin folk music. And of course it includes us singing in Ukrainian and using traditional Ukrainian sound techniques.

As I said before, your song was among the few traditional songs this year. Do you believe that in the future contests, the countries should prefer to use traditional sounds and their own language?

We think that depends on the artist. Every artist expresses his/her thoughts and emotions through the song’s lyrics. Some of them are great in writing songs in English, others prefer to do it in their own language. Our song Solovey wouldn’t sound like Solovey any more if it was translated in English but still there are a lot of great songs in English and I can’t imagine them being performed in a different language. Again, it’s all about the artist’s attitude.

In 2016, Jamala won Eurovision for Ukraine. How would you feel if you were the 3d act which will bring the contest in your country?

We would consider it to be a great honor and responsibility. But based on our experience of winning Ukraine’s national selection we understand it’s difficult to predict one’s feelings till the very moment.

The last years, Ukraine used to organize a national final. How did you feel when you noticed that you have internally selected for 2021?

We had very little time to feel anything. For us it was like “Ok, we need to write another song for the next year, so lets get started”.

As you already let us know, you will create five songs for your personal national final so people will choose the best one. Have you already some songs on hand? Have you started the preparation about that?

The idea first came up as a joke but then we realized it was a good way to show some respect to people who voted for us this year. We started to work in the studio right after Eurovision had been cancelled and so far we have several pieces of music. But you’d never know which song will be THE song or in our case – one of several songs. I mean, in the past we had situations when we did a song, put it on the shelf, then listened to it in several days and realized it wasn’t “us”, it didn’t feel like a Go_A song – so we just threw it away. Maybe we’ll treat our song we did for the last two months the same way. Maybe not. Time will tell.

This year, Greece would be represented by the 17 years old Stefania with the song “Supergirl”. Stefania also already confirmed for 2021. What do you think about her?

“SUPERG!RL” is incredibly powerful and yet very tender song, and so is Stefania herself. Can’t wait to hear her new song for Eurovision 2021.

*In closing, Go_A sent a message to EurovisionFun as well as to all Greeks who will be invited to vote for Ukraine at Eurovision 2021!*

We warmly thank Go_A for this interview and we wish them best of luck next year in Rotterdam!

Israel: With Eden Alene at Eurovision 2021

Following the official cancellation of this year’s contest in Rotterdam, many countries are already in a hurry to give their anchor for 2021 early this year.

Ten countries have already made that decision, including this year’s organizer The Netherlands and Greece, so they want to give their artists the chance to finally be on the scene one year later.

Israel is on the list of those countries today. The country’s public broadcaster, KAN, announced recently that due to the spread of the killer virus in Europe, this year’s country’s representative , Eden Alene, will represent Israel at the competition next year.

“We will win. This time, the song will be even better”, as she stated herself.

Eden Alene was informed of the cancellation of the airing contest she was invited to and could not hold back her tears as you can see in the video below.

Lithuania: By April 1st they will decide for Eurovision 2021

Lithuania’s Public Television (LRT), through its Deputy General Manager, Gytis Oganauskas, has announced that it will announce its intentions for Eurovision 2021 by 1st of April.

Already The Roop, one of the big favorites of this year’s competition with “On Fire”, had announced that they would like to compete in the next contest, not all of the artists selected this year and not finally competing, since Eurovision 2020 due to the crown. canceled. Indeed, their desire was to perform the same song. But the EBU, in its announcement yesterday, made it clear that this year’s songs cannot compete in 2021, as the September 1 regulation is also valid for the time being.

Lithuania’s public television is now called upon to decide whether The Roop will represent it in another song in 2021 or whether they will host their national final again.

Let’s enjoy “On Fire” once again, which would be Lithuania’s participation in this year’s competition:

https://youtu.be/1EAUxuuu1w8

Source: LRT

 

Slovenia: Listen to the “Voda” revamp

Ana Soklič was the winner of the UMA 2020 and would represent Slovenia at the Eurovision 2020, with the song “Voda”. Although the contest was canceled, Ana Soklič released the revamp of the song she performed in collaboration with the Budapest Artistic Orchestra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOdI-gFrYaQ

Slovenia has not yet clarified whether it will be represented in 2021 by the same artist or if it will perform again.