Ireland: Opens song submission window for Eurosong 2023!

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The Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, confirmed the country’s participation in Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Simultaneously, it announced the opening of the song submission window which is going to be open until 6pm of Friday, October 28th. Again, the song that is going to represent the country in the contest will be selected through a national final.

RTÉ’s invitation aimed at those interested:

“RTÉ is pleased to announce that Ireland will once again be taking part in the annual Eurovision Song Contest which will be held in the UK in May 2023.”

“The show is particularly popular with youth audiences and younger adult viewers throughout Europe. RTÉ wants to hear from contemporary artists and songwriters with the talent and ambition to compete and succeed in this highly competitive environment. This is a rare and valuable opportunity for artists and songwriters to gain exposure on a global scale.”

The proposals that will be submitted at RTÉ’s platform, should be made only from successful songwriters and should be totally complete. It’s pointed out that they should be taken over by experienced and well known performers, something meaning that proposals made by new and underground songwriters and artists won’t be accepted. Also, RTÉ holds the right to send open invitations to established songwriters/composers and artists in order to send their proposals, eligible for being selected for “Eurosong Late Late Show Special”, the broadcast through which the national final is shown.

The selection of the proposals will be made by a committee of professionals from the music and entertainment industry and fans of Eurovision, selected by RTÉ. The performers selected will be invited for audition at RTÉ studios in Dublin.

In Eurovision 2022 Ireland was represented by Eurosong 2022 winner, Brooke Scullion, with the song “That’s Rich” and couldn’t progress to the Grand Final, finishing only 15th in the Second Semi-Final. Last time that Ireland has been in the final was 2018, with the song “Together” by Ryan O’ Shaughnessy and finished in 16th place.

https://youtu.be/Kq2AJrWm04s

Source: rte.ie

 

Greece: More than 50 songs have already been submitted to ERT!

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Some days before the last week of the submission window that ERT announced for the next Greek entry, ERT has already received more than 50 songs!

Since last week, the submitted songs were over 43, which was the total number of songs that were submitted last year. ERT executives expect that until October 9th which is the deadline for submissions, the total number of entries will increase significantly.

Some of the artists that have already confirmed their participation in the selection, either publicly or through information we received are:

  • Antonia Kaouri
  • Melissa Mantzoukis
  • Leon of Athens
  • Operatical
  • Klavdia
  • Evangelia
  • Vasilis Kourtis
  • Aretha
  • Artemis Matafia
  • Joanne
  • Cynthia Verazie

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun because we follow closely all the developments on the Greek internal selection! 

 

 

San Marino: Una Voce per San Marino 2023 received over 300 applications so far!

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San Marino’s national broadcaster San Marino RTV has revealed today through a press conference more information regarding Una Voce per San Marino 2023. As we have previously informed you, the established artists won’t be able to pre-qualify to the Grand Final.

Also, during the press conference it was revealed that Una Voce per San Marino 2023 has received over 300 applications so far. Last week, it was also revealed that artists from more than 17 countries have shown their interest for the contest.

The production team for Una Voce per San Marino is expecting more than 1000 applications until the end of the deadline, 700 more than last year.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding San Marino’s participation for Eurovision Song Contest 2023!

Source: Eurovoix

Azerbaijan: Denies withdrawal rumors | Will take part in Eurovision 2023 as usual!

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The public television of Azerbaijan denied the rumors that got spread out during the last hours regarding the withdrawal from the competition. A representative of the channel explained that everything is fine with the issue of Azerbaijan’s participation in Eurovision 2023, which there are no updates about at the moment.

The reason for the rumor of withdrawal was the publication of the programs that will be broadcast by the country’s public television, in which the 67th Eurovision Song Contest was absent, although there were other important events such as the World Cup.

Local media contacted public television, whose representative said the following:

In the published information about the new TV season we did not give information about all the programs and projects included in our programming. This information mainly talks about new projects, serials, movies that will be shown for the first time. The press release also stated that all other shows, projects and programs that are highly rated and loved by the audience will continue to air. Eurovision is traditionally an international song contest broadcast by Public Television every year. Public television has broadcast this competition every year since 2007, when it became a member of the European Broadcasting Union. In other words, there is no update regarding this topic. Therefore, the allegations regarding the refusal to broadcast Eurovision are unfounded.

We had reported that Azerbaijan will normally participate in Eurovision 2023, as was confirmed a little earlier, through our Live Stream on Youtube yesterday.

The Caucasian country was represented in this year’s competition by Nadir Rustamli with the song Fade To Black, getting 16th place in the final with 106 points.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for valid and fast news!

 

Source: Olay

Eurovision 2023: Graham Norton confirms he won’t host Eurovision 2023!

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Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will not be hosted by Graham Norton. The author and presenter appeared to rule himself out from hosting duties during an interview on This Morning on Wednesday 28th September.

Norton, who has been the show’s commentator since 2009, surprised This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield when he asked them if they had “thrown [their] hats into the ring to host”.

While Schofield said he wasn’t “allowed” due to the contest being broadcast by the BBC, Willoughby pointed that it surely must be Norton’s job.

I don’t want to give up the commentating, If I stop the commentating, someone else will do it and they might be better than me and then I’ll lose that job. Well, I might wander on and wave, and then run back to my rabbit hutch and put my ear things on.

Willoughby then suggested Rylan Clark-Neal for the job, though Norton didn’t reveal whether there had been any conversations on who might host the programme in his place. Other popular contenders, however, include Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills.

The competition will be hosted in the UK, despite Sam Ryder coming in second place. Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra were crowned the winners, but the country couldn’t take on hosting duties due to the ongoing Russian invasion. Liverpool and Glasgow are the two UK cities currently in the mix for holding the competition, with Glasgow as the odds’ favorite to win!

“Both of them are beautiful cities,” Norton said. “They’ll look great on camera, they both have a big musical tradition, so you know either one. May the best city win.”

Who do you think will be the hosts of Eurovision 2023?Tell us in the comments below!

Source: radiotimes

Eurovision 2023: The bookmakers declare Glasgow as the favourite!

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We are at the final homestretch of the selection process for the city that is going to host Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Despite announcing yesterday that only Glasgow and Liverpool remain at the course of claiming, it seems that for the bookmakers there is an absolute favourite!

According to the bookmakers, Glasgow has 64% chance to host the contest, while Liverpool concentrates the remaining 36%.

It should also be pointed out that the variability of the odds was recorded mostly the last days, before BBC’s announcement regarding the predominant cities.

Specifically, as shown at the panel above (screenshot that was taken yesterday), while Glasgow remained for long as the absolute favourite for the bookmakers, Liverpool managed to make an outstading leap in odds. However, this dynamic was not preserved after the BBC announcement, with Glasgow retaking it’s edge overnight.

Will the bookmakers be proven right or Liverpool is going to make a surprise? Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the details!

United Kingdom: Birmingham explains why it was not chosen as a host city

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Birmingham was eliminated from the host city selection procces and now the Mayor of West Midlands has revealed the reason that lead to this decision.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, explained on his personal Twitter account the reason behind Birmingham’s not advancing  to the final two of the host city race for Eurovision 2023. Mr. Street explained that the Resorts World Arena also known as the NEC did not meet the technical requirements for the roof of a venue to host the Eurovision Song Contest.

Glasgow and Liverpool are the two cities that remain in the selection procces and one of them will be the winner city to host Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The EBU and the BBC announced earlier today the two cities that move to the final phase and the five that were eliminated. The cities which were not selected were:

  • Birmingham
  • Leeds
  • Manchester
  • Newcastle
  • Sheffield

Eurovision 2023 will be hosted in the United Kingdom after Kalush Orchestra won with the song “Stefania” on behalf of Ukraine.

Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be the first contest since 1979 in which the winning nation was unable to host the following contest. It is the sixth occasion overall on which a different country has hosted after the original host nation was unable to host. The 2023 contest will also extend the United Kingdom’s record of hosting Eurovision to nine times.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in the United Kingdom!

United Kingdom: Selection Committee will pay a visit to Glasgow on September 30!

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STV News reports that the committee incumbent on selecting the host city of Eurovision 2023 is visiting Glasgow on September 30.

A BBC delegation is due to visit Glasgow this Friday, to carry out a thorough inspection/assessment of the city’s infrastructure. This assessment will be then taken into account for the final stage of the host city selection procedure.

The OVO Hydro has a capacity of up to 14,500 standing spectators and opened 2013. The OVO Hydro was also used in the filming of the Eurovision movie, Eurovision The Story of Fire Saga, where a fictional ESC took place in Edinburgh. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and the fourth largest in the United Kingdom with a population of over 635,000 people.

The EBU and the BBC announced today that Glasgow and Liverpool are the final two cities in the running to host Eurovision 2023.

Eurovision 2023 will be the first Competition since 1979, where the previous year’s winner will not host the event, even though such thing happened six times in the past.

Which city do you prefer as the host city of Eurovision 2023? 

Source: SVT, Eurovoix

Eurovision 2023: Glasgow or Liverpool will host the upcoming contest!

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Either Glasgow or Liverpool will host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, after the shortlist of cities in contention was cut from seven to two.

The announcement means Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield have missed out on the chance to stage the competition next May.

The BBC said the two remaining cities, which both have riverside arena venues, had “the strongest overall offer”.

A final decision will be made “within weeks”, the broadcaster said.

 

The UK was chosen to host the 2023 contest after organisers decided it could not be staged by this year’s winner, Ukraine, because of the ongoing war. The UK’s singer Sam Ryder was the runner-up this May.

A hotly-contested selection process saw 20 UK cities express an interest in hosting this year’s show before that was narrowed down to seven, and now a final two.

Crowds outside Glasgow's OVO Hydro arenaJEFF HOLMES

Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena doubled as the venue in Will Ferrell’s Eurovision movie

The winning location will attract thousands of visitors and the attention of around 160 million TV viewers around the world.

The original seven shortlisted cities were scored on a set of criteria including:

  • “Having a suitable venue and sufficient space to deliver the requirements of the Song Contest
  • “The commitment that can be made by a city or region to hosting the event, including the financial contribution
  • “The strength of the cultural offer which includes off screen local and regional activity as well as showcasing Ukrainian culture and music
  • “And alignment with the BBC’s strategic priorities as a public service broadcaster, such as providing value to all audiences and supporting the creative economy in the UK.”

Glasgow calling?

LuluGETTY IMAGES

Lulu won Eurovision in 1969

Glasgow was a bookies’ favourite from the off, with its OVO Hydro venue having a capacity of 14,300.

The arena would be a fitting setting in some ways after being filmed for the exterior of the venue in Will Ferrell’s 2020 Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

And of course, Glasgow lass Lulu won the 1969 Contest with Boom Bang-a-Bang. She says it’s “the perfect place… and it’s about time”.

Fellow Glaswegian Scott Fitzgerald came second in 1988 when he was beaten to the top spot by none other than Celine Dion.

Leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken has said the city “has all the right ingredients to deliver a Eurovision the world will remember”.

The city centre venue is also next to exhibition centres that could be useful for facilities like a press centre, and has a nearby station and hotels. It has previously hosted BBC Sports Personality of the Year and events during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Or douze points to Liverpool?

SoniaGETTY IMAGES

Sonia is keen for the contest to come to her home city

The home of The Beatles has a rich musical history that attracts thousands of international visitors every year. Its past major events have included the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2008.

Sonia came second in the contest back in 1993 with Better the Devil You Know. The city has also been represented by Jemini, who sadly got nul points in 2003.

Eurovision would be staged at the 11,000-capacity dockside M&S Bank Arena, which is next to a conference centre and near the city centre’s hotels and rail links.

Speaking earlier this year, Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool City Region, said: “It’s safe to say that Liverpool wouldn’t be Liverpool without music – and music wouldn’t be music without Liverpool.

“No region in the UK has had more number one hits – and nowhere can throw a party quite like us. I can think of nowhere more qualified, more experienced or more fitting to host the Eurovision.”

Short presentational grey line

Eurovision organisers say a host venue should accommodate about 10,000 spectators, be within easy reach of an international airport and have enough hotel accommodation for at least 2,000 delegates, journalists and ticket-buyers.

The venue will be needed for preparations for six to eight weeks ahead of the song contest, meaning the host city will need to move concerts and events that are already in their schedules.

Aerial shot of Liverpool's waterfront including the M&S Bank Arena and adjoining exhibition centreANT CLAUSEN

Liverpool’s arena and exhibition centre are on the banks of the River Mersey

That could include the likes of Sir Elton John, who has concerts in Liverpool on 22 and 23 April, and the Magic Mike arena tour, which is booked for both cities in late April.

The UK has hosted Eurovision eight times – four times in London, and in Edinburgh, Brighton, Harrogate and Birmingham.

The former UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said when the shortlist was revealed that the country was “determined to deliver a competition which reflects Ukraine’s rich culture and creativity”. Congratulating the shortlisted cities, she said “no matter which one is chosen it will be a fantastic event to make both the UK and Ukraine proud”.

The BBC’s director of unscripted content Kate Phillips said: “We are committed to delivering a truly unique Song Contest that celebrates wonderful Ukraine and champions British music and creativity in all its diversity.”

The final decission will be made in the next weeks! Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun!

Source: BBC

Sweden: Jesper Rönndahl and Farah Abadi to host Melodifestivalen 2023!

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Moments ago, the Swedish Public Broadcaster SVT announced the hosts of Melodifestivalen 2023!

Jesper Rönndahl and Farah Abadi will host the program according to the official announcement. Jesper is a comedian and presenter while he is also a writer and producer. He is hosting for the first time the show along Farah Abadi, radio and tv presenter, who is returning as the host of the program, after co-hosting last year with Oscar Zia.

Melodifestivalen 2023 is scheduled to take place between February 4th to March 11th, while SVT has received 2824 songs. The list of participants will be published in November or December.

Do you like the hosts of Melodifestivalen 2023? Tell us in the comments!