Israel: Watch Noa Kirel’s first live performance of “Unicorn”!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

What if Noa Kirel said that she is not going to perform “Unicorn” before Eurovision? A few hours ago she performed a little part of her song in a concert.

Noa was part of a concert for the Israeli Independence Day, wearing clothes in the colours of the flag of Israel, confusing many fans online, thinking that these are her clothes for Eurovision.

After an explosive show and the cheerings of her fans, Noa performed a small part of her song acapella! You can listen to it in the video below:

Noa Kirel with their song “Unicorn” hopes to bring her country back to the Grand Final and get a top 5 finish! As of now, Israel is placed 8th in the odds for winning the contest and third for qualifying to the final.

Israel is competing in number 9 of the running order of the First Semi-Final of Eurovision 2023, in May 9, 2023.

https://youtu.be/r4wbdKmM3bQ

You can watch the reaction of the editors of Eurovisionfun, reacting and commenting on the Israeli entry for Eurovision 2023 below:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Israeli participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Belgium: Gustaph promises a more dynamic show for Eurovision 2023!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

In an interview with Belgium’s public broadcaster, VRT, the country’s representative in this year’s contest, Gustaph, spoke about his performance on the Eurovision stage and his hopes for a qualification to the Final.

With only a week away from the start of rehearsals and consequently the beginning of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, Gustaph spoke to VRT about his preparation for the contest. As Gustaph has said before, his performance at Eurovision will be different from that of the national final:

“There will be a lot more interaction with the backing singers and with the screens. And it will be much more dynamic. I’m going to have to jump around on that stage a lot more.

I would find it an insult to dancers if I called myself a dancer. I’m just going to move a lot. Although that is not easy if you have to sing at the same time.”

The Belgian representative confirmed that his clothing will be designed by Walter Van Beirendinck. He will however keep his Eurosong hat, but his new look will be full of colour:

Looking forward to the competition in Liverpool, Gustaph is aiming to qualify for the Grand Final and finish well. He has strong hopes about his chances:

“The song is an instant party, people will probably get a good feeling immediately. And we are the only one of our kind in the second semi-final where there are a lot of ballads and intense performances. With us it’s a party and that could be turn out well for a public vote.”

You can watch the EurovisionFun team’s reaction to Belgium’s participation in Eurovision 2023 below:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news about Belgium in Eurovision 2023!

Source: vrt.be

INFE Poll 2023: The results from Georgia!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

For the seventh consecutive year, the second fan network of the Eurovision Song Contest, the INFE Network, in collaboration with the website EscToday, is conducting the INFE Poll.

Network members in the 21 local fan clubs have already voted for their favorite songs from Eurovision 2023 and via ESCToday, they are announcing their scores.

Here are the results of INFE Georgia:

  • Finland – 1 point
  • Czechia – 2 points
  • Spain – 3 points
  • Israel – 4 points
  • Norway – 5 points
  • Austria – 6 points
  • Italy – 7 points
  • France – 8 points
  • Armenia – 10 points
  • Sweden – 12 points

After adding Georgian votes to the scoreboard, the overall score is as follows:

  1. Sweden – 79 points
  2. Norway – 61 points
  3. Finland – 59 points
  4. Italy – 47 points
  5. France – 38 points
  6. Israel – 37 points
  7. Austria – 36 points
  8. Spain – 31 points
  9. Czechia – 30 points
  10. United Kingdom – 18 points
  11. Moldova – 16 points
  12. Armenia – 14 points
  13. Georgia – 9 points
  14. Serbia – 8 points
  15. Greece – 8 points
  16. Croatia – 7 points
  17. Slovenia – 7 points
  18. Romania – 4 points
  19. Albania – 4 points
  20. Latvia – 3 points
  21. Netherlands – 2 points
  22. Australia – 2 points
  23. San Marino – 1 points
  24. Portugal – 1 points

Source: ESC Today

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun.com for all the updates regarding the INFE Poll 2023 results!

Ireland: Wild Youth cut ties with their creative director over ‘transphobic’ tweets!

/0 Comments/in , /by

With just two weeks to go until Eurovision Ireland’s act Wild Youth have decided to stop working with their creative director.

The termination of the relationship between Wild Youth and Ian Banham came after screen grabs, said to have been taken from his account, began circulating on Twitter with what could be considered offensive messaging. The tweets allegedly referred to transgender women as men.

In a statement posted on Twitter the band wrote: ‘Wild Youth is a band that stands for unity and kindness. Our song represents our beliefs as a band. We have cut all ties with Ian Banham and will not have him on or near our team or Eurovision journey. We are so sorry for anyone offended by his comments.

Ian Banham

This comes after Eurovision Discord, who usually remain anonymous and share news from the music competition, publicly condemned the appointment.

According to Ian’s website he has worked with Lily Allen, Kylie Minogue, Katya Jones, Cheryl and Westlife. He also works as a choreographer and creative on Dancing With The Stars in Ireland.

Ireland will perform at the first semi-final on May 9.

Source: Metro

Finland: Watch footage of Käärijä’s rehearsals for “Cha Cha Cha”!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

A few days ago, we had the first details for the staging of  Käärijä’s Finnish entry “Cha Cha Cha“, but now YLE, the Finnish national broadcaster had published a short clip of the rehearsals at the official account of UMK, on Instagram!

As we can witness, all the details that had been revealed are indeed there!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by UMK23 (@uudenmusiikinkilpailu)

At the end of the Reel, a cardboard cut-out of Käärijä is shown, maybe this will be part of their Liverpool promotion? That remains to be seen, when Eurovisionfun will travel to Liverpool accredited on-site, to inform you for all the latest news with regards to the contest!

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the latest news regarding the Finnish entry in Eurovision Song Contest 2023!

Source: UMK

OGAE Poll 2023: The results of Sweden, Croatia and Poland!

/2 Comments/in , , , , /by

After the votes of 29 OGAE International Network clubs, it is the turn of Sweden, Croatia and Poland to submit their votes.

In detail, the votes of the 125 members of OGAE Sweden are:

  • 12 points to Finland
  • 10 points to France
  • 8 points to Italy
  • 7 points to Norway
  • 6 points to the United Kingdom
  • 5 points to Austria
  • 4 points to Switzerland
  • 3 points to Israel
  • 2 points to the Czech Republic
  • 1 point to Cyprus

The vote of the 21 members of OGAE Croatia:

  • 12 points to Norway
  • 10 points to Sweden
  • 8 points to Finland
  • 7 points to Slovenia
  • 6 points to Italy
  • 5 points to Austria
  • 4 points to Spain
  • 3 points to the United Kingdom
  • 2 points to the Czech Republic
  • 1 point to Armenia

Finally, the vote of the 205 members of OGAE Poland:

  • 12 points to Sweden
  • 10 points to Finland
  • 8 points to Austria
  • 7 points to France
  • 6 points to Norway
  • 5 points to the Czech Republic
  • 4 points to Italy
  • 3 points to the United Kingdom
  • 2 points to Slovenia
  • 1 point to Moldova

The combined results after the voting of 32 clubs are as follows:

Finland remains in 1st place and maintains its lead and the gap widens against Sweden who comes 2nd with a distance of 11 points. The top five is completed by France with 234 points, Norway with 190 points and Austria with 176 points.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all OGAE Poll 2023 scores and all the Eurovision news!

Source: OGAE International

Greece: A minimal Greek summer is the staging idea for Eurovision 2023!

/0 Comments/in , /by

In the Greek morning show “Breakfast@star” the reporter  Μαρία Αργυριάδου gave exclusive informations about the Greek staging for Eurovision 2023!

“We know that Konstantinos Rigos is going to be the director of the Greek entry for Victor Vernicos perfomance. When we first heard it, we thought about artistic props, dancers, a maximal staging! But it is a big no, cause it will be the complete opposite!

The direction that Κοnstantinos Rigos decided is going to be completely minimal. Victor will be completely alone on stage with no one else. There will be no backing vocals, nothing behind him, zero help. There will be no dancers and not even his guitar. He will be completely alone and that’s because the director wants the audience to focus on Victor himself. There will be no water like the music video based on our exclusive information.

There is a concept though behind Victor’s staging idea. And that concept is Greek summer! All the colours and the lights on the stage of Eurovision 2023 will be customized to the concept of Greek summer and its colours!”

The director of the Greek staging said though that their main focus is Victor to narrate every lyric of the song with his expressions and movement.

Victor Vernicos will perform “What They Say” in the second Semi-Final of Eurovision 2023! You can listen to the song below:

What do you think of the approach of the Greek team? Is a minimal summer perfomance the key for Victor to advance to the Grand Final? Write your opinion in the comment section below!

BBC Radio 2’s listeners voted Sam Ryder’s “Space Man” as their favourite ever Eurovision UK entry!

/0 Comments/in , /by

Radio 2 today reveals that Space Man by Sam Ryder from 2022’s Eurovision Song Contest is Your Ultimate UK Eurovision Song following a listener vote to discover the nation’s favourite ever Eurovision UK entry.

Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz (1981) is in second place, Ooh Aah…Just a Little Bit by Gina G (1996) is in third place, Love Shine a Light by Katrina and the Waves (1997) in fourth, and Save Your Kisses for Me by Brotherhood of Man (1976) rounded off the top five.

The full Top 40 countdown hosted by Steve Wright is available on BBC Sounds from Monday 24 April and broadcast on Radio 2 on Saturday 13 May, 1-3pm.

From Tuesday 21 March, listeners were asked to vote for up to five of their favourite songs of all the UK entrants that have competed in the Eurovision final since our first entry back in 1957 (with the exception of the cancelled 2020 contest and the 2023 entry). Voting closed on Tuesday 11 April, with the results compiled for this special show, Your Ultimate Eurovision Song.

Space Man represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy, after being internally selected through TaP Music and the BBC, the British broadcaster for the Eurovision Song Contest. It was co-written by Ryder alongside Amy Wadge and Max Wolfgang in London. At the contest in Turin, Ryder finished in second place with 466 points, becoming the highest scoring UK Eurovision entrant, winning the jury vote with 283 points, and scoring the third highest jury votes by a contestant. He scored the best UK their best result since 1998 and its first top three result since 2002. Space Man peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the highest-charting UK Eurovision entry since Gina G’s Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit in 1996.

Sam Ryder says: “This is just bonkers! We went into that competition as fans and we thought it may be that we come absolutely dead last. But what we can achieve is holding ourselves with a certain grace and respect for being there in the first place, and gratitude first and foremost. When we were sat there on the night and those scores started coming in, we were looking at each other bursting out laughing because we didn’t have a clue that would happen. And now this result! I’m just so grateful. Thanks to all of the listeners who voted and everyone at Radio 2 who supported the song from day one – I really honestly appreciate it.”

Steve Wright says: “Sam Ryder’s Space Man has really taken off with Radio 2 listeners! I can’t wait to count down the rest of the chart and see who else has been blasting off into the hearts of Radio 2 listeners as we all look forward to this year’s Grand Final.”

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: “We’re thrilled to see that Sam Ryder’s Space Man continues to resonate so strongly with our listeners. It’s testament to Sam’s exceptional talent as a songwriter and performer. I can’t wait for everyone to hear all the other stellar Eurovision specials which we have in store on Radio 2 and on BBC Sounds, from Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Eurovision Kitchen Disco to OJ’s Eurovision After Party, not to mention our live coverage of the semi finals for the first time with Paddy O’Connell and the Grand Final commentary hosted by our own Scott Mills and Rylan.”

The Top 40, as voted by Radio 2 listeners:

1. Sam Ryder – Space Man (2022)

2. Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up (1981)

3. Gina G – Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit (1996)

4. Katrina and the Waves – Love Shine a Light (1997)

5. Brotherhood of Man – Save Your Kisses for Me (1976)

6. Sandie Shaw – Puppet on a String (1967)

7. Cliff Richard – Congratulations (1968)

8. The New Seekers – Beg, Steal or Borrow (1972)

9. Lulu – Boom Bang-a-Bang (1969)

10. Michael Ball – One Step Out of Time (1992)

11. Sonia – Better the Devil You Know (1993)

12. Bardo – One Step Further (1982)

13. Scooch – Flying the Flag (For You) (2007)

14. Mary Hopkin – Knock, Knock Who’s There? (1970)

15. Imaani – Where Are You? (1998)

16. Olivia Newton-John – Long Live Love (1974)

17. Daz Sampson – Teenage Life (2006)

18. Cliff Richard – Power to All Our Friends (1973)

19. Lucie Jones – Never Give Up on You (2017)

20. Lynsey de Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom (1977)

21. Love City Groove – Love City Groove (1995)

22. Blue – I Can (2011)

23. The Shadows – Let Me Be the One (1975)

24. Clodagh Rodgers – Jack in the Box (1971)

25. SuRie – Storm (2018)

26. Frances Ruffelle – Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free) (1994)

27. The Allisons – Are You Sure? (1961)

28. Molly – Children of the Universe (2014)

29. Jade Ewen – It’s My Time (2009)

30. Jessica Garlick – Come Back (2002)

31. Precious – Say It Again (1999)

32. James Newman – Embers (2021)

33. Sweet Dreams – I’m Never Giving Up (1983)

34. Co-Co – The Bad Old Days (1978)

35. Belle and the Devotions – Love Games (1984)

36. Scott Fitzgerald – Go (1988)

37. Samantha Janus – A Message to Your Heart (1991)

38. Jemini – Cry Baby (2003)

39. Electro Velvet – Still in Love with You (2015)

40. Bonnie Tyler – Believe in Me (2013)

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: BBC

Eurovision 2023: A battle for two for the win – The odds just days before the rehearsals start!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , /by

The favourite column of many of you is back, as the betting analysis for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest is back again.

With two weeks to go until the first Eurovision 2023 semi-final, we take a look at the betting companies’ odds regarding each country’s chances of winning this year’s contest.

In any case, these odds reflect trends and are based on what we know so far in relation to each country’s participation.

Top 5

“Unchanged” remains the situation at the top, with Loreen continuing to sweep the betting tables, being – far from second – the heavy favourite to win the 67th Eurovision Song Contest. The Swedish win has been consistently trending downwards in recent weeks, being below the double betting threshold. In fact, Sweden’s win is being played at odds between 1.61 and 1.80.

Finland remains second, with Käärijä and “Cha Cha Cha” having made a big impression at the parties and receiving a “vote of confidence” from bookers who believe that the possibility of the Scandinavian country’s second win since 2006 is far from unlikely. The Finnish victory is being played daily at increasingly lower odds, currently being played between 3.75 and 5.5.

Ukraine is firmly in third place, but in recent weeks it has lost ground compared to Sweden and Finland, who are leading the way. TVORCHII‘s win in Liverpool returns some operators up to 11 times the stake, at odds that are particularly attractive for those who believe Ukraine will make a back-to-back.

In fourth place we meet Norway, whose gap to the leading three has increased over the last few weeks. Alessandra and the “Queen of Kings” has been loved by fans, but bookers no longer believe as much ΄- as they did in the past – in the Norwegian victory, which they offer at odds between 6.5 and 19.

The top five is completed by Spain, which is one of the big party gainers. Bianca Paloma‘s “Eaea” has impressed fans and bookmakers alike, with her win returning up to 20 times the stake.

Top 10

In sixth place is Israel, with Noa Kirel and “Unicorn” seen as highly likely to put Israel back in the top 10 for the first time since their 2018 win. An Israel victory is being played on bookmakers at odds between 15 and 34, a particularly tempting odds for those who believe in the explosive temperament of the Israeli representative.

Austria‘s “ascension rally” continues, which has been the big winner of the last month and a half after the release of the Austrian entry, now being in seventh place. Teya & Salina‘s eccentric “Who The Hell Is Edgar?” is offered at odds between 15 and 41.

In eighth place we find France, whose position in this table is fictitious. The reality for La Zarra and “Évidemment” is completely different, as if you look closely at the table the only reason why France is in eighth place is because of its 41 odds on a company. In all the others, the French win is played between 7.5 and 17, which would normally place them in fourth place.

Italy and Marco Mengoni are back in the top ten, with an entry that had been underestimated in the previous period by bookers placing it outside the top 10. A potential win for Italy is now being offered at odds that return up to 61 times the stake.

Completing the top 10 is the UK, which will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in a few weeks’ time. Mae Muller‘s mediocre performance at the parties has further affected the already non-positive response of bookers to the release of the British entry. The British win can now be played at odds that return up to 67 times the stake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3vJfR81xO0

Do you think Loreen can make history in Liverpool in May, giving Sweden victory for the second time and equaling the historic record of the contest’s multiple winner, Ireland?

OGAE Poll 2023: Finland is in the lead! | The results of Germany, Italy and Serbia!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Officially, after twenty-six clubs voted in this year’s OGAE Poll, Finland is in first place overtaking Sweden.

The result was formed after the submission of votes from Germany, Italy and Serbia.

More specifically, the 88 members of OGAE Germany voted as follows:

  • 12 points to Finland
  • 10 points to Italy
  • 8 points to France
  • 7 points to Sweden
  • 6 points to Austria
  • 5 points to Norway
  • 4 points to Portugal
  • 3 points to Switzerland
  • 2 points to Moldova
  • 1 point to Spain

Also, the 216 members of OGAE Italy voted as follows:

  • 12 points to France
  • 10 points to Finland
  • 8 points to Sweden
  • 7 points to Austria
  • 6 points to Norway
  • 5 points to Czechia
  • 4 points to Spain
  • 3 points to United Kingdom
  • 2 points to Portugal
  • 1 point to Armenia

Finally, the 34 members of OGAE Serbia voted as follows:

  • 12 points to Finland
  • 10 points to Sweden
  • 8 points to Austria
  • 7 points to France
  • 6 points to Italy
  • 5 points to Spain
  • 4 points to Czechia
  • 3 points to Slovenia
  • 2 points to Norway
  • 1 point to Armenia

The added up results after the votes of the two fan clubs are as follows:

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all he news regarding the OGAE Poll 2023 and Eurovision!

Source: OGAE International