Albania: Elvana Gjata will sing “Karnaval” in Festivali I Këngës 63!

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RTSH progressively reveals the song titles of the contestants following the announcement of the list of participants for Festivali I Këngës 63, the Albanian selection format for Eurovision 2025.

Elvana Gjata is the sixth contestant whose song title and credits are made public. She is unquestionably one of the most well received artists from this year’s competition and a strong contender to win.

“Karnaval” for Elvana Gjata

As unveiled in RTSH’s instagram post, Elvana’s bid for Eurovision 2025 is titled “Karnaval“. Her entry is penned by Elvana herself along with Lira Blakaj. The fact that “Karnaval” will be a dance song is also disclosed.

The other song titles we know so far

As previously mentioned, RTSH progressively reveals the song titles of the competitors in this edition. The following song titles have been revealed thus far:

  • Algert Sala will sing “Bosh” – Ballad
  • Alis will sing “Mjegull” – Ballad
  • Ardit Çuni will sing “Amane” – Pop/Dance
  • Devis Xherahu will sing “Ka Momente” – Ballad
  • Djemtë e Detit will sing “Larg” – Folk Rock
  • Elvana Gjata will sing “Karnaval” – Dance

Festivali i Këngës 63

Following the closing of the submission window for artists interested in participating on September 29, these are the thirty participants of Festivali i Këngës 63:

  1. Algert Sala
  2. Alis Kallacej
  3. Ardit Çuni
  4. Devis Xherahu
  5. Djemtë e Detit
  6. Elvana Gjata
  7. Endrik Beba
  8. Epos Grup
  9. Erma Mici
  10. Frensi Revania
  11. Gjergj Kaçinari
  12. Gresa Gjocera
  13. Jet
  14. Kejsi Jazxhi
  15. Kleansa Susaj
  16. Laurjan Ejlli ft. Adelina Corraj
  17. Lorenc Hasrama
  18. Luna Çausholli
  19. Mal Retkoceri
  20. Martina Serreqi
  21. Mihallaq Andrea
  22. Nita Latifi
  23. Olsi Bylyku
  24. Orgesa Zaimi
  25. Rea Nuhu
  26. Ronaldo Mesuli
  27. Santino De Bartolo
  28. Shkodra Elektronike
  29. Stine
  30. Vesa Smolica

A combination of jury and public vote will decide

For the past two editions, Festivali i Këngës had two separate winners. The winner of the jury voting was crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote was the chosen one for the Albanian representation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Indicatively,

  • Elsa Lila and Mal Retkoceri won the jury voting and were crowned as the winners of Festivali i Këngës 61 and 62 respectively, while
  • Albina & Familja Kelmendi and Besa won the public vote, won the tickets to Liverpool and Malmö

This year and according to Euromix.il, the winner and consecutively the Eurovision 2024 Albanian representative will be chosen accordingly through a combination of jury and public vote. Hence, a 60/40 format will be used in order to select the next Albanian act.

This is another change that Festivali i Këngës sees in its voting format. Festivali i Këngës has now started to implement the public opinion more, especially when it comes to Eurovision. For many years it was accused of corruption and the country’s inability to respond to the modern-day Eurovision standards.

The dates of the Festivali i Këngës this year have not yet been disclosed, while the renowned Albanian singer and former Eurovision representative, Elhaida Dani will take over the artistic direction of this year’s FiK edition.

The Albanian public’s pick for Eurovision 2024 was Besa with her song “Zemrën n’dorë“. Besa released a revamped version in English titled “Titan” for Eurovision, where she did not make it to the Grand Final, finishing fourteenth in the second semi-final.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

Source: RTSH

 

Estonia: 175 entries submitted for Eesti Laul 2025!

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The submission window for Eesti Laul 2025, the Estonian national selection for Eurovision, opened a month ago, marking the official beginning of the Eurovision 2025 season. The submission’s period ended today, October 21, after being opened for a month.

Hence, ERR revealed that 175 entries were submitted for Eesti Laul 2025 and will compete for the Estonian representation in Basel.

Eesti Laul 2025 statistics

As it was revealed, out of the 175 submissions:

  • 65 of them are in Estonian
  • 110 of them are sung in foreign languages, including English, Italian, French and German

Regarding the artists, there are both established and emerging performers. The Head of ERR’s programs, Karmel Killandi, mentions:

I am especially happy that there are talented young performers among the contestants, as well as famous artists. We still hope, that this competition lays the foundation for a stage career at home or internationally. It is certain that the [Estonian] music scene is richer by 175 songs, and that’s why we do this competition!

The interest on Eesti Laul 2025 is not only confined inside Estonia but extends internationally.

This year’s Eesti Laul proves that music knows no borders and Eesti Laul is a valued platform abroad as well.

According to Vanni, many “creative” forces from abroad take part in the competition, including creators from Norway, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Malta, Spain, Turkey, USA, Great Britain, Latvia, Austria, Denmark, Holland, Croatia and Lithuania.

We take it as recognition that Eesti Laul has its place on the international scene.

Rumored artists

The following artists have teased their participation in Eesti Laul so far:

  • Tommy Cash uploaded a “Transfer Complete” image in his instagram messages channel yesterday, while
  • Ant Nurhan said he’s “not allowed to comment on it”

Eesti Laul 2025 – what’s next?

A jury made up of singers, composers, producers, presenters, singing instructors, and music enthusiasts in general will now assess the songs that were submitted to Eesti Laul 2025. The 35-member panel will assess the songs in an anonymous manner without being aware of the songwriters’ or artists’ identities. Fifteen of the competing songs will advance straight to the finals, where the public can vote on the sixteenth song.

The jury’s decision will be published by the Estonian National Broadcasting Company at the beginning of November. On December 6, the songs will be played for the first time on the “Start” program. At the beginning of January, the sixteenth competitor will be revealed.

The Estonian selection will only consist of one night-show, in which sixteen songs are going to compete and will take place on February 15, 2025.

This year’s Eesti Laul’s winners and therefore the Estonian representatives in Malmö were 5miinust and Puuluup, finishing in the twentieth place in the Grand Final.

Source: menu.err, X

The Netherlands returns to Eurovision 2025: Joost Klein as a potential candidate

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Following successful negotiations between AVROTROS, NPO, and the EBU, the Netherlands is set to participate in Eurovision 2025. Despite lingering disagreements over last year’s disqualification, the EBU maintains that the decision was justified based on internal regulations. Nevertheless, AVROTROS is satisfied with the commitments made concerning the safety of participants and the appointment of Martin Green.

Due to time constraints, there won’t be an open selection process like last year. Instead, the broadcaster is in direct talks with potential artists. One of the names being considered is Joost Klein, who had previously been mentioned by RTL Boulevard. Joost’s chances are significant for two reasons: first, the AVROTROS team believes he should be given the chance to complete his project; second, other artists, such as Davina Michelle, are reluctant to participate in the upcoming competition.

Additionally, AVROTROS wants to send a message that last year’s disqualification was unjust. While the EBU cannot block Joost’s participation, there are concerns about his unpredictable behavior. If he does represent the Netherlands, he must adhere to strict guidelines on how he conducts himself during the event.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: parool

EBU: Code of Conduct for Participants with Mandatory Political Neutrality

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During the Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place in Basel, artists are expected to have a specially designated space where they can retreat and relax without being filmed or recorded, as stated by the head of the competition, Bakel Walden, to the newspaper Sonntagsblick. Additionally, the EBU is expected to implement a code of conduct for participants, requiring political neutrality while they are on stage.

These actions are part of a broader effort to protect the well-being of participants and maintain calm among the delegations during the competition.

Walden emphasized that the organization has a duty to ensure the mental and physical health of the artists, something that will be taken seriously in the future.

Referring to the 2024 contest in Malmö, Walden noted that although the event was successful, certain issues must not be repeated, particularly regarding communication before, during, and after the competition. He also stressed the need to keep Eurovision as neutral as possible from political matters, stating that Eurovision cannot solve global conflicts and wars.

In Malmö, the contest was overshadowed by protests and calls for a boycott against Israel, due to the war in Gaza following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Israeli artist Eden Golan mostly stayed in her hotel room for safety reasons and faced exclusion by other artists.

Finally, Walden addressed the importance of adhering to a code of conduct for participants, stressing mutual understanding and respect among the contestants. While he asked participants to maintain a neutral stance on stage, outside of performances, they are free to express their views.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: zeit.news

Sweden: Two additional artists added to the Melodifestivalen 2025 line-up!

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As the reveal date of the line-up of the upcoming Melodifestival edition approaches, rumors continue strong in Sweden. The list of competitors for Sweden’s representation in Eurovision 2025 will now include two additional artists, in addition to the rumored names we previously informed you about.

Melodifestivalen 2025 – two more rumored artists

Among the following two artists, one of them has already participated in the Swedish selection, while there is also a Melodifestivalen debutant.

Hence and according to Expressen ‘s sources , the following will be compete in Melodifestivalen 2025:

  • Angelino: At the age of 25, he has already participated in Melodifestivalen in 2022. He performed his song “The End” in the competition’s fourth heat, finishing fifth and missing out on the final.
  • Kristofer Greczula: The 32-year-old Kristofer Greczula started out as a vocalist in the rock group “Damn Delicious” before going solo in 2017. Additionally, Kristofer has made appearances on TV4’s “Nyhetsmorgon” and the show “Allsång på Skansen.” Kristofer will take part in the Swedish selection for the first time.

Who else will take part in Melodifestivalen 2025?

According to the lists published before, the following artists will be present in the upcoming edition of Melodifestivalen:

  • Frans
  • Måns Zelmerlöw
  • Arvingarna
  • John Lundvik
  • Kalifa
  • Andreas Lundstedt
  • Dolly-Style
  • Malou Prytz
  • Klara Hammarström
  • Scarlet
  • Maja Ivarsson
  • Meira Omar
  • Annika Wickihalder
  • Tennessee Tears

Fran might not appear prepared for the competition, so it is mentioned that his participation is not entirely certain. Though not as certain as the others listed, it is not unlike to see him perform at Melodifestivalen in 2025.

Melodifestivalen 2025

Six live televised performances—five semifinals and a Grand Final—will make up Melodifestivalen 2025.

The Swedish national selection will consist of 30 songs in total, with 6 songs competing in each semi-final. Twelve songs will eventually compete in the Grand Final for the opportunity to represent Sweden in Switzerland at Eurovision 2025. An international jury and public voting will be used to select the winner.

Melodifestivalen 2025 will visit cities like Luleå, Gothenburg, Västerås, Malmö, Jönköping, and Stockholm as it travels throughout Sweden. On Saturday, February 1, 2025, the competition will begin, and it will end on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

  • February 1st: Semi-final 1 – Luleå
  • February 8th: Semi-final 2 – Gothenburg
  • February 15th: Semi-final 3 – Västerås
  • February 22nd: Semi-final 4 – Malmö
  • March 1st: Semi-final 5 – Jönköping
  • March 8th: Grand Final – Stockholm

The winners of Melodifestivalen 2024 and therefore Sweden’s representatives in Eurovision were Marcus & Martinus with “Unforgettable“, who finished in ninth place.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: expressen

Intense criticism of Joost Klein and his behavior in the Netherlands: “It’s not good for Eurovision”

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René van der Gijp and Johan Derksen did not have many kind words for Joost Klein, an artist who gained fame due to his eccentric behavior, especially in relation to the Eurovision Song Contest. During the Vandaag Inside show, the two hosts openly expressed their frustration. Van der Gijp commented, “He should be put in an institution. You shouldn’t send him to Eurovision anymore.”

Eccentric performance or annoying behavior?

Joost Klein is known for his striking and often provocative performances. What may seem funny to some fans has started to irritate many others. Johan Derksen, a regular panelist on the show, bluntly called Joost a “nobody”: “What a little idiot that guy is. He thinks he’s funny and interesting, but he’s really a nobody,” said Derksen. Guest Aran Bade agreed, adding, “It started as a joke, but now it’s just annoying. He shows no respect for his audience or the people around him.”

Impossible to have a normal conversation

Aran also described how difficult it is to have a normal conversation with Joost. “When you ask him something serious, you get weird answers. For example, he once said to me: ‘My car is broken, call the roadside assistance (ANWB)’,” Aran joked. He pointed out how Joost’s comments are becoming increasingly nonsensical. Derksen added that he doesn’t understand how people are seriously considering sending Joost back to Eurovision: “It’s just ridiculous.”

Criticism after gala

According to the show’s guests, Joost’s strange behavior is not limited to his statements but extends to his public appearances as well. A recent example was his disrespectful behavior at a gala in honor of André van Duin. Joost reportedly left the room before Van Duin had even finished his speech, something Aran described as “shameful.” The panelists were baffled that AvroTros is considering sending Joost to Eurovision again.

Personal security

René van der Gijp emphasized that Joost’s “act,” his indifferent attitude and behavior, has become really tiresome. He compared it to another artist, Stefano Keizers, who follows a similar approach: “It might be fun the first time, but when someone keeps doing it, it gets old.” Another notable aspect is Joost’s constant personal security detail. During the aforementioned gala, he once again had a bodyguard by his side, something the show’s hosts found puzzling. “Who’s paying for that? He always has someone next to him,” they wondered. Van der Gijp then made a sharp joke: “Is the bodyguard worried something might happen, or that Joost might jump off a balcony?”

Eurovision 2025: More than 3,000 have applied for volunteers!

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More than 3,000 persons have already apllied to become volunteers at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland!

One month has already passed since the opening of the applications for volunteers for Eurovision 2025 and more than 3,000 individuals have already signed up. The Event Manager of Basel, Beat Läuchli, explained that he is encouraged by the enthusiasm that Basel has shown so far toward the hosting of the event.

In his interview Beat Läuchli confirmed that the plans for the supporting events related to Eurovision are under way. The city of Basel plans to invite former Eurovision contestants to appear in numerous public event around the city. Further information regarding the hosting plans of Basel are to be announced within the coming months.

As far as the skills of the volunteers are conserned, the knowledge of the German language will be a top priority, but the knowledge of French, Italian, English or any other langyage will also be taken into account. Those interested to apply for volunteers are able to do so, by clicking the link here.

Source: swissinfo

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Greece: Rules Guide | The Selection Process for the Greek Participation in Eurovision 2025!

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The selection process of the song that will represent Greece at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest was announced and consists of two evaluation phases. ERT, the national broadcaster of the country, determined certain rules in favour of the trasparency and impartiality of the procedure. Below we present you the most pivotal elements of the rules contained in 13 pages as they were publiced by ERT.

Evaluation Phase A’

  1. Submission and initial evaluation of the songs: The songs that will be submitted in due time and meet the appropriate specifications will be evaluated by the Committee of Phase A’. This committee will be composed at least of five members with proven experience and status at the music and show industry. The committe will not be aware of the names of composers and the artists during the evaluation, and will choose up to 12 songs that will be advanced to the National  Final, based on criteria such as the lyrics, the music and the performance. Furthermore, three back-up songs will be chosen.
  2. Qualifiers announcment: ERT, at its own discretion, will announce the songs and the composers that will participate in the National Final. The evaluation order of the songs is not going to be revealed. Changes in the mixing and the production of the qualified songs are allowed, but will be limited, until the date set by ERT. The release of any promotional content (video-clips) prior to the Final is forbidden, and there will be disqualification in case of breaching.

Evaluation Phase B’ (National Final)

  1. Conduct of the National Final: The National Final will take place on a date to be announced by ERT and will be broadcast live on its media. Up to twelve (12) songs will participate in the Final, which will be performed live with a background phonogram (music playback). The running order of the songs will be determined by draw.
  2. Song Selection Voting: The song that will represent Greece at Eurovision will be chosen by a combination of the public vote and two Jury Committees (one Greek and one international), as per below:
    • Public vote (50% of final score):  The public will be able to vote for their favorite song either by phone calls or by sending text messages (SMS). The distribution of points will be as per below:
      • The song with the most votes will receive 24 points.
      • The second will receive 20 points, the third 16 points, and the remaining points are distributed as follows: 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 points for the following positions (up to tenth).
      • The last two songs will receive no points.
    • Voting of the two Jury Committees (50% of the final score): Each committee will consist of at least five (5) members with recognized experience in the music field, who may come from Greece or abroad. Each committee will score the songs as follows:
      • The first song will receive 12 points.
      • The second 10 points, the third 8 points, and the scoring will continue with 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point for the following places (up to tenth).
      • The last two songs will receive no points.
  3. Tie: In case of a tie in the overall score, the winner will be the song that received the most points from the audience. If televoting is deemed invalid for any reason, the song will be selected based on the vote of the two Judging Panels. In case of a tie between the committees, the song that received the most votes from the Greek committee will be declared the winner.
  4. Limitations on Public Appearences: For the sake of equal visibility, the artists and creators of the songs participating in the National Final are not allowed to appear in media other than ERT media until the Final is held. In case of violation of this rule, ERT reserves the right to disqualify them.

To complete the selection process of the Greek Eurovision entry, ERT ensures that all evaluation and voting stages are carried out impartially and transparently. The strict rules that determine the procedures, from the initial selection of the songs to the final vote of the public and the committees, ensure the equal treatment of all candidates and the objective selection of the song that will represent Greece in the international competition. In this way, ERT seeks a fair and reliable process that will bring out the best possible participation for the country.

ERT Kicks Off Eurovision 2025: National Final Regulations and Key Dates Revealed

Source: ΕΡΤ

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ERT Kicks Off Eurovision 2025: National Final Regulations and Key Dates Revealed

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ERT has just published the detailed regulations for the organization of the Eurovision 2025 national final, through which the artist and the song that will represent our country in the competition will be selected. The regulations describe the entire process in detail, while the submission of entries has also begun and will continue until on Sunday, November 11th.

The national final will take place in a single competitive night, on a date to be announced soon. The result will be decided equally by the television audience and the jury, with a 50-50 ratio. Up to 12 artists will compete in the final, while three reserve entries will also be selected in case one of the finalists withdraws or is disqualified. Both a Greek and an international jury will participate in the final.

Submission Details

Eligible to submit entries are performers who are Greek citizens, those who reside permanently in the country, or those who have at least one parent of Greek origin. There are no restrictions for songwriters, as they can come from any country.

Submission of entries will last until 10/11. In order to submit their proposals, ERT has created a platform where artists must upload, together with their song, a photo of themselves, a short biography, the details of the creators of their songs, as well as the translation of the lyrics, if they are not in Greek . The songs can be in Greek or English.

The songs must be original, not commercially released, and must not have been submitted to any other country for Eurovision 2025.

Participants agree to abide by the contest rules as posted on the official EBU website. Naturally, the same rules that apply to the Eurovision contest apply here as well (maximum song duration of 3 minutes, up to 6 people on stage, etc.).

Each performer may submit only one song, while each songwriter or songwriting team may submit up to two.

National Final Timeline

  • Until 10/11: Submission of entries
  • Immediately after: A jury appointed by ERT will select up to 12 songs to compete in the national final
  • By the end of 2024: The 12 finalists will be presented to the public in a special broadcast
  • The songs will be presented to public via special tv shows.
  • The national final will take place live, with both the public and the jury (Greek and international) selecting the winner with a 50-50 ratio.

Interested parties can submit their entries, along with all the required supporting materials, to ERT’s platform HERE

The detailed invitation with the regulations is available HERE.

As always, Eurovisionfun will closely follow the process and keep you informed of any updates. Stay tuned here!

Sweden: Four additional artists added to the Melodifestival 2025 line-up!

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Although we expect SVT to announce the lineup for the Swedish national selection, Melodifestivalen, in 2025, rumors are becoming more heated in Sweden. The list of competitors for Sweden’s representation in Eurovision 2025 will now include four additional artists, in addition to the rumored names we previously informed you about.

Melodifestivalen 2025 – four more rumored artists

Among the following four artists, some of them have already participated in the Swedish selection, while there are also Melodifestivalen debutants.

Hence and according to Aftonbladet ‘s sources , the following will be compete in Melodifestivalen 2025:

  • Maja Ivarsson: Hits like “Living in America” and “Painted by numbers” helped her achieve considerable success in Sweden and the USA as the lead singer of The Sounds. She participated in TV4’s “Så mycket bättre” in 2012 and has produced techno pop music with the duo Crew of Me & You. It will be Maja’s first Melodifestivalen appearance.
  • Meira Omar: Meira Omar was a participant of the first edition of “Love Island Sweden” and even married her co-star Oskar Nordstrand. She has released several songs since 2019, mostly on YouTube, and has previously taken part in Bollywood movies.
  • Annika Wickihalder: Third-place finisher in “Idol” 2021, 23-year-old Wickihalder made her big break earlier this year at the Melodifestivalen, where she advanced to the final with her song “Light” and she finished eighth.
  • Tennessee Tears: The country duo consists of Tilda Feuk and Jonas Hermansson. They competed in Melodifestivalen 2023 with the song “Now I know” and are mentored by the former Melodifestivalen winner, Jill Johnson. The duo qualified to the semi-final round, where they finished fifth.

Who else will take part in Melodifestivalen 2025?

According to the list published past week, the following ten artists will be present in the upcoming edition of Melodifestivalen:

  • Frans
  • Måns Zelmerlöw
  • Arvingarna
  • John Lundvik
  • Kalifa
  • Andreas Lundstedt
  • Dolly-Style
  • Malou Prytz
  • Klara Hammarström
  • Scarlet

Fran might not appear prepared for the competition, so it is mentioned that his participation is not entirely certain. Though not as certain as the others listed, it is not unlike to see him perform at Melodifestivalen in 2025.

The winners of Melodifestivalen 2024 and therefore Sweden’s representatives in Eurovision were Marcus & Martinus with “Unforgettable“, who finished in ninth place.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: aftonbladet