Sweden: Sanna Nielsen live on the Third Heat of Melodifestivalen 2025!

As Melodifestivalen arrives in Västerås, it’s time for yet another Mello icon to be inducted into the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame.

Sanna Nielsen has a lot of experience with the contest and has participated at least seven times since her debut in 2001. When she won in 2014 with the song “Undo”, she showed that it is never too late to give up on her hopes and dreams, taking third place in the Eurovision Song Contest.

She says:

“It is a great honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame because Melodifestivalen means so much to me. When I was little, I dreamed of standing on this stage once, but at the time I didn’t know that it would be seven times as a contestant. I am grateful for every year and I look back on them with such joy. Melodifestivalen has developed me as an artist and opened doors to other fun experiences, and it is a chapter that I am incredibly proud of.”

During the third heat  in Västerås, Sanna will perform a compilation that pays tribute to her seven entries in the contest. Among others, the winning entry “Undo“, the power ballad “Empty Room” and the entries in 2007 and 2011 will be performed.

The schedule for the six shows of the Melodifestivalen 2025 tour:

  • Heat 1: Saturday 1 February 2025, Coop Norrbotten Arena, Luleå
  • Heat 2: Saturday 8 February 2025, Scandinavium, Göteborg
  • Heat 3: Saturday 15 February 2025, ABB Arena Syd, Västerås
  • Heat 4: Saturday 22 February 2025, Malmö Arena, Malmö
  • Heat 5: Saturday 1 March 2025, Husqvarna Garden, Jönköping
  • Final: Saturday 8  March 2025,Strawberry Arena, Stockholm
Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun, for all the latest developments regarding Melodifestivalen 2025 and the Swedish entry for Eurovision 2025!
Source: SVT

Sweden: The general rehearsal of the Third Heat of Melodifestivalen 2025!

The general rehearsal of the 2nd Heat of Melodifestivalen 2025 has just come to an end at Västerås and the ABB Arena. We are happy to be watching it live through the virtual accreditation and we will be covering this rehearsal, describing in detail what is happening during the show, for you to follow the entire process.

The show

First appearance of the third heat, that of the debutant Greczula. He begins his appearance by performing on a flying piano, which ends up in the center of the stage. A song that reminds us quite a bit of “Queen” and a very special participation, one of those we are not used to from Sweden. Greczula is a quite charismatic performer and the big favorite of the semi-final.

For the fourth time, Malou Prytz returns to the Melodifestivalen stage. This time with a different style, a more modern and perhaps more complete proposal. In rehearsals, she faced several problems with her vocal performance, something we hope will change in tomorrow’s semi-final. On stage, we see a construction with golden beads used by herself and the six dancers who accompany her, while the staging is reminiscent of the beginning of last year’s winning appearance at Melodifestivalen. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she will be in the top three places in tomorrow’s heat.

Next on stage is the Tik toker, Björn Holmgren, with a mid tempo track entirely in Swedish! His stage appearance is based on props, such as waiting chairs and a wall with a clock! Vocally he is quite good but the road to tomorrow’s top 3 looks difficult!

  • Dolly Style – “YIHAA” 

The girl group returns to Melodifestivalen for a fourth chance to win, but this time with a country twist! This is a high energy performance, yet in the campy style we have loved from them. The song is extremely catchy, the staging looks effective and super memorable. This will definitely stand out tomorrow, but is this enough to earn them a top 3 place?

Next on stage is Angelino, in a song in which the 2021 Swedish representative, Tusse, also participates as composer. A fairly dark and modern appearance, while he himself is quite stable on the vocals. At first he is alone on the stage with very fast shots, while later 6 dancers appear. Intense choreography and a lot of play with the changing colors of the LEDs! Maybe it will be tomorrow’s surprise in the third semi-final!

Our beloved Annika Wickihalder returns this year with a different proposal compared to last year. Dressed in earthy shades this time compared to yesterday’s green dress! Behind her we have sails that constantly change shapes and she is accompanied by dancers in the second part of the song! Vocally she is very good and receives the second biggest applause from the arena after Dolly Style!

A prediction

After watching the general rehearsal, I personally believe that Annika Wickihalder and Greczula will go directly to final and Malou Prytz will remain in the contest for another chance after the end of heat 5!

The schedule for the six shows of the Melodifestivalen 2025 tour:

  • Heat 1: Saturday 1 February 2025, Coop Norrbotten Arena, Luleå
  • Heat 2: Saturday 8 February 2025, Scandinavium, Göteborg
  • Heat 3: Saturday 15 February 2025, ABB Arena Syd, Västerås
  • Heat 4: Saturday 22 February 2025, Malmö Arena, Malmö
  • Heat 5: Saturday 1 March 2025, Husqvarna Garden, Jönköping
  • Final: Saturday 8  March 2025,Strawberry Arena, Stockholm

Which two of today’s competing artists do you think will be the direct qualifiers to the finals, on the 9th of March?

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun, for all the latest developments regarding Melodifestivalen 2025 and the Swedish entry for Eurovision 2025!
Source/Photo: Stina Stjernkvist / SVT

Italy: Changes in Sanremo 2025 rules regarding Eurovision representative

A significant change in the regulations of the Sanremo Festival has been introduced this year, specifically concerning Italy’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Since 2015, RAI has granted the winner of the Sanremo Festival the privilege or right to represent Italy at Eurovision. Until now, the regulations stated that if the winner declined the opportunity to represent the country, RAI had the authority to select any other artist from the festival based on its own criteria.

This essentially meant that if the Sanremo winner refused to participate in Eurovision, RAI could choose any contestant it desired, without necessarily following the final ranking order of the festival.

However, this has changed this year. According to the new regulations, RAI is now required to respect the final ranking. If the winner declines the chance to compete in Eurovision, RAI must select the highest-ranked artist who is willing to represent Italy.

This rule modification is particularly significant this year, as the two major favorites for victory on Saturday, Simone Cristicchi and Giorgia, are both considered unlikely to accept the opportunity to represent Italy in Basel this May.

Cristicchi has stated that after the festival, he will return to his theater commitments, while Giorgia, in her previous participation in Sanremo in 2023, mentioned in interviews that she believes Eurovision is more suitable for younger artists.

Of course, nothing is certain, as both may change their minds and accept the challenge of representing Italy at Eurovision if they win Sanremo 2025.

All Sanremo 2025 contestants must submit a signed declaration before the final on Saturday, February 15, confirming that they accept the possibility of representing Italy at Eurovision if they win. This allows RAI to immediately determine whether the Sanremo winner will also be the country’s Eurovision representative.

The only time the Sanremo winners refused to participate in Eurovision was in 2016, when the band Stadio declined the opportunity. As a result, RAI selected Francesca Michielin, who had finished second in the festival. Michielin ultimately placed 16th in Stockholm, one of Italy’s worst Eurovision results.

Given all this, the final ranking—especially the top five placements—carries even greater significance this year, as both the winner and the runner-up might decline Eurovision participation. Saturday night promises to be long and filled with suspense!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Italy: The running order for the Quarta Serata of Sanremo 2025!

The 75th edition of Festival di Sanremo kicked off earlier this week, setting all eyes on the stage of Teatro Ariston in the homonymous small coastal town of Sanremo.

The festival commenced on Tuesday with all contestants performing their songs. In the last two nights, the artists returned to the stage for their second performance. Tonight, in the Quarta Serata of the competition, we’ll watch the famous Cover night of the festival.

Terza Serata – the running order

The Quarta Serata is traditionally one of the most exciting nights of Sanremo, and 2025 is no exception! Tonight, the 29 competing artists will step on the stage once again, to perform iconic Italian and international hits alongside guest performers from the Italian music industry or fellow contestants, in the following order:

  1. Rose Villain and Chiello – «Fiori rosa, fiori di pesco» (Lucio Battisti)
  2. Modà and Francesco Renga – «Angelo» (Francesco Renga)
  3. Clara and Il Volo – «The Sound of Silence» (Simon and Garfunkel)
  4. Tony Effe and Noemi – «Tutto il resto è noia» (Franco Califano)
  5. Francesca Michielin and Rkomi – «La nuova stella di Broadway» (Cesare Cremonini)
  6. Lucio Corsi and Topo Gigio – «Nel blu dipinto di blu» (Domenico Modugno)
  7. Serena Brancale and Alessandra Amoroso – «If I Ain’t Got You» (Alicia Keys)
  8. Irama and Arisa – «Say Something» (Christina Aguilera)
  9. Gaia and Toquinho – «La voglia, la pazzia» (Ornella Vanoni)
  10. The Kolors and Sal Da Vinci – «Rossetto e caffè» (Sal Da Vinci)
  11. Marcella Bella and i Gemelli Lucia – «L’emozione non ha voce» (Adriano Celentano)
  12. Rocco Hunt and Clementino – «Yes, I Know My Way» (Pino Daniele)
  13. Francesco Gabbani and Tricarico – «Io sono Francesco» (Tricarico)
  14. Giorgia and Annalisa – «Skyfall» (Adele)
  15. Simone Cristicchi and Amara – «La cura» (Franco Battiato)
  16. Sarah Toscano and Ofenbach – «Be Mine»
  17. Coma_Cose and Johnson Righeira – «L’estate sta finendo» (Righeira)
  18. Joan Thiele and Frah Quintale – «Che cosa c’è» (Gino Paoli)
  19. Olly and Goran Bregovic – «Il pescatore» (Fabrizio De André)
  20. Achille Lauro and Elodie – «Tributo a Roma» (Rino Gaetano)
  21. Massimo Ranieri and i Neri per caso – «Quando» (Pino Daniele)
  22. Willie Peyote and Federico Zampaglione και Ditonellapiaga – «Un tempo piccolo» (Franco Califano)
  23. Brunori Sas and Dimartino και Riccardo Sinigallia – «L’anno che verrà» (Lucio Dalla)
  24. Fedez and Marco Masini – «Bella stronza» (Marco Masini)
  25. Bresh and Cristiano De André – «Crêuza de mä» (Fabrizio De André)
  26. Shablo and Neffa – «Aspettando il sole» (Neffa)

Unlike the previous nights, tonight’s voting process will involve a combination of threePublic televote at a rate of 34%, a Radio jury and Press jury both at a rate of 33%.

At the end of the night, the top five performances will be revealed in random order. However, tonight’s results will not affect the final standings—they’re all about honoring the art of music and performance.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Italian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Basel!

Source: RAI

Montenegro: The filming of the postcard completed!

Nina Žižić, Montenegro’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, has completed filming the postcard for her country’s entry.

Nina Žižić was in Switzerland, specifically in Zurich, where the filming of Montenegro’s postcard for Eurovision 2025 took place. The Montenegrin representative herself stated the following:

“It was wonderful! Of course, filming the whole day was exhausting, but you start appreciating the effort thanks to the amazing team of professionals. Not only did they make sure every shot was perfect, but they also took great care of me. Whether I was cold, thirsty, or hungry, they made sure I felt comfortable.”

Finally, regarding the procedures for the official video clip of Montenegro’s song titled “Dobrodošli” there is no exact release date, however this is expected sometime in March.

Montenegro has been drawn into the first half of the second semi-final on Thursday 15 May, claiming one of the ten tickets for the Eurovision 2025 final on Saturday 17 May.

Source: MNE Magazin

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

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INES: Host and Guest Performer at Eesti Laul 2025!

The Estonian broadcaster ERR, has revealed details about the guests and interval acts of Eesti Laul 2025, which will take place this Saturday (15/2).

According to ERR, Ida-Ines Etti, Estonia’s representative at Eurovision 2000 with the song “Once in a Lifetime”, will not only co-host the show alongside Korea, but will also perform her brand-new song “Viimane piisk”.

Guest Performers:

Regarding the other guests, ERR has announced that last year’s Eurovision representatives for Estonia, 5miinust and Puuluup, will open the show alongside Florian Wahl. Additionally, ERR revealed that the band Nordic Pulse will perform at Eesti Laul 2025, while the group Dagö will present a classic piece of Estonian pop music.

Eesti Laul 2025:

Estonia’s national final will take place on February 15 at 18:15 CET (19:15 Greek time), live from Unibet Arena in Tallinn, and will be broadcast on ETV.

Sixteen artists will compete in two voting rounds. In the first round, the public and an international jury will select three artists to advance to the second round, where the winner will be determined solely by public voting.

SOURCE: Instagram eesti_laul

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Sweden: Watch clips from the third Heat of Melodifestivalen 2025!

The Swedish national broadcaster SVT, published the rehearsal clips (30 seconds of each) of all six competing artists of the third Heat which will take place on Saturday, February 15th at ABB Arena Syd, in Västerås

You can watch the published clips, by clicking on the song title links below:

  1. Greczula – Believe me
  2. Malou Prytz – 24K Gold
  3. Björn Holmgren – Rädda mig
  4. Dolly Style – Yihaa
  5. Angelino – Teardrops
  6. Annika Wickihalder – Life Again

The schedule for the six shows of the Melodifestivalen 2025 tour:

  • Heat 1: Saturday 1 February 2025, Coop Norrbotten Arena, Luleå
  • Heat 2: Saturday 8 February 2025, Scandinavium, Göteborg
  • Heat 3: Saturday 15 February 2025, ABB Arena Syd, Västerås
  • Heat 4: Saturday 22 February 2025, Malmö Arena, Malmö
  • Heat 5: Saturday 1 March 2025, Husqvarna Garden, Jönköping
  • Final: Saturday 8  March 2025,Strawberry Arena, Stockholm

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all updates regarding Sweden’s participation in the contest!

SOURCE: SVT

San Marino: The Judges of the “Una Voce per San Marino” Semi-Finals Announced

San Marino’s public broadcaster announced through its Eurovision-related Instagram platform the judging panel for the semi-finals of the country’s upcoming national selection for Eurovision 2025.

Specifically, in a post, San Marino’s public broadcaster revealed the following:

We are pleased to announce the judges of the “Una Voce per San Marino” semi-finals: Emilio Munda, Mimmo Paganelli, and Lia Fiorio. These experts in the music industry will have the task of evaluating the performances of the competing artists, contributing to the selection of San Marino’s representative for Eurovision.

The judges of “Una Voce per San Marino 2025”:

  • Emilio Munda – Italian songwriter and music composer, known for his work in major Italian music festivals, such as Sanremo.
  • Mimmo Paganelli – Journalist and radio producer from San Marino, known for his collaboration with the country’s public broadcaster.
  • Lia Fiorio – Radio producer and Eurovision commentator for San Marino.

For more info related to the semi-finals of the country’s upcoming national selection for Eurovision HERE

SOURCE: Instagram: unavocepersanmarino

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Norway: Marcus & Martinus are guests at Melodi Grand Prix 2025!

Marcus & Martinus are going to perform at the Melodi Grand Prix, the national competition through which Norway is going to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Basel, Switzerland.

Norway’s national broadcaster, NRK, has announced that the globally successful Norwegian duo are going to perform at Melodi Grand Prix 2025, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday, February 15.

Marcus & Martinus, although Norwegian, represented Sweden at Eurovision 2024 last year with the song “Unforgettable”, finishing in 9th place with 174 points.

https://youtu.be/DcZpzObYzxs?si=u17sUGYxNjfuhM7m

The artists who are going to compete to represent Norway at Eurovision 2025 are as follows:

  1. Tone Damli – “Last Song”
  2. Sondrey – “Vagabong
  3. Nora Jabri – “Sulale
  4. Wig Wam – “Human Fire”
  5. LLL – “Parasite”
  6. Kyle Alessandro – Lighter
  7. Nataleen – “The Game
  8. Ladybug – “Hot as Hell in Paradise”
  9. Bobbysocks – “Joyfull

The voting process remains the same as in previous years and will take place online or via mobile. In addition to the public vote, points will also be awarded by an international jury. The public votes will carry a 60% weight, while the jury votes will account for 40%.

Melodi Grand Prix 2025 is going to take place at Oslo Spektrum on February 15, 2025. The show is going to be hosted by Marte Stokstad, Tete Lidbom, and Markus Neby, promising an unforgettable night of music and entertainment.

Source:NRK

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

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BREAKING NEWS: Theo Evan on set for Cyprus’ Eurovision 2025 Music Video

An Instagram story has revealed that the filming of Cyprus’ Eurovision 2025 music video is taking place today, with Theo Evan giving his best performance.

The atmospheric image shared on social media showcases a dark, cinematic setting with dramatic shadows and creative lighting, offering a first glimpse of the song’s visual concept.

The music video is being filmed in Cyprus and will feature both indoor and outdoor scenes.

Cyprus’ national broadcaster, RIK, has already announced that the song is composed by Dimitris Kontopoulos, Elsie Bay, and the creators of “The Code.” Meanwhile, stage direction will be handled by Sergio Jaen, known for his work in Finland’s national final this year and Ireland’s Eurovision performance last year.

The video is expected to be released in early March and promises powerful visuals that will enhance the song’s message.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!