Greece: The announcement of the 12 national finalists scheduled for early 2025

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In the first days of the new year, likely after the Christmas holidays, Greece’s public broadcaster ERT will reveal the 12 artists competing in the national final to select the country’s representative for Eurovision 2025.

A New Year Full of Announcements

According to journalist Giannis Poulopoulos on the show Super Katerina, ERT plans to announce the 12 national finalists immediately following the holiday season, at the beginning of the new year.

As per the rules outlined by ERT for the national final, the chosen 12 artists will be given a reasonable period to make adjustments to their songs and finalize their production, should they wish to do so.

This timeline aligns with the scheduled date of the national final on January 29, meaning the announcement of the 12 finalists is expected to take place within the first ten days of January.

Twelve Songs, One Mission

Twelve songs will compete in the national final, selected by a special ERT committee from a record-breaking 187 submissions spanning various musical genres. The reveal of the finalists is anticipated to heighten excitement and anticipation for the big night.

Public Voting Alongside International and Greek Panels

For the first time, the voting process will incorporate input from both the public and a panel of international experts, aiming to deliver a balanced and representative outcome. Fans will have the opportunity to support their favorite song, while expert panels will lend their insights to ensure the best choice is made.

The final outcome will be determined by the following breakdown:

  • 50% public vote
  • 25% international jury
  • 25% Greek expert jury

A National Final to Set the Standard

The production of the national final promises an impressive stage and exceptional performances, blending Greek identity with international standards. ERT’s goal is to present a standout entry at Eurovision 2025, which will take place in Basel, Switzerland, aiming to secure a high position on the scoreboard.

Stay tuned for the official announcements from ERT, which will be shared as soon as they are made public.

For all the latest updates, follow Eurovisionfun!

Israel: Everything That Happened in the Tenth Episode of HaKokhav Haba!

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The tenth episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition), the talent show through which Israel selects its Eurovision 2025 representative, aired on the evening of Monday, December 2.

In this episode, six auditions were featured, with five contestants advancing to the next round to continue competing for a spot in Basel. The hosts of HaKokhav Haba are Assi Azar and Rotem Sela, who have held this role since 2014, while the judging panel includes Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Eden Hasson, Ran Dankar, and Keren Peles.

Contestants and Their Performances

Oral Dehari
Oral Dehari, 21, made his debut as a singer on stage. He performed “Center of Tel Aviv” by Itai Levy, impressing with his vocal abilities but failing to win over the entire panel. He narrowly advanced to the next round with 70%.

Harel Koresh
Harel Koresh, 25, from Rehovot, is a music student and a singer in the religious wedding band Orot High. His dream is to release his own music. He sang “Yom Rodef Yom” by Shmulik Kraus, beginning his performance at the piano. His soft and emotional voice drew mixed reactions, with Shiri voting against him, stating: “You’re an excellent singer and musician, but for me, it didn’t resonate. I want to see what’s next.” He advanced with 81%.

Avihai Malka
Avihai Malka, 25, from Kiryat Gat, works in a logistics warehouse after serving in a military band. Despite his parents believing his sister was the family’s singer, he has been singing from a young age. He performed “Nights and Curses” by Omar Adam with a soft and poignant voice that grew stronger throughout the song. He received 74%, narrowly making it to the next phase.

Lia Gerber
Seventeen-year-old Lia Gerber from Kfar Saba is a high school music student and a band soloist. Born in Italy, she lived in the U.S. for six years before returning to Israel. She sang “Cuz I Love You” by Leah but exhibited some vocal instability. Despite receiving 70% and advancing, Assaf Amdorsky and Keren Peles voted against her.

Benny Elbaz
At 64, Benny Elbaz is a renowned Israeli singer who started his career in the 1980s. He performed “Mon amour” by Slimane, offering a unique interpretation with his deep and captivating voice. He advanced with 78%, despite Assaf Amdorsky voting against him.

HaKokhav Haba will continue with more auditions in the next episode. Since 2015, the show has helped Israel qualify for the Eurovision final every year until 2020. In 2018, Netta won the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Toy.”

Last year’s HaKokhav Haba winner and Israel’s Eurovision 2024 representative, Eden Golan, finished fifth in the final with her song “Hurricane.”

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest updates!

Source: euromix.il

Montenegro: Nina Žižić will ultimately represent the country in Eurovision 2025!

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In an official announcement, Montenegro’s representative for Eurovision 2025 has been confirmed! The announcement took place in the morning show “Dobro Jutro Crna Gora” and Nina Žižić will take the stage in Basel after NeonoeN’s voluntary withdrawal. Nina Žižić, who finished second in Montesong 2024 with her song “Dobrodošli”, has been selected to represent Montenegro at the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

How was Nina Žižić selected?

Nina Žižić’s path to representing Montenegro at Eurovision 2025 comes after her second-place finish in the Montenegrin national selection, Montesong 2024. Upon hearing about Neonoen’s decision to withdraw, RTCG approached Nina to take over. Nina expressed her willingness to step in as the country’s representative even before the official announcement of Neonoen’s withdrawal, making her the natural choice for the Eurovision spot.

This will be Nina Žižić’s second appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest, having previously participated in 2013 as part of the duo Who See.

Why Did Neonoen Withdraw from Eurovision 2025?

Neonoen’s unexpected withdrawal from Eurovision 2025 came after a dispute over their song’s eligibility. The band faced possible disqualification due to having publicly performed their Eurovision entry, “CLICKBAIT”, before the September 1, 2024. RTCG had begun an investigation into the matter after a video surfaced showing the band performing their song at the Kulture Zabjelo festival, well ahead of the official deadline.

Despite this investigation, Neonoen voluntarily decided to step away from the Eurovision process, releasing a statement expressing their wish to avoid further complications. The band made it clear that their decision was not based on the outcome of the investigation but rather a desire to focus solely on their music. They also acknowledged that their victory in Montesong was legitimate and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to represent Montenegro.

“Dobrodošli” is now Montenegro’s entry for Eurovision 2025 and all eyes are now in Montenegro to see if that ultimately emerges to be a better choice than “Clickbait”.

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

Source: RTCG

Poland: Following OGAE Polska’s complaint, the results of the Polish national selection for Eurovision 2023 are now published

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After a ruling from the Regional Administrative Court in Warsaw in June 2024, Telewizja Polska was obliged to disclose the exact results from the controversial voting process in the Polish national final for Eurovision 2023.

 

Background:

It is worth remembering that the frontrunner for victory was Jann with the song “Gladiator”. Despite the public’s support for him, it was Blanka with “Solo” who ultimately won the national final and represented Poland at Eurovision 2023, where she finished in 19th place. At the time, there were many complaints regarding TVP’s refusal to publish the detailed voting results. As a result, OGAE Polska filed an official complaint with TVP requesting the disclosure of the public and jury voting results.

 

The results:

The court ruled in favor of OGAE Polska, pointing out procedural errors on TVP’s part and its unjustified refusal to publicly announce the contest results.

After a series of actions by Polish media focused on Eurovision, OGAE Polska submitted a request to TVP for the publication of detailed results from the Eurovision 2023 national selection. After TVP initially rejected the request, OGAE Polska filed an official complaint with the Warsaw Administrative Court, which ultimately ordered TVP to release the results. The court ruled that the results of the public voting and whether the process was monitored by a notary must be public information, and that TVP’s refusal to disclose this data violated the Administrative Procedure Code.

Based on the decision, OGAE Polska received the exact results from TVP. The process was overseen by a legal advisor, and within the designated time frame, 45,373 votes were cast on the Digital Virgo platform. The last vote was recorded at 19:01:22.

The public voting results are as follows:

  • Jann – Gladiator: 18,665 votes – 41.14%
  • Blanka – Solo: 6,020 votes – 13.27%
  • Dominik Dudek – Be Good: 5,823 votes – 12.83%
  • Yan Majewski – Champion: 4,576 votes – 10.09%
  • Felivers – Never Back Down: 4,123 votes – 9.09%
  • Alicja Szemplińska – New Home: 3,647 votes – 8.04%
  • Maja Hyży – Never Hide: 857 votes – 1.89%
  • Kuba Szmajkowski – You Do Me: 751 votes – 1.66%
  • Natasza – Lift U Up: 571 votes – 1.26%
  • Ahlena – Booty: 340 votes – 0.75%

Until now, only the final results combining the jury and public votes were known. According to the rules, the hosts were supposed to announce the votes from the public separately from those of the jury. However, this did not happen, as after presenting the jury’s votes, the total ranking was immediately announced without showing the public votes. Due to these inconsistencies, the TV station officially published the results online the following day. The jury consisted of Agustin Egurrola, Edyta Górniak, Marcin Kusy, Marek Sierocki, and Aneta Woźniak.

Official results (jury + public):

  • Blanka – Solo: 12 + 10 = 22 points
  • Jann – Gladiator: 7 + 12 = 19 points
  • Dominik Dudek – Be Good: 10 + 8 = 18 points
  • Felivers – Never Back Down: 8 + 6 = 14 points
  • Yan Majewski – Champion: 4 + 7 = 11 points
  • Alicja Szemplińska – New Home: 5 + 5 = 10 points
  • Natasza – Lift U Up: 6 + 2 = 8 points
  • Kuba Szmajkowski – You Do Me: 3 + 3 = 6 points
  • Maja Hyży – Never Hide: 2 + 4 = 6 points
  • Ahlena – Booty: 1 + 1 = 2 points

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

SOURCE: Eurowizja.org

Montenegro: Announcement on Eurovision participation to take place tomorrow!

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RTCG, the public broadcaster of Montenegro, will eventually announce its Eurovision representative for 2025, tomorrow in the broadcaster’s morning show! Read more

Georgia’s Eurovision representatives take a stand on the country’s political crisis

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Georgia is at the heart of a serious political crisis that erupted following the recent elections. Despite the ruling party’s victory, the country’s president and the pro-European opposition refuse to accept the election results, accusing the government of fraud and authoritarian rule. This situation has sparked daily protests, with thousands of citizens flooding the streets of Tbilisi and other cities, demanding free elections, political transparency, and a clear European trajectory for the country. The crisis has been further aggravated by the influence of Russia, which many Georgians perceive as a threat to their independence and democracy.

Supporting the Pro-European Opposition

Many artists who have participated in Eurovision have sided with the pro-European opposition, expressing their support for the protests and the people’s demands for greater democracy and a European orientation. Among them are:

  • 2009: Stephane and 3G were selected in 2009 to represent Georgia with a politically charged song against the Russian president, who had invaded their country at the time. Naturally, they stand with the pro-European opposition, being among the first to show their support for the citizens’ fight for change by sharing messages of solidarity.
  • 2015: Nina Sublatti, a strong voice in the arts, has been actively using social media to call for unity and a turn toward Europe.
  • 2023: Iru, especially popular with the younger generation, has made her song a symbol of hope. She has openly supported the youth demonstrating in the streets.

These artists have used their platforms to promote European ideals and criticize the current political climate. Many of them have become symbols of political resistance in Georgia.

Supporting the Pro-Russian Government

On the other side, some artists have openly supported the government, provoking strong reactions. Examples include:

  • 2008: Diana Gurtskaya has expressed support for Russia, raising many questions about her political stance.
  • 2017: Tamara Gachechiladze has been accused of being a “propagandist,” with her statements reinforcing the government’s agenda.
  • 2024: Nutsa Buzaladze, the country’s most recent representative, caused outrage with her public statements in favor of the ruling party.

These artists align with the government’s pro-Russian policies, emphasizing the need for “stability” and the “preservation of traditions.” However, their stance has been seen as divisive by many citizens.

A Divided Artistic Community

The artistic community in Georgia mirrors the country’s deep political and social polarization. While some choose to support the opposition and amplify the people’s hopes for a European future, others remain loyal to the pro-Russian government, bolstering divisive rhetoric.

The political crisis in Georgia has highlighted the role of artists as active citizens, with their positions sparking discussions both domestically and internationally. Whether as supporters of a pro-European course or the pro-Russian government, these artists demonstrate how music and politics are often deeply intertwined.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Albania: Listen to the songs participating in Festivali i Këngës 63!

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Albania seems to be entering the final stages of selecting its entry for Eurovision 2025. A few moments ago, RTSH, the country’s public broadcaster, revealed the 30 songs that will compete in Festivali i Këngës 63!

Following the announcement of the contestants, the public broadcaster gradually unveiled the titles and composers of each song. Now that this process is complete, it’s time to listen to the songs that will compete to wave Albania’s flag in Switzerland.

You can listen to the songs of Festivali i Këngës 63 in the list below:

  1. Algert Sala – “Bosh”
  2. Alis Kallacej – “Mjegull”
  3. Ardit Çuni – “Amane”
  4. Devis Xherahu – “Ka momente”
  5. Djemtë e Detit – “Larg”
  6. Elvana Gjata – “Karnaval”
  7. Endrik Beba – “Ishe ti”
  8. Epos – “Kurajo dhe Zjarr”
  9. Erma Mici – “Mbaje”
  10. Frensi Revania – “Rreziko”
  11. Gjergj Kaçinari – “Larg jetës pa ty”
  12. Gresa Gjocera – “E vërteta”
  13. Jet – “Gjallë”
  14. Kejsi Jazxhi – “Kur bota hesht”
  15. Kleansa Susaj – “Ta dija”
  16. Klea Dina – “Dashuri Ngiej“
  17. Laurjan Ejlli & Adelina Corraj – “A thu”
  18. Lorenc Hasrama – “Frymë”
  19. Luna Çausholli – “Qiell apo ferr”
  20. Mal Retkoceri – “Antihero”
  21. Martina Serreqi – “Nese qaj”
  22. Mihallaq Andrea – “Porositë e babait”
  23. Nita Latifi – “Zemrës”
  24. Orgesa Zaimi – “I parë”
  25. Rea Nuhu – “Sot”
  26. Ronaldo Mesuli – “N’zemër”
  27. Santino De Bartolo – “Kur nata vjen si bora”
  28. Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm”
  29. Stine – “E kishim nis”
  30. Vesa Smolica – “Lutem”

Festivali i Këngës 63

This year, the winner—and thus Albania’s representative at Eurovision 2025—will be selected through a combination of public and jury voting, unlike recent years. The selection will follow a 60/40 ratio to decide the next Albanian entry.

The exact dates for FiK 63 have not yet been announced. Meanwhile, the famous singer and Albania’s former Eurovision representative, Elhaida Dani, has taken on the role of artistic director for this year’s competition.

Last year’s televote winner of Festivali i Këngës was Besa with “Zemrën n’dorë”. Besa released an English version titled “Titan” for Eurovision. However, she did not qualify to the Grand Final, finishing 14th in the second semi-final.

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

Source: RTSH

Estonia: Listen to the Songs of Eesti Laul 2025!

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The public television of Estonia, ERR, has just released the fifteen songs that will compete in the final of Eesti Laul 2025.

The Participants of Eesti Laul 2025: In the list below, you will find the 15 artists and their candidate songs that will take part in the final of Eesti Laul 2025 (You can listen to the songs by clicking on the titles of the tracks):

  1. An-Marlen – “Külm”
  2. Anna Sahlene – “Love Me Low”
  3. ANT – “Tomorrow Never Comes”
  4. ELYSA – “The Last to Know”
  5. FELIN – “Solo Anthem”
  6. Räpina Jack feat. Kaisa Ling – “Tule”
  7. Stereo Terror – “Prty Till the End of the World”
  8. Tuuli Rand – “Rem”
  9. Andrei Zevakin feat. Karita – “Ma ei tea sind”
  10. Frants Tikerpuu  – “Trouble”
  11. Gem98 – “Psycho”
  12. Janek – “Frozen”
  13. Joelle – “Eyes Don’t Lie”
  14. Minimal Wind – “Armageddon”
  15. Tommy Cash – “Espresso Macchiato”

Another artist will be announced by ERR in early January. The public will participate in the selection of the sixteenth and final participant, with further details regarding the exact method of selection to be announced soon.

The Process Eesti Laul 2025 will consist of a single show, where sixteen artists will compete, and it will take place on February 15, 2025. The final will consist of two voting rounds.

  • In the first round, all sixteen artists will perform their entries. After the voting of both the public and the juries, an equal number of them will proceed to the superfinal.
  • In the second and final round, the result, and consequently the representative of Estonia at Eurovision 2025, will be determined exclusively by the television audience.

The previous winners of Eesti Laul and Estonia’s representatives at Eurovision 2024 were 5MIINUST x Puuluup, with the song “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi”, who finished in 20th place in the grand final.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates regarding Estonia’s participation in Eurovision 2025 in Basel!

Source: ERR

Czechia: Eurovision 2025 representative to be announced on December 11!

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A few months ago, the Czech public broadcaster announced that, after years of tradition, there will no longer be a national final to select the song and artist representing the country at Eurovision 2025, in Basel. Instead, this decision will be made through an internal selection. Read more

Eurovision 2025: Helvetia announced as official partner of the contest!

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Helvetia has been announced as an official partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, set to take place in Basel, Switzerland! Read more