Azerbaijan: Five Singers in the Final Stages for Eurovision 2023!

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Azerbaijan’s public broadcaster Ictimai has announced that 5 acts are on the final stage for the selection of Azerbaijan in Eurovision 2023.

In a statement responding to allegations that the Azerbaijani entrant for Eurovision 2023 had already been chosen, the broadcaster has revealed new details of its selection for Liverpool. The singer Rauf Kingsley had accused the broadcaster of selecting Mamagama group due to them relationship with the manager of Eldar Gasimov, who is working with the Azeri delegation.

Ictimai has denied the allegations releasing a statement explaining that there are five acts that have made it through to the final stage of the nation’s selection. All five of the acts have recorded the songs that are in contention to represent Azerbaijan in Liverpool. The statement adds:

“In the near future, we will share all the information that will not negatively affect the selection process, and we will announce the names of the finalists. I ask you to be a little patient.”

Songs submitted to represent Azerbaijan must be fully prepared and comply with the rules of the contest published by the EBU. This wil also be the first time in years, that Azerbaijan allows artists to directly submit their proposals, instead of just searching for a song as they usually do.

Nadir Rustamli represented Azerbaijan in Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin with the song “Fade to Black” and ended up in 16th place in the Grand Final with a total of 106 points. On the same time he is the first artist to qualify for the Grand Final while getting zero points from televote in the semi-final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tegPzHEL4ms&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Feurovisionfun.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title

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

Source: 12 Xal

Sweden: Listen to the song snippets of the first heat of Melodifestivalen 2023!

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As usual, a couple of days before each Melodifestivalen heat, SVT publishes snippets of all seven competing songs of the heat. A while ago, the song snippets of the first heat got released.
The competing songs of the first heat:
  1. Tone Sekelius – Rhythm Of My Show LISTEN HERE
  2. Loulou LaMotte – Inga sorger LISTEN HERE
  3. Rejhan – Haunted LISTEN HERE
  4. Elov & Beny – Raggen går LISTEN HERE
  5. Victor Crone – Diamonds LISTEN HERE
  6. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – Länge leve livet LISTEN HERE
  7. Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North feat. Adam Woods – Where You Are (Sávežan) LISTEN HERE

The process

Two songs will directly qualify to the grand final of Melodifestivalen 2023, which will take place on the 11th of March. The songs that will place third and fourth will have to compete again, at the fifth semi-final, held on the 4th of March. There will be four heats in total.

As we have already informed you, the voting system of Melodifestivalen has changed following the announced changes by EBU regarding the voting format in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool!

The broadcaster now scraps the group division at the fifth show, known as the semi-final and all eight contestants will now have to face each other. Points will be awarded from the viewing groups and the four entries with the highest points will advance to the final!

The dates of Melodifestivalen 2023

  • Heat 1: Göteborg – Saturday 4 February 2023 (Scandinavium)
  • Heat 2: Linköping – Saturday 11 February 2023 (Saab Arena)
  • Heat 3: Lidköping – Saturday 18 February 2023 (Sparbanken Arena)
  • Heat 4: Malmö – Saturday 25 February 2023 (Malmö Arena)
  • Semi-Final: Örnsköldsvik – Saturday 4 March 2023 (Hägglunds Arena)
  • Final: Stockholm – Satuday 11 March 2023 (Friends Arena)

We remind you that Melodifestivalen 2023 is scheduled to take place between February 4th to March 11th and will be hosted by Jesper Rönndahl and Farah Abadi.

Which two of the above artists do you think will be the direct qualifiers to the finals, on the 12th of March?

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun, for all the latest developments regarding Melodifestivalen 2023 and the Swedish entry for Eurovision 2023!

Source/Photo: SVT

Marco Mengoni: I will go to Eurovision if I win Sanremo!

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He already represented Italy during the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö and he confirms he is open to represent his country one more time.  Marco Mengoni is currently competing at the traditional Festival di Sanremo which is also the Italian national final.

It is worth mentioning that winning Sanremo does not automatically mean that the winner will go to Eurovision.  However, in recent years the winner of Sanremo has accepted the invitation to represent Italy in the music contest.

When he talked with La Stampa newspaper, Marco Mengoni made it clear that he is not only ready to represent his country again but also, that he had good memories from his previous Eurovision experience

Sure and (the song) “Due Vite” would look good there too, it’s like the wind, it looks good everywhere.  After the 2013 Sanremo victory and participating in Eurovision, I started traveling to half of Europe.  I have a fan base outside Italy, their warmth reaches me every day. I would gladly return.

When Marco Mengoni represented Italy for the first time he was facing professional difficulties.  In an interview for La Republicca he reflected about that period

In 2013 I didn’t expect to win, many already considered me finished, nobody believed in us, it seemed to me I was fighting against everyone and everything.  I even thought about going back to university, music would always be part of my life but it wouldn’t be my job.

Marco Mengoni is one of the favourites to win Sanremo 2023 according to the betting predictions.

Marco Mengoni represented Italy for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song “L’essenziale”.  He ended up in 7th place in the Grand Final

Source: Eurofestival news

Denmark: DMGP 2023 Running Order has been released!

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DR has announced the running order for the final of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2023 which will take place on February 11.

The running order is as follows:

  1. Frederik Leopold – Stuck On You
  2. EYJAA – I Was Gonna Marry Him
  3. Micky Skeel – Glansbillede
  4. maia maia – Beautiful Bullshit
  5. Nicklas Sonne – Freedom
  6. Mariyah LeBerg – Human
  7. Søren Torpegaard Lund – Lige Her
  8. Reiley – Breaking My Heart

Tina Müller and Heino Hansen will host the final on February 11. Tina has hosted the past two editions of the contest while Heino will host for the first time. Heino is originally from the host city for the 2023 contest Næstved.

Source: DR/eurovoix

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun regarding ESC 2023!

Lithuania: Semi-Final split has been revealed!

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LRT has revealed the split of the twenty artists across the two Semi-Finals of Pabandom iš naujo! 2023.

The Semi-Final One of Pabandom iš naujo! 2023 has already been filmed in Vilnius and the split of the competing artists has been revealed. A total of twenty artists qualified from the two heats and will be competing again for a place in the Grand Final and a chance to represent Lithuania at Eurovision 2023.

You can see the split here:

Semi Final 1 (February 4):

  • Il Senso – “Sparnai” (Wings)
  • Alen Chicco – “Do You”
  • Baiba – “When the Lights Go Out”
  • Joseph June – “Vacuum”
  • NOY – “Destiny’s Child”
  • Petunija – “Love of My Life”
  • Justė Kraujelytė – “Need More Fun”
  • Gabrelius Vagelis – “Šauksmas” (Shout)
  • Rūta Mur – “So Low”
  • Donata – “Dreamer”

Semi-Final 2 (February 11):

  • Beatrich – “Like a Movie”
  • Monika Linkytė – “Stay”
  • Mario Junes – “Do What You Do”
  • Matt Len – “Midnight Train”
  • Agnė – “New Start”
  • Moon Bee – “Rumor”
  • Gebrasy – “Saw Your Ghost”
  • Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys – “Sėdi ir važiuoji” (Sit down and drive)
  • Paulina Paukštaitytė – “Let Me Think About Me”
  • Luknė – “Paradise”

The final will take place on February 18!

Source: eurovoix

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun regarding ESC 2023!

San Marino: Semi finalists to be announced on February 20!

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San Marino RTV will announce the names of the Semi-finalists on February 20.  The announcement will take place in a press conference.  Sixty artists will participate at the Semi finals of Una Voce per San Marino national selection.

This is the second time that San Marino held a national final.  Over 1000 singers from 31 countries registered to participate in the San Marinese national selection.  According to RTV this is an increase of over 300 singers since their last update in 2022.

Una Voce per San Marino

Una Voce per San Marino will consist on five Semi-finals taking place between 18-20 February 2023.  The Semi-Finals will be broadcast on delay by SMRTV.  The Grand Final of Una Voce per San Marino will take place on February 25, 2023 at the Teatro Nuovo in Dogana.  A five member jury representing San Marino RTV (2), Segreteria di Stato (1) and  the production company (2) will chose the San Marinese representative.

Achille Lauro won the first edition of Una Voce per San Marino.  He represented San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCmX64N_sXM&ab_channel=EurovisionSongContest

Source: RTV

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for more news about San Marino in Eurovision!

BREAKING NEWS: Armenia pick Brunette for Eurovision 2023!

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Pop star Brunette has been announced by AMPTV as Armenia’s participant at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.

The talented singer-songwriter has been performing since the age of 4 and writing her own music since she was a teenager. Her songs Night, Smoke Break and Light Blue Eyes became massive hits on YouTube, clocking up millions of views.

Brunette is known to the public for several hit songs, and she intends to bring a new style to the big Eurovision stage in Liverpool:

‘I am happy to share the news with you. I just create music, and this time I will share it with the European audience!’

AMPTVs Executive Director Hovhannes Movsisyan emphasised the importance of entrusting the representation of Armenia to young and talented artists:

‘Last year, sending a young artist to Eurovision was justified. The song is still successful and captivates millions of fans. I hope this year we will surprise the European audience with a unique Armenian artist.’

Davit Tserunyan, the Head of the Armenian delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest, added:

‘A few weeks after organising the Junior Eurovision in Yerevan, we started the process of selecting our representative for the contest. At this stage, we are working on the song and the video, which I am sure will be impressive!’

Source: eurovisiontv

Spain: the results of Benidorm Fest 2023 first semi-final!

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Tonight the Benidorm Fest, the festival through which Spain’s representative in Eurovision 2022 will be chosen, premiered, with the first semi-final being broadcast live on RTVE.

A total of nine candidates competed in the first semi-final, vying for four spots in Saturday’s Grand Final.

The show was hosted by Inés Hernández, Mónica Naranjo and Rodrigo Vázquez.

The candidates

Tonight’s nine candidates were:

  1. Sharonne – “Aire” 
  2. Aritz Arén – “Flamenco”
  3. Sofía Martín – “Tuki”
  4. Agoney – “Quiero arder” 
  5. Megara – “Arcadia”
  6. Alice Wonder – “Yo quisiera”
  7. Meler – “No nos moverán”
  8. Fusa Nocta – “Mi familia” 
  9. Twin Melody – “Sayonara” 

The voting

50% of the result in all three shows (two semi-finals and a final) comes from the jury, while the other 50% comes from the audience. The jury is divided into Spanish and international, while 50% of the audience is divided between the televoting and a sample of the Spanish population selected on the basis of statistical and demographic data (the demographic jury). This is a criterion used in both the Sanremo Festival (Italy) and the Melodifestivalen (Sweden).

The Benidorm Fest jury, which determines 50% of the voting, consists of:

  • Nina (Spanish singer, representative of Spain in 1989)
  • Christer Bjorkman (Swedish singer and producer, former manager of Melodifestivalen)
  • Tali Eshkoli (Israeli television producer and Israel’s Head od Delegation)
  • Nicola Caligiore (Italian, former Italy’s Head od Delegation)
  • Katrina Leskanich (American singer, representative of the United Kingdom in 1997)
  • William Lee Adams (Founder of the wiwibloggs website)
  • Irene Valiente (Spanish presenter and producer)
  • Juan Jose Santana (Spanish, president of OGAE Spain and composer of previous Spanish entries)

The results

Thus, the results of the first semi-final of Benidorm 2022 were as follows:

Juries (50%)

  1. Agoney (86 votes)
  2. Alice Wonder (79 votes)
  3. Fusa Nocta (65 votes)
  4. Megara (51 votes)
  5. Aritz Arén (50 votes)
  6. Sharonne (46 votes)
  7. Meler (29 votes)
  8. Twin Melody (29 votes)
  9. Sofía Martín (22 votes)

Demographic jury (25%)

  1. Meler (40 votes)
  2. Agoney (36 votes)
  3. Megara (30 votes)
  4. Twin Melody (28 votes)
  5. Fusa Nocta (25 votes)
  6. Aritz Arén (22 votes)
  7. Sharonne (20 votes)
  8. Alice Wonder (15 votes)
  9. Sofía Martín (13 votes)

Televoting (25%)

  1. Agoney (40 votes)
  2. Aritz (36 votes)
  3. Megara (30 votes)
  4. Fusa Nocta (28 votes)
  5. Alice Wonder (25 votes)
  6. Sharonne(22 votes)
  7. Twin Melody (20 votes)
  8. Meler (15 votes)
  9. Sofía Martín (13 votes)

Overall ranking

  1. Agoney (181 votes)
  2. Alice Wonder (119 votes)
  3. Fusa Nocta (118 votes)
  4. Megara (111 votes)
  5. Aritz (107 votes)
  6. Sharonne(87 votes)
  7. Meler (84 votes)
  8. Twin Melody (77 votes)
  9. Sofía Martín (48 votes)

The finalists of the first semi-final in Benidorm are therefore:

  1. Agoney – “Quiero arder” 
  2. Megara – “Arcadia”
  3. Alice Wonder – “Yo quisiera”
  4. Fusa Nocta – “Mi familia” 

You can watch the performance of the winner of the first semi-final, Agoney, below:

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest news about Benidorm Fest and Spain’s participation in Eurovision 2023!

Eurovision 2023: The Semi-Final Allocation Draw Results!

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Liverpool’s Saint George’s Hall with a very nice event hosted a few minutes ago the draw for the semi-finals of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.

The analyzes of the fans and not only, have been on fire for a few minutes now. Since the theories based on the pre-history of the countries in the competition, it is a first insight into how passable the qualification to the final is or not. In other words, it’s time to make our predictions, about who will go through to the final and who are the favorites to say goodbye to Liverpool early…

The presenters and the handover ceremony

The Eurovision 2023 semi-final draw was hosted by AJ Odudu and Rylan. Both are on the staff of the BBC, being some of the most loved faces of British public broadcasting.

During the draw, the ceremony of handing over and accepting the emblem of the contest took place. The mayor of Turin, Stefano Lo Russo, formally handed over the “keys to the event” to the mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson.

Draw Procedure

The 31 countries competing in the semi-finals were divided into five pots, based on the scores they have exchanged in recent years with each other. This is done in order to avoid, as much as possible, the alliances that appear every year in the voting.

Big 5 and Ukraine

With the big winner of last year’s competition, Ukraine, directly in the final, along with the Big 5 (UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain), the first part of the draw determined the semi-final that the direct finalists would vote for.

Will vote in the 1st Semi-Final:

  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy

Will vote in the 1st Semi-Final:

  • Ukraine
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom

In the semi-final that the six aforementioned countries were drawn to broadcast and vote for, the video from their dress rehearsal will also be shown. This was done at Eurovision 2016 for the first time, for reasons of equal exposure of the countries directly in the final and the countries that qualify from the semi-finals. Essentially, viewers see each entry twice during the shows.

Semi-Final Allocation Draw

The allocation draw for the two semi-finals had two parts. In the first part the 31 countries participating in the semi-finals were drawn in which of the two they will compete in. Fifteen countries will compete in the first/second semi-final and sixteen in the first/second semi-final.

In the second part, each country learned whether it will appear in the first or second half of the semi-final in which it will compete. The exact order of appearance will be determined by the EBU and the show’s producers at a later date.

1st Semi-final (9 May):

1st Half

  • Serbia
  • Latvia
  • Ireland
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Croatia
  • Malta

2nd Half

  • Sweden
  • Moldova
  • Switzerland
  • Israel
  • Netherlands
  • Finland
  • Azerbaijan
  • Czech Republic

2nd Semi-Final (11 May):

1st Half

  • Armenia
  • Cyprus
  • Romania
  • Denmark
  • Belgium
  • Iceland
  • Greece
  • Estonia

2nd Half

  • Albania
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Lithuania
  • San Marino
  • Slovenia
  • Georgia
  • Poland

Liverpool will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest from 9 to 13 May at the Liverpool Arena. The motto of this year’s event, as chosen by the organizers, is “United by Music“.

You can see the draw again through the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HAY-qpDTnY

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool!

Spain: Eurovisionfun Reacts to Benidorm Fest 2023 Songs! (video)

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The moment that all Spanish Eurofans have been eagerly waiting for has arrived, as today the curtain opens for Benidorm Fest 2023, the selection method for Spain’s Eurovision 2023 entry.

The Eurovisionfun team couldn’t help but see and comment on the Spanish participants  for the upcoming Eurovision contest! Enjoy Matamis Apostolis, Barboutis Paschalis and Gialetzi Stella in a reaction video with detailed commentary for this year’s Benidorm Fest entries!

The first semi-final of Benidorm Fest 2023 will take place tonight at 22:50 CET and will last just under two hours. You can watch it through the official website of RTVE.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to enjoy interviews, reaction videos and Live streams for our favorite contest!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding Spain’s participation in Eurovision 2023, in Liverpool!