Slovenia: The EMA 2020 Contestants

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Yesterday, Slovenian Public Television (RTVSLO) announced the names of candidates to participate in the EMA 2020, through which the winner will represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next May.

The list includes a former Slovenian representative at Eurovision, among nine others hoping to impress the public and jury at the EMA 2020 final on 22 February 2020.

Tinkara Kovač, who represented Slovenia in 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, will try to get back on the Eurovision stage in 2020. In her previous participation, she finished 25th with the song “Round And Round”. This time she will sing “Forever”.

The other nine contestants are:

-Ana Soklič – Voda
-Božidar Wolfand Wolf – Maybe Someday
-Gaja Prestor – Vjamem vase
-Imset – Femme Fatale
-Inmate –The Salt
-Clara Jazbec – Stop the World
-Lina Kuduzović – Man Like U
-Manca Berlec – Večnost
-Simon Vadnjal – Started sam

Lina Kuduzović was Slovenia’s last representative at Junior Eurovision 2015, finishing third, with the song “Prva Ljubezen”.

Two more new artists will be added to the ten acclaimed artists from the EMA FREŠ competition on January 18th.

Slovenia At the Eurovision Song Contest

This will be Slovenia’s 26th entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. It made its debut in 1993 with the 1X Band and the song “Tih deževen dan” finished in 22nd place. After losing its maiden entry, Slovenia returned in 1995 to win the best position to date, when Darja Švajger took 7th place with the song “Prisluhni mi”. Nuša Derenda placed seventh in 2001 with “Energy”.

Since 2004, when the semifinal system started, Slovenia has been difficult to qualify for the final, losing ten times!

Last year Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl finished 15th with atmospheric “Sebi”.

Below, remember Tinkara’s previous appearance at Eurovision 2014:

US: With entries by state the US song contest as Christer Bjorkman reveals

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An interesting interview was given by Christer Bjorkman at Mellopodden and talked about the processes being done in the US for the creation of the American song contest.

Last year, Christer Bjorkman literally split his time between Sweden and the US, having taken over Eurovision’s move across the Atlantic on behalf of EBU. Together with his compatriots Anders Lenhoff, Ola Melzig and Peter Settman, all of Melodifestivalen’s production partners, they have taken over the creation ff the American song contest rom scratch.

Christer Bjorkman thinks it’s time to move Eurovision to America, as traditional music contests (Pop Idol, X Factor, The Voice, etc.) are losing their momentum.

From what Christopher Bjorkman has always said in the American song contest, the various US states will compete.

“Interestingly, each state generally has a rather distinct musical identity, along with, of course, its adjacent states as well. This will almost automatically give us a variety of types of music in the competition”

Christer Bjorkman for the American Song Contest

As with regular Eurovision, both established and young artists will participate. After the end of Melodifestivalen 2020, Christer Bjorkman and his team, after fully defining the product, will present it to American television stations to buy it.

The interest already says it’s big, since everyone who works in television in the US knows Eurovision, they just wonder how it can be done in their country.

There is great interest in this. Next summer, we need to know if this will happen and how.

After four years where Christer Bjorkman was a Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest, he will only travel to Rotterdam as Sweden’s only dead of delegation. The focus of his interest is now abroad and as he typically states, it is something that intrigues him.

“It’s so fun to work on something new. It feels a bit like finding another jar of jam in the closet I’ve never seen!”

The American Song Contest is planned to come to our screens sometime in 2021. Unlike the Eurovision Asia Contest, which has swamped for political reasons, at least as Christer Bjorkman claims, he is optimistic that this project will go ahead as it concerns one only country!

Albania: In a few minutes, the first FiK 58 semifinal

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In a few minutes, the first semifinal of Albania’s music festival Festivali i Këngës 58 takes place, with its winner representing the country at the Eurovision song contest. Alketa Vejsiu will be the host of the evening, which will be broadcasted live from the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana.

A total of 20 contestants are competing for the victory and the Albanian representation in Rotterdam. There are ten candidates in each semifinal. Listen to today’s participants below:

  1. Nadia and Genc Tukiçi – Ju flet Tirana
  2. Sara Bajraktari – Ajër
  3. Devis Xherahu – Bisedoj me serenatën
  4. Kanita Suma – Ankth
  5. Kamela Islamaj – Më ngjyros
  6. Bojken Lako – Malaseen
  7. Elvana Gjata – Me tana
  8. Aldo Bardhi – Melodi
  9. Renis Gjoka – Loja
  10. Albërie Hadërgjonaj – Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua

The jury panel of the Festivali i Këngës 58, made up of music professionals, will be the one to decide who will qualify for the grand finale on December 22. As you may remember –you were only briefed by EurovisionFun- the panel, this year, consists of international music experts.

Tonight’s guest will be this year’s Italian representative Mahmood, who performed “Soldi” and took second place in the final!

The first semi-final of Festivali i Këngës 58 will start at 20:30 CET time and you can watch it HERE.

Latvia: 28 songs remained for the national final of the country

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Latvia’s public broadcaster, LTV, reported in a statement that 28 songs had qualified to the next phase of the national final of Supernova.

Of the 126 songs the public channel received, the jury comprised of country music experts limited them to 28 and went to the next phase.

The jury consisted of:

Agnese Cimuška – Executive Director of the Latvian Music Development Society
Aiga Leitholde – Music Judge
Liena Grīna – Executive Director of the Latvian Association of Performers and Producters
Sabīne Brice – Marketing Director of Universal Music Latvia
Ilze Jansone – Producer of Supernova
Inese Saulāja – Warner Music Latvia Personnel Management and Development Specialist
Kaspars Zaviļeiskis – Music journalist
Jānis Žilde – Musician and presenter
Kaspars Mauriņš – Social Media Manager of Latvijas Radio 2
Rūdolfs Švēde – Program Manager of Radio Tev
Emīls Kazakovs – Program Manager of Kurzemes Radio
Toms Grēviņš – DJ at Piecei.lv
Artis Dvarionas – Radio SWH producer and singer
Aleksis Vilciņš – Presenter at Pieci.lv
Edgars Bāliņš – Wiwibloggs columnist and social media manager at Delfi.lv
Petri Mannonen – Head of Universal Music Finland and the Baltics
Martti Vuorinen – Universal Music A&R Artist
Pēteris Krievkalns – Creative Director of Supernova

The jury only listened to the songs without knowing the artists behind them. This week, they are expected to drop further, while the number of songs that will compete in the country’s national final remains unknown.

At the same time, the channel is keeping its cards closed, as it has not provided information on whether they will be semi-final, and what Supernova 2020 will look like. All we know so far is that the final will take place on February 8th.

The songs that will compete in the country’s national final will be released in January.

This year will be the 6th year that Supernova will take place with a generally moderate attendance at the competition. Aminata’s 2015 participation in Vienna (1st edition of Supernova) stands out, with the Baltic country taking the 6th place, making it the best country in the decade.

In 2019 Latvia was represented by the band Carousel with the song “That night” which failed to win the gold ticket for = the grand final, after taking the 15th place with 50 points in the semifinal.

Source/Image: escxtra/LTV

Helena Paparizou: The video she sent for her absence from the big Eurovision concert in Amsterdam

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Helena Paparizou considered as Greece’s  No. 1 pop singer and the only Eurovision winner on behalf of Greece.

On the night of December 15th, a big concert entitled ‘Het Grote Songfestivalfeest’ took place in Amsterdam and more specifically at the crowded Ziggo Dome Stage, with Eurovision winners and stars such as Johnny Logan, Sandra Kim, Ruslana, Dana International , Loreen and Charlotte Perrelli.

Due to her obligations with “The Voice of Greece”, Helena Paparizou was unable to provide the present, however, she sent her own message through a video. Indeed, during its screening, people gave up Europe’s “Number one” by singing the 2005 song.

Watch below Elena’s video:

 

Eurostars: Watch the Eurostars performances at Het Grote Songfestivalfeest (videos)

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The Het Grote Songfestivalfeest concert was held at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome on Sunday 15th with more than 30 eurostars, raising 12,000 spectators. It was the first Eurovision event on Dutch soil, let’s not forget that in a few months it will host the next ESC.

This big party was a co-operation of the public channel AVROTROS with PILOTSTUDIO. Presenter was Cornald Maas, a television figure who has been linked in the Netherlands like no other with our favorite contest. While many of our favorite artists, who wrote their own story on the pages of the competition were  present, as we said above,

Below are some of their appearances:

Loreen – Euphoria (Sweden 2012):

Eleni Foureira – Fuego (Cyprus 2018):

Mahmood – Soldi (Italy 2019):

Johnny Logan – What’s another year, Hold me now (Ireland 1980, 1987):

Katrina – Love shine a light (United Kingdom 1997):

Charlotte Perrelli – Hero (Sweden 2008):

Sergey Lazarev – You’re the only one (Russia 2016):

Dana International – Diva (Israel 1998):

You can see the other impressions HERE.

The entire concert will be televised by Dutch public television at New Year’s Eve.

Source: YouTube / Steurovision

 

Albania: The running order of the Festivali i Këngës 58 Semi-finals

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On December 22, we will find out the first Eurovision 2020 entry, after the final of the Festivali i Këngës 58. But earlier this year, 20 FiK candidates will compete in the two semifinals for the 10 tickets leading to the final. Albanian Public Broadcaster (RTSH) earlier revealed the distribution of the songs in the semifinals, as well as the order in which they will appear.

First Semi-final (December 19th):

  1. Nadia & Genc Tukiçi – “Ju flet Tirana” 
  2. Sara Bajraktari – “Ajër” 
  3. Devis Xherahu – “Bisedoj me serenatën” 
  4. Kanita – “Ankth” 
  5. Kamela Islamaj – “Më ngjyros” 
  6. Bojken Lako – “Malaseen” 
  7. Elvana Gjata – “Me tana” 
  8. Aldo Bardhi – “Melodi”
  9. Renisi Gjoka – “Loja” 
  10. Albërie Hadërgjonaj “Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua”

Second Semi-final ?(December 20th):

  1. Kastro Zizo (né Kleviz Bega) – “Asaj” 
  2. Tiri Gjoci – “Me gotën bosh” 
  3. Olta Boka – “Botë për Dy ”
  4. Era Rusi – “Eja Merre”
  5. Wendi Mancaku – “Ende” 
  6. Robert Berisha – “Ajo nuk është unë” 
  7. Gena – “Shqiponja e lirë” 
  8. Eli Fara & Stresi – “Bohem” 
  9. Arilena Ara “Shaj” 
  10. Valon Shehu – “Kutia e Pandorës” 

The innovation in FiK regulations compared to previous years, is that this year the results will also be determined by an international committee, which has already invited important personalities to staff it. Among those invited by RTSH to the international committee, as we revealed in our previous article, Greek author Dimitris Kontopoulos. FiK 58 is presented by Alketa Vejsiu.

Georgia: Tornike first again on Georgian Idol’s 5th Live Show

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Just five candidates are left on the Georgian Idol on the way to its end. For another week, on the fourth overall, Tornike Kipiani is in the top spot and has become the big favorite to represent Georgia at Eurovision 2020!

The six contestants who continued on Georgian Idol after last week’s fourth Live, performed live once again in front of the television audience, voting for the candidate of their choice, by phone and facebook messenger.

The two contestants who received the lowest percentage of the vote were Davit Rusadze and Mariam Shengelia, with the latter eventually withdrawing.

At the fourth Georgian Idol Live Show, the candidates were asked to perform well-known songs by Georgian classical composer Giya Kancheli. Below you can see their percentage:

1.) Torniki Kipiani – “He’s Here” – 29.09%

2.) Barbara Samkharadze – “The Magic Egg” – 17.75%

3.) Mariam Gogiberidze – “Melancholy” – 13.68%

4.) Tamar Kakalashvili – “Don’t Cry” – 13.64%

5.) Davit Rusadze – “Yellow Leaves” – 13.01%

6.) Mariam Shengelia – “King Lear” – 12.83%

Unlike this year when Georgian Idol selected both the artist and the song that represented Georgia at the Eurovision Contest, for 2020 only the artist will be selected through the popular talent show, since the song will be followed by internal selection.

We remind you that the four jury members who oversaw the three-episode phase of the auditions and will guide the ten finalists in their lives are:

-Natia Todua, a singer who has made a significant career in Germany after her win at The Voice of Germany in 2016.
-Tinatin Berdzenishvili, GPB’s Deputy General Manager and Head of Delegation of Georgia to the Eurovision Contest.
-David Evgenidze, composer. He was the head of the jury for the country’s participation in Junior Eurovision 2019. He will oversee the selection of the song for Eurovision 2020.
-David Aladashvili, pianist.
This year, Oto Nemsadze won the Georgian Idol and with “Keep on Going” represented Georgia in Tel Aviv, taking 14th place in the first semifinal. As he said, shortly after the end of the contest, his song had a political message and was directed against Russia and its politics in his country.

Italy: Artists rumored for Sanremo 2020

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In less than two months, the 70th Sanremo Festival will take place, and the winner will be honored to represent Italy at Eurovision 2020. All this time, the media continues to speculate on what artists we will see on stage, in Teatro Ariston, to compete for the “golden lion”.

With a slight delay over previous years, we will find out on January 6 – during the Special Lottery – the names of the 20 participants of the 70th anniversary edition of the festival. Some argue that, given the amount of proposals, their number could increase.

The two biggest music sites in the country (All Music Italia and floral music), which usually fall in the midst of most forecasts, have been rumored for days. So let’s look at the names they mention.

The Eurostars who return

Several former Italian names in the song contest appear to be trying to get back on the Eurovision stage through Sanremo 2020.

The name that definitely stands out is that of Francesco Gabbani who represented Italy at Eurovision 2017 with “Occidentali’s Kara”. For Francesco we informed you again in our previous article. Following the moderate acceptance of his summer single “Altro cosa”, Sanremo is the best way to promote his new job.

Raphael Gualazzi and Nina Zilli also want to join. The first one entered Eurovision in 2011 with second place with “Madness of Love”, the last with “L’amor e femmina” next year, reaching ninth place. The question is whether their record labels – Sugar and Universal – give priority to them and not to some of their other colleagues.

Perhaps the most famous couple on the Italian music scene, Al Bano & Romina, who represented Italy twice at Eurovision (1976 and 1985), both winning seventh place, return to Ariston 30 years later.

Two other eurostars likely to compete at Sanremo 2020, though only as composers, are Mahmood, this year’s Eurovision essential triumph, with a track written for Chiara Galiazzo and Fabrizio Moro, who won fifth place in 2018 together with Ermal Meta, and will sign Noemi’s participation.

The other names

Among the names we might see at Sanremo 2020 is Matteo Bocelli, his son Andrea, who could begin his solo career, where it all began for his father.

Irama, considered a favorite in 2019 and possibly disappointed by the seventh place he eventually received, and Elodie, are likely to try in 2020 as well.

A band beloved by fans of the competition in 2018, The Kolors will strive for something better than the eighth place they took then.

The names of Federica Carta and Riccardo “Riki” Marcuzzo are also mentioned, though they will be chosen only if they have a very strong song.

Giusy Ferreri will be present as either a performer or a songwriter, and is already looking for a song that will stand out at the Sanremo festival, as she has not been able to stand out in all her previous entries.

Last but not least, Anastasio, the last winner of the X Factor, is among the candidates. The rapper is called to release his debut album. A participation in the Sanremo Festival will be the appropriate advertisement for both his record label and March tour, which he has already announced.

The 70th Sanremo Song Festival will take place at Teatro Ariston in the small town of Liguria, San Remo, from February 4 to February 8, 2020.

Image/Source: eurofestivalnews

Ukraine: Andrey Danilko as a judge for another year at Vidbir 2020

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The announcement of the first judge  for the Ukrainian Vidbir 2020 was made by the UA: PBC public broadcaster on the selection of participation in Eurovision 2020.

For another year, actror and singer Andrey Danilko, known to contestants as Verka Serduchka, will be in the judge’s chair, and along with other judges, will make up 50% of the national final vote.

“It is the 5th year in the jury panel, but my selection criteria have not changed: the main thing is that the country will be well represented and competitively represented in Eurovision. I hope this time, both the television audience and the jury will choose the most deserving representative from Ukraine. Otherwise, why is this all? ”

Andrey Danilko has been a judge of the Ukraine national final since 2016, the first year Vidbir has been held, while 2017 has been dominated by Jamala, the winner of Eurovision 2016, and since 2018 Yevhen Filatov, founding member of the “Onuka” band.

Although there have been rumors of Jamala’s withdrawal this year, there has been no official confirmation. As the channel reveals, we will soon know the rest of the judges who will frame Andrey Danilko.

Vidbir 2020 will be for another year with two semifinals on February 8 and 11, and a Grand Final on February 22. Sergey Pritula will be presenting for the fourth consecutive year.

In 2019, Maruv and “Siren Song”  won the national final of the country and were due to travel to Tel Aviv. However, its participation violated the rules of the channel, which brought the two sides into disagreement, and ultimately the withdrawal of Ukraine from the competition, just days after the national final.

Source: stb.ua