Eurovision 2024: The Semi-final allocation pots!

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The Semi-Final Allocation Draw 2024 will take place tomorrow Tuesday 30 January at 19:00 CET live from Malmo, alongside a ceremony which sees the Host City insignia pass from previous hosts Liverpool to Malmo.

https://youtu.be/Q_-2hMEq5sk

The draw will be hosted by Pernilla Månsson Colt and Farah Abadi and fans will be able to watch on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

The Allocation Draw will determine whether countries participate in the First Semi-Final (Tuesday 7 May at 21:00 CEST) or the Second Semi-Final (Thursday 9 May at 21:00 CEST). Also randomly allocated is whether a country will perform in the first or second half of the Semi-Final they’ve drawn.

Semi-Final Allocation Draw: How does it work?

Sweden as the Host Country and reigning champion respectively, along with the other 6 members of the so-called ‘Big 6’ participating countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom) do not compete in the Semi-Finals, but their domestic audiences do get to vote in one of them… so before the competing countries are allocated a place in a Semi-Final, it will be randomly determined which of the Semi-Finals the Big 6 will each be allowed to vote on.

The next part of the draw will determine in which Semi-Final and in which half of the respective Semi-Final the other 31 participating countries will perform in.

Semi-Final Allocation Pots 2024

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3
  • Albania
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
  • Croatia
  • Serbia
  • Slovenia
  • Denmark
  • Australia
  • Finland
  • Iceland
  • Norway
  • Estonia
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Georgia
  • Israel
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Ukraine

Pot 4

Pot 5

Pot 6
  • Cyprus
  • Greece
  • Ireland
  • Malta
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • Netherlands
  • Moldova
  • Poland
  • Luxembourg
  • France
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • Sweden

 

Drawing countries from different pots helps to reduce the chance of so-called neighbourly voting and increases suspense in the Semi-Finals. You can get a good idea of how it will all work by watching the 2022 Allocation Draw on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

The Eurovision Song Contest is due to take place on 7, 9 and 11 May 2024 in Malmo, Sweden, who won the Contest thanks to Loreen winning in 2023.

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Iceland: Bashar Murad has not decided whether he will take part in Eurovision 2024!

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Bashar Murad is, so to speak, the face of the days. The artist of Palestinian origin, who is one of the ten candidates in Iceland’s national final for Eurovision 2024, says in an interview on the country’s public television that he has not decided whether he will participate in the contest, since of course he is the winner of Söngvakeppnin .

The news of Bashar Murad’s participation in Söngvakeppnin, before we had even heard his song, was enough to propel Iceland to the top of the betting table.

Bashar Murad rose to prominence in Iceland after collaborating with Hatari in 2019, right after Eurovision ended that year. In an interview with RUV, Bashar Murad denies the accusations that his participation is essentially a tool of political exploitation, while he answers that he has not yet decided whether he will finally participate in Eurovision 2024, since he is the winner of Söngvakeppnin.

We actually started working on this project a year and a half ago and considered participating in the competition last year (2023). But we decided it would be best to wait another year. So the work on this started in August last year…And who knows what will happen? It also depends on the situation we are in. Things change day by day. I take it one day at a time.

RUV has declared that its participation in Eurovision 2024 is not a given and the decision on this will be made after the end of Söngvakeppnin, in consultation with the winner of course.

Iceland will decide on Eurovision 2024 on March 2. You can listen to Bashar Murad’s Wild West in the video below:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: RUV

Norway: The Running Order of the MGP 2024 final!

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Earlier today NRK, the public broadcaster of Norway, revealed the Running Order of the final of Melodi Grand Prix 2024, through which the country’s entry for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest will be selected.

The Running Order:
  1. KEiiNO –Damdiggida
  2. Annprincess – Save Me 
  3. GOTHMINISTER – We Come Alive 
  4. Ingrid Jasmin – Eya
  5. MIIA – Green Lights
  6. Margaret Berger – Oblivion
  7. Dag Erik Oksvold & Anne Fagermo – Judge Tenderly of Me
  8. Gåte –Ulveham
  9. Super Rob & Erika Norwich – My Ai

The MGP 2024 final will be held on Saturday, at 19:50 CET. The winner will be determined by a combination of the public’s votes, which will make up 60% of the final score, and the jury’s votes, which will make up 40%.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding Eurovision 2024!

Source: NRK 

Israel: Tonight the semi-final of HaKochav HaBa – Eurovision 2024 Edition!

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With the quarterfinals behind us, “HaKochav HaBa – Eurovision 2024 Edition” is set to enter a crucial phase—the semifinals. The remaining five contestants, Mika Moshe, Or Cohen, Dor Shmaon, Shai Tamino, and Eden Golan, are gearing up for a night that could propel them closer to representing Israel at Eurovision 2024.

We recall that the presenters of HaKochav HaBa are Assi Azar and Rotem Sela who have been in this position since 2014, while the jury members are Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar and Keren Pels with a new addition being Eden Hasson.

The Selection Process

A few days ago, the Israeli public broadcaster revealed that the final of “HaKokhav Haba” will take place on February 6, where the Israeli representative for Eurovision 2024 will be chosen. The selection process involves four contestants competing in the grand final for the ticket to Malmo, Sweden. The winner will be determined through a combination of audience votes and of a judging panel.

The broadcaster, KAN, has extended an invitation to a diverse range of Israeli creators to submit songs for the winner of “HaKokhav Haba” to perform at Eurovision 2024. A crucial requirement for this year’s submissions is that the songs must include Hebrew lyrics.

At least 30 creators will propose their songs for the winner of “HaKokhav Haba,” and the participants have the option to submit up to two songs each by February 11. All creators must hold Israeli citizenship, and foreign creators are not allowed to participate. The submitted songs will be presented anonymously to a seven-member selection committee.

The committee will evaluate the songs based on professional criteria such as the quality and originality of lyrics and melody, the suitability of the song for the artist, its appropriateness for the Eurovision competition, the likelihood of the song’s success in Eurovision, its suitability for representing the broadcaster as a public radio and television entity, the overall impression the song leaves, and other relevant criteria.

If the committee does not find a suitable song, it has the option to issue a call to the general public for additional song submissions or choose a song that has been published after September 1, or select a song from other submissions made for Israel’s participation in Eurovision between 2021 and 2023.

The winning song will undergo processing, recording, and clip production for the song’s unveiling, scheduled for a special broadcast in late February or early March.

The Semifinalists

Before diving into the anticipation of the semifinals, let’s recap the journey of the five talented contestants who have made it this far and who will fight for one out of the four tickets for the Grand Final on February 6:

  1. Mika Moshe: Mika, the 16-year-old sensation, won hearts with her rendition of “Yasmin” in the quarterfinals. Known for her unique blend of innocence and maturity, Mika’s powerful vocals make her a formidable contender. As she advances to the semifinals, all eyes are on Mika to see how she continues to captivate both the audience and judges.
  2. Or Cohen: Or Cohen’s emotionally charged performance of “If I Could” dedicated to her mother resonated deeply in the quarterfinals. Positioned as a frontrunner with heartfelt performances and strong vocal abilities, the semifinals offer Or the chance to showcase her versatility and make a lasting impression.
  3. Dor Shmaon: Dor Shmaon’s unexpected and moving approach to “Amen for My Children” garnered praise from the judges in the quarterfinals. Renowned for his unique style and vocal prowess, Dor aims to continue surprising the audience in the semifinals, competing for the opportunity to represent Israel on the Eurovision stage.
  4. Shai Tamino: Shai Tamino’s powerful rendition of “I’ll Stand By You” dedicated to her extended family showcased her emotional depth and vocal strength in the quarterfinals. As she advances to the semifinals, Shai is prepared to maintain her composure and deliver another impactful performance amidst the intensifying competition.
  5. Eden Golan: Eden Golan’s choice of “You Raise Me Up” dedicated to her grandmother left a lasting impression in the quarterfinals. With exceptional vocal skills and a strong stage presence, Eden is a force to be reckoned with. As she enters the semifinals, expectations are high, and Eden is poised to deliver yet another stellar performance.

As the tension rises and the competition gets tougher, tonight’s episode promises to be an unforgettable night of music, emotion, and fierce competition. Stay tuned for our post-semifinal analysis, where we’ll break down the performances, judge feedback, and the contestants’ journey toward Eurovision glory. The race to become Israel‘s representative for Eurovision 2024 is reaching its climax—don’t miss a moment of this musical spectacle!

You can watch the HaKochav HaBa – Eurovision 2024 Edition Semi-Final at 2o:30 CET through the Israeli channel, Keshet 12, by clicking here (subscription fee) or here (free).

Last year Israel at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool was represented by the sensational Noa Kirel and her song “Unicorn” which gave the Middle Eastern country the third place in the Grand Final with 362 points.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024, in Malmö!

Israel: The results of HaKokhav Haba’s 20th episode | Five artists advance to the semi-final!!

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The 20th episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition) was just concluded. HaKokhav Haba is the talent show under which the artist that will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 will be selected.

Out of the 35 artists who made it beyond the audition stage, 14 advanced to the battles’ phase, where they will compete to represent their country in Eurovision 2024!

In episode twenty, the six remaining artists performed in duets, while five of them advanced to the next stage and one was eliminated. Assi Azar and Rotem Sela, serve as the show’s hosts, as they have been doing since 2014. The jury is consisted of Eden Hasson, Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar, and Keren Pels.

The duets of the 20th episode

Six contestants performed in front of an audience and a panel of judges. The judges then selected one of the three contestants with the lowest score to be eliminated from the show.

Mika Moshe Vs Or Cohen

16-year-old Mika is one of the two big favorites of HaKokhav Haba. She performed a traditional ballad in Hebrew, enchanting both the audience and the jury. She achieved a score of 88%, despite the fact that one of the judges did not vote for it. He advances to the semi-final.

Despite the judges’ praise for Or Cohen’s ability to sing different styles of songs in each episode, that wasn’t enough to achieve a high score. With 75%, Or is a candidate for elimination.

Dor Shimon Vs Shai Tamino

A very Mediterranean-scented performance from Dor once again, but one that did not impress, as the judges said it was something they had seen before. With a score of 63% he is also a candidate for elimination.

Shai, on the other hand, gave an excellent performance and continues to improve with each episode. Despite this, the judges worry that she may not be suitable for Eurovision. With a score of 72%, she advances to the semi-finals.

Lian Biran Vs Eden Golan

Everyone in the studio is touched when Lian Biran sings a song about her mother. Sadly, she is a candidate to eliminate with a score of 82%.

Today, Eden Golan is demonstrating why she is the clear favorite to represent Israel in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. She gave it all and according to the judges, it was a Eurovision-worthy performance. She advances to the semi-final with a score of 94%.

The results

Among the three contestants who achieved the lowest score in their duets, the judges decided that Lian Biran should be eliminated from HaKokhav Haba.

Hence, we are down to five artists that will perform in the semi-final, aiming for the Israeli representation in Malmö:

  • Eden Golan
  • Dor Shimon
  • Shai Tamino
  • Mika Moshe
  • Or Cohen

The Final of HaKokhav Haba will take place on February 6.

Israel qualified for the finals every year from 2015 to 2020 through HaKokhav HaBa, and Netta won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 with the song “Toy”.

Israel was represented last year by Noa Kirel and the song “Unicorn”, which came in third place with 362 points overall.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: euromix

Bosnia Herzegovina: EBU demands a stable solution to BHRT’s financials!

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The EBU has asked the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to solve the funding problems of the public broadcaster, BHRT.

EBU Director General, Noel Curran, had recently reached out to both the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the country regarding BHRT’s financial problems.

Noel Curran had expressed his concern, on behalf of the EBU, about the serious issues threatening the future of BHRT – which is a member of the European Broadcasting Union.

In the letter, Curran states:

“We understand the complexity of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the long-standing difficulties that BHRT faces in collecting the funds that are due and belong to it. However, it is crucial that we can urgently find a long-term solution to its financing problems”

It goes on to say that public television plays an irreplaceable role in society, as it “promotes democratic debate, supports social cohesion and strengthens public spirit” in hard times.

“To fulfil this role, an adequate and stable budget is required. We are asking you to help find a sustainable solution to BHRT’s funding problems and protect its future. The laws passed by the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirm that the state is responsible for ensuring sustainable funding independently of the broadcaster”

Curran went on to state that the EBU stands ready to help settle BHRT’s funding issues “on a national level” and help find a solution to the complex funding situation, while the letter continues as follows:

“At a time when access to reliable news and information is crucial, we must do everything in our power to protect and preserve the work of public services like the BHRT, and I have confidence in your support on this matter”

Bosnian public broadcaster, BHRT, was previously in charge of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest up until 2016. The broadcaster had previously confirmed that they remained sanctioned by the EBU and would not participate in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

The European Broadcasting Union first placed sanctions on BHRT in December 2016 when the EBU cut off BHRT’s access to the Eurovision News Exchange. BHRT was then restricted access to events and has been unable to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2018.

In the past year, there has been discussion in the Bosnian Government that there would be reform to the public broadcasters’ funding, however, this has not materialised.

Bosnia and Herzegovina‘s last participation was in 2016, with Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner & Jala and “Ljubav Je“ placing 11th in their semi-final.

Source: BHRT

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding our favourite contest!

Italy 2024: Sanremo duets for cover night revealed!

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The “Duets Night” for the 2024 edition of the Sanremo festival will take place on February 09, 2024.  During this serata the audience will watch the competing acts performing a cover, usually in Italian or English although they can perform in other languages.

The competing acts for the 2024 edition will perform in duets with an invited artist for the cover night.  The result of the cover night will be decided by 34% of the public, 33% of the professional jury of journalists, and 33% of the professional jury of radio broadcaster formula.

Amadeus revealed the duets that will join the stage to perform during the cover night.  These are the acts we will see together in February:

  • Alessandra Amoroso with Boomdabash – Medley of their songs
  • Alfa with Roberto Vecchioni – “Sogna, ragazzo, sogna” (Dream, boy, dream)
  • Angelina Mango with the String Quartet of the Orchestra of Rome – “La rondine” (The swallow)
  • Annalisa with La Rappresentante di Lista and Artemia choir – “Sweet dreams (are made of this)”
  • BigMama with Gaia, La Niña and Sissi – “Lady Marmalade”
  • BNKR44 with Pino D’Angiò – “Ma quale idea” (What idea)
  • Clara with Ivana Spagna and the white voices choir of Teatro Regio of Turin – “Il cerchio della vita” (Circle of life)
  • Dargen D’Amico with BabelNova Orchestra – tribute to Ennio Morricone: “Modigliani” to the tune of “The crisis”
  • Diodato with Jack Savoretti – “Amore che vieni, amore che vai” (You, Love, who comes and who goes)
  • Emma with Bresh – Medley of Tiziano Ferro’s songs
  • Fiorella Mannoia with Francesco Gabbani – medley of “Che sia benedetta / Occidentali’s Karma” (Let it be blessed / Westerners’ karma)
  • Fred De Palma with Eiffel 65 – Medley of Eiffel 65’s greatest hits
  • Gazzelle and Fulminacci – “Notte prima degli esami” (Night before exams)
  • Geolier with Guè, Luchè and Gigi D’Alessio – Medley with the title “Strade” (Roads)
  • Ghali with Ratchopper – Medley with the title “Italiano vero” (True Italian)
  • Il Tre with Fabrizio Moro – Medley of Fabrizio Moro’s greatest hits
  • Il Volo with Stef Burns – “Who wants to live forever”
  • Irama with Riccardo Cocciante – “Quando finisce un amore” (When a love ends)
  • La Sad with Donatella Rettore – “Lamette” (Razors)
  • Loredana Bertè with Venerus – “Ragazzo mio” (My boy)
  • Mahmood with I Tenores di Bitti – “Com’è profondo il mare” (How deep is the sea)
  • Maninni with Ermal Meta – “Non mi avete fatto niente” (You haven’t done anything to me)
  • Mr. Rain with Gemelli Diversi – “Mary”
  • Negramaro with Malika Ayane – “La canzone del sole” (The song of the sun)
  • Renga & Nek – Medley of their greatest hits
  • Ricchi e Poveri with Paola & Chiara – medley of “Sarà perché ti amo / Mamma Maria” (It will be because I love you / Mother Maria)
  • Rose Villain with Gianna Nannini – medley
  • Sangiovanni with Aitana – medley of “Farfalle” and “Mariposas” (Butterflies)
  • Santi Francesi with Skin – “Hallelujah”
  • The Kolors with Umberto Tozzi – medley of Umberto Tozzi’s greatest hits

Which acts are you most waiting to watch performing as a duet?

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for more news about Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and the Sanremo 2024 Festival !

Source: RAI

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Ireland: “Doomsday Blue” is a potential Eurovision winner according to Johnny Logan!

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This Friday all eyes were on Ireland, which selected its Eurovision entry for 2024. On a special edition of “The Late Late Show” and following the combination of the votes from an international and a national jury along with the public vote, Bambie Thug was declared the winner and therefore the Irish representative in Malmö.

Although Ireland was a true Eurovision powerhouse in the past, dominated the 90’s with three consecutive wins and now shares the record for the most victories in the contest along with Sweden, nowadays it really seems to struggle when it comes to qualifying to the Grand Final. The risky choice of Bambie Thug and their song “Doomsday Blue” appears to be nicely welcomed by the Eurovision fandom, setting the bar high for a qualification and a potential return in the top ten for the first time since 2011.

Moreover, “Doomsday Blue” is praised inside Ireland too, with the two-times Eurovision winner Johnny Logan even predicting that:

They could win the Eurovision with this song.

On an interview he gave to Sunday World, Johnny Logan praises this year’s Irish entry, mentioning that:

I think it’s a very good choice and it will definitely get attention. What I saw last night is that it was eye-catching and different. The people who were watching obviously related to it and that’s why it was chosen.

The thing about Bambie Thug is that it works…it’s a very visual thing the way they presented themselves. It’s different enough to be eye-catching.

He also adds that:

If it doesn’t end up doing really well at Eurovision I will be quite surprised. I’ve always hoped that the Irish songs would do well over the last few years, but I never really felt that they would. This one I think has a really good chance. It just depends on the make up of the jury and the other songs that are in the contest.

According to Johnny Logan, the secret of Bambie Thug’s potential success is that they do not fall into the trap of trying to copy last edition’s winning song. Instead, they reserve their authenticity and originality and they remind nothing of Loreen.

I wish Bambie the very, very best at Eurovision and I would say to them to enjoy the experience.

Hence, the originality of Bambie Thug’s act is the key to success according to Johnny Logan. We can all agree that Logan’s opinion matters as all of his Eurovision involvements were successful, has won the contest twice as a singer and once as a composer for Linda Martin in 1992.

Bambie Thug will represent Ireland at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Malmö, Sweden. The semi-final in which Ireland will be allocated this year will be made public this Tuesday.

You can check out the interview Bambie Thug exclusively gave to EurovisionFun prior to her win in the national selection:

You can also take a look on EurovisionFun’s team reaction video to “Doomsday Blue“, below:

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: sundayworld

Anne-Marie David’s message on the return of the hostages from Hamas!

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Luxembourg’s 1973 Eurovision winner Anne-Marie David made a guest appearance at the Luxembourg Song Contest 2024, the Grand Duchy’s national final, for its return to the Eurovision, 30 years after its last entry. Anne-Marie David did not hesitate to express her support for the more than 100 kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas, who are still being held hostage in Gaza, wearing the yellow ribbon, a symbol for the return of captives and hostages, during the performance of the legendary now Tu Te Reconnaitras.

Thousands of Israelis now walk around every day wearing the yellow ribbon, an international symbol for the return of prisoners. The yellow ribbon is also used by thousands of protesters around the world, while it is tied to the balconies of many houses in Israel, as well as in the USA, as a message of hope and in favor of the return of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza since the terrorist attack on October 7 , which resulted in the deaths of 1,140 innocent civilians and the hostage taking of 240.

JCB Yellow Ribbon Campaign 2.jpg

At the moment when nauseating and inhumane comments are appearing on the internet and concern the Israeli origin of Tali, winner of the Luxembourg Song Contest and now representative of Luxembourg at Eurovision 2024, Anne Marie David discreetly but respectfully sends her own message and joins the struggle of all these families, but also of the official state of Israel, for the return of their loved ones, who for so many months remain unjustly, as hostages in the hands of Hamas, most likely to be used as human shields.

Watch Anne Marie David’s performance in the video below:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Luxembourg: Eurovisionfun Reacts to Eurovision 2024 Entry “Fighter”!

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Luxembourg came back to Eurovision Song Contest this year and they will have their representative perform in Malmö Arena in the hopes of winning the contest for the 6th time.

Their national final, called Luxembourg Song Contest 2024, just finished and the public has chosen TALI with the song “Fighter” to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 to be held in Malmö, Sweden!

The Eurovisionfun team once again watched and reacted to the live performance of the country’s entry for the upcoming Eurovision contest! Enjoy Stella, Katerina and Apostolis  in a Reaction video with detailed commentary on Luxembourg participation in Eurovision 2024!

What do you think of  Luxembourg’s participation this year? Let us know what you think in the comments!

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Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest developments regarding Eurovision 2024!