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Luxembourg: These are the eight finalists of Luxembourg Song Contest!

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Luxembourg will return to the Eurovision Song Contest after thirty years of absence. The Duchy returns to the contest aiming to repeat its glorious Eurovision past, counting five wins, and is now ready to compete and win for one more time.

For its return, Luxembourg has decided to host a national final in order to select its Eurovision 2024 act. Following the closing of the submission window and the end of the “castings” stage, RTL underwent an evaluation process, coming down to a longlist of around 70 songs and 50 artists.

The selection of the finalists for the televised competition was then left to an international jury. The jury evaluated the longlisted artists after three days of auditions and has now reached a decision.

Today and via “Today Radio“, RTL announced the eight finalists of “Luxembourg Song Contest“.  Hence, the finalists of the Luxembourgish national selection for Eurovision 2024 are the following:

Joel Marques

He is a 25-year-old singer from Differdange and previously worked as a teacher.

This year he made it to the Battles of The Voice of Germany. On 8 December, he released his first single with the title “Stranger”.

Naomi Ayé

The student is only 15 years old, but has already made a name for herself as a singer, composer and pianist.

In 2020, she took part in the 7th season of “The Voice Kids” and reached the final in France with her interpretation of the Queen classic “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

In February 2022, the video “Turn My Back On Light”, co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, was released. In March 2022, the student, whose full name is Naomi Ayé Vajdovics Suárez, was a guest on the RTL show Live! Planet People.

EDSUN

Edson Pires Domingos, as he is known by his real name, already has a lot of experience in the music business, having released his first EP “N.O.” in 2015. In 2016, the video for his song “Apologee” won an award at the Luxembourg Music Awards.

In 2018, he released a new EP with the release of “You Are Not Just One Thing”. A good year, as he was also named Artist of the Year at the Luxembourg Music Awards. This was followed by a tour entitled “The Platonic Touch”.

In 2022, he released two singles: “Just Text” and “Carter”.

Krick

Christine Heitz, 26, works as a nurse. That hasn’t stopped her from already having several great moments in the world of music. In 2014, she founded the cover band “The Daydreamer”.

In 2017, she took part in the German version of “The Voice”. The following year, her first single “Face Cake” was released!

One Last Time

With a resolute pop-rock style, their first EP was released in 2022.

Here are the members of One Last Time:

  • Andrea Galleti – lead singer, 30 years old, works as an advertising agent
  • Jonathan Fersino – bass, 31 years old, works as advertising agent & sound engineer
  • Barbara Salvi – keyboard, 26 years old, works as a French teacher
  • Tom Sagramola – guitar, 34 years old, works as a civil servant
  • Alessandro Sorbelli (Lalo) – drums, 24 years old, is self-employed

TALI

Real name Tali Golergant, she’s an accomplished artist despite being only 23. She wrote her first single when she was 16. She also has a band which is currently on tour in New York.

She works as a music and singing teacher.

Angy & Rafa Ela
The duo consists of the 39 year-old Angy Sciacqua, a self-employed singer-songwriter and Rafaela Teixeira Fernandes, a 26 year-old who works for the state.

Angy took part in the 2013 edition of “The Voice Belgium” while Rafaela won “Luxembourg’s Next Popstar” in 2016, and subsequently won “Top Voice Luxembourg” in 2018.

CHAiLD

At 25, Adriano Lopes Da Silva is a singer and songwriter, who has been a musician for four years. He lives and works in Brussels, the world of electro-pop.

The international jury

As it was mentioned before, the Luxembourgish line-up was decided by a five-member international jury, ensuring the greatest possible neutrality in a small country as Luxembourg. The jury consisted of the following five members, strongly associated with Eurovision:

  • Christer Björkmann, who is a Swedish producer and TV host as well as a former Eurovision participant(Sweden 1992). Björkmann has also served as a Head of Delegation for Sweden, has produced the 2013 and 2016 editions of Eurovision Song Contest held in Sweden and the only and only to date American Song Contest.
  • Jan Bors, who has served as a Head of Delegation for Czechia.
  • Cesár Sampson, who has represented Austria in the 2018 edition of Εurovision and was crowned as the jury winner. Sampson will also play an active role in the Czech preselection this year, serving as an artistic director and the presenter of the national final.
  • Alex Panayi, who is also considered as a Eurovision expert. Panayi has represented Cyprus in Eurovision on two occasions, in 1995 and 2000. In recent years, he has served as a vocal coach for several Eurovision participants and was also the backing vocalist of the 2005 winner, Helena Paparizou.
  • Tali Eshkoli, which an Israeli television producer. Eshkoli has been the producer of the 2019 edition of Eurovision, has also contributed to the 2021 edition of the Miss Universe competition held in Israel and has served as a jury member in various Eurovision preselections.

The Luxembourgish national final

The Luxembourgish national final will take place on January 27, 2024 in a major live show broadcast on RTL Télé. Viewers will be able to vote for the person they want to see represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö. More details are expected soon.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all news!

Source: RTL

Luxembourg: How its representative for Malmö is chosen!

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Luxembourg is returning to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024 after 30 years. As such, the Duchy’s public broadcaster decision-makers have the difficult task ahead of them of finding the delegate and the song that will represent Luxembourg in Malmö.

Thus, the day before yesterday, Wednesday 22 November, the live auditions for the selection of Luxembourg’s representative at Eurovision 2024 started. These auditions will serve to select the finalists for the national final from which the artist representing the Duchy at the 68th edition of our favourite competition will emerge.

The auditions process

It has been more than three decades since Luxembourg, the small Western European duchy with five wins under its belt, last took part in the Eurovision Song Contest. As it goes without saying, the music industry has changed dramatically compared to the early 1990s.

This was the reason why Luxembourg’s public broadcaster, RTL, turned to a panel of five experts who will have the first and last word in choosing the finalists of the national final, as the expectations and interest of the people of the Duchy exceeded all expectations.

In total, 459 artists expressed their interest to participate in the process of selecting the Luxembourg representative in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Then there was the pre-selection stage from which RTL‘s decision-makers singled out some 70 songs and 50 artists to be judged by the international panel. All the artists are either Luxembourg citizens, residents or closely linked to the cultural scene of the Duchy.

Source:RTL/Steve Müller

As a reminder, the panel of five Eurovision experts in charge of selecting the finalists for the Luxembourg national final is made up of the following:

Christer Björkmann, who is a Swedish producer and TV presenter as well as a former Eurovision participant (Sweden 1992). Björkmann has also served as Head of Delegation for Sweden, has produced the Contest in 2013 and 2015, where it was hosted in Sweden, as well as the only American Song Contest to date in 2022.

Jan Bors, who has served as Head of Delegation for the Czech Republic.

Cesár Sampson, who has represented Austria at Eurovision in 2018, taking first place in the jury vote. Sampson will also play an active role in the Czech national selection this year, as artistic director and presenter of the national final.

Alex Panayi, who is considered a Eurovision expert. Panagi has represented Cyprus at Eurovision twice, in 1995 and 2000. In recent years, he has acted as Vocal Coach for many Eurovision entries and was also the vocal coach for Helena Paparizou in 2005.

Tali Eshkoli, who is an Israeli television producer. Eshkoli was a producer for Eurovision 2019, has also worked on the Miss Universe 2021 contest held in Israel and has been a jury member for national selections of various countries over the years.

Source: RTL/Steve Müller

Contestants’ impressions

The process has caught the attention of the Luxembourg media, as enthusiasm is widespread in the small Western European country for its return to Eurovision after 1993.

“It has without doubt shaken up the industry in Luxembourg,” says Edsun, one of the artists present at the Rockhal, where auditions started yesterday and will run until Friday. “It has given everyone a lot of hope as to what our country can accomplish and where we can take our music. No matter what happens, Eurovision will open doors for our artists and serve as a springboard.”

“The whole experience has been incredibly exciting,” explains Shirley from the Luxembourgish band The Spaceminers, who auditioned Wednesday. “For artists, Eurovision acts as an incomparable creative prompt and the way the process in Luxembourg has been, artists have not only been motivated to write and propose new songs but have also had the opportunity to work with renowned composers.”

Jury’s impressions

Relying on an international jury at this point is crucial in order to ensure impartiality in the selection process.

“The musical industry in Luxembourg is blossoming, but it is small, as is our country,” points out Eric Lehmann, the head of the Luxembourgish delegation to Eurovision.

“By bringing in international juries, none of which are familiar with our music scene or know any of the artists, we ensure that everyone gets the same attention and treatment. Furthermore, these experts bring invaluable knowhow to the table. They know what Eurovision requires. And let’s not forget that the Luxembourgish entry won’t be judged by anyone in Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest, but by the other countries, which is also why this outside view is important to us.”

The five jury members seem acutely aware of what’s at stake and are fully invested in finding the right song for Luxembourg.

“Luxembourg has such an incredible Eurovision heritage, and we’ve waited a very long time for a return – it’s important to work really hard on making it successful,” underlines Tali Eshkoli. “It’s not easy to find the best song, the best singer, and the best performance, but I need all three. We need an entry that can create that magical moment and a unique staging.”

Jan Bors is no less demanding: “I’m looking for perfection, for talent and for a great song of course. I’m looking for a Eurovision winner, not just a song that will qualify for the final. The song and the artist need to be an impeccable match.”

Meanwhile, for Alex Panayi, the most important thing is: “Originality and honesty! And you know it when you hear it. As a vocal coach I’m obviously also very attentive to the voice and what can be done to make it even better. When I listen to each song here, I also imagine what it would sound and look like on the Eurovision scene. There’s a lot to consider.”

How the act will look and sound in context is equally vital for César Sampson: “I’m looking for a song that translates well to Eurovision. It needs to be a hybrid, something that would work as well on television as it would in a stadium. So, a stageable song and a solid performer. I want to find a winner, someone who can fill a stage. You don’t need a specific music genre to succeed in Eurovision, and that’s the beauty of it. But you need a song with a vibrant range, with a ‘beat’ like in theatre.”

“As a group, our jury has very different starting points, but it makes a great dynamic,” concludes Christer Björkman. “For me, it’s important to find a song that can connect contemporary music with Luxembourg’s Eurovision legacy. What I’m looking for is a contemporary hit with a touch of Luxembourg, and I have no doubt that we will find a great selection of songs to fit the criteria for the national selection in January!”

The auditions continue until the beginning of December, when the list of candidates who will compete in the national final in Luxembourg will be announced. The Duchy’s national final will take place on 27 January and will give the people of Luxembourg the chance to choose the song and artist who will represent them at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö in May, 31 years after their last performance in 1993.

Will Luxembourg continue its successful run at Eurovision?Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: RTL

Luxembourg: The live auditions ahead of Eurovision 2024 have begun!

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Luxembourg is returning to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024 after 30 years. As such, the Duchy’s public broadcaster decision-makers have the difficult task ahead of them of finding the delegate and the song that will represent Luxembourg in Malmö.

Thus, yesterday, Wednesday 22 November, the live auditions for the selection of Luxembourg’s representative at Eurovision 2024 started. These auditions will serve to select the finalists for the national final from which the artist representing the Duchy at the 68th edition of our favourite competition will emerge.

Jury Committee

A panel of five people with experience of the Eurovision Song Contest has the first and last say in the selection of the artists who will compete in the national final in Luxembourg. This panel is made up of the following:

Christer Björkmann, who is a Swedish producer and TV presenter as well as a former Eurovision participant (Sweden 1992). Björkmann has also served as Head of Delegation for Sweden, has produced the Contest in 2013 and 2015, where it was hosted in Sweden, as well as the only American Song Contest to date in 2022.

Jan Bors, who has served as Head of Delegation for the Czech Republic.

Cesár Sampson, who has represented Austria at Eurovision in 2018, taking first place in the jury vote. Sampson will also play an active role in the Czech national selection this year, as artistic director and presenter of the national final.

Alex Panayi, who is considered a Eurovision expert. Panagi has represented Cyprus at Eurovision twice, in 1995 and 2000. In recent years, he has acted as Vocal Coach for many Eurovision entries and was also the vocal coach for Helena Paparizou in 2005.

Tali Eshkoli, who is an Israeli television producer. Eshkoli was a producer for Eurovision 2019, has also worked on the Miss Universe 2021 contest held in Israel and has been a jury member for national selections of various countries over the years.

Source: RTL/Steve Muller

The auditions

During these auditions, candidates have just ten minutes on stage to convince the jury that they are the right act to represent Luxembourg. Several performers struggled with anxiety, to the point where they had to restart the audition several times.

Speaking about the process, ESC producer and jury member Tali Eshkoli described the excitement as “huge”, while her colleague Christer Björkmann agreed that Luxembourg had waited too long to return to the competition. The jury now has a “big responsibility and a huge challenge” to find the right candidate and get the best possible performance from each artist who takes to the stage during the auditions.

Source: RTL/Steve Muller

The auditions continue until the beginning of December, when the list of candidates who will compete in the national final in Luxembourg will be announced. The Duchy’s national final will take place on 27 January and will give the people of Luxembourg the chance to choose the song and artist who will represent them at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö in May, 31 years after their last performance in 1993.

Will Luxembourg continue its successful run at Eurovision?Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: RTL

Czechia: Cesár Sampson will be the co-host of ESCZ 2024!

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In the latest episode of “The Euro Trip Podcast”, Kryštof Šámal the head of delegation of Czechia, revealing new info about the Czech national final, taking place in December 4.

Kryštof Šámal revealed that besides having Adam Misik return as a host, we will see Cesár Sampson as a co-host of the national final, for the first time in front of the public.

“It was very convenient to have him as part of our core team, plus [to] give him the opportunity to do the interviews and get to know the artists because he can give them advice. In the previous years he was helping us out of goodwill, this year we managed to officially hire César as part of our core team, at least for this initial phase of preparation. It’s already been a huge, huge help. I became friends with a lot of artists in the last three or four years, so I like to have somebody who is not involved in the Czech scene to correct my bias. We gave him huge power this year because we think the combination of our taste and bias, plus his outside perspective can make for a great selection this year.” 

He also stated that it’s highly possible we are going to see seven finalists, instead of five, as was the original plan:

“We might have more than five. It was very hard to select just five songs. I think we can have a very strong national selection this year, so we are thinking about maybe having a little bit more. We have most of them selected, but we still have one or two question marks for various reasons. If everything goes as planned, I think we will have seven. But there is also a possibility that we have six or five because, with two artists, we are still in the process of negotiation.” 

We remind you that the national final will take place on December 4 at the ROXY in Prague. You can watch ESCZ 2024 on the night of the final on the Eurovision YouTube channel at 19:30 CET.

More details about the participants will be announced soon. We will hear the songs for the first time on the day of the final.

The previous winners of ESCZ and Czechia’s representative in Eurovision 2023, were Vesna with their song “My Sister’s Crown” ending up in 10th place of the Grand Final:

https://youtu.be/ag8qxpvTTy0

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Czech participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Source: The Euro Trip Podcast

Luxembourg: The preselection’s final line-up will be decided by an international expert jury!

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Luxembourg’s return to Eurovision after thirty years of absence is expected to be epic. A national selection will be held in order to choose the next Luxembourgish act and the preparations are on fire. The preselection was open to

  • either singers who already had a maximum of three songs to submit
  • or singers who did not have a song but they would like to represent Luxembourg in Eurovision and would therefore be contacted via RTL with a team of songwriters.

Following the closing of the submission window for the first category and the finish of the “castings” stage for the second category, RTL underwent an evaluation process, coming down to a shortlist of around 70 songs and 50 artists.

Now, it is up to an international jury to decide the final line-up.

The international jury

The choice of an international jury was made in order to achieve the greatest possible neutrality in a small country as Luxembourg. Hence, this jury consists of the following five members, strongly associated with Eurovision:

Christer Björkmann, who is a Swedish producer and TV host as well as a former Eurovision participant(Sweden 1992). Björkmann has also served as a Head of Delegation for Sweden, has produced the 2013 and 2016 editions of Eurovision Song Contest held in Sweden and the only and only to date American Song Contest.

Jan Bors, who has served as a Head of Delegation for Czechia.

Cesár Sampson, who has represented Austria in the 2018 edition of Εurovision and was crowned as the jury winner. Sampson will also play an active role in the Czech preselection this year, serving as an artistic director and the presenter of the national final.

Alex Panayi, who is also considered as a Eurovision expertise. Panayi has represented Cyprus in Eurovision on two occasions, in 1995 and 2000. In recent years, he has served as a vocal coach for several Eurovision participants and was also the backing vocalist of the 2005 winner, Helena Paparizou.

Tali Eshkoli, which an Israeli television producer. Eshkoli has been the producer of the 2019 edition of Eurovision, has also contributed to the 2021 edition of the Miss Universe competition held in Israel and has served as a jury member in various Eurovision preselections.

What’s next for the Luxembourgish preselection?

The names of the finalists who have managed to convince the jury will be revealed at the beginning of December.

The Luxembourgish national final will take place on January 27, 2024 in a major live show broadcast on RTL Télé. Viewers will be able to vote for the person they want to see represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö.

The former Eurovision powerhouse will return to the contest after thirty years of absence. During its almost fourty years participation, Luxembourg was crowned as the winner five times in total.

Will Luxembourg mantain its glorious Eurovision course? Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all news!

Source: RTL

Czechia 2024: ESCZ final to be held in December!

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Czechia’s national final for Eurovision 2024 will take place in just one month.  The Final for ESCZ  will be held onn December 4 at the ROXY club in Prague.  However, Eurovision fans will join the Czech party worldwide.  You can watch the show on the night of the final on the Eurovision YouTube Channel at 19:30 CET.

Česká televize made the announcement and has revealed more details for this early national final.  For instance, one of the biggest highlights is that Austrian representative for Eurovision 2018, Cesar Sampson is part of the Czech team as their music advisor.  The Czech delegation is currently working with Sampson to finalize the selection process.  Only five acts will make it to the final.

According to the official statement by the Czech delegation, the competing songs will remain a secret for the audience until the night of the final where we will listen to them for the very first time.  The names of the ESCZ 2024 candidates will be revealed in the coming days.

Vesna represented Czechia in Liverpool this year.  The girl band ended in 10th position with their song My Sister Crown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag8qxpvTTy0&ab_channel=EurovisionSongContest

Source: ESCZ Official

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for more news about ESCZ 2024 and Czechia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024!

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Spain: Will Cesar Sampson compose Famous’ song for Eurovision Gala?

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Cesar Sampson the Austrian representative in the last Eurovision Song Contest, was asked from him fans, if he is interested in writing Famous’ song for the Eurovision Gala in Operacion Triunfo 2018 and as you will see in his answer did not rule it out … Read more