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Finland: New clues about the candidates of UMK 2025!

The countdown to the reveal of the artists who are going to participate in the 2025 Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), Finland’s national competition for the Eurovision Song Contest, continues. With five days left until the list of artists who will claim the representation of the country at Eurovision 2025 in Basel on 13, 15 and 17 May is revealed, the national broadcaster, Yle, has made a third cryptic post on Instagram. You can read more about the first two posts in the article below.

The third post entails new clues related to one of the artists who is going to compete in UMK 2025.

 

Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.

 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη UMK (@uudenmusiikinkilpailu)

  • Mary J. Blige: Mary Jane Blige is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and businesswoman. Her presence in the enigmatic post may indicate the style of the song, which may be in a similar style to Mary Jane Blige’s songs, or the artist’s profile may be similar to that of the American artist. Could it also indicate an artist from the United States? We’ll see.
  • Great Sphinx of Giza: The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most famous monuments in the world. The presence of the monument in the post has multiple interpretations. The Sphinx as an ancient mythological creature was known for its riddles/enigmas, so it may refer to the title of the song “Enigma”!?!?. The song could also make references to personalities of ancient Egypt, such as Cleopatra or a Pharaoh. Finally, it may indicate the artist’s relationship with Egypt themselves.
  • Colourful flowers: The presence of flowers hides various meanings and may be one of the messages of the song. If we can group the meanings then the flowers may indicate 1) love and romance, 2) hope and new beginnings, 3) futility and transience, 4) spirituality and purity, 5) sadness and farewell, 6) friendship and joy.
  • Husky: The Husky dog ​​breed fits the profile of northern countries like Finland. Among other things, the presence of a Husky dog ​​may indicate endurance and perseverance, freedom and independence, but also resilience in difficult situations and circumstances.
  • Water: Water is a dominant element in the geography of Finland. It is no coincidence that Finland has the title of “Land of a Thousand Lakes”. As a symbol, water symbolizes life and rebirth, purification and cleansing, emotions, transformation and change, but also destruction.

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the UMK 2025 artists are going to be revealed. From January 9 to January 17, 2025, each song and music video will be released one at a time. One month later, on February 8, UMK 2025 is scheduled to take place in Nokia Arena, in Tampere.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Countdown to UMK 2025: Clues about Finland’s national final candidates revealed

The countdown to the highly anticipated announcement of the artists competing in UMK 2025, Finland’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, has officially begun! With just six days left until the big reveal, Finland’s national broadcaster, Yle, has stirred excitement and speculation among fans by sharing two mysterious Instagram posts.

Packed with intriguing symbols and hints, the posts seem to offer glimpses into the styles and themes of this year’s entries. But what do these cryptic clues really mean?

First post 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by UMK (@uudenmusiikinkilpailu)

  • Route 66: This iconic American highway could hint at a song with country, rock, or road-trip vibes. It might also point to an artist with U.S. connections or a theme centered around freedom and adventure.
  • Vintage Printer: The image of a man working at a printing press could symbolize an artist with a retro or classic style. It might also allude to meaningful lyrics or a song with historical depth.
  • Judge’s Gavel: This symbol could represent a song tackling themes of justice, power, or societal issues. Alternatively, it might suggest an artist with a bold and commanding presence.
  • Butterfly or Moth: Often associated with transformation, this insect might point to a song with an atmospheric or moody tone, or one that breaks new creative ground.
  • Traditional Wooden Tool (Planer): This could hint at an artist with a connection to traditional music, showcasing authenticity.
  • Iceberg: A nod to Finland’s cold climate, or perhaps a metaphor for something deeper—hidden emotions or layers to be discovered in the music.
  • Korkeavuorenkatu Street Sign: This Helsinki street sign could suggest a local artist or a cultural reference rooted in Finnish heritage.

Second post

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by UMK (@uudenmusiikinkilpailu)

  • Doves: A symbol of peace and harmony, these birds might suggest a song with a unifying or uplifting message.
  • Pickle: A playful and humorous touch, possibly pointing to a lighthearted or troll entry—something UMK fans have come to love.
  • Dinosaur: Likely tied to a comedic or quirky act, this could hint at an entry that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
  • Planet Jupiter: Representing grandeur and epicness, this could signal a futuristic or cosmic-themed performance.
  • Diamond: A symbol of brilliance and uniqueness, perhaps hinting at a standout artist or a song with powerful energy.
  • Red Curtains: Suggesting drama and theatricality, this could point to an entry with a visually striking and performance-heavy concept.

What to expect next?

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the UMK 2025 artists will be revealed. From January 9 to January 17, 2025, each song and music video will be released one at a time. A month later the final will be broadcasted live from Nokia Arena in Tampere.

Windows95man won last year’s edition of UMK and therefore represented Finland in Malmö with “No Rules“. The country placed nineteenth overall with thirty-eight points.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates on Eurovision 2025!


Source: @uudenmusiikinkilpailu/ Instagram 

 

Serbia: One disqualification from Pesma za Evroviziju 2025!

A few hours before the end of 2024, last-minute developments come to us from Serbia regarding the national competition Pesma za Evroviziju through which the country is going to select its participation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which is scheduled to take place in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 15 and 17, 2025.

According to the country’s national broadcaster, RTS, the band Buč Kesidi was disqualified from the Pesma za Evroviziju 2025 as their song “Tužne ljubavi” had been performed at the Sea Star Festival in the city of Umag, Croatia in May 2024. The void of this exclusion will be filled by the band Maršali with the song “Po policama sećanja”.

The updated list of the 30 contestants of Pesma za Evroviziju 2025 is as per below:

  • Maršali – Po policama sećanja
  • Igor Simić – Ne mogu
  • Tropico band – AI
  • Tam – Durum durum
  • Džet Vega – Rolerkoster
  • Mila – Gaia
  • Dušan Kurtić – Boginja
  • Harem Girls – Aladin
  • Mimi Mercedez – Turbo žurka
  • Dram – Vanja
  • Ivana Štrbac – La La La
  • Milan Nikolić i banda – Storia del amor
  • Bojana x David – Šesto čulo
  • Iskaz – Trendseter
  • Tanja Banjanin – Ja sam bolja
  • Princ – Mila
  • Biber – Da mi se vratiš
  • Nataša Kojić – Up and Down
  • Kruz Roudi – Sve i odmah
  • SEDLAR – Oči boje zemlje
  • Jelena Pajić – Kameleon
  • Nikola Antonijević Anton – U grad
  • AltCtrl – Mamurna jutra
  • Filarri – Meet and Greet
  • GIFTS & ROSES – Do kraja vremena
  • Maja Nikolić – Žali srce moje
  • Ohajo – MaMa
  • Ana & The Changes – Brinem
  • Vukayla – MASK
  • Vampiri – Tebi treba neko kao ja

We remind you that Pesma za Evroviziju consists of two Semi-Finals and a Grand Final. The dates of the Semi-Finals and the Final are:

  • First Semi-Final – 25 February
  • Second Semi-Final – 27 February
  • Final – 1 March

Source: RTS

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Israel: The song for Eurovision 2025 to be selected by a professional committee!

Israel‘s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, to be performed by the winner of HaKokhav Haba, will be selected by a committee of professionals on behalf of the national broadcaster IPBC and Keshet 12. Song submissions will be open to distinguished artists who will receive an invitation from the committee of professionals.

IPBC and Keshet 12 have begun contacting 120 artists from all genres of Israeli music, selected by a professional committee, to propose songs to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel. The submission process will be open until February 2, 2025.

The IPBC stressed to the creators that the song for the Eurovision Song Contest can be in any language, but it must contain some sentences in Hebrew. An applicant creator will be allowed to submit a song alone or with other artists, but all but one of the creators must have Israeli citizenship.

The jury, which will consist of professionals from IPBC and Keshet, who have musical and television knowledge and experience, will then meet. The jury is expected to listen to the songs and select the most suitable one.

The selected song will be arranged, recorded and a video clip will be created in order to be presented in March 2025 in a special televised show.

The return of the “Hurricane” team

Two of the creators of this year’s Israeli entry “Hurricane”, performed by Eden Golan last May at Eurovision 2024, are set to participate in the song submission process for Eurovision 2025. These two members of the “Hurricane” team are Keren Peles and Avi Ohayon.

https://youtu.be/K60BWlEhtAA

The professional committee

The special professional committee will consist of 7 members:

  • The chairman of the committee – the director of the IPBC music stations.
  • Two representatives of the radio – music editors to be selected by the chairman of the committee.
  • Two representatives of the television – the director of the IPBC entertainment and culture department and one more representative to be selected by her.
  • Two representatives of Keshet.

The vote of each member of the committee will be in accordance with professional criteria, such as: the quality and originality of the lyrics and melody, the suitability of the song for the representative artist, the suitability of the song for the Eurovision Song Contest, the chances of the song succeeding in the Eurovision Song Contest, the suitability for representing the company as a public broadcaster, the overall impression the song leaves and other relevant criteria as decided by the jury. The proposed songs will be played and their lyrics will be presented to the committee anonymously, without revealing the identity of the song creators to the jury members. Creators participating in the selection process for the Israeli song will not be able to participate in writting/comppsing a song for another country for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

According to the regulations, if the committee does not find a suitable song, it may publish an invitation to the general public for additional songs, select a song that was publicly published after September 1, or select a song from other songs submitted to the company for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest between the years 2022-2024.

Sources: euromix / euromix

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Spain: Betting Odds for Benidorm Fest 2025

As Eurovision 2025 approaches, excitement is building in Spain as the country prepares for its national final, Benidorm Fest. With a lineup of talented artists vying for the chance to represent their country on the global stage, betting odds from EurovisionWorld provide an early glimpse into who could claim the ticket to Basel. Here’s an in-depth look at the current frontrunners and contenders.

The Favorites

Lachispa (25%) and Melody (23%) are clear frontrunners, jointly commanding nearly half of the winning probability (48%). Their odds, 1.8 and 1.9 respectively, suggest a tight race at the top.

The Contenders

Trailing the leaders, J Kbello (9%) and Carla Frigo (8%) emerge as the next tier of competitors. While their winning chances are notably lower, their odds (5.0 and 5.5) indicate they could still pose a threat if their performances resonate with the audience.

The Dark Horses

Three acts — Daniela Blasco, DeTeresa, and Sonia & Selena — each hold a 6% chance of winning, with odds of 8.0. Though less likely to secure victory, their placement in the mid-tier suggests potential for surprises.

The Outsiders

Further down the list, Celine Van Heel and K!ngdom (3% each, 15.0 odds) are seen as long shots, while acts like Chica Sobresalto, Mel Ömana, David Afonso, and Henry Semler (2% each, 18.0-25.0 odds) face an uphill battle.

The Long Shots

At the bottom, Kuve, Lucas Bun, and Mawot each hold a mere 1% chance of winning, with odds between 30.0 and 50.0. While their chances appear slim, surprises are always possible in live events.

You can listen to Benidorm Fest 2025 songs below:

 

Benidorm Fest 2025

As in previous years, Benidorm Fest will consist of two semi-finals and a Grand Final. Throughout each phase of the contest, results will be determined by a 50% expert jury, 25% demoscopic jury, and 25% public vote.

The two semi-finals will air on January 28 and January 30, featuring eight entries, with four advancing to the final from each. The Grand Final will take place on February 1, with eight songs vying for the honour of representing Spain.

The winners of last year’s Benidorm Fest and Spain’s representatives in Eurovision 2024 were Nebulossa with the song “Zorra” who ended up in 22nd place.

Who is your favorite to represent Spain in Eurovision 2025?


Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the Eurovision 2025 developments!


Source: Eurovision World 

Iceland: The first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2025 on 8th of February 2025!

The national broadcaster of Iceland, RÚV, through its television programme which is avaialble on its official website, seems to have set the date of at least the first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin, the national song contest through which the nation of fire and ice chooses its representative at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The information on the national song contest of Iceland for the upcoming Eurovision 2025 seems to be released in dribbles. Without any official update/announcement from RÚV, anyone who looks at the television schedule available on its website will find that the date for at least the first semi-final has been set for Saturday, February 8, 2025.

Regarding the second semi-final and the final of Söngvakeppnin, there is no information yet, but based on the way the Icelandic competition is conducted, they will most likely be held on Saturdays, February 15 and 22, respectively.

Regarding the artists who will compete for the Icelandic representation, as we mentioned in a previous article (here), the announcement is scheduled for Friday, January 17, 2025 at 20:40 CET through the special broadcast “Lögin í Söngvakeppninni 2025”. And this information was only made known through a search in the broadcaster’s television schedule.

This year, Hera Björk represented Iceland for the second time with the song “Scared of Heights”, but this time the land of fire and ice did not manage to reach the grand final as it finished in the 15th place of the first semi-final with 3 points.

https://youtu.be/VChBgcycVl8

Source: RÚV

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Israel: All the highlights from the eighteenth episode of HaKokhav Haba!

Last Saturday, December 21, the 18th episode of HaKokhav Haba, the song contest through which Israel will select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which will take place in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 15 and 17, 2025, was broadcast.

The next phase of HaKokhav Haba began with 18 contestants, which is the duet phase. Five duets competed in this episode, where one of the contestants left the competition at the end of the competition process.

Hosts and Judging Panel

Returning to host the show are Rotem Sela and Assi Azar. Azar has been involved with HaKokhav Haba since its inaugural edition in 2013 and previously hosted the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Sela joined as a host in the second season and has been a presenter ever since.

The judging panel for this season includes a diverse group of music industry veterans:

    • Assaf Amdursky
    • Keren Peles
    • Shiri Maimon
    • Eden Hason
    • Ran Danker
    • Itay Levi

The duets

Keller and Nati Levian

Keller and Nati performed Rihanna’s “Stay.” All judges gave this first couple a positive vote, reaching 94%, thus setting the bar very high for the other four couples.

Udi Schneider and Yuval Gold

Udi and Yuval performed Osher Cohen’s “Love.” Two (Assaf and Itay) of the six judges voted against it, resulting in a score of 68%.

Red Band feat. Moran Aharonia and Amit Sadeh

Red Band and Moran Aharonia with Amit Sadeh performed “I See Red” by Everybody Loves An Outlaw. All members of the jury voted in favor, and this duet reached 91%.

Uri Saban and Ilai Avidani

Uri Saban and Ilai Avidani performed Moshe Peretz’s “Signs of Time.” Two (Assaf and Keren) voted against the duet’s performance, narrowing it down to 63%.

Valerie Hamati and Daniel Weiss

Valerie Hamati and Daniel Weiss performed Israel’s entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, “Hurricane” by Eden Golan. All members of the jury voted in favor, and the pair reached 95%, securing their place in the next stage of the contest.

At the end of the competition, the duet of Uri Saban and Ilai Avidani had the lowest percentage, 63%, and the judges decided that Uri Saban’s journey ended here.

Last year’s winner of HaKokhav Haba and thus the country’s representative at Eurovision 2024 was Eden Golan. Eden Golan, with her song “Hurricane”, finished in fifth place in the final ranking.

Source: euromix

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Denmark: More details on Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2025!

Additional information has been made available regarding the selection of the eight contestants for the 2025 Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, Denmark’s national competition through which the country selects its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest!

In an interview, Erik Struve Hansen, DR’s (the public broadcaster) director for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2025, spoke about how the broadcaster selected the eight contestants, their ambitions for Eurovision, and how they handle the psychological pressure of participating in such a big event as Eurovision. He also added relevant details about the participants, the genres of the songs, and their creation for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2025.

When asked about the songs, Hansen stated that there was more attention to variety and diversity in order to achieve a good result at Eurovision 2025.

“I am super satisfied. We have an absolutely amazing field of songs! I will be proud to take each and every one of them to Switzerland, and believe that every one can get us to the final. We have looked at how we can optimize the songs so that they both do well in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and have potential in Eurovision.”

The artists and their songs will be revealed and released at a press conference on February 6, but Hansen has given some clues. All eight artists and songs have already been selected by DR, and they include a song in Danish, a former Danish Eurovision representative, and a song described as “the biggest ballad.”

Many songs were created in three different camps with songwriters from Denmark, Sweden and Norway, while others came from the open selection (DR’s upload database). In general, the songwriters and producers have a large list of hits outside of Eurovision, both in Denmark and abroad. Hansen also explained that this year, DR had the first choice of songs and did not have to look for entries that were not selected in other countries’ national selections.

In terms of genres, Hansen explained that DR tried to select both songs that represent the classic Eurovision style and new global genres that have never been included in the DMGP.

The voting model will remain the same as last year, with public voting and a jury consisting of music experts including international representatives and Danish Eurovision experts. Ole Tøpholm will be responsible for the careful selection of the jury members.

Finally, Hansen hopes for a place in the top 10 at the final of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest and dreams of a victory. However, he knows that performing on the international stage is not always easy. That is why DR is also focusing on preparing the Danish winner for the mental pressure of Eurovision, with psychological support and press advice.

The Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2025 will take place at Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, on Saturday 1 March 2025.

Source: Good Evening Europe

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Portugal: The semi-finals distribution of the composers of Festival da Canção 2025!

The semi-finals distribution of the composers of Festival da Canção 2025 was announced!

The national broadcaster of the country, RTP, announced the distribution of the 20 composers in the two semi-finals of Festival da Canção for the 2025 edition, the national song contest through which Portugal chooses its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest!

The distribution of the composers is as per below:

First Semi-Final

  1. Margarida Campelo
  2. JOSH
  3. Capital da Bulgária
  4. Xico Gaiato
  5. Jéssica Pina
  6. Beato
  7. Bluay
  8. Marco Rodrigues
  9. Tiago Sampaio
  10. Peculiar

Second Semi-Final

  1. A Cantadeira
  2. Luca Argel
  3. HENKA
  4. Diana Vilarinho
  5. Inês Marques Lucas
  6. EU.CLIDES
  7. Bombazine
  8. Napa
  9. Emmy Curl
  10. Fernando Daniel

Festival da Canção 2025 Dates

Festival da Canção 2025 will follow a familiar format, with two semi-finals leading to the Grand Final. The dates are as follows:

  • First Semi-Final: February 22, 2025
  • Second Semi-Final: March 1, 2025
  • Grand Final: March 8, 2025

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Eurovision 2025: Changes to semi-finals voting procedure and qualifiers announcement

Speaking on The Euro Trip Podcast, Executive Producers Moritz Stadler and Reto Peritz revealed that exciting updates are being planned for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. Hosted by Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR for the first time in 35 years, the event will aim to make the Semi-Finals more engaging for viewers.

The team is rethinking how voting results are revealed in the Semi-Finals. Peritz explained:

“The Grand Final voting is full of emotion, but the Semi-Finals aren’t as exciting. We’re brainstorming ways to make the results more engaging.”

In 2023, the BBC tried a new format where contestants stood on stage to hear if they qualified, but the idea was dropped after a trial run. While Peritz didn’t share details, the Swiss team plans to bring fresh ideas to the process.

The length of the Grand Final is another focus. Recent shows have run over four hours, which SRG SSR sees as the maximum limit.

“At some point, it’s just too long,” Stadler said. “We won’t make it longer in 2025, but we’re looking at ways to streamline it.”

While some parts of the show, like interval acts, could be shortened, other elements are essential and can’t be cut. Stadler emphasized the importance of balance and small adjustments.

More updates about the 2025 contest are expected soon. Peritz revealed that the hosts will be announced in January, and the creative team, led by Yves Schifferle, is working on interval acts for the live shows in May. Details about special guests are yet to be revealed.

What do you think about these potential changes?


Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on Eurovision 2025!


Source: The Eurotrip Podcast