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The Netherlands: All the performances of “Eurovision in Concert 2023”!

Eurovision in Concert 2023 took place in AFAS Live in Amsterdam, last night, with 29 of this year’s entrants performing live.

The concert was hosted by Cornald Maas and Hila Noorzai. Cornald has been the Dutch Eurovision commentator since 2006. Hila is a radio DJ and member of the committee that selected this year’s Dutch representatives (Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper). She also hosted the Eurovision 2021 press conference in Rotterdam.

The artists that performed last night were the following:

Albania – Albina & Kelmendi Familija

Balcan sounds and consistent vocals is what we got from Albina and the Kelmendi Family! Might be the suprise entry of this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UKBP_v3BPY

Armenia – Brunette

Brunette singing about her Future Lover with ethereal vocals and the crowds singing along. Beautiful performance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KspC8I7MXl0

Australia – Voyager

Voyager give what they promise! Rock and electronic sounds, so 2025! What is concerning though, is that even though their song is supposed to be very uplifting, the crowd was too static. Also falsetto was not always on point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx73Q68eWwU

Austria – Teya & Salena

That’s not a song where you can show off some unreal vocals, however it’s the song that will definitely make you dance! And Teya & Salena deliver, solid vocals and much much fun! One of my personal favourites and if you ask me, a finalist and highly likely a Top5 entry!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdh6cFfcfKo

Azerbaijan – TuralTuranX

TuralTuranX “tell us more” about their entry this year, however I’m still not getting it. A song that I could listen to the radio without complaining, but wouldn’t catch my eye/ear at the contest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XiT0RvJPn0

Belgium – Gustaph

The queerest entry of the year! His vocals are as good as the studio version! He is a fun guy! This is the kind of entries that I would like to qualify, even though that’s not the style of songs that I normally listen to!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgx-CPHRx5A

Czechia – Vesna

I can only comment on their vocals. They were okay. However, this entry started off as a potential winner, but I’m not getting that vibe, at least not yet. But hey! It’s just a party performance! Let’s wait for their contest rehearsals!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CocNlkxpxdg

Denmark – Reiley

Danish heart-throb Reiley, had his best performance to date. Some minor vocal issues, but overall a nice performance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuT–QEIyag

Estonia – Alika

Nice song and great vocals! But for me, it’s no more than just that. I wouldn’t be surprised if Estonia got disqualified.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UKYFFFWjgU

Finland – Käärijä

Normally, that’s a song that I can’t stand listening to for more than 10 seconds. Strangely, combined to his eccentric looks and his super nice personality, I could now handle listening to his entire Amsterdam performance! Personal opinion aside, I can totally see why this is a contender for the win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0n_sNDiAo

France – La Zarra

Unfortunately, after a statement in her personal Twitter account, La Zarra announced that she has to cancel her appearance in Amsterdam, due to personal circumstances.

Germany – Lord of the Lost

I can’t be objective, I don’t like this style of music. I can only be objective about their vocal abilities, which are on point I must admit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmPSRnNpd0A

Iceland – Diljá

That’s a song that I would add to my daily playlist, however, this song lacks something that I still don’t know what it is! Diljá’s voice is great admitedly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjjsWy1R93k

Ireland – Wild Youth

Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall” x “Ritmo De La Noche” x “We Are One” would be a great mashup! I low-key like this song and I loved their Amsterdam performance. But something tells me that they will struggle to qualify this year. Let’s see what happens!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NY6OODALZU

Latvia – Sudden Lights

Another performance that sounds exactly like the recorded version of their song! I didn’t see the love from the AFAS Live crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1qFm5Wtkgg

Lithuania – Monika Linkytė

Monika definitely sounds even better than the studio version of the song. She will try to claim a high placement in the rankings of the jury voting in this year’s contest! In the beginning I didn’t quite like “Stay“, I can now say that I love her vocals on this track!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSO-3m9J1js

Malta – The Busker

They were not bad, not at all sounding bad live, but were they as good as it needs to be to qualify to the final show of Eurovision Song Contest? Song-wise I think not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIswu3YrrfU

Moldova – Pasha Parfeni

Despite the technical issues with his Madrid performance, Pasha, the Moldovan 2012 representative and returning artist of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, managed to pull off his performance. Great vocals and energy overall!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7LsW-dA_0U

Netherlands – Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper

It’s really sad to see my 2nd place to perform questionably in their own country’s party concert. Their vocals sound a bit off at times and as a duo their vocals don’t seem to connect on their live performance. I hope they fix it till their semi-final, I don’t want to see them become the shocking non-qualifier of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toUGDak3o1Y

Norway – Alessandra

Very much improved vocally, Alessandra, gets carried away by the strength of her song and her fans are absolutely loving it! The whistle note was so-so. She will improve, I am sure!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F97_a4eMpK0

Romania – Theodor Andrei

Theodor has a nice voice, but this song is totally “Off and On” so one would either like it or not. I don’t.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyin57pzpcc

San Marino – Piqued Jacks

Their are very very good vocally. Their lead vocalist sounds like Klaus Meine, frontman of Scorpions band. Their song is not at all bad after all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqne0dGawhQ

Slovenia – Joker Out

I simply love this band and this song! One of my favourites! I love how they sound in each and every appearance they make before the contest. I hope they continue delivering up until the Eurovision finals!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7brJYVqqgZc

Spain – Blanca Paloma

A blend of flamenco and modern sounds, bringing Spanish tradition to 2023. Her vocals are absolutely amazing. I just don’t get the hype around this entry, it is a great entry for Spain, but definitely not a top 3 entry as many fans are claiming over at social media!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ycUxy4l00M

Sweden – Loreen

Her vocals are out of this world! Another amazing performance of the former Eurovision 2012 winner and potential 2023 winner! And for those that claim that she sings with the assistance of an Auto-Tune device, I can assure you that even when she rehearsed in the corridors of Malmö Arena or Friends Arena during the Melodifestivalen season, she sounded exactly the same, or even better than the studio version! My winner for sure!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlBuzqzjnIk

Switzerland – Remo Forrer

I absolutely love his Amsterdam (and every single one of his) live performance! I can’t wait to see this song complete and staged and Remo joined by his four dancers! I think he will qualify! But let’s wait and see!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGsRTZ5sPcA

Ukraine – TVORCHI

I love TVORCHI and their song and their Amsterdam performance. They sounded really really good, I am a fan of their style of music, but I don’t see this entry winning. Let’s see another country winning this year!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOFkzKOkc_k

United Kingdom – Mae Muller

Come on, she doesn’t sound as atrocious as most of the Twitter people claim. And at least she enjoys it and the crowd loves her! I hope she will do much better in Liverpool!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EMepsNxZUU

 

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news about the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool!

Photo: EurovisionInConcert

Netherlands: Eurovision in Concert 2023 takes place tonight in Amsterdam!

Eurovision in Concert 2023 takes place in The Netherlands tonight , with 29 of this year’s entrants performing live.

The concert will be hosted by Cornald Maas and Hila Noorzai. Cornald has been the Dutch Eurovision commentator since 2006. Hila is a radio DJ and member of the committee that selected this year’s Dutch representatives (Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper). She also hosted the Eurovision 2021 press conference in Rotterdam.

The full line-up is as follows:

  1. Albania – Albina & Kelmendi Familija
  2. Armenia – Brunette
  3. Australia – Voyager
  4. Austria – Teya & Salena
  5. Azerbaijan – TuralTuranX
  6. Belgium – Gustaph
  7. Czechia – Vesna
  8. Denmark – Reiley
  9. Estonia – Alika
  10. Finland – Käärijä
  11. France – La Zarra
  12. Germany – Lord of the Lost
  13. Iceland – Diljá
  14. Ireland – Wild Youth
  15. Latvia – Sudden Lights
  16. Lithuania – Monika Linkytė
  17. Malta – The Busker
  18. Moldova – Pasha Parfeni
  19. The Netherlands – Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper
  20. Norway – Alessandra
  21. Romania – Theodor Andrei
  22. San Marino – Piqued Jacks
  23. Slovenia – Joker Out
  24. Spain – Blanca Paloma
  25. Sweden – Loreen
  26. Switzerland – Remo Forrer
  27. Ukraine – TVORCHI
  28. United Kingdom – Mae Muller

In addition, Katrina Leskanich (Eurovision 1997, UK, winner, “Love Shine a Light“) will  appear as a special guest.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news about the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool!

Sweden: 2824 songs submitted to Melodifestivalen 2023!

Today 16/9 was the last day of application for Melodifestivalen 2023. Through the contest’s official Instagram account, SVT confirmed that Melodifestivalen had accepted 2824 applications to participate in the show. Of the proposals submitted, only 14 will be selected through a professional jury, while another 14 will be selected by SVT and will directy participate at the semifinals.

Last year, around 2500 applications were submitted to the competition, which is about 300 fewer than this year. The list of participants will be published in November or December.

The dates of the shows are:

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

Source: SVT

Sweden: We could host Eurovision if Ukraine wins!

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra are the top favourites for the victory in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday.
But if the war continues, it could be difficult for Kiev or any other cities in the country to held the competition next year. Therefore, Stockholm is now offered as the host city, with the Globe, Avicii Arena, as a possible arena for another Eurovision.

The Finance Mayor’s Council has contacted the Ukrainian ambassador

Stockholm, which is twinned with Kiev, has already offered the Ukrainian capital to help arrange sporting events that can no longer be held in Kiev.

Anna König Jerlmyr, Stockholm’s Finance Mayor, reported:

“This is a way to continue to show our support. We are used to hosting Eurovision and we last did it in 2016. Feeling that this experience was successful, we are happy to volunteer,”

 

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Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the updates regarding Eurovision 2022!

Source: Aftonbladet

Eurovision 2022: Sweden’s Second Rehearsal!

Cornelia’s turn from Sweden with her song ‘Hold Me Closer’ to enter on the Eurovision stage. Cornelia’s staging has remained the same as it was in Melodifestivalen. The same circular projection screen prop was used, plus she wore the same outfit and was barefoot on stage. Her moves and the camerawork were intuitive, making it one hell of an intimate and intense performance. Will Sweden’s betting odds approach odds’ favourite Ukraine after the second rehearsal?

The Second Rehearsal

Cornelia has some technical issues during the start of her rehearsal.

The performance starts with a close shot on Cornelia and there isn’t much lighting, except from one yellow-orange in the back. In the first chorus we see the big green prop behind her. The rehearsal stops again halfway due to technical issues.

Cornelia tries for third time, but she complains again for technical issues while she sings, she keeps on performing.

The performance is the same as the Melodifestivalen with some boost. Cornelia struggles vocally at some parts towards the end.

At the end, the prop and the backround change into red colour.

In the next run-through, Cornelia seems very annoyed. She stops again.

In the last run-through, there is pyro and smoke added. Cornelia manages to sing the whole song without problems.

Overall, great performance, qualification isn’t in question here.

Watch the exclusive clip of the second rehearsal through the cameras:

EBU / ANDRES PUTTING

EBU / CORINNE CUMMING

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Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the updates regarding Eurovision 2022!

OGAE Poll 2022: The results from OGAE Romania!

The results for the OGAE Poll 2022 continue today, with OGAE Romania being the thirteenth to reveal the results of their members.

The results are as follows:

  • 1 point goes to Ukraine
  • 2 points go to the Netherlands
  • 3 points go to Norway
  • 4 points go to Croatia
  • 5 Points go to Austria
  • 6 points go to Italy
  • 7 points go to Sweden
  • 8 points go to Cyprus
  • 10 points go to Albania and..
  • 12 points go to Spain

Another 12 points for Sweden which now shortens the gap between Sweden and Italy, while seventeen countries have yet to receive a point.

The total scoreboard after the votes of 13 fan clubs is as follows:

Don’t forget to subscribe to EurovisionFun’s Youtube channel for exclusive news regarding Eurovision 2022!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the results of OGAE Poll 2022!

Soure: OGAE International

Christer Björkman: “Sweden’s victory would make me come back on producing Eurovision”!

Former Eurovision producer Christer Björkman has admitted that a Swedish victory in next month’s competition will tempt him to return to Europe.

Björkman is currently in the US producing the American Song Contest.

Speaking in an exclusive interview a few days after the second qualifying round of the American Song Contest, Björkman said that if Cornelia Jakobs  succeeds and wins this year’s Eurovision, he will be tempted to return as a producer.

You know what?  This shit is a poison. You can never get rid of it. Once you have it in your body it’s there to stay and you always have to fight it. It’s like an addiction. So would I be tempted? Yes, of course I would be tempted. I love to produce Eurovision. I’ve produced the contest five times and the full show twice so bring it on.

Björkman was a producer for the first time at Eurovision in 2013 , when the competition was hosted in Malmö after Loreen’s victory. He returned in 2016 when the competition was hosted in  Stockholm , Sweden.

Thoughts on Melfest without Christer Björkman

In addition to his Eurovision production experience, Björkman was also in charge of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen for two decades , one of the biggest national finals for the Eurovision Song Contest.

He left from his role as a producer in 2021 , where the competition was held without an audience due to the pandemic.

When he was asked about this year’s Melfest , he said:

I liked the mix of songs. I think it was a brilliant selection when we got to the final. It had a great variety. It had three songs in Swedish which was really good. It was not that they felt that they were there only because they were Swedish. They were actually very, very good. I think they did a really good job. They had some troubles along the way, especially with the voting but that’s technical. Shit happens. That would’ve happened even if I was there so there’s no judgement in that. I think it was good. I love the winner. I really do. I think she’s so good.

Source

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding Eurovision!

Sweden: Cornelia Jakobs performs symphonic version of “Hold Me Closer”!

Sweden’s representative for Eurovision 2022 Cornelia Jakobs performed a symphonic version of “Hold Me Closer”.

Last night during the  Hela Sverige Skramlar för Ukraina , a Swedish charity event for Ukraine, Cornelia presented a symphonic version of her participation in Eurovision 2022.

Cornelia will also perform “Hold Me Closer” tonight at the London Eurovision Party and next week at the Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam.

Who is Cornelia Jakobs?

Anna Cornelia Jakobsdotter Samuelsson, also known as Cornelia Jakobs, was born on 9th March 1992 in Stockholm, Sweden. The singer made her music debut in 2008 when she auditioned for Swedish Idol. Her career took off a few years later when she joined Love Generation. The girl group took part in Melodifestivalen 2011 and 2012, with their 2011 entry “Dance Alone” making the Swedish charts. Cornelia has written and composed numerous songs, including Efraim Leo’s Melodifestivalen 2021 song “Best of Me”.

Sweden will compete in 17th place in the second semifinal in May.

Source: eurovoix

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news about Sweden’s participation in Eurovision 2022!


Don’t forget to Vote in our poll! For the First Semi-final you vote HERE and for the Second Semi-final you vote HERE.

Sweden: The running order of the Final show of Melodifestivalen 2022 just got revealed!

SVT just announced the running order of the contestants that will have to compete with each other next Saturday, March 12, at the finals of Melodifestivalen 2022, claiming a ticket to Turin, at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. We remind you that the final show of the Swedish national selection process will take place once more at Friends Arena.

The running order is determined, each year, by the production team of Melodifestivalen, taking into consideration both the competing songs’ musical qualities as well as stage performance and other production considerations and can be seen below:

Final Show Running Order:

  • Klara Hammarström – “Run to the Hills
  • Theoz – “Som du vill”
  • Anna Bergendahl – “Higher Power
  • John Lundvik – “Änglavakt
  • Tone Sekelius – “My Way
  • Anders Bagge – “Bigger than the Universe
  • Robin Bengtsson – “Innocent Love
  • Faith Kakembo – “Freedom
  • Liamoo – “Bluffin
  • Cornelia Jakobs – “Hold Me Closer
  • Cazzi Opeia – “I Can’t Get Enough”
  • Medina – “In i dimman

Oscar Zia presents all the shows of Melodifestivalen 2022, while due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the shows for the national selection process that will represent Sweden in Turin this year, will be held exclusively in Stockholm!

Melodifestivalen 2022 final show will he held on the 12th of March, when we will get to know who will be selected as a representative for Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin!

The detailed schedule of Melodifestivalen 2022 is described below:

  • First Semi-Final on the 5th of February, at the Avicii Arena
  • Second Semi-Final on the 12th of February, at the Avicii Arena
  • Third Semi-Final on the 19th of February, at the Avicii Arena
  • Fourth Semi-Final on the 26th of February, at Friends Arena
  • Fifth Semi-Final on the 5th of March, at Friends Arena
  • The Final on the 12th of March, at Friends Arena

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun, for all the latest developments regarding Sweden’s entry for Eurovision 2022!

Sweden: SVT announces radical changes in the voting system, at Melodifestivalen 2022!

In less than two weeks from now, we will have the first Semi-Final of Melodifestivalen 2022 and the Swedish broadcaster SVT, literally, changes everything! Up to now, the most complicated voting system was the one of Sanremo. But not anymore! Melodifestivalen dethrones Sanremo, in terms of voting system complexity.

Anette Brattström came up with the idea of how the system could change and she reveals at Aftonbladet how the whole procedure will be from now on. The changes will entirely affect all the four semi-finals, the fifth second chance semi-final and the final show.

You can see below, in the simplest way possible, all the changes that will be implemented by SVT in the next shows of Melodifestivalen:

At the Semi-Finals

  • All seven contestants of each semi-final will perform their songs. The viewers can then vote by phone but also through the dedicated Melodifestivalen app for smart phones. Each viewer is able to give each song five hearts (votes) at the most or none.
  • After all seven performances, SVT will announce the artist that received the most votes (through the app and by phone), in total, irrespective of the viewer age-bands.
  • The remaining six contestants, move on to the second voting round. The voters can then give each of the remaining songs five hearts at the most, same way like the first voting round. At the second voting round, the votes received during the first voting round also count against the total of votes received.
  • The results of the second voting round are determined by the system of the eight age-bands: 3–9 years old, 10–15years old, 16–29years old, 30–44years old, 45–59years old, 60–74years old, 75 and above, as well as the televotes.
  • For the first time in the history of Melodifestivalen, we will know exactly how many votes each song has received (within the second voting round only) and SVT will display the results per age-band on screen, keeping the viewers engaged and thrilled throughout the show.
  • This practically means that the viewers will be able to see in realtime, the distribution of the votes and know who will come third, fourth and will advance to the second chance (fifth) semi-final and who will place fifth, sixth and seventh in the semi finals and will get disqualified.
  • The finalists are therefore determined with two ways: The one that will get most votes in total at the first voting round and the one that will get most votes within the different age-bands at the second voting round.
  • This means that nobody but SVT will know what were the actual results of the age-bands within the first voting round, because as we’ve mentioned above, at the first voting round the absolute number of votes counts and determines the winner and not how these votes are distributed within the different age-bands.
  • This means that now the winning performance of the two finalists will get deprecated, as the TV time now fills up with the announcement of the results.

Second Chance Semi-Final

  • The duels that took place the previous years also get deprecated.
  • On the 1st of March, an allocation draw will be broadcast, determining the two groups of four artists each (eight artists in total) that will compete at the second chance semi-final.
  • The two songs of each of the two groups that will receive the highest number of votes (based on the viewer age-bands) will advance to the finals.
  • In order to save up time, there will be no announcement of the voting results, during the second chance semi-final, but just an announcement of the artists that will advance to the finals.

Final

  • In the final show, the voting will be determined by the distribution of the votes in the viewer age-band system once more.
  • Each voter will have an allowance of five votes per song.
  • After the announcement of the results of the international jury votes, each viewer will be able to vote once more and again will be allocated with five votes per song.
  • The announcement of the viewers’ votes will be the same as the previous years and will be revealed in total, in all the viewer age-bands.
  • Following the show, the results will be announced by the Swedish broadcaster, in detail.

The Show

Oscar Zia will host Melodifestivalen 2022 and as previously reported, all the shows for the national selection procedure of the Swedish representative for this year’s contest in Turin will take place exclusively in Stockholm.

About a month ago, the contestants and running order of your favourite Swedish music festival were revealed by SVT. Despite the cancellation of the tour in five cities of the Scandinavian country this year, due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus, the schedule of all the shows (semi-finals and final) remains unchanged.

1st Semi-Final – February 5

  1. Malou Prytz – Bananas
  2. THEOZ – Som du vill
  3. Shirley Clamp – Let There Be Angels
  4. Omar Rudberg – Moving Like That
  5. Danne Stråhed – Hallaballoo
  6. Cornelia Jacobs – Hold Me Closer
  7. Robin Bengtsson – Innocent Love

2nd Semi-Final – February 12

  1. LIAMOO – Bluffin
  2. Niello & Lisa Ajax – Tror du att jag bryr mig
  3. Samira Manners – I Want To Be Loved
  4. Alvaro Estrella – Suave
  5. Browsing Collection – Face In The Crowd
  6. John Lundvik – Änglavakt
  7. Tone Sekelius – My Way

3rd Semi-Final – February 19 

  1. Cazzi Opeia – I Can’t Get Enough
  2. Lancelot – Lyckligt slut
  3. Lisa Miskovsky – Best To come
  4. Tribe Friday – Shut Me Up
  5. Faith Kakembo – Freedom
  6. Linda Bengtzing – Fyrfaldigt hurra!
  7. Anders Bagge – Bigger Than The Universe

4th Semi-Final – February 26

  1. Anna Bergendahl – Higher Power
  2. Lillasyster – Till Our Days Are Over
  3. Malin Christin – Synd om dig
  4. Tenori – La Stella
  5. MEDINA – In i dimman
  6. Angelino – The End
  7. Klara Hammarström – Run To The Hills

Τhe detailed program of Melodifestivalen 2022 is:

  • 1st Semi-Final – February 5
  • 2nd Semi-Final – February 12
  • 3rd Semi-Final – February 19
  • 4th Semi-Final – February 26
  • 5th Semi-Final – March 5
  • Final – March 12

What do you think of the new changes that SVT will implement, from this year and on, at Melodifestivalen? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Aftonbladet