The Albanian national selection 'Festivali i Këngës' came yesterday with a spectacular national final and a big live orchestra in the Palace of Congress in Tirana to an end. The lucky winner from this years 53rd edition of 'Festivali i Këngës' is Elhaida Dani with her powerful song 'Të kërkoj'.
Elhaida Dani - 'Të kërkoj' (Live @ Festivali i Këngës)
After three hours the professional jury started to give their votes and here you can see the end result with Elhaida as winner. Bojken Lako Band came second and Lindita Halimi reached third place.
Elhaida participated 2013 in The Voice of Italy and won the competition with 71% of the votes.
Last years winner Hersi Matmuja performed in the national selection her Eurovision entry in Albanian language. Some weeks later it was decided to record the song in english for the big Eurovision stage, but she failed to qualify to the grand final. Will Elhaida record her song also as international version in English?
Elhaida will perform in one of the Semi-Finals on 19th or 21st of May in Vienna. Find out more about Elhaida Dani and follow her:
Tonight the fourth audition from the 'Eurovision Song Project' took place and brought two more qualifieres for the Eurochallenge show on 18th of January 2015.
Eurovision Song Project - Result Show 4 (28.12.2014) (Qulifiers in bold)
Lucy Sofroniou - Lonely
Groove Therapy - #Is This Real Life
Nikos Trikkis - Eimai Edo
Minus One - Shine
Kostas Karaiskos - Rainbow
Nelena Paparisva - Run Run Run
Konstantinos Michailoudi - Stand Up
Giannis Karagiannis - One Thing I Should Have Done
The Knockouts - Real You
Stella Stilianou - Thelo Na Gino Oranos
If you wann know who else is already qualified - find out here:
Fuad Backović, better known as Deen, represented 2004 Bosnia & Herzegovina with 'In The Disco'. As special Christmas Gift to his fans he shared the EP 'Rane Manje Bole' for free! You can download here:
These two songs is for him the best way to wish 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' :-)
"There is no better way to wish you happy holidays and all the best in the new year with a free mini EP "Rane Manje Bole" with two bonus tracks enough and I know well and love me urgently! And from next year, expect a lot of new things .." it was written on his Facebook page.
Deen reached 9th place 2004 in the grand final from the Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul with 91 points. Do you remember his Eurovision entry?
In the last two days 18 finalists were chosen in Albania for the 53rd 'Festivali i Këngës'. Tonight is the national final from the contest. The winner will represent Albania next year at the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna.
The show starts at 8:45 pm (cet) and you can watch the show on live stream:
Albania will perform in one of the Semi-Finals on 19th or 21st of May 2015 in Vienna. Who should represent Albania next year at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna?
More about 'Festivali i Këngës' you can find here:
Yesterday the national final 'Eurofest 2015' from Belarus took place in Minsk with a 15 contestant line-up. Olga Ryzhikova and Denis Dudinskiy hosted the show. After the jury votes the winner of the evening was called Uzari & Maimuna with their song 'Time'.
Top 3 after the televotes:
Muzzart
Milki
Uzari & Maimuna
As the jury gave their votes everything was changed and Uzari & Maimuna won the 'Eurofest 2015' in Minsk with 76 points.
If you missed yesterday the national final from Belarus, you can watch it here:
On their Facebook page they said 'THANK YOU' for all the support:
WINNING!! INCREDIBLE FEELINGS, BEYOND BELIEF!! THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL THOSE WHO WERE WITH US AND SUPPORTED US!
'Time' is the first collaboration between Uzari and Maimuna. Both will represent Belarus next year in Vienna at the Eurovision Song Contest. They will perform in one of the Semi-Finals on 19th or 21st of May 2015.
Find out more about Uzari & Maimuna and follow them:
Albania will find their representative for the 60th Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna on 28th of December. The winner of53rd edition of 'Festivali i Këngës' will get the honour to sing for Albania. Here is the starting order for tonights second Semi-Final.
The show starts at 8:45 pm (cet) and you can watch the show on live stream:
The Albanian national final will take place on 28th of December 2014 in the Palace of Congress in Tirana. Who should represent Albania next year at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna?
More about 'Festivali i Këngës' you can find here:
'THE VOICE BELGIQUE' contestant Loïc Nottet will represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest next year in Vienna.
On 22nd of December Loïc did a showcase for 'Viva For Life' and after that he spoke about his Eurovision entry. Loïc will sing in English and he is still working on the song. It's planed that RTBF, broadcaster Belgium, will held a press conference in the middle of January to announce more details.
The national final 'Eurofest 2015' from Belarus will take place tonight in Minsk. 15 hopefuls will perform their possbile Eurovision entry. Here is tonights starting order:
Teo won last year the national selection and represented Belarus this year in Copenhagen with 'Cheescake'. Who should represent Bealrus next year in Vienna? Find out tonight!
Belarus will perform in one of the Semi-Finals on 19th or 21st of May 2014.
Albania will find their representative for the 60th Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna on 28th of December. The winner of53rd edition of 'Festivali i Këngës' will get the honour to sing for Albania. Here is the starting order for tonights first Semi-Final.
The Albanian national final will take place on 28th of December 2014 in the Palace of Congress in Tirana. Who should represent Albania next year at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna?
More about 'Festivali i Këngës' you can find here:
Three month ago the Maltese family band Firelight released their first album 'Backdrop Of Live', which includes 11 wonderful tracks. Earlier this month they released the perfect sound for the christmas season 2014 - the brand new single 'Christmas Day'.
Firelight - 'Christmas Day' (Release: 03.12.2014)
Support Firelight and buy the single on iTunes or listen 'Christmas Day' on Spotify:
GPB, broadcaster from Georgia, called out earlier this month for contestants to send their songs for the national selection 2015. Deadline was 20th of December. Now GPB announced 5 hopefuls for the National Final wich will take place on 14th of January 2015.
Misha Sulukhia
Nina Sublati
Eter Beriashvili
Niutone
Edvard Meison
National Selection - Show date
31.12.2014 - Song presentation
14.01.2015 - National Final
The Voting:
It will be a combination of jury voting and from the audience (50 / 50).
Belarus will find their representative for Vienna in this years national selection 'Eurofest 2015' on 26th of December. The rehearsals are on 24th and 25th of December. Olga Ryzhikova and Denis Dudinskiy are the hosts of the show.
As you can see the biggest promotion for the contestants from Belarus is for the band MILKI. Former Eurovision Song Contest winner Alexander Rybak (ESC 2009 with 'Fairytale') wrote thing party song and casted the band in the last months. Here you can see a fan supporting video for this girl group:
"My accent is the same" - (International Fans of MILKI)
That's a very cool idea to promote a song for the national selection. How big are the chances from the girls? Let's find out in 3 days :) Good luck to all the contestants!
You can follow the show live on 26th of December 2015:
Now the number of the competing countries for the 60th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is official confirmed! 39 countries will wave their flags in Vienna.
'Buidling Bridges' in Vienna with these countries:
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
FYR Macedonia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
After a record of 42 participating countries in 2012 in Baku we had only 37 countries on Eurovision stage in Copenhagen this year. The EBU managed to bring three countries (Czech Republic, Cyprus, Serbia) back to the contest.
“Throughout the year, we are in close dialogue with a number of the broadcasters, for example to work with them to strengthen the brand in their country, or to show them the potential in taking part in the contest,” says Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the contest on behalf of EBU/EUROVISION.
“ORF has been a great partner in helping to achieve exactly that,” he continued.
Who will participate in which Semi-Final?
The EBU has also decided that 16 countries will perform in the first Semi-Final on 19th of May and 17 countries in the second Semi-Final on 19th of May. On 26th of January we will find out which countries will perform in the first or in the second Semi-Final. You can fallow the draw on eurovision.tv
Yesterday the third audition from the 'Eurovision Song Project' brought four more qualifieres for the Eurochallenge show on 18th of January 2015. Here you can see the line-up from the first 3 auditions, which took place in the last three weeks.
Eurovision Song Project - Result Show 3 (21.12.2014) (Qulifiers in bold)
Eleni Irakleous – Dawn
Eleonora – Heaven On Earth
Anastasia Liberos – Unicorn
Doody – Magic
Evagoras Evagorou – Horevo Mambo
Charis Savva & Nearchos Evaggelou – Dila Den Agapo
Christina Papaioannou – You Can’t Stop Love
Lady Ava – The Key Is Love
Stalo Patsia ft. DJ Kypros Karaviotis & Marios Christoforou – My Aura Is Bright
Christos Rialas – Mine
If you missed the show, you can watch it on youtube:
Axel Hirsoux & Camille - 'Because You Need Me' (Release: 01.12.2014)
Axel Hirsoux recorded a duet single called 'Because You Need Me' with Camille. He premiered the new song as solo version on 22nd of November at this years ECGermany (Eurovision Club Germany) 'Club Event 2014' in Cologne.
Besides this premier he performed a lot of well known french Eurovision entries and of course he sung his wonderfull Eurovision entry from this year - 'Mother'. The very gentle Belgium guy proved his musical skills and surprised the Eurovision audience in Cologne. He got not only once standing ovations for his outstanding voice. More about the 'ECG Club Event 2014' and a exclusive interview we did there with him will follow soon, stay tuned...
You can download 'Because You Need Me' on iTunes and you can listen the song on Spotify:
Some weeks ago he premiered the same song with his Eurovision friend Suzy (she represented Portugal this year in Copenhagen with 'Quero ser tua'). If you missed this version - watch it here:
Axel Hirsoux & Suzy - 'Because You Need Me'
(Interview & Performance Live @ RTP1)
Here is the personal message from Axel about 'Because You Need Me':
The message from ‘Because You Need Me’ is a message of love from brothers and sisters. Camille is 10 years old so she is my little sister. It’s a message of love and hope. This is very important for the live of the people. It’s a message for the relation between brothers and sisters. Whatever you are going to do in your life – I’ll be there for you and you are there for me."
Tooji from Norway was the representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with the song 'Stay'. Today her sung a cover version from one of the most known christmas songs 'Last Christmas' from Wham. Watch the version from Tooji & Atle Pettersen here:
Udo Jürgens, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 with 'Merci Cherié', died today in the age of 80! Jürgens has collapsed unconscious on a walk in Gottlieben TG today. This was announced by its management. Despite immediate resuscitation measures Jürgens died after the overpass at the Kantonsspital Münsterlingen on Sunday afternoon at 4.25 pm (cet) from acute heart failure.
Cyprus returns to the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, after a one-year-break in 2014. Cybc, Cyprian broadcaster, decided to find their representative for Vienna in a national selection called 'Eurovision Song Project'. In total 10 shows the 55 contestants will be reduced to 6 acts for the national final, which will take place on 1st of February 2015. Host of the show will be Antri Keratoni.
Eurovision Song Project - Trailer
'Eurovision Song Project' - Show dates:
07.12.2014 - Audition - Show 1
14.12.2014 - Audition - Show 2
21.12.2014 - Audition - Show 3
26.12.2014 - Audition - Show 4
28.12.2014 - Audition - Show 5
04.01.2015 - Audition - Show 6
11.01.2015 - Audition - Show 7
18.01.2015 - Eurochallenge 1 (20 acts)
25.01.2015 - Eurochallenge 2 (10 acts)
01.02.2015 - National Final (6 acts)
'Eurovision Song Project' - Judges (Auditions)
Elena Patroklou (ESC 1991)
Alex Panayi (ESC 1995 / ESC 2000)
Despina Olympiou (ESC 2013)
Tasos Trifonos.
'Eurovision Song Project - Judges (Eurochallenges & Final)
Elena Patroklou (ESC 1991)
Alex Panayi (ESC 1995 / ESC 2000)
Despina Olympiou (ESC 2013)
Tasos Trifonos.
Christer Björkman (Swedish Head of Delegation)
Dimitris Kontopoulos (Composer & Producer)
'Eurovision Song Project' - The Voting (National Final)
50 % Tele voting
50 % Jury voting
Despina Olympiou represented Cyprus 2013 in Malmö with her song 'An me thimase' (engl. If You Remember Me), but she failed to qualify to the final.
Despina Olympiou - 'An me thimase' (Eurovision 2013)
Cyprus debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 with Island and the song 'Monica'. The best results for Cyprus was in the years 1982 (Anna Vissi with 'Mono i agapi'), 1997 (Hara & Andreas Konstantinou with 'Mana mou') and 2005 (Lisa Andreas with 'Stronger Every Minute'). All three ended on 5th place in the Eurovision final. Cyprus will perform in one of the Semi-Finals on 19th or 21st of May 2015 in Vienna.
TRM, Moldovan broadcaster, announced 50 songs for the 'O Melodie Pentru Europa 2015' live auditions in January 2015. Some of the artists are on the list with more songs. In total there were 68 candidates from all over the world (Belarus, Canada, Cyprus, Ireland, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Spain, UK and Ukraine). Here is the list for the live auditions and maybe you remember a former Eurovision entry from Moldova - any idea?
Andi Fraggs - One Song
Anewta C - Unshakable
Anişoara Volînschi - Vocea Inimii
Asifa Lahore - You And I
Carolina Gorun - Sublime
Cezara - Am Devenit Straini
Christopher Wortley - Here And Never
Cristina Serbin - Moldova
Dana Markitan - Love Me
Dana Markitan - In Ochii Tai
Diana Brescan - Up And Down
Doinita Gherman - Inima Fierbinte
Domenico Protino - Let Me Fly
Doredos - Maricica
Edict - Our Star
Eduard Romanyuta - I Want Your Love
Egor Luts - The Queen Of The Road
Glam Girls - Magia
Igor Ni - What A Woman
Irina Kitoroagă - I’m Gonna Get You
Julia Sandu - Fire
Katalina Rusu - Seventeen
Kitty Brucknell - Remix
Kitty Brucknell - Yearning
Lidia Isac - I Can't Breathe
Marcel Roşca - Feelings Will Never Leave
Martin Milnes - Surrender
Max Zavidia - Doar Cu Tine
Mevv - Paralel
Michael Ra feat. Raby - Good Time
Mihaela Andrei - About Love
Miss M - Lonely Stranger
Natalia Moraru - Belong To You
Nicollette Fyo - Love Is From Heaven
Olea Roshe - Nu
Raby - Hero
Raby - Mereu Împreună
Rodica Aculova - My Light
Samir Loghin - Uit
Serj Kuzenkoff - Danu Nazdravanu
Stela Boţan - Save Me
Sunstroke Project - Lonely
Sunstroke Project & Dj Michael Ra - Day After Day
Tatiana Popa - Love You Not
Tudor Bumbac - Trandafirii Albi
Valeria Paşa - I Can Change All My Life
Vasile Muntean - Stai Cu Mine
Vera & Diana Popa - Faith
Veronica Vişnevscaia - Like A Flame
Vitalie Todiraşcu - Tu Singura
Two songs in the list are from Sunstroke Project. They represented Moldova in Oslo 2010 together with Olia Tira and the song 'Run Away'. Do you rememer their entry?
You can listen to the songs on Soundcloud or on youtube:
"Yesterday felt just like Christmas! Besides finding out that our album was the best sold album in The Netherlands we also received a triple platinum award during the finals of The Voice Of Holland. We realize how special this is..... Thanks to our great team and thanks to you for buying the album. Next year: new record, new tour! Happy holidays!" The Common Linnets posted yesterday on their Facebook page.
The band got Triple Platinum for the album 'The Common Linnets' in the Netherlands. In February 2015 they will begin to record the new album.
Besides The Common Linnets there is also Anouk in the Top 10 Best Selling Album of the Year 2014 on 8th place with 'Paradise And Back Again'. Anouk represented The Netherlands 2013 in Malmö with 'Birds' and ended on 9th place in the Eurovision final. She also wrote the song for next years contestant, Trijntje Oosterhuis. The song is called 'Walk Along' and already available. You can listen to the song here:
The Common Linnets represented the Netherlands this year in Copenhagen with the song 'Calm After The Storm'. With a huge surprise this wonderful song ended on 2nd place in the Eurovision final. Watch again their fantastic performance:
The Common Linnets - 'Calm After The Storm' (Eurovision Final)
Find out more about The Common Linnets and follow them:
Molly shared a new video today on her youtube chanel. The song is called 'Winter'.
"Here's an acoustic video of 'Winter' that I made recently. We filmed this on my friends canal boat in London - hope you enjoy it!" she wrote about the song.
Getter Jaani, who represented Estonia 2011 with 'Rockefeller Street' at the Eurovision Song Contest released her brand new album 'DNA' in the beginning of this month. Earlier this year she already released a duet song called 'Rannamaja' with Koit Toome, who represented Estonia 1989 at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Getter Jaani - 'DNA'
Dna 04:26
Dance Michael 03:45
Lootuste Tänaval 03:28
Isa Jälgedes (Dna Album V) [feat. Risto Vürst] 04:58
Donna (Dna Album V) 04:40
Kullaväljade Tuul 04:09
Rannamaja (Dna Album V) 03:55
Gj 03:13
Meelelahutajad 03:28
Nyc Taxi 03:17
Ära Kahetse 04:07
Ela Igavesti Kallis 03:54
Valged ööd (Bossa Versioon) 03:55
Download the album on iTunes or listen it on Spotify:
Some days ago the official anthem for the World Championship Handball in Qatar 2015 was released and now the official video is available on youtube. The song includes 24 Countries, 24 Artists and 1 Message. Look careful and you will see and hear some well known Eurovision contestants :)
Qatar 2015 - "Live It (Official Anthem)"
One of the most successful Eurovision participant, Alexander Rybak, is part of this anthem. He is the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song 'Fairytale'. Earlier this year he released a new song called 'Into A Fantasy', which is soundtrack for the Dreamworks movie 'How To Drain Your Dragon 2'. You can see also Daniel Kajmakoski, he will represent Macedonia 2015 at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Also well known is Ocena, she sung 'Endless Summer', which was the official anthem for the UEFA European Football Championship 2012. 2014 she was one of the hopefuls in the German national selection 'Unser Song für Dänemark'.
'Live It' - Qatar 2015 - Lyrics
The time is now
The chance is yours
To come together and to be united
Sing and dance
Spread the joy
The dream is ours and together we’ll touch the sky
Stand and fight
Earn the right
To live your life and be called a champion
Hold your breath
Seize the moment
And live it, win it
This is what we believe in
This is what we will do
This is our Only freedom
Seeing each other through
Sing ole ole
We stand as one
Sing ole ole
Till we have won
الحیاة .. تحلي فیك .. عیش كل لحظة و جدد فیھا حلمك
فیھ اكید .. حاجة فیك .. بتمیزك عن غیرك دور ع القوة فیك