Category Archives: 2017 Eurovision Song Contest

Georgia: 26 songs revealed for national selection

Flag of Georgia
Flag of Georgia

The local broadcaster GPB has announced the 26 acts and songs that will compete in the 2017 Georgian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Kiev.

Here are the 26 acts and songs and composers –

1. Nanuka Giorgobiani – Let The Sunshine In (Edisher Lomadze)
2. Giorgi Chikovani – Make it Right (Giorgi Chikovani)
3. Davit ShanidzeMtvris Katsi (Man of Dust) (Davit Shanidze)
4. Trio MandiliMe da Shen (You and Me) (Vadim Estermani, Rostislav Maslovichi)
5. Elené MikiashviliFighter (Ylva & Linda Persson)
6. Andria GvelesianiRevolutionise (Giorgi Laghidze)
7. Group The MinsCrime (Zviad Mghebrishvili)
8. Alisa DaneliaWe Are Eternity (Alisa Danelia)
9. Rati DurglishviliWhy (Rati Durglishvili)
10. Brandon Stone & Eter BeriashviliHeyo Song (Brandon Stone)
11. Tornike Kipiani & Giorgi BolotashviliYou Are My Sunshine (Tornike Kipiani)
12. Group EOSUrban Signs (Giorgi Kochoradze, Gedevan Levlishvili)
13. Dima Kobeshavidze Scream (Dima Kobeshavidze)
14. MalibuWe Live Once (Malibu)
15. Group Asea SoolNature (Asea Sool)
16. Natia Bidzinashvili My Song For You (Samuel Bugia Garrido)
17. Misha SulukhiaMagic (Misha Sulukhia)
18. Tako GachechiladzeKeep The Faith (Tako Gachechiladze)
19. Oto Nemsadze & Group LimboDear God (Beso Nemsadze)
20. Mariam Chachkhiani Fly (Joni Titirashvili)
21. Nutsa BuzaladzeWhite Horses Run (Andy Vitolo, John King)
22. Group SparkleOn The Top (Aleko Berdzenishvili)
23. Nino BasharuliSimgera Sikvarulisa (The Song of Love) (Nino Basharuli)
24. Temo SajaiaAll The Same (Temo Sajaia)
25. Mariko LejavaBithard and Avol Waves (Bithard, DJ Avol Waves)
26. Sabina Chantouria – Stranger (Sabina Chantouria)

You can hear the songs at https://soundcloud.com/user-679081112

Source: ESCKAZ; OGAE Rest Of The World; ESC Covers; Eurovision South Africa; Eurovision-Georgia.ge

Malta: 60 shortlisted songs for 2017 Malta Eurovision Song Contest

Flag of Malta
Flag of Malta

From a total of 156 submissions in Malta we now have the first phase of the competition where 60 songs have been shortlisted. PBS will eventually narrow down the list to just 16 songs for the grand final to be held most likely in February of 2017.

Who will follow Ira Losco and represent Malta at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine. Here are the 60 acts and songs –

  • Aidan Cassar – You
    Ana BoynuegriFeel
    Avenue SkyWe Can Run
    Brooke BorgUnstoppable
    Cherton CaruanaFighting To Survive
    CherylisBreathe
    Christian ArdingChill Out
    Claudia FanielloBreathlessly
    Clive Issac Gauci & Karine CaruanaRescue Me
    Clive Issac Gauci & Karine CaruanaWhen Love Cries
    Corinna BaldacchinoLeap of Faith
    CrosswalkSo Simple
    Dario BezzinaPrisoner
    Dario Mifsud BonniciPawn In A Game
    Deborah C & Josef TaboneTonight
    Derrick SchembriU
    Domenique AzzopardiHey Yo
    DominicDon’t Let Your Heart Say No
    Dre’ CurmiThe Rapture
    Floren SultanaUnforgettable
    Franklin Calleja Follow Me
    Gabriella AzzopardiHeal With Me
    Iona Fireworks
    Jade VellaSeconds Away
    Janice MangionKewkba
    Jasmine AbelaSupernovas
    Jessica Magro Different Light
    JessikaEdge Of Tomorrow
  • Jessika Immortal
    JessikaLet There Be Light
    Joseph RefaloI Got You
    Joseph TaboneWhen The Sun Shines
    KayaThe Power
    Kayla BorgFalling
    Kevin BorgFollow
  • Klinsmann ColeiroLaserlight
    Kylie ColerioBreathe
    Lydon IncorvajaSunshine In The Rain
    Lyndsay PaceButterfly
    Lyndsay PaceGemini
    Maria CiniChasing My Dreams
    Maria MuscatUnbreakable
    Maxine Pace Bombshell
    Milkmi Shelter
    Michela PaceCruise Control
    Miriana ConteDon’t Look Down
    Nadia VellaBird Of Prey
    Nazio RotinFree Fall
    Nazio Rotin Gone
    Raquela Dalli GonziRay of Light
    Raquel GaldesBeautifully Bruised
    Rhiannon MicallefFearless
    Rhiannon MicallefMoving Mountains
    Richard EdwardsYou
    Romina MamoChild Of The Sun
    Sebastian Calleja Escape
    Shauna VassalloCrazy Games
    Stefan GaleaWait Forever
    TizianaOnly Night
    Wayne WilliamCalling Out

Source: wiwibloggs; eurovoix.com; ESC Covers

Belarus: national selection finalists announced

BRTC logo {copyright: BRTC}
BRTC logo {copyright: BRTC}

The 13 acts to compete in the 2013 Belarus national final for Eurovision have been announced. A full day of auditions took place on 30 November.

  • Alexandra Tkach
  • KATTIE
  • Vladislav Kurasov
  • NAVI
  • Anzhelika Pushnova
  • Isaac Nightingale
  • Anastasia Sheverenko
  • Iyul
  • NUTEKI
  • NAPOLI
  • Lermont x Julic
  • PROvokatsiya
  • Nikita Hodas

Source: wiwibloggs; ESC Covers

Some facts about 2017 Melodifestivalen

SVT logo {copyright: SVT}
SVT logo {copyright: SVT}

SVT this week announced the 28 acts competing in the 2017 Melodifestivalen semi-finals.

The acts include two former winners of the Eurovision Song Contest, Loreen (2012) and Charlotte Perrelli (1999). Roger Pontare (1994, 2000) and Krista Siegfrids (Finland 2013) also return and we see Lisa Ajax and Robin Bengtsson return from last year.

Legendary songwriter from Sweden, Thomas G:sson has four songs competing.

It looks like a strong line up for 2017.

Source: www.eurovision.tv

2017 Eurovision Song Contest: 43 countries to participate

EBU Logo {copyright: EBU/UER}
EBU Logo {copyright: EBU/UER}

43 countries will participate at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine. It will equal the records set in 2008 and 2011. We will welcome the return of Portugal and Romania to the contest. Also, Australia once again will take part.

The full list of countries taking part are –

Albania
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Georgia
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
F. Y. R. Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
United Kingdom

Source: www.eurovision.tv

Kiev confirmed as the host city for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest

International Exhibition Centre, Kiev {copyright: NTU}
International Exhibition Centre, Kiev {copyright: NTU}

After much anticipation and speculation the host city for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest was today confirmed as Kiev. The EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and NTU (National Television company of Ukraine) jointly revealed the announcement.

It has been a long city battle in Ukraine where originally eight cities submitted bids to host the contest. This was narrowed down to just three – Kiev, Odessa and Dnipro.

The venue will be the International Exhibition Centre that hold 11,000 spectators.

The dates of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest will be 9 May (semi-final 1), 11 May (semi-final 2) and 13 May (Grand Final).

Source: Eurovision.tv; NTU; ESC Covers

My wishlist artists for Ukraine for Eurovision 2017… The new Ireland of the 00’s era? ..by Herluis Rafael Alvarado Lopez

Hello, this is Herluis Rafael Alvarado Lopez and this is my first article for ESC Covers and I want talk about the next possible host nation, Ukrainian,  entry for Eurovision 2017.

I’m from Venezuela and since 2002 I’ve been following Eurovision and in 2003 i watched the first ever debut of Ukraine with their singer Oleksandr Ponomariov. Then the following year I watched the first ever Ukraine victory in Eurovision 2004 in Istanbul with their popular singer Ruslana and since then I have been addicted to Ukrainian music as well.

Since 2009, I have been following the Ukrainian Eurovision National Pre-selections and I discovered artists and music of that country who I had never heard. And then I discovered the music market who they share with the Russians artists and with others singers from the former Soviet Union.

After much research, knowledge and listening to a lot of Ukrainian music, I have come to the conclusion that one of these 10 artists should represent Ukraine in Eurovision as a worthy host entry! They have the potential to bring the first back-to-back victory for this country like Ireland did in the 90’s:

Max Barskih
Max Barskih

1º – Max Barskih: This Guy is amazing! After many Ukrainian females singers in Eurovision, this guy should be my ideal artist to defend the title next. Max had a very interesting repertoire of songs and he participated a few times in the Ukrainian NF in 2010 and in 2012 (lost to Gaitana) and since them he has become increasingly popular in Ukraine! If he is chosen for Eurovision 2017 I hope that his entry could be a song like this.

The Hardkiss
The Hardkiss

2º – The Hardkiss: This band is very popular in Ukraine and already they got the second place in the Ukrainian NF 2016 and just lost out to our eventual Eurovision winner Jamala. They could be an excellent choice for the host country.

Kazaky
Kazaky

3º – Kazaky: I have been rooting for this band to be in Eurovision since 2011. They love dance with dance with heels and are famous for being one of the few LGBT bands visible in the former Soviet Union. They could give a great show on stage.

Vera Brezhneva
Vera Brezhneva

4º – Vera Brezhneva: I have been following her career since her Via Gra (Nu Virgos) times and she is very, very beautiful woman with a very sensual voice! She is a well recognized singer in Ukraine and Russia under her producer Konstantin Meladze and she has many good songs.

Alekssev
Alekssev

5º – Alekssev: He is a newcomer in the Ukrainian music scene and quickly he has become popular! He had good songs like Pyanoye Solntse and Snov Oskolki. He could be a good choice for Ukraine in Eurovision 2017.

NeAngely
NeAngely

6º – NeAngely: This band has tried several times to go to Eurovision but with no luck. Maybe 2017 will be their year?

NikitA
NikitA

7º – NikitA: They are a very sensual band led by the former Playboy model, Dasha Astafieva. They became popular due to their erotic videos and ‘slut’ pop songs (which is common with these type of songs in Ukraine and Russia) and in 2011 this band become recognized due to their video – Vereki, which it is parodied by the act of them walking naked in a store. They could win many points in the televoting with a sexy act like this.

Vremya & Steklo
Vremya & Steklo

8º – Vremya & Steklo (Time & Glass): This band became popular with their song Imya 505 which was become a huge hit across Ukraine and ex- USSR countries and they got several awards this year at the Ukrainian Music Awards. They have another catchy song like Pesnya 404 and they could do well in Eurovision.

Aida Nikolaychuk
Aida Nikolaychuk

9º – Aida Nikolaychuk: She is well known in Ukraine due to the fact that she is X-factor 2013 winner. Also, she took part at the Ukrainian NF 2016 with a good song – Inner Power, which unfortunately didn’t pass the first round. I would give her a chance!

Zlata Ognevich
Zlata Ognevich

10º – Zlata Ognevich: Probably from all the former Ukrainian participants in Eurovision, she is the most likely to return in the ESC just to defend the yellow-blue colours from her home nation. Zlata is an awesome artist and she could return and win Eurovision if it proposes. She already has enough experience to do a strong comeback and win again the whole thing!

Will Ukraine will be able to repeat the back-to-back victory of Ireland like in the 90’s in our modern times? Only time will tell!