Brendan Murray has been confirmed to be the representative for Ireland at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev. An announcement was made by his manager, Louis Walsh, on the Late Late Show on RTÉ tv in Ireland.
Brendan was a former member of the boyband, Hometown. A call for songs has been made and more information can be found at http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision/ Louis Walsh hinted he was looking for a ballad type song for Brendan in the style that Adele or Ed Sheeran might sing.
You can see Brendan do a short rendition of the Johnny Logan Eurovision winner, Hold Me Now (1987 ESC Ireland), below.
Elené Mikiashvili is one of the contenders in the 2017 Georgian Eurovision national selection with her song Fighter. Here Elené talks to ESC Covers about her song and music career so far –
1. Can you tell us something about your song ‘Fighter’?
My song’s composers and lyric authors are Swedish twin duo Ylva and Linda Persson, and the instrumental music author is Will Taylor. The lyrics are about the girl who is never giving up and always fighting for success like me.
2. What would it mean to you if you were to represent your country at the Eurovision Song Contest?
It’s very important to me and it would be a big responsibility, because it is my dream to represent my country at Eurovision, now I have a chance and I am going to do my very best.
3. You successfully participated in The Voice of Georgia. Can you tell us something about your experience in the show and songs you performed?
The Voice was the biggest experience for me, it was for me the first TV show and of course was a big challenge, and it is such a big competition. My first blind audition song was ‘Proud Mary’ by Tina Turner, which is my favourite song. The second battle song was ‘Love On Top’ by Beyonce and it was a different and interesting version and I won the battle third round knockout where I took a golden card from my mentor, then there were the live shows where I sang ‘Vogue’ by Madonna and I had a great stage show with dancers and on the second live show my song was ‘My Man’ by Barbra Streisand from the movie ‘Funny Girl’.
4. Your mentor was Anri Jokhadze (who represented Georgia at the 2012 Eurovision). What was it like working with him and have you spoke to him about entering a song for the Eurovision selection in Georgia?
Anri is my great friend, teacher and mentor and everything!! He always helps me and tries to give me good advice, of course he knows about Eurovision and he likes my song!
5. What are your favourite musical tastes? Who are your musical influences?
I like everything that is good, I can listen to classical music when I am in the mood or alternative rock or pop, etc. My favourite singers always were Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and favourite group is Coldplay.
6. You have recently been collaborating with DJ Giga Papaskiri. Could you tell us about this and the songs you have released.
Giga is a very talented and good boy, we are working together and already have our original songs and some covers, people like our music and we are doing our best, we have already made our first music video which will soon be published and we are working on a second one.
7. Do you have any favourite Eurovision songs from the past?
Yes, my favourite songs are Eldrine – ‘One More Day’ (ESC 2011 Georgia), Nina Sublatti – ‘Warrior’ (ESC 2015 Georgia), Loreen – ‘Euphoria’ (ESC 2012 Sweden), Aram mp3 – ‘Not Alone’ (ESC 2014 Armenia) and Mørland & Debrah Scarlett – ‘A Monster Like Me’ (ESC 2015 Norway).
8. Did you watch the Junior Eurovision Song Contest this year? What were your feelings about the win for Georgia and Mariam Mamadashvili?
I think Mariam Mamadashvili is a very talented young girl who has a huge future on the stage. When I first listened to the song I was shocked how beautiful she was singing , and when she won I was very, very proud!
9. Is there anywhere where readers can listen to your music?
Yes of course, on youtube I have several videos and on my Soundcloud channel.
Thank you Elené ….we wish you good luck with your participation
Sabina Chantouria will be participating in the Georgian Eurovision selection with her song Stranger. Sweden Songs are the publishers for the song and also for her latest release entitled Cry For Me.
Sabina is a Georgian/Swedish singer and songwriter. Cry For Me is produced by Kevin Jarvis from the USA, who has worked with artists such as Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello and Ben Vaughn.
You can see the video for Cry For Me below and listen to her Eurovision submission, Stranger.
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 Shanidze – Mtvris Katsi (Man of Dust) (Davit Shanidze)
4. Trio Mandili – Me da Shen (You and Me) (Vadim Estermani, Rostislav Maslovichi)
5. Elené Mikiashvili – Fighter (Ylva & Linda Persson)
6. Andria Gvelesiani – Revolutionise (Giorgi Laghidze)
7. Group The Mins – Crime (Zviad Mghebrishvili)
8. Alisa Danelia – We Are Eternity (Alisa Danelia)
9. Rati Durglishvili – Why (Rati Durglishvili)
10. Brandon Stone & Eter Beriashvili – Heyo Song (Brandon Stone)
11. Tornike Kipiani & Giorgi Bolotashvili – You Are My Sunshine (Tornike Kipiani)
12. Group EOS – Urban Signs (Giorgi Kochoradze, Gedevan Levlishvili)
13. Dima Kobeshavidze – Scream (Dima Kobeshavidze)
14. Malibu – We Live Once (Malibu)
15. Group Asea Sool – Nature (Asea Sool)
16. Natia Bidzinashvili – My Song For You (Samuel Bugia Garrido)
17. Misha Sulukhia – Magic (Misha Sulukhia)
18. Tako Gachechiladze – Keep The Faith (Tako Gachechiladze)
19. Oto Nemsadze & Group Limbo – Dear God (Beso Nemsadze)
20. Mariam Chachkhiani – Fly (Joni Titirashvili)
21. Nutsa Buzaladze – White Horses Run (Andy Vitolo, John King)
22. Group Sparkle – On The Top (Aleko Berdzenishvili)
23. Nino Basharuli – Simgera Sikvarulisa (The Song of Love) (Nino Basharuli)
24. Temo Sajaia – All The Same (Temo Sajaia)
25. Mariko Lejava – Bithard 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
The local broadcaster ITV have confirmed that Dihaj (or Diana Hajieva) will represent Azerbaijan at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Kiev in May.
Dihaj is a versatile artist who is at ease performing jazz, funk and soul and alternative pop music.
You can see a video of a song by Dihaj released in 2015 entitled Gecələr Keçir (Try it at night) below.
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.
FYR Macedonia have chosen Jana Burceska to represent them at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine. The broadcaster MKRTV selected Jana internally.
Jana is a former participant of the Macedonian Idol tv show.
You can see Jana perform a cover of the Aretha Franklin classic, Think, on Macedonian Idol.
Belgium have announced that Blanche will represent them at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine. Blanche, also known as Ellie Delvaux, is a former The Voice of Belgium competitor.
The girl band O’G3NE will represent the Netherlands at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The group consists of three sisters Lisa (22) and twins Amy and Shelly Vol (21).
The girls actually represented the Netherlands at the 2007 Junior Eurovision Song Contest (as Lisa, Amy & Shelley) with Adem In, Adem Uit. But they have achieved a lot since those days. They won The Voice of Holland in 2014 and have released several singles and albums.
You can see O’G3NE with one of their hits Take The Money And Run below and also see their 2007 Junior Eurovision song.
