Author Archives: Samantha Ross
Preview: Hungary’s “A Dal”
For the second year running, Hungarian broadcaster MTV have played host to “A Dal”, their national selection. After a series of heats and semifinals, eight songs will face off in the Final on Saturday. Four songs will be selected by a professional jury to continue on to a superfinal, and the winner will be chosen purely via a public televote. Read the rest of this entry
Preview: Estonia’s “Eesti Laul 2013”
One of the five (!) nations to choose their song for Sweden this weekend will be Estonia, who will hold the 2013 edition of the Eesti Laul Final this Saturday. Tallinn’s Nokia Concert Hall will once again play host to ten strong acts from a broad spectrum of genres, all anxiously waiting for a professional jury and public televote to award one participant a trip to Eurovision. At least four acts are returning to the Eesti Laul stage, while six are newcomers. Let’s take a peek at this year’s acts, shall we? Read the rest of this entry
(FYR) Macedonia reveals Esma and Lozano’s “Imperija”…or has it?
Following Kaliopi’s star turn in Baku and her strong result with “Crno i Belo”, Macedonian broadcaster MKRTV decided to go for another internal selection, picking veteran Gypsy-folk superstar Esma Redžepova and pop singer Lozano to combine forces and perform an entry that blended the best of both of their worlds. The resulting song, “Imperija”, was premiered on Wednesday. Read the rest of this entry
Croatia: Klapa s Mora reveals “Mižerja”
Following a few difficult years on the Eurovision scoreboard, Croatian broadcaster HRT decided to return the country to its musical roots for ESC 2013 by sending a classic “klapa”, or traditional male harmonic group, to Malmö. Six of the most talented klapa singers were brought together to form a so-called “Super Klapa” (now officially called “Klapa s Mora“). Today, their song “Mižerja (Misery)” was revealed to the public. Read the rest of this entry
Georgia: “Waterfall” released
Back on New Year’s Eve, Georgian broadcaster GPB announced that Sopho Gelovani and Nodiko Tatishvili would represent the nation in Malmö, in the hopes that the pair would bring Georgia back into the Finals after a disappointing showing in Baku. Early on Wednesday, the duet’s entry, “Waterfall”, was revealed to the public during a popular morning chat-show. Read the rest of this entry
Spain’s El Sueño de Morfeo: “Contigo hasta el final”
Tonight, national broadcaster RTVE hosted their National Final, where folk-pop stars El Sueño de Morfeo would be paired up with their entry for Malmö. The band offered a trio of songs to the Spanish public and a three-member jury (consisting of commentator José María Íñigo, 2002 Eurovision performer Rosa López, and 2013 Italian representative Marco Mengoni).
After “Dame tu voz”, “Atrévete”, and “Contigo hasta el final” were performed, and a veritable cavalcade of performers took to the stage with ESDM, the votes were tallied and one entry took an overwhelming victory. Read the rest of this entry
Preview: A Song for El Sueño de Morfeo
Right before Christmas, Spanish broadcaster RTVE announced that folk-pop-rock band El Sueño de Morfeo would be representing their country in Sweden this May. On Tuesday February 26, we will finally find out what the popular group from Asturias will bring to the stage.
Much like last year’s system, which resulted in a strong final placement for Pastora Soler and “Quédate conmigo“, El Sueño de Morfeo submitted two songs to go directly into the running, and asked for the input of the Spanish public to pick a third. Tomorrow, from a studio in Barcelona, the band will perform the three contenders for Malmö. A 50/50 public and jury vote (including 2002’s Spanish representative Rosa and 2013’s Italian performer, Marco Mengoni) will determine the victorious song.
After eliminating “Revolución“, the three remaining tracks are: Read the rest of this entry
Russia: “What If” Released
Only a few days after the announcement that the champion of “The Voice”, Dina Garipova, would be representing Russia, her song “What If” has been released. The ballad, composed by the Swedish/Russian team of Gabriel Alares, Joakim Bjornberg and Leonid Gutkin, was broadcast on Russia’s Channel One on Sunday. Read the rest of this entry
Ireland decides: “Only Love Survives”!
Tonight, on RTÉ’s flagship evening chat program “The Late Late Show”, five songs took to the stage in front of a live studio audience (and, oddly enough, Danny DeVito?) for the right to sing for their country in Malmö. After a razor-thin margin separated the top two contenders after the regional juries had their say, it was up to the public vote to determine the winner. Read the rest of this entry
Preview: Ireland’s Eurosong 2013
This Friday evening, on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, the next name in Eurovision 2013’s roster will be set in stone. It will be a tough job to follow two years’ worth of Jedwardian goodness, but five acts, each under the guidance of an experienced mentor, are up for the challenge. Who will go to Eurovision, and potentially bring home Ireland’s eighth title?
The winner will be selected via a 50/50 public televote/regional jury split. This year’s contenders are: Read the rest of this entry
The ESC Insider 