Blog Archives
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
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
A voice for Russia: Dina Garipova
Russia, like over forty other nations from around the globe, has been swept up by the popularity of “The Voice”. Originally shown in The Netherlands, the format has taken hold worldwide, from Chile to Vietnam to the United States and back again. Over in Russia, one of the four coaches who both guides and judges the aspiring stars was none other than ESC champion Dima Bilan, who hinted all the way back in November that the winner of Golos would be prepped for Eurovision. Read the rest of this entry
Cheers, Eurofans! “Alcohol is Free” for Greece
On Monday, Greek music channel MAD TV, in conjunction with national broadcaster ERT, hosted Eurosong 2013, the country’s selection show for Malmö. Featuring appearances by a half-dozen Eurovision champions, 2013 Cypriot performer Despina Olympiou, 2012 representatives Eleftheria Eleftheriou and Ivi Adamou, and a number of Greek National Finalists from years past, the four songs in competition had a lot to live up to. Read the rest of this entry
X-Factor, Sanremo, and now Eurovision…Marco Mengoni for Italy
This weekend marked the culmination of the 63rd annual Sanremo Music Festival, one of the most enduring traditions in Italian pop music (and generally accepted to be the inspiration for Eurovision as we know it today). For five nights, fourteen established artists (with two songs apiece) and eight fresh faces took the stage at the Ariston Theatre, all hoping to strike it big with the Italian public. And, for one, a special jury would award the chance to move on to Eurovision. Read the rest of this entry
Latvia has chosen: it’s PeR!
At least once a year, an act finally makes it to Eurovision after years of failed attempts. Donny Montell, Litesound, and Pasha Parfeny all made it to the show in Baku after years and years of swinging and missing. This year, Latvian pop duo PeR (short for Please Explain the Rhythm) finally grabbed the ticket to the ESC with their fifth submission to the National Finals. Ralfs and Edmunds will take the stage in Malmö with “Here We Go”: Read the rest of this entry
Natália Kelly to “Shine” for Austria
Friday, February 15th brought us “Österreich rockt den Song Contest”, as Austria selected the successor to the Trackshittaz. With five singers performing two songs apiece (one Eurovision classic and their potential song for Malmö), the country gave fans plenty to mull over.
Taking the victory in Vienna was the contest’s youngest participant, 18-year-old Natália Kelly, with “Shine“:
The ESC Insider 