PORTUGAL: LISTEN TO THE FESTIVAL DA CANCAO 2019 ENTRIES

Portugal seems to have found a new fresh look to the their national selection after winning with the most old fashioned song imaginable the whole Eurovision song contest in 2017 for the very first time. Last year they were more modern and experimental than ever, and this year the progress continues. Not forgetting though the old times. First hearing instant favorites were Calema and NBC, but several other songs sounded promising. 

First semi-final, February 16, 2019

Calema – A Dois ****

(Calema)

Conan Osíris – Telemóveis ***

(Conan Osíris)

Ana Cláudia – Inércia **

(D’Alva)

João Campos – É O Que É **

(D.A.M.A)

Filipe Keil – Hoje ***

(Filipe Keil (Public submissions candidate)

Ela Limão – Mais Brilhante Que Mil Sóis *

(Flak)

Soraia Tavares – O Meu Sonho ***

(Lura)

Matay – Perfeito ***

(Tiago Machado)

Second semi-final, February 23, 2019

Lara Laquiz – O Lugar ***

(André Tentúgal)

Madrepaz – Mundo A Mudar ***

(Frankie Chavez)

Mariana Bragada – Mar Doce **

(Mariana Bragada (Radio Masterclass candidate)

Dan Riverman – Lava ***

(Miguel Guedes)

NBC – Igual A Ti ****

(NBC)

Mila Dores – Debaixo Do Luar **

(Rui Maia)

Marlon – O Jantar ***

(Pedro Pode)

Surma – Pugna *

(Surma)

THE NETHERLANDS: IT'S DUNCAN LAURENCE FOR EUROVISION 2019

Spoiling the day for San Marino also the Netherlands decided today's a perfect day to reveal their artist and it is Duncan Laurence. He's 24 and has graduated from Rock Academy in Tilburg. He has been also spending time in London and Stockholm writing his songs. As Duncan De Moor he took part in The Voice of Holland 2014, and is also a singr in The Slick and Suited.
The song itself will be revealed on March 7.

SAN MARINO: SERHAT IS BACK!

After playing with the social media (San Marino is bcoming a real master in that game!) and fans speculating wild and getting the media write about them all over Europe (even Finland) thanks to Human Ken doll Rodrigo Alves and some Russian wannabe among others they announced Turkish Serhat will come back again and represent the county in its 10th participation. Now we all can say in unison: I didn't know.

The song for 2019 will be made public in February. 

Between 2016 and 2019 Serhat has scored a #25 hit on Billboard Dance chart in the US with re-released of his entry featuring Martha Wash, and dueted with Eurovision winner Helena Paparizou.

SPAIN: MIKI WINS WITH LA VENDA

First, most every song sounded better live than on record, and the artists sung reasonably well and the comparasion to last night's French semi-final was striking where most everyone was showcasing shaky vocals, bad mixing and general worse than on studio performances. There were a couple Pastora Soler wannabes and one Alvaro Soler one, and one Famous showcasing Carola-like determination to make it and come across the screen making televoters to vote him out of fear. (They didn't). And a big favorite who didn't want to win and showed it in her performance  bit too clearly.

Last year's Alfred made an appearence but no sight of Amaia. Eleni came instead and showed once again how to make that hair fly....

And in the end Spanish televoters didn't the right choice: Miki's Alvarosoleresque La venda won over overrated and IdontwanttogotoIsrael-Maria's Muerdeme. With a better remix and fixed staging Spain may have a real chance this year! Miki Núñez Pozo is 22 and from Barcelona and vocalist in a Catalan band Dalton Bang. He has also studied business in Los Angeles and London. 

Miki - La Venda  34%

María - Muérdeme 22%

Miki y Natalia - Nadie Se Salva  14%

Noelia - Hoy Vuelvo A Reir Otra Vez  7%

Natalia - La Clave 6%

Marilia - Todo Bien 6%

Famous - No puedo más  5%

Julia - Qué quieres que haga 3%

Sabela - Hoy Soñaré 2%

Carlos Right - Se Te Nota !%

GEORGIA: HERE ARE THE TEN IDOLS - ONE WILL GO TO TEL AVIV

Georgia is using The Idol this year to select their entrant for Eurovision song contest 2019 in Tel Aviv. The ten finalists have been recently revealed - among them Mariam Kakhelishvili from Jsc 2010 and many names from previous The Voice and X Factor... - and the one is among these names, to be selected on March 2, 2019:

ნინი ცნობილაძე/Nini Tsnobiladze

ლიზა კალანდაძე/Liza Kalandadze

ოთო ნემსაძე/Oto Nemsadze

გიორგი ნაკაშიძე/ Giorgi Nakashidze

იკაკო ალექსიძე/ Ikako Aleksidze

დიმა კობაშავიძე/ Dzima Kobeshavidze

ბესიკ ნემსაძე/ Besik Nemsadze

მარიამ კახელიშვილი/ Mariam Kakhelishvili

გიორგი ფრუიძე/ Giorgi Pruidze

თამარ ლაჭყეპიანი/ Tamar Lachkepiani

HUNGARY: A DAL 2019 HAS STARTED

A Dal is back with its usual formula. Eurovision veteran Joci Pápai is back as is András Kallay-Saunders in his about 15th incarnation, this time as singer in The Middletonz,  and the semifinalists include many names from previous A Dals from Olivé Berkes to Leander Kills, Gergö Oláh and yesyes among others.
As usual three heats (six songs going through each, fivee by the jurors, the last one by the televoters from the remaining acts), two semifinals (four songs going through each) and final will follow and a lot of variety in the genres and Hungarians are not shy trying something new - remember Viszlát_nyár?

Heat one

Timi Antal ft. Gergő Demko – Álmos Világ **  39
 Olivér Berkes – Lighthouse **/Világitótprony *** 33
Deniz – Ide Várlak Vissza *** 34 (televoters)
Barni Hamar – Wasted *  29
Konyha – Szászor Visszajátszott ***  38
Nomád – A Remény Hídjai *  35
Rozina Pátkai – Frida * 31
Gergő Szekér – Madár, Repülj! ***  41
Lászlo Váray – Someone Who Lives Like This (Mondd miért) * 29
Gergő Oláh – Hozzád Bújnék *** 41

Planet – Nyári Zápor ***

Fatal Error – Kulcs *

Dayana – Little Bird **

Gotthy – Csak Egy Perc ****

Klara Hajdu – You’re Gonna Rise *

David Hirtli – Alabama Hotel

Kyra Fedor – Maradj Még *

Leander Kills – Hazavágyom **

Mocsok 1 Kölyök – Egyszer *

Monyó Projekt – Run Baby Run *

Bogi Nagy – Holnap

Joci Pápai – Az Én Apám ****

Petruska – Help Me Out Of Here **

Ruby Harlem – Forró **

Savus – Barát

The Sign – Ő

The Middletonz – Roses ***

USNK – Posztolj *

Bence Vara – Szótlanság

yesyes – Incomplete ****

SANREMO: ERMAL META AND FABRIZIO MORO RETURN FOR THE DUETS

Sanremo festival doesn't only have the competing artists and the superguests, but also those who come for the fourth night's duets, when the competing artists perform their song in an alternative version with invited guest artists. Complicated? Not at all. That only just about doubles the number of stars on that stage during the festival! Like last year's winners and Eurovision top-5 finished Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro. Some names rumored to have applied for the festival like Irene Grandi, Syria and Rocco Hunt have a consolation prize when dueting with chosen ones. Some add spice to their entries with actors like Bebbe Fiorello and Neri Marcore, and there's even a dancer involved, Eleanora Abbagnati. The rest of the cast will be revealed in coming days.

Simone Cristicchi & Ermal Meta

Ultimo & Fabrizio Moro

Daniele Silvestri & Manuel Agnelli

Loredana Berté & Irene Grandi

Mahmood & Gué Pequeno

Boombadash & Rocco Hunt

Anna Tatangelo & Syria

Zen Circus & Brunori Sas

Enrico Nigiotti & Paolo Jannacci

Francesco Renga & Bungaro & Eleanor Abbagnati

Paola Turci & Beppe Fiorello

Nek & Neri Marcore

FINLAND: EVA + MANU RELEASE IN THE WOODS EP

Eva + Manu, the Finnish-French indie duo that were thrown into UMK2019 speculations late last year has released today their In the Woods EP with six new songs: Sins, Grow old, Mamie, Woods, Weightless and I won't let you down. How would have they fit in Tel Aviv? 

Spotify

AUSTRALIA: ALL THE ARTISTS FOR AUSTRALIA DECIDES - EUROVISION 2019

Australia's Gold Coast will host the first ever Australian national final for the Eurovision song contest, as all their previous four entries have been internally selected. SBS has been dropping names since December and now we have all ten of them finally, from RuPaul's drag race finalist Courtney Act to the Voice winner Alfie Arcuri, classically trained Kate Miller-Heidke, Australia's Got Talent winner, tenor Mark Vincent, indie band Sheppard, electronica band Electric Fields among others. Aydan Calafiore is from the most recent the Voice and Leea Nanos from X Factor....

Electric Fields - 2000 and whatever

Kate Miller-Heidke - 

Mark Vincent - This is not the end

Sheppard - 

Courtney Act - Fight for love

Aydan Calafiore - Dust

Leea Nanos - Set me free

Ella Hooper - 

Alfie Arcuri - To myself

Tania Doko - 

CROATIA: HERE ARE THE DORA 2019 ARTISTS AND SONGS

Croatia has chosen the 16 finalists out of 150 submissions. Some Eurovision veterans in the line up: Klapa s Mora's Marko Skugor is now fronting 4 Tenora, and Feminnem's Nena Parmac is now with Gelato Sisters. Then there's Luka Nižetić, a familiar face from the national finals. Among songwriters Tonji Huljić, Branimir Mihaljevic, Jacues Houdek and Charlie Mason, all previous entrants.
The final takes place on February 16 and there will be 50/50 televote/jury

Elis Lovrić - All I Really Want

Luka Nižetić - Amorero Brutalero

Gelato Sisters - Back To The Swing

4 Tenora - Brod Bez Imena

Beta Sudar - Don’t Give Up

Bernarda Bruno - I Believe In True Love

Domenica - Indigo

Manntra - In The Shadows

Jure Brkljača - Ne Postojim Kad Nisi Tu

Ema Gagro - Redemption

Lea Mijatović - Tebi Pripadam

Lidija Bačić Lille - Tek Je Počelo

Jelena Bosančić - Tell Me

Lorena Bućan - Tower Of Babylon

Roko Blažević - The Dream

Bojan Jambrošić i Danijela Pintarić - Vrijeme Predaje