EUROVISION 2020/21: GET TO KNOW NATALIA GORDIENKO (MOLDOVA)

Natalia Gordienko (32) was ment to do his solo debut at the Eurovision 2020 after representing Moldova already in 2006 with Arsenium and Connect-R with Loca.

Natalia, of Ukrainian descent, sung, studied piano and dance at school and at the age 15 started participating in various song and talent competitions. She sung in Millenium band, worked as DJ, released an album and string of singles and videos over the years. And then came the big step back to Eurovision, until it was cancelled. 

So far there has been no news if she will do it in 2021 or if Moldovan television will go for another selection. Somehow, cosidering she got a little help from Kirkorov this year, she might be back in 2021...

EUROVISION 2020: AHOY ROTTERDAM TURNS INTO A COVID-19 VIRUS HOSPITAL - AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE...

In a perfect world without worries the Eurovision 2020 pre-parties would be in full swing from London to Amsterdam last and next weekend while in Rotterdam's Ahoy the construction for the Eurovision 2020 stage would be kicking off as we speak with other building preparations. The fandom would be arguing who's good and who's not, and the betting odds were read every day, several times a day to keep up on what's going on.

Instead all the parties have been cancelled and fans and artists are spending time online in lockdown and Rotterdam's Ahoy is busy with building up a temporary care center and hospital to cure Corona virus patients and we are reading the charts of how many infected people there are in various countires, how many deaths instead.

This said, Rotterdam's Ahoy isn't the only one. Also Helsinki Fair center that was housed the press center during Eurovision 2007  has offered its now empty spaces and staff that has been left without work to build and house a temporary hospital if needed.

And there's yet another one: Stockholmsmässän in Alvsjö, that hosted Eurovision 1975 and several Melodifestivalens has already been turned into a hospital for Covid-19 victims.....

EUROVISION 2020/21: GET TO KNOW DAðI FREYR (ICELAND)

Daði Freyr Pétursson (27) was born in Reykjavik but grew up in Denmark and now lives in Berlin. He plays bass, drums and guitar, started in bands in early age and already back in 2012 was chosen the electric musician of the year. His band RetRoBot released also one album .

In 2017 he tried for the first time to reach Eurovision with Is this love? (Hvað með það?) and finished second. This year he was back with his band Gagnamagnið and won. Plus became an internet phenomenon before Eurovision 2020 was cancelled. He has then announced he's not interested in taking part in 2021....

He has released one album and one EP plus a string of singles, Think about things being his seventh. He's married to Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir, also in his band and the 2020 winning song is dedicated and about their newborn daughter. 

ITALY: MAHMOOD RELEASES ETERNANTENA ON SOCIAL MEDIAS

Mahmood stays at home like rest of Italians and to thank all his fans for messages and supports has released some joy to enjoy: his first social media gift: Eternantena. The lyrics deal with how it feels like in an eternal quarantene, eterna quarantena. 

EUROVISION 2020/21: GET TO KNOW ATHENA MANOUKIAN (ARMENIA)

Athena (25) was born in Athens. She started her musical career at 11 winning an international talent show and at 12 she tried her luck in the Greek selection for the Junior Eurovision with To fili tis Aphroditis placing 7th. A few years later, at 17, she featured vocals to Party like a freak, a big hit in Greece. A couple of solo singles followed, and then in 2014 followed XO, that went international with Swedish production and winning an award in Armenia.

Since then she's been writing songs for others (including Eurovision winner Helena Paparizou), auditioned for The X Factor UK in search of fame and then finally came Eurovision 2020. There no no news from Armenia yet if she will be the one for 2021 as well, but she sure is eager to do it.

FINLAND: UMK RETURNS IN 2021 - NO FREE EUROVISION TICKET FOR AKSEL

Finland joins Sweden and Estonia confirming they will have a new national final in 2021 and this year's winner has no direct access to Eurovision 2021. Where as Estonia offers Uku Suviste a spot in the semi-final line up Finland joins Sweden stating "Aksel can always send in a song and professional jury will pick up the finalists".  Ops! A bit harsh...

The process will be in 2021 like it was in 2020. The song submission opens on September 1, 2020 and a certain number of songs will be chosen for the final. The 2020 season was both viewing and rating success and obviously Yle wishes to continue the good trend creating a state-of-the-art music show. 

This year's big favorite and runner up in the end, Erika, does not rule out a possible return, nor does her record company Mökkitie Records. "We keep on eye on UMK and we are very Eurovision friendly. We couldn't have had a better kick off for Erika's new career path" they say.

A few days ago Aksel commented his possible Eurovision 2021 gig saying he would be very interested in it, possibly with a new song though. He was of course disappointed when Eurovision  2020 was cancelled but says it was expected. He's planning on recording new music and eventually an album of indie pop in English. That was before Yle came out with these UMK news but then again, maybe he will send a new song for 2021 then...

EUROVISION 2020/21: GET TO KNOW EDEN ALENE (ISRAEL)

Eden Alene (19) is one of those already confirmed for Eurovision 2021. Born in Jerusalem of Ethiopian parents, but her dad left when she was two and they haven't been in contact since. Eden did religious schools before serving her army duties. Between school and army she won The X Factor Israel and released her debut single. The Israeli production of Little Shop of Horrors was next for her before doing Rising star and winning it, too, and therefor earning the right to represent her country at the Eurovision 2020. One EP and three singles preluded her four excellent songs for Eurovision, this blogger liked them all. Feker libi was my favorites along with Rakata. 

EUROVISION 2020/21: GET TO KNOW UKU SUVISTE (ESTONIA)

Uku Suviste (37), singer-songwriter, pianist and producer will not a direct pass to Eurovision 2021 according Estonian television but only a free pass to the Eesti laul 2021 semi-finals that he's willing to use. He was third time lucky winning it this year with What love is.

Uku has been around already for almost 20 years. In his early career 2004-2008 he took part multiple times in Uno Naissoo and Kaks takti ette competitions winning awards every time. Numerous television appearances followed, he did Estonian Tour Face sounds Familiar as well as Dancing with the Stars and was a regular on musical stages. He also did New Wave placing third and took part in the Russian The Voice. On top of that in 2010 he was voted The Sexiest Man in Estonia.

What love is his 16th single but he hasn't released an album so far....

 

EUROVISION 2020/21: GET TO KNOW VAL (BELARUS)

VAL is made of singer Valeria Gribusova (25) and Vlad Paschevich, the multi-instrumentalist sampler and producer. Valeria has experience of The Voice of Ukraine and has also done Slavianski Bazaar while Vlad has produced for example another Eurovision couple Navi Band's entry back in 2017. The two V's work together since 2016 and are also a couple. They have released one album (2017) and Da Vidna is their fifth single. 

They have expressed their will to do Eurovision 2021 but haven't been confirmed yet by the national television ...

ITALY: MUSIC THAT UNITES AGAINST CORONA VIRUS

Rai 1 has decided to broadcast a fundraiser entirely dedicated to Civil Protection, committed daily

against Coronavirus, with an unprecedented and alternative show, the result of the restrictive measures to be respected in this period. After the 6.00pm flash mobs that unite the Italians every day, Musica che Unisce arrives, live in prime time on Tuesday 31 March; a show that will not have advertising breaks, nor studio and stage.

Each guest will contribute from home, sending their own performance, with Vincenzo Mollica in the role of narrator. Artists will include, among others, Alessandra Amoroso, Andrea Bocelli, Brunori Sas, Calcutta, Cesare Cremonini, Diodato, Elisa, Emma, ​​Ermal Meta, Fedez, Francesca Michielin, Francesco Gabbani, Gazzelle, Gianni Morandi, Gigi D'Alessio, Levante, Ludovico Einaudi, Mahmood, Måneskin, Marco Mengoni, Negramaro, Paola Turci, Riccardo Cocciante, Tiziano Ferro, Tommaso Paradiso and more. 

Music that unites also features dancer Roberto Bolle, actor Luca Zingaretti and comedian/actress Paola Cortellesi. From the sports world for example Andrea Dovizioso, Bebe Vio, Federica Brignone, Federica Pellegrini, Roberta Vinci and Valentino Rossi are expected. There will be an information space, thanks to the Ministry of Health with experts from the scientific world.

The goal of Musica uniting is purely supportive and the participation of all the artists is clearly free of charge.

Watch the show on March 31, 2020 on Raiuno, Raiplay, Radio 2 or in streaming on Youtube, Facebook or HERE

Eurovision song contest was created from the idea of Sanremo festival. Maybe the cancelled Eurovision song contest 2020 replacement show in May EBU is planning could be something similar featuring the cast of 2020? And European wide chance to donate for health authorities in various countries and research for the corona vaccination?